tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21284735612221335342024-02-18T17:31:34.940-08:00Chopsticks and PearlsChopsticks and Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974444192817438513noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128473561222133534.post-31151575967165758282011-05-10T11:37:00.000-07:002011-05-10T12:33:18.369-07:00Beach Trip 2011<div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605165051860525186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGcvWzwazgzUuK_Id2CNZKItocofKEiHExnHpqFpuN2jgA5knwc-o2ibmjBRgzZZvxM6ErsqsaHlQ9Vq0RJ16_Dw7-ZsFaFiPClpfTkyjogSfM5K1sj0SStCpU3Hst8ANBiINB6myKoo/s400/P1000982.JPG" /></div><br /><br /><div align="center">Be still my heart. </div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center">Galveston has such fun memories for me as a kid. We had a beach house in this same neighborhood and came down almost every weekend. It was so fun to bring Avery down for the first time and show James our old stopping grounds. I can't wait for more beach trips in the future!</div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5CQtUfpE13Xwhp0YzQlqUC9UNEnCUwurtbEQ-MIuw7IoOQHZYpxra3P1bvA4lSSZQU-iSKvNKliXuvH2l1mdxVC7ksYTdJ7T3bCe1PlC5TLrTZDp_LuILtG_p-UkFKxTzkGTkzf8G30/s1600/P1010041.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605166202899604322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5CQtUfpE13Xwhp0YzQlqUC9UNEnCUwurtbEQ-MIuw7IoOQHZYpxra3P1bvA4lSSZQU-iSKvNKliXuvH2l1mdxVC7ksYTdJ7T3bCe1PlC5TLrTZDp_LuILtG_p-UkFKxTzkGTkzf8G30/s400/P1010041.JPG" /></a>Homegirl wasn't so sure about the sand in her toes! This was about 2 hours before the "plague" hit her, so I'm going to reserve any comments about being little miss priss.</div><br /><br />This will also be known as the famous Royal Wedding Weekend....and unfortunately it will also be known as the weekend of the "plague". I have never in my life seen a stomach bug pass around a household so quickly. It was truly amazing. I NEVER get sick..and if I do, it's some sort of sinus infection or cedar fever. I guess when you throw babies in the mix, it's a whole new ball game.<br /><br /><br />From that weekend on...I vowed to never roll my eyes or scoff when one of my friends has to bail on me because her baby is sick or she is sick. Never again. I get it now.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div>Anyways.....I will truly never forget watching the wedding with my best friends and waking up at 3:30 to put on my pearls and tiara. Even Miss Avery (who doesn't sleep well away from home) joined the party with us a 4:00am.</div><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605163265556555186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgc2_uu7Sh58yilx4-n9uPxkqo5YE8pbXXDFDQbyZzAsi4mPOv8rHZfulCfGSy85aEU_-6f15POK23C6oezST2COWrPUtc-QzNPLF-B6UOxSpvHvPJcaLGZMKHBslI4FiVC6sLG-laNtY/s400/P1000979.JPG" /></div><br /><br /><div>We did hit up the beach once while everyone was still healthy and hydrated. It was a beautiful/windy day. Avery spent most of the time in the wagon playing with her toys to avoid the sand. It was so windy that it was hard to get too many good pics. These two are my favs. <a href="http://austinassuntos.blogspot.com/">Aunt Lynch</a> took some with her fancy camera and posted some from the weekend too! We did shop along the strand on Saturday, but mostly just lounged and watched coverage of the Royal Wedding all weekend...I wouldn't have done it any other way! I only wish I had taken pictures of some of the fun details of the weekend....like the precious tiara cupcakes that <a href="http://whenagirlsgottagab.blogspot.com/">Aunt Trog </a>brought...or the image of James and Aunt Trog trying to fit everything into Elin (the Traverse).<br />The only thing missing was the rest of the DOF crew! Next time!!</div><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605165510941381202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Q4YoxWMEZD7p1zittneltcwTUb18TQ9w8ZG4dHCxcEkMJ-wQtge_sCBKlFdG4UM5ijb4rlAxYDZAadMt3wOdAaFHD8KPaKQz7xdnyrwvLEuubl6N0WNWvyk0poTiUAqbxFdnQkSgIUM/s400/P1010007.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605165716646174738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUl5iRH11yLKhjRzZzLysSkSdnBbj-kija_cPLqGTha_7e-790FSJUZEqEvxCo70HtopuAJ-wdcuu15Ort7ciYvgRjCK7mwd3BX77AxeStPbYe07m4P7rA19Opnnh8JhmfA9NWWMkraEY/s400/P1010010crop.jpg" /></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Chopsticks and Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974444192817438513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128473561222133534.post-23339172413075832432011-05-09T18:32:00.000-07:002011-05-09T19:15:03.656-07:00Avery's first steps!<p><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx7VlIdVjYFKXsBt1U-eq6hleLUryfXfNvIgz0OBcMllQ6ec5leM06rUDDWHH6n5_d37T3lYcY14wa1VLVkJw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><br /><p>She REALLY wanted those puffs!! I'm so proud of her! </p>Chopsticks and Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974444192817438513noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128473561222133534.post-91298626929695324772011-05-09T12:36:00.000-07:002011-05-09T13:36:19.105-07:00My First Mother's Day<div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604811793933802370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQKM7DOrinPznHyemNch08e5hv7U_lTOuLBj_W25Q_2l7n5iTt3aM0ixhkilfgzqkHPE0KXBWe931Z62XAgZ2BxCmvMeEIhobZ6HRWhB3VNRVn-iTi06jIc_PQ890jhq551vU6QNx4FM/s400/DSC_0612.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Avery Bear and I on Easter Sunday</strong></div><br /><br /><br /><div>I'm going to start this post by pretending that I've been posting rather frequently and everyone is caught up with the Lee Family....which I know is a big fat lie. :) The thought of trying to recap the craziness of the past few months of our life makes me want to curl up in a ball and take a nap. </div><br /><br /><br /><div>I had every intention to post yesterday. That was the ONE THING I was going to do for myself on Mothers Day...buuuut of course...we got a little distracted when SOMEONE decided to reach another milestone and take her first steps!! It was the best Mother's Day present I could have ever asked for! :) We got it on video and as soon as I figure out how to post it...I will! I don't want to get tooo ahead of myself on my first post back.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>Yesterday, we had a fun family day around the house. James attempted breakfast in bed, but forgot to thaw out half the ingredients the night before...so we headed to Shipley's donuts. I haven't had Shipley's in YEARS and I didn't realize there was one so close to our house. DANGEROUS! It was so good. When we got back, we busted out the water table and sprinklers in the backyard. Mommy and Daddy sat in the lounge chairs while Avery played splashed around. We ate lunch outside and listened to music and it was so relaxing.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>After lunch....it became the typical Sunday...Avery takes a nap, Daddy falls asleep watching golf. I decided to take a little time to myself and go shopping. The new calypso line at Target...I die. I got a few cotton dresses and some tshirts for the summer. Because I wore suits every day at work....my casual clothes usually ended up being some sort of a suit piece.....button down..sweater set..something. I've been needing some good "mommy clothes" for a while.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>After little miss thing went to sleep, Daddy and I cooked a nice dinner, relaxed and reminisced about how fast Avery is growing up. Without further ado...some pictures from the weekend! </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604812335606271650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMp6mDmYceddqdflKyUUq640C1eh4hVTjVUWJa9dUqbYZnjG-7i-RJErfOpLBSGwvfQt8vimTohMRxc9qdwHqW0G8R53LC1oaMlHbHy5wNWO3vwFFmhUKqG1uKrPvY0YZB4NMCm7vxEH8/s400/DSC_0915.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Making fun of Daddy!</strong></div><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604817325397883410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAr6ZAGw2OjVzkR_1KF9tghYZfRt3ho6l7z6HZXxna3xxusof0eBpTGZcYyfi32FmAd1i3-ECqkR1SB_zVQp0N3Hdn-xwa82MPGJZrrl6_a5dibQDzU4yq4JNBV4z3N89McEGGu81vlCI/s400/DSC_0771.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Daddy's arms were sore all night after these pictures!</strong></div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604814128832415586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFw2ni5JSAIULMLIC_ZsmiMkVppx3lrq8zp7PaWQAzmSI-9XvlQzE9mqz2Giv1oS7ezCvh7KsOcw2DSe46RplKpPs6m4-i96-1ynQM4fVOWBh_s4_3mvXl16muaCOh_lgL_Gr0U2ikr6o/s400/DSC_0898.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Really Mommy...another picture??</strong></div><br /><br /><br /><div>I'm hoping this post is one of many in the near future. There is a lot more to catch up on!!! Please don't judge the lake of creativity, humor, or sentimental poems about being a mother. I realize this is quick and dirty.....it's all I got right now! :) </div></div></div></div></div>Chopsticks and Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974444192817438513noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128473561222133534.post-41426384543732802892010-11-28T20:29:00.000-08:002010-11-28T20:44:45.698-08:00Free Christmas Cards? Wha??Have you guys heard about the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">shutterfly</span> giveaway to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">bloggers</span>? I've read a few blogs about it and decided to give it a go! I just LOVE some of their designs this year. I've gotten my cards from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">shutterfly</span> the past few years and they always have great promotions running. They always turn them around SUPER quick and I'm always running <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">wayyy</span> behind on ordering cards and invitations. <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/red-revamped-christmas-card?sortType=1&storeNode=93476">This </a>is one of my favorite cards. I love how so many of the designs are so simple and traditional...like you went to an expensive stationary stores and had them designed months ago! <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">haha</span>. I'm also a big fan of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">their</span> <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars/desk-calendars">personal desktop calendars</a>. I don't want to go into too many details, but I'm pretty sure everyone in my family will be getting one in their stockings! They aren't too over the top...perfect for your desk at work! <br /><br />I hope everyone jumps on the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">bandwagon</span>! How could you pass up this good of a deal? <br /><br />As soon as I drop my cards in the mail..I'll post a picture of our <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">christmas</span> card! I have to say.....Lady Liberty likes to ham it up for the camera and this <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">photoshoot</span> did not <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">disappoint</span>! I just want to squeeze her little cheeks every time I look at her picture!! <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">haha</span>.Chopsticks and Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974444192817438513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128473561222133534.post-57293439102403095882010-09-20T19:14:00.001-07:002010-09-20T19:14:42.146-07:00The Nursery<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIgkUIPtGaycHTTekmuT8_TKF4OR2sxov8MVgnur4eRr_C70vG_YjGycBpmDKpQePnFSGVeHK30AH72kPnyHhIX5tLspE5oTdlLay2fjy0PPcHt9hxEaLLLavEsVjytNqHZPTGkabD3Q/s1600-h/P1000762%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="P1000762" border="0" alt="P1000762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-4c_ttJzsj2TgFouWQBiWmjPE65VijqyUM99AqzRNQpL2VadQRvGZP5ro2cqaX3wbqtS0cygHVeVxzn1jw5hS2YYhxkmaxrhCh0NPeI8vqHNvNxTLBdOwowPUp9x4M_eb-eCSC02LpA/?imgmax=800" width="444" height="338" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p>Here is a picture of the nursery.  I wanted something really simple and classy.  The picture above the crib and changing table are pictures that my Aunt painted.  She passed away a two years ago and her art was distributed among the family.  When I received these pictures, I knew that I would design a nursery around them if I had a girl.  I can’t wait to tell Avery all about her.  These pictures make me smile every time I walk in her room.</p> <p>Because it’s a pretty small room, I had to take the doors off the closet so the crib would fit.  I really wanted the crib to be on the far wall.  James helped me make the cornice above the closet.  I picked out fabric and my grandmother sewed the curtains.  I wanted simple white bedding too!  I couldn’t find anything in my price range, so I emailed a vendor on etsy and she made exactly what I wanted for a fraction of the price! :)</p> <p>I will say that the glider is probably the most comfortable chair I’ve ever sat in.  It was so hard to find a chair that wasn’t too deep, too narrow, arms too high or back too low.  When I sat in this chair, I immediately relaxed.  I knew it was perfect!  