tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61501796074414685392024-02-20T12:06:34.205-06:00Dawn AlexanderDawn Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812066956850617957noreply@blogger.comBlogger309125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150179607441468539.post-83977634003561856192016-02-05T11:41:00.000-06:002016-02-05T11:41:39.595-06:00Jumping<br />
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Five years ago, I posted <a href="http://chasingsomeday.blogspot.com/2011/06/off-deep-end.html" target="_blank">this</a> about jumping into the world of querying and pitching. </div>
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FIVE.YEARS.AGO. </div>
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The daughter I mentioned is now a teenager. The teenager I mention is probably married and raising her own kids. Well, maybe not, but it's possible.<br />
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And, me?<br />
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Until a few months ago, I was still standing on the end of that diving board.<br />
I didn't jump.<br />
I was pushed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmaoWEw7yGMyn12OzTl5r2OLdd1EGB6PlNOdGWUZ0VQrllY_GqmbKHe-IMBt3VBsO4lYtePTMW0dBPheMrei9-X2OvKmvUaIrGS-v2yHzO3CY4QrRXDPv52OOIaR0yDE0n8wU05BX7B8/s1600/splash+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmaoWEw7yGMyn12OzTl5r2OLdd1EGB6PlNOdGWUZ0VQrllY_GqmbKHe-IMBt3VBsO4lYtePTMW0dBPheMrei9-X2OvKmvUaIrGS-v2yHzO3CY4QrRXDPv52OOIaR0yDE0n8wU05BX7B8/s320/splash+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now, all I have to do is make sure I cannon ball and not belly flop!<br />
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<br />Dawn Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812066956850617957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150179607441468539.post-54591821792190539332014-06-24T08:17:00.002-05:002014-06-24T08:17:59.997-05:00DEADLY CHEMISTRY<i>Tell Me Your Story Tuesday</i><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">Welcome</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4nCNXkmbDbctEA_BvGs_G9u_mlq1jot6jv3Qtewp5ePn_Pse2q3PFthbRTS855MEvs_f4lSuilWJG4tKInKDlq0aryY1NOX6aUwrcW3Lm_PJ-cBqZhN129hsIc1unAXPY6M4pXrdiIo/s1600/tas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4nCNXkmbDbctEA_BvGs_G9u_mlq1jot6jv3Qtewp5ePn_Pse2q3PFthbRTS855MEvs_f4lSuilWJG4tKInKDlq0aryY1NOX6aUwrcW3Lm_PJ-cBqZhN129hsIc1unAXPY6M4pXrdiIo/s1600/tas.jpg" height="200" width="141" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><a href="http://teriannestanley.com/" target="_blank">Teri Anne Stanley </a></span></div>
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I first featured Teri three years ago as my critique partner. You can read the awesome interview <a href="http://chasingsomeday.blogspot.com/2011/10/introducing-teri-ann-stanley.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Today, I am beyond excited to be featuring her again on the release of her debut,<a href="http://bit.ly/1oYm1uU" target="_blank"> Deadly Chemistry</a>.</div>
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I love Teri's ability to work humor and sarcasm into her writing voice. I mentioned her sharp wit in our first interview. It shines through in her book. </div>
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<span style="color: blue;">So, tell us about your story, Teri! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Thanks for sharing the
news about <a href="http://bit.ly/1oYm1uU" target="_blank">DEADLY CHEMISTRY</a>! It’s meant so much to me to have your friendship
and support over the past few years...what a crazy journey we’re on, huh?</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislVatZPbe771mvgViTDZgG-4S_vfllp9PX0dA9IKAllRMMMU5Y_A7qqHX2m0QGwkOEIjS0vmhfkaqmsTr7dUE34ZD1KG2j_X-yQVVg-RwNy_dbWoSxiuhENXsqsd9fOj3PiAkBfiKVB0/s1600/DeadlyChemistryHighRes+(2)+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislVatZPbe771mvgViTDZgG-4S_vfllp9PX0dA9IKAllRMMMU5Y_A7qqHX2m0QGwkOEIjS0vmhfkaqmsTr7dUE34ZD1KG2j_X-yQVVg-RwNy_dbWoSxiuhENXsqsd9fOj3PiAkBfiKVB0/s1600/DeadlyChemistryHighRes+(2)+(1).jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">Isn't that a yummy cover?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Former
undercover cop Mike Gibson has been lying low, working as a maintenance man to
put<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>his troubled younger brother
through college. But when a beautiful scientist enlists Mike’s help<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to repair the damage done to her lab
by a group of vandals, Mike finds that his, and his<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>brother's pasts, are about to be
brought to light.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span style="background: white;"> </span><br />
<span style="background: white;">Lauren Kane was happy having a secret crush on
the hot maintenance man at Tucker University,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>but
when the drug she was studying is stolen, Lauren has a chance to get to know Mike
in<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>person. The problem is, he
seems to know more about what's going on than any maintenance<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>man should. But then the drug turns up
in the wrong hands, and Mike and Lauren have to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>decide if their own chemistry will
help, or hinder, the race to save innocent lives.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">From now until June 29, DEADLY CHEMISTRY is just .99, and just <a href="http://bit.ly/1oYm1uU" target="_blank">click here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">And there’s a contest! Go <a href="http://bit.ly/1p3oOqe" target="_blank">here </a>to find the rafflecopter and other blogs I’m visiting this week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">BIO: </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Teri Anne Stanley lives in Northern Kentucky, near the
Ohio River and her beloved Interstate-</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">75, with its lush rolling semis and musical rumbling tires.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Teri has authored several scientific
articles—and a three-ingredient recipe column, but isn't allowed to write sex
scenes for them, so<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">now
she writes fun, sexy romance filled love, angst and nekkid parts.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">She's also worked<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>as a fashion
designer for female body builders and a sex therapist for rats. In her spare
time,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>she is a neuroscience
research assistant. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Along with a variety of teenagers and dogs, she and
Mr. Stanley live just outside of Sugartit, which is—honest to God—between
Beaverlick, and Rabbit Hash, Kentucky.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Where can readers connect with you?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Website: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://teriannestanley.com/">http://teriannestanley.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Twitter: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://twitter.com/TeriAnneStanley">https://twitter.com/TeriAnneStanley</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Facebook:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TeriAnneStanley">https://www.facebook.com/TeriAnneStanley</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Newsletter: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://bit.ly/tasnews">http://bit.ly/tasnews</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Thanks for stopping by! I am so excited for you!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY!</span></b></div>
Dawn Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812066956850617957noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150179607441468539.post-73834415424479899112013-09-16T02:30:00.000-05:002013-09-16T02:30:06.562-05:00THE GRAND REVEAL!<i>Makeover Monday </i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">It is FINISHED!</span></i></div>
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<i>Well, kinda</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfgP5Ju2Uy7f_GVFpxaVDYcKvC_gww6UVQthB8sE03VI0cEMLZY61HY6b2rUDhfzbns0Nmoz2WwAWqhEVsNMsL31uEtUwGqblMK6U1b-7hMSafc6VnfcGowz17sRkJQdDb31IYiotHMU/s1600/IMG_0855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfgP5Ju2Uy7f_GVFpxaVDYcKvC_gww6UVQthB8sE03VI0cEMLZY61HY6b2rUDhfzbns0Nmoz2WwAWqhEVsNMsL31uEtUwGqblMK6U1b-7hMSafc6VnfcGowz17sRkJQdDb31IYiotHMU/s320/IMG_0855.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is where it started.<br />
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and<br />
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this is where it ended.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPf2CCMT1PySenro9zvICN85zSjhZMNMtoEUeDuBwJNypBoQgXbqyOL6MXpelOT6fqJbnj5IppqP9Q13miH4B1XAU4CskRk_7CL0gVH_ll5pz1Uif260PKIhcDDwBGuoazYUa5WsnWp4o/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPf2CCMT1PySenro9zvICN85zSjhZMNMtoEUeDuBwJNypBoQgXbqyOL6MXpelOT6fqJbnj5IppqP9Q13miH4B1XAU4CskRk_7CL0gVH_ll5pz1Uif260PKIhcDDwBGuoazYUa5WsnWp4o/s320/photo+(1).JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Let's just take a moment and soak it all in.<br />
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I'll even put them together for you so you can experience the full effect!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpkOZFQkn1_Vx_7IbBz9bgKmXKo2IPUeCMZFGOq3HgOv0FQFj6OCUSy7Dxcme86GRdkftzxRgPhJh8zQqHvvpKAMOerluQBd6L3EU4wwkJ6XcxMYk8ZSmpBU-jo78FENiW92Sep7tUTo/s1600/New+folder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpkOZFQkn1_Vx_7IbBz9bgKmXKo2IPUeCMZFGOq3HgOv0FQFj6OCUSy7Dxcme86GRdkftzxRgPhJh8zQqHvvpKAMOerluQBd6L3EU4wwkJ6XcxMYk8ZSmpBU-jo78FENiW92Sep7tUTo/s320/New+folder.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Isn't it beautiful?<br />
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Don't get me wrong. The room still has issues.<br />
1. There is still no overhead lighting.<br />
2. The girls' computer chairs match nothing<br />
3. No place for guests to sleep.<br />
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But, for right now.<br />
I love it!<br />
It makes me smile every time I walk by.<br />
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Here's an "around the room" series of<br />
Before and Afters.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgJpnO81LxfBMqs6h2DYthtwFEjLEjUJSIotGE-ntDpmHy-HDxiTrIXRpFwK3oeWad_9raK7y0sdXb07S6v9ISKyf3aMyEMCRCtyR_wfwlb2w3VeHnUozLZ6vlzEOg7dlEEAkjS3L4ts/s1600/Playroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgJpnO81LxfBMqs6h2DYthtwFEjLEjUJSIotGE-ntDpmHy-HDxiTrIXRpFwK3oeWad_9raK7y0sdXb07S6v9ISKyf3aMyEMCRCtyR_wfwlb2w3VeHnUozLZ6vlzEOg7dlEEAkjS3L4ts/s320/Playroom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMon23Si-Ed3YMvlb7MwfZl6IKumfA8NUkKi3nwZmxLFEAxPB9ExizJyyxsesbrAyW_j_JWkMoB1eyc_vBvLpqECASOTxIEKw8zpJ-tzw4zLbPguVPC2K8fp2eunBNLHvDqbWTpiHHe5Y/s1600/Playroom1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMon23Si-Ed3YMvlb7MwfZl6IKumfA8NUkKi3nwZmxLFEAxPB9ExizJyyxsesbrAyW_j_JWkMoB1eyc_vBvLpqECASOTxIEKw8zpJ-tzw4zLbPguVPC2K8fp2eunBNLHvDqbWTpiHHe5Y/s320/Playroom1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVKBph_891vQ0DaZMvW0psJx3Ya1V2oYSf11jXvokHSonhSWP3oBHgm6cTmJMvXasY2HT2xncSeMJWl1I55enpBrnGX59_1mx17sm0LsOJR9igdDjql1NSJ4zafyQn5NejrkRtbqkY6w/s1600/Playroom3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVKBph_891vQ0DaZMvW0psJx3Ya1V2oYSf11jXvokHSonhSWP3oBHgm6cTmJMvXasY2HT2xncSeMJWl1I55enpBrnGX59_1mx17sm0LsOJR9igdDjql1NSJ4zafyQn5NejrkRtbqkY6w/s320/Playroom3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Feel free to "Oooh" and "Aahhh".<br />
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Thank you for your support through this journey.<br />
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Honestly, it would not have been finished if I hadn't known someone was watching.<br />
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Dawn Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812066956850617957noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150179607441468539.post-75266935829510537852013-09-02T09:02:00.000-05:002013-09-02T09:02:50.505-05:00The Magic of a New Coat of Paint Part 2<i>Makeover Monday</i><br />
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First, I must apologize for missing last week's Makeover Monday. It was the first day of school for me and my girls. That took every ounce of energy I could manage. Anyway, I promised to show you what some paint did for this beauty. We have two of these for the girls' computers. They were both in this condition. I was going to sit them out on the curb but my friend suggested cutting off the side and giving them a few coats of spray paint.<br />
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She's pretty brilliant.<br />
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This is now the perfect size for the computer without allowing much room for clutter. </div>
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The same friend was awesome enough to spend an entire day with me painting the <a href="http://chasingsomeday.blogspot.com/2013/08/meet-mama-elephant.html" target="_blank">Mama Elephant room</a>. I paid her in books and pizza. </div>
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It was very, very, very blue. </div>
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We started off using Kilz. Lots and lots of Kilz!</div>
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Then we got a little high off the fumes. Laughed until we cried and had to take a snack break. </div>
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We recovered and two coats of "Antique Beige" later. </div>
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This: </div>
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Became this!</div>
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Please ignore the random dog rope in the middle of the room. They were slightly fascinated by the empty space and one of them may or may not have walked around with paint on his tail for a week or so afterward. I'm not saying. </div>
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(yes, it was him.) </div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b> NEXT WEEK will be the big reveal to prove the Mama Elephant has been tamed!</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b> Please come by to "ooh" and "aah".</b></span></div>
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Dawn Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812066956850617957noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150179607441468539.post-20471103113880560012013-08-19T01:00:00.000-05:002013-08-19T01:00:08.953-05:00The Magic of a Coat of PaintMakeover Monday<br />
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The Magic of a Coat of Paint </div>
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(or Why My Husband is Awesome.)</div>
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This chest </div>
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is actually </div>
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in this picture. </div>
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This was the "Dress-up corner".</div>
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I had dreams of my girls digging through the chest, </div>
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trying on costumes </div>
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and using the cute mirrors to admire their new looks. </div>
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Um, yeah, that happened...oh, let me see.... NEVER. </div>
