tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33895373726467528572024-03-13T08:59:13.758-05:00The Garcia'sThe Garcia'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717179862392262109noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389537372646752857.post-30940291766192482862013-02-19T09:51:00.000-06:002013-02-19T09:51:28.910-06:00It's been a while since I have posted anything on this blog. That is because sometime last year Justin created me a new blog. So starting today I will no long be posting anything on this blog but will be posting here <a href="http://justinandsally.com/">Justinandsally.com</a>. So if you have been following me on this blog please start following me at justinandsally.com,The Garcia'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717179862392262109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389537372646752857.post-25424619965272782782012-05-30T11:53:00.001-05:002012-05-30T11:53:11.338-05:00Coming SoonI know I have been MIA this month but that is because Justin and I have been working on creating a new blog. Well Justin has been creating it and I have been giving my opinion and trying to be patient while he finishes it. Because a new blog is coming I haven't wanted to post anything on this one. But don't worry!!! The new Justin and Sally blog is just about ready. Once it is up a running I will blog about it and send out the new link. So until then.... happy blogging!!<br />
<br />The Garcia'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717179862392262109noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389537372646752857.post-35920496973393075652012-04-27T15:30:00.000-05:002012-04-27T15:30:55.116-05:00Brass free - Part 2<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">One of our resolutions this year is to replace all of brass that is currently in our home. We started by changing out our door knobs. Read about that<a href="http://www.justinandsally.blogspot.com/2012_02_01_archive.html"> here</a>. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Since we are working on redecorating our bedroom, we knew we would be replacing the old </span>ceiling<span style="font-size: 100%;"> fan with some new, thus getting rid of more brass. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">While on one of our recent trips to </span>Lowe's<span style="font-size: 100%;"> I dragged Justin to the lighting </span>department<span style="font-size: 100%;"> to look at what they had. I had no </span>intentions<span style="font-size: 100%;"> of really finding anything - I just wanted to see what they had to offer. I personally thought that we would have to look </span>online<span style="font-size: 100%;"> for something, but I was </span>surprised<span style="font-size: 100%;"> to find a nice looking ceiling fan that I liked and Justin loved the price too. We didn't </span>purchase<span style="font-size: 100%;"> it at the time but we both </span>agreed<span style="font-size: 100%;"> when we were ready to make the purchase this would be the one we took home. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">The other weekend I took a short weekend trip to my parents with my brother and sister-in-law. Justin was planning on coming up Friday after work but thought he should stay home and get some much needed </span>things<span style="font-size: 100%;"> done </span>around<span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span>the<span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span>house. We missed him at my parents but I think I might go out of town more often...Justin did so much stuff around the house in only two days! One of those was surprising me with the new ceiling fan. When I came home (to a very clean house), I walked into our room and noticed that the room was so bright. Our old light only had one bulb but this new one has four. It makes such a big difference in the room. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">I was so excited that Justin had not only replaced the old ceiling fan but in so doing also taken one more step towards updating our bedroom. I have a great husband! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOdv9TaA0y2eEthnH1EnuuywrZok3rqutXoErWR67XClv2_-kB4ffOsC49clqf-H9_vKBtNqZnz9OvzlwaF3Mpxt7_OJfn4wLjkIg8aQ_YEuIHjiMMTXOIO0YNLM-d_ZsV6OqXjBsZr8B/s1600/IMG_9210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOdv9TaA0y2eEthnH1EnuuywrZok3rqutXoErWR67XClv2_-kB4ffOsC49clqf-H9_vKBtNqZnz9OvzlwaF3Mpxt7_OJfn4wLjkIg8aQ_YEuIHjiMMTXOIO0YNLM-d_ZsV6OqXjBsZr8B/s400/IMG_9210.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">I am so grateful that Justin worked so hard to get the light up before I got home. If you have every put up a light or a ceiling fan you know just how hard that can be but to do alone He is just so great!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span></div>The Garcia'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717179862392262109noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389537372646752857.post-56928204910952257802012-04-18T21:34:00.000-05:002012-04-18T21:34:43.730-05:00Peeping Tom's<div><span style="font-size: 100%; text-align: left; ">Before you starting thinking that we </span><span style="font-size: 100%; text-align: left; ">actually</span><span style="font-size: 100%; text-align: left; "> had someone peeping into our </span><span style="font-size: 100%; text-align: left; ">windows,</span><span style="font-size: 100%; text-align: left; "> let me go ahead and set your mind at ease</span><span style="font-size: 100%; text-align: left; ">: we have not had anyone peeping into our windows. But if someone wanted to, it would have been really easy since we have not have any window covering on our front two kitchen windows since some time last year.</span></div><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span> <span style="font-size: 100%;">When we started updating our kitchen over a year ago we never thought it would have taken so long to complete. To see our kitchen updates from start to finish click </span><a href="http://www.justinandsally.blogspot.com/2011/04/justin-and-i-have-been-wanting-to-paint.html" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">here</a><span style="font-size: 100%;">, </span><a href="http://www.justinandsally.blogspot.com/2011/04/in-progess-kitchen-update.html" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">here</a><span style="font-size: 100%;">, </span><a href="http://www.justinandsally.blogspot.com/2011/04/kitchen-progress-its-coming-together.html" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">here</a><span style="font-size: 100%;">, </span><a href="http://www.justinandsally.blogspot.com/2011/08/completion-of-much-needed-update.html" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">here</a><span style="font-size: 100%;"> and </span><a href="http://www.justinandsally.blogspot.com/2011/10/around-our-kitchen.html" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">here</a><span style="font-size: 100%;">. </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; "> Once the work was all completed (well...we would love to get new flooring, counter tops, and back </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">splash...t</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; ">he list never really ends), w</span></span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">e took down the old flimsy binds with the plan on putting new blinds and some curtains up to add more color to the kitchen. After spending hours looking at Pinterest and other online decorating idea books, I decided to skip blinds and go with Roman shades. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 100%; ">With the decision made I went on the search for some fabric. </span><span style="font-size: 100%; "><span style="font-size: 100%;">Since I am not a big fan of buying fabric online I thought I would be limited to the few fabric stores we have around here and got a little frustrated. I had head about this great fabric store in </span>Brookhaven,<span style="font-size: 100%;"> so one Saturday Justin and I made the trip and found some great fabric. </span></span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">The sad part about all of this is how long the fabric sat in our closet waiting for us to make the shades. Our newly painted and partly decorated kitchen sat like this for almost 7 months.</span></div><div><br /><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "> </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAw65huQyeXmBHpfS46Z90HPDVLuIrpTY3vOmz-c-CD10VbWmkO0cv4m26WHVW8KLovX4qeOLMcLTyeDuk7I9Q187kls96eTDz0pz8HkJgqIbe3nOS_6zhYUrBpSuPLyLmCLPylmbja534/s1600/IMG_5634.JPG" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAw65huQyeXmBHpfS46Z90HPDVLuIrpTY3vOmz-c-CD10VbWmkO0cv4m26WHVW8KLovX4qeOLMcLTyeDuk7I9Q187kls96eTDz0pz8HkJgqIbe3nOS_6zhYUrBpSuPLyLmCLPylmbja534/s400/IMG_5634.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732907625868522738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">I knew I was going to have to get someone else to make the shades for me since I don't know to use a sewing </span>machine,<span style="font-size: 100%;"> but it took much longer than I thought. After looking around for someone to make the shades I was disappointed to learn that professionals </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; ">charge</span><span><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> almost $500 for two shades. I know that some of you are thinking, "I didn't pay that much for mine!" Don't worry Justin would never allow us to spend that much money either. Crossing professional made </span>curtains<span style="font-size: 100%;"> off the list was easy, but now I was back to square one. I was talking to some friends one night and told them my struggles. One friend said she would be happy to help me with the </span>curtains<span style="font-size: 100%;">. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; ">This friend just </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; ">happened</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; "> to be an </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; ">excellent</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; "> seamstress and very crafty. Check our her blog </span><a href="http://designingemily.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; ">Designing</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; "><a href="http://designingemily.blogspot.com/"> Emily</a>!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">After getting her all the materials she started working on the shades. At first we were working on them together. Really, she would work and I would take pictures. We soon realized that she could finish them up a lot faster if she didn't have to wait on our schedules to line up. Within a few weeks she had the shades finished. They look great and really complete the breakfast table area. They really did turn out just like I </span>imagined.<span style="font-size: 100%;"> I am very happy with them!</span></span></div><div><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKsesv73taNH03v708jGv-_4fA2OvcTU690BVfEy47Z3br_LAXMlklhBvXJ2rbjU_uzF9KhQBq1e1MnHfAQEENsxU3ZThidfUQHLC7-i-tlSVcDSYojn9h0s0A9uYNasTQWNHxdvPb5L5/s1600/IMG_9241.JPG" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKsesv73taNH03v708jGv-_4fA2OvcTU690BVfEy47Z3br_LAXMlklhBvXJ2rbjU_uzF9KhQBq1e1MnHfAQEENsxU3ZThidfUQHLC7-i-tlSVcDSYojn9h0s0A9uYNasTQWNHxdvPb5L5/s400/IMG_9241.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732907622426053970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; "> </span><br style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghg01P58PGy697WwgpCqDq2cza9eatPouXtUqR_ykq9vR9JagjHY75Ns2Suz9wtjzFyK1P5ylBngdDtou-x-3fvMvbFW5hdPaJ2z4Liw7WDbCvRdK0RUC_EEwHMg-ivbb9S4TJFSckkxgY/s1600/IMG_9244.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghg01P58PGy697WwgpCqDq2cza9eatPouXtUqR_ykq9vR9JagjHY75Ns2Suz9wtjzFyK1P5ylBngdDtou-x-3fvMvbFW5hdPaJ2z4Liw7WDbCvRdK0RUC_EEwHMg-ivbb9S4TJFSckkxgY/s400/IMG_9244.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732906621606454946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Now Justin and I don't have to worry about people looking into our kitchen window anymore. I love that we are now able to close the </span>curtains<span style="font-size: 100%;"> at </span>night. I know this is silly, but I feel much safer at night knowing that people walking or driving by can't see into our house. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlv3wHWyLSactPuJilI-ZlYOQruBYbDq5o3pfwOlenRJco_5jSZxt2LoSThJ60zMMl6hRy-XlLCCWKU_udXFPNetzw2S1Ey-EMz1gggrXq2JyHVAshn05xjXopaVc0al0EY_QGfwcEdJ1k/s1600/IMG_9236.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlv3wHWyLSactPuJilI-ZlYOQruBYbDq5o3pfwOlenRJco_5jSZxt2LoSThJ60zMMl6hRy-XlLCCWKU_udXFPNetzw2S1Ey-EMz1gggrXq2JyHVAshn05xjXopaVc0al0EY_QGfwcEdJ1k/s400/IMG_9236.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732906612801960722" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div></div>The Garcia'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717179862392262109noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389537372646752857.post-62436226716798345152012-03-22T07:22:00.000-05:002012-03-22T08:22:18.388-05:00Symmetry in the Bedroom<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; text-align: left; ">When we decided it was time to redo our room I was over the moon with excitement. I took out my notebook of home/life inspiration and started showing Justin everything I liked. I think I might have </span><span style="font-size: 100%; text-align: left; ">overwhelmed</span><span style="font-size: 100%; text-align: left; "> him just a little. I also went a little over the top by researching everything I wanted for the room. Almost everyday I would show Justin something I thought would look good in our room. He was nice enough to appease me and say that he liked whatever it was that I was showing him or he would in the nicest way possible say that he really didn't like it. I think he is over it now </span><span style="font-size: 100%; text-align: left; ">because</span><span style="font-size: 100%; text-align: left; "> when I show him something he just says "I am not sure, let's just wait a little longer." </span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%;">I thought we should pick everything we wanted for the room, save, and get it one piece of furniture at a time. It made sense to me, but Justin thinks differently. He felt and still does feel that we should get one thing at a time and see what it looks like in our room and then move on to something else. I have come to agree with him but not after a lot persuading on Justin's part.</span></span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span>Now on to the symmetry of the our room. When it came time to make our next purchased Justin and I both agreed the next thing we should get was nightstands. Our old ones just weren't cutting it anymore. You can't really see our nightstand in the picture but you can see that they are two different sizes and shapes.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vA2cPOYF4hMJNrxpE3WL3G-YSZTkY9qT2H-U2JMTZhm66rMb-UmpGhjzuZHNz0mVzUR5t1SvMWJm6xoRR29eHrXkMCvXKlYbt632SqxJYYfmbYywjgFHnS55JT_ihw_LhyJ2M1XKl9lz/s1600/IMG_7669.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vA2cPOYF4hMJNrxpE3WL3G-YSZTkY9qT2H-U2JMTZhm66rMb-UmpGhjzuZHNz0mVzUR5t1SvMWJm6xoRR29eHrXkMCvXKlYbt632SqxJYYfmbYywjgFHnS55JT_ihw_LhyJ2M1XKl9lz/s400/IMG_7669.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712820940172159810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a></div><div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center; "><span><u><br /></u></span></div><span style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Georgia, serif; "> </span><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">When we first started talking about the nightstands we decided that we didn't want our dressers and nightstands to match. It would have been easier to just get a whole new bedroom suite, but we wanted to mix </span>things<span style="font-size: 100%;"> up. So I started my search. I came across many nightstands that I liked but none that I loved. Then one day I found these. Justin approved and we ordered! It was just that easy!! </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKagMyFPltQOYnPey4eIxpyQIQPh3qJ59l_PQ7B7WPbYubu0Qxo7XTbWa1TnXzQ6vmiIC82Lbrfh5lPsVEAQvl4Hd_PWmI0QMAcX4Up3yNMKHS4DxCjB0Jzl98q8rBWQuQZsflhpuLN_R/s1600/nightstands.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKagMyFPltQOYnPey4eIxpyQIQPh3qJ59l_PQ7B7WPbYubu0Qxo7XTbWa1TnXzQ6vmiIC82Lbrfh5lPsVEAQvl4Hd_PWmI0QMAcX4Up3yNMKHS4DxCjB0Jzl98q8rBWQuQZsflhpuLN_R/s400/nightstands.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712841955924009682" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div><span><br /><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">I never told Justin, but I was a little </span>nervous<span style="font-size: 100%;"> about the color. It is always a gamble when you order </span>something<span style="font-size: 100%;"> online. However all that changed when I saw this at my door. </span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefP8ncmitXplo9EsyYm0E2zE3ftq4iOssstTX6LfiTJg4VQiy3CpaO3gENp-9S7apSue2mtl56_M9VyDcm9OYYaNIGTZrgFFCtm6tIYg2uDXCwbQzSr0aZkcoCL8IdETB8kB-WEgdKt4j/s400/IMG_7684.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712817230717166818" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></div><div>I quickly tore open the boxes and left this mess for Justin to clean up. I was so excited to get the old nightstands out of the room and get our new ones in place. </div><div><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYkbJEo3IRjPi3UA8B4mIuTb2chIWpeUa7DpZBKIYjXbOwDv0wBjp5JyAZVDTBpAtugtU6LwlnJcivMy21hQU6Oih3t6cKmmAspnGUSXqj5IXrhgwqs0vZlr-d2hu96NZ4yrpVOzoRDus/s1600/IMG_7687.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYkbJEo3IRjPi3UA8B4mIuTb2chIWpeUa7DpZBKIYjXbOwDv0wBjp5JyAZVDTBpAtugtU6LwlnJcivMy21hQU6Oih3t6cKmmAspnGUSXqj5IXrhgwqs0vZlr-d2hu96NZ4yrpVOzoRDus/s400/IMG_7687.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712817239106881090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a></div><div> </div><div>The color is perfect and they look great in our room. My old nightstand had a really small drawer and Justin's had two big drawer. This drawer is deep and is great for storing books, chapstick, a book light, notebooks, and pens. I love the shelf for my puzzles. I know I'm a dork who likes to do puzzles before going to sleep. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsOlJLEVqPu3j8sk8nusW396R2zScVYm952iQMcsl_SHJfO4KFuFgKncU3OAXCGXTVpOPGhb_GEu4EPHTE9pVuxAjyufIY_PlNkC_Nm0BEOyXFOJRlTw1UlcO32Dk_MB3fZXy8j5eFHYR/s1600/IMG_7714.jpg" style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsOlJLEVqPu3j8sk8nusW396R2zScVYm952iQMcsl_SHJfO4KFuFgKncU3OAXCGXTVpOPGhb_GEu4EPHTE9pVuxAjyufIY_PlNkC_Nm0BEOyXFOJRlTw1UlcO32Dk_MB3fZXy8j5eFHYR/s400/IMG_7714.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712818580843031970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, a full shot of the symmetry in our room (which has been five years in the making!). I love how the nightstands look in the room. I can't wait to keep going with the room. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY00QEEPtmiyRkCgUeGPkxwkCDlFrIT6KDvZK5y6jdFrlpmOGRbijOj0Yk5UWATJDM4abrFDavE4sxc-LMo-8Wfr2CT2jCEJ6er5ryOwTP3kJSzVSIANSNOzRmYfwQLXVqM3ksXYJ-0uRR/s1600/IMG_7697.JPG" style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY00QEEPtmiyRkCgUeGPkxwkCDlFrIT6KDvZK5y6jdFrlpmOGRbijOj0Yk5UWATJDM4abrFDavE4sxc-LMo-8Wfr2CT2jCEJ6er5ryOwTP3kJSzVSIANSNOzRmYfwQLXVqM3ksXYJ-0uRR/s400/IMG_7697.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712820948390696434" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div>The Garcia'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717179862392262109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389537372646752857.post-36133944029160468482012-03-06T17:22:00.000-06:002012-03-06T17:22:16.982-06:00Cutest Nephew Ever!<div><span ><span style="font-size: 16px; ">A few weeks ago Justin and I made the trip to Rayville to visiting John Hayden. I know I am a litte obsessed but I am not going to apologize for it. </span></span><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><br /></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 16px; ">This was the first time we have seen John Hayden since at the hospital when he was born. When he was born I </span>couldn't<span style="font-size: 16px; "> really tell if he looked more like Abe or Lindsay, but now I </span>definitely<span style="font-size: 16px; "> see some of Abe in his face. </span></span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">John Hayden loves reading! </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGSI4Hcm8bYR0IcL6wifcMwLo-K8YG6GSyI1HRdOSHXhNsF5Cl7vuPlX39RknG2iLNlnx-EKxzNKmoNjfMR4o_Op0ZFnsmNBs_E_jR4ZxwhPtQZn0QR4iokez_oYxlBtNZ1NL0e_11Tk0/s1600/IMG_8222.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGSI4Hcm8bYR0IcL6wifcMwLo-K8YG6GSyI1HRdOSHXhNsF5Cl7vuPlX39RknG2iLNlnx-EKxzNKmoNjfMR4o_Op0ZFnsmNBs_E_jR4ZxwhPtQZn0QR4iokez_oYxlBtNZ1NL0e_11Tk0/s400/IMG_8222.