Some people thought I was crazy to get a white chair, but it’s so easy to spot treat with bleach!  The crib and the glider were the two things we “splurged” on for the room.  </p> <p>I got the chandelier, rocking chair, sconces and oak dresser at Round Top Antique festival for a STEAL!  I knew I wanted a chandelier and an antique dresser as a changing table.  If that’s your style and you haven’t been to Round Top…you MUST go!!!  I drool over all the French Antiques and love bargaining with vendors!  :)  </p> <p>The hardest part for me was probably choosing the paint color.  I MAY or MAY NOT have had the painter re-do the color!  It’s sooo hard to find an off-white that wasn’t too yellow or brown etc.  This shade was called “Tea Light”..and it was the first one I picked out..of course.   <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcZHvbirmRP_simNUwhFD3KB4ZIgcSe7YMI0bH0GvWlnFsiGrN_4Z4Ka30tkA6lNrz5NV6MVoH_-LC3u4TDvHTMmhtVVCa8Fb6NgHOC-XwP5EXFua54yJOxqEowedcaFwoBDUkP4oIRE/s1600-h/DSC_0064%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0064" border="0" alt="DSC_0064" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHk8BRz-fDsTsHNlnSXL_AEqnB7Fnv3Nv7LpmeTOmUm9N3bbyMppkUcJ90o8s85XwQ20CgJMCLzCl_XJFCiJOi9aNrbe41vXQyO5t4uc2OlCnuXwRHwerbplJ11r5Ix5wXg3NG4g9e1J8/?imgmax=800" width="253" height="172" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94tYUyJJe5k-ZpLMQwSyCDkjVG5Sb4gg5h7xk7SsfIVJwpJHQHKCdJlyDiO6W_YzV32DQO5ArU4mYzFx_2JmOAujgKIMM5Zf7pWtGtkPGLjX_3HqqHlisNHGrSxmbu1QsNdywbL70J3Q/s1600-h/DSC_0072%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0072" border="0" alt="DSC_0072" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74Tvhv9HoUZ6H-Tp8sLkGub6DeuCIQp2sO_Xwc-zJkE1Gaqsnsbqq8knvIe3vNCgBrLjrrxNy0rFjbx5yU8XruD9Y2NrfVTPG2G7VgpaFCRsb3U9gA5FyAfAAX1k1ZyvZcgCa0kARKRo/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="163" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBAphQBHWXGeiTcTsL3iDqwj5eAWEx-312NbcM5Cum-GZL7l39uXXF7DV0i_swVsQMkvAmek8JmM8dw9K0jYLf1aF794drGd4Vfw9CTDEhLHaywCLc1azwReMDcpyuHY30rYK1VGbq8M/s1600-h/DSC_0068%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0068" border="0" alt="DSC_0068" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQhjtRKCP9wzGqB_kpz45-0Rp_1sMZwZG1x70bDQ6l_h7aJZX496HnghklLUfRECMTDUpnmUfAid56RUkdIBruU9LR6crfc9JUSaZO8ZmJ5V-4JU3V7WpT0kg1xYwCxNgIvpabs_-IXA/?imgmax=800" width="384" height="264" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmz2pS5aDj55hPVfCrwBEbozPh2cQWPGvfeEMLCZiHHPMJP6dudo-ukGC0co8zAmWrTnHUuZQx5K9N-K3yMEAGXJ29lnDlB7Sy5lC6orH9i1xkQE7Tra5OzK9z-REP9UagA0z40ULKqQ/s1600-h/DSC_0067%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC_0067" border="0" alt="DSC_0067" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDoOdA79EZLT7x-chpTBT8SgowF2GjJyUcL4BvMV-SlH4Qq0D_MTvesXl8DcAim44xBDC1kxQuVZa5ffP0nRR5inNgYskkI-KNOyAGFGYtShIh2GoupzzkAa3gksIrYFHmjFmoX-v3tc/?imgmax=800" width="216" height="319" /></a> <br />I made this bow hanger while I was in my “nesting” phase.  I painted a little piece of wood from hobby lobby and modge podged some pretty scrapbook paper on top…and then staple gunned some ribbon to hang the bows!  It was a fun project!</p> <p>I also made the picture board above the night stand with left over fabric from my curtains.  I got a frame that matched the “feel” of the room on sale at Hobby Lobby too!  I’ve put some fun pictures up since this picture was taken.  They are fun to look during those middle of the night feedings!  </p> Chopsticks and Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974444192817438513noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128473561222133534.post-59306710019614337392010-09-13T13:20:00.000-07:002010-09-13T13:38:24.013-07:00Happy Birthday, Chops!!!<div>So Chops turned the big 3-0 last week...and Lady Liberty made him a little homemade birthday card...<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516500093817890322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2xzdcOy45R7-PAns0nRZEQCVzt1cgQKqM0IRozCc-XCnrNIcUh2DlfCp-e51Qapm6_yXkcy_mylAQ83yoEgnUia8Yj1tiDj0A22t4qiqiegG8k0T2OzuL-yBiylmjNCXRzmsEpFVMvE/s400/DSC_0173.JPG" /><br /><div></div><br /><div>...besides the birthday card...she gave him the best present ever. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT!!!!!! </strong></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Avery now sleeps for an 8 hour stretch! I've been putting her down between 10-11PM and she wakes up between 6-7AM. :) She litterally started this on his birthday. Fingers crossed that 8 hours turns into 10 hours soon!!! Or Pearls needs to learn how to go to bed when she goes to bed...instead of trying to get stuff done around the house. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>PS. Does anyone have any tips for uploading pictures? I feel like it takes me FOREVER for them to upload...and then FOREVER to format. I swear I would blog more if this wouldn't freaking take so long. </div>Chopsticks and Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974444192817438513noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128473561222133534.post-20801974170280196992010-09-02T20:25:00.001-07:002010-09-02T20:36:54.417-07:00So...we tried the bumpo chair this week.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOS_QBJ85G4nomfZn5ElPrLvgG2-o0O5D34NVYNWMde40Vpd5G27J-YquGFLdQ6ZigB3yjx0LTOqsSlA1mXxWzT8tgY6NaT9K2MIUaPdJmxthabyzif_MhiP9F12eFQda9srB3LZnDBE/s1600/IMG_6689.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512523399914847762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOS_QBJ85G4nomfZn5ElPrLvgG2-o0O5D34NVYNWMde40Vpd5G27J-YquGFLdQ6ZigB3yjx0LTOqsSlA1mXxWzT8tgY6NaT9K2MIUaPdJmxthabyzif_MhiP9F12eFQda9srB3LZnDBE/s400/IMG_6689.jpg" /></a><br />It clearly didn't go over that well.<br /><br />This is the picture that James sends me when I'm off "mommy duty" for a few hours with a little note that says..."Your daughter misses you". Then I started leaking milk. Awesome.<br /><br />To get him back...I'm sending him a picture of her next blowout diaper.<br /><br />Now...I need to get back at my list of questions for our two month appointment tomorrow. I've been writing them down in my blackberry "memo" section and the list is pretty long. He's going to think I'm crazy. At the last appointment, he didn't tell me the "percentages" of her height and weight. I'm going to ask him tomorrow..and I have this strong feeling in the back of my mind that she might be in the 100th percentile in weight.Chopsticks and Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974444192817438513noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128473561222133534.post-65247075476495684492010-09-01T07:35:00.000-07:002010-09-02T12:39:25.551-07:00Lady Liberty at One Month<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPs_cD1dQ3mc3EQpeAOEIxxDXo-wwBz38HrvXrVTuJ0gLRVOh-WjRzazPiQ21idkDKYYIwuHYYYCWX345AyRWIMuPaKAYLCBhBnFu2mNlmlrXysADKFiRhVLj6QM3tXEpdS6J9OFGgTg/s1600/DSC_0733.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511956953232720258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPs_cD1dQ3mc3EQpeAOEIxxDXo-wwBz38HrvXrVTuJ0gLRVOh-WjRzazPiQ21idkDKYYIwuHYYYCWX345AyRWIMuPaKAYLCBhBnFu2mNlmlrXysADKFiRhVLj6QM3tXEpdS6J9OFGgTg/s400/DSC_0733.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br /><div>We've got it! Lady Liberty (just Lady for short) will be Miss Avery's official blog name! Thanks to the Loj for suggesting the "Lady" nickname. I love it!<br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>This was officially my favorite picture of her at this age! She just has the cutest little smirk on her face.<br /></div><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div><strong>Some notes about the first month:</strong> </div><div>(minus the hospital stay, which will be a totally separate blogpost!)<br /></div><div>- Height 21.5 inches, Weight 9 lbs 6 oz, Head..well, off the charts..Her conehead is still going down today...<br /><br />- She is like a little ticking alarm clock that likes to eat every three hours on the dot. It's pretty amazing to watch her fast asleep and then when the clock hits three hours on the dot, she wakes up and cries. There were 2-3 times where she slept 5 hour stretches at night...and Pearls felt like a new person. :) She did tend to fall asleep while feeding. I had to get ice cubes and water...and undress her to wake her up. She lost over 10% of her weight in the hospital, so everyone made me panic about feeding her and getting her back to her birth weight. Not to mention that my milk didn't come in for around 2 weeks.<br /></div><div></div><div>- At 3 weeks to the day, she fussed all day long and just never seemed to get full. I called the doctor (like any other clueless, ocd, first time mom would do) who said that she was probably going through a little growth spur that would like 24-48 hours..and that I could demand feed if I wanted. Sure enough...24 hours later, she was back to her schedule.<br /></div><div></div><div>- She was always VERY alert and loves to be awake..and center of attention. It's soo hard to get her to sleep. I rock and rock and rock and she still just wants to stay awake and play. When people come over, she is in her element. I can't blame her though. She might look like Chops, but she's definitely got some Pearls in her! She has the biggest eyes and started focusing on things very early. Lights, fans, people..movement in general.<br /></div><div></div><div>- She was also VERY active (and still is!)...When she gets going ...her arms and legs just go non-stop. They flail contantly. I have to hold her really tight to calm her down.<br /></div><div></div><div>- One of my favorite things about her is that as she falls asleep...she gets this big smile and has the biggest belly laugh. It makes me laugh every time. It's so cute! I HAVE to get it on video!<br /></div><div></div><div>- She HAS to have her hands by her face. That's how she was in the womb and that's how she likes to sleep. Swaddling has been challenging. I know it calms her down and makes her feel secure, but when I trap her arms...she tries so hard to get them out...she grunts and her face turns bright red...it makes me so nervous. 9 times out of 10..she would eventually get her arms out...so I eventually let her have her hands.<br /></div><div></div><div>- We had to sleep with the "billy blanket" for the first week when we came home. So she slept in her crib in the nursery. It's a pretty big machine with a REALLY bright light. She was our little glow worm. After the jaundice was under control, we brought her into our room in a cradle that my grandfather made for me and my brother. It's beautiful! It was such a special pass down. Well....My little chunky monkey was a liiiiittle too big for the cradle. Arms got stuck in the bars....it was not fun to wake up and see Miss Thing all tangled up. That lasted for two nights...and then we put her in a little vibrating lamb chair and that was much better.<br /></div><div></div><div>- We did have to suplement a little forumla at the hospital, but when my milk finally came in, she was purely breastfed. We DID introduce a bottle within the first two weeks. I was in a ton of pain and was pumping after every feeding to help the milk come in...Chops gave her a few bottles during that time. I wasn't going to waste that precious pumped liquid gold. She did great and never had "nipple confusion". I still haven't given her a bottle myself. My mom (Mimi) and James are the only two that gave it to her. She's always been a great "sucker". They say that bigger babies tend to suck harder...yay for me! jk.....ouch for me. Is that TMI? We had our good "latches" and our not so good "latches" that I paid for later! Which reminds me, I need to buy stock in lanolin.<br /></div><div></div><div>- She has the longest nails and they are so hard to cut or file! Because she flails her arm so much, she ALWAYS scraches her face. I feel SOO bad! The scratches usually go away within a day, but it makes me feel so bad. The little mittens or socks do not stay on her hands. I love the day gowns that have the hand things on them, but she can't be in those all day long! I feel like every time I try to file them, I make them worse!<br /></div><div></div><div>- She LOVES bathtime, but her first bath also is a good story in and of itself! :)<br /></div><div></div><div>- And finally....as she is about to start screaming...so I'll need to sign off. Our first outing was at 2 weeks old...we went to Sonic Happy Hour..OBVIOUSLY...which is approx 3 blocks from my house...don't worry that I SWEAR I heard her choke after driving a block..so what did I do? Pull the car over rather dramatically...and run around to check on her. She was absolutely fine! haha. So...after our trip to sonic was a big success...we decided to drive to New Orleans and stay at a hotel on Bourbon Street at 3.5 weeks. Yup! More to come!<br /></div><div></div><div>PS. I can't BELIEVE I just typed all that...I put so many details...it's more for my memory too when I look back! :) </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Chopsticks and Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974444192817438513noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128473561222133534.post-60134135020607139202010-08-31T16:35:00.000-07:002010-08-31T16:55:45.863-07:00Introducing Miss Avery Marion Lee....<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8x_yMtKKfgaIKBXkiyPGuFhBQG12ZboDMaEHlemM0t1SDjNGWYWI9vmK0QRiY74580LHCzRXpY_S0MGlLzcIB5AuxJe9qAh2TKQujTHc8vVVwP2tYUjgh7kcFat_Auw4rqY_APY393jY/s1600/DSC_0151.