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I've had the chest since before the girls were born. I have a matching table and stool. All that I planned to paint someday. Remember when I said I've had it since before they were born? My oldest is eleven, just so you know. </div>
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Poor, poor, neglected chest. </div>
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I even broke and lost the lid years ago. </div>
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Terrible.</div>
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Enter my hero husband.</div>
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New lid and a coat of paint!</div>
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Isn't it pretty? </div>
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It goes perfect in the new playroom </div>
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(which we are currently trying to rename "the study" </div>
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because heaven forbid our tweens have a "playroom".)</div>
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Next week, I'll show you the wonders a coat of paint did for the room itself </div>
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as well as this beautiful piece of furniture. (You know you wish this lived at your house, don't lie.)</div>
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Dawn Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812066956850617957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150179607441468539.post-1686647689619846992013-08-12T08:08:00.003-05:002013-08-12T08:08:57.747-05:0012 hours in 12 secondsMakeover Monday<br />
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Remember my living room looking like this?</div>
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My girls and I worked on it a few hours at a time </div>
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with a little help from our dogs who kept climbing right</div>
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into the middle of the pile to lay down. </div>
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I preserved the process for you in pictures. </div>
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Watch below for 12 hour in 12 seconds. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwvfguN7P4WApsTZzuRs9OCuhPVmbkf6HZn61OY5hdVulVJIbOHnW9xlYyYkTzmAZQSTtEtGEmx-XNCgqeO-w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Looks like fun, right? </div>
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Dawn Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812066956850617957noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150179607441468539.post-67681950695940356852013-08-05T08:27:00.001-05:002013-08-05T08:27:17.150-05:00Meet Mama ElephantMakeover Monday<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmm0_4PZQQS1YkFgTP8GOeuegH8GjlHwgdVnf5EKIS6fdF6k5nIY2kpOcrG0AFD88-loDpIPpDGw8mRTHw0CsQ3bmDsxbKAqHFg13jaPuQzElRJKq2m_RDByNvptXdhiHznsrNjq7UYA/s1600/DSC_0104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmm0_4PZQQS1YkFgTP8GOeuegH8GjlHwgdVnf5EKIS6fdF6k5nIY2kpOcrG0AFD88-loDpIPpDGw8mRTHw0CsQ3bmDsxbKAqHFg13jaPuQzElRJKq2m_RDByNvptXdhiHznsrNjq7UYA/s320/DSC_0104.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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As I mentioned last week, I'm not done with the <a href="http://chasingsomeday.blogspot.com/2013/06/eating-my-elephant.html" target="_blank">Baby Elephant project</a>. But, Mama Elephant broke loose and had to be dealt with before I could continue on either. </div>
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So, today is the grand introduction. </div>
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*Warning: The images below may be disturbing to some readers*</div>
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This is my children's playroom.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4x36zt0Jo9vK-k8HzZUuRaYeicmEj2aKOSF_hrUNo5bPS6Geb6jYHj8ajEILgC3Ib7v8Vgr2Pe8GOW1_acTNYJSwCyuHBZQA13sukQ5N6VOu6LEptnrceZSymA5X9adFp72yArEsVJc/s1600/4180_1172109983278_1967203_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4x36zt0Jo9vK-k8HzZUuRaYeicmEj2aKOSF_hrUNo5bPS6Geb6jYHj8ajEILgC3Ib7v8Vgr2Pe8GOW1_acTNYJSwCyuHBZQA13sukQ5N6VOu6LEptnrceZSymA5X9adFp72yArEsVJc/s320/4180_1172109983278_1967203_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje5NWuzMhRWU4nzHSVTpGk9pxScqUK9dLjZIeiYbad9ntCRo7gA1Oxw_usBPagKaUyoCoI21Ddr-guhff9UvNMmZEV88NIjclPnon_My7s8jL_QEXA1hsVq7oWh7sKM1SDSH16XtEXBZ8/s1600/4180_1172110023279_6740378_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje5NWuzMhRWU4nzHSVTpGk9pxScqUK9dLjZIeiYbad9ntCRo7gA1Oxw_usBPagKaUyoCoI21Ddr-guhff9UvNMmZEV88NIjclPnon_My7s8jL_QEXA1hsVq7oWh7sKM1SDSH16XtEXBZ8/s320/4180_1172110023279_6740378_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRwHqVtfui72T-ECNoRLCCr2VMvx8U7WvnEg3HUmhV6A585_FFSuUyexedESv24uloQYK2yojM1cy_AiCT_PTrXOOjvCU-MYwOMq_JPt9rOSuX-HxVwSG1c2QSgFe2g2rWbQiOTt_yDCk/s1600/4180_1172110063280_5760570_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRwHqVtfui72T-ECNoRLCCr2VMvx8U7WvnEg3HUmhV6A585_FFSuUyexedESv24uloQYK2yojM1cy_AiCT_PTrXOOjvCU-MYwOMq_JPt9rOSuX-HxVwSG1c2QSgFe2g2rWbQiOTt_yDCk/s320/4180_1172110063280_5760570_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Um... Four years ago.</div>
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This is it now. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvCzg5BkRvlqA4DPL5ZsOxgyFbD4m_xrmB_YVCsMk_Ix4hEa-N7LnQoudes1xUSttujL9rOxKkptmTKmt0GjDctjNAWP9zFrmDyO4orGb0hi14iIqg0JozM3lKEHjgsI0xSofGPwxOeo/s1600/IMG_0854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvCzg5BkRvlqA4DPL5ZsOxgyFbD4m_xrmB_YVCsMk_Ix4hEa-N7LnQoudes1xUSttujL9rOxKkptmTKmt0GjDctjNAWP9zFrmDyO4orGb0hi14iIqg0JozM3lKEHjgsI0xSofGPwxOeo/s320/IMG_0854.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Please come a little closer...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Rj_YPoAPdrgmb_BwVceME_Ydx8_u3IrJ8ZJjjscJOOY92C39R2SS2PWwy9vHskF9wh-PZLK3hg76JiTRxpM8B_Gdk386PMcegiSfNkXrigwgfMYXJ1D-nQJ2YYgbPgeVkcg5jilrOwg/s1600/IMG_0855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Rj_YPoAPdrgmb_BwVceME_Ydx8_u3IrJ8ZJjjscJOOY92C39R2SS2PWwy9vHskF9wh-PZLK3hg76JiTRxpM8B_Gdk386PMcegiSfNkXrigwgfMYXJ1D-nQJ2YYgbPgeVkcg5jilrOwg/s320/IMG_0855.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The room has no overhead light. </div>
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So that beautiful standing lamp in the corner...</div>
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Yes, the one with only two working bulbs, provides all the illumination needed. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWzbShNET4SdIzi9nyYwRJju92Lfho9Jp_Lc16g1oMD4j6dR86bZ6O86FonRspusILGI005et1SrxrajseHMru4B8qUPf4BXCnuRTdFq-k-r0Y3Yu6al3GXIxf0smHnCc5AvGIyFbu_w/s1600/IMG_0856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWzbShNET4SdIzi9nyYwRJju92Lfho9Jp_Lc16g1oMD4j6dR86bZ6O86FonRspusILGI005et1SrxrajseHMru4B8qUPf4BXCnuRTdFq-k-r0Y3Yu6al3GXIxf0smHnCc5AvGIyFbu_w/s320/IMG_0856.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Maybe you'd like to</div>
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read a book </div>
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or play a game </div>
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or scale a mountain of God-knows-what the size of Everest. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4dBon9qTEmsePz4zZgnxWIx2T3soAC4iNSv5VZBK_Nz5lzQ8otqi-5fimD05QUDCZ3mjuNg51fI5INxV_QmZNoItvJd0MiB356M9QjhVejzBmhdQsE6yd8WthG_3skaGp1g88Xyk490/s1600/IMG_0857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4dBon9qTEmsePz4zZgnxWIx2T3soAC4iNSv5VZBK_Nz5lzQ8otqi-5fimD05QUDCZ3mjuNg51fI5INxV_QmZNoItvJd0MiB356M9QjhVejzBmhdQsE6yd8WthG_3skaGp1g88Xyk490/s320/IMG_0857.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you are musically inclined, there is a fifth grader recorder </div>
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precariously balanced on the top shelf for your enjoyment. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVey3pJW3Vt_32wAUT_TCqcJFwDf459WheLH22yl9re8T3XDcnaAA0g98OnQRhKjSCwaKXlmy4UZZYlw7TlTvzEI8YdR_nXnk61Yuz3KMysINQkA1ODf8c-gyW9YzwfWKZ1P-jsWr4Ac/s1600/IMG_0858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVey3pJW3Vt_32wAUT_TCqcJFwDf459WheLH22yl9re8T3XDcnaAA0g98OnQRhKjSCwaKXlmy4UZZYlw7TlTvzEI8YdR_nXnk61Yuz3KMysINQkA1ODf8c-gyW9YzwfWKZ1P-jsWr4Ac/s320/IMG_0858.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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A chest of dress clothes to the left, complete with full length mirror for optimal viewing </div>
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and a science table to the right with craft projects conveniently stored in removable bins. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qSqFdIywBM6aoO3H_4GYTSviL8wODpcEpq1Q9ouE12D9TL9uLAsNAUU57gacPLUNeXbFLKDunrvODeRewfFM_crDOs6-nPFHvmw60rEL9jz9ZT8JJdF_53pdt94Q1qQtzawzUA0jHTU/s1600/IMG_0862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qSqFdIywBM6aoO3H_4GYTSviL8wODpcEpq1Q9ouE12D9TL9uLAsNAUU57gacPLUNeXbFLKDunrvODeRewfFM_crDOs6-nPFHvmw60rEL9jz9ZT8JJdF_53pdt94Q1qQtzawzUA0jHTU/s320/IMG_0862.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Older daughter's computer desk and art cubbies on the left. </div>
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Lego table and additional lamp (not plugged in, by the way) on the right. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlUTUM92s-2nIRdv9SmNZp0g5G8YqAzjARCVqQ2XazvSyBxxq1K32aBu7v84EVbU2JWcJtjWjJQc3nSJsL2nXfXMpPp-V0TohYyErDeg1uo6VdLeVN6u_aVEyLYVovoPuVhO6ubDOJOA/s1600/IMG_0863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlUTUM92s-2nIRdv9SmNZp0g5G8YqAzjARCVqQ2XazvSyBxxq1K32aBu7v84EVbU2JWcJtjWjJQc3nSJsL2nXfXMpPp-V0TohYyErDeg1uo6VdLeVN6u_aVEyLYVovoPuVhO6ubDOJOA/s320/IMG_0863.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Art easel in the back corner. </div>
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Lego table (yes, there is a table under there) in the foreground. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEyg0tJXyneNNOVH-iP0TtZFASExk-IPhM6R3ZqE0kuKktSNyAeK0klXpnSMO2mcerd_hEEXR-GY3y4O98v_aJszds7DJ1iygbJihExX0mteePfwaRsvh5YgiRBXKSf0rNbb52U1ZsjU/s1600/IMG_0864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEyg0tJXyneNNOVH-iP0TtZFASExk-IPhM6R3ZqE0kuKktSNyAeK0klXpnSMO2mcerd_hEEXR-GY3y4O98v_aJszds7DJ1iygbJihExX0mteePfwaRsvh5YgiRBXKSf0rNbb52U1ZsjU/s320/IMG_0864.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Evidence my strict rule against eating in any room other than the kitchen/dining room and certainly not in front of the computers is being followed without question. </div>
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<b>*SIGH*</b></div>
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Let's not even talk about how it got this way </div>
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or how long it's looked like this</div>
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because at this point I don't remember</div>
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and it doesn't really matter. </div>
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The room has several issues: </div>
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1. It has no door. There is no hiding this monstrosity of a mess. </div>
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2. It is painted a dark blue. Yes, I picked the color and at the time it looked pretty good. Until I realized it turned a cute play room into a cave. </div>
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3. My kids are way too old for most of what is in here.</div>
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So, say hello to Mama Elephant. I've already started working on her. I've got two weeks before school starts and want it done before I go back. </div>
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You'll come on this journey with me, won't you? She's REALLY big and I'm kind of scared. </div>
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Dawn Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812066956850617957noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150179607441468539.post-89505341072112428742013-07-29T09:07:00.000-05:002013-07-29T09:07:36.537-05:00My Life on a Puzzle Board<i>Makeover Monday</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqK4Lli0U4ceTcBcnbzmss13qR5qTe3nOT2w_nSnLhVquaLWnqVRwDm-j6PY1pR-rcSNpOfvj7NqdIchT8vR3Ir-XgAedQeag9DVIRYK8O-sHajXGpufuyd_jnjPMgRm1VjwwI6Fj9Ho/s1600/Fifteen+puzzle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqK4Lli0U4ceTcBcnbzmss13qR5qTe3nOT2w_nSnLhVquaLWnqVRwDm-j6PY1pR-rcSNpOfvj7NqdIchT8vR3Ir-XgAedQeag9DVIRYK8O-sHajXGpufuyd_jnjPMgRm1VjwwI6Fj9Ho/s1600/Fifteen+puzzle.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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Have you ever played with one of these? </div>
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Right now, I'm living in one. </div>
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It's called My-House-Is-A-Wreck-and-I-Don't-Know-Where-To-Put-Anything.</div>
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You see, </div>
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<a href="http://chasingsomeday.blogspot.com/2013/06/eating-my-elephant.html" target="_blank">Mama Elephant</a> escaped last week, before I could completely finish up with baby. </div>
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(If you don't normally read my blog, the above sentence is probably incoherent to you. No, I'm not a zoo keeper. I have two rather large organizing projects going on. Baby Elephant and Mama.) Due to scheduling and other logistics, I had to empty out the Mama Elephant room (You'll get to actually meet her next week) before I could finish the Baby Elephant area.</div>
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Now my living room looks like this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AAmkUcyUmFpEd5zY7HO06nM1flnAjvT-G3jRKxWD7N6wDYQ2MRwqRSQAwCsYJbvnMGjakejxDqD9-HJTCybCT3smEtGZXw5-ulP9YtEISMPnerWXK8HQkK-tGMXNK2ZQBf8zIGsO7pg/s1600/IMG_0919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AAmkUcyUmFpEd5zY7HO06nM1flnAjvT-G3jRKxWD7N6wDYQ2MRwqRSQAwCsYJbvnMGjakejxDqD9-HJTCybCT3smEtGZXw5-ulP9YtEISMPnerWXK8HQkK-tGMXNK2ZQBf8zIGsO7pg/s320/IMG_0919.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I can't describe how much looking at this makes me want to cry. </div>
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You see the Baby Elephant space there in the background and my pretty new <i>empty</i> bookshelf on the right? </div>
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<br />It's empty because the floor behind the couch looks like the picture above. </div>
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I can't <i>get</i> to the bookshelf to put stuff on it. </div>
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I have to keep moving the puzzle pieces around.</div>
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Example:</div>
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Furniture item X must be moved into room A, but that means furniture item Y is going in to room C, but room C doesn't have a space for it yet because I have to clear out that corner which requires making a decision on furniture item Z. </div>
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And, this is why I'm sitting on the couch paralyzed with anxiety instead of diving into that pile. Which is large enough I could literally dive into it. I'm not sure the flooring is even present anymore. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, what do I do with all this stuff? </span></div>
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Feel free to resume your regularly scheduled life now. </div>
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I'm just going to here and breath into a bag. </div>
