tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58729298242992206322023-11-16T09:48:16.714-05:00A Ginger MessLife in an apron and a toolbeltJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14672613640909805360noreply@blogger.comBlogger201125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5872929824299220632.post-57316129664191056352021-07-30T21:36:00.000-04:002021-07-30T21:36:37.709-04:00Amazon Favs<h2 style="text-align: center;">Amazon Favs</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00DU5SRIY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_AFPT1TH76CC485CAKPC4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="1125" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZtNYFc4bik5R6rlxdPD9IIwKDBHBYmCNO0DdGJmmoPsHb6uRXVS5zMMahWD88EmUuf8MNomsMsnKx-TVfIDC5JcY6psCURvpT0Yb8nhfd21ML2FVXVKPsU81SvwmmEUfJzTcbUoILx2v/w274-h285/0864B778-2DF6-4E29-8A85-2187AD04C3FF.jpeg" width="274" /></a></div><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B06XDT9Y27/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_6K9H8NJ775VGT3MCQ24W?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1" rel="" style="margin-left: 1em; 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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3RZxmdlPzjl0tC5Dr2e-10bLuRnQCuX91i43jCyKBH1mdvP0T_O0hQo25aVlguhU6I-9hXOGMHN2HB0dsuetxl2w53nTSHr0_1zy-bjARxsr6hxvq7ngXmDLhsr0B0G3eX_XsnYeb_LBu/s1600/signature1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3RZxmdlPzjl0tC5Dr2e-10bLuRnQCuX91i43jCyKBH1mdvP0T_O0hQo25aVlguhU6I-9hXOGMHN2HB0dsuetxl2w53nTSHr0_1zy-bjARxsr6hxvq7ngXmDLhsr0B0G3eX_XsnYeb_LBu/s320/signature1.png" width="200" /></a></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14672613640909805360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5872929824299220632.post-85148753119833079192019-02-05T20:56:00.002-05:002019-02-05T21:16:37.657-05:00{Review} R.L. Stine's Goosebumps: Phantom of the Auditorium<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YTGYp_lBhFLfLiZSaEOEyiNtuNCgMCa1OfPfWpQhGzUeo3hRiFhPWqm44dzGIhld6An3OxmXXU-kbQ-DPHzNesxgNvejQq276Co1zYBAtkA9vePc8N7Nv-ZBMGxpPU7xnLVIdk4Mvx_W/s1600/savingPNG.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YTGYp_lBhFLfLiZSaEOEyiNtuNCgMCa1OfPfWpQhGzUeo3hRiFhPWqm44dzGIhld6An3OxmXXU-kbQ-DPHzNesxgNvejQq276Co1zYBAtkA9vePc8N7Nv-ZBMGxpPU7xnLVIdk4Mvx_W/s320/savingPNG.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Well, I don't know about you, but it felt like there should be daffodils making their spring debut today. After the week we had last we with those arctic temperatures, this weather is a welcome relief. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much, even though Punxsutawney Phil says spring will be here soon. If only this is what it felt like this past Saturday! My daughter's and I had tickets to see the newest show at the <a href="https://www.walnutstreettheatre.org/" target="_blank"><b>Walnut Street Theater</b></a>, Goosebumps: Phantom of the Auditorium and were very excited to go. The only thing was, it was like the North Pole outside, so the thought of taking the subway down and walking five blocks was not that appealing. Even though I swore I'd never drive downtown after that last fiasco and my bouts of road rage, we decided it'd be better to drive down instead. I promised the girls I'd stay chill this time, and other than getting distracted by the freezing water on the side of the Sckuylkill Expressway (which was pretty spectacular) and nearly rear-ending the car in front of me, it was actually a pleasant drive. When we arrived at the parking garage a block down on Walnut, the price for daytime parking was not a high point. The last time I drove down, the evening rate was only $12 but for some reason, it is $27 during the day, a fact I didn't even realize until we went to pick up my car. My usual planning self let me down because I assumed it'd be the same price and didn't check the Best Parking app. It's my own fault. Who doesn't love throwing money out the window? Other than that, it was a great morning! We all got along and we made it there safely! </div>