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511724015204716178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8x_yMtKKfgaIKBXkiyPGuFhBQG12ZboDMaEHlemM0t1SDjNGWYWI9vmK0QRiY74580LHCzRXpY_S0MGlLzcIB5AuxJe9qAh2TKQujTHc8vVVwP2tYUjgh7kcFat_Auw4rqY_APY393jY/s320/DSC_0151.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>HERE SHE IS....MISS AMERICA!!!!</strong> </div><br /><div>Avery Marion Lee entered this world on <strong>July 4, 2010</strong> at 1:44AM weighing a whopping 8 pounds 7 ounces! <br /></div><div>She was also 21 inches long....however, the more I've taken notice to this statistic, I've come to realize that pretty much all babies end up being 21 inches long.<br /></div><div>Since it's so hard to find a good blog name that is a combination of "chopsticks" and "pearls"..maybe we should go with Lady Liberty? Thoughts?</div><div> </div><div>Giving her best Lady Liberty pose......she's a natural.<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511725800756645010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BhmW2ny7bl2X29YOEK4W8gfFv9gmFcg6vz3am2VEMC6tAyWI-s45BpyWQ80NnanI3Uj4t_f1ar95yLZTWnyuJyGopGkN6XbGN4X1pZvY8LzcGFNnVc9RPIKgwINkEZVgCiELqJLNH-A/s320/DSC_0192.JPG" /><br /><div> </div></div>Chopsticks and Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974444192817438513noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128473561222133534.post-72317723274430529872010-08-31T16:17:00.001-07:002010-08-31T16:35:41.636-07:00LIfe just gets in the way sometimes!Okay, Okay! I have NO EXCUSE other than life just gets in the way sometimes and there has just been no time to blog. The past 9 months have been a whirlwind and there is so much to blog about! The few times I've actually had the time to write a quick post...I haven't known where to start! Do I start with baby showers, belly pics, the "birth story"....what? So...I've decided to just dive in. <br /><br /><strong>Disclaimer:</strong> I will go ahead and say that the next posts will most likely be written while I'm either soothing or feeding this sweet baby girl. I will most likely be using one hand...not using spell check.....or checking for grammar errors....racing to finish...and forgoing all attempts to be witty or funny. And let's be honest.....there will probably be a Housewives marathon on in the background that might get me distracted. :)<br /><br />These first few posts will most likely be catching everyone (all 3 of you!) up on what life has been like since Miss Avery Marion Lee entered into this world two months ago. I will attempt to not make every post from now on about this sweet baby....there is always something to make fun of Chops about! <br /><br />Also, I am taking suggestions for a good blog name for Avery.....<br /><br />So there...my first post back! I felt like I needed this transition post so it wouldn't be so random! :)Chopsticks and Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974444192817438513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128473561222133534.post-48199429983056515152010-01-13T12:14:00.000-08:002010-01-13T12:51:19.302-08:00Highlight of the Holidays!!!<div align="left">One BIG highlight over the holidays was that I won the BEST TASTING contest and BEST PRESENTATION award at the office Christmas party. This can get pretty competitive. A lot of people enter the best tasting contest, but not many enter best presentation....so I knew I had a shot.<br /></div><div align="left">Everyone in the office loves my cake balls...they are always a crowd pleaser, and I've probably emailed the recipe out at least 20 times. It's just so easy! SO....for best presentation, I decided to try and do <a href="http://www.bakerella.com/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/">Bakerella's Christmas Cake Pops</a>! I was a little nervous about the assembly. A few people thought I was crazy and in over my head. (ie. <a href="http://whenagirlsgottagab.blogspot.com/">GlamandFab)</a> But with the help of a <a href="http://wyattscottsmith.blogspot.com/">crafty neighbor</a>...and with Chops being out of town (so no one to comment on the messy kitchen)...I knew we could take on this challenge! </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">And....I think we did a PRETTY GOOD JOB!!! It wasn't even that hard!</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><strong>The display!</strong></div><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426327682534809794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7rMSN3S4KsZ_Y0648TqnWSIF_5x2AQGvYdq3E5AdqNu55fvFDYi413r_R7hSBOfyNJVRF4zv6O1G3IqPA6bbq4DUhngZQLxH_7JYj6GIIRwhFOeZoeFLJPuq4Qd4Dpr8TKK5FUkb4-k/s320/P1000250.JPG" /></p><p align="center"><strong>Christmas Trees! (notice prenatal vitamins in background! haha)</strong><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426327699174919938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9BD5MNnyKbM-P4k88os9kCscX9NvaH9vMvr_dV5PCtZv4sHTbj_Ajnw9AQsTd3ETNRf6uC9AaSGjpiYCx2ZT4djnEoNn9oeIk1ZaFPe3WFgmnuVPMoyS1W_8MWrY_O2NZfYhHnECiZ8/s320/P1000246.JPG" /></p><strong><div align="center"><br />Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer in the front!</strong></div><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426323307444475394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqJh3yEeDgBTNlb7BofXtKUiR2LskROSVxIX4K1LX1951Z6QiXJbxCAL8iidU-wUooKhczKcmWLPq8iAtk3Z1xLU4N8OZMfSFXlUXZrPXHWn5feKu3OfCm-GEmxqECltHqOSxpkZkBhY/s320/IMG_0637.JPG" /><br /><strong>Santa Hats!<br /></strong><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426327688594066578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3I3u8IK0V-90n879h7fD4BlaxDNkhUXuLz6-6y-PgpHiZqcb6jAasreAUu69zf9sK1L4hWMhS9Ek80qpco4jixfEhcyOpHOtkLobiNMcWvidyAyCgz1ObKPK9MSzFV897rDTNFNT-ybc/s320/P1000245.JPG" /><br /><div align="left">Unfortunately, I didn't get too many pictures of my competition. BUT...the both prizes were gift certificates to Central Market. YUM!!! Anyone up for a cooking class?</div></div>Chopsticks and Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974444192817438513noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128473561222133534.post-47289794886711918802010-01-12T08:04:00.000-08:002010-01-12T08:10:17.390-08:00Reasons why I haven't posted for the past 4 months and 19 days....1. Work has been crazy. I have seriously had a work trip almost every other week. When I was actually in the office, my little ‘ol blog became the “water cooler talk” for a few days, which made me want to lay low for a while.<br /><br />2. Weekends have been filled with weddings, birthdays, family vacations, and out-of-town visitors. I couldn’t be more thankful for such a wonderful group of friends and family. I promise to post pictures of these events and celebrations soon!<br /><br />3. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, Chopsticks and Pearls has a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425885863194928674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCTKgLn1sk905SFn03HrckH7XCNJasa2l8D6hFMdd7f9mNqZN1TZoq-GGrsVJkRhFs_-v-ACNRzmf9hpb9vbTKtJSbYR9xGC7I0TzUOjPg0L-mcU2qJYKOyQJ091S0XRbu9BN002fBd4/s320/P1000205.JPG" /> <p align="center"><br /><strong>BABY CHOPS IS DUE JULY 4, 2010!!!!</strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Note: This picture was taken at Thanksgiving after we told our parents. We gave them a frame that said "Reserved for Baby - Coming July 4, 2010".</span> </p><div align="left">We are so excited and I am ready to start documenting the stories. I don’t think it’s truly hit us yet that we are about to be parents. I never had much of the “first trimester” side effects, which has been awesome. I DO have to eat more regularly or I get dizzy and get headaches. I have also been more tired after work and on the weekends. It just seems to take longer to recover from a big weekend. This could also contribute to the fact that I’m rapidly approaching 30. Yikes!<br /><br />I just started showing about two weeks ago. It was pretty subtle until this week. I now officially have to wear my pants unbuttoned. T-shirts are also starting to become tighter and shorter. All I have to say is that my coworkers better start getting used to this one pair of black pants that still fit! I have a feeling I will be wearing them frequently…and by that, I mean every day.<br /><br />The most stressful part about being pregnant thus far has been letting people know. It was SO hard to keep it from our friends and family for so long. We basically fell off the face of the earth for a few weeks. There are so many people you want to tell in person…but you also want your family to be the first to know….and when you tell one person, you have to tell everyone else pretty quickly or the word will get out….and because we were in the middle of the holiday season, it was just one big headache trying coordinate schedules with people! Anyways, the day that I sent out a mass email with the announcement…I had a huge weight lifted off my shoulders…and everything just got easier!<br /><br />It still doesn’t feel real that I have an actually human being living inside me…or that I will be responsible for keeping someone else alive… feeding them..dressing them…changing them..etc. I can barely put myself together in the morning, let alone someone else. Surely, changing a diaper comes naturally, right?…because I’ve never really done that before! Chops REALLY has no clue. In fact, I’ll give you an example.<br /><br /><strong>Our conversation last night:</strong><br /><br /><strong>Pearls:</strong> “Hey Babe, you know that when Baby Chops comes, we are going to have to secure those bookshelves to the wall” – referring to our tall narrow bookshelves in the living room that teeter a little bit if you touch them.<br /><br /><strong>Chops:</strong> “Why would the baby be in this room?”<br /><br /><strong>Pearls</strong>: “Are you asking me why the baby would be in the main living room of the house? The room we spend the majority of our time in?”<br /><br /><strong>Chops:</strong> “Well, why would the baby be in this room unsupervised?”<br /><br />WHAT?? CLEARLY, he has no clue as to how quickly babies move and how easy something could happen if you turned your head for one second. This conversation also convinced me that I will be hiring a professional to come “baby proof” the house.<br /><br />We have a lot to learn in the next 5 months.<br /><br /><strong>Disclaimer:</strong> I promise this blog will not strictly become a “baby blog”. I will continue to post recipes, product reviews, and make fun of chops! </div>Chopsticks and Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974444192817438513noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128473561222133534.post-19970951296146951412009-08-25T06:50:00.000-07:002009-08-25T12:59:25.291-07:00Product Review!I've done a few product reviews before, so I thought I would go ahead and add some to my list!<br /><br /><div><div>In my attempt to save money this summer, I decided to cut back on my make-up expense. I am embarrassed to admit this, but I've only really worn Laura Mercier make-up. I LOVE all their colors and the way it feels on my skin. But it's EXPENSIVE! You have to go to Neimans, Saks or Nordstrom to get it. I stocked up a few years ago (yes, years) when I was in a bunch of weddings and kept getting my make-up done for free at their counter. </div><div><br /></div><div>Well..the time came where I needed some new foundation. I decided I would try something I could buy at Walgreens for under $10. I also decided that I would give it <strong>two</strong> tries....if the first one made my skin break out, I would try <strong>one more</strong> brand before going back to the ol tride and true. </div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373982302488979538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 175px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 175px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUIw1OW7QF_p5rr9pTl3Cc6r8dWbLV-ads8FPKx_10ixbGXnhfSF6I0hV-NNepuLY-hANDDMG5NEjvnjBAemQ61-55c3dSWkZwrvm8sdNJxXjq70OnxhzyjxmrJrxUe4R6H0PjZmG_Dew/s320/394133.jpg" border="0" />Well....I have a new favorite foundation! <strong>Cover Girl - TRU BLEND!</strong> It's so soft on my face and I feel that it has good coverage. I still use my LM transparent powder over it.</div><div> </div><div>My next product review is the <strong>Curvy Jeans at Gap</strong>. I did a quick walk-through this weekend and decided I would try on a pair because they were all $20 off. These jeans are already washed and SUPER soft. If you have some curves like me, these are very flattering, and they don't pucker in the back. Of course, I WILL take them to get altered so they fit just right...and yes, I will go ahead and admit that I will pay $5 extra to get the "jeans hem". Now if the weather would ever drop below 100 degrees!!! <div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373982490052055554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 241px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimH9pPEjfsikVMoYp9kywzelcZ1uWD75Q5_XoF5vHvEKIg7TXO91gY2gcshuZOHufhYKfTxp8MtnN3pQxcQnj3aGX71fk3cFO6C-A6RNTQVripk55h4DY4ZZLhDwwEhmAL5kBIMqV35ow/s320/gp673948-00p01v01.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><strong>Note:</strong> <strong>WHY would they pick a model to try on the CURVY jeans...when SHE HAS NO CURVES!!!!??? Seriously!!!! Come on, Gap! I thought you were all about the modern day woman!