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Dawn Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812066956850617957noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150179607441468539.post-71834493281767611992013-07-16T01:00:00.000-05:002013-07-16T01:00:06.603-05:00And this one time at band camp...<i>Tell Me Your Story Tuesday</i><br />
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Like I said yesterday, I'm at ASL Teacher Camp this week. Okay, that's not what it's really called. But, that's pretty much what it is.<br />
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So, tell me your best camp story. Pranks, homesickness, sneaking out of the cabin and meeting that special someone (not that I <i>ever</i> did that!)<br />
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You know, this one time at band camp....<br />
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<br />Dawn Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812066956850617957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150179607441468539.post-36926297782077098962013-07-15T01:00:00.000-05:002013-07-15T01:00:07.011-05:00Sneak Peek<i>Makeover Monday</i><br />
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I'm actually not here. I'm at ASL Teacher Camp in Austin. But, it is Monday so I wanted to share a sneak peek of how well my <a href="http://chasingsomeday.blogspot.com/2013/06/eating-my-elephant.html" target="_blank">baby elephant</a> is coming along. Remember this? The place where I store all my family's priceless picture and mementos?<br />
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Well, in the process of sorting through everything else. This happened.<br />
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AVALANCHE!</div>
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So, I took the hint that it was time to start sorting. For now, I just have everything divided by person. I have big plans of making each family member an album. But, that wasn't going to happen this week. Each picture went into the appropriate box. The awards, game tickets and other souvenirs went into crates. Then, my awesome husband rewarded all my hard work with a new book case. </div>
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Isn't it pretty? </div>
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Before and After </div>
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Dawn Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812066956850617957noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150179607441468539.post-10117546891388435162013-07-09T08:08:00.001-05:002013-07-09T08:08:55.744-05:00Why We Are Moving Out Today!<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1373373826480_2200" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">*I had a completely different blog post for today. But, after a harrowing experience yesterday, I decided to share this instead. Below is an email I sent to my friend to try to work through the trauma</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt;">*</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1373373826480_2197" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt;">The story of why we are moving out today.</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1373373826480_2193" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt;">By Dawn Alexander</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.666666984558105px; text-align: center;">The puppy is the tan one.<br />
She's 5 months old. </td></tr>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1373373826480_2186" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt;">The puppy is getting better on house training, but still has accidents. Friday, I was playing with her on my bed and she got excited and dribbled..alot. So, had to wash the bedspread. Huge-heavy-denim-takes-FOREVER-to-dry bedspread. Usually, I wash it, put it in the dryer for a cycle, take it out and turn it over, put it in the dryer for another cycle, then spread it out on the spare couch for a day before putting it back on our bed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt;">Well, around 7pm on Friday night, I basically fell into a coma and slept until Saturday morning, then spent the day running errands all day on Saturday, so when I remembered to take it out Saturday evening, it smelled kind of mildewy. I spread it out in the laundry room and left it all day yesterday. Still slightly smelled this morning, so I put it back in the washer. Immediately took it out, cycle in the dryer, flipped it, cycle in the dryer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt;">Decided to spread it out on our bed instead of the spare couch because I've got boxes of pictures all over the couch right now (whole other story)</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt;">. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt;">Took it to our room, started spreading it out and FREAKING COCKROACH FROM HELLLLLLLL came crawling out of one of the folds! </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.666666984558105px;">It looked JUST LIKE THIS! Only bigger with more teeth!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt;">Let's just say, I might have screamed like a little girl and did the heebie-jeebie sprint into the living room </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt;">Scott, being the hero he is, drowned it in bug spray and flushed it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt;">So, new to-do list for today:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt;">I'll send you our new address. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For my non-Texas readers, there is something very important you must understand. We do not have little scurry-when-the-lights-come-on cockroaches here. We have I'm-looking-for-water-and-will-kill-your-whole-effing-family-to-get-it Palmetto bugs.<br />I was going to add more pictures, but just looking at them was freaking me out!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />So, tell me your story. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Any fascinating encounters with our insect friends you'd like to share? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can read about me other creature encounter here. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt;"><a href="http://chasingsomeday.blogspot.com/2011/09/why-i-can-never-do-yoga-again.html" target="_blank">Why I can never do yoga again</a></span></div>
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Dawn Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812066956850617957noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150179607441468539.post-91830620343289619302013-07-08T01:00:00.000-05:002013-07-08T01:00:05.353-05:0030 minutes or...more.<i>Makeover Monday</i><br />
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I really wanted to title this post "30 minutes or less". I'm taking a momentary break from <a href="http://chasingsomeday.blogspot.com/2013/06/eating-my-elephant.html" target="_blank">my elephant </a>and working on some other small projects around the house. Don't worry. I'm still making progress on the biggest project. Just giving myself breathing room to avoid burn out.<br />
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Anyway, my youngest daughter is a gamer. Serious gamer. This is her game area.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChyhfRRst1MGOSNo_r-1esT4S3VWKgokB_nkdZSZvJQcBz6fZpgqZdyakxZjMbGAvXc9Bw6TJ0bBdBksIoS7OXcI-wHItBRIRTS_r39rBgDosBO6SQJhr8D_jKL3SrueKYN4rnx0suW4/s1600/IMG_0845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChyhfRRst1MGOSNo_r-1esT4S3VWKgokB_nkdZSZvJQcBz6fZpgqZdyakxZjMbGAvXc9Bw6TJ0bBdBksIoS7OXcI-wHItBRIRTS_r39rBgDosBO6SQJhr8D_jKL3SrueKYN4rnx0suW4/s320/IMG_0845.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I thought we could manage this in 30 minute or less because we were <i>only</i> focusing on that drawer right there. The massive amount of Pokemon cards, Skylanders and random Halloween pumpkin could be addressed later. Just this drawer. No problem.</div>
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<br />Then,</div>
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we opened it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJI5npVQlVtNj4dxVdP2Hs6iqfcFrgxzDNAUvxAewHmSpUS2kmqXQ6h3-3evtzBY0AuvUFTrLqXz7RRs8hLsVMSP7XaiSHd2oODw3XvKU7f6QblDxIBm9lLvoS-Kt-2i1Ti2XuSdjxslo/s1600/IMG_0846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJI5npVQlVtNj4dxVdP2Hs6iqfcFrgxzDNAUvxAewHmSpUS2kmqXQ6h3-3evtzBY0AuvUFTrLqXz7RRs8hLsVMSP7XaiSHd2oODw3XvKU7f6QblDxIBm9lLvoS-Kt-2i1Ti2XuSdjxslo/s320/IMG_0846.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then, I closed it and walked away. </div>
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THE END</div>
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Okay, I <i>wanted</i> to close it and walk away. But, I didn't. </div>
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*Deep breath.*</div>
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Step one: </div>
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Empty the drawer. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_Rd4xLzQytL9gDfq7PqTnW1p69qOAggyPstMYXSsR3dj6PzxFQi_uVQCx1qStaNFfdEwphARcbKyHjrA4Md20bfe6WUSMRLDY071gOkaVNpAmWGR5oEClvX6hiwDbzzRrRZK1wsAIWw/s1600/IMG_0848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_Rd4xLzQytL9gDfq7PqTnW1p69qOAggyPstMYXSsR3dj6PzxFQi_uVQCx1qStaNFfdEwphARcbKyHjrA4Md20bfe6WUSMRLDY071gOkaVNpAmWGR5oEClvX6hiwDbzzRrRZK1wsAIWw/s320/IMG_0848.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Step Two: </div>
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Manage this.</div>
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Actually, I made my daughter manage this because I don't know a Play station from a Nintendo. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDby9X5PFCrBqXatqVy-9bZsC4foz8qiRkxlCEpemwsyaiLmp6GEMKg9eaC9AM8u4Txd0X9gOKLy6hfWmYL9o9GCIMDHymo7DQPCVcRgfRT4GBCuK0lm8QRxIe5uSpSe8PNE78evRMy0/s1600/IMG_0849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDby9X5PFCrBqXatqVy-9bZsC4foz8qiRkxlCEpemwsyaiLmp6GEMKg9eaC9AM8u4Txd0X9gOKLy6hfWmYL9o9GCIMDHymo7DQPCVcRgfRT4GBCuK0lm8QRxIe5uSpSe8PNE78evRMy0/s320/IMG_0849.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Step Three: </div>
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Find a way to contain all of this without spending any extra money.</div>
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Only my daughter gets in this drawer. I wanted to use what I had on hand.</div>
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(Plus, she refused to make a trip to the Dollar store with me.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsP-WdyeHXccohQ3loUY4iH3Y8y4fDYUXKkRpnQSVzi6cnDJJe5Wk2OePxM9YQjfo1Pf00UZVXSV1ovTg9z39pfY2iGmK95EGve52SoIPDqaPLEbiAUNrnBdmGvbQYD4DpBW6oHEQ-8Eo/s1600/IMG_0851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsP-WdyeHXccohQ3loUY4iH3Y8y4fDYUXKkRpnQSVzi6cnDJJe5Wk2OePxM9YQjfo1Pf00UZVXSV1ovTg9z39pfY2iGmK95EGve52SoIPDqaPLEbiAUNrnBdmGvbQYD4DpBW6oHEQ-8Eo/s320/IMG_0851.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ta Daaa!</div>
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A left over desk container from a desk organizer, an apple container and two shoe boxes later.</div>
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She can actually see what she owns!</div>
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And, it only took....Okay, it took over an hour.</div>
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But, it was totally worth it! </div>
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<br />Dawn Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812066956850617957noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150179607441468539.post-403814340746872732013-07-02T08:11:00.000-05:002013-07-02T08:11:39.697-05:00Spoiler Alert<i>Tell Me Your Story Tuesday</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNkobdTOVgYQajhSYZqXCY1sL18IfbHKGzd-FNoqgIO3uy363-yeG0hyhGyqHxNizxxVxern_WA6ulTK43YjAcgIfdhB8Js2KyBNKqy0DDdOA8wtOBl4Is6Xzx84xIruJ9eSidTOJipQ/s1600/michelle+reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNkobdTOVgYQajhSYZqXCY1sL18IfbHKGzd-FNoqgIO3uy363-yeG0hyhGyqHxNizxxVxern_WA6ulTK43YjAcgIfdhB8Js2KyBNKqy0DDdOA8wtOBl4Is6Xzx84xIruJ9eSidTOJipQ/s320/michelle+reading.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
My oldest daughter, who is much older now than in the picture above, made a confession last week that forced me to reevaluate everything I thought I knew about this sweet child.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>SHE READS THE END OF A BOOK FIRST.</b></span></div>
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I fear I have failed as a parent.</div>
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I blogged before about <a href="http://chasingsomeday.blogspot.com/2012/03/good-part.html" target="_blank">her reading obsession.</a> She is almost never without a book. Takes two or three with her for any kind of overnight stay and, when we recently changed the sheets on her bed, I found she was sleeping with FOURTEEN (!) books every night. </div>
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The child is by all definitions <i>a reader</i>.</div>
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But, she reads the end first! </div>
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Shocked and confused by this admission, I took my argument to the best place for public opinion.</div>
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Facebook.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Me: Michelle just confessed that she reads the end of books first...I don't even know her anymore...</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.666666984558105px; line-height: 18px;">Male Childhood Friend #1: </span></span><span style="background-color: #fafbfb; color: #4e5665; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">I do too! If I don't like the ending, why invest my life in the story? </span><span style="background-color: #fafbfb; color: #4e5665; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">For me, reading fiction is an escape from reality. If I don't like the destination, I'd rather not buy the ticket!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafbfb; color: #4e5665; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafbfb; color: #4e5665; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: #fafbfb; color: #4e5665; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fafbfb; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><span style="color: blue;">(WWHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTT?? Not by the ticket?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: #fafbfb; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><span style="color: blue;">Isn't that what the whole reading experience is about?)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 11.197916984558105px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fellow Mommy Friend:</span></span><span style="font-size: 11.333333015441895px; line-height: 11.197916984558105px;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: #fafbfb; color: #4e5665; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">Funny! [Her daughter~same age as mine] reads the last book in a series...what's wrong with their generation?!?!?</span><span style="background-color: #fafbfb; color: #4e5665; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafbfb; color: #4e5665; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 11.197916984558105px;">Male Childhood Friend #2: </span></span><span id=".reactRoot[8226396].[1]{comment10201302608707592_6514754}.[1:0].[4:0:1].[3:1].[4:0:1].[1:1].[1:0].[1:0:2].[2:0].[3:0:0]" style="background-color: #fafbfb; color: #4e5665; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">I've always read the end of books first... Agree with [MCF #1]</span><span id=".reactRoot[8226396].[1]{comment10201302608707592_6514754}.[1:0].[4:0:1].[3:1].[4:0:1].[1:1].[1:0].[1:0:2].[2:0].[3:0:2]" style="background-color: #fafbfb; color: #4e5665; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"> on this one.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafbfb; color: #4e5665; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafbfb; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Me:<span style="color: #4e5665;"> </span></span></span><span id=".reactRoot[8226396].[1]{comment10201302608707592_6516574}.[1:0].[4:0:1].[3:1].[4:0:1].[1:1].[1:0].[1:0:2].[2:0].[3:0:1]" style="background-color: #fafbfb; color: #4e5665; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"> [MFC #1]while I have to admit on the surface your argument has substance...It's just wrong. wrong. Wrong. WRONG! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafbfb; color: #4e5665; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"> You, too,[MFC #2]</span><span id=".reactRoot[8226396].[1]{comment10201302608707592_6516574}.[1:0].[4:0:1].[3:1].[4:0:1].[1:1].[1:0].[1:0:2].[2:0].[3:0:3]" style="background-color: #fafbfb; color: #4e5665; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;">. (I say this with love, of course!).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafbfb; color: #4e5665; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.199999809265137px; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafbfb; line-height: 11.199999809265137px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Is this some kind of widespread epidemic of which I have lived blissfully unaware? Do YOU read the end of a book first? Is there some kind of 12 step group I can get my daughter in before this gets out of hand?</span></span></div>
