tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41706538281056322652024-02-19T00:02:33.115-07:00Your Miranda Writesanything you say can and will be used for my entertainment...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger217125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170653828105632265.post-18177955309255617682015-01-04T23:15:00.002-07:002015-01-18T22:30:32.345-07:002014 Highlight Reel2014 has been full of change for our little family of four (yes, four. We have had one more child since the last time I updated this blog. I am just a little behind.). And during the Christmas season we received several holiday letters from friends and family and really enjoyed reading them. I thought I would do a digital version here so that in a few weeks when we are off our holiday break and back to running around like crazy people, I can remember what happened. <br />
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<i>Family photo during a fun little summer trip to Durango, CO.</i></div>
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<b>A New Old House</b><br />
The biggest change this year was we sold our beloved brick bungalow downtown and moved to the 'burbs. I can't believe it either. We adored our 100+ year old Craftsman bungalow and our dear neighbors more than words but realized that we had officially outgrown the house and were looking for our next house adventure. We purchased that house when we were newlyweds, just out of college. We had absolutely no idea what we were in for when we decided to buy the completely run-down house and "fix it up," which is probably the only way to do that sort of thing. In my mind, "fixing it up" included dusting off the drapes, putting on a fresh coat of paint and opening the windows so Cinderella's darling bird friends could fly in, sashes and ribbons in-beak. That wasn't exactly how it works, though, no matter how many remodeling shows you watch on HGTV. Twelve years and countless trips to Home Depot later, the formerly sad little house was our happy home we bittersweetly passed along to a new family.<br />
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<i>Our last photo on our beloved front porch, taken while we were moving out. :'(</i></div>
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We (again) bought a new-to-us, sad house but this time with killer views. We gave up our walkable, diverse downtown 'hood for a quiet suburban neighborhood. We bought the worst house on the street and have been working hard to make it less of an embarrassment to our very nice neighbors. This neighborhood is the exact opposite of where we lived before but we are learning to love it.<br />
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<i>The view from our new back yard. Not too shabby. </i></div>
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We bought a 1960s home, with vaulted ceilings and a giant beam that runs through the living room. It came with acres of old, dingy carpet, dirty cottage cheese ceilings and an entire civilization of dead rodents under the roof (their corpses have since been removed, thankfully). We have been in the house almost six months (what?!) and in that time have done some pretty serious work, including removing three huge dumpsters of yard waste (nobody had even mowed the lawn here for years), took out the ceiling on the main floor and replaced it, removed all of the old floor and most of the subfloor, installed hard woods throughout, removed a wall on the main floor, removed all of the former kitchen and put in a new one, installed a new furnace and A/C unit and much, much more! I will hopefully be posting more about the house renovation process. Z has been a busy, busy man. We have a lot more to do and are looking forward to making lots more memories in our new place, the house is already so much happier to have a family who is taking care of it, I can tell.<br />
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<b>Houston, we have a Kindergartener!</b><br />
Anthony started Kindergarten this year at the elementary school that is just a five-minute walk from our new house's front door to his classroom. It is very convenient for those days we're running late (which is every day, just for the record). He loves his class and thinks his school has an awesome playground, which is very important, you know. Anthony is the tallest kid in his class by more than one head and firmly believes it's because he loves to eat vegetables. He may have a point. We're all glad that he has made some great new friends in our neighborhood.<br />
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<i>The daily walks to and from school are full of excitement: including the spotting of this giant slug. </i></div>
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<b>I Started Business School</b><br />
In August, I decided life wasn't busy enough with two little boys, a busy job and everything else and decided to go to grad school to get my MBA in an executive program. Although it is so hard, (I had a moment the night before my corporate financial reporting class final where I thought seriously that if I had the choice to take my final or go through childbirth I would have chosen childbirth. Not a good sign.), I really am enjoying it. My classmates are awesome--all very smart and accomplished. I am learning so much from them. I am one of six women in the program of 70 people and am lucky enough to have one of my close friends in the program with me. I am also very lucky to have the best husband in this universe who has picked up my slack at home so I can get through school.<br />
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<b>Z is Coaching</b><br />
In addition to taking care of the boys all day and renovating our house, Z is the head coach of a local Catholic high school's baseball team. He is doing a great job and loves working with the players and their families. It's been a nice way for him to share his love and knowledge of the game that has meant a lot to him. The kids and I love going to the games, cheering on the team and eating lots of baseball snacks.<br />
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<b>My Job Continues to be Amazing</b><br />
I have the best job of all time. I am on my third year of working for an incredible nonprofit that helps children's hospitals and I get to meet dozens of kids and their families each year who are so beyond inspiring it blows my mind. Because of some of our awareness initiatives I was able to do some pretty memorable things this year, one highlight included another successful White House event where I got to present a gift to the First Lady. My job has taught me the importance of team work, solid planning and perspective. <br />
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<b>Much to be Thankful For</b><br />
This year we are very thankful for all of the things I mentioned above and especially to have celebrated the first birthday of our little Robby, he has a huge personality and is such a joy. A noisy, always-dirty, loves-to-climb-on and jump-off-everything joy. He has started 'talking' a lot recently and makes us laugh so hard every single day. He adores his big brother, who adores him right back. He is obsessed and so gentle with our dog, Sydney, calling her "Ishi." He has big brown eyes and the smooshiest cheeks that are perfect for kissing hundreds of times of a day.<br />
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<i>As the second child, Robby enjoys only the finest toys, including dog chew bones. </i></div>
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We had a traumatic incident in April and are very thankful for the way it turned out. It was a weekday morning, Anthony had a fever and was resting on the couch, watching TV. He acted totally fine other than the fever. I left for work (which was then just a five-minute drive) and Z was home with the boys. Soon after I arrived at work, I had a panicked call from Z asking me to come home right away. Anthony was unconscious and not breathing. It was terrifying, but Z (Father of the Year. Seriously!) had fortunately stopped to check on Anthony, who was then sleeping on the couch, before getting in the shower.<br />
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Unknown to Z, Anthony had experienced a febrile seizure (it was the first time he had ever had one, we have since learned these are brought on by fever and are not uncommon in kids under age seven, these seizures are often 'silent'--not necessarily the kind of violent movements you might expect) and his head had turned so his face was somewhat pushed into our leather couch. He couldn't breathe and was unconscious when Z checked on him. Z immediately started CPR, doing chest compressions for some time before he was able to reach his phone and call 911. Anthony started breathing after a couple of minutes and was semi-alert when the paramedics arrived. I got home just after the paramedics and Anthony and I rode to the hospital together in the ambulance. It was an unusual moment, as I spend all day every day working on behalf of children's hospitals--it was surreal to be on the patient side. Thankfully Anthony had no complications from the ordeal, although for years we will have to constantly monitor him when he has a fever. <br />