</strong> </div><br /><div>Finally, I don't have to explain too much about this next product. The label speaks for itself. I LOVE Clorox Spray with Bleach. We have white counter tops and I seriously don't know what I would do without it. I am such a mess in the kitchen that I probably use it AT LEAST 2-3 times over the course of the evening....spill a bit of red wine? No problem! Splatter some sauce over the white back splash? Let me get that! Minor explosion in the microwave? Bring it on! </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373982482127500594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-YitCYdCch2viw7ZxganZAyoV2EquNyNCMfRO4SbYZMOot9IAoNU27vMYsh_UTlz87lOC42P7svCdieBzo5xnxt9Xii-QGyuedRppiRV0q4pqjDv7j5EqR2q8ihPG0WArMMdM0CF2t0/s320/1010650081_big.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>Honestly...if I managed the Chopsticks and Pearls money market accounts, I would probably go ahead and buy a bunch of their stock........which is maybe why I'm not in charge. :)<br /><br /></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">ON A SIDE NOTE:</span></strong><br /></div><div>I'm about to updated my <strong>"blog list" </strong>in my sidebar. I haven't added anything since I start my blog last year. SO....If you read my blog, I would love to link to you! Leave me a comment or shoot me an email and I'll add you! Also, I just posted the <strong>"follow" feature.</strong> I'm not 100% sure that that means, but I'm more than happy to follow you too!<br /></div></div></div>Chopsticks and Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974444192817438513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128473561222133534.post-67535370028654169182009-08-24T07:00:00.000-07:002009-08-24T11:51:05.421-07:00Random thoughts from people 25 - 35 years old...<span style="color:#cc33cc;">I saw this post on someone else's blog and thought it was funny and SO TRUE! I took out a few because I like to think Chopsticks and Pearls is a "family friendly" blog. I bolded some of my favorites.</span><br /><br />I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.<br /><br />More often than not, when someone is telling me a story all I can think about is that I can't wait for them to finish so that I can tell my own story that's not only better, but also more directly involves me.<br /><br />Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.<br /><br />I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink to have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and sticks when they've invented the lighter?<br /><br /><strong>Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you're going in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed to be going? But instead of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from which you came, you have to first do something like check your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you're crazy by randomly switching directions on the sidewalk.</strong><br /><br />That's enough, Nickelback.<br /><br />I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.<br /><br />Is it just me, or are 80% of the people in the "people you may know" feature on Facebook people that I do know, but I deliberately choose not to be friends with?<br /><br />Do you remember when you were a kid, playing Nintendo and it wouldn't work? You take the cartridge out, blow in it and that would magically fix the problem. Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how to fix the problem? There was no internet or message boards or FAQ's. We just figured it out. Today's kids are soft.<br /><br />There is a great need for sarcasm font.<br /><br />Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the f was going on when I first saw it.<br /><br /><strong>I think everyone has a movie that they love so much, it actually becomes stressful to watch it with other people. I'll end up wasting 90 minutes shiftily glancing around to confirm that everyone's laughing at the right parts, then making sure I laugh just a little bit harder (and a millisecond earlier) to prove that I'm still the only one who really, really gets it.</strong><br /><br />How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?<br /><br /><strong>I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.</strong><br /><br />I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.<br /><br /><strong>The only time I look forward to a red light is when I’m trying to finish a text.</strong><br /><br />A recent study has shown that playing beer pong contributes to the spread of mono and the flu. Yeah, if you suck at it.<br /><br />LOL has gone from meaning, "laugh out loud" to "I have nothing else to say".<br /><br />I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.<br /><br />Answering the same letter three times or more in a row on a Scantron test is absolutely petrifying.<br /><br />Whenever someone says "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart", all I hear is "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart".<br /><br />Every time I have to spell a word over the phone using 'as in' examples, I will undoubtedly draw a blank and sound like a complete idiot. Today I had to spell my boss's last name to an attorney and said "Yes that's G as in...(10 second lapse)..ummm...Goonies"<br /><br />While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it...thanks Mario Kart.<br /><br />MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.<br /><br />I find it hard to believe there are actually people who get in the shower first and THEN turn on the water.<br /><br />Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.<br /><br />I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.<br /><br /><strong>Whenever I'm Facebook stalking someone and I find out that their profile is public I feel like a kid on Christmas morning who just got the Red Ryder BB gun that I always wanted. 546 pictures? Don't mind if I do!</strong><br /><br />Is it just me or do high school girls get sluttier & sluttier every year?<br /><br />If Carmen San Diego and Waldo ever got together, their offspring would probably just be completely invisible.<br /><br />Why is it that during an ice-breaker, when the whole room has to go around and say their name and where they are from, I get so incredibly nervous? Like I know my name, I know where I'm from, this shouldn't be a problem....<br /><br /><strong>You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you've made up your mind that you just aren't doing anything productive for the rest of the day.</strong><br /><br />Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don't want to have to restart my collection.<br /><br />There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.<br /><br />I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.<br /><br />"Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this ever.<br /><br /><strong>I hate being the one with the remote in a room full of people watching TV. There's so much pressure. 'I love this show, but will they judge me if I keep it on? I bet everyone is wishing we weren't watching this. It's only a matter of time before they all get up and leave the room. Will we still be friends after this?'</strong><br /><br />I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Dammit!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?<br /><br />I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.<br /><br />When I meet a new girl, I'm terrified of mentioning something she hasn't already told me but that I have learned from some light internet stalking.<br /><br />I like all of the music in my iTunes, except when it's on shuffle, then I like about one in every fifteen songs in my iTunes.<br /><br />As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.<br /><br />Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.-Even if I knew your social security number, I wouldn't know what do to with it.<br /><br /><strong>It really pisses me off when I want to read a story on CNN.com and the link takes me to a video instead of text.</strong><br /><br />I wonder if cops ever get pissed off at the fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit.<br /><br />I think the freezer deserves a light as well.<br /><br />I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with MillerLites than Kay.Chopsticks and Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974444192817438513noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128473561222133534.post-46273783393964321602009-08-21T06:54:00.001-07:002009-08-24T11:44:10.800-07:00Show Us Your Life - Baby ShowersOne of my favorite blogs to read is <a href="http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/">Kelly's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Korner</span></a>. Every Friday, she picks a theme or topic and asks all of her readers to show pictures of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">their</span> life. I love going through some of the responses. They've done a home tour (which I vowed not to show too many pictures of our home)..and they've done wedding pictures (which I've already posted about)....so I've never participated.<br /><br />This week's theme is baby showers. I've "co-hosted" several, but have only hosted one at my house, where I got to do all the decorations etc. I AM hosting another shower this fall and I can't wait! It's a co-ed shower and I've already got visions in my head on themes and table settings. I also think I'm going to use my new cake skills to make the cake myself! :)<br /><br />Two years ago, I hosted a shower for my neighbor, (and good friend) Courtney who was having a boy. This was her second child and the shower was a total <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">surprise</span>!<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><br />The Diaper Cake</strong></div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372417808037513810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ehoz60XkmemzQgwrYe97lzZ411H6seolrbLiKv1qEgViYOCp3tU33vu5sizvP0FWKCOgtmeD21maSSwdLDKaVEuQQp5BYVbv45m7b9uTJLOcnc-TIWevef6gIc7VuhgHrI5EH0YYPoU/s320/2007+400.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><strong>The Teddy Bear Display<br /><br /></strong></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372417348845448690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkNGG872v-n5ePIl-W3YV6feGzd44E0PdT2GylRsMvg7CzDqncLSICoFlm8oMRLgue-yjPAiYp6xb4hKlNRSrk78yPacmPhvUw7jfDAmVJPiYCQTu4BvfgZ0NbDFNW_4wNoD2tm2MEZg/s320/2007+396.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><strong>The Cookies</strong></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372417963513217458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dfzMz97FnlrORU30UTapoy85igKHBC9nbZSr0NSYfQ55yAAfDV5Vvy7nZgkT1pTFIM6mO2uY1p7WqsfoGtZlbIDjeVmDATBuR2V8R9Y1wJcm6RXr6MDBPJUDb0bi1QlyCBKuRr2N_hI/s320/2007+416.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><strong>The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Tablescape</span></strong><br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372417829177109554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_Mj66Axs2S8UHejKqgkbJA_Ei0jYspzAEomay0EoXLvvxrBoxVAIXlaW_v_PLbITtSYYrPNNYyfK6rCZzRC0F5wo1Q_yeLlxKtMO0sTEvRQqkuWHF6DM-nlkhS13IOcCGzbjso_72_I/s320/2007+414.jpg" border="0" /> <div align="center"><strong>The Sign-In Table<br /></strong>I framed her invitation, had envelopes for the guests self-address their thank you cards, and then asks guests to write "tips" for the new mom of two! </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372417827019503602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNilSNz6FHLo4n8-hxq_ZlI2TIC-AmO5RZxJdxIsuZ54SvAfV8EZYBvBub96gI3cJJf1QxKBpADYCQTC6cE7csyJ4lSG2f-PUgUGOBmxx-SQkzVz4KuLt9q8eYR5GpAdOVvfU34PRZj6Y/s320/2007+398.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Mimosa's and Champagne</strong><br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372417841311685698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwcl81B2BCjlsglY64RXKtkgQgMa0UAExD6HtS0XBr_6Fv37hHLp67jPZkyMcux7xNfC2iez9Mgd-y2sJcdIc_7pXceEsvtEg6rO_yactRbVYOqtZpwxAGDTEN22VH4BvvkuN_w6M04Y/s320/2007+401.jpg" border="0" /> I can't wait to host another this fall!Chopsticks and Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974444192817438513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128473561222133534.post-4613870573322699412009-08-20T14:17:00.000-07:002009-08-24T11:51:05.421-07:00Most Annoying Types of Facebookers<strong><br />Straight from CNN.com</strong><br /><ol><li><strong>The Let-Me-Tell-You-Every-Detail-of-My-Day Bore.<br /></strong>"I'm waking up." "I had Wheaties for breakfast." "I'm bored at work." "I'm stuck in traffic." You're kidding! How fascinating! No moment is too mundane for some people to broadcast unsolicited to the world. Just because you have 432 Facebook friends doesn't mean we all want to know when you're waiting for the bus.<br /></li><li><strong>The Self-Promoter.<br /></strong>OK, so we've probably all posted at least once about some achievement. And sure, maybe your friends really do want to read the fascinating article you wrote about beet farming. But when almost EVERY update is a link to your blog, your poetry reading, your 10k results or your art show, you sound like a bragger or a self-centered careerist.<br /></li><li><strong>The Town Crier.