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Dawn Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812066956850617957noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150179607441468539.post-87041845033765391672013-07-01T08:50:00.001-05:002013-07-01T08:50:26.930-05:00Buried Treasure<i>Makeover Monday</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3DmXuKRgK97UQ_fQjJTBRA5pSg5zYXmBqIToSJoyRcM8YUUjETOghzixiNb8Sb-jC34qMwwzPLL9fEgGe-uSs886RXtCw4fIVGMSCxH3zqpjoICqDtqVJ0CDTdLPtW7vu1OUbZ2GxRRA/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3DmXuKRgK97UQ_fQjJTBRA5pSg5zYXmBqIToSJoyRcM8YUUjETOghzixiNb8Sb-jC34qMwwzPLL9fEgGe-uSs886RXtCw4fIVGMSCxH3zqpjoICqDtqVJ0CDTdLPtW7vu1OUbZ2GxRRA/s320/DSC_0004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I've been avoiding sorting through the picture stack of <a href="http://chasingsomeday.blogspot.com/2013/06/eating-my-elephant.html" target="_blank">my current major project</a> because I know it's going to be an overly emotional experience. From looking at photos of high school friends who have passed to snapshots of my children as babies, I probably need to just get a box of tissues as well as a bottle of liquor and just do it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXTDy2O7ozLlkjjptggk9BJSMX61t_AE2xgeTg34Ga6bylamnAxPcHKuMclxUpqVvve_Bd9A0fPNnz1jrRsJ3E6MRYf7baDul9H0oCa-7qHT01ligFLTLdjJfkqizsrJRB3RDmuTIsXk/s1600/paper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXTDy2O7ozLlkjjptggk9BJSMX61t_AE2xgeTg34Ga6bylamnAxPcHKuMclxUpqVvve_Bd9A0fPNnz1jrRsJ3E6MRYf7baDul9H0oCa-7qHT01ligFLTLdjJfkqizsrJRB3RDmuTIsXk/s200/paper.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> In my avoidance, I concentrated on the stacks of paper and stuff that were inside the desk. I assumed most of it to be old bills in need of shredding, some pay stubs from three jobs ago, maybe a letter or two from former students. I could handle that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Instead, I found buried treasure: </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTLRt-E5I-b6tYpTPBC2CEPIayHrYmQKwJI2ioInJ6vLZ1BQ1q4VTEe6LgiM-KfkoTs0KCrI775fmz982lPo7l2vyQeYOmrtmJK-qkA8jB_zhYDaZc-YikABOymIQx8eIFgbbnl-jC98/s1600/IMG_0838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTLRt-E5I-b6tYpTPBC2CEPIayHrYmQKwJI2ioInJ6vLZ1BQ1q4VTEe6LgiM-KfkoTs0KCrI775fmz982lPo7l2vyQeYOmrtmJK-qkA8jB_zhYDaZc-YikABOymIQx8eIFgbbnl-jC98/s200/IMG_0838.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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Polaroids and hair snips from girls' first hair cuts.<br />
Which happen to take place at the same time, despite the year age difference. My oldest daughter was a very, very bald baby.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94qrcadWinWPev2LhHk_guXTXBMBY8GuBSs3EIELqKE7nzQH5WLu8l2r23NYxaBYKpBKWtuxvPY6OpRAbyuNssg_HPOzIumkLz1l1Y7qJTX3pSn2HUnC4rY708mWV2ACaqGgKywnntj4/s1600/2003_0601_122957AA.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94qrcadWinWPev2LhHk_guXTXBMBY8GuBSs3EIELqKE7nzQH5WLu8l2r23NYxaBYKpBKWtuxvPY6OpRAbyuNssg_HPOzIumkLz1l1Y7qJTX3pSn2HUnC4rY708mWV2ACaqGgKywnntj4/s320/2003_0601_122957AA.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Letters from a sweet woman who I wish I could still call. Virginia Hawkins was the grandmother of a <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjROAJLZZqHQ_aQcqPbiVHkRyKk1waonv9g_AfhxEWktmy-ecll9kEKWckFyvReKL0T1N3W1oLq0epZ5PWcTydP5vGNWC93cuZGJtytvrp58QuI_osegHmivQYpntsQBi-5k3TLf86M0w/s1600/IMG_0839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjROAJLZZqHQ_aQcqPbiVHkRyKk1waonv9g_AfhxEWktmy-ecll9kEKWckFyvReKL0T1N3W1oLq0epZ5PWcTydP5vGNWC93cuZGJtytvrp58QuI_osegHmivQYpntsQBi-5k3TLf86M0w/s200/IMG_0839.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
boy I dated my last year in high school and first two years of college. She had an infectious laugh and a quick wit. After he and I broke up, she called me to let me know how unintelligent she thought he was being and that she still loved me. She wrote me letters after I moved to Texas. Several of them were lost in this sea of paper. This birthday card and one that I couldn't get out for the picture or I'd cry again. A folded piece of stationary thanking me for the invitation to my wedding and telling me how happy she was I'd found someone to share my life with. She passed away in 2002. Her grandson that I dated died in 2008.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7IGBpQ-wlq509BxD5wfUJkHIAZFzGDXlu-YHuLOE4XpA9bzOY4z7SO4vjlrmtAxJkZMrlijPLeBS5PmowAaGLrhSVcy8F7rL5jlUE8yd99l7arfWXuFdEiw9Ny63rfb6UB30t_sDqk8/s1600/IMG_0840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7IGBpQ-wlq509BxD5wfUJkHIAZFzGDXlu-YHuLOE4XpA9bzOY4z7SO4vjlrmtAxJkZMrlijPLeBS5PmowAaGLrhSVcy8F7rL5jlUE8yd99l7arfWXuFdEiw9Ny63rfb6UB30t_sDqk8/s320/IMG_0840.JPG" width="214" /></a></div>
This picture of my great-grandmother was stashed between an electric bill from 2007 and a lease agreement from the second year I was married.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCw0pqbZ_d3bjQLpvy6Pb4qw3MieSyLOTjESJb49H9K6OJYRepnUudW_Z2xoKm-Vc6GFoY4XLmzLiQTUC_6yjyC4BtrMfKp-EEaBE6FxJfC-YEt5U3cVuVkyOYHTd0nf43HptMTCHdg1Y/s1600/IMG_0844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCw0pqbZ_d3bjQLpvy6Pb4qw3MieSyLOTjESJb49H9K6OJYRepnUudW_Z2xoKm-Vc6GFoY4XLmzLiQTUC_6yjyC4BtrMfKp-EEaBE6FxJfC-YEt5U3cVuVkyOYHTd0nf43HptMTCHdg1Y/s320/IMG_0844.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Last, I found a gallon sized Ziploc bag stuffed with old Christmas cards. I considered not going through it. In the middle of the stack, I came across this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdfLZC8HCUlcIYH8_pEYwKrGzWiXV79GCo4o73h19TMNdwjB0Ty_4yI65Mt8T-4-DQtuFfyJICTFL_VYqAeyDcXDxyb7BdXOm75E3VDa-z0p6EsjMwq7YSMEhhVgFOMiUrZfneWRsoI4/s1600/IMG_0841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAdfLZC8HCUlcIYH8_pEYwKrGzWiXV79GCo4o73h19TMNdwjB0Ty_4yI65Mt8T-4-DQtuFfyJICTFL_VYqAeyDcXDxyb7BdXOm75E3VDa-z0p6EsjMwq7YSMEhhVgFOMiUrZfneWRsoI4/s320/IMG_0841.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Inside was the best treasure of all:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJKbvDlJNSTFXuzGUU-esyzfMnvprKnGnilAj4d25IYs8cSZugFOlhx8pl5LJMM0vMM0gTnp9p1jtm5RWhNutyFiEZzraOxsGN993mEMLW03nBbhGotwFTEUf7wha3hDsITXKFD6G8fc/s1600/IMG_0842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJKbvDlJNSTFXuzGUU-esyzfMnvprKnGnilAj4d25IYs8cSZugFOlhx8pl5LJMM0vMM0gTnp9p1jtm5RWhNutyFiEZzraOxsGN993mEMLW03nBbhGotwFTEUf7wha3hDsITXKFD6G8fc/s320/IMG_0842.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Pictures from of my dad with my cousin taken years before I was born.</div>
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I don't remember getting these or ever seeing them before. </div>
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I'm not sure who they came from but it brought back good memories of him holding another baby 33 years later.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2bWg6eSkARzxCPsMG7M593ofv-NQ_MjTKtWZihc4WuDSBtIpDLXXG3gJu3o_kxsKxMcZaE4OfiK1Y9IzPgyxc9jv2RlmzWhwKL0CyJt25dHrRgOEoIGiJwBW5kdg41MQEVJvbB1N700/s1600/David%2527swedding.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2bWg6eSkARzxCPsMG7M593ofv-NQ_MjTKtWZihc4WuDSBtIpDLXXG3gJu3o_kxsKxMcZaE4OfiK1Y9IzPgyxc9jv2RlmzWhwKL0CyJt25dHrRgOEoIGiJwBW5kdg41MQEVJvbB1N700/s320/David%2527swedding.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Notice the baldness!</div>
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So, that's what my <a href="http://chasingsomeday.blogspot.com/2013/06/eating-my-elephant.html" target="_blank">elephant was hiding</a>. </div>
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My goal for this week is to conquer the pictures. </div>
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Instead of being sad, maybe I'll just break out the scanner</div>
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and embarrass some old friends on Facebook.</div>
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Nothing like big hair and blue eye shadow to make a girl feel better, right? </div>
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<br />Dawn Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812066956850617957noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150179607441468539.post-43511544142650179032013-06-25T02:00:00.000-05:002013-06-25T02:00:10.940-05:00Why Do You Remember? <i>Tell Me Your Story Tuesday</i><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Droid Sans', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><i><span style="color: #999999;">There either is or is not, that's the way things are.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Droid Sans', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><i><span style="color: #999999;"> The colour of the day. The way it felt to be a child. The saltwater on your sunburnt legs. </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Droid Sans', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><i><span style="color: #999999;">Sometimes the water is yellow, sometimes it's red.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Droid Sans', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><i><span style="color: #999999;"> But what colour it may be in memory, depends on the day.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Droid Sans', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><i><span style="color: #999999;"> I'm not going to tell you the story the way it happened.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Droid Sans', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><i><span style="color: #999999;"> I'm going to tell it the way I remember it.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Droid Sans', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><i><span style="color: #999999;">Charles Dickens ~ Great Expectations</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Droid Sans', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">My husband and I had a conversation recently about first kisses. He doesn't remember his. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Droid Sans, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I'll pause for a moment and let that sink in. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Droid Sans, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">HE DOESN'T REMEMBER HIS FIRST KISS!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Droid Sans, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">How does that happen? He couldn't even with confidence remember the first time he kissed ME!*</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Droid Sans, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">*Disclaimer: I am married to an amazing man who supports me fully in everything I do. I can forgive the fact that he has let a moment on Sept. 21, 1997 at approximately 10:14 pm while slow dancing in my apartment to a local country station playing from my mini-stereo slip his mind.*</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Droid Sans, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">His explanation was that he "didn't catalog the information for future reference."</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Droid Sans, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Then, he mumbled something about women never forgetting <i>anything</i>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Droid Sans, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">But, my mind was already working. Why do I remember so well? </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Droid Sans, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I'm sure part of it is about being a girl and living for those kinds of moments, but I believe there is much, much more. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Droid Sans, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I don't just remember my first kiss. I remember everything about it. Where I was standing, the butterfly army in my stomach, praying my mom did not choose that moment to walk into the kitchen. Everything. Just like I do so many other tiny but <a href="http://chasingsomeday.blogspot.com/2011/04/where-were-you.html" target="_blank">huge moments in my life</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Droid Sans, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">But, I wonder how much of it is because I'm a writer. I love the story of each moment. I love hearing how other people met and fell in love. I love passing those emotions on to my readers and sharing the experience of moving through it together all over again. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Droid Sans, arial, sans-serif;"><b>So, tell me your story. </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Droid Sans, arial, sans-serif;"><b>Do you remember the tiny but huge moments of your life with vivid detail? Were you cataloging it all for future reference? </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Droid Sans, arial, sans-serif;"><b>If you're in the mood for some nostalgia, you can check out this post about <a href="http://chasingsomeday.blogspot.com/2011/04/remembering-good-old-days.html" target="_blank">Remembering the Good Old Days</a> (It's worth the click just to see my 1989 hairstyle!)</b></span></div>
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Dawn Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812066956850617957noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150179607441468539.post-51297109731866343572013-06-24T07:51:00.001-05:002013-06-24T07:51:44.747-05:00Baby Elephant Part II: Tiny BitesMakeover Monday<br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><b>Tiny Bites</b></span></div>
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LOOK! Carpet!!!!</div>
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I gave myself a built in deadline when I started this project last week. I knew that on Saturday my house would be filled with people for my daughter's birthday party. The main goal was to get everything off the floor and in a presentable pile. </div>
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After hours of Pandora radio, dropping a shredder on my foot (OUCH! Very reminiscent of the <a href="http://chasingsomeday.blogspot.com/2012/08/avoidance-technique.html" target="_blank">marble chess board incident</a>) and a healthy dose of self-talk ("You can do this." "Don't get overwhelmed." "No, no, no sitting down to check Facebook and Twitter, Bad Dawn!")</div>