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712812567401254578" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbaR2xEdeiFsNwWDi_A6IYqxINs1XgreoZVnSgKGf8TjH8m9BIHW9_Mp8iHYCo5yBrRPzJrWv76kUZ5s5vyAia2eufPlWUmbLPFy4wqsuzM5JdfUO_-G1G61T4t-KQKlfTjocKJdOe1AsR/s1600/IMG_8212.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbaR2xEdeiFsNwWDi_A6IYqxINs1XgreoZVnSgKGf8TjH8m9BIHW9_Mp8iHYCo5yBrRPzJrWv76kUZ5s5vyAia2eufPlWUmbLPFy4wqsuzM5JdfUO_-G1G61T4t-KQKlfTjocKJdOe1AsR/s400/IMG_8212.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712809369797155394" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFozSP7QA5mYDGkK1MwWKVfP0NnIVWcygpgoh87O0zkeTY8HsJOcUiBo8yci85ZLhGUazyamanNuhsXPmiZjzRB6EjgQTdxKwkhhWgZsmKdSVv8dl8g0uMShgvQeSp6J0fwGmZRqENDGx/s1600/IMG_8203.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFozSP7QA5mYDGkK1MwWKVfP0NnIVWcygpgoh87O0zkeTY8HsJOcUiBo8yci85ZLhGUazyamanNuhsXPmiZjzRB6EjgQTdxKwkhhWgZsmKdSVv8dl8g0uMShgvQeSp6J0fwGmZRqENDGx/s400/IMG_8203.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712809358405828770" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoODVGCNBDa6FLmHf3EroMC4z69ByrFxvKYVS-0XMVKlzs6L7QQsRu28pihmYurw6PaPPHPRk5uVE6engIj1fM2TpPRH0fHiyryzrpxYE2qi0EbOCtOc5jwKKmdxy9ZgS7a8xAZkt8fAef/s1600/IMG_8182.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoODVGCNBDa6FLmHf3EroMC4z69ByrFxvKYVS-0XMVKlzs6L7QQsRu28pihmYurw6PaPPHPRk5uVE6engIj1fM2TpPRH0fHiyryzrpxYE2qi0EbOCtOc5jwKKmdxy9ZgS7a8xAZkt8fAef/s400/IMG_8182.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712807167507679490" /></a>I just want everyone to know that this was my mom's idea. She got this handprint kit for JH. It has three tins for you to make handprints of your baby during their first year of life. JH did a great job and Lindsay was able to get a good handprint.<div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7xM6-9NAk-RJgWsECSLZCUAk95Xt_eBDyCER3B9qMG05O9vgf-PMqn5zBxaz_YinQXqkKYT83ZvlxQutn1zCJkMXihyKa-gCG0_jzngMyNjUExF7W-bbvvk8SOKXvjR3DK2l8I4LrQExc/s1600/IMG_8168.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7xM6-9NAk-RJgWsECSLZCUAk95Xt_eBDyCER3B9qMG05O9vgf-PMqn5zBxaz_YinQXqkKYT83ZvlxQutn1zCJkMXihyKa-gCG0_jzngMyNjUExF7W-bbvvk8SOKXvjR3DK2l8I4LrQExc/s400/IMG_8168.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712807159376936930" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Making faces at the camera. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGrnj7aHZ9s2qMGly62VAbX-GweIan0TBgf5e-PpyDj1l_KoevX-Azd6EanVPUHjbXuVrdpL_eC2SU4NHZIF3sH1jMl-G7QsSU2AM0lYM9o2B8QZxqYX5xbNY0yOEh4Goq5V2UzRLX7zG/s1600/IMG_8153.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGrnj7aHZ9s2qMGly62VAbX-GweIan0TBgf5e-PpyDj1l_KoevX-Azd6EanVPUHjbXuVrdpL_eC2SU4NHZIF3sH1jMl-G7QsSU2AM0lYM9o2B8QZxqYX5xbNY0yOEh4Goq5V2UzRLX7zG/s400/IMG_8153.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712733200923194818" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPG_597aQ8Fj1-x2PPi89mFRDYDeuP0-XMga6zH7RTVZhlMoHy_juPIXkbs1fmqAk12eeQ6_x4dJ1ZDtAO-QcTZioffLowu_J4EsM_IN67bE2uONDU_zg2UDiHTfVJlaefIU9vEgZPQXU/s1600/IMG_8111.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPG_597aQ8Fj1-x2PPi89mFRDYDeuP0-XMga6zH7RTVZhlMoHy_juPIXkbs1fmqAk12eeQ6_x4dJ1ZDtAO-QcTZioffLowu_J4EsM_IN67bE2uONDU_zg2UDiHTfVJlaefIU9vEgZPQXU/s400/IMG_8111.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712733194075399442" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5johqYqhn6s7Hri6TolPWFlFMM69dP77TYr-nBsZlx99LD2ZwrkHOFbJT7Rah2qhZusRN8kI1sCefRmrfzMlvyC80myapXWPkRSsvUkaznc7rDWlyKH7X2cCAsF1DYKWEP4ogtw84urFF/s1600/IMG_8107.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5johqYqhn6s7Hri6TolPWFlFMM69dP77TYr-nBsZlx99LD2ZwrkHOFbJT7Rah2qhZusRN8kI1sCefRmrfzMlvyC80myapXWPkRSsvUkaznc7rDWlyKH7X2cCAsF1DYKWEP4ogtw84urFF/s400/IMG_8107.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712731662318728866" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6Q1fIKYD0ZN9HDXxLgU05eexAvH6F-4-P7b3x81FbULvoTwW-i1MbalVpiPgiJRhaP5Jd282Pkc-WqtzAQY7RXkfF0tmfDi_umvdWVaGRFCg-wA1Q97yzswc-eIXavQYNoMU8y6mbUGx/s1600/IMG_8097.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6Q1fIKYD0ZN9HDXxLgU05eexAvH6F-4-P7b3x81FbULvoTwW-i1MbalVpiPgiJRhaP5Jd282Pkc-WqtzAQY7RXkfF0tmfDi_umvdWVaGRFCg-wA1Q97yzswc-eIXavQYNoMU8y6mbUGx/s400/IMG_8097.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712731649356508546" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgmkS2C1-PLhj89cIq5Z4GlC4hbcFVWMAGWEIy1JWJNBlXtSRR-NTX9mv5C9FB8EztVP5CZJ2limIg3bJljJuh7g0jvRqYL98Vj0HJ4IEJ_G9EwUIo0gG24aPrzZhUs_tdVSZ50l9DpdA/s1600/IMG_8228.JPG" style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgmkS2C1-PLhj89cIq5Z4GlC4hbcFVWMAGWEIy1JWJNBlXtSRR-NTX9mv5C9FB8EztVP5CZJ2limIg3bJljJuh7g0jvRqYL98Vj0HJ4IEJ_G9EwUIo0gG24aPrzZhUs_tdVSZ50l9DpdA/s400/IMG_8228.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712812578553556066" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"> John Hayden is growing so fast. Be watching for another post about John Hayden's first trip to Aunt Sally and Uncle Justin's!! </span></span></div></div></div></div>The Garcia'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717179862392262109noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389537372646752857.post-89613726316463404212012-03-02T08:35:00.001-06:002012-03-02T08:47:41.713-06:002012 Reading list - January & February<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know that I love reading. A while back, I even wrote few book reviews but after only two reviews I realized that I love reading books more than I do writing about them. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Still wanting to share the books I have read, I thought instead of </span>writing<span style="font-size: 100%;"> a review of all the books I read I would post every two months and share all the books I have read during that time. This would not only allow me to share what I'm reading but it will also hold me </span></span><span style="font-size: 100%;">accountable</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; "> to read at least 24 books this year. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">So this is how it's going to work: Every two months (</span>hopefully<span style="font-size: 100%;">) I will post all the books I have read and a few thoughts I had about each book. My goal is only to share what I have been reading, not to sway anyone into or out of reading any book. I know that everyone has different tastes in books so I don't expect everyone to </span>agree<span style="font-size: 100%;"> with my choice in books. </span></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; ">Here are the four books I have read so far:</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; "><b>Irreplaceable</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left; "><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">I got this book a few years ago at the MC Book Bazaar.</span><a href="http://www.justinandsally.blogspot.com/2011/11/book-bazaar.html" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "> Click here</a><span style="font-size: 100%;"> for see the full list of books I purchased at that book sale. </span></span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">I liked this book for the most part. There was a part in it that I could have done with out, but for the most part it was a good book. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left; "><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTwjiZ7SEHdqUmrQ4RBbW7pP2_4GQf4n7GpEc9gHn0MUu395cZJKh4qbWpw9sbhvqeGvz99-FD-O03oLNcy1zd98P__znm7nFyLpy9u1JfHKX2tOC-8j6dWInk-9vuQlt8jtgCHYdM6Vg/s1600/book3.jpg"><span style="font-size: 100%; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 197px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTwjiZ7SEHdqUmrQ4RBbW7pP2_4GQf4n7GpEc9gHn0MUu395cZJKh4qbWpw9sbhvqeGvz99-FD-O03oLNcy1zd98P__znm7nFyLpy9u1JfHKX2tOC-8j6dWInk-9vuQlt8jtgCHYdM6Vg/s400/book3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713987162398469458" /></span><br /></a><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b>The Graduate</b></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTwjiZ7SEHdqUmrQ4RBbW7pP2_4GQf4n7GpEc9gHn0MUu395cZJKh4qbWpw9sbhvqeGvz99-FD-O03oLNcy1zd98P__znm7nFyLpy9u1JfHKX2tOC-8j6dWInk-9vuQlt8jtgCHYdM6Vg/s1600/book3.jpg"><br /></a><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">I got this book while on vacation last year. I had been wanting to read it ever since I saw the movie "</span>Rumor</span><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> Has It." In the movie they </span>referenced<span style="font-size: 100%;"> the book and many of the </span>characters so I thought it would be a good read. <span style="font-size: 100%;"> It was an easy read and would be perfect to take to the beach this summer. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTwjiZ7SEHdqUmrQ4RBbW7pP2_4GQf4n7GpEc9gHn0MUu395cZJKh4qbWpw9sbhvqeGvz99-FD-O03oLNcy1zd98P__znm7nFyLpy9u1JfHKX2tOC-8j6dWInk-9vuQlt8jtgCHYdM6Vg/s1600/book3.jpg" style="line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 258px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZn1OlgoNlzml-bcIRF0tt_DYcLZnWptVCiSoXFW61F8P8rF8SQw_FnZh5GHTKXvNYfPv5r4tl3S22UPMLlH5ayLK61w4BNklHWMtSHam9ar6rkbMXrxalTL0qwk667I-WJhBGgcr1EcJK/s400/TheGraduate.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713987159675437730" /></a><div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center; "><span><u><br /></u></span></div><div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center; "><span><u><br /></u></span></div><span><span style="font-size: 100%; "><b>The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo</b><br />This book has been on the best sellers list for a while. It has been on my list for about a year but with over 20 books on my bookshelf I kept putting it off. I finally checked this book out and decided it was time to read it. First, I have to say that this book is a little graphic (not sure I'm going to watch the movie) but has so many twists and </span>turns<span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; ">. Most books I read are very </span>predictable but<span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "> this one kept me guessing. </span></span><br /><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center; "><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRadI4uXeHXQ9ArbBiacIa-toss_XG-ritlOjuxUOL5DYRekVT-nn4aa9hKCXybcVRV01hG__xz0H6OxzHCHl2fUdPHPP1wFW6lp8v_mKaFdPVPPpw0bMe0CdWbI3BHmBVg8k-Iinv9fSa/s1600/book2.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRadI4uXeHXQ9ArbBiacIa-toss_XG-ritlOjuxUOL5DYRekVT-nn4aa9hKCXybcVRV01hG__xz0H6OxzHCHl2fUdPHPP1wFW6lp8v_mKaFdPVPPpw0bMe0CdWbI3BHmBVg8k-Iinv9fSa/s400/book2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713972334566221026" /><br /></a></div><div><b>The Christmas Wedding</b><br />This was a cute book. I checked this out at the library on a Saturday and finished it the next day. I'm not a fast reader but this book kept me interested. It's about a women who lost her husband three years before and is now ready to get married. She has been asked by three different men to marry them. She decides that she will not tell anyone who she is marrying until she walks down the aisle. I guess I kept reading to find out who she would end up marrying. It was a fun book. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRadI4uXeHXQ9ArbBiacIa-toss_XG-ritlOjuxUOL5DYRekVT-nn4aa9hKCXybcVRV01hG__xz0H6OxzHCHl2fUdPHPP1wFW6lp8v_mKaFdPVPPpw0bMe0CdWbI3BHmBVg8k-Iinv9fSa/s1600/book2.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 264px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOinjNpwFMvXwN0bAkK2OFy2U7KyIb91BwRqwhZfx9CziXgY8Azxe3U2IKYgJ5bldi7Hz7X9IP4Qr4bUgnu3moM9UxLHoOgM9F-hnvgMyMa0Nik4ZfZoNVbkcD6FYW9krhnHidA9lIFMfV/s400/Book1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713972334156949730" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center; "><span><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: left; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left; "><span><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">I hope you've enjoyed this post. I'm always open for </span>recommendations<span style="font-size: 100%; ">. If you have read or are reading a book that you can't put down please let me know. </span></div><div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "> </div></div></div></div></div>The Garcia'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717179862392262109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389537372646752857.post-4211679885439210622012-02-28T07:40:00.001-06:002012-02-28T07:41:27.976-06:00Brass Free 2012, Part 1Here is a little update we did a few weekends ago. It's nothing big - just something we have wanted to do for a long time but just gotten around to getting it done.<br /><br />In January, when Justin and I were thinking of some things that we wanted to accomplish in 2012, we decided to set a goal of removing all the brass from our house by the end of the year. We don't have a lot of brass in our house - just some door knobs, a few light fixtures and the fireplace cover...oh, and our shower door, but that's a whole other project in itself.<br /><br />We have take the first step toward brass freedom by replacing all brass door knobs in our house. I know it doesn't make a huge difference in the overall look of the house, and I'm sure most people won't even notice the change, but it's just a small detail that helps our home look more up-to-date. Just look at this knob...you can see the scratches, and it just looks old.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIXvz_yLOFk8YzsfurG95hL9Mw6vA2xUcjzK3F35IvJHzR_cp98J8JW4dX08rNMlyVd9u-2wOnCwmw_vkz0g7Aw9d9093dy3GaStpM7XKSCHZbMzcAaTZhWnlwhIHvelIijc1YSVH_Ysz/s1600/IMG_7623.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIXvz_yLOFk8YzsfurG95hL9Mw6vA2xUcjzK3F35IvJHzR_cp98J8JW4dX08rNMlyVd9u-2wOnCwmw_vkz0g7Aw9d9093dy3GaStpM7XKSCHZbMzcAaTZhWnlwhIHvelIijc1YSVH_Ysz/s400/IMG_7623.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699837012661312114" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiWtXb1HHFaNAeP2GO8yDZwS0j6B0GBYwxY3dGEJOeQpNVex6AxFP1Uh10sSQPc9Psne69vKdgD9y5c8iMRZn3JY5c5hIktm-ZuW6LnYYRCQAInVSgaClSMEHj5PwH1GjN-zxmQsK7NJP/s1600/IMG_7618.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiWtXb1HHFaNAeP2GO8yDZwS0j6B0GBYwxY3dGEJOeQpNVex6AxFP1Uh10sSQPc9Psne69vKdgD9y5c8iMRZn3JY5c5hIktm-ZuW6LnYYRCQAInVSgaClSMEHj5PwH1GjN-zxmQsK7NJP/s400/IMG_7618.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699835947168477170" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Like I said, this isn't a big change but I think they make the doors look a lot better. What do you think? Next time you come to our house, make sure you take note the new knobs!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd23OisbBAAB_SSaVa1bmno_6gon0qRrqIcnmqtNa9Yh4KTB0skoeHMRDBFOt_nS-erX-5_4Uh46woh2kNEzumozvGNBlCjsMGRbe8JFWBLYM0AlqC7hcdGknmVJJfb0VAiH-5j8DX6CAj/s1600/IMG_7729.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd23OisbBAAB_SSaVa1bmno_6gon0qRrqIcnmqtNa9Yh4KTB0skoeHMRDBFOt_nS-erX-5_4Uh46woh2kNEzumozvGNBlCjsMGRbe8JFWBLYM0AlqC7hcdGknmVJJfb0VAiH-5j8DX6CAj/s400/IMG_7729.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699841683325354258" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENECpoxsx_pX47CSbjOmInlz1PuIcEQm9DnblgJHh1w07F0agqazhTFBSu2ONmItPvmndWORj6Uf8P-Tp3vqilZuSvWzR9_ZNLjGe3RNcSLFR8wD0Si_dn1m67ASJnZf2B0bw-AzrIHvS/s1600/IMG_7735.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENECpoxsx_pX47CSbjOmInlz1PuIcEQm9DnblgJHh1w07F0agqazhTFBSu2ONmItPvmndWORj6Uf8P-Tp3vqilZuSvWzR9_ZNLjGe3RNcSLFR8wD0Si_dn1m67ASJnZf2B0bw-AzrIHvS/s400/IMG_7735.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699846396939622834" border="0" /></a>We will keep you updated on project Brass Free 2012.The Garcia'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717179862392262109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389537372646752857.post-66906013079713440172012-02-16T12:16:00.000-06:002012-02-16T12:56:37.815-06:00He has ARRIVED!!!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Let me introduce the world to the cutest baby boy, John Hayden Hodges!!!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">This was taken just about an hour after he was born.</span><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQiFVkUCelDUYsGZtsBH8DMZIsYVjGPN4Njb4F2Vdmz96zDtlIlFWfH8OJseKSckFF3e7dNLQIqcz2Uza6KhL9wtb0TUL6XQvYL-Gmf9o4iflEBwZlHmKmshcoS4GAkSZiwN351hq9oC2/s1600/IMG_7821.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQiFVkUCelDUYsGZtsBH8DMZIsYVjGPN4Njb4F2Vdmz96zDtlIlFWfH8OJseKSckFF3e7dNLQIqcz2Uza6KhL9wtb0TUL6XQvYL-Gmf9o4iflEBwZlHmKmshcoS4GAkSZiwN351hq9oC2/s400/IMG_7821.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703199759439831794" border="0" /></a><br /><br />He arrived on Friday, January 27th at 3:19 p.m. He weighed 8 lbs. 12 oz. and was 20 inches long. Let me back up just a little. John Hayden was scheduled to arrive on Monday but he just wasn't quite ready to make his grand appearance, so we all waited...and waited...and waited. Thursday morning my brother and sister-in-law put in a call to their doctor to schedule an induction. When the doctor called them back much later in the afternoon she told them to come to the hospital around 12 that night. They didn't expect this response, but began getting ready.<br /><br />Around 6:00 Friday morning Abe texted me and said we should start getting ready and head their way. Thinking we had lots of time we got up and leisurely got ready. Around 8:00-ish he texted me back and told us that the nurse was thinking that Hayden would arrive around 12:00. Then, we got a another text just shortly after saying it might be 10:30. We went right into super speed mode and got ready in record time. I think we got to the hospital around 10:30 and ran to the room because we thought Hayden was already here. If we would have known he was still not ready to come and meet all of us, we would have taken our time getting ready! <div><br /></div><div>Lindsay was a champ. She was uncomfortable, but she never complained. About an hour before Hayden was born we were told it was time for us to head to the waiting room to do just a little more waiting. We settled in thinking it would be another few hours before we would be formally introduced to Hayden. Well, those few hours really ended up being only one hour. During that one hour, I made many trips to the gift shop and cafeteria, trying to make the time go by faster. During one of my trips I found this awesome button.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoJd2sXAW7-mlwXMQ2IYnrgf1UHnjWtXuPrPA3NYWSUZDIogaLWj6E8wmYs1rOQaOtiLLURb3s7k1m8ALQ_A1WmXyqhYU7NaflCJLG8NN2dZUutdab72AAl7E6F6e0OHiroDGZ8jnhWA6/s1600/IMG_7774.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoJd2sXAW7-mlwXMQ2IYnrgf1UHnjWtXuPrPA3NYWSUZDIogaLWj6E8wmYs1rOQaOtiLLURb3s7k1m8ALQ_A1WmXyqhYU7NaflCJLG8NN2dZUutdab72AAl7E6F6e0OHiroDGZ8jnhWA6/s400/IMG_7774.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703205617536406914" border="0" /></a><br />Thinking we would have lots of time Justin and I went back to the gift shop to get Abe a bubble gum cigar. As I was paying, I got a text from my mom saying Hayden had arrived. Justin and I ran back to the waiting room. I could have hit myself for not being there, but at least we got Abe a bubble gum cigar.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlI9wgY6yn6WutQScd8CiC9iuHdiFUdrvh-HhY9ngztoCfBEgOle-lrGo262Gu85ohukjmXMvt1O8cXYLZRIqKmsAmN-Hp0qSnBKDXu5qUlCCTYuzqCvy92HJPMpATTx91Sxh6SX_-Soud/s1600/IMG_7768.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlI9wgY6yn6WutQScd8CiC9iuHdiFUdrvh-HhY9ngztoCfBEgOle-lrGo262Gu85ohukjmXMvt1O8cXYLZRIqKmsAmN-Hp0qSnBKDXu5qUlCCTYuzqCvy92HJPMpATTx91Sxh6SX_-Soud/s400/IMG_7768.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703199762706120674" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLUQ4zSpVC4nDJGH8A58jQGYLraqWwE8BDFvxVgWr1X73pit1R-iiZN_6cWp-Yi3QthtNjewT75vq3Sy4WNnqO7AeWuEjC7UUsnUk77BUXz3mOgTPO2iJW3x_UqNjjiPqFOD2ae9hj0yo/s1600/IMG_7769.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLUQ4zSpVC4nDJGH8A58jQGYLraqWwE8BDFvxVgWr1X73pit1R-iiZN_6cWp-Yi3QthtNjewT75vq3Sy4WNnqO7AeWuEjC7UUsnUk77BUXz3mOgTPO2iJW3x_UqNjjiPqFOD2ae9hj0yo/s400/IMG_7769.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703202779696492770" border="0" /></a><br />This is the proud Daddy coming to tell us that we could come back to the room to meet Hayden. When Abe walked into the waiting room he had the biggest smile on his face. He was most definitely a new proud daddy.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhj8Q_veM_ATsKUkzg_SM775Fk-L-KLnXvhtBCa6554plxsnsxpblGLq5lZcFjElyEXfz5JY0WYb4jwpNaWGEvmxjtgXqua5TWU4O84EB5jFiZYa2LL1FaGu6KDcs-wA9sB0tCo01uj3QU/s1600/IMG_7771.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhj8Q_veM_ATsKUkzg_SM775Fk-L-KLnXvhtBCa6554plxsnsxpblGLq5lZcFjElyEXfz5JY0WYb4jwpNaWGEvmxjtgXqua5TWU4O84EB5jFiZYa2LL1FaGu6KDcs-wA9sB0tCo01uj3QU/s400/IMG_7771.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703202786432270386" border="0" /></a><br />Here my parents are meeting Hayden for the first time. Look at the smile on Lindsay's face. I don't think I would be smiling after almost 15 hours of labor but like I said, Lindsay is a champ.