</strong><br />"Michael Jackson is dead!!!" You heard it from me first! Me, and the 213,000 other people who all saw it on TMZ. These Matt Drudge wannabes are the reason many of us learn of breaking news not from TV or news sites but from online social networks. In their rush to trumpet the news, these people also spread rumors, half-truths and innuendo. No, Jeff Goldblum did not plunge to his death from a New Zealand cliff.<br /></li><li><strong>The TMIer.<br /></strong>"Brad is heading to Walgreens to buy something for these pesky hemorrhoids." Boundaries of privacy and decorum don't seem to exist for these too-much-information updaters, who unabashedly offer up details about their sex lives, marital troubles and bodily functions. Thanks for sharing.<br /></li><li><strong>The Bad Grammarian.<br /></strong>"So sad about Fara Fauset but Im so gladd its friday yippe". Yes, I know the punctuation rules are different in the digital world. And, no, no one likes a spelling-Nazi schoolmarm. But you sound like a moron.<br /></li><li><strong>The Sympathy-Baiter.<br /></strong>"Barbara is feeling sad today." "Man, am I glad that's over." "Jim could really use some good news about now." Like anglers hunting for fish, these sad sacks cast out their hooks -- baited with vague tales of woe -- in the hopes of landing concerned responses. Genuine bad news is one thing, but these manipulative posts are just pleas for attention.<br /></li><li><strong>The Lurker.<br /></strong>The Peeping Toms of Facebook, these voyeurs are too cautious, or maybe too lazy, to update their status or write on your wall. But once in a while, you'll be talking to them and they'll mention something you posted, so you know they're on your page, hiding in the shadows. It's just a little creepy.<br /></li><li><strong>The Crank.<br /></strong>These curmudgeons, like the trolls who spew hate in blog comments, never met something they couldn't complain about. "Carl isn't really that impressed with idiots who don't realize how idiotic they are." [Actual status update.] Keep spreading the love.<br /></li><li><strong>The Paparazzo.<br /></strong>Ever visit your Facebook page and discover that someone's posted a photo of you from last weekend's party -- a photo you didn't authorize and haven't even seen? You'd really rather not have to explain to your mom why you were leering like a drunken hyena and French-kissing a bottle of Jagermeister.<br /></li><li><strong>The Maddening Obscurist.<br /></strong>"If not now then when?" "You'll see..." "Grist for the mill." "John is, small world." "Dave thought he was immune, but no. No, he is not." [Actual status updates, all.] Sorry, but you're not being mysterious -- just nonsensical.<br /></li><li><strong>The Chronic Inviter.<br /></strong>"Support my cause. Sign my petition. Play Mafia Wars with me. Which 'Star Trek' character are you? Here are the 'Top 5 cars I have personally owned.' Here are '25 Things About Me.' Here's a drink. What drink are you? We're related! I took the 'What President Are You?' quiz and found out I'm Millard Fillmore! What president are you?"</li></ol><p>After reading these, I'm PRETTY sure I'm <strong>THE LURKER!!</strong> At my 10 year high school reunion, I could not stop myself from telling people that I've seen pictures of their families on facebook. HELLO, I haven't seen these people in 10 YEARS...WHY am I openly admiting that I've stalked them on facebook? I think most people have some of "the lurker" in them....so hopefully, I didn't freak some people out! :) </p><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Who would you be??</span></strong> </p><p><strong>Sidenote:</strong> </p><p>I'm pretty sure that I'm going to put <a href="http://crewzn.blogspot.com/">Life with Liz </a>in category #1 - Status update from early today said "Organizing bookshelves, doing dishes, doing laundry, then finishing my book!". haha.</p><p> </p>Chopsticks and Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974444192817438513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128473561222133534.post-25500395808481564902009-08-20T07:39:00.000-07:002009-08-24T12:01:43.852-07:00Cake Decoration Class - Round Two<div>This week, we learned borders and clowns. I was a little weary about the the whole clown lesson, but they turned out to be really cute. In the class, you spend the whole time practicing yours skills on a board...and you literally have 10 minutes to decorate the actual cake. The majority of those ten minutes, you are trying to mix colors and fill your bag with icing....so you have about 4 minutes to decorate the actual cake. It's a total bummer because you really can't take your time to make a masterpiece and show off your skills. </div><div></div><br /><div>Tiffany and I have been the last to leave both times. Michael's pretty much has the lights turned off in the store as we are walking out with our cakes. For a play by play recap, visit <a href="http://whenagirlsgottagab.blogspot.com/2009/08/ice-queen.html">Life is Glam & Fab.</a> </div><br /><div>I dedicated this week's cake to my blog and it's avid followers.<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372059190101099266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvpg-Ecap9G1U30msd1nnsE2CprhIE7ArsEInTevp48bHHeJiqkpZK36yL7WRDx3UInaWkckCpJybYR4HX7mjvWRXBYMaooFGJWOCo15bd3WbBz3nQG2SCNBogRHGcNkjfQaYviEJ4CQ/s320/use+this.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>Next week....roses and rainbows! </div>Chopsticks and Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974444192817438513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128473561222133534.post-74913665743012255552009-08-18T12:49:00.000-07:002009-08-24T13:11:21.407-07:00Pearls' Pantry Challenge!!!<div>On Sunday night, Chops made Zataran's Dirty Rice for dinner. I didn't eat any because I decided to drink my dinner at happy hour instead...a choice I clearly regretted at work on Monday morning! Since the Dirty Rice mix makes a fairly large portion, I figured that we would have leftovers for dinner on Monday night. That was my plan! </div><br /><div>As I'm pulling out the tupperware last night to start the reheating process....Chopsticks proceeds to tell me that he accidentally left it out on the counter all night long with the words..."Do you think it's still okay?". Well....no...I don't think ground beef and cheesy rice is okay after being at room temperature for over 12 hours. </div><br /><div>Since we don't really have much food left after the weekend, I figured I would have to go pick something up...which James HATES to do on a weekday. He chooses to gourd himself at lunch everyday with his coworkers and prefers a home cooked meal at night. He also doesn't like to spend $6.95 on a bowl of pad tai noodles from Fire Bowl because it might just break the bank. </div><br /><div>Since I wasn't okay with eating a plain ham sandwich and 4 kiwi's for dinner, I started getting annoyed. Well...apparently Chopsticks knows all the tricks in the book because he immediately switched the TV channel to Food Network (my fav!) and announced <strong>Pearls' Pantry Challenge</strong>!!!! I had 30 minutes to use whatever ingredients we had in the pantry to make something for dinner! </div><br /><div>Everyone knows I love a good challenge. Well.....I got HYPED and ran straight into the kitchen to get to work.....while James immediately switched the channel back to Monday Night NFL Countdown...and patted himself on the back for his little accomplishment. I'm in the kitchen making a home cooked meal..and he will not have to spend a penny.</div><div> </div><div>Over the next 30 minutes, he randomly yelled out my remaining time left....as I scurried around throwing canned goods into various pots...and chopping up what was left of our remaining vegetables. It helped that my neighbor randomly brought over some fresh ceviche and shrimp for us to try....more ingredients for me to use!!!! Is it sad that I actually thought about not using the ceviche because it would be against the "challenge" rules? </div><br /><div>Well, when all was said and done...I was over my time limit, but had a fulfilling free meal!! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!! I'm ready for the big leagues!!!</div><br /><div align="center"><strong>Vegetarian Taco Salad</strong><br />with Black Beans & Spanish Rice </div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371403260138398306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gdzlhm5om5n8odWArs7QDqJk75CKBSEGK8P4r35dbGYGXcDMrTVtCUGOhGmeAA8QHVkQmtmV5_BKoIFRrFzV7LZc6-FTuw2v11SH-L9bZ-2ZUlg6J7PdoZ-D4-ykAbMj3BIxjMBc4jc/s320/DSC04525.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>NOTE: Rice was made with rotel instead of diced tomato's....I had to improvise! I was a true competitor and thought outside the box.</div><br /><div>I tried to take a picture of my masterpiece, but Chops dove in too fast. I guess his double patty cheeseburger and fries at lunch, and the mid-afternoon beef jerky snack wasn't enough to tie him over til dinner.</div><div></div><br /><div>Bobby Flav - Email <a href="mailto:chopsticksandpearls@gmail.com">chopsticksandpearls@gmail.com</a> if you are interested in having me on your show. Clearly, I am experienced enough for your competition. </div><br /><div></div>Chopsticks and Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974444192817438513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128473561222133534.post-4956060468778883342009-08-12T12:58:00.000-07:002009-08-24T13:11:21.407-07:00Happy Anniversary, Chops!<div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrb6qxpdov1g4YBxpn7KkXSUKfVwRU1MV44rmB-aLlVPo0BojeqvIOSiNeZ4EA-VKTzwMGgXnB1M15Le_E2-2KY8zJfR8UoRG7V4Ib6vEpbiF4oYW2nedR-dZfcOwgz3SvOOWLBkiaOLM/s1600-h/566762364206_0_ALB.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369174171341316658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrb6qxpdov1g4YBxpn7KkXSUKfVwRU1MV44rmB-aLlVPo0BojeqvIOSiNeZ4EA-VKTzwMGgXnB1M15Le_E2-2KY8zJfR8UoRG7V4Ib6vEpbiF4oYW2nedR-dZfcOwgz3SvOOWLBkiaOLM/s320/566762364206_0_ALB.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHSJgpHo7mv0MwjHvvOxNpJkTDOlgNS_7xgHfoUXgL9JgJP2NN_iR0R4TeEukbPGkg-0ujTP4Msxmuqsw4RU0eEb-kahNKTSN_Oc_bCZiQU7h_1xq8Rx2FT4Nmpy5G127MFDx4OlqBmc/s1600-h/871745364206_0_ALB.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 134px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369174042521601506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHSJgpHo7mv0MwjHvvOxNpJkTDOlgNS_7xgHfoUXgL9JgJP2NN_iR0R4TeEukbPGkg-0ujTP4Msxmuqsw4RU0eEb-kahNKTSN_Oc_bCZiQU7h_1xq8Rx2FT4Nmpy5G127MFDx4OlqBmc/s200/871745364206_0_ALB.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigU0RD7836H4Dsel2KDHIioS-jRgTBG8lPViEzdaoCCfxg8l1nqwVw1Fv6xs9S2HoDnICFqUa0mQ-qxiVXdKxDtZFu30I_1Vjon38rer1LKmo4fjRBR1uXP699tOGQssvowgqGLpBF3Gk/s1600-h/539480364206_0_ALB.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 134px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369173821949296610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigU0RD7836H4Dsel2KDHIioS-jRgTBG8lPViEzdaoCCfxg8l1nqwVw1Fv6xs9S2HoDnICFqUa0mQ-qxiVXdKxDtZFu30I_1Vjon38rer1LKmo4fjRBR1uXP699tOGQssvowgqGLpBF3Gk/s200/539480364206_0_ALB.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHSJgpHo7mv0MwjHvvOxNpJkTDOlgNS_7xgHfoUXgL9JgJP2NN_iR0R4TeEukbPGkg-0ujTP4Msxmuqsw4RU0eEb-kahNKTSN_Oc_bCZiQU7h_1xq8Rx2FT4Nmpy5G127MFDx4OlqBmc/s1600-h/871745364206_0_ALB.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 133px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369173984815300066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDts-9Cm0Z55cyrgFnJmw9iPumh3ydcVOXU1F50YSLRin7rVNkgRstbTbm_jCVO45kbUTl08iPiBKGkjKlwqlSJNcYplLqfecHGCmlfszmM2_2iuv6zM5tmz88gJfuZUgkhIZY_o8Iufs/s200/796332364206_0_ALB.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Three years ago today, James and I tied the knot! In honor of our celebration, I dedicated the cake I made last night in my "Cake Decorating 101" class to our anniversary. </div><br /><div align="center">Complete with our wedding colors and everything!<br /><br /></div><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369175555419400178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4NVZDEA2gmGHs3xToJPLOIsSOTJDw0DBJACrdijIyKPHEdLj-x5zTUW_2TUGlg002mCAsUDJaR6SXBkK-MIJNFzStGVc39GLm70rR-7rc82MsVdr1XlftCvD-twbbrdXmwXlhq2E95M/s320/DSC04516.JPG" /><strong>NOTE: Last night's class was more about the proper way to ice a cake and less about the actual "decorating". Please note how evenly its iced. :) We added the decoration the last 2.5 minutes of class.</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDhExZvngK8d65EOzTa7WCAxT4VISaJN_ZQzJPYPp76aYPKIIUpXu5hGNZ8VHG391Ch6RCIDJD9hOUwvNpLHCxcJQ3xMSpa67pwoif9YZM7c5O5uUVSkOdYXOIzCz02W8UFM7zk_R3dY/s1600-h/DSC04517.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369175643109719714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDhExZvngK8d65EOzTa7WCAxT4VISaJN_ZQzJPYPp76aYPKIIUpXu5hGNZ8VHG391Ch6RCIDJD9hOUwvNpLHCxcJQ3xMSpa67pwoif9YZM7c5O5uUVSkOdYXOIzCz02W8UFM7zk_R3dY/s320/DSC04517.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>For a recap of our experience in Wilton's Cake Decoarting Class 101 at Micheals, go to </strong><a href="http://whenagirlsgottagab.blogspot.com/"><strong>"Life is Glam & Fab". </strong></a><strong>She explained the evening fairly accurately. :)</strong><br /></div><br /><div><br /><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><br /><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Our original wedding cake:</strong><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369174389776261266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEX4TfSyxq6COGCIF-FnsmCtoz589Sx7P1KFSg4FsFGrUU2ZM_4TZy6EXopxkG2qX-lHJwnjUrpSepVxOEMKsddTE1ow3nYgswxSMGReJZ5D10hs9tWE3bL205-9omfBB1tjrV6DgVZBk/s320/477615364206_0_ALB.jpg" /> This was us eating the top of our wedding cake 2 years ago~ sorry for the blurry pictures! Once we took all the disgusting flowers off the top, it was actually quite good!