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the floor emerged.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIdF9PS9w8KDjhxxrHSobOc6kcK0SKYrglsU-gbi0szbZSjzWZUpRfT_gNwfmoLeLNuPMEJZRfZnwFqx8lZrQ0_mgJf70blpJzQznoqB9igfUa4ZvvVTMI8USmuKGlrnEHJX6bsaXCFg/s1600/closed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIdF9PS9w8KDjhxxrHSobOc6kcK0SKYrglsU-gbi0szbZSjzWZUpRfT_gNwfmoLeLNuPMEJZRfZnwFqx8lZrQ0_mgJf70blpJzQznoqB9igfUa4ZvvVTMI8USmuKGlrnEHJX6bsaXCFg/s320/closed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It looks even better with the lid down!</div>
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I filled up several garbage bags with donations and had our recycle bin overflowing. </div>
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That left this. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooGTrMfuw2kB1olAcaXzMOdZo8CXo3W3VNxMtfQ3isYK52liRAdxJxHOlkH85Zf3WzRJx21duHr7Bj3fkOGs33CmNm196MTAQX-dognyOHlmBlok0m1g4xWsr0_UfrJIsSGcWQ2kACCw/s1600/paper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooGTrMfuw2kB1olAcaXzMOdZo8CXo3W3VNxMtfQ3isYK52liRAdxJxHOlkH85Zf3WzRJx21duHr7Bj3fkOGs33CmNm196MTAQX-dognyOHlmBlok0m1g4xWsr0_UfrJIsSGcWQ2kACCw/s200/paper.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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The dreaded "TO-BE" pile.</div>
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To be filed</div>
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To be shredded</div>
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To be tossed</div>
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To be...um, I don't know. What do you do with Christmas cards from 15 years ago?</div>
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That's the project for this week.</div>
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I sorted everything into crates and hope to go through a crate each day this week. </div>
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Next Monday, I'll be posting some of the buried treasures I found in this mess. </div>
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Like this,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNIOd_Fe-hgnCK5C0GvxpICN2H3sc0u2OTd8iUEuiJkVjnEjMjCcccL8YFhLc-_fUzX_4Y8ZIk9OgQry6hpEYiEm9HkrJVkKNiwLmnq4H379YNTb8PpxNznUPf7ej5pBcnKDcZby0y58/s1600/school+supplies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNIOd_Fe-hgnCK5C0GvxpICN2H3sc0u2OTd8iUEuiJkVjnEjMjCcccL8YFhLc-_fUzX_4Y8ZIk9OgQry6hpEYiEm9HkrJVkKNiwLmnq4H379YNTb8PpxNznUPf7ej5pBcnKDcZby0y58/s320/school+supplies.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Nine reams of unopened paper as well as a stack of unused folders and binders. </div>
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Previously lost in the seas of chaos, now neatly stacked in a cabinet. </div>
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For now,</div>
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What do you do with old Christmas/Birthday/Congratulations on the New House cards? </div>
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Dawn Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812066956850617957noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150179607441468539.post-90047481929342983932013-06-17T08:38:00.000-05:002013-06-17T08:38:17.485-05:00Eating My Elephant<i>The Return of Makeover Monday!</i><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><b>How do you eat an elephant? </b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVluRlQzO_jPzUdqFDxBc8xzwjSK5tsrCdud10ZzSg8jUIXWM8voiolwszAlbC87crnNlhBc8Mdy0zrX8FEK_pEUXLSo_OBDvHZ9Ow3JTq706Ajcrwcd9J16ZdvJWpOBm6icx7kBB79U/s1600/baby+elephant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVluRlQzO_jPzUdqFDxBc8xzwjSK5tsrCdud10ZzSg8jUIXWM8voiolwszAlbC87crnNlhBc8Mdy0zrX8FEK_pEUXLSo_OBDvHZ9Ow3JTq706Ajcrwcd9J16ZdvJWpOBm6icx7kBB79U/s320/baby+elephant.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">One bite at a time.</span></b></div>
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Welcome back to Makeover Monday!</div>
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It was on hold for a short time while the Mondays piled up on me like college freshman's mountain of laundry their first weekend home. </div>
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But, I'm back and I'm confessing.</div>
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I have a baby elephant in my house. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWw9lIh2DKPcIg4R1bTnYMwBJzD9bTemowCzr1OqtZIrWqVuMeR2VlH3MAP-aCk7i5W3e52yEfh_QTYFnfHG8RWUUcgeZC_ow4EkRxqInxBX_YxJ92MxzyAhbLNJqKhyphenhyphenJ6jvnN8Ceorc/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWw9lIh2DKPcIg4R1bTnYMwBJzD9bTemowCzr1OqtZIrWqVuMeR2VlH3MAP-aCk7i5W3e52yEfh_QTYFnfHG8RWUUcgeZC_ow4EkRxqInxBX_YxJ92MxzyAhbLNJqKhyphenhyphenJ6jvnN8Ceorc/s320/DSC_0007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Wow. </div>
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If you ever want to know just exactly how terrible a space looks, take a picture of it. </div>
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This is my <strike>dumping ground</strike> "office". </div>
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I have a lovely desk in the corner. </div>
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Isn't it pretty? </div>
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This is where all of our precious family photos and mementos are stored in an organized, easily accessible manner. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRyRjh0vDFBqVH0UQWwuWt1O62ctmDq7eQRlQb_46GUET6T1JLQ60-vNqSrbBjxnl92WOE5RnW0_Msg6xzoSGi62LoNIOljahQdAczqo21bWBkDKeo42w13B8tDnSFuaVGR50cYrey0RE/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRyRjh0vDFBqVH0UQWwuWt1O62ctmDq7eQRlQb_46GUET6T1JLQ60-vNqSrbBjxnl92WOE5RnW0_Msg6xzoSGi62LoNIOljahQdAczqo21bWBkDKeo42w13B8tDnSFuaVGR50cYrey0RE/s320/DSC_0004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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There are multiple problems with this space.</div>
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1. It appears to have no floor. I am pretty sure one still exist under there because I don't fall into oblivion when I climb over everything looking for an envelope. </div>
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2. Just to the left of the picture above is our front door. Yes, that's right this is what you see FIRST thing when you enter our beautiful home. As a family, we almost never come in the front door. So, this lovely scene is reserved for guest!</div>
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3. I don't have the slightest idea what's over here. In my defense, most of this was stuffed into the desk with the top closed until I had to find a paper...for our taxes.. 3 months ago. </div>
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*Hangs head in shame*</div>
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So, it's time to eat the elephant. </div>
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I don't expect the plate to be clean by next Monday, but I need some accountability. </div>
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You'll ask me about my elephant, right? Make sure I'm taking daily bites and not letting it just over in the corner and grow like it has for the last few months? </div>
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Good! I knew I could count on you. </div>
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And, you may have noticed, this is the <i>baby</i> elephant. There is a mama. She lurks in the other room. </div>
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If I survive this journey, you'll get to meet here next! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcv4qhOui5XejxQN09kx3LO-2epyT0hYGmffEPKppsqbG5sgddp0sqckF5mw6JZ4zB13MXG61rw_L4NxlCR-978oCuyOTD2g7822s7xgNT0J8SP_bmFiIQFHYeAb8_BgpiaZLps7YgqiA/s1600/DSC_0104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcv4qhOui5XejxQN09kx3LO-2epyT0hYGmffEPKppsqbG5sgddp0sqckF5mw6JZ4zB13MXG61rw_L4NxlCR-978oCuyOTD2g7822s7xgNT0J8SP_bmFiIQFHYeAb8_BgpiaZLps7YgqiA/s320/DSC_0104.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><br /></i>Dawn Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812066956850617957noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150179607441468539.post-54784868742598498092013-06-11T09:26:00.001-05:002013-06-11T09:26:22.775-05:00HAPPY RELEASE DAY TO RONI LOREN!Tell Me Your Story Tuesday<br />
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<a href="http://www.us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/features/roni_loren/index.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tOGycvzbiFlQpLvEgkh_o3D1M4nZNL9NQKO2Uwm5ILDGeYKz45NdVk-4xw_eWqxRzREgtHDaewZhyphenhyphenFIG-uyDdYYZe80jLFIn-0Oi6TSP7NU-KSEWGZxvtpLAPenyLYGjdv54-Wn_3IQ/s320/dare.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
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Today, I am breaking out the virtual champagne and throwing imaginary confetti for my friend, the <b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.roniloren.com/" target="_blank">FABULOUS RONI LOREN!</a></span></b></div>
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Roni is awesome. I'm a total fan of her <i>Loving on the Edge</i> series, especially <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Melt-Into-Loving-Edge-Novel/dp/0425247716/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370959118&sr=8-1&keywords=melt+into+you" target="_blank">Melt into You</a> (Hmm, Jace and Andre....*insert dreamy stare here* Oh, sorry. Were we talking about something? Oh, right, the blog post.)</div>
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Um, as I was saying, her new release</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Not-Until-You-Part-ebook/dp/B00BD49WNS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370959528&sr=8-1&keywords=roni+loren" target="_blank">Not until You Dare</a> </span></b></div>
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is the first title in Roni's new eserial.</div>
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A new installment will be released every week over the next eight weeks. </div>
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I have been totally looking forward to this because 1. It is about Andre's sister. He is in the very first scene ( *insert fangirl squee) and 2. It will be longer than her regular novels, which I love, but always want to read more!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LTHlgolpcOKjOb11OdcGrh8Cu3lKSDlovDDPAX2x9WhBDEX-LFqp4kLl1v2UYz2kSU0zb7bFKZh_VzQMg_OAfTguE0bRAbu5sVQAFt174Vi51MKSsyIMSXQpU_RoVLO5B1S5p1Jwmes/s1600/20130517_203702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LTHlgolpcOKjOb11OdcGrh8Cu3lKSDlovDDPAX2x9WhBDEX-LFqp4kLl1v2UYz2kSU0zb7bFKZh_VzQMg_OAfTguE0bRAbu5sVQAFt174Vi51MKSsyIMSXQpU_RoVLO5B1S5p1Jwmes/s320/20130517_203702.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">So, CONGRATULATIONS RONI!!!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Here's to a terrific release day. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.roniloren.com/blog/" target="_blank">A little taste of Not Until You Dare: </a></b></span></div>
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<em>From the author of the Loving on the Edge novels comes a story of a good girl who discovers that once you dare to cross some lines, it’s hard to turn back…</em></div>
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On the night of her graduation, innocent veterinary student Cela decides to play a game of Never Have I Ever with the two hot neighbors she’s been quietly crushing on for the last year. Always the prim and proper student, Cela thinks she’s earned a wild night before she has to move back home under the watchful gaze of her family. But what starts out as a simple game is about to take a very sensual turn...</div>
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Ian Foster is tired of playing games. With his membership to The Ranch, an exclusive BDSM resort, and a musician roommate who brings home groupies with a taste for ménage, Foster has a life most guys would kill for. But lately, his need for dominance is no longer satisfied via one-night stands. He craves the full surrender a woman—a submissive of his own. </div>
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But when his quiet, sweet-as-sugar neighbor shows up at their door with a bottle of tequila and an invitation, Foster decides he and Pike may have time for one more fling…<strong style="text-align: center;"> </strong></div>
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<a href="http://www.roniloren.com/blog/" target="_blank">Click here for an excerpt! </a></div>
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And a few questions for the Roni fans out there.</div>
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<i>What book is your favorite? </i></div>
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<i>What character would you love to spend an evening with? </i></div>
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<i>What character would you be terrified of spending the evening with?</i></div>
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Dawn Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812066956850617957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150179607441468539.post-61391268359825275412013-05-21T01:00:00.000-05:002013-05-21T01:00:05.989-05:00Welcome Taylor Lunsford<i>Tell Me Your Story Tuesday</i><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">Welcome</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://taylormlunsford.com/" target="_blank">Taylor Lunsford</a></span></div>