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3oGzoc2rMcsUyfqh4hrAm_3cm9oC8n5cee3lqt1urGts8ARpKcwl0K_cCB5Kn65lm8W14d66dTXw64_0Nz4m3qU33dSW3szzgDtiEEaWSR6B5AXIXmvY1wpz4dSlutEabQpihlerou0S/s1600/IMG_7804.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3oGzoc2rMcsUyfqh4hrAm_3cm9oC8n5cee3lqt1urGts8ARpKcwl0K_cCB5Kn65lm8W14d66dTXw64_0Nz4m3qU33dSW3szzgDtiEEaWSR6B5AXIXmvY1wpz4dSlutEabQpihlerou0S/s400/IMG_7804.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703205622088607730" border="0" /></a>We had to wait forever for them to bring Hayden back to the room. I think I spent most of that time waiting by the nursery window trying to catch glimpses of Hayden. They had to give him shots, run tests, give him a bath, and whatever else they do in the nursery.<br /><br />FINALLY!!! I got to hold Hayden!! I think he is just the cutest and best baby ever!! </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcsywI95KockjaLUNRvsVrtEEg-w62P16uO3DyQ5awl0el02Lqps69jv9YQAQzCgINmX9rDexhLRI2VD-MNi7pQbiHJKsMK9i5a5gQNWbmzzex1u1N7imQFBNkL-f-DsbwZtWRYz46MwM/s1600/IMG_7838.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcsywI95KockjaLUNRvsVrtEEg-w62P16uO3DyQ5awl0el02Lqps69jv9YQAQzCgINmX9rDexhLRI2VD-MNi7pQbiHJKsMK9i5a5gQNWbmzzex1u1N7imQFBNkL-f-DsbwZtWRYz46MwM/s400/IMG_7838.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703208399206470530" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinn4FMNHBXMr_m0JQB3X0UgJxG1J_ncXyBcfAGoY3vsKLCdB1FSnGveHToDqATlZXKvc328dlCaCD7DgNERFLeZf9Un_FhjCFCvJVcF8n2qGKLipef_a3-6s_Mgn3dcuhd_m87pefCkZcm/s1600/IMG_7826.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinn4FMNHBXMr_m0JQB3X0UgJxG1J_ncXyBcfAGoY3vsKLCdB1FSnGveHToDqATlZXKvc328dlCaCD7DgNERFLeZf9Un_FhjCFCvJVcF8n2qGKLipef_a3-6s_Mgn3dcuhd_m87pefCkZcm/s400/IMG_7826.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703208390117637186" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSHKGKe2Iqh3heVeDEF9Nba2iroOrVOTO2yC_oez9ZJYdt1VPo8GP6RG5I76rq5vcMYKGirCsW9DGqaxvB6Sl-zCIoAt0px4981gX1vYifq8oDkdnDMqMhqYNb6lDBuvjs7_UHSaKHkYX/s1600/IMG_7842.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSHKGKe2Iqh3heVeDEF9Nba2iroOrVOTO2yC_oez9ZJYdt1VPo8GP6RG5I76rq5vcMYKGirCsW9DGqaxvB6Sl-zCIoAt0px4981gX1vYifq8oDkdnDMqMhqYNb6lDBuvjs7_UHSaKHkYX/s400/IMG_7842.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703212604348821122" border="0" /></a>Here are few pictures of Hayden's nursery. Lindsay did a great job putting everything together. I know Hayden is going to love his room. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYA7tp5vd2sHQeRSyWz1Yc21LwPtpbQfbvcuedyXPJEePYUIpTqmLRk4cGG_hUCaUfZJNGD-qEGb02cp2wuWtBoL9zDpMssbFXWCWHrq8AHwwaNPFkwHXi3NyHSSINom8kRSq_yyS9912i/s400/IMG_7906.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703215793919906450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " border="0" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NB2YVJyD5bVB5LZBz5k9pgoBEMYVcoGZJU10R4LOCDUqVnOCdqniqJuEaFZVd1wL7opvoPpoCrjuSP5tyUr8py3-YSxjnRKIKuVL5-tLHWDH4bxY6vclurmyZrN9DfI9FtxLXNOU2G_X/s400/IMG_7889.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703215790240202130" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " border="0" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31eSeMAw-iym6vYmLSmrFxmMKlunht_NiiKUIrdhiyGnsUtjkukNJp3rZ3DmPvCVuZ0VmKzs6oLjvD6B6hHrMCrSgqYXuiyiBhvag33irMxPX8MoozXZHRaokQEZKL-UKTCAiudJZiprk/s400/IMG_7885.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703212608969115266" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " border="0" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div><div>I think we are planning on going to visit Hayden this weekend , so stay tuned for a lot more pictures of him. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div>The Garcia'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717179862392262109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389537372646752857.post-71967248721584399592012-01-20T15:32:00.000-06:002012-01-20T17:33:47.488-06:00Bedroom Makeover...Finally!Over the past few years, Justin and I have been updating our house room by room. We have finally decided its time to work on our master bedroom. If you listen hard enough you will be able to hear me say THANK YOU! Everything in our bedroom is either from our high school/college days or given to us by someone. About a year ago, I started looking online trying to find ideas for the room, but we put the room on the back burner when we started updating our kitchen. The kitchen is done and now its time to revisit my ideas for our room.<br /><br />I didn't take any pictures of our room before we purchased our bed and bedding, so you missed out on seeing just how drab our room looked for the past two and half years. This is what our rooms looks like right now. Don't let this picture fool you - yes, the bed looks great but as a whole the room is still a bit drab and needs some love.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqo-q7bkM608PvjEgFRBEU54eQnAmek-92zdwmL82Yts1MG3QXYc2kPDo3gWZ9-jSmxms5Y993ihqusiLoIRkz-ysDrFUfRrp0cOyiaCCkNVfx7lBoINGzzGDm8FylOpJO47h1sHifoF3/s1600/IMG_7668.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqo-q7bkM608PvjEgFRBEU54eQnAmek-92zdwmL82Yts1MG3QXYc2kPDo3gWZ9-jSmxms5Y993ihqusiLoIRkz-ysDrFUfRrp0cOyiaCCkNVfx7lBoINGzzGDm8FylOpJO47h1sHifoF3/s400/IMG_7668.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699767896639429314" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We found our bed at a local home decor store and got it at a great price. It's very similar to the bed in the picture below from Restoration Hardware (which I loved), but at a <span style="font-style: italic;">much</span> better price. Our bedding was purchased a few months later while we were visiting NYC. We kept our old pillows and added a couple of new ones. Still not sure if we will keep all them when its all said and done but for now we are keeping the pillows as is.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqEmuRaIPNpsTR5ahAqKBgloR_rc0Gwsbzf8pGvzYXJrNMyeStgzJWFjQdw6rqk-yqgIhMQrlFBSghLQcOQZXwVnYvr1vt-VTk3xb9IE0VLJULJtCgTJureRjsibxuSmtqCjm8imIp5CF/s1600/prod1613156_av3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 390px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqEmuRaIPNpsTR5ahAqKBgloR_rc0Gwsbzf8pGvzYXJrNMyeStgzJWFjQdw6rqk-yqgIhMQrlFBSghLQcOQZXwVnYvr1vt-VTk3xb9IE0VLJULJtCgTJureRjsibxuSmtqCjm8imIp5CF/s400/prod1613156_av3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699452618346257314" border="0" /></a><br />We're hoping to replace pretty much everything in our room except for the bed and bedding. Since almost everything is leaving we can go in any direction. The hard part now is knowing what to do next. But now let me show you around the room. Do we need new dressers or what? This dresser was given to us just after we got married, and while it serves its purpose, it's very big and heavy. The mirror above the dresser was a cheap one we found at Home Goods. We when first got married we didn't want to spend money on furniture or decorations for the apartment because I was afraid that it would be a waste of money and wouldn't work in our home (once we brought one). I will get to the blinds and curtains a little later.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPccR2N6bJJwjDPNZNuV95FKLzko4vUbZ8F-w2UKOaQgAmJmsz3VJZk8_2KMnq7ARFReIIxmyFMFwTGLQR0-wMhKDiwz6pfR-64EiFL-CFCNsFUY8S8saQl9jdO1j6afXXqD-2JiJS_gV/s1600/IMG_7672.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPccR2N6bJJwjDPNZNuV95FKLzko4vUbZ8F-w2UKOaQgAmJmsz3VJZk8_2KMnq7ARFReIIxmyFMFwTGLQR0-wMhKDiwz6pfR-64EiFL-CFCNsFUY8S8saQl9jdO1j6afXXqD-2JiJS_gV/s400/IMG_7672.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699767910431737810" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I got this tall dressers when I was in junior high. It is a solid piece of furniture but its small and I am not a big fan of the color. I am not sure if we will reuse it somewhere else around the house or if we will get rid of it. But I do know that this dresser has served me for a long time and has been great...it's just time to update.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo75y-GV5Rk8tLjV_QBY1VfWkNx0Xt3rQdOHnnnlkRfeg75RckNnZLof6eWt7wDxPUbW2V9xRYeJ19B69PVA3JJouHRAzM0mD086qHGZrKqUFwUBvJfrz-fo2hpzJ0UlOOBcc0XXrluVNv/s1600/IMG_7673.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo75y-GV5Rk8tLjV_QBY1VfWkNx0Xt3rQdOHnnnlkRfeg75RckNnZLof6eWt7wDxPUbW2V9xRYeJ19B69PVA3JJouHRAzM0mD086qHGZrKqUFwUBvJfrz-fo2hpzJ0UlOOBcc0XXrluVNv/s400/IMG_7673.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699769347776111970" border="0" /></a>In the view below you can see just how small the dressers really is. If you look closely you will see a small mirror leaning again the wall just next to our bed. This mirror came with the dresser but had a really ugly frame around it. We had great intentions to re-frame the mirror but never got around to it. Plus it really isn't a full length mirror. So we are adding a new floor mirror to our list.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdbJItSy4eYxcUcArKDYqRG5QHo0cp20ExzWWh_bEdqEZ8CD_TZqWv2MsnKbFh16jdhFQf8DdLXIL1HeYxrYmZr69r1Gd_FBjOAZ9LaaAqTh6cm9iPt7aA8gE7mES_T1WSOV2SuI1Jpnm/s1600/IMG_7676.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdbJItSy4eYxcUcArKDYqRG5QHo0cp20ExzWWh_bEdqEZ8CD_TZqWv2MsnKbFh16jdhFQf8DdLXIL1HeYxrYmZr69r1Gd_FBjOAZ9LaaAqTh6cm9iPt7aA8gE7mES_T1WSOV2SuI1Jpnm/s400/IMG_7676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699769352703641906" border="0" /></a>Here is a better view of the poor mirror. Its a little embarrassing. Yes, that is tape on the floor around my current nightstand. We have been looking for new nightstands and I wanted to see how much bigger some of the nightstand would be compared to my current one.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-Ww5sJlYuxijRSyih8hKjGJsqoO0ToK2b6A7uqt0JZMh7mt38bHzFBCB8FlL8sGZz5HkDyF8pJYuGW-E8Gc3M05dh_Si8-D3q9f9lUg4JHkQ0R0waDOk34VBxAFwI1LqAKEV0wUqAYnD/s1600/IMG_7674.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-Ww5sJlYuxijRSyih8hKjGJsqoO0ToK2b6A7uqt0JZMh7mt38bHzFBCB8FlL8sGZz5HkDyF8pJYuGW-E8Gc3M05dh_Si8-D3q9f9lUg4JHkQ0R0waDOk34VBxAFwI1LqAKEV0wUqAYnD/s400/IMG_7674.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699771592344453298" border="0" /></a><br />Now on to the curtains: The curtains we are currently using in our room are the curtains that we used in our room in our apartment. They are a neutral color and might work somewhere else in our house but just not in our room. In our apartment we had one window so we only needed two curtain panels. Now that we have two windows in our room we need four panels. Its time to retire the two panels and update to four. The bamboo blinds came with the house and will be gone soon also. We have never liked them but have not gotten around to changing them.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qabV2dNI3yG92mSg8WvzC6XtCN26W0o8rG-yGblLEj_JQqivcjilP0uVUhdH9kDBQ8N8YgWT6n361-63F9Q4EkDW5ZjG0CdRY-u9i93qwmiZiPaaP9h_Ezm3Et-gbp1mSDtROd36LqyK/s1600/IMG_7679.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qabV2dNI3yG92mSg8WvzC6XtCN26W0o8rG-yGblLEj_JQqivcjilP0uVUhdH9kDBQ8N8YgWT6n361-63F9Q4EkDW5ZjG0CdRY-u9i93qwmiZiPaaP9h_Ezm3Et-gbp1mSDtROd36LqyK/s400/IMG_7679.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699770766830772306" border="0" /></a>As you can see here we have a brown rod and brushed nickel rings. I am not a big fan of mixing the two finishes but these, like everything else in our room, are from our apartment.<br /><br />When we moved into the house we just used things from our apartment instead of buying new stuff. We wanted to give thought to all of our purchases and make sure we wouldn't regret buying anything. So now we are going to fix all these problems and soon we will have a room that we are more happy with.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6pPtEtm2_XW5yMBqhC4ct0pd7LzBdfbdu6SANTZsKfNXXFBej4_6MQDtvwYQUxInzCPHYTUGyI_yP3pLq5ImIM-O1I6mWAi3o_7e7Hk308XoXmFsz8pXoT7NarZ3uS_jfdDddVXFGlzE/s1600/IMG_7682.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6pPtEtm2_XW5yMBqhC4ct0pd7LzBdfbdu6SANTZsKfNXXFBej4_6MQDtvwYQUxInzCPHYTUGyI_yP3pLq5ImIM-O1I6mWAi3o_7e7Hk308XoXmFsz8pXoT7NarZ3uS_jfdDddVXFGlzE/s400/IMG_7682.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699770776342274194" border="0" /></a><br />As you have seen we have a lot to do in our room. I have been looking online for pillows, rugs, curtains, and furniture, anything that would caught my eye. I have found lots of stuff but I am taking it slow to make sure that we love everything that goes into our room. At the end of the day we want a room with lots of patterns, a natural color palette with some pops of color, a reading nook, and a relaxing peaceful place to begin and end each day.<br /><br />Here is a list of some things that we need/want.<br /><br /><ul><li>New nightstands</li><li>Dresser and chest</li><li>A reading nook</li><li>Full length mirror</li><li>Art work</li><li>Curtains</li><li>Rug</li><li>Chair</li><li>Pillows</li><li>Lamps<br /></li></ul>We will keep you updated on the improvements we make to the room.The Garcia'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717179862392262109noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389537372646752857.post-16526160092768552172012-01-08T10:45:00.000-06:002012-01-16T11:02:47.179-06:00The Hodges/Garcia ChristmasI, like most people, love Christmas. Who doesn't love spending time with family, eating lots of good food, getting some time off work, decorating your house with lots of red and green, and driving around looking at Christmas lights? This year for Christmas my whole family was able to get together for a few days at my parent's house. We had lots of fun hanging out, seeing family, and just relaxing. One thing my mom always does is decorate the house for Christmas. Here are some of her decorations.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTuFLsSzN8SIZkAIF3EVVpZnzbYRyNuNjJ5y2kYNwfacHDquC1RR0P3D4f_Lm7m6ZUfccxv8PHHZHPenrHLnK0mvnT2E8wz2tkGmIvt9URMxwClz6lHXugvhlABsiTmq6s5kiA-j2mgYV/s1600/IMG_6809.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTuFLsSzN8SIZkAIF3EVVpZnzbYRyNuNjJ5y2kYNwfacHDquC1RR0P3D4f_Lm7m6ZUfccxv8PHHZHPenrHLnK0mvnT2E8wz2tkGmIvt9URMxwClz6lHXugvhlABsiTmq6s5kiA-j2mgYV/s400/IMG_6809.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694748470758055154" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">These are my baby shoes on her tree. She also has a pair of Stan's and Abe's baby shoes.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmHoCXalP9hsfus6hXnaUQlYkLdmXyV7awcEwVjsq7Baqq6HaJn0B3YbYvI56xpgqoyDGCoFwEF-xgHNXv2O0pZt9ouYk8dkd6HYvXxMPPJ9CS8gcasvlrDDz0T-cO5QxRS-9eFz_a2Jl/s1600/IMG_6897.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmHoCXalP9hsfus6hXnaUQlYkLdmXyV7awcEwVjsq7Baqq6HaJn0B3YbYvI56xpgqoyDGCoFwEF-xgHNXv2O0pZt9ouYk8dkd6HYvXxMPPJ9CS8gcasvlrDDz0T-cO5QxRS-9eFz_a2Jl/s400/IMG_6897.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694752617061832258" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVKFLo0VLLwXonU9p1SOPAJ57zicDQuPQ9qYh8NCNmyqzwU4skorDOo27pmm2FCiZ59e3-o9hv3Kb1eZ4s3bgEIOkTPbMLn9oqRRu0odpeJFJetazkG6UVguPIfURGgtiTb7fv3-JANW9/s1600/IMG_6816.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVKFLo0VLLwXonU9p1SOPAJ57zicDQuPQ9qYh8NCNmyqzwU4skorDOo27pmm2FCiZ59e3-o9hv3Kb1eZ4s3bgEIOkTPbMLn9oqRRu0odpeJFJetazkG6UVguPIfURGgtiTb7fv3-JANW9/s400/IMG_6816.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694750468718100962" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3vvdGrARmGEZ04GTNG-mXDwB40YExZ-bwmKYBCatAJwq-Jl7NfyfmC-rBS6bS7VhGhr8ZsPx7uWCq2xPHEGunFZZBeNpkzIoJ_u3b8rglOYqnT-FkOmQxUCZB5HTVdSfU8rs_dFmKQFR/s1600/IMG_6813.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3vvdGrARmGEZ04GTNG-mXDwB40YExZ-bwmKYBCatAJwq-Jl7NfyfmC-rBS6bS7VhGhr8ZsPx7uWCq2xPHEGunFZZBeNpkzIoJ_u3b8rglOYqnT-FkOmQxUCZB5HTVdSfU8rs_dFmKQFR/s400/IMG_6813.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694750465624466482" border="0" /></a><br />When I was little my mom made everything special and over the top. We had a wreath that had huge jingle bells on it that would hang on the back door. Any time you touched the wreath (or even the door for that matter) you would hear the bells. Some, how every Christmas Eve, Santa would come to the house to make sure we were being good and would take the bells and hide them somewhere around our house. Who ever found them the next day would win a prize (candy). When I was really little I loved this. When I got a little older this terrified me. I never let on that I was scared but inside I would cringe with I saw the wreath gone. You might be asking yourself why I was so scared. Well, wouldn't you be terrified that Santa could come into your house without anyone seeing him in the middle of the day. By the 4th grade I grew out of the scared stage, just in time to find out the truth about Santa. I have to give my mom credit for coming up with wonderful ideas for making every holiday special and memorable .<br /><br />But back to this Christmas: We all spent most of our time in the kitchen. Stan, the chef in our family, made four wonderful meals. When I say four, I mean he made two dishes with shrimp and made me and Lindsay our own meals since we don't eat shrimp. Not only did he make four meals but everything was from scratch. I hope one day I can cook as good as Stan.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGl9q9UooFFs7tidZpEh9ALaoiepMC7VZVoz-ODMeGT3Cun4xrqM4DTQnZd0-dsm_QJLEeQ4KXMirI8jdNp0DOt7PB-tdJzIZ6B7dEIyniXLtMawWCi0k0qnIiyaBeCw0VVWc_pZUgyBl/s1600/IMG_6884.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGl9q9UooFFs7tidZpEh9ALaoiepMC7VZVoz-ODMeGT3Cun4xrqM4DTQnZd0-dsm_QJLEeQ4KXMirI8jdNp0DOt7PB-tdJzIZ6B7dEIyniXLtMawWCi0k0qnIiyaBeCw0VVWc_pZUgyBl/s400/IMG_6884.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694752612366749730" border="0" /></a>While Stan and Justin slaved over dinner we made sugar cookies. Well, Lindsay made them and I just helped to decorate them. We had so much fun and the cookies were delicious.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRq-VgwMaf3Vyj2y5PfH-awdPlS8idsZAHsZhtEKJzc5jtQFJjLQCbkZOoWoCDGx8BLF9UFkG0vwaHrDJmho2GYpSvp7pE6aEWusY4Z4vFLKuqioEkkFVBA6BKi9EcuqHC_hcO3Z5zlP-4/s1600/IMG_6924.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRq-VgwMaf3Vyj2y5PfH-awdPlS8idsZAHsZhtEKJzc5jtQFJjLQCbkZOoWoCDGx8BLF9UFkG0vwaHrDJmho2GYpSvp7pE6aEWusY4Z4vFLKuqioEkkFVBA6BKi9EcuqHC_hcO3Z5zlP-4/s400/IMG_6924.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694756435731503906" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPSVhyphenhyphendiuyuRAaTTbWv__eWZeznjd1bmLSqVAtuYM6mbW3HtTPVGQSXrR_GZg55FzEHmgzI0dB9lViCEcsOQD0QTFXItbEVVTR053Ws7kGbm97TLd5NnHHJrREvfzQDch6fYvmSbwcfPW/s1600/IMG_6987.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPSVhyphenhyphendiuyuRAaTTbWv__eWZeznjd1bmLSqVAtuYM6mbW3HtTPVGQSXrR_GZg55FzEHmgzI0dB9lViCEcsOQD0QTFXItbEVVTR053Ws7kGbm97TLd5NnHHJrREvfzQDch6fYvmSbwcfPW/s400/IMG_6987.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694756438412910690" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlh6sJOthG_N-AwcEyl4yTdUlgR515Sj1G3YcVMXeLj2Y3w0Tm2wMb3hRsSB2AvnrZol0x0nSaMkFGFf5QWvNozEASJK-DNJeUpy54maCpk9-CrMbTlMEe4fqLzCZIt_JhNZGcI61P4uNc/s1600/IMG_7000.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlh6sJOthG_N-AwcEyl4yTdUlgR515Sj1G3YcVMXeLj2Y3w0Tm2wMb3hRsSB2AvnrZol0x0nSaMkFGFf5QWvNozEASJK-DNJeUpy54maCpk9-CrMbTlMEe4fqLzCZIt_JhNZGcI61P4uNc/s400/IMG_7000.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694756447433739538" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgZ4LSLlevFkOdGB_0Dbc8a_X8NAItwIIP7RvS9F7ibOZB-eCj1URmHkXe8kZGcAwor-9iTG2PXKjj4CJ6mIsGOIw7DDankNtAIMxkJO00lTSW5F8gc04cluNMqeezSxndoDOTzxGepZy/s1600/IMG_7013.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgZ4LSLlevFkOdGB_0Dbc8a_X8NAItwIIP7RvS9F7ibOZB-eCj1URmHkXe8kZGcAwor-9iTG2PXKjj4CJ6mIsGOIw7DDankNtAIMxkJO00lTSW5F8gc04cluNMqeezSxndoDOTzxGepZy/s400/IMG_7013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695435090695988146" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlk29WZe4VILixUf2QAK3EAS2s3yVnbNDqt3qpUDKnMfT3ocf-ib3qb-PfVmJFV37G8pFltZay9bifEp_SwEOUuc_JKpdGb1G4AYQyzV40S8TSmuoIDszoyRt9yrmxzr10aDDFuVtliCjX/s1600/IMG_7060.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlk29WZe4VILixUf2QAK3EAS2s3yVnbNDqt3qpUDKnMfT3ocf-ib3qb-PfVmJFV37G8pFltZay9bifEp_SwEOUuc_JKpdGb1G4AYQyzV40S8TSmuoIDszoyRt9yrmxzr10aDDFuVtliCjX/s400/IMG_7060.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695440110835185938" border="0" /></a>For as long as I can remember our family has had a contest to see who could be the first person to say "Christmas Eve gift" to my Mom on Christmas Eve. If you happened to be the first to say it to mom, you got the Christmas Eve gift. This year I won!!!! It has been a long time since I have won. Needless to say I was very happy. I set my alarm for 12:00 but thought my mom would not like it if I woke her up. So I waited until 6:30. The best part of winning is when your brother or dad thinks he beat you to it and you are able to hold up to gift and say "I already won!!"<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWSUst3pw7GYzS03Qh3rfpmAgke8The9MSSDDPpR7pUdfyLZZYXi0RSwztrmD1_OmqjQGayjBqj2SwgU80TQcpUp30EHwq_aMM1UepQEVTgUzXM-seLStq5McGuWajk8k7s3nbCsqLcKn/s1600/IMG_7121.