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The girls and I arrived at the theater with plenty of time to spare and were seated upstairs again. This time, however, it was a little further up than the past two visits. Actually, we enjoyed these seats because we had an excellent view of all parts of the stage. </div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRRJV2hSePj36mwRbdtq5aFT7E-BfThHsoXiYTlYLp3rmzYa5p8FxeX8WCYNOEOTjVc6Ii-NlKI7zDnvRJE7Ukg8gJKOfL6qZrxtKJucAkLbE9bOtEken__6b6hyphenhyphenr3Mzr6fZvhBu_UNF9/s1600/9SSboRVdR6qHrZ%2525B%252BZsnEg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRRJV2hSePj36mwRbdtq5aFT7E-BfThHsoXiYTlYLp3rmzYa5p8FxeX8WCYNOEOTjVc6Ii-NlKI7zDnvRJE7Ukg8gJKOfL6qZrxtKJucAkLbE9bOtEken__6b6hyphenhyphenr3Mzr6fZvhBu_UNF9/s320/9SSboRVdR6qHrZ%2525B%252BZsnEg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So far this season, I think Goosebumps may be my favorite play. As much as I loved Matilda and A Christmas Carol, it's not as much fun when you know exactly what's going to happen. Even though I do annoy my family with my usually accurate predictions, which didn't fail me this time, not knowing the plot made the experience a lot more exciting. From the opening song to the show's closing, the six-member cast had me hooked. Honestly, we were singing the Goosebumps songs after we were out of the theater and even Google searched videos on YouTube trying to find it again. I know when my kids are looking up songs from movies or shows they've seen, they actually really enjoyed it! Goosebumps: Phantom of the Auditorium delivered exactly what my family hoped for. There was only a 'little' bit of scary and a lot of silliness. The play is based on a book by R.L. Stein, a famous children's author. You can read the full synopsis on the Walnut Street Theater page, but the play is about a pair of best friends who are starring in a play that may be cursed. There may or may not be a phantom and may or may not be the tiniest bit scary (but not really)! </div>
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The show is only running from now until <b><u>February 10th</u></b>, so don't wait! Get your tickets now! Overall, our family really enjoyed ourselves. What I love about the children's series at Walnut Street Theater is the fact that the plays only last about an hour, with no intermission. It really is the perfect little family outing. The play was adorable and was the perfect length for younger children. </div>
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Next time, I'll just do my parking research so I get the best deal. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.walnutstreettheatre.org/about/news.php?id=453" target="_blank">Walnut Street Theaters News</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.walnutstreettheatre.org/season/show/rl-stines-goosebumps-phantom-of-the-auditorium" target="_blank">Walnut Street Theater Tickets</a></span></div>
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<b><u>Disclaimer:</u></b></div>
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Though I received tickets to the production at no cost, all opinions are my own. </div>
Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14672613640909805360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5872929824299220632.post-7735746704135436392019-01-19T20:36:00.001-05:002022-10-23T16:15:52.555-04:00Rothy's Shoes: An Honest Opinion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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*Updated 6/2/19*</div>
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Okay, so I took the plunge and jumped on the Rothy's Bandwagon! I'm here to give you an honest review about how I feel about these popular shoes. About a year or so ago, I started seeing two different types of shoes all over my social media accounts. I don't know if it's because I searched 'teacher styles' and then the analytics made them appear more often, or they were just becoming really popular. Either way, I began to notice them and became curious. Tieks was the first brand I noticed, followed by Rothy's. Now, the portability of Tieks intrigued me, and I loved the teal bottoms, but I still wasn't a fan of the style. I don't love the rounded toe and the elastic look of the top.I know, I know. Some people SWEAR by them, but that's just my personal preference. Rothy's were always appealing in their style. However, when I first looked at the price tag on either type of shoe I shot both down really quickly and went into my mental file for "one day." </div>