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I met Taylor through twitter. I am very excited to have her with us today to discuss her novel </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Need-You-Now-Love-ebook/dp/B00CRPRJQO/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368585593&sr=1-1&keywords=need+you+now+lunsford" target="_blank">Need You Now</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Welcome, Taylor. Tell us a little about </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <i>Need You Now.</i></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Need You Now is the story of Melody Carr and Caine Maddox, two childhood friends who had a fling in college that went south. Mel’s finally moved back to their hometown of Unknown to start her medical practice. Lucky for her (or unlucky, depending on your perspective), Caine’s now the mayor and he still carries a torch for her.<u></u><u></u></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Caine’s got his work cut out for him trying to win Mel’s trust back. The town doesn’t want her there and the local gossip blog can’t stay the hell out of his personal life for even a day. When the animosity brewing in town turns to vandalism, Caine makes sure Mel knows he’s not going anywhere. Keeping Mel’s stubborn-as-hell self safe from whoever’s targeting her may be the only way to convince Mel he’s playing for keeps. Getting Mel to trust him again is going to be the hardest fight of Caine’s life, but he’s determined to prove the to her that she needs him by her side.<u></u><u></u></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: blue;">And, it's the first in your series. Love in Unknown. I love that it is set in Unknown, Texas. How did you come up with that setting? Is it a real place? </span><span style="color: #500050;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Haha, so Unknown actually started out as just a placeholder for the town name because I kept drawing a blank when I tried to name the town. At one point, it was going to be called Fortune Lake, but then my critique partner and I voted that Unknown had a quirky charm to it that stuck. I even managed to come up with a romantic origin for the name that’s revealed in the books.<u></u><u></u></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Unknown is not a real place. It’s based off of bits and pieces of small towns in Texas I’ve visited during road trips with my family over the years. Most of it is based off of Georgetown, TX where I went to college, especially the square. McBride’s Books, which plays a big part in the second book (Ready to Love Again) is based off of the bookstore I worked at during my junior year.<u></u><u></u></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: blue;">So, tell us more about you. What's your favorite thing to do when you aren't writing? </span><span style="color: #500050;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial;">There’s a time when I’m not writing? Oh. Yeah. Maybe a little bit. LOL. Between my day job and writing, I don’t have a lot of free time, but when I do I like to hang out and watch movies with my friends. If I’m really procrastinating writing, I’ll knit or get some harebrained idea of how to redecorate my apartment.<u></u><u></u></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: blue;">What's craziest thing you've ever done for love? </span><span style="color: #500050;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial;">You know, that’s a tough one. I’ve never actually been in love. I got a tiny bit singed by romance in high school, so I’ve spent the last few years focused on school and work (I’m only 24). Rather than becoming jaded with romance, I focused in on my writing and sharing my hopes for romance with other people.<u></u><u></u></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: blue;">The town gossip causes issues for your hero. If you could have an outrageous rumor spread about you to the world, what would it be? </span><span style="color: #500050;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hmmm….I think it would be that I work as a covert Interpol operative who is dating someone I can’t name, but who may or may not be third in line for certain throne (for the time being. He’ll moved to fourth in July).</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: blue;">What's next for you? </span><span style="color: #500050;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial;">What’s next? Whew, it’s going to be a busy year. Up next is a short story in the Love in Unknown series called We Own The Night, which should be out in June. Book 2 looks like it’ll come out sometime in July and Book 3 will be in October if all goes as planned. In between, I’ll also have a series of short stories coming out that center around the siblings of Jane Austen characters and their roads to love.<u></u><u></u></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: blue;">How can we get to know you better? </span><span style="color: #500050;"><u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial;">If you visit my website, you can find a great page that tells you anything you could possibly want to know about my Love in Unknown series, including links to the people I’ve cast as all my characters and a playlist for NYN (<a href="http://taylormlunsford.com/love-in-unknown" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://taylormlunsford.com/<wbr></wbr>love-in-unknown</a> )<u></u><u></u></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial;">You can find me on twitter as @writertay. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial;">I also have a great Pinterest board set up for the Love in Unknown series (<a href="http://pinterest.com/writertay/unknown-tx/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://pinterest.com/<wbr></wbr>writertay/unknown-tx/</a> )</span></i></div>
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Dawn Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812066956850617957noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150179607441468539.post-71011618598209450042013-05-01T07:02:00.001-05:002013-05-01T07:02:58.258-05:00Welcome Back, C.A. Szarek<br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">C.A. Szarek</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">I'm so excited to have my friend and NTRWA chaptermate, C.A. Szarek with us again today! We're going to talk about her latest release and she has a swag to share! Be sure to scroll to the bottom for an excerpt of Sword's Call.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Welcome back, when <a href="http://chasingsomeday.blogspot.com/2012/04/welcome-ca-szarek.html" target="_blank">we last hung out (almost exactly a year ago!) </a>your debut <a href="http://www.gypsyshadow.com/" target="_blank">Sword’s Call </a>had just been picked up by Gypsy Shadow Publishing. It’s out now. Tell us about your journey from then to now. What’s been the best part? What’s been the most surprising? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Well, wow. The whole thing has been a plesant surprise. I was really nervous about edits, being since I had never been through a professional editing process, but my editor, Denise (who is AWESOME) really put me at ease, and the process was good. I dreaded for nothing. The journey is a learning process. You sign your contract, do your edits and then it's "Hurry up and wait" for your book to come out. The fun part is the cover, of course!</span><div class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<br /><br /><span style="color: blue;"> </span><br /><span style="color: blue;">And, you’ve got another series coming out with Total E-Bound Publishing, how did that come about?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><a href="http://www.total-e-bound.com/" target="_blank">Collision Force</a> is the first book of my romantic suspense series called Crossing Forces. Wow, the story, the book and even how it came to be at TEB is an adventure in and of itself. I had actually written the book for another publisher after a positive critique at a conference with one of their editors only to have it ultimately rejected by them. Then I was working with another publisher who asked me to restructure/rewrite the whole second half of the book...which I did. Only to have them ultimately reject it as well. I took it really hard. But after I picked myself up off the ground and told myself it was an even stronger story that before, even if they didn't want it, I re-shopped it. I ended up with THREE contract offers on it. So, I guess it really was stronger! I picked Total-E-Bound and so far my experience with them has been steller. I am so glad Collision Force and the Crossing Forces series has a home there. It will be available for pre-order May 20, will pre-release on June 3 and be general released on July 1. I am very excited.</span><div class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Collision Force:</span><br style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><i><span style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Badboy, married to his job FBI agent Cole Lucas always gets his man. So when the unthinkable happens and one gets away, Cole grits his teeth and hunts human trafficker Carlo Maldonado all the way to Antioch, Texas, where he collides with Detective Andi MacLaren.</span></span></span></span></span></i><div style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Cole doesn’t do small towns and he doesn’t get involved with women he works with, but Andi tempts him in ways he doesn’t want to acknowledge.</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Two murders, her partner shot and leading the investigation on her own, the last thing Andi needs is a cocky FBI agent that sees her as no more than a tagalong.</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Widow and single mother Andi is used to being on her own. When Cole gets stuck without a place to stay, crashing on her couch puts them in dangerous territory.</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Attraction and passion bring Andi to a place she left behind when her husband died.</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Her three-year-old son quickly wiggles his way into Cole’s heart, and he starts contemplating things—family, love—that he’d never planned for himself.</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Can being forced to work together make them stronger or will their differences jeopardize their case and their hearts?</i></span></span></span></div>
<br style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="color: blue;"> </span><br /><span style="color: blue;">Unlike Sword’s Call, this series is romantic suspense. What was it like switching genres? Did you struggle with it at all? </span><br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Switching genres isn't a big deal for me. I write what occurs to me in a way. But I am more comfortable in the fantasy world I created than having to write in the real world...rules! I have to follow rules that I wasn't the maker of.</span><div class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<br /><span style="color: blue;"> </span><br /><span style="color: blue;">So, what’s next for you? </span><br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">I just finished Love's Call, which is the 2nd book in the King's Rider Series, and I am working on Crossing Forces book two, Chance Collision. I have a few other stories swirling around in my head, too. So we'll see!</span><div class="im" style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<br /><span style="color: blue;"> </span><br /><span style="color: blue;">I understand you have a treat for our readers! Tell us about the giveaway! </span><br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">I do! I will giveaway an ecopy of Sword's Call or a Swag pack (containing a T-shirt or tote bag...US ONLY) Winner's Choice! Just comment and tell me what you like to read! Make sure to leave your email so I can contact you! I will pick a winner from one of the comments!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Thanx for having me, Dawn! It was fun!</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.666666984558105px;"><span style="color: blue;">Want to know more? Connect with C.A. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Medium'; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2113315089">www.</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Medium'; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2113315089">cas</a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><a href="http://zarek.com/">zarek.com</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2113315091">www.caszare</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://kwriter.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">kwriter.blogspot.</span><wbr></wbr><span style="color: #1155cc;">com</span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/caszarek" target="_blank">www.</a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/caszarek" target="_blank">facebook.com/caszare</a></span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/caszarek" target="_blank">k</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">@caszarek on Twitter</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Franklin Gothic Medium'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Franklin Gothic Medium; font-size: large;"><b>And here's where you can find her books!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.gypsyshadow.com/C.A.Szarek.html#SwordsCall" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #015782; font-family: 'Courier New';">Gypsy Shadow </span></a><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">| </span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/swords-call-c-a-szarek/1046083558?ean=2940016230467" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #015782; font-family: 'Courier New';">Barnes and Noble</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> |</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Swords-Call-Kings-Riders-ebook/dp/B00BJALXJC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361541221&sr=8-1&keywords=C.A.+Szarek" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #015782; font-family: 'Courier New';">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> |</span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Swords-Call-Kings-Riders-ebook/dp/B00BJALXJC/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361601352&sr=1-1" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New';">Amazon UK</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> | </span><a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sword039scall-1078418-143.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New';">ARe</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">|</span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New';"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/288263" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Smashwords</a></span></span><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/288263" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #015782; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 24pt;"></span></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Courier New';"><b><span style="font-size: large;">SWORD'S CALL</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>For generations, the
Ryhans, ruling family of the Province of Greenwald have been keepers of a sword
rumored to possess enough magic to defeat kings. Lord Varthan, a former
archduke and betrayer of the king, covets the sword and invades Greenwald. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Lady Ceralda Ryhan,
daughter of the murdered duke, gains the sword and flees, trusting only her
white wolf, Trikser—magically bonded to her. Cera needs nothing more to aid in
her fight. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Jorrin Aldern, half
elfin and half human, left his home in the mountains of Aramour to find his
human father who disappeared twenty turns before, but finds Cera with Varthan
and his shades on her tail instead. His dual heritage and empathic magic will
tempt Cera in ways she never thought she’d desire. <span style="color: #2a2a2a;">But
can he convince her trust and love can pave the path to redemption or will the
epic battle end in tragedy and evil conquer them all?</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Heart pounding and fists clenched, Cera sat in the <i>Dragon’s Lair’s</i> darkest corner. By
choice, the candle on the table was unlit. The bowl of stew half eaten, food
the last thing on her mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The door to the tavern swung open. Her white wolf growled
low and deep beside her. Cera glanced up, squinting in the sudden flood of
sunlight. As the door slammed shut and her eyes adjusted to the renewed
murkiness, she took in the newest arrival.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then she focused on Trikser. She couldn’t have him going for
anyone’s throat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Shhh, Trik, it’s okay.” She ran a hand through his fur,
smoothing his hackles along the length of his spine. The big wolf looked up at
her and licked her hand. One corner of her mouth lifted and she bit back a
sigh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The only reason the owner of the tavern, Marshek even let
him in was because no one else was allowed to enter the <i>Dragon’s Lair</i> if she was inside without him. No one according to
Trikser, that is. He’d almost taken the hand off the last guy who’d tried.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What’ll ya have?” Marshek barked, revealing his instant
dislike of the newcomer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She fixed her eyes on the bartender. Then she took a closer
look at the man sitting in front of him. His pointed ears betrayed his
heritage, but his height suggested he was not of pure blood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Marshek was known to be tolerant of elves but he hated what
he called half-breeds. Cera could imagine what the grumpy, middle-aged tavern
owner was thinking, and it wasn’t friendly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She rose, Trikser also immediately rising, awaiting her