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWSUst3pw7GYzS03Qh3rfpmAgke8The9MSSDDPpR7pUdfyLZZYXi0RSwztrmD1_OmqjQGayjBqj2SwgU80TQcpUp30EHwq_aMM1UepQEVTgUzXM-seLStq5McGuWajk8k7s3nbCsqLcKn/s400/IMG_7121.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695436371812960594" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnu5HFH_LA1n15vxE3qQsSCBtNPJjmlt-T_R5CRavGXh_7S27Ork_TH6s481rOso0l4RRN-qGwTjDEEHuGFUlv3UQAjUt8BpHzcsoGK49d0NUMr4d_EkgGby9LME1_RunrX4XKAYHJzh3/s1600/IMG_7123.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnu5HFH_LA1n15vxE3qQsSCBtNPJjmlt-T_R5CRavGXh_7S27Ork_TH6s481rOso0l4RRN-qGwTjDEEHuGFUlv3UQAjUt8BpHzcsoGK49d0NUMr4d_EkgGby9LME1_RunrX4XKAYHJzh3/s400/IMG_7123.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695436377652719138" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">While driving to my grandparents house on Christmas Eve we had to entertain Justin with bubbles.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXl89MJDEfI4RO8IW6yfpwl_VMSjNrfQF-UQnSKDhdxB8Ad40dvj4CZWy_0yFk7vn8w5cdDFLNb2QrOPQVUJ1wt03euhfwowH9JjGUf1105JZRB9M2gMoMFdtrmTGtkRbp9iqIlI9Z7d-/s1600/IMG_7138.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXl89MJDEfI4RO8IW6yfpwl_VMSjNrfQF-UQnSKDhdxB8Ad40dvj4CZWy_0yFk7vn8w5cdDFLNb2QrOPQVUJ1wt03euhfwowH9JjGUf1105JZRB9M2gMoMFdtrmTGtkRbp9iqIlI9Z7d-/s400/IMG_7138.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695437745358046418" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is my cousins sweet baby!!! He was so fun to play with and watch open gifts.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5WeYXWHso1QmrnEeZTMmjKThHspizLmCd8imPD2OH9E_F9JHayjUFYwysPHge4G7w27UCYFoBfju36rHEz25RILhAHSvhIBLfIiYJJRQDeh0fd3fhSDdnP76EhQtv9U-CERqjSH03AmY/s1600/IMG_7148.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5WeYXWHso1QmrnEeZTMmjKThHspizLmCd8imPD2OH9E_F9JHayjUFYwysPHge4G7w27UCYFoBfju36rHEz25RILhAHSvhIBLfIiYJJRQDeh0fd3fhSDdnP76EhQtv9U-CERqjSH03AmY/s400/IMG_7148.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695437753228030258" border="0" /></a>This year we went a less traditional route with our Christmas dinner and had steak and chicken. Again, this was another meal that Stan with the help us Justin made. It was wonderful!!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1nqK8sku7VYIBKjgxPeiDe2Wbo3ft-EMAeX6iZHP07dDRR1LjALdxI9Tafmw2wP2BrqjVvJ6dw_Xct9bHWP8tF8LSUI1MWkUFSU9j_1MlV6AFcLZinbYCM4LwPdDbbGtTFfm0SyZ2vAo/s1600/IMG_7170.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1nqK8sku7VYIBKjgxPeiDe2Wbo3ft-EMAeX6iZHP07dDRR1LjALdxI9Tafmw2wP2BrqjVvJ6dw_Xct9bHWP8tF8LSUI1MWkUFSU9j_1MlV6AFcLZinbYCM4LwPdDbbGtTFfm0SyZ2vAo/s400/IMG_7170.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695440113166633202" border="0" /></a><br />Christmas morning was fun, like always!!! We all still get excited to see what Santa has brought us. This year I was the first one up and ran around the house waking everyone up. Since we have gotten older we no longer open our presents right away. Now we all drink some coffee, start making breakfast (monkey bread), and then divide up the gifts. Once breakfast is in the oven we all head into the living room and see what Santa has brought us. Here is some of the loot Justin and I got this year.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXK6a4WEhUzrk7dffyVHjupRIT0MIn1mDceUILwWyQvOfKq1cnVuE17GrpCq4eway5sG5NvuhgG5UDt742OjZBBuPz8hwDCkzMa78KD3ts7WtcxX_mV8y-OxAgJE1826fifKfNUsiqABJ/s1600/IMG_7259.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXK6a4WEhUzrk7dffyVHjupRIT0MIn1mDceUILwWyQvOfKq1cnVuE17GrpCq4eway5sG5NvuhgG5UDt742OjZBBuPz8hwDCkzMa78KD3ts7WtcxX_mV8y-OxAgJE1826fifKfNUsiqABJ/s400/IMG_7259.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695442000486679170" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIR72W5ZRi4sOUERLieHHr0ejifirZgcPGgKPlnVOxWul401nZBLfHEOLCabZWKP543mSA8XS9Th8spX7lAXBWumLCVmntSgGUk2oc5lxNlcAi_G4SmKTXYaZfkRQXC7wneC5b7biYVHbf/s1600/IMG_7262.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIR72W5ZRi4sOUERLieHHr0ejifirZgcPGgKPlnVOxWul401nZBLfHEOLCabZWKP543mSA8XS9Th8spX7lAXBWumLCVmntSgGUk2oc5lxNlcAi_G4SmKTXYaZfkRQXC7wneC5b7biYVHbf/s400/IMG_7262.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695448782577881074" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_S_ExjxVoTP04TK-3HFqUWtp02iyEFEuD5M0T1SPaj5QTHb8W9Wdi355qzxmvGp7uWREGOZL-JUEPmmXsQxHylB-Y3xk6RDakJiFS_uNYmc8H6wl0g9vqW8Uw1s-LPysCuLLcWCAuoQbB/s1600/IMG_7256.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_S_ExjxVoTP04TK-3HFqUWtp02iyEFEuD5M0T1SPaj5QTHb8W9Wdi355qzxmvGp7uWREGOZL-JUEPmmXsQxHylB-Y3xk6RDakJiFS_uNYmc8H6wl0g9vqW8Uw1s-LPysCuLLcWCAuoQbB/s400/IMG_7256.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695448789291094434" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtxm9b5c8y7RCLLjLYGCifOrJ_FBLt3DsIFgVMZflhzuYtDVt_l8rnk3_tNSYQW4frJb2gDBhwMVNC81fP5YT68CJ9AYxshn8lIN4o_N3DQdDDewuu5HoOUwXHbZezVJYCq9JDyDKBjsq/s1600/IMG_7269.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtxm9b5c8y7RCLLjLYGCifOrJ_FBLt3DsIFgVMZflhzuYtDVt_l8rnk3_tNSYQW4frJb2gDBhwMVNC81fP5YT68CJ9AYxshn8lIN4o_N3DQdDDewuu5HoOUwXHbZezVJYCq9JDyDKBjsq/s400/IMG_7269.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695450515989263810" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5Pm12ftoq_hAtKW3NrVU2YR8GO8aRQu-HV0T31vr-r4TggB0rhEoSgWkqKkeXrGbm_U5bzwNnQy2rhsM-caN6gqJDZYlSWx7LIPFSm6BQ1iWVMJcZNIsYzP8qeTUDfrKqhyHexqgzw68/s1600/IMG_7279.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5Pm12ftoq_hAtKW3NrVU2YR8GO8aRQu-HV0T31vr-r4TggB0rhEoSgWkqKkeXrGbm_U5bzwNnQy2rhsM-caN6gqJDZYlSWx7LIPFSm6BQ1iWVMJcZNIsYzP8qeTUDfrKqhyHexqgzw68/s400/IMG_7279.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695450506887116498" border="0" /></a><br />We had a great time with our family and are looking forward to celebrating Christmas next year with John Hayden, who is expected to make his appearance on January 23rd. For those who don't know my older bother and his wife are having a baby in less than 3 weeks!The Garcia'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717179862392262109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389537372646752857.post-61239337960763601852012-01-08T08:14:00.000-06:002012-01-09T20:09:28.638-06:00Celebrating 5 years with Mr. Right!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXb1HmBSLJ-mpkL5TO4P84E1ShjUlgwCaFBtD0k1fdqo37EuHQiNvDj9iduJ5kVaYJI0_VShS38Bom1YtAslWpCg_PgNxgUm7eTPTRuniu7aklp8RFdwXNl5C0BCxA2BnSf5uhvBqyQLp/s1600/IMG_6533.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXb1HmBSLJ-mpkL5TO4P84E1ShjUlgwCaFBtD0k1fdqo37EuHQiNvDj9iduJ5kVaYJI0_VShS38Bom1YtAslWpCg_PgNxgUm7eTPTRuniu7aklp8RFdwXNl5C0BCxA2BnSf5uhvBqyQLp/s400/IMG_6533.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695795735802881058" border="0" /></a><br />On December 16, 2011 Justin and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary. About a month before our anniversary, I started thinking about surprising Justin with a weekend trip to Point Clear, Alabama. The reason I wanted to surprise Justin with this trip was not only becuase it was our anniversary (that was the main reason) but also to congratulate Justin with the launch of the <a href="http://www.mc.edu/">new MC website</a>. You might be wondering why I chose Point Clear. Well, we stayed at the Grand Marriott in Point Clear the first night of our honeymoon 5 years before. At the time we lived in Marietta, Georgia but got married in Ocean Springs and didn't want to drive back to Atlanta on our wedding day, so Justin planned for us to stay at the Grand Marriott. We both loved our room and the few parts of the hotel we were able to see. Unfortunately, we were only at the hotel for about 12 hours.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUWb7fQIun926GqLHtIdR4O2WMlDMSWnBnh674pjFl6HCc0sbC7ImY5II51IEC6294SMBQVjNxl8onx2DUcivl9SK2zok1Djfp0IF3AodZwpPDtRswaV4RC6KMoqHyNl4oD1t0X8UjCym/s1600/IMG_6348.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUWb7fQIun926GqLHtIdR4O2WMlDMSWnBnh674pjFl6HCc0sbC7ImY5II51IEC6294SMBQVjNxl8onx2DUcivl9SK2zok1Djfp0IF3AodZwpPDtRswaV4RC6KMoqHyNl4oD1t0X8UjCym/s400/IMG_6348.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695638504989982226" border="0" /></a><br />My plan was to get Justin to take off a half day on Friday (our anniversary) by telling him that I planned for us to do some things around Jackson for his birthday, which was the day before. He had agreed to take the time off earlier in the week. So my plan was coming along very nicely...until a few days before our anniversary. Here is how the conversation went.<br /><br />J: So I thought about surprising you with something for our anniversary but I thought we should talk about instead.<br />S: What are you talking about?? (Trying to play it cool)<br />J: I was thinking we could do one of three things; stay the night in a hotel in Jackson, do what we had planned just dinner and maybe a movie, or go to Point Clear for the weekend.<br /><br />Well, I couldn't hide my smile and I did think about telling him we should just stay home a just do dinner and still try and surprise him, but I decided I should tell him that I was already planning a weekend trip to Point Clear. I still got to see the surprise on his face it just wasn't quite the way I wanted to tell him!<br /><br />I was able to book the same room we stayed in the first time we went. About five minutes after we got to our room, there was a knock at the door. When Justin opened the door the person gave Justin a gift for our anniversary. We both thought it was a special touch and we have a great keepsake from the hotel.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLrkN7KWjrJLxyCqaWuur7Ww1X1T6g4jdQfjSr6wNDqQuyUUPIGdINoC2-TwDPwIJQn8Q6I37qI4ug92zm_popuAyjiRdYFeKgap2rAtPUN-Jpd7wJZqe3o3ptYH4elFHkY6yQSSfIo1J/s1600/IMG_6189.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLrkN7KWjrJLxyCqaWuur7Ww1X1T6g4jdQfjSr6wNDqQuyUUPIGdINoC2-TwDPwIJQn8Q6I37qI4ug92zm_popuAyjiRdYFeKgap2rAtPUN-Jpd7wJZqe3o3ptYH4elFHkY6yQSSfIo1J/s400/IMG_6189.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695637179772773202" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHq9iQU771tgXzEBkLh1f3jQTDe9YBCKsgFLDqH6LI0faXFvC_wiQP9g0_11bbKM2CG_X5pgv6lVOO5Kzqn7icG39DNts5KtK9jt7mmtA3R7d5VTMNKd4wsGfbpeN20pTuA6JHC2917Z99/s1600/IMG_6191.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHq9iQU771tgXzEBkLh1f3jQTDe9YBCKsgFLDqH6LI0faXFvC_wiQP9g0_11bbKM2CG_X5pgv6lVOO5Kzqn7icG39DNts5KtK9jt7mmtA3R7d5VTMNKd4wsGfbpeN20pTuA6JHC2917Z99/s400/IMG_6191.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695637189710789762" border="0" /></a>While in Point Clear, we rested, walked around the hotel grounds, shopped the cute town of Fairhope, made our way to the outlets in Foley to do some shopping, ate at some good restaurants, and went to Bellingrath Gardens to see the Christmas lights. It was a great anniversary weekend I hope one day we will be able to visit the hotel again. Maybe when we are celebrating our 10th anniversary.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QnHwaQDL93OwRjZe6bkzI1pDM9oI9__w88KwsJWv4cc04YAv926hMHGslaopsQQ23-omJrsxpq5Tt7sLmABVXLNIeGTFWPwEe6xC8TwVd_5NPk6SrbyBsYjZXRou5gJczbSd5r3V2d9u/s1600/IMG_6210.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QnHwaQDL93OwRjZe6bkzI1pDM9oI9__w88KwsJWv4cc04YAv926hMHGslaopsQQ23-omJrsxpq5Tt7sLmABVXLNIeGTFWPwEe6xC8TwVd_5NPk6SrbyBsYjZXRou5gJczbSd5r3V2d9u/s400/IMG_6210.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695638504332912690" border="0" /></a><br />Here are some pictures of our weekend. While waiting almost an hour in the car at Bellingrath Gardens, Justin and I got creative or...well lets face it...bored!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-D4th1aSy9AQm8wyr0T6nRgWnu5TM4ajv2TmFntJhqSl4HQQ7sRigVdbsmLC28sOpjl8S2RinZ1xxyV7D0dRPOe6AtQMeYdjqJqW7zenKweiJmx7LT7WkrRzGXzHRlXlExOS9uVwkfXfA/s1600/IMG_6355.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-D4th1aSy9AQm8wyr0T6nRgWnu5TM4ajv2TmFntJhqSl4HQQ7sRigVdbsmLC28sOpjl8S2RinZ1xxyV7D0dRPOe6AtQMeYdjqJqW7zenKweiJmx7LT7WkrRzGXzHRlXlExOS9uVwkfXfA/s400/IMG_6355.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695639904759502674" border="0" /></a><br />These are just a few of my favorite pictures from Bellingrath Gardens. This 65 acre garden transforms into a beautiful light exhibit during Christmas. If you ever find yourself in the Mobile, Alabama area during the holidays you should make a point to visit Bellingrath Gardens.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRNwMLaPNgoPb-92VbUyhv3y4bg5AvPenvq53n_d6jBO7YUzTxF4XUR0aSkeSCZS7IeWtAN6Hy2JuvgnhSu9ED8apmq7AOJ0aPB6XW2sNn82kTh2_nFKHGbGlWwjY_t_k-TZi2fEnwC8DR/s1600/IMG_6393.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRNwMLaPNgoPb-92VbUyhv3y4bg5AvPenvq53n_d6jBO7YUzTxF4XUR0aSkeSCZS7IeWtAN6Hy2JuvgnhSu9ED8apmq7AOJ0aPB6XW2sNn82kTh2_nFKHGbGlWwjY_t_k-TZi2fEnwC8DR/s400/IMG_6393.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695639911773485282" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjFxbghRXHlnOv0h1K_SMTlFoq6IPTOIqOoz9VnZVctZmxJ1q87ssLHq7_qGqjc6BuFfynXKKIyl8q3WBTgUxKuxIP3Km6pdvH7IRRCzauB5GYXPcEOPd5oQbzoSsrOwNzYAsC-b7myooR/s1600/IMG_6471.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjFxbghRXHlnOv0h1K_SMTlFoq6IPTOIqOoz9VnZVctZmxJ1q87ssLHq7_qGqjc6BuFfynXKKIyl8q3WBTgUxKuxIP3Km6pdvH7IRRCzauB5GYXPcEOPd5oQbzoSsrOwNzYAsC-b7myooR/s400/IMG_6471.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695644144507242274" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlIAv3oCbK55pRBMNIh0Fs1O_6txQ4uM35bThD2LeMZcal3xPo1Jg_a0RERQpW_JlnDZox11bOrlUQznowb-fTA6JB0Yf537wBqhNJ_GXJqzMMLdG0haUCp5vGGcnPc4l60OBDpxhYYDs/s1600/IMG_6468.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlIAv3oCbK55pRBMNIh0Fs1O_6txQ4uM35bThD2LeMZcal3xPo1Jg_a0RERQpW_JlnDZox11bOrlUQznowb-fTA6JB0Yf537wBqhNJ_GXJqzMMLdG0haUCp5vGGcnPc4l60OBDpxhYYDs/s400/IMG_6468.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695644141872126402" border="0" /></a><br />Here a some pictures from the hotel. We loved how everything was decorated for Christmas. We even got to see Santa getting our of his...van?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbHLArKc5F18lLeswhPugi-cJVbojeo_OnTqeWnfPbYN5fxa0EIT6wo5gEE4tTMU300zq41Wsy8W7HP2WXnO31wF4oA_o-8AW4ZpQdmicB4Wf9FXuSFycVDv7bQWBSFZLjwyTzJZ2M4_8/s1600/IMG_6520.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbHLArKc5F18lLeswhPugi-cJVbojeo_OnTqeWnfPbYN5fxa0EIT6wo5gEE4tTMU300zq41Wsy8W7HP2WXnO31wF4oA_o-8AW4ZpQdmicB4Wf9FXuSFycVDv7bQWBSFZLjwyTzJZ2M4_8/s400/IMG_6520.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695812827113759154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUw6MgbLUQ_2XM__DdW7HyJbyv0L7F8OHZF2BcqLakn1HYC9m-Cgqz3EacMAjEC5SitR3EiZaFuCPBjAHiI1fH_oEoNsbOzej60P0ipHvWc66t3W6cJKbCpR3LfwocpD0kqzze_wCIjKTd/s1600/IMG_6529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUw6MgbLUQ_2XM__DdW7HyJbyv0L7F8OHZF2BcqLakn1HYC9m-Cgqz3EacMAjEC5SitR3EiZaFuCPBjAHiI1fH_oEoNsbOzej60P0ipHvWc66t3W6cJKbCpR3LfwocpD0kqzze_wCIjKTd/s400/IMG_6529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695793533852796690" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptM552XxyTvK1AfDWLzbfv7chIR08tNQZ6t2CtQtyOaw2Y0TZCw4GrkJgBdVF2boguXLbXMyBfVi6AQUVso5p-rCi-tIEIU0OBTzzsYUgswGKIyRRj1tJRSireBFBGN0R4uOC_a-AftaN/s1600/IMG_6523.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptM552XxyTvK1AfDWLzbfv7chIR08tNQZ6t2CtQtyOaw2Y0TZCw4GrkJgBdVF2boguXLbXMyBfVi6AQUVso5p-rCi-tIEIU0OBTzzsYUgswGKIyRRj1tJRSireBFBGN0R4uOC_a-AftaN/s400/IMG_6523.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695795741825978946" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY63bpsli8AlrcqXeTYP7SfGV2TnCQMF0-Zdfrp1BcMEDWVodq3Xv7743Oz3KER507PGEKJFObqIurYebh9rx1SA1TCOj2PrSOuCVW-yTaktVqwx4Sil-2SwfuAkjAhNNBY1JuaUA4Eyn5/s1600/IMG_6517.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY63bpsli8AlrcqXeTYP7SfGV2TnCQMF0-Zdfrp1BcMEDWVodq3Xv7743Oz3KER507PGEKJFObqIurYebh9rx1SA1TCOj2PrSOuCVW-yTaktVqwx4Sil-2SwfuAkjAhNNBY1JuaUA4Eyn5/s400/IMG_6517.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695812819369630034" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx35rdFtU70on-dqgygESThwkxK3piFl7i8l-U4jWr7Y0VNziStjCc54C8l5GiMctWEeOZwpCRZr0YL8h8ey0-l3eenmsK76BaaDR4jkiITE-gu5ce6t6lw8X_RkClFetXrrBp5bnQpI0f/s1600/IMG_6279.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx35rdFtU70on-dqgygESThwkxK3piFl7i8l-U4jWr7Y0VNziStjCc54C8l5GiMctWEeOZwpCRZr0YL8h8ey0-l3eenmsK76BaaDR4jkiITE-gu5ce6t6lw8X_RkClFetXrrBp5bnQpI0f/s400/IMG_6279.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695814177863044354" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_CcgTnhjzU7A18Ns2y_An5aW-OutK1W4E6SnIcDWmK1h7IYyEvH8xBDPvSz4lyxU1YEjMJ6XEsjD8vjeKqjseRDvK7e0A9f-Sfr5D_g2Gv0BpVCBsbxM_QHCi0p2R2SxsUTvyLTGGKcG/s1600/IMG_6279.JPG"></a>The Garcia'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717179862392262109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389537372646752857.post-42893683144008165422012-01-07T21:10:00.000-06:002012-01-09T20:08:30.714-06:00Christmas Party Garcia StyleSometime back in June Justin asked me if we could host a Christmas party. Of course I would not pass up a opportunity to host a party. Fast forward a few months and Justin still wanted to host the party, but didn't want to plan anything about the party except that he wanted to have hot chocolate and apple cider. In September we set the date of the party and I started working on the menu. It was so fun planning everything. I'm thinking this might be an annual thing.<br /><br />I did have help in the form of a Christmas elf, that goes by the name Katie Boles. I could not have planned and cooked everything for the party without her help. The day of the party Justin did help me clean up the house but not before he forgot about his marketing final exam (which is an entirely separate story in itself). Needless to say, when he realized he had missed his exam he emailed the professor, she was nice enough to let him take it later in the day. Good for Justin...bad for me since he would be gone. That is when my Christmas elf came and saved the day. Katie got to the house around 10:30 and stayed until after midnight. Katie you are the best!!<br /><br />I can only speak for Justin and myself, but we had a great time and thought the party went well. Here are some of our party guests and the delicious spread we served.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQyj3WLf_7Uxdh6FEywXo4M9DrAy0SP1qZDieoLV_Hxrd6julxELTv6mLDT3qigyY_zh2Bu3bX3YG_7QKijS1Aevj9gjbzqPoYOMqIi6OBL_gVSv9QO9YLUVcnPZBtEZ5A_dFXV_cvmW2/s1600/IMG_5901.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQyj3WLf_7Uxdh6FEywXo4M9DrAy0SP1qZDieoLV_Hxrd6julxELTv6mLDT3qigyY_zh2Bu3bX3YG_7QKijS1Aevj9gjbzqPoYOMqIi6OBL_gVSv9QO9YLUVcnPZBtEZ5A_dFXV_cvmW2/s400/IMG_5901.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694910539153541794" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIQdfY_UFxQefbkvdFwyPa7OGrH2HBPzMhOjDJv-ELLaWy7FfSs0W7HtvmvrFV4Qd8CReOdG5YiihSugPMBngHRPua3Mi9bionXh2Wkhy41gi7W94gSSQHX9fvylqL1iKxmz8MrdX_7BD/s1600/IMG_5900.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIQdfY_UFxQefbkvdFwyPa7OGrH2HBPzMhOjDJv-ELLaWy7FfSs0W7HtvmvrFV4Qd8CReOdG5YiihSugPMBngHRPua3Mi9bionXh2Wkhy41gi7W94gSSQHX9fvylqL1iKxmz8MrdX_7BD/s400/IMG_5900.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694910555842282594" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdCFYf_IeDBMvaoey9FX_jE17lWBO4UGKJdZ1avjWhNE5wXxAHFO-Vh04rv0iosS3iX6h7bEMr3dxx3z9-ejoJGWACI48OU11MF2kt4k0oHKGi3xQfdlNlgTyEHu4bX5YvISKlFdab7F0/s1600/IMG_5887.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdCFYf_IeDBMvaoey9FX_jE17lWBO4UGKJdZ1avjWhNE5wXxAHFO-Vh04rv0iosS3iX6h7bEMr3dxx3z9-ejoJGWACI48OU11MF2kt4k0oHKGi3xQfdlNlgTyEHu4bX5YvISKlFdab7F0/s400/IMG_5887.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694909657102730082" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had an ornament making station set up in the office.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOB5n21VFwNnI0qOTVJyXTF7SS7EPHl4emSvx9K7ICaimtxFnEZzAZCsfoVqTJGsjLbHtZYE9niKmFqgpnyaSFPdiD7D_BxaR6p53Ov5hMmnxbWkOz8wtTPir26P6fqO2LsEaT5Hjy11gL/s1600/IMG_5892.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOB5n21VFwNnI0qOTVJyXTF7SS7EPHl4emSvx9K7ICaimtxFnEZzAZCsfoVqTJGsjLbHtZYE9niKmFqgpnyaSFPdiD7D_BxaR6p53Ov5hMmnxbWkOz8wtTPir26P6fqO2LsEaT5Hjy11gL/s400/IMG_5892.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694910533853236578" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUM7mGfa8hR0S76DFrFNYcuOMIuybRYLPIJLP83ZD5hvZphP1ujt5uVbgDbcXkvkUvkeowJdSph5_rmumB_L0PncIZ8ADDLzJK76wYXSOMz0aKZM8CFwbjxDkdIjuCjydW751oqoFoGx2/s1600/IMG_5889.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUM7mGfa8hR0S76DFrFNYcuOMIuybRYLPIJLP83ZD5hvZphP1ujt5uVbgDbcXkvkUvkeowJdSph5_rmumB_L0PncIZ8ADDLzJK76wYXSOMz0aKZM8CFwbjxDkdIjuCjydW751oqoFoGx2/s400/IMG_5889.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694912656939317586" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAcrze3uTuc8IMq0NsTn7kpL3VQuTBOuALCYdIqkXVL5VmDaVTOgE011Nj66Bgbx6767zuJ1Ucfft1kBm5UhfsM4gQCYqAvsakNVEplDBAMDpugDpU4dpbz1vJoKGTNkVTEx4yGx_ITHV/s1600/IMG_5898.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAcrze3uTuc8IMq0NsTn7kpL3VQuTBOuALCYdIqkXVL5VmDaVTOgE011Nj66Bgbx6767zuJ1Ucfft1kBm5UhfsM4gQCYqAvsakNVEplDBAMDpugDpU4dpbz1vJoKGTNkVTEx4yGx_ITHV/s400/IMG_5898.