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Flash forward to last summer...and finally feeling settled in my my job as a 6th grade teacher, I knew I needed to start investing in shoes that were comfortable for long days on my feet, while also making me feel stylish. For some people, feeling cute isn't that important, but I know I'm in a better mood if I feel put together. So it's a win-win for me, my family, AND my students if I enjoy what I'm wearing. No-brainer! I began to research both Tieks and Rothy's. From YouTube reviews to Buzzfeed and bloggers. I read all the good and bad and finally was convinced. I. Needed. Rothy's. Now, four pair deep, I'm ready to write an honest review. Okay, so first and foremost, Rothy's are</div>
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ECO-FRIENDLY</h2>
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<li><a href="http://rothys.com/" target="_blank">Rothy's</a> knit uppers are made from 100% post-consumer plastic water bottles.</li>
<li>As of this post, they've saved over 23 million water bottles from landfills!</li>
<li>Made from recycled foam.</li>
<li>Use vegan and non-toxic adhesives.</li>
<li>Contain carbon-free rubber soles.</li>
<li>Even their packaging is made from recycled materials!</li>
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What You Need to Know:</h2>
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<li>There are 4 main styles (<a href="https://rothys.com/womens/flats/pointed-toe-flats" target="_blank">The Point</a>, <a href="https://rothys.com/womens/flats" target="_blank">The Flat</a>, <a href="https://rothys.com/womens/loafers" target="_blank">The Loafer,</a> <a href="https://rothys.com/womens/slip-on-sneakers" target="_blank">The Sneaker</a>) PLUS <a href="https://rothys.com/girls/loafers" target="_blank">children's sizes</a></li>
<li>They are machine washable! Yes, it's true!! Cold water ONLY, please!</li>
<li>They are comfortable and have NO Break in period. (from my experience)</li>
<li>The price is from $125-165 (BUT they have a referral program which NOW lets you stack referrals! More explanation to come)</li>
<li>Excellent Customer Service</li>
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STYLES</h2>
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<a href="https://rothys.com/womens" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1600" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-05s1lpm2r7bOVMlS1otA5RrvyCoClW4VzVdaYHBh_OHizYwjr2-KSWERBlGlijw0ag4nr3UJTjT_pFGtp4CdfS-8rmKIDqI4ShtCqP41bxobJ2QoUSO4OdKu6_xlUejP-AOyLResQSO/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-03-31+at+3.35.33+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://rothys.com/womens/flats/pointed-toe-flats" target="_blank">The Point</a></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmjZQgI6SmxUjLmcQH81X81V86aX_A9SjxYb-sgJHBmSA3Dz3zYFq7edUAibYR9f3-u3zLChOw3zIWExNxSF0gxKum431LNbqNzIrSBcjpW580AJDLieaLnyLJbWz3FEM6oMYon7IhJ4r/s1600/fullsizeoutput_5154.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmjZQgI6SmxUjLmcQH81X81V86aX_A9SjxYb-sgJHBmSA3Dz3zYFq7edUAibYR9f3-u3zLChOw3zIWExNxSF0gxKum431LNbqNzIrSBcjpW580AJDLieaLnyLJbWz3FEM6oMYon7IhJ4r/s320/fullsizeoutput_5154.jpeg" width="240" /></a>My very first pair was the Dark Camo Point. A trick I learned a long time ago with ANY pointed toe shoes is to size up a half size so your toes aren't squished. They will still fit, you just don't have all your toes crammed up in the point. So of course, I did. Most Rothy's Addicts will tell you the same thing. It's very rare for me to see someone say they ordered their normal size and the shoes were comfortable. I'm definitely glad that I did. Had I ordered my size, they would have probably have been way too tight. So, September is when I began my love affair with these beautiful shoes, a great month, to be sure, since I'm a teacher. I spend all day on my feet. The Dark Camo was my choice because I felt they were fairly neutral, while still having a little sass. Who doesn't need a little sass? Now, I've worn these shoes at least twice a week, if not more, since September. I never got any blisters and wore them out on day one. With this particular pair, I did feel a slight rubbing on one foot, so I put on socks and wore them around the house a bit and whatever it was, stopped bothering me. The only time I've seen people complain it seems is when the pair they get is too tight. Not everyone realizes you need to size up. Even though they are stretchy because of the knitted uppers, they shouldn't be too tight. Day in, day out, I come home and do not feel the need