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I am telling you this story as a reminder to<a href="http://www.redcross.org/take-a-class" target="_blank"> take a CPR class</a> if you haven't recently. It is so easy for us to think nothing would ever happen to us or our family/friends. I can tell you I worry about my kids nonstop but I had never felt like they were more safe than that day leaving for work, knowing my child was safely resting on our sofa. And that's when we had our emergency, when we least expected it.<br />
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It is also easy to think you would just call 911 if you ever needed help. It is so important to immediately know what to do, time is not on your side in an emergency and many of us don't always know where we last put our cell phone--you don't want to be running around searching for your phone (and praying for good cell reception) because you're not sure what you need to do.<br />
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I am so grateful my amazing husband was paying such close attention and was able to think quickly to save our son's life. Did I mention you <a href="http://www.redcross.org/take-a-class" target="_blank">should take a CPR class</a>?<br />
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That was one of many lessons we learned in 2014. What an incredible year for our family.<br />
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I hope 2015 is absolutely wonderful to you.<br />
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xoxo,<br />
Miranda <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170653828105632265.post-56454063159675379832012-04-07T19:36:00.002-06:002012-04-07T19:49:51.395-06:00Escape to Buffalo Island<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRm1yR8nRZDILGvP1JVaQE6GE4Y9bD1mj_z4Cqq38FTfUBGwlZALPDkNxoQADIwbPyF9RyWV16vXJRGTUdhgzhhi82wH_Jd0lL48aZSagM12lWzvTkaq4oNBKZyG6HwQriRZ2y7-Yqgs/s1600/DSC08703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRm1yR8nRZDILGvP1JVaQE6GE4Y9bD1mj_z4Cqq38FTfUBGwlZALPDkNxoQADIwbPyF9RyWV16vXJRGTUdhgzhhi82wH_Jd0lL48aZSagM12lWzvTkaq4oNBKZyG6HwQriRZ2y7-Yqgs/s640/DSC08703.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>One of my goals for this year was to enjoy more of our surroundings. I travel a lot for work and when I meet other people who find out I live in Utah they always comment on how beautiful this state is. That, and how weird our liquor laws are. But, back to the beautiful state: I usually agree with them and then think to myself, 'I really ought to see how beautiful our state is for myself one of these days.' So, Z & I have been trying to check out more local attractions (you may remember how well one of our <a href="http://your-miranda-writes.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html" target="_blank">last outings</a> went). A couple weeks ago we set off on a Sunday adventure, heading North! To Buffalo Island! as Little A calls The Great Salt Lake's <a href="http://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/antelope-island" target="_blank">Antelope Island</a>. And I have to say, he has a good point there. We saw dozens of buffalo but only one antelope. <br />
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Holy cow, er, buffalo. That place is gorgeous.<br />
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Because of the rolling hills, big sky, lots of water making up this one-of-a-kind landscape, it apparently used to be quite the filming location back in the day (like, wayyyyyyyy back), as this sign commemorating a 1923 film shoot shows.<br />
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We drove around the island, admiring the views and all of the incredible buffalo that are just feet. from. your. car. and then stopped at <a href="http://www.utahoutdooractivities.com/fieldingranch.html" target="_blank">a ranch</a> on which the state's oldest house still standing on its original foundation sits.<br />
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There is an amazing picnic area with giant old Cottonwood trees, lots of grass and tables. Since we're from the inner city, we preferred to eat OP style (original picnic) and use a blanket.<br />
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We stopped to take a few timed photos.<br />
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Before the camera tipped sideways.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfBz3Ec_EQKl2Ey2afbT4skJWaEvPsfraqFsDI9VkVztcrzG3sxra2K_FcmkieAPz9OMjo7q2csb5nBh5ndFRNaV2eHVKTRs16sqWKDHzhKY2JWjQwEUwtd3K6aV4cbZVrtLr88bRxi0/s1600/DSC08786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfBz3Ec_EQKl2Ey2afbT4skJWaEvPsfraqFsDI9VkVztcrzG3sxra2K_FcmkieAPz9OMjo7q2csb5nBh5ndFRNaV2eHVKTRs16sqWKDHzhKY2JWjQwEUwtd3K6aV4cbZVrtLr88bRxi0/s400/DSC08786.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We spotted a herd of deer in the distance.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAS84SxzbGVJ1-8HKQ66e_f5eJn7P1Gw6J2zMNL32xOerbT9x3G1WRyiCua1VfT0V-pd7VRmXMHBwkGfEJXEWcyzn5cU5KSki7HmdUPXLHMWut_7iirUahRstId0Aa2qAsmMf8wsAJu78/s1600/DSC08797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAS84SxzbGVJ1-8HKQ66e_f5eJn7P1Gw6J2zMNL32xOerbT9x3G1WRyiCua1VfT0V-pd7VRmXMHBwkGfEJXEWcyzn5cU5KSki7HmdUPXLHMWut_7iirUahRstId0Aa2qAsmMf8wsAJu78/s400/DSC08797.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And more beautiful scenery. Did I mention it's beautiful here?<br />
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We loved walking around around the ranch. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOk32F7ZT7RcLXRu-5WOF69kFUomPq_HrXUQdcmn5yQjdB9xYYH5SnMNOpfGRJ3kgYNPFxLjrzPl7QHPFzXwD8sht-1L3dO0r-RydKHEH_2WVGTlqP-tZKUOh23h-EwR-z4pfFEIBFP4/s1600/DSC08803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOk32F7ZT7RcLXRu-5WOF69kFUomPq_HrXUQdcmn5yQjdB9xYYH5SnMNOpfGRJ3kgYNPFxLjrzPl7QHPFzXwD8sht-1L3dO0r-RydKHEH_2WVGTlqP-tZKUOh23h-EwR-z4pfFEIBFP4/s400/DSC08803.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And then headed up to a look-out point. Little A was elated when he saw his favorite thing: a dumpster. The child is OBSESSED with anything to do with garbage. Trucks, cans, dumpsters, you name it, if it has to do with waste, he loves it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJ5WTNAfbnFaqProGxQC2ubZRdnpOUnxWJHaM4BOKFVqOmA8V2hADQDmgtZSwe-TdKCiJymr_wZQff7dqYsB6Dz9e0OskYDmyQ2wDbAVrfeh_XMVyB_4NHaJ8h7wNpwTNBxLcNsqZx_Q/s1600/DSC08828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJ5WTNAfbnFaqProGxQC2ubZRdnpOUnxWJHaM4BOKFVqOmA8V2hADQDmgtZSwe-TdKCiJymr_wZQff7dqYsB6Dz9e0OskYDmyQ2wDbAVrfeh_XMVyB_4NHaJ8h7wNpwTNBxLcNsqZx_Q/s400/DSC08828.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We got to the viewing area just before the sun started to set. The view was on par with the most stunning I have seen anywhere in the world. <br />
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I am so glad we took this little day trip. We had a great time together as a family and now when people tell me our state is so beautiful, I'll be able to say with confidence,<br />
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it sure is.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MZyNDSyHJprgBSGwELSEPATklsnAj4sWH2KsKnfyiXvUtYhOEtQO-BKwj8BYL2OvdsymgtQxx0j93cisRyU4FdP65uIO264tYs9i0NWXDC323DIOf93Z3dewa8pYxWI9XwldkDkaje4/s1600/DSC08841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MZyNDSyHJprgBSGwELSEPATklsnAj4sWH2KsKnfyiXvUtYhOEtQO-BKwj8BYL2OvdsymgtQxx0j93cisRyU4FdP65uIO264tYs9i0NWXDC323DIOf93Z3dewa8pYxWI9XwldkDkaje4/s640/DSC08841.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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But liquor laws, you're on your own.<br />
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</span></div><span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;">Antelope Island, Salt Lake City attractions, Salt Lake kids activities</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170653828105632265.post-288992894044602242012-03-18T10:06:00.003-06:002012-03-18T14:28:00.298-06:00New Chapter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1ARKwkO66vmg2ZAGZc65EONttbrMLyPFzbsBPZ3mpmRDRBMLkRbiYnCx7lxSnI4FzIgaR0UIhFIvqMVTukUNo-n3ZnmdDgfXjuoGskGwlALymSPQma6Cgm2O_jl345FnxFQ5cEM05P0/s1600/il_570xN.178030740-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1ARKwkO66vmg2ZAGZc65EONttbrMLyPFzbsBPZ3mpmRDRBMLkRbiYnCx7lxSnI4FzIgaR0UIhFIvqMVTukUNo-n3ZnmdDgfXjuoGskGwlALymSPQma6Cgm2O_jl345FnxFQ5cEM05P0/s640/il_570xN.178030740-1.jpg" width="418" /></a></div> <br />