move. The white wolf was her bondmate and had been since he was young.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Relax</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,
she thought-sent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Trik sat, but his body was tight, tense. He didn’t respond
to her mental order.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Moving to the bar, her wolf followed, slinking close to the
floor, moving in a slight crawl. His belly probably touched the filthy planked
flooring of the tavern.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cera made a face but forced a breath. <i>Detached control.</i> Sliding onto the stool next to the half-elfin
man, she was just in time to hear his order. His voice was clear and deep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Marshek filled a mug with ale and started to put the jug in
its place on the shelf.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Wait, Mar,” she said with a wave of her hand, “I’ll have
some of that, too.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With a curt nod, the older man poured her a mug. She brought
it to her lips, glancing nonchalantly at the stranger. His coal black hair
brushed the collar of his hooded gray cape, giving him a rather unkempt look,
but rugged rather than messy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cera couldn’t see the hue of his eyes from her seat but his
high cheekbones made his profile appealing, his sleek tapered ears adding to
the attraction. His powerful jaw line was clean shaven, an oddity in these
parts. She could tell he was aware of her perusal. He was young, not much older
than her, and had the stunning beauty of the elves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His chest heaved as if he’d taken a breath, and he finally
glanced at her. <i>Blue.</i> His eyes were a
deep, sapphire blue. Her heart skipped a beat but she ignored it. The man said
nothing, not that she’d expected him to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Dawn Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812066956850617957noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150179607441468539.post-87764326435330648122013-04-01T06:46:00.000-05:002013-04-01T06:46:53.301-05:00The Worst Prank Ever<i>No Makeover Monday today. The Easter Bunny brought me a horrendous sinus infection. Hard to organize with a 50 lb weight on each cheek. Instead, I decided to rerun the post below. We buried my Dad on April Fool's Day nine years ago. This just seems to fit. </i><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Worst Prank Ever</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">or </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">How to make your daughter cry in 30 seconds or less</span></span></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkSQiGbRdrWzrvwlVc_N1yhH-oy0dhLrn8dDoR07cxp_MvJ7R1-yAEPO8kJArxyLymRsG0xQHw9ZtSkQnQOsf6RpS7oyyZRtkmumkTQD1dy91H87VoFh-S3qvGG-GH_Y81wMceypzd2g/s1600/Dadshowingmuscles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkSQiGbRdrWzrvwlVc_N1yhH-oy0dhLrn8dDoR07cxp_MvJ7R1-yAEPO8kJArxyLymRsG0xQHw9ZtSkQnQOsf6RpS7oyyZRtkmumkTQD1dy91H87VoFh-S3qvGG-GH_Y81wMceypzd2g/s320/Dadshowingmuscles.jpg" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad sometime in the 80's</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span>When my boyfriend and I abruptly dropped our plans for the Fourth of July and made the three hour trip to my parents' house. I'm pretty sure my Dad already knew what was coming. Especially when mom and I announced we were going shopping and leaving the two of them alone.</div>
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First, Dad tried to encourage Scott go shopping with us. When Scott insisted he would rather stay and hang out with him. Dad decided there were a few "chores" that needed immediate attention around the house.<br />
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Like cutting down a tree in the back pasture.<br />
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So, as I drove away with my mother, knowing full well Scott was going to ask my dad to marry me.<br />
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My Dad was smiling, waving and revving a chainsaw!<br />
<br />
My mother promised me that Dad would not kill Scott and hide is body in the back pasture. I wasn't so sure.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDsMJHOPM89GjACgzFficsLUJSrBabUkfcuzWRtf6zHTjwFpWs8gn9nhZJXyMtw4_Hk7J_ypIeu1T9Tj22aPBtkChJEwnWNLEtjkzt1wuOlnid_T03Z0JNXkgAM8qBOWbcxE9VfxgKyk/s1600/dawnandscott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDsMJHOPM89GjACgzFficsLUJSrBabUkfcuzWRtf6zHTjwFpWs8gn9nhZJXyMtw4_Hk7J_ypIeu1T9Tj22aPBtkChJEwnWNLEtjkzt1wuOlnid_T03Z0JNXkgAM8qBOWbcxE9VfxgKyk/s320/dawnandscott.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawn and Scott 1997</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A little less than an hour later, my Mom and I were strolling through the mall, heading for the wedding dress store when her cell phone rang.<br />
Checking the display she said, "It's your Dad."<br />
I was all smiles when I answered. "Hi, Daddy!"<br />
<br />
Dad was loud, but he rarely yelled and usually did not cuss when talking to me. <br />
<br />
"What do you mean this S.O.B wants to marry you?" He was yelling.<br />
I laughed at first. "Well, you know. He kind of likes me."<br />
Dad got louder. "Well, I told him no. I told him he was not welcome in this family. He told me to go F*&# myself and took off. He's walking to town right now!"<br />
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At that moment, I burst into tears in the middle of Dillards.<br />
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My mother took the phone while a very sweet cosmetic counter lady comforted me with a box of tissues. Through the my sobs, I heard my mother saying things like "Well, what did you say?" Pause "What did he say?" Pause. "Why is he walking? Why didn't he take his truck?" Pause. Longer Pause. Longer Pause.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfEZXgkX6M5r3rq96miiCV4WiNitJ07z9qsGfR1IGSmWhXLyuZSh9-DYqyk3nSeKLIX-bQcsti2pCgwyFxZ1gjA-fhITzdeNY8mTj2Ck6Q8d69LCeco-Sw0CWSX2xPIbDfI6APi8rAHQ/s1600/momanddadvegas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfEZXgkX6M5r3rq96miiCV4WiNitJ07z9qsGfR1IGSmWhXLyuZSh9-DYqyk3nSeKLIX-bQcsti2pCgwyFxZ1gjA-fhITzdeNY8mTj2Ck6Q8d69LCeco-Sw0CWSX2xPIbDfI6APi8rAHQ/s320/momanddadvegas.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom and Dad early 80's</td></tr>
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Then, my mother's face changed. She stepped behind a makeover screen, which offered no real sound protection and let loose with a string of insults, ending with "This is your idea of a joke? Your daughter is crying. Crying. Right now in the middle of the store." Then she turned to me, "It's a joke, Dawn. It's a joke. Everything's fine."<br />
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I took the phone, through the tears and uncontrollable shaking, I was able to hear my Dad's booming laugh and the words, "I'm sorry, baby. I thought it was April Fool's Day!"<br />
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I could barely speak to him or my future husband for the rest of the weekend. Although, my husband disavowed any knowledge of a plot to tease me. He swears he was in the bathroom the whole time. Yeah, right. <br />
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So, how did the conversation really go?<br />
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Scott: I'm sure you know why we're here... I want to marry your daughter.<br />
Dad (putting down chainsaw) : Well, if you know her well enough to want to marry her, you know if that's what she wants, there's nothing I can do to stop her. So, welcome to the family. Want some ice tea?<br />
Scott: Thank you. Tea sounds good.<br />
Dad (Patting Scott on the back): Let's call Dawn.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUI4Xu4Hs9s09KZrBv9SeB8ECLSjftv7kAIq2TdHx9IpQUDVArceixBR0VQ9QvDxACAoNp0Lva3nhIruDitYf8OBDWJr8C2k74EDrNyJmSh__3iU7DD0b_rBXamhaAUSiGcHSnTAN4K44/s1600/dadanddawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUI4Xu4Hs9s09KZrBv9SeB8ECLSjftv7kAIq2TdHx9IpQUDVArceixBR0VQ9QvDxACAoNp0Lva3nhIruDitYf8OBDWJr8C2k74EDrNyJmSh__3iU7DD0b_rBXamhaAUSiGcHSnTAN4K44/s320/dadanddawn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i> Miss you, Dad. </i></div>
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Dawn Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812066956850617957noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150179607441468539.post-219831080305138632013-03-29T07:12:00.000-05:002013-03-29T07:12:16.091-05:00Happy Easter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFxDW-6edRBQZFAAsnzxSLynbhfUEahiPN5wnRdvN6dBLji-9aIs1JaIvzCa6W4FzWFCoagNydtefKxBcIFA9ib8f9U3Q3kyqLCDqLYCoabuKWLnUqdsRMNnDSDPHUvrRBEf_aRyR9mk/s1600/DSC_0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFxDW-6edRBQZFAAsnzxSLynbhfUEahiPN5wnRdvN6dBLji-9aIs1JaIvzCa6W4FzWFCoagNydtefKxBcIFA9ib8f9U3Q3kyqLCDqLYCoabuKWLnUqdsRMNnDSDPHUvrRBEf_aRyR9mk/s320/DSC_0128.JPG" width="228" /></a></div>
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No official plot swap today. </div>
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Feel free to leave a swap in the comments.</div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;">Happy Easter!</span></div>
Dawn Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812066956850617957noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150179607441468539.post-68269703150128695672013-03-25T01:00:00.000-05:002013-03-25T01:00:08.311-05:00Makeover Monday~ The Little Things<br />
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<i><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Makeover Monday</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The Little Things</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I didn't tackle any major organizing projects this week. I have one looming that I'm not quite ready to share. If I do get it done, we're having a virtual party. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But, just so I didn't disappoint any faithful Makeover Monday followers, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I thought I'd share some of the little things I've added to our house that make me way happier than they should. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The first is this hook. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EOuxg3NPwMn2IDFy9hBrLjFbaPQe4HY44S25kYePooo28sNzSYmG7rXF_9GritbuQ7vFS71c_o36Bdz0WPTP-rGRx5sow6IMtyUlgmTNZ1Zd7YGpsduvmf5RpYihQMCFUKreoNSA_bg/s1600/IMG_0044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EOuxg3NPwMn2IDFy9hBrLjFbaPQe4HY44S25kYePooo28sNzSYmG7rXF_9GritbuQ7vFS71c_o36Bdz0WPTP-rGRx5sow6IMtyUlgmTNZ1Zd7YGpsduvmf5RpYihQMCFUKreoNSA_bg/s320/IMG_0044.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I bought this forever ago to hang bags in my closet. It is supposed to fit over the door. Unfortunately, I have fat closet doors because this was too thin</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. Last week, when I was doing the </span><a href="http://chasingsomeday.blogspot.com/2013/03/makeover-monday-pantry-revisited.html" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">great kitchen shift</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. I remembered it. It fits perfectly over the cabinet door and holds my cutting boards right within reach. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Second, is this basket.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZGsPYmwT2chIUtevch4F_jKH9muSAaQgvLHlGRb8rpdw4bR9FrR8rFhDG10zeTFeOyxBaWg2D4e_7e3ahWplyqjgB5_SsGk-xbVbQkIpnSOfhMMnT8wM27U2sYKwf_oA56nhg98onaw/s1600/IMG_0046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZGsPYmwT2chIUtevch4F_jKH9muSAaQgvLHlGRb8rpdw4bR9FrR8rFhDG10zeTFeOyxBaWg2D4e_7e3ahWplyqjgB5_SsGk-xbVbQkIpnSOfhMMnT8wM27U2sYKwf_oA56nhg98onaw/s320/IMG_0046.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I mentioned this basket in this<a href="http://chasingsomeday.blogspot.com/2013/01/makeover-monday-showing-my-drawers.html" target="_blank"> post</a>, but didn't really give it the attention it deserves. This is a charging station for my children's electronics. It hides a surge protector and gives them a place to store anything that needs a plug. No more scavenger hunt to find a lost mp3 player two minutes before leaving. </div>
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And, last, this basket.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cN9Ol9Nm1oF76GSH3EzVqWVpVVhRue7xvfsa06B2RD0Th90P5qW9-Q5F-SSHrUZYuwy1sJRQ1KPu7gYtHMjc79mN_n42kRQ6vDzvcuWWl4E6Vg19i5SwmRoNtB7p59xu-mnuzmetv38/s1600/DSC_0079r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cN9Ol9Nm1oF76GSH3EzVqWVpVVhRue7xvfsa06B2RD0Th90P5qW9-Q5F-SSHrUZYuwy1sJRQ1KPu7gYtHMjc79mN_n42kRQ6vDzvcuWWl4E6Vg19i5SwmRoNtB7p59xu-mnuzmetv38/s320/DSC_0079r.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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I got one of these for both of the girls when I redecorated their<a href="http://chasingsomeday.blogspot.com/2013/01/makeover-monday-girls-bathroom.html" target="_blank"> bathroom</a>. They are wide enough to hold a regular-sized cup, toothbrush and toothpaste and they suction cup to the mirror. Why do I love them? They get all of the dental hygiene products off the counter and give them a neat, organized appearance. </div>
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<span style="color: blue;">So, how about in your home? What little things give you a big smile? </span></div>
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Dawn Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812066956850617957noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150179607441468539.post-37571041511280952492013-03-18T01:30:00.000-05:002013-03-18T01:30:03.205-05:00Makeover Monday~ Pantry Revisited<br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Makeover Monday</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Pantry Revisited</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">My pantry has become my nemesis.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Phineas and Ferb Nemesis Song</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">You may remember my <a href="http://chasingsomeday.blogspot.com/2013/02/no-makeover-monday.html" target="_blank">Makeover Monday: Sad Dawn</a> post about my pantry difficulties. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Like the laundry room, this is a room I going into several times a day. I really wanted to make it something cute. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">*sigh*</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">First, <i>Before</i> pictures. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmdHVBR_I24BngQmAw8eAiqAHLMy-GzvfproYIebxiU8ZvyntwPbM0CKw7IyjywrWHrf3CJWL8amTHKxAdw2bkDV50_ne1d4ImEOXaS0ep-f-BjMNGDFD3otqkh-MHvIURXlb1EdSHo8/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmdHVBR_I24BngQmAw8eAiqAHLMy-GzvfproYIebxiU8ZvyntwPbM0CKw7IyjywrWHrf3CJWL8amTHKxAdw2bkDV50_ne1d4ImEOXaS0ep-f-BjMNGDFD3otqkh-MHvIURXlb1EdSHo8/s200/IMG_0007.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3nOgHw7PRjBZp74sAZyqqEjkSEhkxn215och307lDHtl_bHTsYJ67TjjHjUeS-6nxoEkZsWhb6t9q0_OhtNrSiDXQnViqGrd4UgqTBIYkncg8tQHwDyl71QUvAd2c8Q3bp1hiwGTOHk/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3nOgHw7PRjBZp74sAZyqqEjkSEhkxn215och307lDHtl_bHTsYJ67TjjHjUeS-6nxoEkZsWhb6t9q0_OhtNrSiDXQnViqGrd4UgqTBIYkncg8tQHwDyl71QUvAd2c8Q3bp1hiwGTOHk/s200/IMG_0008.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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It was making my teeth cringe EVERY time I opened the door. Plus, I couldn't find ANYTHING. </div>
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So, since I had a week off. I decided to tackle the beast. </div>
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Step one: </div>