to kick my shoes off. This is not the case with any of my other shoes, no matter how cute I think they are. The only thing I will say about these particular shoes is that I think I should have gone a FULL size up in points as I feel the edge of the insole rubbing under my pinky toe of my right foot. It doesn't give me blisters and I still feel comfy all day, I just would rather not feel it. *Later I realized that the insoles inside my dark camo points were actually 7.5 (Stamped on the bottom) which is why I was having this issue. I chatted with Rothy's on the online chat and they shipped out the correct size immediately at no cost. #greatcustomerservice!This did NOT prevent me from wearing them at all, mind you. My fourth pair was also a point. This time, I got the Marigold points, but decided to go up a full size. I'll get into that story once I talk about customer service. Once I received my perfect size, though, Ah-May-Zing! They are so gorgeous and surprisingly go with many colors! I've worn them a ton, and at a full size bigger, they are even MORE comfortable than my Dark camo points! Update: Since originally writing this post, I have acquired the leopard, orchid, black, and copper points. The leopard are so versatile and soft and I LOVE the rich color of the orchid points! I am so disappointed that the Poseidon points have been retired. I really hope one day they'll bring them back! </div>
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<a href="https://rothys.com/womens/loafers" target="_blank">The Loafer</a></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanFBInnUxnz8_e0dE0PcbfjQOkb_i021FD2d8QBvi831b2uyhUijKezfvzC0Sknr-krSgSIxVDBoKMvckDEQ1kCal8Rn_QvTZLT-u2gQ1Mli4dc_7MZ9yo7l2uVDi1dmZXVHNHc2UEQmk/s1600/fullsizeoutput_5160.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1583" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanFBInnUxnz8_e0dE0PcbfjQOkb_i021FD2d8QBvi831b2uyhUijKezfvzC0Sknr-krSgSIxVDBoKMvckDEQ1kCal8Rn_QvTZLT-u2gQ1Mli4dc_7MZ9yo7l2uVDi1dmZXVHNHc2UEQmk/s200/fullsizeoutput_5160.jpeg" width="197" /></a>I loved my Rothy's points so much that I convinced my sister in law to get a pair and she chose the Green Camo loafers. When I saw the loafers in person, I couldn't wait to get my own pair! This time, I decided that my second pair should be a little more fun, which is why I decided to get the Mocha Spotted Loafers. As per some Rothy's wearers, I ordered my regular size, however, they were just too tight, so I had to order a half size larger and the were PERFECT. I didn't think my Rothy's could be more comfortable, and yet, the Loafers are To. Die. For. I know...a bit dramatic. I don't even want to take them off sometimes! With only two pair of Rothy's, I'd wear them probably four days out of five during the week, not including weekends. My loafers are so cute and versatile! They fancy up so many outfits!<br />
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<a href="https://rothys.com/womens/flats" target="_blank">The Flat </a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The third pair I decided on was the Charcoal Birdseye Flat. An adorable gray flat with a pop of pink on the sole. As much as I loved the Loafer and the Point, I felt like I needed a basic shoe that I could wear with my yoga pants, or really, anything at all. It surprised me how much I loved these Flats. I'm particularly drawn to points, but they tend to be too dressy for certain outfits. For these, I decided to size up a half size again since the loafers and flats run about the same, size-wise. So glad that I did, because they were a perfect fit. My husband teases me now because my daily dilemma is, <i>Which Rothy's do I wear? </i><br />
<i>Update: I had major FOMO when they began to retire the Fern flats because they match my Eagles gear perfectly, so my parents were so sweet and got me and early birthday gift! I really need to get a full-length mirror in a better spot with more natural light. </i></div>
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<h2>
The Sneaker</h2>