<br />
Since the last time I updated this a lot has changed.<br />
<br />
We made the hard, but for-the-best, decision to close the restaurant. Just about four hours after we officially decided to close, I got the call that the job I wanted ( I'd been interviewing for it for weeks and weeks) was mine. I had described it to family and friends as the job of my dreams and now that I'm about eight months into it I still agree with that. It's been incredible.<br />
<br />
Z is excelling in his new role as a full-time stay-at-home dad. This has been such a benefit to us as I am getting settled into my new position. Previously he and I were taking turns during the weekdays to be home with Little A and then he headed to the pizza shop every night and all weekend. Every weekend. Looking back at it now it really was just too much for us in every way.<br />
<br />
And, so far, we're welcoming such exciting plot twists as--for the first time in our lives together--weekends at home (all of us! under the same roof! all weekend!), evening dinner together (all of us! at the same table! every night!) and the ability to make plans for previously unthinkable things like vacations. <br />
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There are still some unknowns as we figure out what's in store for us but we're looking forward to the next part of our story.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The lovely photo above is "<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/57388381/vintage-books-print" target="_blank">Vintage Books</a>," a print available for purchase, from butterflyfood on etsy. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170653828105632265.post-76551819039115703762011-06-13T17:23:00.003-06:002011-06-13T17:26:11.088-06:00Monday Lovely: To the Sky<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As a kid I was a little bit infatuated with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelia_Earhart">Amelia Earhart</a> and ordered multiple books about her from our elementary school book orders. This was pre-Google. (Do you remember ordering books? You'd fill out what you want on the thin, crinkly paper and then wait for the books to get there and it was like Christmas? At least it was for me... Best day ever.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I used to imagine what happened to her and in my more positive thoughts she was living it up on a deserted island with some fun, castaway friends in cool Swiss Family Robinson-style <a href="http://www.onlywdworld.com/2010/09/exploring-swiss-family-robinson-tree.html">treehouses</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This new-to-me online magazine <a href="http://matchbookmag.com/">Matchbook</a> did a fun feature on Amelia-inspired style. I loved all of the items included, especially the photo of our heroine and her adorable pixie haircut and awesome airplane in the background.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170653828105632265.post-29207511173409175822011-06-03T15:52:00.004-06:002011-06-04T12:36:04.824-06:00That's like 80 in dog years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1hm5ANc1jvg_ACK_esfjJ1pDg4aCTozR4NUsWYXZe5jG2b6ogKtU_IxNutjNOkK5F7wmkP9lFqRf1NYbkIuCUHTaGUhqP-f7K9NixwSXg1LSBVdwCmyePk42TsJGMc6ururGORiAUys/s1600/peonieswide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1hm5ANc1jvg_ACK_esfjJ1pDg4aCTozR4NUsWYXZe5jG2b6ogKtU_IxNutjNOkK5F7wmkP9lFqRf1NYbkIuCUHTaGUhqP-f7K9NixwSXg1LSBVdwCmyePk42TsJGMc6ururGORiAUys/s400/peonieswide1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This week Z & I celebrated 10 years of wedded adventure. I can't believe it's been that long.<br />
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The photo above is beautiful isn't it? It's from <a href="http://ohhappyday.com/?s=peonies">this wonderful blog</a>. And it's a photo of peonies. My favorite flower. Of all the details, big and small, from that day, I remember a few things extra clear, allllllllllll these years later. One of them is the peonies I used to decorate the church and some parts of our reception. They were from my grandmother's garden and serendipitously bloomed just about a day before our wedding. They were bright pink and so cheerful.<br />
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I'm taking the fact that they made a magical appearance for our big day as a sign of good luck.<br />
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Here's to another decade. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by <a href="http://ohhappyday.com/">Oh Happy Day</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170653828105632265.post-9897162940128288142011-05-27T16:56:00.002-06:002011-05-27T18:16:15.340-06:00Owl Righty Then<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_bXPc9LMb86dm2RB1mReq0xXn29HZFMdx9PfuBhAT8HqvFIxqqZUw7PzaPXgA3CjaODyQCWIaw9vTjNzEbEnUZUPNMgT63Kt6Zn5gKuPOr8nTXBcghb4GKXhe9JmKUwpr6BYnCPwZkE/s1600/shot_1306520605511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_bXPc9LMb86dm2RB1mReq0xXn29HZFMdx9PfuBhAT8HqvFIxqqZUw7PzaPXgA3CjaODyQCWIaw9vTjNzEbEnUZUPNMgT63Kt6Zn5gKuPOr8nTXBcghb4GKXhe9JmKUwpr6BYnCPwZkE/s400/shot_1306520605511.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>These beauties and their impressive color were but a mere distraction </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>to Little A until we could get to the owls. </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Little A and I spent most of the early afternoon at the local aviary. We had a blast. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I told him this morning we were going to the aviary to see the birds he immediately started with the questions. His queries led me to understand he has inexplicably (and overnight) become owl-obsessed. "Are we going to see an owl?" "I want to see an owl and a baby owl." "Where do baby owls come from?" "What color are owls?" "Are the owls there the ones from Aunt Suzi's house?" "Owls say 'hooo hooo' just like a dove. But they are not doves." "I reallllllllly want to hold a baby owl. Baby owl feathers are SO soft!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We had to run a couple of errands and then finally got to the aviary. We were checking in at the front desk and the college-age guy working was cute with Little A, asking him if he was excited to see the birds. "Yes, I want to see the owls. Do you have owls? Do owls live here?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The guy assured him that owls do, in fact live there. But, just as our luck would have it, the brand new super impressive extra fun and exciting Owl Forest of all Owl Forests was opening for the first time -- tomorrow. We missed it by one day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">However, he said we could still see the owls from the sidewalk. I was relieved. And Little A's head was about to explode from pure happiness. Then the guy gave us a map of the grounds that had an OWL ON THE COVER and it almost put him over the edge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We trekked around the aviary, looking at flamingos, eagles bald and golden and some unfortunate looking vultures (poor guys). "Where are the owls???"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally, we got to the owls. I lifted A up so he could get a good look and as a large barn owl turned toward him -- I grinned in anticipation of how excited he was going to be -- he mumbled "Oh, there's one." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And then immediately turned his attention, and excitement, towards a pair of ducks that just poo'd on the sidewalk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170653828105632265.post-73878820674636880762011-05-23T10:27:00.000-06:002011-05-23T10:27:52.774-06:00Monday Lovely: Conversations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlpgmeu5GYs4srPotR42JxWwQHT4wLp9VcbhTlFW5OEMa82sAQ6LFzfn_qr7pVrhlfd6HZaL8xXbNTjluL88gyQNr1Qe0d2Q3MKfQKYZVgBocfNzHkr24tsVCK-CwlHa9uoEZjqBubgU/s1600/AZ052211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlpgmeu5GYs4srPotR42JxWwQHT4wLp9VcbhTlFW5OEMa82sAQ6LFzfn_qr7pVrhlfd6HZaL8xXbNTjluL88gyQNr1Qe0d2Q3MKfQKYZVgBocfNzHkr24tsVCK-CwlHa9uoEZjqBubgU/s400/AZ052211.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Little A & Z yesterday at the<a href="http://www.slcgov.com/arts/livingtraditions/media.html"> Living Traditions</a> festival. </span></i></div><br />
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Little A: Goodbye, Mama! You are going to work?<br />
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Me: Yes, honey, I am. I will see you later. Have fun with Daddy today!<br />
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Little A: My cookie monster has a hole. He has a tear.<br />