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6Az47wLzgUb9BLXoeXOg9uh0JqKqL2S0jj4nb8bq75SgAJTltnNpwSP5en6yBkjN4kUc1Up4RJXfYmMDpT7slAXKVejDhHH2EKvoEmclPFUk9OKHJUf6JUUiTKTEdRZDKMjNL1truxk/s1600-h/US+Open+023.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369175275646798594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6Az47wLzgUb9BLXoeXOg9uh0JqKqL2S0jj4nb8bq75SgAJTltnNpwSP5en6yBkjN4kUc1Up4RJXfYmMDpT7slAXKVejDhHH2EKvoEmclPFUk9OKHJUf6JUUiTKTEdRZDKMjNL1truxk/s320/US+Open+023.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3aicTidg29pjpzLZEdq5iz85mFO2ETtQ4iwxixkuIbY3zmD8QrLfwfhp0XH4eqFnHYZdJtOVKIS9UIlKVTHxCmHoPP75J46uoR_MJCaiUms0ajkjXEPadV5P2VBB5mZLf4k-sQugPoI/s1600-h/US+Open+025.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369175345137226514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3aicTidg29pjpzLZEdq5iz85mFO2ETtQ4iwxixkuIbY3zmD8QrLfwfhp0XH4eqFnHYZdJtOVKIS9UIlKVTHxCmHoPP75J46uoR_MJCaiUms0ajkjXEPadV5P2VBB5mZLf4k-sQugPoI/s320/US+Open+025.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, BABE!!!<br />To many more years of wedding bliss! :) haha.<br />Did I really just say that?</span></strong></div><div> </div></div></div></div></div>Chopsticks and Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974444192817438513noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128473561222133534.post-16008739955410865892009-08-10T07:10:00.000-07:002009-08-24T11:44:10.800-07:00One person's trash.....<strong>Is another person's treasure!!!!</strong><br /><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">A few weeks ago, our neighborhood had <strong>"Bulk Trash Pick-Up".</strong> You always know when it's about that time because you street starts to look a little 'WT'....if you catch my drift. You've got random refrigerators sitting by the curb....sinks.... ratty old couches etc. Occasionally, you will pass by something and think "I can't BELIEVE they are getting rid of that!".<div></div align="left"><br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Well friends. This time, I actually did something about it. On my way home from work, I was driving through our neighborhood and saw this chest of drawers sitting outside someones house. They were old..the back was falling off...cobb webs on the inside, but it was solid wood! Surely with a little TLC, I could make this a nice piece of furniture. SO...with James still at work, I loaded it into my car..by myself. I only WISH I had a picture of me doing this. It was SOO heavy. I don't know where I came up with the strength to do it, but if there is a will...there's a way!</div><div align="left"><br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">As I was piling it into my car..not one, but <strong>TWO </strong>people drove by and said that they also saw this on their way home ...and they were coming back to pick this up! That's when I knew I wasn't crazy for doing this...and it was a steal! <br /><br /></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">I took it straight to Tiffany's house because I knew James wouldn't have the same "vision" as I did. He was heading out of town the following weekend, and I decided he didn't need to know ALL the details about my project. :) <br /><br /></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">So after one hot Sunday and $20 at Home Depot, it's finally finished!!! I have a brand new piece of furniture!! What do you think??</div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwh1JZky751LutjDJ4MELlKPLtrnU0vqMagAVNerSsam6Fo9WaA1uHq6Tu_3AH-MZQfAHf4SwQZq7ZxR4tNek0JOnzti23Gc-XbgZdNWyn_c-AfM0mELFm7aJlfS5ABXShAsYb9Q_L6k/s1600-h/DSC04466.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369089111109427586" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwh1JZky751LutjDJ4MELlKPLtrnU0vqMagAVNerSsam6Fo9WaA1uHq6Tu_3AH-MZQfAHf4SwQZq7ZxR4tNek0JOnzti23Gc-XbgZdNWyn_c-AfM0mELFm7aJlfS5ABXShAsYb9Q_L6k/s320/DSC04466.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHyRx8oH4JXrMdImw8ruDRDu0tNSVuH5TeSjxIBGa0YTnhT9aacblFkRSOQezhkpelZK9lquZmJ9OM54yBLqjJE67ezcGnG-GnRsKLXDfwnnyhFd1fU3kQg56E1t4oCMPk-VI_oBfeig/s1600-h/DSC04503.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369089313843853522" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHyRx8oH4JXrMdImw8ruDRDu0tNSVuH5TeSjxIBGa0YTnhT9aacblFkRSOQezhkpelZK9lquZmJ9OM54yBLqjJE67ezcGnG-GnRsKLXDfwnnyhFd1fU3kQg56E1t4oCMPk-VI_oBfeig/s320/DSC04503.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />BEFORE & AFTER</span></strong></div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong><div align="left"><br />NOTE: The "before" picture was after I gave it a good wipe down. I don't have a picture of what it looked like RIGHT off the street.<br /><br />The project was super easy!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOW3RMtn6vbkd1tni4nBWY3S_0l_P3m_ElL93PIbChkRT6TAjYV8AhU2arGxbJczej6W_4D6MBF7Nn9ZTnky1Bg6d6OYv-cbYoPjS_koy2yQVc4D_bVAlq7MMDXz6s8LE3z72cLNCBFNY/s1600-h/DSC04470.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369089904028437314" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOW3RMtn6vbkd1tni4nBWY3S_0l_P3m_ElL93PIbChkRT6TAjYV8AhU2arGxbJczej6W_4D6MBF7Nn9ZTnky1Bg6d6OYv-cbYoPjS_koy2yQVc4D_bVAlq7MMDXz6s8LE3z72cLNCBFNY/s200/DSC04470.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgwMHLLfyXa-pOvE0dUm0VH3TuWJlJTBqva4bvuKZNJYSVXMSzc4Ya72EW6RZ4neP_KskuE9lULHqZx3SW3xNKwejuHuC6mnswqOl_mRV0IfUYj-nQrMS5Jl0mDF6_IrD2ueZt1nafQE/s1600-h/DSC04473.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369090214880876402" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgwMHLLfyXa-pOvE0dUm0VH3TuWJlJTBqva4bvuKZNJYSVXMSzc4Ya72EW6RZ4neP_KskuE9lULHqZx3SW3xNKwejuHuC6mnswqOl_mRV0IfUYj-nQrMS5Jl0mDF6_IrD2ueZt1nafQE/s200/DSC04473.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369090017576609458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK49o32RLOyjgxG1VqUDzk2K0TJDkSjZzfIzdw-JvExYIv7_UAWrCDDeOPsjvSoYHoswUGfYQrE09hsUECCl2FZXEW0T_bds_8NWYtZQuYUK9qzq_xWKFPtvAer5k583uqPq5u35aVQHo/s200/DSC04471.JPG" border="0" /><br />I gave it a good wipe down, sanded all surfaces, and took the hardware off the drawers.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBPVQma1EmXo3lL0ldE7rox1j7RmU4S7oWc_bBCZ1bDVTCtxUGsbjxWUc8oQC9cv16gl5w31RkRerqBtgE79MjWb2xUeiJTornz96KkDd8Qs5B5ADzg840HDe29BL1Xp5i3bcZ73ms1U/s1600-h/DSC04476.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369090635850118770" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBPVQma1EmXo3lL0ldE7rox1j7RmU4S7oWc_bBCZ1bDVTCtxUGsbjxWUc8oQC9cv16gl5w31RkRerqBtgE79MjWb2xUeiJTornz96KkDd8Qs5B5ADzg840HDe29BL1Xp5i3bcZ73ms1U/s200/DSC04476.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDv42tv4-q_lBPEOQS8l3FeUOjtl3vx2Pzn6aeMRUhoO8Bwi-xTIDL4WeN7w9TIIcVchszlkW_0RvEOaCwH_4mYtalog_eUskN7G6QaSS8sCan73kgjlGdvjGmhw3vQqrckfuY5hkDCg/s1600-h/DSC04480.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369090841110854002" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDv42tv4-q_lBPEOQS8l3FeUOjtl3vx2Pzn6aeMRUhoO8Bwi-xTIDL4WeN7w9TIIcVchszlkW_0RvEOaCwH_4mYtalog_eUskN7G6QaSS8sCan73kgjlGdvjGmhw3vQqrckfuY5hkDCg/s200/DSC04480.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369090754192851858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNhkKGQvElI7a8hUlkYqo20rUW02V3_g4HVtFqfcI6CK1Q7PDRlIYLQ8Y4Hg26FACeT2O54JwOWlIOb1x6o3uVxJsNIkPC7_zbVrJxm_FR6V7tlqjS47UG2qVjuJ05pbasqV38agxvfY/s200/DSC04479.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />I did<strong> two</strong> coats of Mirawax Gel Stain in Dark Walnut and then finished with a Mirawax polyurethane finishing coat.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNz_-EfT9rPzUBBN0HRqtMcyQxo-yLvdyDKH6568vFZTDr8G2jticuZB9ogSFK1t3-p3R14eLf_VM6_c_QnRcdhpkJB323t1zJWWerj1zF-nAIsYZviM1qn-6PJvzC2qR5VsyGof_NdWk/s1600-h/DSC04493.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369091122251984898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNz_-EfT9rPzUBBN0HRqtMcyQxo-yLvdyDKH6568vFZTDr8G2jticuZB9ogSFK1t3-p3R14eLf_VM6_c_QnRcdhpkJB323t1zJWWerj1zF-nAIsYZviM1qn-6PJvzC2qR5VsyGof_NdWk/s200/DSC04493.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcp8O_99EKHZdDUcQh3NU87EJqlZ07CzhOYVltlwl_knqL50q3L_VFUB9RtJMOZ0voS0rJn96m4ay8BVvGnnzFrfasZ0s2-MjntGVcvvPTDxr7LjsXRcUmWGCPKFfCONdBC5CuNPaH8aA/s1600-h/DSC04498.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369091384257518386" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcp8O_99EKHZdDUcQh3NU87EJqlZ07CzhOYVltlwl_knqL50q3L_VFUB9RtJMOZ0voS0rJn96m4ay8BVvGnnzFrfasZ0s2-MjntGVcvvPTDxr7LjsXRcUmWGCPKFfCONdBC5CuNPaH8aA/s200/DSC04498.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369091248736271394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVLSwGOPn7C1e9ppixtrFvyxhVU894JttdPJjSVDGG246W2k6lLVLe1eG01g_mhlg46SwH9Dbog2CEgNpJQRHvZr1wvZcVq7FVRD93qfHkAtXS8g3UNC0igNIIj2GUcnWWr7R9Fg7f4M/s200/DSC04491.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br />The hardware gave me some issues. I first tried to "polish" them up with Tarnex to give them a good shine and remove the tarnish. I don't know what happened, but I think I completely stripped the bronze of their original finish. One turned pink and the other was just multi-colored. So...I went with a back-up plan....SPRAY PAINT!!! <div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0tpka8qBY59g5mP6dKtMnQ1dqdoZI3pjXXdjOzb94GAiJK9rZ-8lrbkbJ4zJ2bQpaxyfVmNZXfSMQnruOMMwezH_4idQ13zn5yEk7n0Oz6NkHc_p_pNwHE8XdFDCVZTKDoxrhlaR_6A/s1600-h/DSC04481.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369091520090848594" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0tpka8qBY59g5mP6dKtMnQ1dqdoZI3pjXXdjOzb94GAiJK9rZ-8lrbkbJ4zJ2bQpaxyfVmNZXfSMQnruOMMwezH_4idQ13zn5yEk7n0Oz6NkHc_p_pNwHE8XdFDCVZTKDoxrhlaR_6A/s320/DSC04481.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369091695736804578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBJdx9jrHNtN3G2emRva9t7C6XbmBl6LDhD5r36ybNUwJV_P6oy0kN6FMBNZTstK7Lpm_Rru6LyYt5MYbAGbuDNUfdI9XuX8uVZG6OTwKrZbUPcMABiwdBq03AGeJ7Wt2vLiqlBBaO5w/s320/DSC04483.JPG" border="0" /><br />TADA!!! The finished product! It didn't quite fit in our guest bedroom, but it was perfect for this little spot in our entry way. We had an old desk there that didn't go at all...not that a chest of drawers goes in a dining room, but it's much better!<br /><br />So....what did I do with my new STORAGE???<br /><br /><br />ORGANIZE ALL MY WRAPPING PAPER SUPPLIES!! :)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eGO4EZe8k0O152vQ2xt-NK6MKz4NlXG9oP-ETOHlgfgLczqCme8-OVw4PnyQ47PKkp13upUJ5YIc_Rxi8XSuMK_ASrqp9O8PdNDcnmZ7NxIsAFM6nG3uKYTbqWuPQKlK6f2ZXhTp3Uc/s1600-h/DSC04506.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369092001676717346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eGO4EZe8k0O152vQ2xt-NK6MKz4NlXG9oP-ETOHlgfgLczqCme8-OVw4PnyQ47PKkp13upUJ5YIc_Rxi8XSuMK_ASrqp9O8PdNDcnmZ7NxIsAFM6nG3uKYTbqWuPQKlK6f2ZXhTp3Uc/s320/DSC04506.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBHYbjYFNO2UPUemEygZYS7NfhfF4pG67IoeehpNKTuxHsv_-qIMl5QVyOvnA_uBwiGhFyj5fEA4Bbp3CXIivyDmjsTuJc_aTMUGRppvHX1gUmhpZ6ghKncrRNQi775fcAP5qfdaLCmQ/s1600-h/DSC04508.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369092292091959522" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBHYbjYFNO2UPUemEygZYS7NfhfF4pG67IoeehpNKTuxHsv_-qIMl5QVyOvnA_uBwiGhFyj5fEA4Bbp3CXIivyDmjsTuJc_aTMUGRppvHX1gUmhpZ6ghKncrRNQi775fcAP5qfdaLCmQ/s320/DSC04508.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369092178887679730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZDVvURhVpRCLEbIBgF0PPjpnoZwPeD66lgAiRcvny6Z_fJEgq0-hP1atkV9JwDn4rlDpQVG8kra-IZnYIxW_AiTN1V1_r4z-2pBq379J0qurIE-jwki7fp2Qf6kSaUTP5bGXv8qxy2Y/s320/DSC04507.JPG" border="0" /><br /><strong>Yes - I admit it. I'm a tissue paper saver AND gift bag re-user.</strong><br /><br />I can't tell you how much space this opened up in our study. The 4th drawer has gift bags, but no matter what angle I took the picture...it looked "messy"...even though it was completely organized. So I opted out of including it! :)Chopsticks and Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974444192817438513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128473561222133534.post-90996953593441387552009-08-05T11:24:00.000-07:002009-08-24T12:01:43.853-07:00Good Summer Recipes!Chopsticks and I have actually been in town the past few weekends and it's been SO nice. We've watched movies, we got things done around the house, and I've had time to try some new summer recipes. It's always a gamble with new recipes.....you win some, you lose some. And I have to say the following three recipes were WINNERS!!!! <div><br /><div align="center"><strong>Mustard Glaze BBQ Chicken</strong></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366555547797729554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 383px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDweczyiC6lPiEvYIvrOAHwf7EVbopS1vyZWXtMrvYt-IZJqk_ebuGGrD1EoQIpf75dOypStETZPIZX5D_tNRDQB7edL7jOtU15TzgI55dNTIAxL8rWAI323Q_fj6kroVIZxAavg0sL68/s400/IMG_7772_edited.