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694910580541865330" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYIZJK44mZ0bRGnDNuBb0q2dX04aSaF-6r7vUP5sYDH17a1JQZGpVdc5G_P3tbSL_sQyY8F4BudDoYgWkDHyfnWAnTCKUjUifJCG2YHem-CUlFKDwj1WinIkOcbibtQ-SxP78GSd2bKLJ/s1600/IMG_5896.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYIZJK44mZ0bRGnDNuBb0q2dX04aSaF-6r7vUP5sYDH17a1JQZGpVdc5G_P3tbSL_sQyY8F4BudDoYgWkDHyfnWAnTCKUjUifJCG2YHem-CUlFKDwj1WinIkOcbibtQ-SxP78GSd2bKLJ/s400/IMG_5896.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694912652278415922" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-3K5-OH-8uyMWL6t_jKtGIHCu8TRU1fiJk8Q4DXy3jG4t3OMT_xCBuhhCrilX7Fqb-JkFGVjdfOaNXcJOjhKlS7UJI5434Xtssc4VLLktoSoSJUoRgFjGGVumSFEQJem3pKS53tYPtbI/s1600/IMG_5873.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-3K5-OH-8uyMWL6t_jKtGIHCu8TRU1fiJk8Q4DXy3jG4t3OMT_xCBuhhCrilX7Fqb-JkFGVjdfOaNXcJOjhKlS7UJI5434Xtssc4VLLktoSoSJUoRgFjGGVumSFEQJem3pKS53tYPtbI/s400/IMG_5873.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694912690744096690" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzVrOzz7B0hZm1VM0VDv_QmmTnpQGogkbATeEBp8NU11C3SWCFB4MRyeaAjhNwZF7j6Ir6Lr6HAf-4Kjw_UbH9F7UIGvwjDr-JlRIlkVwvBf1O9ELw7JtB-ceJRv3vfjtVKAwizkqa9Hp/s1600/IMG_5877.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzVrOzz7B0hZm1VM0VDv_QmmTnpQGogkbATeEBp8NU11C3SWCFB4MRyeaAjhNwZF7j6Ir6Lr6HAf-4Kjw_UbH9F7UIGvwjDr-JlRIlkVwvBf1O9ELw7JtB-ceJRv3vfjtVKAwizkqa9Hp/s400/IMG_5877.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694914755099074210" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rZmcHZS_DRsxLxHvb2ullwKXWHO89-2DOYR-Cr0xiYHWVUjqp3SQUOPGgYWXGNS-EoaP0mVw1a2plpT_F98SbXONWiJWMKgPo17Dc0YOmhytYTaGtunvj2B8m3VB6f_Zwxtz31qYQa07/s1600/IMG_5886.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rZmcHZS_DRsxLxHvb2ullwKXWHO89-2DOYR-Cr0xiYHWVUjqp3SQUOPGgYWXGNS-EoaP0mVw1a2plpT_F98SbXONWiJWMKgPo17Dc0YOmhytYTaGtunvj2B8m3VB6f_Zwxtz31qYQa07/s400/IMG_5886.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694912662749613906" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasZqO-k9u7PcNVKv7fAMZOtqLpj3O_Hwt9GCtdo4DTt_mTwHO1T6RCYUr315q-l9Qwjk6JN2fLfIQ7S2YTIQq15gobhfnpu_Lmc59YZlBwiGMN_1C9oHJhexo2DD5wO8IZSsgU_FlffsH/s1600/IMG_5881.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasZqO-k9u7PcNVKv7fAMZOtqLpj3O_Hwt9GCtdo4DTt_mTwHO1T6RCYUr315q-l9Qwjk6JN2fLfIQ7S2YTIQq15gobhfnpu_Lmc59YZlBwiGMN_1C9oHJhexo2DD5wO8IZSsgU_FlffsH/s400/IMG_5881.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694914764571275330" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Justin's must have - Hot Chocolate Bar<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQC4sS9PcyJQKSlc0wgLQPC4_dJsdq80pCwgwYAEJGbqzP55y5xEuRmaBj0CT9Vk2eAihk2Ym-Knon1AhjBXIan7FL0w_SjMTbeXBuDbM60krkYHffiJOFQpbtCKayocBJQv0EUAuLYVBH/s1600/IMG_5882.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQC4sS9PcyJQKSlc0wgLQPC4_dJsdq80pCwgwYAEJGbqzP55y5xEuRmaBj0CT9Vk2eAihk2Ym-Knon1AhjBXIan7FL0w_SjMTbeXBuDbM60krkYHffiJOFQpbtCKayocBJQv0EUAuLYVBH/s400/IMG_5882.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694912685026386146" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkGD1Zk6N6Plbv4vuKAslU38RmqfmzopVrV3P0kT4-7MbDPKOdlpbnJHgl4nrpUCvv3SKKE-QAHDLS-bKmTrAHE6yRR5sLkpv166lmKdQtz3T2eIxVpwTonosQqw-ZFESXdWLvR1TGRra/s1600/IMG_5883.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkGD1Zk6N6Plbv4vuKAslU38RmqfmzopVrV3P0kT4-7MbDPKOdlpbnJHgl4nrpUCvv3SKKE-QAHDLS-bKmTrAHE6yRR5sLkpv166lmKdQtz3T2eIxVpwTonosQqw-ZFESXdWLvR1TGRra/s400/IMG_5883.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694914747174278338" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Katie my wonderful Christmas elf (and Jack)!! We couldn't have done this without her.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwl46YDGT9VezqNU49dqQV8lbUC6wXjgWEJ_mgdnAIKKHkdQS5Ct0GKl4bf71P61Ho0-ripj1CqpRJvrqRBL1E_qsL9fvBIhLBZDhmnorfpUzH7CYtMsrl81TDn3yMpg5_euRcL3KJlIml/s1600/IMG_5910.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwl46YDGT9VezqNU49dqQV8lbUC6wXjgWEJ_mgdnAIKKHkdQS5Ct0GKl4bf71P61Ho0-ripj1CqpRJvrqRBL1E_qsL9fvBIhLBZDhmnorfpUzH7CYtMsrl81TDn3yMpg5_euRcL3KJlIml/s400/IMG_5910.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694910585810031874" border="0" /></a>The Garcia'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717179862392262109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389537372646752857.post-79336119699172636372012-01-06T15:34:00.000-06:002012-01-09T20:08:07.964-06:00Christmas Explosion 2011I LOVE Christmas time!! I love that for one month out of the year we take down all our normal home decorations and put a huge tree, decorate it with lights and put lights on the outside of our home. If I had my way, I would decorate my house according to the next holiday all year round. Instead of taking down Christmas stuff and putting up our normal decor, I would be putting up Valentine stuff. Luckily for Justin, our home decor does not follow every seasonal holiday. I do however put up a wreath and maybe a few other things, but nothing to the extent of what we do for Christmas.<br /><br />I hope you enjoy looking at some of Christmas decor. I know enjoyed putting it up.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThiZdAt1q96uqNq10Hes2JbFWgl79AlzIye6JmpNsMtnklW7P6U-M-cYH0plzd8bKU3npVgS59BVfWYbcCYjvbtY-zRw0Ju9KVV-LHAEEqNbVt4QSPI_V7YJFxxxSLUIoB23QNpdPbYFR/s1600/IMG_6690.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThiZdAt1q96uqNq10Hes2JbFWgl79AlzIye6JmpNsMtnklW7P6U-M-cYH0plzd8bKU3npVgS59BVfWYbcCYjvbtY-zRw0Ju9KVV-LHAEEqNbVt4QSPI_V7YJFxxxSLUIoB23QNpdPbYFR/s400/IMG_6690.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695008639484172098" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-mjgBpU6V4p-iHyYMpK5n1rJcxmHEDDSNgDfxUppwTztriWmIZocgelkHrXaUh7xwbbuY5HZGAHWO0wFWcw-0JA7TnCoVManBMXwnGQnDhWd_9dOpndDP6cEH04n702B22uHYuxwJ9DS/s1600/IMG_6693.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-mjgBpU6V4p-iHyYMpK5n1rJcxmHEDDSNgDfxUppwTztriWmIZocgelkHrXaUh7xwbbuY5HZGAHWO0wFWcw-0JA7TnCoVManBMXwnGQnDhWd_9dOpndDP6cEH04n702B22uHYuxwJ9DS/s400/IMG_6693.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695008638043363058" border="0" /></a><br />One of our projects for 2012 is to update our mantel. I would really love to paint it white and get rid of the brass. I like the brick but it needs little love to make it the focal point of our living room.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4pTga02dPwUfyqrWqoccxCkKuSMFdtZ8Hh_fxqetGEXLilXUG8nsRpdBZBlC5hmqYjvbo-4ziOv0cO3gaL8p4J23KumumMgxrMUpzjenZBiPzZ9ldqNg28lC4ERF6GnLtfDk60QM3ddp/s1600/IMG_6739.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4pTga02dPwUfyqrWqoccxCkKuSMFdtZ8Hh_fxqetGEXLilXUG8nsRpdBZBlC5hmqYjvbo-4ziOv0cO3gaL8p4J23KumumMgxrMUpzjenZBiPzZ9ldqNg28lC4ERF6GnLtfDk60QM3ddp/s400/IMG_6739.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695074976956097554" border="0" /></a><br />I really loved the way my tree turned out this year. After watching numerous videos about how to use deco mesh, I think I finally got it! Our tree was full of red and silver ornaments that coordinated. However, we had three very special ornaments on the tree this year. The first is an ornament we got on our honeymoon in Puerto Rico five years ago. The second is an ornament of the Radio City Rockettes we got on our first anniversary when we went to NYC. The third one is an ornament we got from Paris when we went there last year on a mission trip.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTjhMK3VJpJl3TgPxo_fUocC_k55gOP4xk86WWLWmD3eLrkTPw-f9YkzAE9qT_CWPlFvHCsejDEm9D1jVlJ-cieISmZuaNtXkPqRfQml7eVXo_Xa1BT2S1Bjpqvp9yEgs9bBsLKe468GG/s1600/IMG_6759.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTjhMK3VJpJl3TgPxo_fUocC_k55gOP4xk86WWLWmD3eLrkTPw-f9YkzAE9qT_CWPlFvHCsejDEm9D1jVlJ-cieISmZuaNtXkPqRfQml7eVXo_Xa1BT2S1Bjpqvp9yEgs9bBsLKe468GG/s400/IMG_6759.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695433386466441122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaGtpkgDbi0enZGbfG3yFV_4t7oaj41UpJ0KBBCZoT9LPyjU_jjmNcPMAzS6ORnJ3ABXNOrOX3j_Skb2g2lurvX12n9-uag7IgcQ1inMUKF1wYr2etBWHlkoj6e4Pgfvfq5SEMwVIyf9c/s1600/IMG_6758.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaGtpkgDbi0enZGbfG3yFV_4t7oaj41UpJ0KBBCZoT9LPyjU_jjmNcPMAzS6ORnJ3ABXNOrOX3j_Skb2g2lurvX12n9-uag7IgcQ1inMUKF1wYr2etBWHlkoj6e4Pgfvfq5SEMwVIyf9c/s400/IMG_6758.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695429704775304658" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9Hu3MuDIynOwdkiZ_nApU-7U_t9enx2RKBFnfPX2UrxnUwsgyrWKMihgkJZDlbV0HUrni1NF8qaofkMEHEd0cCNslczhldKapH9FgmxND8Duth9T1sYtuGeywpwRBQcS8XR9IGNyj_7X/s1600/IMG_6750.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9Hu3MuDIynOwdkiZ_nApU-7U_t9enx2RKBFnfPX2UrxnUwsgyrWKMihgkJZDlbV0HUrni1NF8qaofkMEHEd0cCNslczhldKapH9FgmxND8Duth9T1sYtuGeywpwRBQcS8XR9IGNyj_7X/s400/IMG_6750.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695074986421387186" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlzeYUV7EKUMih15b1Myan_n86ylLfug-o77ADWLkmnc06qXclFgHzWSedroZrSyENQf5pxMfCKttiMmUeJXvJ26mebK5HdXtMUOCxJLB0TBQxqCgN-t4ePl20LDNj2eHb5nCHykIIh9h/s1600/IMG_6751.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlzeYUV7EKUMih15b1Myan_n86ylLfug-o77ADWLkmnc06qXclFgHzWSedroZrSyENQf5pxMfCKttiMmUeJXvJ26mebK5HdXtMUOCxJLB0TBQxqCgN-t4ePl20LDNj2eHb5nCHykIIh9h/s400/IMG_6751.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695429703998433682" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZLj4WVesRLrpmLQZF_xn4oYpBUDAbq6Zp4aBeJT7r7A1G4FHbTIJ4HonETr3fbsry4rcOPjPfLfxyNUwcOH5CS6uas2X7KMvlka1Fh9dTzPIvz8GtKseDxcBdYLSXW-Rwjv0KNKxQU4y/s1600/IMG_6788.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZLj4WVesRLrpmLQZF_xn4oYpBUDAbq6Zp4aBeJT7r7A1G4FHbTIJ4HonETr3fbsry4rcOPjPfLfxyNUwcOH5CS6uas2X7KMvlka1Fh9dTzPIvz8GtKseDxcBdYLSXW-Rwjv0KNKxQU4y/s400/IMG_6788.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695431848726899650" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKA5-mTFUscwfin5T9BuL5Eb4sL4Y7_gM8kPlCX6BmSnV7UM3OpZc7eaq4cJI-ZjK1y2KD0vx46M0xoXXfBR_JQZK95dvkq8wm-4xEYzV4AL1hhWWSeIIgFCvoV2lcFIWuWOYRtqRtuim/s1600/IMG_6801.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKA5-mTFUscwfin5T9BuL5Eb4sL4Y7_gM8kPlCX6BmSnV7UM3OpZc7eaq4cJI-ZjK1y2KD0vx46M0xoXXfBR_JQZK95dvkq8wm-4xEYzV4AL1hhWWSeIIgFCvoV2lcFIWuWOYRtqRtuim/s400/IMG_6801.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695431855126702482" border="0" /></a>The Garcia'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717179862392262109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389537372646752857.post-89621715840129477862012-01-06T10:45:00.000-06:002012-01-06T17:43:02.473-06:00Around our KitchenOur kitchen is coming together very nicely. Now that we are done with the hard part (sanding, removing wall paper, and painting) we can move on to shopping for new furniture. When we started looking for new furniture we knew we wanted a white breakfast table and maybe some yellow or red chairs. I wanted to keep our kitchen open and fresh. We had a dark table in the kitchen before so we knew we wanted our new table to be white. After searching every store in the metro Jackson area and many online store we found the prefect table.<br />Tada!!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQ6rqfRUk9qJ9MK2z8fZUE6Ou0rWfVa9c4hzsge9XoCH9GSDK47toz63PGU-VdjXuHnP4BmKA7AroWtSTYTCMFFRCtg3lApFJY21xm47MGpuIyuNNCBQYHAbFbUJyYTFhQfhUNDwE7QM6/s1600/OdysseyTableWhiteS8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 337px; height: 337px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQ6rqfRUk9qJ9MK2z8fZUE6Ou0rWfVa9c4hzsge9XoCH9GSDK47toz63PGU-VdjXuHnP4BmKA7AroWtSTYTCMFFRCtg3lApFJY21xm47MGpuIyuNNCBQYHAbFbUJyYTFhQfhUNDwE7QM6/s400/OdysseyTableWhiteS8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676443738071805618" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I had seen many versions of this table in the past few months so I was very excited to find one that would fit into our price point. The white really pops against the blue walls.<br /><br />However, we kept falling short in the chair department. I did find a few red chairs online but they all looked like they should be in a 50's diner and that was the not look we were going for. As for trying to find a yellow chair, well that wasn't working out either. Since we were doing most of our shopping online we couldn't get a good idea of what color yellow some of the chairs would really be and we didn't want to have to send anything back. We knew we would find a chair we loved but we would have to moved on from the red and yellow chairs and start looking at aluminum/metal chairs. There are many different styles out there these days. After checking all our favorite online stores and comparing prices we landed on these.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgdR8GSQ6VI35gUOubhUqI_85GTtLjy94EtLxlM2OUStLy7weWVplyRKbQCoYdFxczwRt7ADuJodXcsEEGK_DE-gWTwZqzwsujElGQ6Rof-YmX2zlelbjsi3899zQDzi7mouOQef47iSk/s1600/2476300440.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgdR8GSQ6VI35gUOubhUqI_85GTtLjy94EtLxlM2OUStLy7weWVplyRKbQCoYdFxczwRt7ADuJodXcsEEGK_DE-gWTwZqzwsujElGQ6Rof-YmX2zlelbjsi3899zQDzi7mouOQef47iSk/s400/2476300440.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676446109554656354" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We love them! They are a little cold in the morning. We are looking for cushions but holding off until we have our curtains in place.<br /><br />After finding the table and chairs we moved on to looking for some kind of storage that would double as a place for us to put our keys and mail. I spent a lot of time looking online and in many antique stores trying to find the perfect piece of furniture that would fit the small space. I wanted something different than just another table. Since we started redoing our kitchen I have been on the lookout for a piece of furniture that would fit under our family calendar. I kept falling short in my search and almost gave up, but I was excited when I found this bookcase. The color is white and it looks a lot better than this wood color.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSMV__qcC6rHwNA1pm3zoCV8r3t9zszzv3WOr8wI7b1hMksK3hAINgCh2vJ2n7Ko3ePjhc1_lKio2OxUKx280C-gKOq1vnqQoMMbrrDoPtF-BT9ouNFQujburw4ZJGlAo5BgsKhUDqP4h/s1600/bookcase.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSMV__qcC6rHwNA1pm3zoCV8r3t9zszzv3WOr8wI7b1hMksK3hAINgCh2vJ2n7Ko3ePjhc1_lKio2OxUKx280C-gKOq1vnqQoMMbrrDoPtF-BT9ouNFQujburw4ZJGlAo5BgsKhUDqP4h/s400/bookcase.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685723164323350866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I had never given any thought putting a bookcase in the kitchen but when I saw this one, I thought it would be perfect for cook books, keys, and our mail.<br /><br />During my online searching I'm always coming across great finds. This cube shelf was one of those great finds. Knowing I needed something to go on a wall next to the sink, my initial thought was to just put up some artwork, but when I saw this I changed my mind. This now houses some of our coffee mugs, and some other kitchen stuff.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1m27M3-GOPFy1Sopf2Rv2hq7RI9AHIoRG4A6PgnGkDa86XfxePLfWqa1Ecz8Gj21HYFAOimXOcWPk2ysyppZz1JL3itttdGg21wVuha5iHRSwu33TUIQxsak78-Z9vNFIFJEpHtqXSvIu/s1600/kitchen.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1m27M3-GOPFy1Sopf2Rv2hq7RI9AHIoRG4A6PgnGkDa86XfxePLfWqa1Ecz8Gj21HYFAOimXOcWPk2ysyppZz1JL3itttdGg21wVuha5iHRSwu33TUIQxsak78-Z9vNFIFJEpHtqXSvIu/s400/kitchen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685724385229948210" border="0" /></a><br />Now, onto OUR kitchen. Here is what our kitchen looks like now. We are still needing curtains and a few other things but other than that, its done. Justin and I are really happy with how everything turned out.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWLX6GvV3BO9jUDdK_6zbp6xYdio2vLkmQPvFD4UqZ1rNzlrBq9VGyTeEwevSGCKhvVNRTghuPAkzmy5UA3W8DxyMbJ36PR3m-FbCyesSLnDPFxLxR9u7X7oGEnd4r8teKc6LZ_Usj82Q/s1600/IMG_7366.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWLX6GvV3BO9jUDdK_6zbp6xYdio2vLkmQPvFD4UqZ1rNzlrBq9VGyTeEwevSGCKhvVNRTghuPAkzmy5UA3W8DxyMbJ36PR3m-FbCyesSLnDPFxLxR9u7X7oGEnd4r8teKc6LZ_Usj82Q/s400/IMG_7366.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694639690064566130" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSMnFCghRQDAZKQRgKfLJygbpyfl3ixQvc4iSHYWg3WlnBQQ99ZZ7aB0_EkiZEdyOv2Q991QRcTVjGpxAlFdpBOi2G1HErGLYzO7sfHSu4FtCjGsfw8IR41XZn7Np-z4Up81f0m8Fkv_9/s1600/IMG_7354.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSMnFCghRQDAZKQRgKfLJygbpyfl3ixQvc4iSHYWg3WlnBQQ99ZZ7aB0_EkiZEdyOv2Q991QRcTVjGpxAlFdpBOi2G1HErGLYzO7sfHSu4FtCjGsfw8IR41XZn7Np-z4Up81f0m8Fkv_9/s400/IMG_7354.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694640867518188114" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48eZSicerWbrpj2DLQ12mihOcMGXaD_U5-k1TbLt6fvC2CuC5pKSFoT0ssGeGT7t9lIoNgiiwwxxrOfXliawENr8lgR7FmajF5JNgloWGqsctmCpqg3KMCfxk9G8RV8CClF_cNlrPZ3oP/s1600/IMG_5425.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48eZSicerWbrpj2DLQ12mihOcMGXaD_U5-k1TbLt6fvC2CuC5pKSFoT0ssGeGT7t9lIoNgiiwwxxrOfXliawENr8lgR7FmajF5JNgloWGqsctmCpqg3KMCfxk9G8RV8CClF_cNlrPZ3oP/s400/IMG_5425.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685738290908922562" border="0" /></a>The Garcia'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717179862392262109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389537372646752857.post-83843525576766746042011-12-30T10:42:00.000-06:002011-12-30T13:16:14.587-06:00Thanksgiving 2011I know I am a little late blogging about our Thanksgiving, but we have been busy pretty much every weekend since Thanksgiving.<br /><br />After a few planning derailments, we all ended up at my parents house the day before Thanksgiving. It was great having both Stan and Abe home together. It has been a while since we have all been home at the same time.<br /><br />Now, on to the all the family fun...it has become a new family tradition that the girls cook one night, my mom cooks thanksgiving dinner, and the boys cook the night after Thanksgiving. We started this last year and it was really fun and it keeps my mom from being in the kitchen the whole holiday. This year we changed things up just a little and just the girls cooked. Last year we had so much food left over from 3 big meals that the guys decided not to cook this year. I don't think the amount of leftover really had anything to do with it, I think it was that they didn't want to cook. We (the girls) decided to cook pizza. Since there are 3 of us (me, Lindsay, and Priscilla) all made our own pizza so we would have a variety. I made a chicken pesto pizza. Check out our delicious pizzas.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTUcJDkMeTS7yTmAHz2QURLdMsDU0KdF1XfwElaBzFJH9lsKvkzpfSCFNoBrZCvQ0U94tEzS2kI_mv3du60ZZ9dq3t6g6aTKlvsElT9Cn2JZit8o9_7bJppVz3c25KaWO4rFKJgtySNog/s1600/IMG_5797.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTUcJDkMeTS7yTmAHz2QURLdMsDU0KdF1XfwElaBzFJH9lsKvkzpfSCFNoBrZCvQ0U94tEzS2kI_mv3du60ZZ9dq3t6g6aTKlvsElT9Cn2JZit8o9_7bJppVz3c25KaWO4rFKJgtySNog/s400/IMG_5797.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689368311154446594" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkV4c5uQOWQYFx0AQwK4WPK-u7anwc6gynGJihgOsnyvvQjDaWtG4QrsjGMSsbsjOsqTrQ7iJRRUAz1cvVWjU4V-IURTpvUmausCkHbl69BNA-v16kpH4LvKQlkieUPTARAQY0925XSb0/s1600/IMG_5796.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkV4c5uQOWQYFx0AQwK4WPK-u7anwc6gynGJihgOsnyvvQjDaWtG4QrsjGMSsbsjOsqTrQ7iJRRUAz1cvVWjU4V-IURTpvUmausCkHbl69BNA-v16kpH4LvKQlkieUPTARAQY0925XSb0/s400/IMG_5796.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689366650242237186" border="0" /></a><br />Our whole family is very competitive so when we are all together we turn everything into a competition. Because of all the competitiveness, this weekend was fulled with lots of game playing. The entire weekend was spent either eating or playing games. Each night we would sit around the table playing Taboo. After we went through all the cards (both front and back) we changed to playing fish bowl. I don't think I have laughed so hard in years. On Thanksgiving day the girls challenged the guys to a game of bocci ball. All the Hodges kids are very competitive and lucky for me so is my sister-in-law Lindsay. None us of had ever played bocci ball before so we all came to the field with the same skill level. I'm pretty sure that the guys thought they had it in the bag but they were wrong. The girls dominated!! Not wanting to lose to girls they challenged us to a rematch and they lost again.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQDV6i2FjcT1O4_FFh1FgA5iOfeE-HwgRCRaf2FWiBOGJ29rmAiiplf4Lw4BnN1eXPcvCBBAhis_CVBtP3Zu0gPi356m3QBIWTWhsoHPtgf7j6fJJ-GhtGTxZc1YedOsIpAfz9VtI-G2a/s1600/IMG_5811.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQDV6i2FjcT1O4_FFh1FgA5iOfeE-HwgRCRaf2FWiBOGJ29rmAiiplf4Lw4BnN1eXPcvCBBAhis_CVBtP3Zu0gPi356m3QBIWTWhsoHPtgf7j6fJJ-GhtGTxZc1YedOsIpAfz9VtI-G2a/s400/IMG_5811.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689368332366064338" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMBKztqbeWiP85_EzdlLG-rwUjRoJQWpx1JoX1uMIq97v-FoEeUCJE4zEmGHZQ2kNBWyBHikZ7gqGJYgVwasgQGyR644wz1vsMBQutiWDQbXMrrsDEGo8sEQiHw-RXnDI_7txJvgVkVIw/s1600/IMG_5816.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMBKztqbeWiP85_EzdlLG-rwUjRoJQWpx1JoX1uMIq97v-FoEeUCJE4zEmGHZQ2kNBWyBHikZ7gqGJYgVwasgQGyR644wz1vsMBQutiWDQbXMrrsDEGo8sEQiHw-RXnDI_7txJvgVkVIw/s400/IMG_5816.