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Me: Oh no! I can fix it. I will sew him up later when I get home.<br />
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Little A: You will?! Oh, Mama. You are the most beautiful mama in the world!<br />
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Me: Thank you! I love you so much.<br />
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Little A: I love you, too. Can I have a hug? I love your kisses.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170653828105632265.post-61362580875762423682011-05-20T09:01:00.000-06:002011-05-20T09:01:10.725-06:00Washington Square Park. NYC. 5.12.11<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KJVKeyEskqLWt5NCyYXKpCjzgWI4SdyfhE2TT_efKLC5Q_fDJ3Da_sxVOAqkuN3L8rau-vwPz9HKwLIlzo4D0eVBXSH2UmQT-lVI4gR1XKmN2fGRQxZEJhXNXRVT3kkCFGwiulBBFOg/s1600/shot_1305223335886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KJVKeyEskqLWt5NCyYXKpCjzgWI4SdyfhE2TT_efKLC5Q_fDJ3Da_sxVOAqkuN3L8rau-vwPz9HKwLIlzo4D0eVBXSH2UmQT-lVI4gR1XKmN2fGRQxZEJhXNXRVT3kkCFGwiulBBFOg/s640/shot_1305223335886.jpg" width="550" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I took this photo with my phone on a beautiful spring day. And speaking of Washington Square, have you ever heard <a href="http://myonetruevine.tumblr.com/">Ryan Tanner'</a>s song of the same name, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/athertonmusic/music/songs/Washington-Square-26427737">by his band Atherton</a>? It's one of my favorites. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170653828105632265.post-34937149468665236952011-05-18T21:57:00.002-06:002011-05-18T22:04:12.067-06:00He loves it when I call him Big Papi*Last week I went to New York for a business trip. It was one of the better trips I've had there in a long time, I think the fact that the weather was gorgeous had a lot to do with it. Also, our schedule was perfect. Sometimes we pack so many meetings into a few days that it feels like one gigantic, taxi-dotted whirlwind and suddenly I'm on a plane back home.<br />
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This time my clients and I were on our way to meet up with a freelance writer near NYU. That part of town, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwich_Village">Greenwich Village</a>, is great -- much more colorful and lively than midtown Manhattan where I usually spend most of my time. Since the Village is home to lots of celebs, including Anderson Cooper, Julianne Moore and Anna Wintour, it wouldn't be unusual to run into someone famous.<br />
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We were walking down the sidewalk when a large man in a Red Sox jersey walked toward us and asked us for a hug. I happily gave him one but because I was wearing sunglasses and not my prescriptions my eyes weren't completely sure if I was seeing who I thought I was seeing.<br />
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Imagine my surprise that the celebrity I ran into was none other than my favorite Major League Baseball player <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ortiz">David Ortiz</a>, a.k.a Big Papi, of the Boston Red Sox. <br />
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If you don't follow baseball closely then you may not know that the Red Sox vs. Yankees rivalry may <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankees_%E2%80%93_Red_Sox_rivalry">be the fiercest in all of sports</a>. The U of U vs. BYU one may be a close second. It's that bad. So it was a little strange to see someone in a Sox jersey walking around the Big Apple with a huge smile on his face.<br />
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What I didn't realize during our hug fest was that a camera crew from the <a href="http://mlbfancave.mlb.com/fancave/">MLB Fan Cave</a> filmed it. I believe this is called, in showbiz speak, "my big break." Since this video launched I have become quite busy/very important/good at 'doing lunch' and am in the process of hiring my own manager.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kf3uu4EL9jE" width="640"></iframe></div><br />
After the hug that was caught on camera (I'm at 2:40), I was able to talk to him and thank him for signing a baseball for Little A last year (it was a very thoughtful gift from my cousin who works for the team). David couldn't have been nicer.<br />
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And I got my best NYC souvenir to-date. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> *This post's title was inspired by a comment from my friend <a href="http://scottresch.blogspot.com/">Scott</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170653828105632265.post-56417714791230994412011-03-17T21:36:00.000-06:002011-03-17T21:36:17.066-06:00"We all get dressed for Bill."<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9TL6btYV3IZveFtW2qvviZXMRkN4-Zs2hIlkn82I99vqEU8JmY-udlA2okpUfY3_SQF0ITIzBY8EP6Rs2sZZg6wSA1GeYejEMbLtdjT21HpGA_p90UnhW04pY0C6u_2smcR4gxPW-7M/s1600/billcunningham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9TL6btYV3IZveFtW2qvviZXMRkN4-Zs2hIlkn82I99vqEU8JmY-udlA2okpUfY3_SQF0ITIzBY8EP6Rs2sZZg6wSA1GeYejEMbLtdjT21HpGA_p90UnhW04pY0C6u_2smcR4gxPW-7M/s400/billcunningham.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>I'm not the type that watches documentaries very often. I like to think that I am, but I am not. I usually don't have, er, <i>make</i> the time to watch films (because you can't call them movies, right?) that are so often insightful and educational.<br />
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Aside from <a href="http://www.foodincmovie.com/">Food Inc.</a> (and I still believe that if you eat food you should watch it), the last documentary I watched was <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1331025/">The September Issue</a>, a look into the World of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Wintour">Anna Wintour</a> and <i>Vogue </i>during the finalization of fashion's most important magazine.<br />
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And now, I really can't wait for this one.<br />
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Bill Cunningham's <i>New York Times</i> <a href="http://video.nytimes.com/video/playlist/style/on-the-street/1247463985977/index.html">photo essays</a> are always a treat (I mentioned one a few years ago <a href="http://your-miranda-writes.blogspot.com/2008/03/sacre-bleu-spring-is-here.html">here</a>). He is 82 years old and rides a bicycle around Manhattan -- a fact that probably provides enough content for a documentary by itself -- taking photos of interestingly or fabulously dressed people on the street and on the catwalk, too. I keep hoping that during one of my trips to New York he will ride by (and you know he'll keep riding -- no need to snap a photo of me in my TJ Maxx ensemble, I'm sure.).<br />
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He is eccentric and bold and Anna Wintour herself says that if he doesn't take a picture of her it's "death."<br />
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Bill says, "I'm not interested in celebrities with their FREE DRESSES. I'm interested in clothes."<br />
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Although I wouldn't AT ALL consider myself anything close to a fashionista, I think peoples' fashion choices when they're dressing to impress or express -- especially in big cities where it's easier to be anonymous -- say a lot about them.<br />
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Bill has a talent for listening.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/NYqiLJBXbss?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">View the trailer <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYqiLJBXbss">here</a>. </span></div><br />
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.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170653828105632265.post-32517435160360245202011-02-15T09:43:00.001-07:002011-03-17T21:37:50.922-06:00Overheard: LoyalMe: What did you think of Lady Gaga and <a href="http://www.tmz.com/2011/02/14/lady-gaga-egg-grammy-awards-red-card-hussein-chalayan/">her egg at the Grammys</a>?<br />
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Him: * glancing up in disgust * Well, it was no Madonna emerging from a disco ball during the Confessions tour, I'll tell you that much. <br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170653828105632265.post-59031834122793542622011-02-07T11:17:00.011-07:002011-02-09T13:47:41.574-07:00Monday Lovely: Now That's Making an EntranceI know I have some catching up to do on this blog but in the meantime, I wanted to share a beautiful video. In the (almost 10! Eeek! Gasp!) years since Z & I walked down the aisle, <a href="http://kirstinroper.com/blog/?cat=21">documentary-style</a> <a href="http://jonathancanlasphotography.com/wedding.html">wedding photography</a> has become the norm. No more posed photos (or at least, more than just the traditional, posed photos) -- candid photography is where it's at.<br />