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>I got this recipe from <a href="http://elizabethsedibleexperience.blogspot.com/2009/06/man-up.html">Elizabeth's Edibles</a>, who got it from Cooking Light. This is one of my favorite cooking websites. Everything she posts always looks so good and I love the "step by step" pictures. This recipe was easy and VERY yummy. I used a grill pan and cooked the chicken over the stove. It made a nice glaze..and was juicy and flavorful all the way to the bone. </div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Jerk Chicken Salad from Z Tejas<br /><br /></strong></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366555541942086722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjYtAcKTBuC9AKt6KL8q69XblEdNpQGUOFXEBWEYp9DN0ggqDWOK7M9H5KAfHO__M_nwIyDudofyVA1Z46bcbRNDkPF1fvSIzBwXU_lH1P9IJo6bkfHETEUKcOYpcuUhLVRCarLoGSO4/s400/DSC04465.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>This is my very <a href="http://www.ztejas.com/pdf/Jerk_Chicken_Recipe.pdf">FAVORITE salad</a> in Austin. I ordered it the first time I went to this restaurant and I never looked back. I'm sure their restaurant has other good things on the menu, but I'll never know because I will ALWAYS get this salad. I randomly tried to look it up online and what do you know? I found the recipe! Yes - it's a lot of ingredients, but if you have a spice rack, you probably have most of them. Don't be scared by everything you mix in the salad dressing...it's good...promise! I did skip a few things I didn't have (ie. ginger)...and it was still tasty. I also used a whisk because I don't have a food processor, and it worked just fine. </div><br /><div align="center"><strong>Shrimp PoBoys</strong></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366555543586850194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2QLdXfaOlaYpwRn95mLr_ovUVYiIKYFwh2JW9eOuJuOzFCYCXv4TFT9qbABINVp-Lj3rvPlFH0h2YCoJuvqBRILrUEoIG25FfYylRyZbO0QCXGyV4jckNHnNvV8oIZdOVnAaYAOUl2c/s400/untitled.bmp" border="0" /><br /><div>This is another recipe I found on <a href="http://elizabethsedibleexperience.blogspot.com/2008/04/do-you-know-what-it-means.html">Elizabeth's Edibles</a>. The sauce was AMAZING and tastes just like you were ordering it on Bourbon Street. I did bread and fry the shrimp with some olive oil in a skillet because I wanted the crispy taste. I used the soft homemade french bread rolls from HEB...with some tomatoes, lettuce and pickles.....mmm mmm good. It was a bit time consuming because there were so many steps, but on a Friday night with a glass of wine...I didn't mind!<br /></div><div><br /><strong>Note:</strong> I will say that some of these recipes make A LOT of servings...so I had to cut it down quite a bit for just Chops and I. I cut one down by 1/3rd...and I needed a TI-83 calculator. Where is Reams when I need her?<br /></div><div></div></div>Chopsticks and Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974444192817438513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128473561222133534.post-46707401702388141692009-07-28T10:48:00.000-07:002009-08-24T11:44:10.800-07:00DIY: Nailhead Trim Upholstered Headboard<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363578776034841074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 360px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 288px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmt9Fp5OYy98P4GI67fRSiTo_zHGDPQreIYrtQer9WhOnM2w6IZknNYmeH6ymdS1q6B-Df5HhZG2lkkxT1c0H16RKoGpGsfTfaBt0Ec7QZNd9WtF3C890daMb13zoIt3T-U2zpBUNckuc/s400/img45m.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Williams <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Sonoma</span> Home: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Gramercy</span> Headboard<br /></strong>Price Tag: $1,250 - $2,650</div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363578780561376786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 360px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 288px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Jtd0n4jPWyQv5MM5ChbpvN586XREHvxcM1kFJt02vdwlC4Cw-R_RAhC5fXbuo7vqROmUHYVOj0K_zekANlyNpa3Vlny0k0yBSznpNdY6MLO_lPfxefZCWyd34Gqs0DgZYOvZoJb30Bo/s400/img51m.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><br /><strong>Williams <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Sonoma</span> Home: Sutton Bed</strong><br />Price Tag: $2,250 - $8,650<br /><br /></p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363579235632360914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4B86QLo8-LLh7V4RccEUpgjEsS5cOBGntiZeVVsOshwgYzDDs4uwtWj1MO-sjnGYkHoQUKBEtAyZXz8ofmAQpWFTVi542Wh6xN2fwwLrZKcWadrVf5kzLto4eg1EvACjefYiUcNaatA/s400/DSC04462.JPG" border="0" /><br /><strong>Chopsticks & Pearls <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">DIY</span> Weekend Project<br /></strong>Price Tag: $60<br /><br /></p>I'm not gonna lie. I'm pretty impressed with how this project came out. We got a new queen size mattress in June for our guest bedroom. I've been looking EVERYWHERE for a headboard that comes lower than the window sill and have had no luck! So...with nothing on the books last weekend, I decided I would try and make my own.<br /><p><strong>Step 1:</strong> Purchase your supplies & measure your ideal headboard size<br /><br /><strong>Supply List:<br /></strong><strong>2 Yards of Fabric</strong> (will work for any size headboard). Of course, I loved an expensive fabric. Make sure and look for coupons before you shop. I found a 40% off coupon online!)<br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Nailhead</span> Trim Kit -</strong> Make sure and buy the "kit" and not the individual <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">nailheads</span>. Trust me. I learned the hard way this weekend. It's MUCH easier to nail every 4 nails.<br /><strong>Plywood</strong> - If you want to make a square headboard, most hardware stores will cut the exact size you need. If you want to make rounded edges and your husband is anything like mine, you might need to ask a carpenter or handyman to cut it our. :) I also used a 3/8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">th</span> inch plywood because I didn't want to drill holes in the wall to hang..I wanted something light. You can get a much thicker plywood (1 1/2 inch) if you want a sturdier look.<br /><strong>Mallet -</strong> I would use a mallet over a hammer because a hammer can dent the look of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">nailheads</span><br /><strong>Batting -</strong> I purchase two yards of standard batting from the fabric store.<br /><strong>Staple Gun -</strong> I had this already!<br /><strong>Picture Hanging Kit -</strong> I used a 30 pound picture hook to mount the headboard on the wall.<br /><strong>Wire Cutters -</strong> To cut the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">nailhead</span> trip and picture wire<br /><strong>Screwdriver</strong><br /><br /></p><strong>2. Step Two:</strong> Iron your fabric!!!! Don't be lazy and skip this step! Surely, I don't have to show a picture.....surely.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363579260378336146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5URoJPC5HztOq8acRvXu7nqY-Ob88adQJ8zD73_TMwTgDluFnmszeruXQODkhf7Rhs3Z-z2eWLzr0Y1HecQZ-omdVJDt2BrE_Ir_Bp2zEiaGy7FHnfNJqjeBWEiVzsCyae1FXFuZBB3Q/s400/DSC04447.JPG" border="0" /><br /><strong>3. Step Three:</strong> Use a staple gun to attach the fabric and batting to the plywood. Make sure you pull the fabric pretty tight around the edges.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363579271022471618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJxdEMpJa3xj2zl3sXE-Dujx323XI3P8ybOGVQNxIgJmYszMUlxCrBT2m1m63iY5YE7xUau4iwN06o-Wxbmxmy_datf6ecHLeRciXYyn88Maxfqs9FxH1fkOSU2kvowm6AfrsBlDLkyE/s400/DSC04448.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363579277263608610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2FCzkyUBAB3O0WrCdbiXdarpCehyphenhyphenqLI0M_JD2eKfKrDTSV_Ryg-xKUXgn58UyuUSyY-3Wgm3iuqxUWUWvn0rWE1nq0zdeoRCl3MEukgRBYr8gBQQalAwT9BuHsSpZ-CzDtZCHPwDym4/s400/DSC04450.JPG" border="0" /><br /><strong>4. Step Four:</strong> Hammer the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">nailheads</span> around the headboard. I did this on our dining room table and used a quilt to protect the table from any scratches etc. Also, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">nailheads</span> can be sharp....especially when you cut the ends. Make sure you don't cut yourself. If so, use a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">bandaid</span> - you don't want to get blood on the fabric. Trust me on this one......<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363580225701219170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWbPvyA-SRuaXdM-QqscHKvsLfs6MFFAMRDozNe-XBWi7ewV1M1RI44RUZOsqV9gMwJq4ymwyD-ma6rel2aZ5YjazYFNabEXWTUmzabTOCdOAk4HroMojvzmbHy_4-3-cyBvIrrYrczW0/s400/DSC04458.JPG" border="0" /><br />The picture below is when I tried to nail each <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">nailhead</span> individually....huge mistake! It took forever and it wasn't in a straight line. After all those mission trips in college building houses and hammering nails, I STILL a bad nail hammer-er.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363580214892719666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjCqNLOhKjyI4_sU7r8prVUtmKE2BIeYIEMC0KFv9Jw5WKsW-eUhyphenhyphenM1b867bHjm8DS8li-wFNgSxSQrZ-X_hMRR0-EVw2IuyM2HWHESCtpFvQSGcmt4gFKego9MLClvoGHb3HlKRCdAU/s400/DSC04455.JPG" border="0" /><br />Thank goodness for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">nailhead</span> trim!!!!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363580216777333538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyveZ9FRjS0D8NzNK6Lhxkq82jbJM38E-K0KbNijswFtH0yuh4QxkHAlXVXZg5XOoKheyK4FC-lht7Et0D0bGVtphtP_5F_H079yHtlUmEsLWsLcTjMWBYjUXy1r8AOeWcaaX3q-EnH0/s400/DSC04457.JPG" border="0" /><br /><strong>5. Step Five:</strong> Attached picture wire to the back of your headboard. I didn't have to use a drill for these screws. I was able to push them through with a screwdriver. Yes - I realize I need a new camera.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363580229947335666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-raQezl42Tv0OlBv_onBEUQXlZk9TH1FDKkZQE7700yIeXp9s66MVEpwnQfuzM9q3f1T3U9Yn8M5yjBXF_7f3BQNtn-fZXGYsqTjaiwK8Mbp6Q-RkiIsZ_wtPsNtiCsGaQuwU0J0X2L8/s400/DSC04460.JPG" border="0" /><br /><strong>6. Hang your headboard and admire your hard work!!!!<br /><br /></strong><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363578791295971906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6yetj59feFC3T42MGqIc69s5qG5mysRvj7ok-W5A852-xD7a4AKURrzrOokgCr0ofLs3JCg7lp8hMb9TO6rZ9T_il_oUa-kOEt28CaYQZhHEqBduUKpstKppCZrvXnA5eSMOxdcjIkE/s400/DSC04463.JPG" border="0" /><br />My plan is to get a new white coverlet for this bed, two white shams, and one or two green decorative pillows. I'm going to eventually change out these old side tables for a darker wood look to match everything else in our house!<br /><br />Now..not only do I have a new headboard for our guest room, but I have money left to spend on another <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">surprise</span> project next weekend! Stay tuned!Chopsticks and Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974444192817438513noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128473561222133534.post-5523469966159730382009-07-22T11:27:00.000-07:002009-08-24T12:02:59.025-07:004th of July Recap!<span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361354717595405250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybRB_tBmi1O59a7iQWlWb82TwtX1FRycrnW3q4QzS7XxXQvb4XhSeTlkSvWrqe3zxruI0TPZGPGXFgbRFVg5crPgAf8rLrtsuaDiNq9rvF6L6taI4bk1NTMp2s08GFi92rL2IMV5foFI/s400/james+and+I.jpg" /><br />Every year for the 4th of July, we go to our friend’s Lake House in Crockett, Texas.<br /><br />The lake holds a special place in our hearts because 4 years ago…..<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361353457386281138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB47Y-SAcv-e92G9RNordXieZlPWCHtwaTQuZMapAiKRAob9np1ZjSDqsbI9ZgDCLf18Kfga4Tq_3Dt-7ylCjhdgHTK-FeUiSpDbGpHjrVjOlSXVFk8qi__SxGvdK913lxfxQWmkHBAbs/s400/engagement.jpg" /><br /></span><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>We got engaged here!</strong><br /></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">We look forward to this weekend every year when we are all together and catch up.….and there are always new announcements.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361360817351031282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNQVBoEnJsKuxnoP8fDZG0DknBXjHQvEEEk9UMhvouZzbQY3HCuMqq632hCl3HuYkyrPn24PE0d5r5Gt7ooz3OLA24oFMo1l7jOsLPsEmMCcdaNDXvDKUrcVKt465CqKCDiM0GRMTr6k/s400/ash+and+dub.jpg" />THIS YEAR, Ashley and Dub announced they are pregnant!! We are so excited for the two of them!! So...what was the OBVIOUS next thing to do?<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361354731828729154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNADkendkFnSjX6r6D0dRFofJOfZ0JCVQHRGOKcSmLSHZlorh5ONDr93iC5S3nxSZZXZnFhg8REbDkYH8skJd3-xpUBWzY3MQvSmD8SIZU-ZcXlawhUW0t4Fi0pvEJjnPaORetlgGlN0/s400/writing.jpg" /></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">…..write on her belly with eye liner and set-up a photo-shoot! Dub was thrilled!</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">One of the highlights of the weekend was going to the new Crockett steakhouse in the town square. Yummy!