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689368340929464114" border="0" /></a><br />When the fun of bocci ball was over we started playing in the pile of leaves we raked up. I know this is something that small children do, but there is something about going home for the holidays that turns us all into children. The fun started when Justin threw my parents cat into the pile of leaves. It only took seconds for the cat to race out of leaves and hide from us. After the cat, Justin thought it would be a good idea to jump into the leaves. Then it went downhill from there and for some reason we started kicking leaves at each other.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6OVJ7Zlbt_VWkHkPIropRfPBO8mca_wtZxwFQd2tR0JPiy7b1CGZV9quZmzo9M6thnNL_UEMMRrL48naoxLxSxVa5N4J8EqFzLDIHRaUI3c3L-GUZaICp00RnYCxMLV3VXsNVJ56exu4/s1600/IMG_5837.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6OVJ7Zlbt_VWkHkPIropRfPBO8mca_wtZxwFQd2tR0JPiy7b1CGZV9quZmzo9M6thnNL_UEMMRrL48naoxLxSxVa5N4J8EqFzLDIHRaUI3c3L-GUZaICp00RnYCxMLV3VXsNVJ56exu4/s400/IMG_5837.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689371683601605554" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCgTluYgN1WMibK2ZgFr2UzKw5kWAmg_d15JCLW9z5E5Fa7f4NrYlzPCmkA6GmKF5xAQB23f9bRH9UOunjmV7OELPbBkU3Pm3NAY0Fx0nkhGjL7sOpmW59UeRTMDxsNqVJMDgPIrqXOX9/s1600/IMG_5826.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCgTluYgN1WMibK2ZgFr2UzKw5kWAmg_d15JCLW9z5E5Fa7f4NrYlzPCmkA6GmKF5xAQB23f9bRH9UOunjmV7OELPbBkU3Pm3NAY0Fx0nkhGjL7sOpmW59UeRTMDxsNqVJMDgPIrqXOX9/s400/IMG_5826.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689374716836492466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEajq2F-DinB0OFn6Qet7nF-nqQlnlAffOr9gmRe5dqE3F8vScEXK-fOpokWdUKzXZtTXZlsCJmWXxeI_l1t5MIJBWPDTgtfIwBLPko1p1U6pv67orI9KOscaC85Bs8xyAoOKDw3apcuJ/s1600/IMG_5829.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEajq2F-DinB0OFn6Qet7nF-nqQlnlAffOr9gmRe5dqE3F8vScEXK-fOpokWdUKzXZtTXZlsCJmWXxeI_l1t5MIJBWPDTgtfIwBLPko1p1U6pv67orI9KOscaC85Bs8xyAoOKDw3apcuJ/s400/IMG_5829.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689371655005448178" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WQzO7IxkQz3tYjterQ4at5-GuYUcWc7glv58ATRz1vTCujVm0pWiVGy8kwxINgswlVjJtfduEJz3jv9CRqi4UtZZ7cTxGBJpNxyuBQosKkQTFiSIXx2kcX0Nj1zj8R38YFQbXQIIEIy5/s1600/IMG_5831.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WQzO7IxkQz3tYjterQ4at5-GuYUcWc7glv58ATRz1vTCujVm0pWiVGy8kwxINgswlVjJtfduEJz3jv9CRqi4UtZZ7cTxGBJpNxyuBQosKkQTFiSIXx2kcX0Nj1zj8R38YFQbXQIIEIy5/s400/IMG_5831.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689371659931165922" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAVbTd4Kd-KT_9CP7DA4ncReDeboZDrw8hv_giXxbk0xlxeJrijKOrXmgaEyumCxtSD-LFi_6ejVt1_oicj_KNKXFMBfvB-Ra60ztecBRsfIiTN_gs1cZ5izohyphenhyphenLFeZJXL6UJLFjFHmi0/s1600/IMG_5834.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAVbTd4Kd-KT_9CP7DA4ncReDeboZDrw8hv_giXxbk0xlxeJrijKOrXmgaEyumCxtSD-LFi_6ejVt1_oicj_KNKXFMBfvB-Ra60ztecBRsfIiTN_gs1cZ5izohyphenhyphenLFeZJXL6UJLFjFHmi0/s400/IMG_5834.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689371666964827026" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eO7vAXAVJQWBWlk0Vp8I1l9tprEX5fKXVEWfcbDmVwRQJR_ClsUXz8kiZkX9cTrehDqpGxB8glEJ6soI9z3fC8nYXhRKHx1NVQl0NmxcBYUMWvjT7ep_8VKjDSjY-qnxX4u5ITI23qWF/s1600/IMG_5835.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eO7vAXAVJQWBWlk0Vp8I1l9tprEX5fKXVEWfcbDmVwRQJR_ClsUXz8kiZkX9cTrehDqpGxB8glEJ6soI9z3fC8nYXhRKHx1NVQl0NmxcBYUMWvjT7ep_8VKjDSjY-qnxX4u5ITI23qWF/s400/IMG_5835.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689371678589093794" border="0" /></a>My mom not only made a great Thanksgiving dinner she also made a great centerpiece for the table. She is always making the house so festive.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsbsyG205bVZqLlr2zwZjrG7X3emE6mQZRB1VYbOTOOecjKLs8HgXC_2eESp7yLewc_R-VN6Zai-pUWPZj9PxYp47nTkxdgSYbU-y7jmdw364Xlgxbb0J1kKLtw38hdz_B3v_4KVMNb3b/s1600/IMG_5807.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsbsyG205bVZqLlr2zwZjrG7X3emE6mQZRB1VYbOTOOecjKLs8HgXC_2eESp7yLewc_R-VN6Zai-pUWPZj9PxYp47nTkxdgSYbU-y7jmdw364Xlgxbb0J1kKLtw38hdz_B3v_4KVMNb3b/s400/IMG_5807.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689368323878514834" border="0" /></a>Continuing with the competitive theme of the weekend Abe & Lindsay challenged Stan & Priscila to a game of corn hole.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGiIlxSW_rHTDmzjw2X5Uuv1OSGpay_Qaq9v_Ao4pswrQ2bMf4WF99GkORIecCkBZSCOgmUvbEa_M8mAW_vkopnOl48mbfzDB8B8n6aCBnH6_4wEHLUT0fLNig0ghEzaGuEaXBTsgocO4/s1600/IMG_5853.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGiIlxSW_rHTDmzjw2X5Uuv1OSGpay_Qaq9v_Ao4pswrQ2bMf4WF99GkORIecCkBZSCOgmUvbEa_M8mAW_vkopnOl48mbfzDB8B8n6aCBnH6_4wEHLUT0fLNig0ghEzaGuEaXBTsgocO4/s400/IMG_5853.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689374733905593778" border="0" /></a>While they played corn hole, my dad took me for a ride on his motorcycle. Don't I look styling with my pink helmet?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pN6-kFg3bLiE2KZOLqQoDhK8HaazjrHqCbUrcofUjHN7-e0D6E30HItCutqq7GVkti_vJ0aPaXz29KkPvym8MwT4f_aJeew1kBQq22aFIhlPdYPazMUCdEJ_BW0i2C3USTzUYG8BF648/s1600/IMG_5857.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pN6-kFg3bLiE2KZOLqQoDhK8HaazjrHqCbUrcofUjHN7-e0D6E30HItCutqq7GVkti_vJ0aPaXz29KkPvym8MwT4f_aJeew1kBQq22aFIhlPdYPazMUCdEJ_BW0i2C3USTzUYG8BF648/s400/IMG_5857.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689374738769783874" border="0" /></a>We ended the night making gingerbread houses. It was a contest (I told you we were competitive) I'm sad to say that Justin and I didn't win. Stan & Priscila won. I can only blame Justin for this loss.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0S4Mzyd2alUN18fflL8JTiUp3BfIe_78yA29MdUdYTjMRPej57LTJzKzVx-vkAUSxgXM7KQC5pgT8NTqy53HR3yUiYveyeUop0LZgZ1dftMvjhodimGf912tnL8nAAJR-1CgT39qRBN7e/s1600/IMG_5850.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0S4Mzyd2alUN18fflL8JTiUp3BfIe_78yA29MdUdYTjMRPej57LTJzKzVx-vkAUSxgXM7KQC5pgT8NTqy53HR3yUiYveyeUop0LZgZ1dftMvjhodimGf912tnL8nAAJR-1CgT39qRBN7e/s400/IMG_5850.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689374724002298082" border="0" /></a>Going from left to right, Stan & Priscila, my mom's, Justin's mom's, mine & Justin's, and Abe & Lindsay's. I really think we should have won, since we had both a reindeer and Santa on our roof.<br /><br />Since, we are an hour and a half from any good shopping we didn't get to experience any of the Black Friday deals. We did however send the afternoon shopping around Winona (all 3 shops). Friday night we had a talent show...yes, that's right we had a talent show. (Did I tell you we are a competitive family?) I didn't get any pictures of this and I'm still hitting myself for not taking pictures. I played the recorder, Stan & Lindsay salsa danced, and Abe & Lindsay wrote and preformed a song. Justin was chosen to be the judge since he really has talent. Abe and Lindsay won the show with their on rendition of Carol of the Bells, Thanksgiving style.<br /><br />We had a great time and always love when we are all together.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyGcYYYak8liLKFiInov2hVkIJxGuVmTwdgi6Gwmd7MRMy_Tt-jlASOh5jJJ1x9IrQwfYtEg7oezAvXVrlNm5rMdG4bb9sSmkZc8r17_nDmAslJsGDsyZwk5fzlYX2-cJvap_bjygYmQs/s1600/IMG_5862.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyGcYYYak8liLKFiInov2hVkIJxGuVmTwdgi6Gwmd7MRMy_Tt-jlASOh5jJJ1x9IrQwfYtEg7oezAvXVrlNm5rMdG4bb9sSmkZc8r17_nDmAslJsGDsyZwk5fzlYX2-cJvap_bjygYmQs/s400/IMG_5862.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689374747124558674" border="0" /></a>The Garcia'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717179862392262109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389537372646752857.post-74617323572900537102011-12-16T07:55:00.001-06:002011-12-16T08:19:14.350-06:005 Great Years!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZvxYJavhHcoaRoRTk3yuH8FGeJrrD4cHniND4wb7PnLw6f9ilU2ZmbGXf8gd3NqmVU06vXg-YQYmdjnCaCPLXjAgmCLM3q3FNOEZZay6DworCiiTl-76b6s0AqeuLHrd13-f7ggm81nL/s1600/IMG_3925.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4U8iu0RqKYbT92ogFKlrpDvuJ1E5HFYvH3pyQDvJKk3r83ZOcSN_PHfnf5kBix0Wyp6L8CP9EasBiDQeBzoK1XZoeiJ8o0tBZIrLa_k7ns2IpeukZA5DdIkwaFo5JNmJzPbWGErkQ2KyU/s1600/IMG_4632.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4U8iu0RqKYbT92ogFKlrpDvuJ1E5HFYvH3pyQDvJKk3r83ZOcSN_PHfnf5kBix0Wyp6L8CP9EasBiDQeBzoK1XZoeiJ8o0tBZIrLa_k7ns2IpeukZA5DdIkwaFo5JNmJzPbWGErkQ2KyU/s400/IMG_4632.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686726948685443922" border="0" /></a><br />I can't believe that Justin and I have been married for 5 years. It seems just like yesterday I was planning our wedding. I am so bless to have Justin as a husband.The Garcia'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717179862392262109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389537372646752857.post-20417623207753264082011-11-28T21:37:00.000-06:002011-11-28T21:37:47.951-06:00Our Fall DecorBefore we put away all of our Thanksgiving/Fall decor, I wanted to share what our home looked like during the months of October and November. This post will be mostly pictures (there's not much to say about pumpkins and candy corns).<br /><br />We didn't carve a pumpkin this year. I was a little disappointed because Justin has carved some great pumpkins in the past and knew this year would be no different. Since he failed me, I guess next year he will have to carve two to make up for this year. :)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvORUrYiq7wnpNS8921oDEoCaIqhHC5yE71UXVWRENHL1k48I3u1PyyVCpVUeCnXzAiUT1ueiEaafcsJIgzlDtGQ5D8ozNqHnG-0tn4iWz5J5265m5-TpQ1o0d1GjI1LpUAmKQT2Gzs_aa/s1600/IMG_5772.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvORUrYiq7wnpNS8921oDEoCaIqhHC5yE71UXVWRENHL1k48I3u1PyyVCpVUeCnXzAiUT1ueiEaafcsJIgzlDtGQ5D8ozNqHnG-0tn4iWz5J5265m5-TpQ1o0d1GjI1LpUAmKQT2Gzs_aa/s400/IMG_5772.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676439717973045570" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRT8xjwYwbAXqcDWZObL9RQCysBFrdx0rUeX6uXsM6Q7BtikMT3H2qYBTXeWZ4I-S3vGxEc5JyA-xmcsJ-hxnwUbV_iM3RHVC20nPO-426JmsQHMbpOIaFt7AFHcpQBbSx8HY7iH3_5RO/s1600/IMG_5771.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRT8xjwYwbAXqcDWZObL9RQCysBFrdx0rUeX6uXsM6Q7BtikMT3H2qYBTXeWZ4I-S3vGxEc5JyA-xmcsJ-hxnwUbV_iM3RHVC20nPO-426JmsQHMbpOIaFt7AFHcpQBbSx8HY7iH3_5RO/s400/IMG_5771.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676439705908118882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRtppiVtSKR_RRg4FxWeTAuC35RBweAd1bxB-Qs40bMUFrMaDKbhEmyCY4oMwVwXN4cO7xCy8tZI1RiImZkMUAYq1eLa1PmFbuVHvWeYo-MTXlCpyTtizJW-MK9-FFId0xXdjy_tJ4uqY/s1600/IMG_5770.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRtppiVtSKR_RRg4FxWeTAuC35RBweAd1bxB-Qs40bMUFrMaDKbhEmyCY4oMwVwXN4cO7xCy8tZI1RiImZkMUAYq1eLa1PmFbuVHvWeYo-MTXlCpyTtizJW-MK9-FFId0xXdjy_tJ4uqY/s400/IMG_5770.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676439697618140930" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxl7tq6lDA_yysITyGseb_8N0gihyonk_s46giS4S8-wx96K4AE5B9CfxjRUbiYcVOrNapuIDQgpk0RPOYFy-AB0f3m4FROm6Rum-LsKI1pkn1cieA9EgkC7OtLq9QDMwQQscv6qh5d3Y/s1600/IMG_5776.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxl7tq6lDA_yysITyGseb_8N0gihyonk_s46giS4S8-wx96K4AE5B9CfxjRUbiYcVOrNapuIDQgpk0RPOYFy-AB0f3m4FROm6Rum-LsKI1pkn1cieA9EgkC7OtLq9QDMwQQscv6qh5d3Y/s400/IMG_5776.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676439245887115778" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIy_n5vVgyTcsxt-Lxpker5E_meSJ8MeXKrB9o2s8rSoBaXq-GKLSpLXkv6nP20p23AL5abF9XwCOO43yZW13RyQs6Hp5oLo86QPiFjmclBhGHchCDSAR_qsyPtP7JesfJeuoTZEl3pNu6/s1600/IMG_5785.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIy_n5vVgyTcsxt-Lxpker5E_meSJ8MeXKrB9o2s8rSoBaXq-GKLSpLXkv6nP20p23AL5abF9XwCOO43yZW13RyQs6Hp5oLo86QPiFjmclBhGHchCDSAR_qsyPtP7JesfJeuoTZEl3pNu6/s400/IMG_5785.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676439237657249746" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxbQJGx8Orl8Sf8aRr5b01aybc-Im4UU0R2mO7aVGSHIsvL-8Bfhnh5L2VXScQ0Q_vYfy2Rm7cuwrM_OZ3MX2LXwg38bj9DKVHC_vs7VrkjvpHVQIEaFrBuoWOAPF4vSwRINqy0j4eSAa/s1600/IMG_5786.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxbQJGx8Orl8Sf8aRr5b01aybc-Im4UU0R2mO7aVGSHIsvL-8Bfhnh5L2VXScQ0Q_vYfy2Rm7cuwrM_OZ3MX2LXwg38bj9DKVHC_vs7VrkjvpHVQIEaFrBuoWOAPF4vSwRINqy0j4eSAa/s400/IMG_5786.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676439226576004674" border="0" /></a>I made these cute candy corns with poster board and yarn. You can make your own too. I found the idea on Pintrest.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbs0HiXpSGhK0sfYe87P3ruqfUw7CZDDaHgyvm5vsKgsW0LCnAdS-vDzhAyoTuTwfmRfzvnUfCYnKA7Ot79hxYGp2PIjXJuUhlukcB2V1h5Ll7lpEkPjSJVRI3aaQYTOm8DjmQzFsKtU9/s1600/IMG_5774.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbs0HiXpSGhK0sfYe87P3ruqfUw7CZDDaHgyvm5vsKgsW0LCnAdS-vDzhAyoTuTwfmRfzvnUfCYnKA7Ot79hxYGp2PIjXJuUhlukcB2V1h5Ll7lpEkPjSJVRI3aaQYTOm8DjmQzFsKtU9/s400/IMG_5774.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676439261781439362" border="0" /></a><br />Now, that Thanksgiving is over, it's time to put everything away and start putting up our Christmas decorations!!The Garcia'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717179862392262109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389537372646752857.post-21070974242145375732011-11-20T21:03:00.000-06:002011-11-21T08:24:20.313-06:00Jar of HeartsNormally I keep all my posts pretty light and fun, but I wanted to share something a little different this time. I hope you will find it to be encouraging.<br /><br />I can't remember the first time I heard Christina Perri's song "Jar of Hearts," but it wasn't long after hearing it that I that went to iTunes and purchased it. I really liked the song, and as with all songs I really like, I listened to it over and over. After listening to it many times I started to notice an interesting parallel in the song.<br /><br />If you haven't heard the song, she is basically singing about a guy who keeps coming back to her and is constantly trying to bring her down with his lies. However, the lyrics also give a relatively accurate depiction of the fact that as a follower of Christ, I also have someone who is constantly trying to bring me down with his lies and to convince me that my Savior is not all He claims to be.<br /><br />Over the past few weeks our church as been doing a sermon series on spiritual warfare. At the end of the first sermon, I thought about how perfectly this song summed up what Satan tries to do during those spiritual battles in our lives and what our response to him should be. It's not a perfect metaphor, but there are definitely some strong parallels. If you have not heard the song before I encourage you to listen to it.<br /><br /><object style="height: 390px; width: 520px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HH7WXlf9WLk?version=3&feature=player_detailpage"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HH7WXlf9WLk?version=3&feature=player_detailpage" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="360" width="520"></embed></object>The Garcia'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717179862392262109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389537372646752857.post-86585902781756417472011-11-07T21:02:00.000-06:002011-11-09T08:01:38.731-06:00Book BazaarI love reading, but that wasn't always the case. When I was a kid I didn't spend much time with my nose in a book. I guess I was so busy playing with my dolls or pretending I was a teenager. When I was in college I would get a book and start reading it, but you know how it is when you are in college. If you are not reading something for school you just aren't reading anything at all.<br /><br />However, in the past few years my love for reading has really grown. I almost always carry a book around with me (you never know when you will have time to stop and read a few pages).<br />I don't really like to buy books though. I would much rather check a book out at the library. As a result, I have become a big fan of MC's annual book bazaar. Last year I got a lot of great books for really cheap. I am sad to say that I have yet to finished reading all of them but I am working on it. You can read about those books <a href="http://justinandsally.blogspot.com/2010/09/book-worm.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Since I no longer work at MC I had to find out all the details from Justin. Looking back at my last post I knew the book bazaar took place sometime in early fall. I would ask Justin almost every week if he had received any emails about it. Finally, while I was driving on campus I saw the sign announcing the book bazaar. I was super excited!<br /><br />Once again, I stocked up. I have to say that I am not very familiar with many of these books, but for only $1.00 per book you really can't go wrong.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FlMjwNPQDPeU4YLiEm63lwYz-Wd4XGXVtZJfXfSDtlVxrxwn6iZVLmbrb79h6PdY1k6JLTU4GhiPdK2Ycap0WpQ8ihgwtaG8iVRiJlzuIl3VwMCWqmThVlyF99dYhb1o1G2fnWsQ75_M/s1600/IMG_5765.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FlMjwNPQDPeU4YLiEm63lwYz-Wd4XGXVtZJfXfSDtlVxrxwn6iZVLmbrb79h6PdY1k6JLTU4GhiPdK2Ycap0WpQ8ihgwtaG8iVRiJlzuIl3VwMCWqmThVlyF99dYhb1o1G2fnWsQ75_M/s400/IMG_5765.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672714823575001474" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here is the list of the all the books I bought at the book bazaar.<br /><ol><li>Thin Rich Pretty: Beth Harbison</li><li>Burnt Toast: Teri Hatcher</li><li>True Colors: Kristin Hannah</li><li>The Road to Eden's Ridge: M.L Rose</li><li>A Reliable Wife: Robert Goolrick</li><li>The Ninth Wife: Amy Stolls</li><li>And One Last Thing: Molly Harper</li><li>The Three Weissmanns of Westport: Cathleen Schine</li><li>The Lost Recipe for Happiness: Barbara O'Neal</li><li>Irreplaceable: Stephen Lovely</li><li>The Beach House: Sally John</li><li>Body Surfing: Anita Shreve</li><li>No One You Know: Michelle Richamond</li><li>Lost and Found Jacqueline Sheehan</li><li>Let Them Eat Cake:Sandra Byrd</li><li>In Her Shoes: Jennifer Weiner<br /></li></ol><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ihSePch_p8yZR2rkr2EvzF3Fq5TlawItdfBNK5y4IQquprSrsviO-ejN4Mp4UDX8-S37ScpMPT_vkkB2ircazMWyooUQ_roHQUNyKeD_XA3SPhmDmvOXgl249z7A5fXdKj40bEuHPu7h/s1600/IMG_5768.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ihSePch_p8yZR2rkr2EvzF3Fq5TlawItdfBNK5y4IQquprSrsviO-ejN4Mp4UDX8-S37ScpMPT_vkkB2ircazMWyooUQ_roHQUNyKeD_XA3SPhmDmvOXgl249z7A5fXdKj40bEuHPu7h/s400/IMG_5768.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672714828964383554" border="0" /></a><br />I have set a goal for myself to read all the books I have purchased before the next book bazaar. Well, maybe just the ones that I bought at last year's book bazaar. I also might start writing my book reviews again. You will just have to wait and see.The Garcia'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717179862392262109noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389537372646752857.post-65644221574478104332011-10-26T07:53:00.000-05:002011-10-26T07:53:42.259-05:00Guitar HangerI am really excited about this post because I am getting to share a small project we did in our office as well as give Justin's mad guitar skills a shout out. As many of you know Justin is a great musician, as I am writing this he is telling me not to say that, but I think he is great so I am going to let everyone know.<div><br /></div><div>Now, onto the reason of this post. On any given day you could walk into our home office and see Justin's guitar and guitar case lying on the floor, taking up all the floor space. I am not sure why he never used the guitar stands he had but for whatever reason the guitar always ended up on the floor with the case wide open. In our dream home he would have a sound proof music room but at this point in our lives he is having to make do with a music/office room. After tripping over the guitar one too many times I knew something had to be done.</div><div><br /></div><div>Don't get me wrong, I love it when Justin plays his guitar - I just don't love it when I can't walk into our office. So while at a music store one Saturday afternoon I convinced Justin that he needed to get a wall mounted guitar hanger. Let me back up a little...I really have no problem with Justin leaving his guitar out, my problem is with the open case on the floor and the fact that he always put his case in the back of the closet and had to remove almost everything from the closet to get to his guitar. So, not only was the case always sitting in the middle of the floor but also almost everything in the closet.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;">I never thought I would love having this hanging on our wall! </span><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCG4nl8pNdLCMhwee2wwaJ1Q33KRK2cSstxeGtUNvxr-V5tv7iWfOnPAbFWJmYiFkCKaV3QS91GbJ_vyUZqQ9YITw35_F8XyI1dl16tf3-_5WLo9wxj1YsnD_qZLQ-1LjRcW10fZIBF7A/s1600/IMG_5726.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCG4nl8pNdLCMhwee2wwaJ1Q33KRK2cSstxeGtUNvxr-V5tv7iWfOnPAbFWJmYiFkCKaV3QS91GbJ_vyUZqQ9YITw35_F8XyI1dl16tf3-_5WLo9wxj1YsnD_qZLQ-1LjRcW10fZIBF7A/s400/IMG_5726.