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I'm wondering if the stunning footage (and some of the other weddings this talented company has done) below will spark a trend for artistic, music-video style mini-movies to go along with those candid photos commemorating the big day.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/14182488?byline=0&portrait=0&color=919191" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/14182488">Adam & Eve</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1812534">dolly</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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Not only is the videography (cinematography?) beautiful, but the bride is stunning, her veil is In. Cred. Ible. and just watch how she arrives to meet her groom.<br />
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Sidenote: On our wedding day, after the ceremony, we stayed at the church to sign the license, take a few (posed) photos and then were supposed to go to our reception, about a mile away. Z & I walked out of the church only to find out that all of our friends and family left us. And, since we were young with not much experience in this sort of thing, we hadn't thought to arrange for some sort of romantic transportation (vintage Rolls Royce? Horse-drawn carriage? <a href="http://thebestweddingblogever.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/bride-groom-exit-12.jpg">Bicycle-built-for-two?</a>).<br />
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Luckily, we found my cousin who happened to be rounding up some items and was still at the church. Z rode shotgun in her Chevy Malibu and I, and my enormous hoop skirt, squished into the backseat with my then 4-year-old and 6-year-old family members.<br />
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But arriving by boat, like the French bride in the video, would be pretty cool, too.<br />
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If you are getting hitched - in FRANCE! - hire <a href="http://www.dollywedding.fr/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">this company</span></a>.<br />
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By the way, one of the first places I saw this video was on a site that's a favorite of mine, <a href="http://www.joannagoddard.blogspot.com/">Cup of Jo</a>. <br />
Check her out!<br />
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<span style="font-size: 78%;">. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170653828105632265.post-66534703469112199912010-09-02T19:38:00.005-06:002010-09-06T15:33:47.798-06:00Ten before 10/1If you read a lot of blogs you may have noticed a lot of "<a href="http://makingitlovely.com/2010/03/01/30-before-thirty/">30 before 30</a>," lists or something to that effect, floating around the <a href="http://www.30before30project.com/p/30-before-30-project.html">blogosphere</a>. If you haven't, I have. And take my word for it: <a href="http://sliceofpink.typepad.com/blog/2010/02/30-before-30-the-epilogue.html">they're</a> popular right now. I think they're a great idea -- I am a list-lover at heart and the thought of having all of my goals laid out right before my astigmatism-ed little eyes, WITH A DEADLINE, makes me happy.<br /><br />The only problem is I am past 30.<br /><br />31 actually.<br /><br />And I didn't do one of these lists. And "32 before 32" sounds kind of, well, like I forgot to do a 30 before 30 list. (Although, being from Utah, I should have a soft spot for those<a href="http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/2.4272/a-guide-to-drinking-alcohol-in-utah-1.371860"> two numbers</a>.)<br /><br />But anyhow, I have decided to do my own list: "10 before 10/1." Ten things before October. I figure that giving myself only four weeks will make me get my arse in gear and actually accomplish something.<br /><br />So (drumroll, please!) without further ado: My 10 Before 10/1 List:<br /><br />1. Replace the knobs on the <a href="http://saltlakecity.craigslist.org/">Craigslist</a> dresser I bought (and have been living with for more than one year) when I thought: "That dresser will work great but I can't live with it for more than one day without replacing those knobs."<br /><br />2. Take pictures of Little A's nursery nook and write a blog post about my favorite part of it -- the <a href="http://your-miranda-writes.blogspot.com/2008/09/monday-lovely-changing-table.html">changing table/dresser</a>.<br /><br />3. Put up a piece of art on the gigantic, bare wall that calls my name every time I walk by, reminding me how big of a procrastinator I am.<br /><br />4. Finish reading <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Time_Traveler%27s_Wife">the book</a> I started a couple months ago and haven't finished.<br /><br />5. Find new pillows for our living room couch. Either by buying some I love or making them myself. Which reminds me...<br /><br />6. ...I need to use my sewing machine. I haven't made anything with it yet even though I've had it for a couple of years. I can't wait to try.<br /><br />7. Burn the 19 months of video footage from our camcorder onto DVDs.<br /><br />8. Print out (and put in an album) <span style="font-style: italic;">at least</span> two months of photos from Anthony's first year. I know, I am wayyyy behind on this.<br /><br />9. Have a picnic at the park while it's still warm.<br /><br />10. Eat at a new restaurant.<br /><br /><br />I will report back on my progress. Wish me luck!<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170653828105632265.post-63448228213250340892010-07-15T21:23:00.005-06:002010-07-16T08:38:11.042-06:00And let the dinner party invites commence...I admit it. One of the main reasons I wanted to have a child was so he could intentionally smear food on his face, I could say "s<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_Y4eGJIoCE">how Mommy how the piggies ea</a>t!" and then laugh uncontrollably.<br /><br />In the video below you'll notice that my dream has come true.<br /><br />The bad news is that I had washed Little A's high chair just before this classic display of Martha Stewart-approved table manners. Time not so much well spent. The good news is that the hilarious little giggle you heard? Pretty much sums up his personality all day, every day.<br /><br />I mean, what's there to be upset about when you have endless amounts of "GOGURT!" and Cheerios to smear on your face.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/beIsDixeQj4&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/beIsDixeQj4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170653828105632265.post-70500062063069241012010-07-05T11:30:00.004-06:002010-07-05T11:57:03.671-06:00Monday Lovely: Today is the DayAlthough our master bathroom has been finished for about a year and a half I haven't really gotten around to decorating it. I am s l o w l y getting back into the groove and picked up a shower curtain (we had just been using a plain white liner because I couldn't find a curtain I liked. How embarrassing. I have a severe, constant case of of Analysis Paralysis.), a towel bar (yet-to-be-hung) and some picture frames so that when I found some works of art I could just hang them quickly before I over-analyzed what kind of frames my future artwork needed.<div><br /></div><div>Little A and I took a trip into Urban Outfitters to pick up some Father's Day items for Z (we found <a href="http://www.suck.uk.com/product.php?rangeID=15">this</a>, which he loves for its practicality and I love for its old-fashioned-key-lookingness) and I discovered a little bowl in the same shade of green that our bathroom is painted. It also features some bright reds, blues and other colors as accents. I decided this is the color scheme for our bathroom and I bought it (for $2.99 on sale). So now the hunt is on for vibrantly colored accent items.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>A quick search on Etsy and I discovered a little treasure from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/thebigharumph?ref=seller_info">this</a> shop.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSeYKMMibvk8robd7gg8ogq4Bcn_jvAuHLecdvrvAHT_4rk4gtOvfK_wBiEc-K9rbG9Bx-43Ont0SuwilMkQYlbGKgok1JZvOiOPsC-tpgkhTaJBFQbKcCJTovHispbRNgScZttaFQYQ/s1600/il_430xN.155809777.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSeYKMMibvk8robd7gg8ogq4Bcn_jvAuHLecdvrvAHT_4rk4gtOvfK_wBiEc-K9rbG9Bx-43Ont0SuwilMkQYlbGKgok1JZvOiOPsC-tpgkhTaJBFQbKcCJTovHispbRNgScZttaFQYQ/s400/il_430xN.155809777.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490478103930755906" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I love its motivational message (and, boy, could I use some motivating these days), bold color and great font.