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361354269199575986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_2ttm0cfknv8fYXJjEDlmU0gCnhcsNlnPlgAmflrHmc2WsNnnadWoRJqD6L-LASdt6kmxLmlOzhWzhFMP3uelX5CVAbj8C0d96ONOAuKhri4f6SIozmYuAo2uPIMjjg92OlbAP6ve_A/s400/group.jpg" />Then we headed over this not-so-classy establishment…fully equipped with a stripper poll on the stage. We were offered free shots upon arrival from the under-aged waitress/future poll dancer. We’re pretty sure they were just trying to suck up to the soon-to-be orthodontist in the group….clearly, most of the patrons in this bar/club/pool hall could benefit from a good retainer for the few teeth they had left.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361353762857371986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oUH0tSgjeVZSjblRLzBPwgMO-pg6ZJDzNSjC_Q_78No-HN3aYpdPXBqdzIxwMXFGqbk0PndFAjQ0JXlDMiPwFa1l-UFGpSBri7vaEDMu4eUc7CH_f4JNAQjpTokH31B5LCLCXedYEqs/s400/bar.jpg" />I shouldn’t be so harsh, everyone was very welcoming. The Owner/DJ/Bartender/Dad even asked Taylor if she wanted to get up on stage and dance! Of course, she was flattered, but respectfully declined the invitation. We were all a little sore from hanging onto our rafts all day in the lake. Maybe next year.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361355672731376594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdg1k6WvKWqIvplRy9yKPLxR0vNI_qW1hxc1imE5OXnNRqhUkXbDOQE37IB5ceTh4YFnrUP4Tee7A3_yGJ2NPBYjdmp3Dc1xZ8O_hRn59mhFmC8Srui9drDS5Jw3fCu1uIPpAxFU30M2w/s400/leebirds2.jpg" /><br />"Jim" (my husband's Crockett nickname) and I were in charge of Saturday dinner.....and the Second Annual LEEBIRDS’S Burrito’s….complete with Freebird’s tortillas, sauces, and those circle metal plates to fix them on. Don’t ask me how I got those.... Just be sure to tip your burrito maker and extra dollar next time you are in a Freebird’s establishment. Slowly, but surely…we will pay them back! Maybe next year, I can get an actual steamer for the tortillas. </span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361354722337751826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1MwVXdTWa47Mc41DqXj01XwAQb1UlTOAfwpufiamMfUKLDMyfC_j1-9jrLw582oYo4eEk276hoBaeBMpg0zvB7cGGd7Go2srH8AW2xvWgMX2AisJWt-hFsdFN2_8SWInoj1KvC8O5TlE/s400/leebirds.jpg" /><br /></span><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>LEEBIRD BURRITO NIGHT!!!</strong><br /></span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">Other than that, we watched the fireworks at the Country Club… </span></div><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361353774259848786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEiBXJWiyUyMmLZg3JMRFFOLOKZ6IONEHKs60uovenefcjh8dejle_cTDAF9Sx4_tKPDvNLTYgnpwtmXmjg59utvLKRuTF0hvjmmf19K5cIfsJYSporQKyKCcooLvUww4Fkj1M3lB0ic/s400/fireworks.jpg" /><br />Andy and James solved the world’s problems.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361353458584699282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TPxmxP2Z-FbJ-58fykigOE65TrqdbKY4hEPmWP2SUtH13XXkQH9xOI_3XpoTqKJ7ZvHNuUNvQ5bSigUTDXEri8p3jYTEhvPm_zIf9bU-z2-MXjobHWLyR67ylDrLnDI5WFzRlAe7fR8/s400/guys+on+floats.jpg" />Wait, let’s be honest…they were probably complaining about how their wives spend too much money and how they don't understand basic finance.<br /><br />We made flag themed desserts.... </span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361354256557532418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2GRCZsXMbzMGqXYSn8CbvCIalnc5f-QYe4sPqxXw8EKh1FBRvMBwD61cX8pF3Qy4lQImcqKO1YauUcDqGJ9ON2fZCXr0qV7a6MQyhZxchme8e-6oXd1h9LjPudOhiqHUzEDp_ZcFkqd8/s400/flag+cake.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361354261109013826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQ_Jgar7Tx3QdTL3CwCYqg2zWgqR8cwat35SxYuCsI_PxzqPlCkJ6Qn1vBgaDW3h_itcXLMns9k6xG0TskZn1TDst7DPivBgCG5KVIheLp-ORC6tHCOvmKaD1WzevPfc818N6NIXi-MQ/s400/flag+cupcakes.jpg" /><br />Sang the National Anthem to these desserts.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361354727295455250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-6EME9yl8rp0U6vl0DEkjlRD0R24SXy8Pv8gewbG3gSYMIhRFWhu5fz0CySRXYFvdFGvi2jVMHUm6-vJiraVjXfxAwOnAdQv0GxKp0J_obwrVlIA2eHmTRXgShRv_lo1DaWg5W-BIdE/s400/national+anthem.jpg" /><br />Made the famous frozen drink - the “Crockettini” only to be used in the personalized “Crockettini” Styrofoam cups.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Then there was a dance party....<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361353455159307250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2wCf3y4U1M_qVRzgd9eypO-s829Pdd7kucPsQl7xKYAmfMnZz_C59qKt4lO54-6y22r-wLv4sJMPmNM1i9nczFt6da-VHaj0tn4SScxGHfN9SAZhFFMO-WAKOg_deiChuXqZHkh-zt4/s400/dub.jpg" /><br />….where I quickly realized that I need to watch a few more YouTube instructional videos on the “stanky-leg” dance. It’s more complicated than I thought.<br /><br />Note: I can’t tell if this picture is from the dance party or when Dub was trying to dry out the aloe vera on his back…….his moves are the same for both.<br /><br />We took our yearly group pictures.....<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361354265664375570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbYtHoIIJyTnHo9s71Fh81iQN-aT0ZQOBcrXzDAPl32cBZLx0e3eflBTGPBcyepVEOtCGMgEtE83ZIu9o54rHu2jF578KFHM9dblGZT4wlO5O_KLAo26WdyATB9jwUOetlKbZ4h5hdOU/s400/girls2.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361354273650182786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-my-2IeQm-vsF66dKBcT80mR4WqU0rjIU_mHUPLBW8RjhayGGQUccJ39licw0o91YFaQpEQuyphIU0lBlUfVpEM57SgGM1kaRQlnclhaFHYnoXCm0MBpoDGOyclPcAKPr07Dqm3YLELU/s400/guys+pictures.jpg" /><br />Note #1: To all the single ladies out there, the two handsome gentlemen in the yellow shirt and navy shirt are single. Email me if you want their number!!<br /><br />Note #2: I’m pretty sure JIMBO was perusing the plethora of gossip magazines that the girls brought up to the lake. As you can see in this picture, he has been practicing leg posses and what angles work best for his body type.<br /><br />I AM pleased to report that there were NO INJURIES throughout the weekend. Some might remember Jimmy Lee’s finger incident two years ago when he was throwing an empty beer can from his float to the dock and cut his pointer finger. While I was worried whether this deep cut would need stitches and when his last tetanus shot was….JIM was more concerned that he just ruined his whole identity because he would have a scar in the middle of his fingerprint. This was not his first beer can of the day. If there is one thing you learn in Crockett, it’s to always fill up the empty beer can with lake water before throwing it back onto the dock.<br /><br />There was really only one this missing from this year’s trip……<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361363534592911170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGspsVl0LFVzaga7d53nswknsmwLXJzqv37I4aP0pZQNP0_fQtDOn-X2N1LOe_Re1w9_Vdrvru4EOqdEN45oT2L-RU3mNYyUuUY6Z6ez67oxlZ_-gM40K6yfJXdiUBw2_FkacRW33862Q/s400/MOPI+girls.jpg" /><br /></span><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>R.I.P “MEMBER’S ONLY, PRIVATE ISLAND”</strong> </span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">We had some fun times with you last year. We tried to patch you up, but you were not salvageable. We’ll always remember the girl’s days and the high pours. You were good to us. Know that your memory was present throughout the weekend through the personalize sunglasses.<br /><br /></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361353767833361666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Cx7ShjYk1-SuJe38tklqAi7moN7JEmoV9w4aynenYWzRqiAfPzXWONp2EaBUKl8EOEGxN_JvUEJ5vXqYc1LhglPStODzjI8Hx8ihuEA1e6brr-LHYRf_-J9gK2nSq0VaKsfrdq2gmbo/s400/dog.jpg" /><br />What you readers do not see…the glasses actually had “Member’s Only” written on one side and “Private Island” on the other.<br /><br />A special thanks to our hosts for the weekend:<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361353771933785330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0f1o1wo2L6RFMbyhmvDhEx-JdF8Mgui_E9mqOTJG1Ewuqt6tOYmKeR8uhCDf4V8rfO0tN3iGlmrDEYYGLPKV_EQ9I9ZmwNW2VxGcExDG8mzJekSpKKKjGGMuua_xe6l8tXwbOW42h3E/s400/drew+and+taylor.jpg" />I figured this picture would be appropriate just in case they want to remain anonymous.<br /><br /><strong>The countdown for next year begins!</strong></span><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Chopsticks and Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974444192817438513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128473561222133534.post-43257413305770453492009-07-22T07:36:00.000-07:002009-07-22T09:00:32.105-07:00Problem Solved!Look what Chopsticks found online yesterday!!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ultimatebarkcontrol.com/?gclid=CKbvlbbl55sCFQebnAodZE726A">Ultimate Bark Control</a><br /><br />.....Yeah, I'm pretty sure this is going into our August budget.<br /><br />Thank you for all the suggestions on the letter. I made a few revisions and will leave it in the mailbox this afternoon. Fingers crossed!Chopsticks and Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974444192817438513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2128473561222133534.post-62173310229037735722009-07-21T08:27:00.000-07:002009-08-24T13:11:21.407-07:00Too harsh?<em><br />Dear Neighbor –<br /><br />I just wanted to send you a quick note about your dog. I know I’m not telling you something you don’t already know, but your dog barks constantly when it’s outside. It’s a very loud bark too! Over the past two months, we feel like the noise has gotten worse….especially in the early mornings. It’s become the topic of conversation among the neighbors.<br /><br />Over the past few weeks, your dog wakes us up 45 minutes before our alarm actually goes off. I can’t tell you how frustrating it is….especially on the weekends, our only days to sleep in a bit later. I just wanted to bring this to your attention. I realize our schedules are quite different. I understand that you need to let your dog out before you head off to work. I am just asking that you bring your dog inside when he starts barking constantly or train him bark less. Our last two house guests also made comments about the noise and encouraged me to write this note.</em><span style="color:#ff0000;"><br /></span><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>The next sentence in purely for dramatic affect....it is NOT true. Simma down.<br /></strong></span><br /><em>We will actually be expecting our first child in a few months and I can already envision this being a bigger problem. <span style="color:#ff0000;"></span>Please take into consideration your surrounding neighbors. I LOVE dogs and I completely understand the trials and tribulations of being a dog owner. Hopefully, this will not be a problem for much longer. I hope you understand.<br /><br />Thanks!</em><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><span style="color:#000000;">My plan is to put this note in their mailbox this afternoon. As long as it looks like they are NOT home. I'll be quick. Its going to be anonymous, but I'm not going to put "From, Anonymous"...because I don't want to sound creepy. I hope it gets the point accross because it's ridiculous and makes me and Chopsticks grumpy EVERY morning.<br /><br />We've thought about calling the cops for a noise violation, but you have to reach a certain decimal for it to qualify...and I don't think they sell noise readers in the dollar bins at Target, so I'm out of luck. And besides....I'm about to call them to report a broken down truck on our street. I don't want to be "that girl" who always calls the police...I would hate for them to look up my parking ticket record...or we might have a bigger problem on our hands.</span><br /></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">Hopefully, this letter is the perfect solution!<br /><br /><strong>My only questions:</strong> </span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">1. Does the last part of the letter ...."Hopefully, this will not be a problem for much longer".....sound like I might DO something if it does? Because I don't want it to sound threatening in any way. I would NEVER do something like that.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#ff0000;">Update: I've been told by a few people that this sentance sound a bit threatening. So...how about: "I hope this situation will be remedied soon."</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">2. Is it possible to train your dog not to bark or should I take that line out? </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Update: Apparently, traning your dog not to bark is possible. Some suggested ideas include: cold water, shock collar, and putting them in a kennel. <br /></span><span style="color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Your suggestions are encouraged.</strong></span> </span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360935709129143474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 204px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 163px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZiSdfrhmyVOTI-lzFdtXjob6lMv-0Fqo9u3B6Q4mXDukFnnNrFekYjJPpX9ToQRTXoQi2X25JjYHV3C-PKzIe23IIfzu263RpoIzjqA8TqWvv79eMieowNr4P-G5SNs7ZCIaPtjHzYk/s400/dogbarking.jpg" border="0" />Chopsticks and Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974444192817438513noreply@blogger.com2