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Take everything out. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUffPuV98ksghwe8ghX37jqHu_wF8JVtINqq7BAmYXRc7KWlcukDMEndPeQwDRFD_2pzpS-sviAF3YNeq6Ce3AIV5nP4uKnsXew0PL_n7fOVaw69GAhho1djgg-GPpMgO-pIbMooyrA0/s1600/IMG_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUffPuV98ksghwe8ghX37jqHu_wF8JVtINqq7BAmYXRc7KWlcukDMEndPeQwDRFD_2pzpS-sviAF3YNeq6Ce3AIV5nP4uKnsXew0PL_n7fOVaw69GAhho1djgg-GPpMgO-pIbMooyrA0/s200/IMG_0014.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OM_dFE3E-DnQn8Gg7FOl1_S-XCDgnifdi3DQtDpL3zEP-S6ekz7VPRLDWQr09OB2v0vmBSUyN_nKpCpHM67YSR1kBEfwSyWqYTVzYFs63jkW3h0z7OoJxtkosyZsf7fW-VqLCJVm6sQ/s1600/IMG_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OM_dFE3E-DnQn8Gg7FOl1_S-XCDgnifdi3DQtDpL3zEP-S6ekz7VPRLDWQr09OB2v0vmBSUyN_nKpCpHM67YSR1kBEfwSyWqYTVzYFs63jkW3h0z7OoJxtkosyZsf7fW-VqLCJVm6sQ/s200/IMG_0015.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Um, wow...</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Tke4eaK8uRd3inpmQ6pRpv3iNqjSqalpvSndVxT3TPz14lA-irG0K5M-csVqKMTYZBDs4cm2zp65lpZjtrtc-gbAUL7cudTkhtzgpmSiOPVoteY2AR1eBWFeD_WRgPiFP7u_fpdX7bg/s1600/IMG_0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Tke4eaK8uRd3inpmQ6pRpv3iNqjSqalpvSndVxT3TPz14lA-irG0K5M-csVqKMTYZBDs4cm2zp65lpZjtrtc-gbAUL7cudTkhtzgpmSiOPVoteY2AR1eBWFeD_WRgPiFP7u_fpdX7bg/s200/IMG_0017.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOavWOlRPbptEPgwLRJTfTk2DOlqiYjrd5qtKkXwYs3n72nwYDmmL5vxwin_qmm7jaL36Wmuvi5sYfBq0KRr4cUVwjD2g-UVe1nq3M6czDOtX9ZjgzyKZLGNQJkfW96yBy5PJl0dstTWs/s1600/IMG_0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOavWOlRPbptEPgwLRJTfTk2DOlqiYjrd5qtKkXwYs3n72nwYDmmL5vxwin_qmm7jaL36Wmuvi5sYfBq0KRr4cUVwjD2g-UVe1nq3M6czDOtX9ZjgzyKZLGNQJkfW96yBy5PJl0dstTWs/s200/IMG_0016.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">This is what happens when you're unorganized. You end up with FOUR OPEN boxes of plastic wrap and FOUR OPEN boxes of trash bags. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hfVR5YXZbzA6JMwoanb1rQCR1v2tAAPD9x1g8oT2CASeszHmETQ5Lxq8P8PHkzRwzVRECveskjMYHThXTh-ft9rAGCZ4Je4qpuNnWi2Wx9ZNowTd5bthSEiE37-u5A6PvJTqPrBOj8c/s1600/IMG_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hfVR5YXZbzA6JMwoanb1rQCR1v2tAAPD9x1g8oT2CASeszHmETQ5Lxq8P8PHkzRwzVRECveskjMYHThXTh-ft9rAGCZ4Je4qpuNnWi2Wx9ZNowTd5bthSEiE37-u5A6PvJTqPrBOj8c/s200/IMG_0012.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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Empty pantry</div>
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Here is where it got complicated. Have you ever tried one of those puzzles where you have to move every piece to make a one piece fit ? Yeah, that was my kitchen. </div>
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The goal of organizing the pantry was to move the spices from this cabinet and the storage containers from the other cabinet into new homes. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXS90dnGsvxrXq_ePXDcG1ZrG69yMgp4TuRbR1PcQY1BJSpRNi58xREu9MXy1qEl5RF_jVH4pVDcSFvYbTNLEm4qJQovV8rc4srzrVCZC0XSUU6s1f2BvwswCIeI8Q2TGNQygPzRVgr0/s1600/IMG_0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXS90dnGsvxrXq_ePXDcG1ZrG69yMgp4TuRbR1PcQY1BJSpRNi58xREu9MXy1qEl5RF_jVH4pVDcSFvYbTNLEm4qJQovV8rc4srzrVCZC0XSUU6s1f2BvwswCIeI8Q2TGNQygPzRVgr0/s200/IMG_0009.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wlFneLS_I4TSwNIpThzHJQaFYfayyS0xsOM51mNK9WBBAJAs_sLMlxg9O9h4STK-Ga9W_vPVQoyUXtC-CzxZzFQ5ZkrDk3sdGHrcuR2o4f9XEZBiW81otSLGAFGXEWB-7kM7JIBZczM/s1600/IMG_0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wlFneLS_I4TSwNIpThzHJQaFYfayyS0xsOM51mNK9WBBAJAs_sLMlxg9O9h4STK-Ga9W_vPVQoyUXtC-CzxZzFQ5ZkrDk3sdGHrcuR2o4f9XEZBiW81otSLGAFGXEWB-7kM7JIBZczM/s200/IMG_0010.JPG" width="150" /></a><br />
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Inspired by <a href="http://www.alejandra.tv/" target="_blank">Alejandra</a>, I decided to buy a "Wall Pocket" for the spices.</div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjda0ugxps6yzeqzGJ7o4hW3K97-vb4EdswPkZmsRQH-T27ctFPP2BLgbT10GLd66eCCTYPtqRcQTALpirufGG2QqFsQz4_w_F5GyYmE4y-Mz2s0QEnLLvo8_DyPK-aIz17bW2kFlZ_Wlk/s1600/IMG_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjda0ugxps6yzeqzGJ7o4hW3K97-vb4EdswPkZmsRQH-T27ctFPP2BLgbT10GLd66eCCTYPtqRcQTALpirufGG2QqFsQz4_w_F5GyYmE4y-Mz2s0QEnLLvo8_DyPK-aIz17bW2kFlZ_Wlk/s200/IMG_0018.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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No, it isn't a shoe organizer. Having a shoe organizer in my pantry would be weird...</div>
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Then, I decided to concede my search for cute shelf paper and just buy practical that would give some color. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTZOSeiU208xugJ9rKZ5eW9A3F2JjTMK_FF7PpQowuHetjAVi70X21BCqkt5EnzsVp7wD_5TXD43do6atFSudzKM0RNH_HYNCPfSOWsA-B1iEbeNjjxdJfpDyH3r4bGm0z3Z8vg65vFs/s1600/IMG_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTZOSeiU208xugJ9rKZ5eW9A3F2JjTMK_FF7PpQowuHetjAVi70X21BCqkt5EnzsVp7wD_5TXD43do6atFSudzKM0RNH_HYNCPfSOWsA-B1iEbeNjjxdJfpDyH3r4bGm0z3Z8vg65vFs/s200/IMG_0020.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">HUGE MISTAKE! </span></div>
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I tried putting a few items back in and realized every time I lifted a box the shelf paper stuck to the BOX, not the shelf. </div>
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*Double sigh*</div>
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Having everything on the counter was making me twitchy. </div>
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I just started putting it back in. </div>
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It looked a little better. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9OcIDZYJoIQLRgGy8hHS0OxbEtxSwqMA_W4eWJHyseRQ79yoslwgpbZiJ5AVg2vFHxcDh_ADHWYM6fvmiYHRrB1h7EYV2T-XR2Ldac2SBpShUdX7CFikJanq6KHuYSwDLNGyrvKgtsw/s1600/IMG_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9OcIDZYJoIQLRgGy8hHS0OxbEtxSwqMA_W4eWJHyseRQ79yoslwgpbZiJ5AVg2vFHxcDh_ADHWYM6fvmiYHRrB1h7EYV2T-XR2Ldac2SBpShUdX7CFikJanq6KHuYSwDLNGyrvKgtsw/s200/IMG_0025.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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The wall pocket worked great. </div>
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But, the rest of the pantry... Meh. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdSGgTeoYnwlSUjuhtuKZLAOvCvOhPtYeU9QUQIJKSdlXNuycK9j6b7n9m7-5RU48m-b6Mg9VviikgsXlIZI_2cCTtnHXYUhWpx-t0oZL7jLmO8NbRyPXo2X5u1I7u0L-J0iHTIxBkO0/s1600/IMG_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdSGgTeoYnwlSUjuhtuKZLAOvCvOhPtYeU9QUQIJKSdlXNuycK9j6b7n9m7-5RU48m-b6Mg9VviikgsXlIZI_2cCTtnHXYUhWpx-t0oZL7jLmO8NbRyPXo2X5u1I7u0L-J0iHTIxBkO0/s200/IMG_0022.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40-FzPTLYte8qZ4aSjDtPtThEtY5V3PTMbYoqXSqHOG-uNYOHv3GybBqvX065qMTYCZvnBmvkY2dmEfcKHDVY4dIyKIwkLODz6XBeKJ06y18_or0XNuIMZ29HJxEXci_WzoPag4DjIqQ/s1600/IMG_0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40-FzPTLYte8qZ4aSjDtPtThEtY5V3PTMbYoqXSqHOG-uNYOHv3GybBqvX065qMTYCZvnBmvkY2dmEfcKHDVY4dIyKIwkLODz6XBeKJ06y18_or0XNuIMZ29HJxEXci_WzoPag4DjIqQ/s200/IMG_0023.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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On the surface, it looks organized, but do you see the problem I did? </div>
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No boundaries. Nothing to keep that jar of Peanut Butter from wandering over to Sprite bottles. </div>
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<br />I decided to give myself one more day to work on some solutions. </div>
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I added Lazy Susans to make use of the corner space and keep like items together. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5yYHvaUDDnI3aOMqGsq9QtglLpc2WCGiglEjBdXh5fbBHLGX6okTDivONNiZbqZ6kmN5nVddTWQ_fylIuN2CaYkqGhqFjulrN0IEFjktCBvD0lxHBVuEph97RYZ3opz8snHr7nraVWs/s1600/DSC_0082r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5yYHvaUDDnI3aOMqGsq9QtglLpc2WCGiglEjBdXh5fbBHLGX6okTDivONNiZbqZ6kmN5nVddTWQ_fylIuN2CaYkqGhqFjulrN0IEFjktCBvD0lxHBVuEph97RYZ3opz8snHr7nraVWs/s200/DSC_0082r.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9JGJTohrAvccGs45pcEcz3kiHjbTGMbUU_BaKgerSSqpeY-7hS2xvG_1-FfRYkYeRqrPkSh7t38zPioTpxKxPbLnlA3OZ5iMMczlA8vZFvtOhvjM3nz1WwnrRj_nvtbtQBo0x7Wl8_Vw/s1600/IMG_0027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9JGJTohrAvccGs45pcEcz3kiHjbTGMbUU_BaKgerSSqpeY-7hS2xvG_1-FfRYkYeRqrPkSh7t38zPioTpxKxPbLnlA3OZ5iMMczlA8vZFvtOhvjM3nz1WwnrRj_nvtbtQBo0x7Wl8_Vw/s200/IMG_0027.JPG" width="150" /></a>I created a snack station for the girls: Zip-loc bags, crackers, water, water bottles and Goldfish.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0pGc5xtE9qD4D3ORiS5eBGkF6t_cH5SKBSrkAI9JnZ4B71gh7dtzizNSTsgffpem0-ioFvdu8G-iy6HpPnXUj2DPdURW7rD5kJuQfSH3I97uosZZp3KAeBwF19tsQtcHKhvuGb4nOE8/s1600/IMG_0029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0pGc5xtE9qD4D3ORiS5eBGkF6t_cH5SKBSrkAI9JnZ4B71gh7dtzizNSTsgffpem0-ioFvdu8G-iy6HpPnXUj2DPdURW7rD5kJuQfSH3I97uosZZp3KAeBwF19tsQtcHKhvuGb4nOE8/s200/IMG_0029.JPG" width="150" /></a> </div>
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And, moved the paper towels to the bottom so they are easily accessible. </div>
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<i>Before:</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOn6vy4VB0IhL_ksrOuKkiIEOaWTz9ekqstgJm_uOztDXGvftjBe9-ljsb_QhYm_ASGnOF96StpEl7XkeOzmVGex8PjIDDPOmDo36Zrjxl0VUTuLby5fQRdxcp51yZjSrrpXAvqgKPCs/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOn6vy4VB0IhL_ksrOuKkiIEOaWTz9ekqstgJm_uOztDXGvftjBe9-ljsb_QhYm_ASGnOF96StpEl7XkeOzmVGex8PjIDDPOmDo36Zrjxl0VUTuLby5fQRdxcp51yZjSrrpXAvqgKPCs/s320/IMG_0007.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>After:</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSUTXukyUTr2rEItzBe2hFE4VnEKcskE8aiLbGP_RtAqTazp9GJ6ODIufTYCul3Izh4lzodtvRu4pIP_69oukLVqr-VNyY3VjNVqNFOesyZ7fj1t21xb3HKJrbCFsvzkjdWJxs2Yvp3U/s1600/IMG_0026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSUTXukyUTr2rEItzBe2hFE4VnEKcskE8aiLbGP_RtAqTazp9GJ6ODIufTYCul3Izh4lzodtvRu4pIP_69oukLVqr-VNyY3VjNVqNFOesyZ7fj1t21xb3HKJrbCFsvzkjdWJxs2Yvp3U/s320/IMG_0026.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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It is the cutest pantry EVAH? Um, no.</div>
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Does it make me smile every time I open the door? </div>
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Nope. </div>
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Can I find everything and see exactly what's on hand? </div>
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Yeah. </div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>Any suggestions on how to liven it up? </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>I really don't want to paint. But, I've given up on shelf paper.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>What area of your house would you consider your nemesis? </b></span></div>
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Dawn Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812066956850617957noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150179607441468539.post-46766989215185487262013-03-15T01:00:00.000-05:002013-03-15T01:00:10.960-05:00Friday Plot Swap~ Spring Break Style<br />
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Dawn's Plot Swap</span></span></b></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 1;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-weight: normal;"><b></b></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;" /></span><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Have a plot? Leave one</span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Need a plot ? Take one</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">This has been Spring Break week for me! My family and I have done virtually nothing. It has been AMAZING! For our plot swap, I thought I'd offer up some great Spring Break ideas. What could you do with these? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Fun for the whole family: </span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 36px; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/55998474-78/bank-car-police-officer.html.csp" target="_blank">Husband, wife bring kids to Utah bank robbery</a></span></div>
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The family that plays together stays together. I'm not sure which is worse. The fact they brought kids along or the fact they were caught because an off-duty police officer was having lunch across the street and thought the woman sprinting back to her car after going in the bank looked suspicious. </div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;">So, romantic suspense: They were robbing the bank to protect their children from a nefarious villain. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;">Romantic comedy: The sister of the woman must match wits with the off-duty police officer to prove she isn't guilty. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); line-height: 16px;">Great recreation with friends: </span></h2>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/21582932/mo-golfer-survives-mid-round-illinois-sinkhole#ixzz2NZMyG8bY" target="_blank">Mo. golfer survives fall into Ill. course sinkhole</a></span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/21582932/mo-golfer-survives-mid-round-illinois-sinkhole#ixzz2NZMyG8bY" target="_blank"><br /></a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This had to be a terrifying experiences. But, my favorite part is that his friend didn't see him get swallowed by the earth. When he vanished from sight they </span><i style="font-weight: normal;">assumed</i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> he'd fallen down a hill, but </span>didn't go looking for him until they heard moaning! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Horror:</span> <span style="font-weight: normal;">The friends never find him and he must claw his way out before the demon beast at the bottom of the hole claws him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Time travel: Of course, the sinkhole is a portal to another dimension where he arrives and must solve five tasks (it was a par 5 hole) before returning. </span></div>
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For the adventurous type:</h2>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/21575343/north-texas-treasure-hunter-rescued-in-new-mexico#ixzz2NZP6pnga" target="_blank">North Texas hiker goes missing while hunting treasure</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Did you know there is a book titled "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thrill-Chase-Memoir-Forrest-Fenn/dp/0967091780/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363313242&sr=8-1&keywords=the+thrill+of+the+chase" target="_blank">The Thrill of the Chase</a>" in which the author outlines clues to a $2 Million dollar treasure he supposedly hid in the mountains near Santa Fe? </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Well, this woman did. She went looking for it and got lost. She was later found safe.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">But, oh, the possibilities! </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">What could drive her to risk everything to go hiking alone searching for this treasure? </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">What if she'd found it? </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">What kind of personal growth did she experience while on the chase? </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Swap with me! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Got any good plots going?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Great spring break plans? </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Intentions of committing a felony? </span></span></div>
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Dawn Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812066956850617957noreply@blogger.com2