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170653828105632265.post-10462043638429973002010-07-01T21:42:00.006-06:002010-07-02T08:14:41.009-06:00And the award for rosiest cheeks in a short film goes to...Please click below to view a documentary featuring Little A modeling his dad's super sweet triathlon swim cap.<br /><br />Bonus features include him making a frog sound and doing a little jig. We thought of holding onto this for a major <a href="http://www.sundance.org">Sundance</a> release but decided to distribute it to the public free of charge instead.<br /><br />You're welcome.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Mu3ywuXZg4k&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Mu3ywuXZg4k&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170653828105632265.post-79306704918521389422010-05-23T18:56:00.005-06:002010-05-24T16:26:25.162-06:00Monday Lovely: Florapalooza<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I really really want...<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYSOzSMpat4XVtw8umwYy58iR-MssCEc0gReUXdorBAFP9I3KrU_oaF4-fvP4O_ZqM0oF0pfnBe1XR2Kr-wuWZdeOXX5sCVuOT-MfbMiAvfLY9zroRaXTMnBN4DVd5JWlcO_JI_tTjWo/s1600/il_430xN.145268215.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 385px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYSOzSMpat4XVtw8umwYy58iR-MssCEc0gReUXdorBAFP9I3KrU_oaF4-fvP4O_ZqM0oF0pfnBe1XR2Kr-wuWZdeOXX5sCVuOT-MfbMiAvfLY9zroRaXTMnBN4DVd5JWlcO_JI_tTjWo/s400/il_430xN.145268215.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474634381369387426" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/47467110/florapalooza-vase-robins-egg-blue">This</a> vase. It's so pretty.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">.</span><br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170653828105632265.post-45226563638113502642010-05-18T22:40:00.008-06:002010-05-20T20:56:37.418-06:00Mama Mia!We went to Price a few weekends ago to celebrate Mother's Day and party it up with the family. Little A and I headed down on Friday. Zach, since he had to work Saturday day and night, was going to stay home for the weekend. But instead, he was missing his wife and child (we <span style="font-style: italic;">are</span> pretty incredible) and decided to surprise us by riding a train that left Sunday, Mother's Day, at 4 IN THE MORNING - like, when it's still dark, really dark - and arrived in nearby <a href="http://www.helpercity.net/">Helper</a> at 7 a.m. That's still early. Like, really really early (especially if you're the one who had to roll out of bed to pick him up).<br /><br />But what a great guy.<br /><br />We had a fantastic time in Price (as usual). We went to visit a 500 million year old friend at a <a href="http://www.ceu.edu/library/">College of Eastern Utah</a> dinosaur excavation not far from my parents' house.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqSiO5_1BWRMw0sNQEAybXY4dYrehVIbB-bjaiugVdu8uGt6hsJnpK8cNmBasC1yV5TG1-XRkSrM2lRZOwgocyl_9foB1EvTgsHBPgG0wyFMbxiTMPQjK-RBn9myDnrPzd4H9Sf2RTd8/s1600/DSC03484.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqSiO5_1BWRMw0sNQEAybXY4dYrehVIbB-bjaiugVdu8uGt6hsJnpK8cNmBasC1yV5TG1-XRkSrM2lRZOwgocyl_9foB1EvTgsHBPgG0wyFMbxiTMPQjK-RBn9myDnrPzd4H9Sf2RTd8/s400/DSC03484.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472842929141887458" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBAx41WJZP0Y5AOA4X6nslAxl4m5kpHiG7ektiCHl3rOhS22nl-J_rK0gESYZE69taQvKxWF5u46hWs6y1UNcxfyjLOQZKzTeJ8hIyXGQfPfxEGgssFlkf818dojzhcL3bjtaUfHOPAA/s1600/DSC03478.JPG"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBAx41WJZP0Y5AOA4X6nslAxl4m5kpHiG7ektiCHl3rOhS22nl-J_rK0gESYZE69taQvKxWF5u46hWs6y1UNcxfyjLOQZKzTeJ8hIyXGQfPfxEGgssFlkf818dojzhcL3bjtaUfHOPAA/s400/DSC03478.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472842912910784098" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >(L) Little A touching a real dinosaur tooth. (R) Preserving the dinosaur vertebrae in plaster.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5D7_UKIRR_JaugOMyUAV7h0rfWLYY8_vb2nXlt3Bc0igksIGPv4M_O2YpAz4JgXHadrm0Cix5G9umeV_aLoAuPm4C3tx5eAsyn57jvOJflPO-0JrSnTI2sicfdG1pIWZGGcl_K7l4mw/s1600/DSC03475.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 324px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5D7_UKIRR_JaugOMyUAV7h0rfWLYY8_vb2nXlt3Bc0igksIGPv4M_O2YpAz4JgXHadrm0Cix5G9umeV_aLoAuPm4C3tx5eAsyn57jvOJflPO-0JrSnTI2sicfdG1pIWZGGcl_K7l4mw/s400/DSC03475.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472842905177470242" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIbeqY_XzCzpXybyzobzej2dDhStR8jpXWgVcFEW7pZrlf3FeJhRegI8tVHuhqQi-x7CwcWo89jZODeJKj6Wqy67XaqtEe8RYkCHrxret7Lruxndaurl2i797UPQwIt5KAucpggPHlm4/s1600/DSC03490.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 324px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIbeqY_XzCzpXybyzobzej2dDhStR8jpXWgVcFEW7pZrlf3FeJhRegI8tVHuhqQi-x7CwcWo89jZODeJKj6Wqy67XaqtEe8RYkCHrxret7Lruxndaurl2i797UPQwIt5KAucpggPHlm4/s400/DSC03490.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472842938345112706" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Little A being held by his Grandmother, who should also be known as the World's Best Mother,<br />and hanging out with his BFF, Grandpa Randy</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjd7k7nkJRFvLIqpfWLCMkovU4RKiU_8muORoPmhlEJaCEEcHV7xB4zhoNv6F9LbNCDFJU3AvC6AzY0-eAIrcZdESh-664KhtN1OsicmBzlNGrM8xJ7dGpWDyO5mUqszTeNoqWw5INAJc/s1600/DSC03500.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjd7k7nkJRFvLIqpfWLCMkovU4RKiU_8muORoPmhlEJaCEEcHV7xB4zhoNv6F9LbNCDFJU3AvC6AzY0-eAIrcZdESh-664KhtN1OsicmBzlNGrM8xJ7dGpWDyO5mUqszTeNoqWw5INAJc/s400/DSC03500.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472844949389663922" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Hosted an impromptu Valdez family hula hoop party. It was harder than it looks.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr423zIIdeZtNJRljDOAcyIGSg6foeswLbwIdTIe4YCFp5zprzkOFHwOwStsGrQq7nWKIGCvQ50wURI_RKjNQ3Mbb0NDXrzPOm3NAWzk1oT7eivblFkmceUSYqxhnbDfsL7FjsbBa8S3k/s1600/DSC03559.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 185px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr423zIIdeZtNJRljDOAcyIGSg6foeswLbwIdTIe4YCFp5zprzkOFHwOwStsGrQq7nWKIGCvQ50wURI_RKjNQ3Mbb0NDXrzPOm3NAWzk1oT7eivblFkmceUSYqxhnbDfsL7FjsbBa8S3k/s400/DSC03559.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473028036008133890" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jLi98ov-BYDUwQR6hGy0uMtaC9PX4Dmk9MqBOG26pcIQc7vyKcXQvSfxJi5LXviiDHOYeamI9Xq3XRkBSIkdiyCMP17QulqfXeVvb5f5wpM_aA3eD8X8fo3tfmHfufE8s4Pc7n0uD-s/s1600/DSC03575.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jLi98ov-BYDUwQR6hGy0uMtaC9PX4Dmk9MqBOG26pcIQc7vyKcXQvSfxJi5LXviiDHOYeamI9Xq3XRkBSIkdiyCMP17QulqfXeVvb5f5wpM_aA3eD8X8fo3tfmHfufE8s4Pc7n0uD-s/s400/DSC03575.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473028058584267794" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(L) Aunt Suzi showing us how it's done. (R) Cousin T.J. busting a move. </span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvya28tu7uE7zGeSIMIzze82wjLSWFe5js4-kZ71NKty3e_tTp-7nD5cqoxCrkK3S8BrSyZcSgTYL2dgVPTmBl9VOoFV_YewM5Mt6xMUIjrosiS6ldjVbQRnjm95aue61ye1vBJBnOYU/s1600/DSC03569.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 173px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvya28tu7uE7zGeSIMIzze82wjLSWFe5js4-kZ71NKty3e_tTp-7nD5cqoxCrkK3S8BrSyZcSgTYL2dgVPTmBl9VOoFV_YewM5Mt6xMUIjrosiS6ldjVbQRnjm95aue61ye1vBJBnOYU/s400/DSC03569.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473028048008081298" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYr8UQQTVh9zi87a7n_zKCBiRB5YyhSOLuGQvVE-TuSqjEk39QrMlk7MxIAetXvJH289KV6QlgVjZVLPgRjfqr2AhHhoQJ53npIz-1EHoYAby89po7LoNHxbhlwjtqYFwypV6a-2cVouM/s1600/DSC03584.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 173px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYr8UQQTVh9zi87a7n_zKCBiRB5YyhSOLuGQvVE-TuSqjEk39QrMlk7MxIAetXvJH289KV6QlgVjZVLPgRjfqr2AhHhoQJ53npIz-1EHoYAby89po7LoNHxbhlwjtqYFwypV6a-2cVouM/s400/DSC03584.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473030638542026434" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_310vcOrniETLtYGieAnwIWuhAgx65BHbko-QFbyKfChzPUPl-UaZw3sELSi66bc2cfPWJrkimPXknMeGLTbsWj8Vj9odoaeBfJDQEnCpJ6PcxnOlOA9phHEYBS4wE7TGMfK6IeUFO8/s1600/DSC03588.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 173px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_310vcOrniETLtYGieAnwIWuhAgx65BHbko-QFbyKfChzPUPl-UaZw3sELSi66bc2cfPWJrkimPXknMeGLTbsWj8Vj9odoaeBfJDQEnCpJ6PcxnOlOA9phHEYBS4wE7TGMfK6IeUFO8/s400/DSC03588.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473032301245830306" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(L) Mal and mom (M) Sara (R) Little A </span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtAnqsAhXdjVynDZPW34Jd2hapB0njCIRx8gpuz5bCYJggXKJRp4gEzOB7kRsyLsErotgChVSSzn1YQ0U4k_XGnizLI8020Q9DeKiN6cFPuxwNiGLpHYL8ln2TSaPlt_ibCqX26umhYSU/s1600/DSC03582.