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667620102814757570" border="0" /></a><br />Once we got home, Justin put up this new wall mounted guitar hanger. I LOVE IT and Justin does too. Now the floor of our office is guitar-free. Also, Justin is able easily access his guitar whenever he is in the mood to play his guitar...which is all the time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy07Mr0SEjBDA0_ngfbHY-B0nzL9K2-0b9mL8CyX9cgbaWw9iIGfd6t6zVTv2bF2IMoeIFzYPQ5CoYExyEItsiv-b2MrulaBcxP1OdAT3KYxZX176Jjhp4xir8zKssvOR0OKBH2Y0rEXGT/s1600/IMG_5724.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy07Mr0SEjBDA0_ngfbHY-B0nzL9K2-0b9mL8CyX9cgbaWw9iIGfd6t6zVTv2bF2IMoeIFzYPQ5CoYExyEItsiv-b2MrulaBcxP1OdAT3KYxZX176Jjhp4xir8zKssvOR0OKBH2Y0rEXGT/s400/IMG_5724.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667620099067477010" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I never thought I would be this excited about a wall mounted guitar stand!<br /><br />Well, I spoke too soon!! When I came into the office to upload my images this is what I found. Now, you can see why I was so excited to get the other guitar off the floor.<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBNqaF4_c4dAwuw1jFdKg5kpEnonlKvRSPgFJC6A2_xz2LT77E5ofWMFYr-RZo1arte04uXnt9tWVlQ1UFCPVbAuPo7eygE0MfAjShA_dGQ5fysJWgGxXiq-UjtC-WuF9xP_gsb75rGnP/s1600/IMG_5730.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBNqaF4_c4dAwuw1jFdKg5kpEnonlKvRSPgFJC6A2_xz2LT77E5ofWMFYr-RZo1arte04uXnt9tWVlQ1UFCPVbAuPo7eygE0MfAjShA_dGQ5fysJWgGxXiq-UjtC-WuF9xP_gsb75rGnP/s400/IMG_5730.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667624882491994930" border="0" /></a><br />This guitar that is normally at church but Justin brought it home to practice. I hope he plans on bring it back real soon. I can't stand having all this stuff on the floor in the office.The Garcia'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717179862392262109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389537372646752857.post-45275440336588721952011-10-17T10:30:00.000-05:002011-10-17T16:01:03.640-05:00Progressive Dinner<div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2ZbBia8zXJXL4r5lAEnKoV9SClqZvpuUOEFyke1TxM-YaT2iQ-sZ2If8UCh6J3MxmknktzuNaQsN8pQnISTtV61l0fjsSTzrl3GVKIaKPPliiNtzNVvQTsDKHKkjSsilJvBqpFsRz_vl/s1600/File0439.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2ZbBia8zXJXL4r5lAEnKoV9SClqZvpuUOEFyke1TxM-YaT2iQ-sZ2If8UCh6J3MxmknktzuNaQsN8pQnISTtV61l0fjsSTzrl3GVKIaKPPliiNtzNVvQTsDKHKkjSsilJvBqpFsRz_vl/s400/File0439.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630451842409985250" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4q8nCnw9R08DQkpUsFZMAZyGOXdRTmQipgi6nA-3Ilx5U1XagpP0YWX9dNw_fgta17Sp_XuEi_OgTFvyr3if564K8CvNDfOUTMgCkM60MGy6a-A3fa-Plr-yWNOG3kpLiVhlT59ovuSlZ/s1600/File0426.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a>Way back in May (I know I should have posted about this months ago) Justin and I were sitting at home on a Friday afternoon thinking about what we should do that night. Tired of our usual trips to the Renaissance to window shop, we wanted to do something different...something fun. We contemplated taking a quick trip to Memphis but quickly talked ourselves out of it. Normally when we are out of ideas we either go to the Renaissance, call friends, or do nothing. On this particular night we decided to call a friend. There is nothing like being bored with someone else.<br /><br />Thinking we would grab a bite to eat and just hang out, we thought our friend Katie would be great company and would make the night much brighter. So we called and, lucky for us, she didn't have any plans for the night either. We picked her up and heading to Sonic for a happy hour drink. While trying to decide what we wanted to drink, we noticed a snow cone stand and changed our minds and headed there. After we ordered our snow cones, Katie came up with a great idea to go to different places to have dinner...a progressive dinner. After much diliberation on where we would go, we decided the only stipulation was that it could not be a chain. So we started our progressive dinner out at SnowBiz with snow cones (Yes, I know that SnowBiz is a chain and the rule was made after we had already ordered!).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKEgwJuJcE3Egvv3qD9ZCwUp3958UdxL77px-WRJpjMjL3EGZVnceP72HXzqQYlBp6s_SF2j20ko1pzF_4NK5i774k3xKG9U0f0_fx05JVuIuzhpUT0MQia94DSogCiQX6TwkMRBbOfdA/s1600/File0420.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKEgwJuJcE3Egvv3qD9ZCwUp3958UdxL77px-WRJpjMjL3EGZVnceP72HXzqQYlBp6s_SF2j20ko1pzF_4NK5i774k3xKG9U0f0_fx05JVuIuzhpUT0MQia94DSogCiQX6TwkMRBbOfdA/s400/File0420.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630450822938771314" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincskjKVFeyWEtRhvgXWEjVvHKTt4NSTOnmoq9m0SR_5ZixHo7fXScI_8r8qLxEIcyfanbOAOJuJUra-umMM_rV_IPzefnlA0c-VMyyUzeRpopIOFhpDnFy_ikwEBb1a_Lju9S6_rRI-W6/s1600/File0421.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincskjKVFeyWEtRhvgXWEjVvHKTt4NSTOnmoq9m0SR_5ZixHo7fXScI_8r8qLxEIcyfanbOAOJuJUra-umMM_rV_IPzefnlA0c-VMyyUzeRpopIOFhpDnFy_ikwEBb1a_Lju9S6_rRI-W6/s400/File0421.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630450826713769666" border="0" /></a><br />Our next stop was Babalu for appetizers. We had heard they had the best guacamole and that they make it at your table, so it was our first choice. Justin makes a great homemade guacamole so lately we have been trying guacamole at any restaurant that has it on the menu. Most of the time Justin's is so much better, but I have to say that Babalu makes a great guacamole and gives Justin's a run for its money.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSzwalRQphbg4dnD1iaubYI3RXfte7dXtG_Newuqe-E6ef1PFnAF_jehHSZ2UKsmfNlUhra9778Z18rpjXSSx7wbMaG7Cyynog6AYH44zOZv-uXR-8P25y7sFoZkL5EYGNMCa_PEi2EFG/s1600/File0428.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSzwalRQphbg4dnD1iaubYI3RXfte7dXtG_Newuqe-E6ef1PFnAF_jehHSZ2UKsmfNlUhra9778Z18rpjXSSx7wbMaG7Cyynog6AYH44zOZv-uXR-8P25y7sFoZkL5EYGNMCa_PEi2EFG/s400/File0428.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630451823962344130" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rHzDykol7cidWzFVrkUXre_9O1hqhRGsyGLk8spGET8FIY7adF0nFcy3kFTJ6z_m81RgEsXRikAMYQ6ruGaiFPgv8_5mXnyEUyfeVgk0LyWPaCRo1hilkX-F7Q34hcYsaTNlG7ugC778/s1600/File0423.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rHzDykol7cidWzFVrkUXre_9O1hqhRGsyGLk8spGET8FIY7adF0nFcy3kFTJ6z_m81RgEsXRikAMYQ6ruGaiFPgv8_5mXnyEUyfeVgk0LyWPaCRo1hilkX-F7Q34hcYsaTNlG7ugC778/s400/File0423.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630450829990417314" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4q8nCnw9R08DQkpUsFZMAZyGOXdRTmQipgi6nA-3Ilx5U1XagpP0YWX9dNw_fgta17Sp_XuEi_OgTFvyr3if564K8CvNDfOUTMgCkM60MGy6a-A3fa-Plr-yWNOG3kpLiVhlT59ovuSlZ/s1600/File0426.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4q8nCnw9R08DQkpUsFZMAZyGOXdRTmQipgi6nA-3Ilx5U1XagpP0YWX9dNw_fgta17Sp_XuEi_OgTFvyr3if564K8CvNDfOUTMgCkM60MGy6a-A3fa-Plr-yWNOG3kpLiVhlT59ovuSlZ/s400/File0426.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630450838739878018" border="0" /></a>At this point we were almost full but we could not stop just after our appetizers so we while were thinking of where to go next we headed to Dogwood. After a little going back and forth about where we should go for our main course, we finally decided on Local 463. It was a little out of the way but so worth it. Justin and Katie had burgers and I had a pizza. The burgers were huge! It was a great restaurant and will be one that we will revisit.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiseN7s7LuXkiTbFVufS3vv0yMKqq0TfGd2YZiX_DuUcPC4AZjCJ1Bt0S2-aR0GpNaeGM6YQN0UMdiwRpQEBlmpOgd0hb6acGT5bi0ORzwLxW8dhyavend7Hp-9rnyvtHc2KHGZB5ZMTHG7/s1600/File0435.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiseN7s7LuXkiTbFVufS3vv0yMKqq0TfGd2YZiX_DuUcPC4AZjCJ1Bt0S2-aR0GpNaeGM6YQN0UMdiwRpQEBlmpOgd0hb6acGT5bi0ORzwLxW8dhyavend7Hp-9rnyvtHc2KHGZB5ZMTHG7/s400/File0435.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630451835213232418" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDoRTKANYYQtNUBQJjWY4eztnZh1RoPFYsJ3vEdL-3sxFas-bEPuXpX2bPGqZYjdB_swWkscZ4hrvx34eMNJuDMmy3CRu0nC_loE_NVSXrfV8WLqBTwi08A1vY_Z-GeCNX8-KwRvYFCxgh/s400/photo-2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663110196854690642" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_1dMkCBxPoQVYtze5zibOO0bKqQI5XJJ5FV5ityiWJgmho68qyMRkkdwLeUGEagq_peWtt7UWGD5KqswhoTlPit_eOCisVl_LFTH5_p8FoUGePE8T8ct3S-qOQXFENYF1U5hFVMpnhF2/s400/photo-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663110200397505570" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div><div>Finally, it was time for dessert, which is my favorite part of any meal. We wanted to go somewhere that served good desserts but when we started thinking about where we should go, we came up short. We finally thought about Mint. I had never been there before so I was really excited to try the place out. Once, there we went back and forth trying to decide on how many desserts to get, of course, I wanted try all of them. In the end we got three different desserts, a chocolate cake, a cheesecake, and beignet balls. All three were delicious and worth all the calories.<br /><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0vN1NN6ALn7vnn4AkTDH1BlH4STpLF95ZETiGnytwWfUaGkSkQxm8uIk7GOYizhdLm3wXrWK7njW_fPrIg7PUejVUbkhI-NStavMOYIJ9POtAi7Canra_f3A3VZIqB2TPopPRBPjPC6B/s400/mint.png" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631200053774325042" border="0" /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7ihFF6-SyZmwUSfBsgdsidKcn0fPzYlHQ3F3kDGVKf_pSZrb5utQy45A7v5AzCRPIIjvfLKISAn8z4k7N1_7FcMV1MBEzvaevHFlxPQWjN7QxRQgJ-RnMGTjxQPz4WlEPlhFhjuz3zzt/s1600/File0438.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7ihFF6-SyZmwUSfBsgdsidKcn0fPzYlHQ3F3kDGVKf_pSZrb5utQy45A7v5AzCRPIIjvfLKISAn8z4k7N1_7FcMV1MBEzvaevHFlxPQWjN7QxRQgJ-RnMGTjxQPz4WlEPlhFhjuz3zzt/s400/File0438.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630451839544143170" border="0" /></a>I am so glad that Katie joined us and turned a dull Friday night into a adventurous outing.<br /></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>The Garcia'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717179862392262109noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389537372646752857.post-65317593733306438162011-10-13T12:32:00.000-05:002011-10-13T13:49:09.192-05:00Justin's best surprise ever!<div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PHrOaxIORS743JeTngZb3B-ghrBr5GCkP3Jxdn9JNqXL8X3POkFWOXAEsMjy7EnIJC3qQGPRk2mS7CxaFW2KdWtiI-tOya27rJP0qlUbgIMulTghiG-M4ImD3zVhgGoSF1k1RAtxg4k9/s1600/IMG_5664.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PHrOaxIORS743JeTngZb3B-ghrBr5GCkP3Jxdn9JNqXL8X3POkFWOXAEsMjy7EnIJC3qQGPRk2mS7CxaFW2KdWtiI-tOya27rJP0qlUbgIMulTghiG-M4ImD3zVhgGoSF1k1RAtxg4k9/s400/IMG_5664.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663029906023389250" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div>Thursday the September 30th started out like any other Thursday. I went to the gym in the morning, had lunch with a friend, and did some stuff around the house. Around 5 that afternoon, Justin sent me a text telling me to look under a coaster in our office. When I first got the text, I thought it was Justin telling me he was on his way home from work. When I turned over the coaster I was surprised to find a QR code. I scanned the code and <a href="http://www.sixeightmedia.net/sh/co.php">it took me here</a>.<br /><div><br /></div><div>When I finished reading the poem I had the biggest smile on my face and picked up my keys and headed out the door. It took me a little while to find the second QR code, but when I did, knew I was on a fun scavenger hunt. During my fun outing Justin left me clues all over MC's campus as well as a few places around town. The places I went to find the clues are as follows, click on each link to view each clue:<br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.sixeightmedia.net/sh/nc.php">Nelson</a></div><div><a href="http://www.sixeightmedia.net/sh/re.php">East Tower (Residence Hall)</a></div><div><a href="http://www.sixeightmedia.net/sh/te.php">Whittington (Residence Hall)</a></div><div><a href="http://www.sixeightmedia.net/sh/ju.php">YogNFurit (yogurt place)</a></div><div><a href="http://www.sixeightmedia.net/sh/ng.php">Olive Branch (gift shop)</a></div><div><a href="http://www.sixeightmedia.net/sh/le.php">Ratliff (Residence Hall)</a></div><div><a href="http://www.sixeightmedia.net/sh/wh.php">Kugel (statue on campus)</a></div><div><br /></div><div>The last clue lead me back home to check the mail box. When I opened the mail box I found Justin's iPod Touch with a Post-It note that said press play. This is the video is what the final clue. I encourage you to watch the video before scrolling down and reading the rest of the post.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4PLnwHGQ7aY" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div>The word surprised could not describe what I was feeling when I found out that Justin had planned a weekend trip to New York! If you know me, you know that I love NYC. I had less than 12 hours from the time I found out we were going to NYC to the time we had to get on the plane. Justin and I had ran around getting packed and getting everything ready before we left. Justin worked really hard to keep the trip a surprise. We had some plans already made but Justin had called everyone a told them of his surprise and told them we would not be able to keep our plans. He really thought of everything. It was awesome!!!<br /><br />I don't think I slept the night before we left. I was excited and I kept thinking of things I needed to do and things I needed to pack.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now on to NYC. Justin and I have been to NYC together 3 times, but each time we either stayed with friends who lived there or went with friends. To read more about our past trip click, <a href="http://justinandsally.blogspot.com/2011/01/concrete-jungle-where-dreams-are-made.html">here</a>. The other two trips to NYC happened before I stated blogging so I don't have any posts to link to, sorry. When I found out that we would be going to NYC alone I was very excited. It has been a long time since Justin and I have been on a real vacation alone. I think it might have been our honeymoon almost 5 years ago.<br /><br />We had a great time walking around NYC. We didn't do to many touristy things this time but here are some images of our trip. After checking into our hotel we went on the hunt for a place to eat lunch. One, of the many reasons we love NYC is the restaurant options. Living in Clinton you only have a few options when it comes to places to dine. NYC has 100's of options to choose from. When we are out of town Justin and I try to stay away from chain restaurants if at all possible. Its fun and it ensures that we try new places and different foods. This is my lunch at Le Pain Quotidien (This might be a chain...oops. I think it's a New York chain though.)</div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkb7ceyiiDAVBZlAyyJ-l3sgHTYWW0nP-f0Vba5D7sqVTRVTSyFpti2581RxtmIafVT3o0nacm7rskW-l3u0xj8PpmOo2NfkqXgageXXL7tfzWjI0mNOGZrre0jU-GedsOz0Rt7PWvfAR/s1600/nyc2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkb7ceyiiDAVBZlAyyJ-l3sgHTYWW0nP-f0Vba5D7sqVTRVTSyFpti2581RxtmIafVT3o0nacm7rskW-l3u0xj8PpmOo2NfkqXgageXXL7tfzWjI0mNOGZrre0jU-GedsOz0Rt7PWvfAR/s400/nyc2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663032407689062642" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">We sent a lot of time walking around Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, Union Square, Time Square, and the Upper East Side. Here are a few of our favorites pictures from the trip. </div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This is the 9/11 memorial. If you are in NYC you really need to make a stop here, just be sure you get your tickets before hand. </div></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingcMaV_elULtgF-ZkGl-6GyCUlMtr1iibZfCj-HVbk9RlwISc8FstidyxQrpCZLErTh57EK9c1j51OPFdDwGkxY8vXAWnbHgrH1fn2URqzkHhdHw2xoNwOeZLgWult1_v_VD1wglqb1S_/s1600/IMG_5660.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingcMaV_elULtgF-ZkGl-6GyCUlMtr1iibZfCj-HVbk9RlwISc8FstidyxQrpCZLErTh57EK9c1j51OPFdDwGkxY8vXAWnbHgrH1fn2URqzkHhdHw2xoNwOeZLgWult1_v_VD1wglqb1S_/s400/IMG_5660.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663029891071875634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMnMU4qdRAsMIEkeOqVCN9x91lyNRK2bgdW-wGMI3ZeJo2eEGHbYcgmF1n0IzErxpeuaxmcftoV-KjKpp-ltMENf_erTEvDjHVV9cJs9cA4U_o0rsLXkATgO3Q_TIbF7TX6RplLbY-CmM/s400/IMG_5653.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663027890690399314" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " border="0" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>In our all trips to NYC we have never walked the Brooklyn Bridge to this time we made a point to do it. I am not sure if you can tell but there were a lot of people walking and biking on the bridge.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkdNY4aXZefs_rtIke1JfoN7SRK_jNE6YIwxhtSZXfvB_SLKYVZf3ajF7kvLm2cF6bJuKuE5y3e4w2vGqLkXR9_M8-BvZka7RQr7CWbHMQRkYbC9sGsAYS4yJgAp5qHUuqIqaYNx-teJ2/s1600/IMG_5657.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkdNY4aXZefs_rtIke1JfoN7SRK_jNE6YIwxhtSZXfvB_SLKYVZf3ajF7kvLm2cF6bJuKuE5y3e4w2vGqLkXR9_M8-BvZka7RQr7CWbHMQRkYbC9sGsAYS4yJgAp5qHUuqIqaYNx-teJ2/s400/IMG_5657.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663029883352609762" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqoM8QINjTuSffoz0_KK5fbP6zcxQwa5eiTTSQf4mwbmNt6rKFKjIivC3G-cwpq7jkm7DCpKzInjSV1BhWhgKPAOmYnpTGVUn_FrzYXLO96ipoqud5Mb9D0FT1Kk6TjNz4sk2YiaWp3o0O/s1600/IMG_5655.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqoM8QINjTuSffoz0_KK5fbP6zcxQwa5eiTTSQf4mwbmNt6rKFKjIivC3G-cwpq7jkm7DCpKzInjSV1BhWhgKPAOmYnpTGVUn_FrzYXLO96ipoqud5Mb9D0FT1Kk6TjNz4sk2YiaWp3o0O/s400/IMG_5655.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663029876944055410" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45Pw5D_IECgijuWz7CNpG9_f9sQSrn02sFsMfQxSe1Np505uIgVQ-NCK7tk6SvtA4CIxnZgeXv9XldmHg-ZettLnuSECKhh2eZNMGx2LkEJujqzlgIKcU-rWxKC9uo_m0WhJ9PJPqQxrv/s1600/IMG_5654.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45Pw5D_IECgijuWz7CNpG9_f9sQSrn02sFsMfQxSe1Np505uIgVQ-NCK7tk6SvtA4CIxnZgeXv9XldmHg-ZettLnuSECKhh2eZNMGx2LkEJujqzlgIKcU-rWxKC9uo_m0WhJ9PJPqQxrv/s400/IMG_5654.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663027892529141282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Time Square!! </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXBxnwsIwzCveM3friiclNIv0S-xyz9-_H9Ymzdy9_msOdMLwWZxpiviZavh9QrfFeqqj2RRPllRSx1tka-rcGuMJUR7SaR46wOwevPI_U-mgCDCkb7XZS7KcCaCXv1Mc6oTVtuI_QW-Dh/s1600/IMG_5648.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXBxnwsIwzCveM3friiclNIv0S-xyz9-_H9Ymzdy9_msOdMLwWZxpiviZavh9QrfFeqqj2RRPllRSx1tka-rcGuMJUR7SaR46wOwevPI_U-mgCDCkb7XZS7KcCaCXv1Mc6oTVtuI_QW-Dh/s400/IMG_5648.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663027868235573202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">A very delicious banana and hazelnut crepe from <a href="http://www.maxbrenner.com/">Max Brenners</a>. </div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2icsJxb0MjfdbOIByyIp4_rV_b6wiUSm2Kr4PHvTmpuXj9rDiYs8WL0iV2c1nfbhEnO3TXyax_Z2Hdjla2v2qoG5cf3c89YMMFV4ZEalgWNg3k1IVu8XKd9c5GK7RD2uRFvTfSsma55N/s1600/IMG_5647.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2icsJxb0MjfdbOIByyIp4_rV_b6wiUSm2Kr4PHvTmpuXj9rDiYs8WL0iV2c1nfbhEnO3TXyax_Z2Hdjla2v2qoG5cf3c89YMMFV4ZEalgWNg3k1IVu8XKd9c5GK7RD2uRFvTfSsma55N/s400/IMG_5647.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663027862848025282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br />Views of the Jackie Onassis Reservoir in Central Park. </span></div><div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbfONwoi1GstlX1k0e67eJuR8XJ0dSTr7Fu43w4vkVhLxFuCm8v9Kfj-uSFDyu6NoccE4noVS7JYBgm1M9dW6IYeyegCjEIF-S5uqromXmadE2rsXBn2SSSz43Ix1cyaow5eOrzag3KoZ/s400/IMG_5661.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663029900503074162" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " border="0" /></span></div><div></div><div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLwDL3tJVDPM7pSUUClReG1gUNx2UtAuPux66ony3JwnrrcXPLi0bOYHbDEWU6LOtASmqukPuY1Xvnj0v4kQMgfjNFKoKOqmeyoXg95eZWRUjduGbPb9SB09jBrviwz54091MYezlTnjH/s1600/IMG_5643.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLwDL3tJVDPM7pSUUClReG1gUNx2UtAuPux66ony3JwnrrcXPLi0bOYHbDEWU6LOtASmqukPuY1Xvnj0v4kQMgfjNFKoKOqmeyoXg95eZWRUjduGbPb9SB09jBrviwz54091MYezlTnjH/s400/IMG_5643.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663027864824024402" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " border="0" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">We had a great weekend and I am so grateful for a husband who would go through all the trouble of surprise me with a special weekend in my favorite city! </div>The Garcia'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717179862392262109noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389537372646752857.post-4409690157474168472011-08-30T07:52:00.000-05:002011-08-31T07:52:43.840-05:00I might have an obsession<div style="text-align: center;">I think I might have a problem.