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 173px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtAnqsAhXdjVynDZPW34Jd2hapB0njCIRx8gpuz5bCYJggXKJRp4gEzOB7kRsyLsErotgChVSSzn1YQ0U4k_XGnizLI8020Q9DeKiN6cFPuxwNiGLpHYL8ln2TSaPlt_ibCqX26umhYSU/s400/DSC03582.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473030630124802450" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfgwMC7IMLrnZQ78E97sZ_aqZ_mtrCuIbVgx4aga41HkoThHuZhfH3sddl2sUr4pIixEZuTLBm1hli8S5ilFBuAnir8OnLpQPDL0bgkV87wRiVq18E4yjw6V_QC46Or7GPNGmXWylpig/s1600/DSC03570.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 174px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfgwMC7IMLrnZQ78E97sZ_aqZ_mtrCuIbVgx4aga41HkoThHuZhfH3sddl2sUr4pIixEZuTLBm1hli8S5ilFBuAnir8OnLpQPDL0bgkV87wRiVq18E4yjw6V_QC46Or7GPNGmXWylpig/s400/DSC03570.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473030623195353122" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(R) Birthday Girl showing her dad and Uncle Jimmy the proper technique<br />(L) Linsey, Zach and Grandma Darlene</span></span><br /></div><br />Celebrated Karley's birthday.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBqA3-LI6suguitT1Nalt25ANYYAarZ8hgkmKK-b5qleZXU_cp6OtRhN1OhRRVWDlXW3t2CNBomGjYduweoVugFhPJuWZzTTEyXXldaMYSTT2i2dPiikHwDWF6Z2o_eTwFd_RIKD2PTE/s1600/DSC03558.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 185px; height: 277px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBqA3-LI6suguitT1Nalt25ANYYAarZ8hgkmKK-b5qleZXU_cp6OtRhN1OhRRVWDlXW3t2CNBomGjYduweoVugFhPJuWZzTTEyXXldaMYSTT2i2dPiikHwDWF6Z2o_eTwFd_RIKD2PTE/s400/DSC03558.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472844984864739042" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Celebrated Malarie's official college graduation (even though she finished her classes a year ago - she's smart like that).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosE0FK1SWcG89S33XPyBZmt6NAZX4LEgSzgnkpVrRGEvXb6EFZF4DDcux04y_uMFIC5wTLKOMxupGxLkMSMq4mJQs6FMlDHlVnV8Am5oRHu6ocr75B4E11NE21ssVgPl5hCGPArp2u8w/s1600/DSC03542.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosE0FK1SWcG89S33XPyBZmt6NAZX4LEgSzgnkpVrRGEvXb6EFZF4DDcux04y_uMFIC5wTLKOMxupGxLkMSMq4mJQs6FMlDHlVnV8Am5oRHu6ocr75B4E11NE21ssVgPl5hCGPArp2u8w/s400/DSC03542.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472844975439145538" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Toasting the graduate, unfortunately the awesome photographer didn't get a picture<br />of the graduate during this toast.</span></span><br /></div><br />And celebrated some pretty incredible Mothers on their special day.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj622mAEWpi_Dadqi6yR2vIEVrhbk7fY8MA8wW_-4r859WghEeEVd8l2UJ0b_12CxkArOHNU4UZBAwn8bKqZWCFveW50HCzU8NUDCXz-_yHwVcFls8_k0C9du2m7c33aZ8ircdWZZIH6vo/s1600/DSC03533.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 185px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj622mAEWpi_Dadqi6yR2vIEVrhbk7fY8MA8wW_-4r859WghEeEVd8l2UJ0b_12CxkArOHNU4UZBAwn8bKqZWCFveW50HCzU8NUDCXz-_yHwVcFls8_k0C9du2m7c33aZ8ircdWZZIH6vo/s400/DSC03533.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472844965493133490" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHpNibMhMdKcl3vrEMXJgxWm2wpx9abGBLVbiVHXJr962Z8mEyZmc7jgnscF7msipmzfF8g3hAECtFZ_GN-xZyYqohgFW-BPf7M8WJqqLgx1Aj8_cl2aCxTOR7zeysvx3vBxBmpx5oTc/s1600/DSC03532.JPG"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHpNibMhMdKcl3vrEMXJgxWm2wpx9abGBLVbiVHXJr962Z8mEyZmc7jgnscF7msipmzfF8g3hAECtFZ_GN-xZyYqohgFW-BPf7M8WJqqLgx1Aj8_cl2aCxTOR7zeysvx3vBxBmpx5oTc/s400/DSC03532.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472844959120363794" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Little A and his Great Grandma Inez and Great Grandma Darlene.</span></span><br /><br /></div>All mothers should be so lucky. We had a blast!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170653828105632265.post-71352362103956673802010-04-05T19:50:00.005-06:002010-04-05T20:18:28.885-06:00Monday Lovely: Beautiful BistroAre you familiar with <a href="http://www.shopterrain.com/">Terrain</a>? News of this chic home/garden/landscape shop's online arrival has been all over the Internet like (expensively priced) moss on a stone. And I'm sure its popularity isn't hurt by the fact that it happens to be a sister company to the <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/index.jsp">store</a> that is to Utah women what crack is to junkies.<div><br /></div><div>I was browsing through its pages and thought this red patio set was so dreamy. Can't you just imagine lounging around in this cheery, red chair, drinking a refreshing glass of lemonade and reading a favorite magazine? Yeah, I can't either. Who has time for that? But in another life I would totally be up for it. Especially with this chair's gorgeous, high back.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_7Uw-jAhfiHtok_2B1QzQH6wUYYYsYzfEaqCR1djDmT3RAcrvc2TCTyhwcYRboZkkYl6zX8f3GPktF-66TjuMQ_by5lEhQ1u9DAaelUbYQpYsb0us4oGGpiLYCyVM1hRAh8Tgn6rRfg/s1600/GARD-OUTF-14-001001-m.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_7Uw-jAhfiHtok_2B1QzQH6wUYYYsYzfEaqCR1djDmT3RAcrvc2TCTyhwcYRboZkkYl6zX8f3GPktF-66TjuMQ_by5lEhQ1u9DAaelUbYQpYsb0us4oGGpiLYCyVM1hRAh8Tgn6rRfg/s400/GARD-OUTF-14-001001-m.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456839721576025106" style="cursor: pointer; width: 330px; height: 330px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And I would love to set my cool, refreshing drink on one of this adorable flower-shaped table's wire petals.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-y0vXVk1Q01q5XjFxD0hjYQJ9EqXCWft8Oj187Vk4oGs0005D6TgiFxScC1hAssI7XhqxZrEW8G82JAgvcwNPmDAYbFyAb5mi4ktFja6odFbxcIWfgVf6rwnHCer02LX5TLsLOCG81M/s1600/GARD-OUTF-17-001001-m.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-y0vXVk1Q01q5XjFxD0hjYQJ9EqXCWft8Oj187Vk4oGs0005D6TgiFxScC1hAssI7XhqxZrEW8G82JAgvcwNPmDAYbFyAb5mi4ktFja6odFbxcIWfgVf6rwnHCer02LX5TLsLOCG81M/s400/GARD-OUTF-17-001001-m.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456839725608565314" style="cursor: pointer; width: 330px; height: 330px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you like this <a href="http://shopterrain.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=ST&Product_Code=GARD-OUTF-17-001001&Category_Code=GARD-OUTF">table</a> and <a href="http://shopterrain.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=ST&Product_Code=GARD-OUTF-14-001001&Category_Code=GARD-OUTF">chair</a>, too but don't want to drop the pretty big bones it would take to buy the whole set, check out <a href="http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_07180429000P?mv=rr">this</a> option from K Mart. Just as lemonade-worthy, I think. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170653828105632265.post-37415859074224890432010-03-30T11:56:00.009-06:002010-03-30T21:44:14.335-06:00Stay at Home Dad: I don't take drugs I get high on baby hugs<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FmWp-rI6vSw&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FmWp-rI6vSw&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object><br /></div><br />Before Little A was born Zach & I decided we would trade off being home with him so that I could continue to work without having to rely on babysitters (for the sakes of both convenience and my anxiety level). We're really lucky that Z's job allows for this kind of flexibility. Three days a week I go into the office and it's boys' time at our household as Z & A hang out together. It's working out great and they have a blast, even if sometimes when I get home two people (who shall remain anonymous) are still in their pajamas.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170653828105632265.post-55587120520806148032010-03-25T20:02:00.009-06:002010-03-30T13:38:20.457-06:00Monday Lovely: Better looking than the TI-85 I spent big bucks on in high school<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiJQe9qU3vdsGFjBQH23iMn0_SfBWEPiDzhGuI9n8bbZze-i988k84lKDjgmj-tUxIQTLNCDctVD7ME9_Fgl1ax80jJmu5-hkdifX5azp3F7RaZzvU1KOyilsCJ2MY-FMHOVkG3jaVDA/s1600/AbacusS10.jpeg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiJQe9qU3vdsGFjBQH23iMn0_SfBWEPiDzhGuI9n8bbZze-i988k84lKDjgmj-tUxIQTLNCDctVD7ME9_Fgl1ax80jJmu5-hkdifX5azp3F7RaZzvU1KOyilsCJ2MY-FMHOVkG3jaVDA/s400/AbacusS10.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454264989254554354" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Confession: I partially chose my college major based on the area of study that required the least amount of math classes. Yayyyyy for my bachelor's degree in <a href="http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_jobs_can_you_get_with_a_bachelor%27s_degree_in_communications">communication</a>. I do think, though, that if I could use a beautiful <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abacus">abacus</a> such as this one from <a href="http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=587&f=5850">CB2</a> I would rethink my dislike for counting. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Anchored properly, I know it would be the perfect wall decoration above Little A's crib. He could slide the beads back and forth, and who knows, maybe use it to do our taxes.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">.</span> </div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170653828105632265.post-74778382329528035522010-03-25T13:26:00.002-06:002010-03-25T13:34:09.605-06:00Overheard: Partying Like Rock StarsMe: Oh. My. Gosh. Tonight on <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/iron-chef-america/index.html">Iron Chef</a> it's Battle: Cabbage!<div><br /></div><div>Him: I love cabbage.</div><div><br /></div><div>Me: This is the best Saturday night ever. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170653828105632265.post-90111286380772913602010-03-23T10:08:00.003-06:002010-03-23T20:51:23.645-06:00Little A's Birthday Balloon InvitationsBack in December, the glorious birth month of Little A, we had a small family party to celebrate. But because of the size of the Valdez clan, our family parties are never small. We all squeezed together and had a great time although I did realize one of the downsides to having a birthday party in the middle of winter (and especially when your house is the size of a shoebox) is that there is nowhere to have it.<br /><br />Anything outdoors is obviously out and since Little A was turning one, things like bowling or bouncing or skating were out for now. So we had a little party at our small restaurant. It was fun and we were very thankful for those who were able to celebrate with us.<br /><br />Because we couldn't decide where to have this grand event, the invites were kind of a last-minute deal and went out mostly to just his youngest guests.<br /><br />I liked the idea of using a balloon in/as the invitation, so after rounding up some blue balloons and left over heavy stock metallic paper, I (with the help of a lovely assistant) made some.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8yR89ITfjN2vTPP0WJG-kaVUerW47FVhFQeCyMXMm3QZdhsvMhMXkC9E20f1JQ0mwfYSROuZXLedzssGOXOMiD1aIdRIYlnV5Zc5Ss7YUmYZUAf5TIKu6ggFxI5sbau37eTQaB5I0Zs/s1600-h/zballoon.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8yR89ITfjN2vTPP0WJG-kaVUerW47FVhFQeCyMXMm3QZdhsvMhMXkC9E20f1JQ0mwfYSROuZXLedzssGOXOMiD1aIdRIYlnV5Zc5Ss7YUmYZUAf5TIKu6ggFxI5sbau37eTQaB5I0Zs/s400/zballoon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442979721937285490" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Step 1. Find a lovely assistant (preferably one who is full of hot air: see above.). After realizing that the recipients of this balloon invitation will likely blow up the balloon themselves, use the air filling tube to a seldom/never-used yoga fitness ball so that said lovely assistant's mouth is not directly in contact with the balloon itself.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTij7xz0gTutaCXlEly5QqLXaugPc0nfbNDJfEEFUk558aw_vUqH4Mk6GLRHS29DRj7ld0ZY-IfNqY5rToov21DsOhRwO6ajVwBibg2K08jJt4fXylPLy3Zrsj64CoUzHKd8P8lhcgHSY/s1600-h/writing.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTij7xz0gTutaCXlEly5QqLXaugPc0nfbNDJfEEFUk558aw_vUqH4Mk6GLRHS29DRj7ld0ZY-IfNqY5rToov21DsOhRwO6ajVwBibg2K08jJt4fXylPLy3Zrsj64CoUzHKd8P8lhcgHSY/s400/writing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451933866050573058" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" border="0" /></a></div><br />Step 2. Once the balloon is filled with air, use a (red!) Sharpie to write the party details - what, where & when - on the balloon.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1WCV4KLsLUbNIGrpWP_dpCA7zRZawFCgJ_lq8uKBsBjM8sJILKNVw25XaARUnQ35QQaaK_cJ5_URvseEqb5oFfuYW90sulyHGxubLddFQohN2NYz-r-MCcE6tA7AwCceHcqw7oBDMHA/s1600-h/balloons.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1WCV4KLsLUbNIGrpWP_dpCA7zRZawFCgJ_lq8uKBsBjM8sJILKNVw25XaARUnQ35QQaaK_cJ5_URvseEqb5oFfuYW90sulyHGxubLddFQohN2NYz-r-MCcE6tA7AwCceHcqw7oBDMHA/s400/balloons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451937772448637586" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" border="0" /></a></div><br />Step 3. Deflate the balloon. Once a bazillion balloons have been inscribed with the grand event's details start sticking them (printed side back, so that it's kind of a 'surprise' when they're blown up) using <a href="http://www.paperwishes.com/products/7505570000">Zots</a> onto card stock on which a little poem you've created has been printed and then cut to size of a pretty (red!) envelope.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9lJWMK9XJmtw8o5BQznae6AVNKV9pkd_3APboEZzyIO9d0xxuTtOQNHV0_ho5m7kpJpyocGceeF_QBrV-6Ki20e4lPicgt47qwIwqWrURBMj2Ew7RzbFpE02h639L-L8Fo6Q0KBWD34/s1600-h/final+invite.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9lJWMK9XJmtw8o5BQznae6AVNKV9pkd_3APboEZzyIO9d0xxuTtOQNHV0_ho5m7kpJpyocGceeF_QBrV-6Ki20e4lPicgt47qwIwqWrURBMj2Ew7RzbFpE02h639L-L8Fo6Q0KBWD34/s400/final+invite.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451933877823884850" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwwh2rXvzmarP0uJTaCU0szflx1NXlIfkgaO-rqHl7xl3Er6r4TJy_lYPkc4UTuhge-vmPQ-qlWcJKgcSZfQl3WiuPIhWRSNDPbwUPMk-t05GpMoOtbF92xy7Rp2AQOJDEZbaPErlxlE/s1600-h/envelope.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwwh2rXvzmarP0uJTaCU0szflx1NXlIfkgaO-rqHl7xl3Er6r4TJy_lYPkc4UTuhge-vmPQ-qlWcJKgcSZfQl3WiuPIhWRSNDPbwUPMk-t05GpMoOtbF92xy7Rp2AQOJDEZbaPErlxlE/s400/envelope.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451933884288451442" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br />Step 4. Mail them out to adorable little family members. Let the celebrating commence!<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170653828105632265.post-53323527160368417692010-03-08T21:27:00.003-07:002010-03-08T21:31:50.224-07:00Monday Lovely: Saturday Night 'White'It's true! It's true!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIUuDfNzegOw2k6Nji2I8vhUry_tCl7lTsHr5miM6-MQ4FLbdmZcDvWPdXuzJ_aii34uM5nJy2UZsMZOceszh8CC2H0v-O8Ajx3MyRxS2L9JCWS05GJkXSjH7EtpR7o6RI786mewKI1fg/s1600-h/bettywhite_snl.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIUuDfNzegOw2k6Nji2I8vhUry_tCl7lTsHr5miM6-MQ4FLbdmZcDvWPdXuzJ_aii34uM5nJy2UZsMZOceszh8CC2H0v-O8Ajx3MyRxS2L9JCWS05GJkXSjH7EtpR7o6RI786mewKI1fg/s400/bettywhite_snl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446486788376962242" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >Image from CrabbyGoLightly.com<br /></span><br /></div>She is <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/08/betty.white.comfirms.snl.ppl/index.html?hpt=T2">hosting</a>. What is more lovely than that? Not much. Although this one time, back in St. Olaf...<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170653828105632265.post-8382760514847496472010-03-01T09:00:00.007-07:002010-03-01T10:47:48.286-07:00Monday Lovely: Kinky Boots<div style="text-align: left;">Did you like the name of this blog post? Hopefully it got your attention. It did mine when Zach told me this was the film he watched when he was up with Little A at 2 a.m. a couple weeks ago (teething made our little guy restless so Z got up with him since this mama was working the next day). It doesn't exactly sound like a family friendly film.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfAOdy5ojXm-n3FaOTgsaWXwbyFGavPi5vEewV9n546Gu8j4qKbuGllWsmGNu8sjDMemAPCg8d4lvd7SkQiyhXoSOFNY6JPB2cYslMY68-R1OQG8_NJaHGyhbcxcJkHsVzKppHBQtsFI/s1600-h/MPW-17145.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfAOdy5ojXm-n3FaOTgsaWXwbyFGavPi5vEewV9n546Gu8j4qKbuGllWsmGNu8sjDMemAPCg8d4lvd7SkQiyhXoSOFNY6JPB2cYslMY68-R1OQG8_NJaHGyhbcxcJkHsVzKppHBQtsFI/s400/MPW-17145.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443696499682784210" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />But don't let the name mislead you. We watched <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0434124/">this</a> Sundance Film over the weekend (Z had DVR'd it, knowing that I'd probably like to watch it, too) and I fell in love. It's about a man who inherits his four-generation family shoe making business and has to come up with a plan to save it. So he decides to focus the company's efforts on a niche market: drag queens. Hey, those girls need cute shoes, too. Oh, and it's based on a true story.<br /><br />Besides the drag queens' colorful, choreographed performances and the film's charming characters, it also teaches a great lesson about learning to accept others' differences.<br /><br />And why 6' 4" men need extra reinforcement on their stilettos.<br /><br />[Note: If you want to check it out, we found it on the Independent Film Channel on DishNetwork.]<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">.</span><br /><br /><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4