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<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVf1nQigjHA0CGO-PFa9pHOwyNzhhu0Q3vslEpJICAeWsOyik6-0JtSHb5FczzyTRg78CxnhzW0uOULbYWJq25kdjgUUUIOq8o9euafg3d6wORDrHhVLHh_BlUZIRHBVx0mbFiS8aVM-AG/s1600/IMG_0757.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVf1nQigjHA0CGO-PFa9pHOwyNzhhu0Q3vslEpJICAeWsOyik6-0JtSHb5FczzyTRg78CxnhzW0uOULbYWJq25kdjgUUUIOq8o9euafg3d6wORDrHhVLHh_BlUZIRHBVx0mbFiS8aVM-AG/s400/IMG_0757.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646471012876451490" border="0" /></a>
<br />As many of you know, I love school/office supplies. There is nothing like getting a new notebook, pack of pens, Post-its, or paper clips. The other day I was cleaning my home office and noticed that I had a lot of Post-its/notepads, Sharpie markers and paper clips.
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<br />Justin has been making fun of me for a while about the amount of Post-its/notepads and Sharpies I have. I have always responded by saying, "The reason I have a lot is because I use a lot of post-its/notepads and Sharpies." After seeing all my post-its/notepads and Sharpies I will have to admit that I have a post-its/notepads and Sharpies problem. I knew I had a lot but I didn't know just how much until I put them all in one place. Take a look at all my post-its/notepads and Sharpies as well as a few of my other favorite office supplies.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVf1nQigjHA0CGO-PFa9pHOwyNzhhu0Q3vslEpJICAeWsOyik6-0JtSHb5FczzyTRg78CxnhzW0uOULbYWJq25kdjgUUUIOq8o9euafg3d6wORDrHhVLHh_BlUZIRHBVx0mbFiS8aVM-AG/s1600/IMG_0757.JPG">
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgquYtF425n4E0qO9e9APh3EAItpCNQIGJHxXg2iWw_E1-IKNq4QYjJvB54ZCzo5hj3NiJOg3j_e20hFN-1fOxKmmaat-NJrrvYKEv5LhM2vTGk6t4C04dZsChOEMzUynAaWib1WislgZqT/s1600/IMG_0766.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgquYtF425n4E0qO9e9APh3EAItpCNQIGJHxXg2iWw_E1-IKNq4QYjJvB54ZCzo5hj3NiJOg3j_e20hFN-1fOxKmmaat-NJrrvYKEv5LhM2vTGk6t4C04dZsChOEMzUynAaWib1WislgZqT/s400/IMG_0766.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646471009007119922" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLPOagkVj_S7BQst9exGB13AN411vdPBPHuT6uES1NzS12rMCbHxJ4c0LUBRqRP2RVv6MX3HtA02QgVqjg2cbPaGhtx0oQKIEy1KyYdVbNI-SgAis-kgvtHv9uK6YLdAnPbky1DNkBzL6/s1600/IMG_0783.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLPOagkVj_S7BQst9exGB13AN411vdPBPHuT6uES1NzS12rMCbHxJ4c0LUBRqRP2RVv6MX3HtA02QgVqjg2cbPaGhtx0oQKIEy1KyYdVbNI-SgAis-kgvtHv9uK6YLdAnPbky1DNkBzL6/s400/IMG_0783.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646750801808833554" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGwK00vsDIjWh9T8uS3uq19VVyrYRUDLq-Qqm9Oty9XHiPyoD9AB844IxHDDZS18RS61mTvpRGZohGe6pot17bKLvbD8S9CRKIiCifygztYXreGj3zXT1bdV0CyDXjTmS_IK1q87OWkht/s1600/IMG_0799.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGwK00vsDIjWh9T8uS3uq19VVyrYRUDLq-Qqm9Oty9XHiPyoD9AB844IxHDDZS18RS61mTvpRGZohGe6pot17bKLvbD8S9CRKIiCifygztYXreGj3zXT1bdV0CyDXjTmS_IK1q87OWkht/s400/IMG_0799.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646761441548803586" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_pJXd_GOJXSHUPNl87znXCRiHjrAFq8LP2ls98Wc0PvXqeLzXt9F6noGmzPhGwf5NR7qi_lj-I3CTBtF0hjNxw6p-uHd7Se7tECCarov_bH4LtEIJLms0axbaWe0wX70_NSHawOMhbDa/s1600/IMG_0810.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_pJXd_GOJXSHUPNl87znXCRiHjrAFq8LP2ls98Wc0PvXqeLzXt9F6noGmzPhGwf5NR7qi_lj-I3CTBtF0hjNxw6p-uHd7Se7tECCarov_bH4LtEIJLms0axbaWe0wX70_NSHawOMhbDa/s400/IMG_0810.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646761443197235042" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoHD8Bmtfsrfl364-zcjEhcVa6lmVNPcFUzrNMCzlgGdz5FTKV_-7xdmYMjF5Lgt5BgDLiLxFJmlpkJ7gkkXLVKATtsuFhzc_N2R5k5wOIhtkmYvTPIiCO_tO0RgURsY7RrpjsBQbGGJX/s1600/IMG_0805.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoHD8Bmtfsrfl364-zcjEhcVa6lmVNPcFUzrNMCzlgGdz5FTKV_-7xdmYMjF5Lgt5BgDLiLxFJmlpkJ7gkkXLVKATtsuFhzc_N2R5k5wOIhtkmYvTPIiCO_tO0RgURsY7RrpjsBQbGGJX/s400/IMG_0805.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646759665991311058" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Before you make fun of me you must know that I really do use these on a regular basis. I am always jotting a note on a post-it or making a list on a note pad and I use my Sharpies to make those notes and lists. I am a little embarrassed that I do have an unopened package of Sharpies, but I know those too will be used soon.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-aIY_ejEEMc_uZ0fBX-xN1Gtws5pol7Z5HOelQAjeu3X9K2gYfkzvATMmVRGVZfhgagiQ7QK6aJLXPDytVhcbcvAwx0aMls-s9CognbVoLflvtmUDvho4XBPw7_f389mlo8GHievNCKC/s1600/IMG_0796.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-aIY_ejEEMc_uZ0fBX-xN1Gtws5pol7Z5HOelQAjeu3X9K2gYfkzvATMmVRGVZfhgagiQ7QK6aJLXPDytVhcbcvAwx0aMls-s9CognbVoLflvtmUDvho4XBPw7_f389mlo8GHievNCKC/s400/IMG_0796.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646750803612353010" border="0" /></a>
<br />Now here is where I would have say that I have gone overboard. I don't really use paperclips that much nor do I use the pushpins that much either. When I am at the store I just can't pass up a colorful pack of paperclips. However, if I ever find myself in need, I know right where to find them.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KCC_kZLZlAdtFcerfp7vrAb2qSDpxoWVqk3zRugbvzcHIiEpK-WsL9zovQQBpdRa9zmG5skf-Lw9rRYMfny8P0wgfjQ4TXXcPW1jErYC6-hNYgBQ5EpZ2kNbU_7Bdd5o-qIwB1vlkIiS/s1600/IMG_0813.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KCC_kZLZlAdtFcerfp7vrAb2qSDpxoWVqk3zRugbvzcHIiEpK-WsL9zovQQBpdRa9zmG5skf-Lw9rRYMfny8P0wgfjQ4TXXcPW1jErYC6-hNYgBQ5EpZ2kNbU_7Bdd5o-qIwB1vlkIiS/s400/IMG_0813.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646763466437904354" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2j9hr3SUk5BG-GCpodwEiq8420rNWtQD0I4FXDMWe_tV2z4EPpyVS4zZIVpsjPfTyvP_fRMMQ_yvetVk3FfL1CvsnThElDHw8-gplOO8nVdBKU_7MRHQf8I1ut-mGTLhV8WWpZE3H3MY/s1600/IMG_0815.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2j9hr3SUk5BG-GCpodwEiq8420rNWtQD0I4FXDMWe_tV2z4EPpyVS4zZIVpsjPfTyvP_fRMMQ_yvetVk3FfL1CvsnThElDHw8-gplOO8nVdBKU_7MRHQf8I1ut-mGTLhV8WWpZE3H3MY/s400/IMG_0815.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646763462685394210" border="0" /></a>
<br />I hope that I can resist the urge to buy any office supplies for a while since I have seen how much I have. I really hope I can do this.
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<br />The Garcia'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717179862392262109noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389537372646752857.post-80063983106728342582011-08-29T21:10:00.000-05:002011-08-29T22:10:32.022-05:00Staying OrganizedI love being organized!
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<br />There is nothing like getting a new planner and filling it with birthdays, meetings, appointments, and other activities. I love being able to glance at my planner and see what my days, weeks, and months will look like. I have a planner that is always with me, a calendar on my phone that is connected to my computer, as well as Justin's iPod touch. Unfortunately, despite our extensive list of scheduling resources and devices, there are still times when one of us has something going on that we forget to put on our shared computer calendar.
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<br />I have always wanted a family calendar somewhere in our house - one that we could easily look at multiple times a day without having to pull it up on a phone or computer. I had planned on putting one in our home office but unless one of us is working on a specific project, we don't spend a whole lot of time in the office (although that might change with <a href="http://justinandsally.blogspot.com/2011/08/school-back-in-session.html">Justin's new endeavor</a>). One place that I know we pass through multiple times everyday is the kitchen. It didn't take long to find the perfect spot - a blank wall that was just screaming "hang something here!" I measured the space and started my hunt for a calendar.
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<br />I found many different calendars that I liked, but most of them were dry erase. The reason I didn't want to a dry erase calendar was because it would be really easy to accidentally erase things from the calendar. Also, people (Justin) are always tempted to wipe a finger (sometimes on purpose, sometimes not) though the writing. Finding myself at a dead end, I decided that I would make my own.
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<br />Here is the list of materials you will need:
<br /><ul><li>Bulletin board</li><li>Paint</li><li>Post-its</li><li>Ribbon</li><li>Push pens</li><li>Ruler
<br /></li></ul>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_2wo8zChNUZsRUmaI0AtFASUHnPRbeb15GAFQ-PoH8LSpW7xeUiK-vYtxwHenyjYeCYdTNDUj8YY9Hfodcp-uuaDPSyXQkyGr7HqW6yUs6U9flkAjApdEbkEaLTuOxADv5ro69K6J3o1/s1600/IMG_4152.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_2wo8zChNUZsRUmaI0AtFASUHnPRbeb15GAFQ-PoH8LSpW7xeUiK-vYtxwHenyjYeCYdTNDUj8YY9Hfodcp-uuaDPSyXQkyGr7HqW6yUs6U9flkAjApdEbkEaLTuOxADv5ro69K6J3o1/s400/IMG_4152.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644560487802521858" border="0" /></a>
<br />I set up shop in the garage and started spray painting. I thought about sanding the trim but wanted to get started so I skipped that and just starting painting.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQqRdnM6sSbsLoCFVs9pBLBxT13nWBpd185jTjyUXzC9tQKRQ5_XWsT9MbfOGxzFMS7nzg6cfeJvi9CIcYJviUCYX638MJADO-cxN_QlqzGieLVieBZFHzm3AMEGWor75-3n_GMenvBLW/s1600/IMG_4154.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQqRdnM6sSbsLoCFVs9pBLBxT13nWBpd185jTjyUXzC9tQKRQ5_XWsT9MbfOGxzFMS7nzg6cfeJvi9CIcYJviUCYX638MJADO-cxN_QlqzGieLVieBZFHzm3AMEGWor75-3n_GMenvBLW/s400/IMG_4154.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644560489199387314" border="0" /></a>
<br />I knew it would take a few coats but after 5 coats of the paint just soaking into the cork I knew I needed a new plan. I really wanted this to work to I took a few days and did some research and found that using real paint would work better. We were painting our kitchen cabinets at the time so I just took some white gloss paint we had for the cabinets and started painting. It worked! I still had to paint three coats but the paint was much thicker and adhered to the cork much better than the spray paint. It turned out just the way I had planned.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQqRdnM6sSbsLoCFVs9pBLBxT13nWBpd185jTjyUXzC9tQKRQ5_XWsT9MbfOGxzFMS7nzg6cfeJvi9CIcYJviUCYX638MJADO-cxN_QlqzGieLVieBZFHzm3AMEGWor75-3n_GMenvBLW/s1600/IMG_4154.JPG">
<br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoWtltO7aOA1ULX2p0myFM8rVDeg3Wmt_oUeBHfA_vEwhae_qrfJcWxGjFIjYPgMGfp7Xty1-u0TaudLrxhsU6oaS1NE3RPmp_cPEhILRYTPFRtlJ0H-Q5WF5YCc8Bva257I_SoC85-zs/s1600/IMG_4155.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoWtltO7aOA1ULX2p0myFM8rVDeg3Wmt_oUeBHfA_vEwhae_qrfJcWxGjFIjYPgMGfp7Xty1-u0TaudLrxhsU6oaS1NE3RPmp_cPEhILRYTPFRtlJ0H-Q5WF5YCc8Bva257I_SoC85-zs/s400/IMG_4155.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644560492900648322" border="0" /></a>
<br />Here is a close up view of my paint job. I was a little worried that the paint would scratch off but it has proved itself very durable.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBR5jEg5iNuVrSNZkNzC7rdNb7Y2-B66GAetnIzjZPa5ad_0duOct8gtWwv8pLWkx74X32iwF5WCxbD4rUDYGfjlnSwyKQ-FMOEzgN54l3HfWlUXyyPiKIIGoTejC6dGzVTuRdo2wybiQ8/s1600/IMG_4159.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBR5jEg5iNuVrSNZkNzC7rdNb7Y2-B66GAetnIzjZPa5ad_0duOct8gtWwv8pLWkx74X32iwF5WCxbD4rUDYGfjlnSwyKQ-FMOEzgN54l3HfWlUXyyPiKIIGoTejC6dGzVTuRdo2wybiQ8/s400/IMG_4159.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644560499154549826" border="0" /></a>
<br />The next step was also very time consuming. I knew I wanted to use Post-It notes as the paper to write on since they are cheap a small. After laying out 30 post-its on the board I found that they were too big. I looked online for something smaller but came up with nothing. So, I decided to just cut the Post-It notes to the size I needed. Since each square would be 2.5''x2.5" I cut the post-its a little smaller than that. I don't really have an exact size but that are around 2x2". This part was easy once I had the right size. Here are the materials you will need:
<br /><ul><li>Paper cutter</li><li>Post-it</li><li>Temple</li><li>Pencil</li><li>Pen
<br /></li></ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQ3lwQ9hV3-CLoOqlEn0YpOkvkjnrMMr57gjYt_vOAokWtTHJjR3QszUpg6gChoVy93Cku-UGgzlnbNQtcQQvoUI8JNgY5zWIIKH66k3PErlodctpRjO8wB_4BF-jDVmpBTlIjybx-dXr/s1600/IMG_5524.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQ3lwQ9hV3-CLoOqlEn0YpOkvkjnrMMr57gjYt_vOAokWtTHJjR3QszUpg6gChoVy93Cku-UGgzlnbNQtcQQvoUI8JNgY5zWIIKH66k3PErlodctpRjO8wB_4BF-jDVmpBTlIjybx-dXr/s400/IMG_5524.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646458586470374402" border="0" /></a>
<br />Use your template to trace out the 2x2 square. Next you will use the paper cutter to cut the square. I found that my paper cutter would only cut about 3 or 4 Post-Its at a time.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ULAUeKH2d4PkasJsmbwSZrbnSuIBHYmnvn5nX3XWdkdyLk-tUB-yujriYl_VA-9UGu59ONgWudCPHprx-oP5JKDkj0ygTyGeq5QzmcR2Xd33FfOkMA9PXnuTnZjZD4QLsP5lq5RNQcph/s1600/IMG_5532.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ULAUeKH2d4PkasJsmbwSZrbnSuIBHYmnvn5nX3XWdkdyLk-tUB-yujriYl_VA-9UGu59ONgWudCPHprx-oP5JKDkj0ygTyGeq5QzmcR2Xd33FfOkMA9PXnuTnZjZD4QLsP5lq5RNQcph/s400/IMG_5532.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646458590575644386" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8unqp26SrWL9h1gkfA_z-Pc53Y8_Ypblk5D-PCb2ZEfK3WvFF6S6If2pgZy55ODwgf2uMIj_3AISyib1Nekh0NuX2MeayL2Yb3I7QztYWWV2zX6kpXJP86kjfaf7nGOUTzeTTBL_oKgm_/s1600/IMG_5534.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8unqp26SrWL9h1gkfA_z-Pc53Y8_Ypblk5D-PCb2ZEfK3WvFF6S6If2pgZy55ODwgf2uMIj_3AISyib1Nekh0NuX2MeayL2Yb3I7QztYWWV2zX6kpXJP86kjfaf7nGOUTzeTTBL_oKgm_/s400/IMG_5534.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646458595297920530" border="0" /></a>After you have all the squares cut and the dates written on them, its time to write out all your plans (my favorite part)!
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4iLlGElGzptsU0i9brRnbpb3AWI5KGkvlHxnjbr45Bj9nQS95lNsPkv9y-zUnJ1Ams2nKATuBFphl3Gq4e4mlwpPgZHg3gv5g_ORTq_pd5MOuMwPq5QBRqEcsXSIbkRQTSoq3aaHhcFnd/s1600/IMG_5537.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4iLlGElGzptsU0i9brRnbpb3AWI5KGkvlHxnjbr45Bj9nQS95lNsPkv9y-zUnJ1Ams2nKATuBFphl3Gq4e4mlwpPgZHg3gv5g_ORTq_pd5MOuMwPq5QBRqEcsXSIbkRQTSoq3aaHhcFnd/s400/IMG_5537.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646458601938129650" border="0" /></a>I have not color coded my events but I think that is something that I might be doing in the future. I do love using all the fun colors. Once I had cut all the Post-Its I laid them out on the calendar and used my ribbon to make the columns. I didn't take any pictures of this part...sorry. But once you have anything pinned up you have a wonderful custom calendar.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_u1IsqiyD3t3CqqVaG61HgzDrvFyTXTbRedtjIYmFmf5jkICOP1YkjYySQpEQstIR7seyKu8vbOCpx8mWBKRIbSR2oHmRBAOYu2oxeDqnoXCMY7-OjCQVIf-idPBEfIUZ2B1XskI9aVS/s1600/IMG_5560.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_u1IsqiyD3t3CqqVaG61HgzDrvFyTXTbRedtjIYmFmf5jkICOP1YkjYySQpEQstIR7seyKu8vbOCpx8mWBKRIbSR2oHmRBAOYu2oxeDqnoXCMY7-OjCQVIf-idPBEfIUZ2B1XskI9aVS/s400/IMG_5560.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646458602415048370" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UZFxsgEFuwkpnZLn6zYzTzL0RcA_fZ9fhr8Votd95SqS3U9uBE9u4KDv6MOIgSDnqZIcG0s-3mCWMzKJGTOeLfHdKF_JSNk-AUy9UYB0vo90foZsMrVgKuzxhRxRgJ7Vb-A8naf4QJAY/s1600/IMG_5568.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UZFxsgEFuwkpnZLn6zYzTzL0RcA_fZ9fhr8Votd95SqS3U9uBE9u4KDv6MOIgSDnqZIcG0s-3mCWMzKJGTOeLfHdKF_JSNk-AUy9UYB0vo90foZsMrVgKuzxhRxRgJ7Vb-A8naf4QJAY/s400/IMG_5568.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646458773575335202" border="0" /></a>I have really enjoyed using this calendar and I feel like it is keeping both Justin and I very organized. You will also see a white paper pinned to the calendar - that is our dinner menu. That way Justin can just look up there and see what we are having for dinner and does not have to ask. Or if he is in a good mood he can start dinner. HINT HINT!!!
<br />The Garcia'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05717179862392262109noreply@blogger.com1