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Finally, I decided to try the sneakers. As per many Rothy's wearer's suggestions, I ordered my regular size. For me, they were a perfect fit! For my sister-in-law, she had to go up a half a size. It really seems to depend on the person. Everyone's feet are different. At first, I though they might be a little too tight. The black sneakers were my first pair. I have a high instep, so the first day they seemed to be pretty on the top of my foot. The also pinched my pinkie toes by the end of the day. I wasn't wearing socks, though. Even still, I didn't have any blisters, so it didn't prevent me from wearing them again. The next time I wore them, I wore them with no show socks. By the end of a full day on my feet, my toes didn't hurt like they did before. I have the same problem with my pinkie toes whenever I wear Vans or Converse, too. So, after that day of no problems, I tried to wear them without socks again. Well, again my toes hurt by the end of the day. From then on, I just wear no show socks and haven't had any problem. I even went an entire school day wearing them to going ax throwing and staying out pretty late. By the time I got home, I still didn't have any pain. After a couple weeks of wearing my black sneakers, I decided I wanted to get the white ones. When they arrived, that same problem with the tightness of the instep happened. That made me think that maybe these shoes are different from their other styles, due to the nature of the design. So, I grabbed my black ones and tried them on to compare. I couldn't believe how much more comfortable they were! So basically, what I'm saying is, there is definitely a short break-in period for the sneakers. If you wear socks, you probably won't have much of a problem. However, do understand that they will stretch a little and eventually conform to your foot. I probably wear my sneakers even more than my points. Never thought that would happen! I even wore my black ones to our school's field day! (Not the greatest shoes for tug-of-war...just saying. Next time I'll wear shoes with laces lol. That's an intense event!) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzgsdJRWAAxuRKcRAnCSn98UdvCBAuBD_k4urFWe4nwchIr-7MczhcBkfiTZovA_NP2i8R0hyphenhyphena_55JygKJQA1rzQpHgUXRNikTQ1rJV1kZP9485TmqgmJwVGpwXpHqhGL-a_mqxePmDOLo/s1600/69D27030-4D56-4202-A232-901C03D9842A.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzgsdJRWAAxuRKcRAnCSn98UdvCBAuBD_k4urFWe4nwchIr-7MczhcBkfiTZovA_NP2i8R0hyphenhyphena_55JygKJQA1rzQpHgUXRNikTQ1rJV1kZP9485TmqgmJwVGpwXpHqhGL-a_mqxePmDOLo/s200/69D27030-4D56-4202-A232-901C03D9842A.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_ODcW6oxPejK8aRGP5KAmJpiIYL8G1iygTa2dsaBzosnKsuJlrtUduwvpbzkjoM8eW3JrrtfN4TIG6Xn1ogTMPgUODsImNPELFc8FAhQtSumMKhI5yI9_0JBCqDTeR_Dp7i0HoeQ69rm/s1600/46DD2203-AE01-461F-82D2-0EB009659E9C.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1543" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_ODcW6oxPejK8aRGP5KAmJpiIYL8G1iygTa2dsaBzosnKsuJlrtUduwvpbzkjoM8eW3JrrtfN4TIG6Xn1ogTMPgUODsImNPELFc8FAhQtSumMKhI5yI9_0JBCqDTeR_Dp7i0HoeQ69rm/s200/46DD2203-AE01-461F-82D2-0EB009659E9C.jpg" width="192" /></a> </div>
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Oh, and BTW...I have washed those white shoes and they have come out looking brand new! I did use a scrub brush on the soles with some soap, but they still look white! Even had someone step on them in mud and just used a washcloth with soap and it came right out without even having to use the washing machine! </div>
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THEY ARE WASHABLE!</h2>
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Another great feature: Yes! It's absolutely true! You can throw these in the washing machine! I have washed mine multiple times and they come out looking brand new. All you have to do is take out the insoles, toss everything in the water using a mild detergent, use ONLY cold water, and let sit overnight to dry. Voila! It's been as easy as that. Now, I have worn mine without mini socks many times, and as with most shoes when your feet sweat, they'll begin to stink. Honestly, I prefer to wear socks with my shoes in general, as long as they don't show. These are VERY comfortable without socks, but I found some <a href="https://www.target.com/p/peds-women-s-2pk-cotton-unseen-liner-athletic-socks-grey-9-11/-/A-53519266" target="_blank">PEDS</a> that are a perfect fit for loafers AND another set of <a href="https://www.target.com/p/peds-women-s-hidden-liner-2pk-m/-/A-50656075?preselect=50593314#lnk=sametab" target="_blank">PEDS</a> that is a true no-show for the points AND flats that doesn't fall down, so I wear those. Especially since it's winter, my feet are a little warmer. Plus, the socks keep my shoes from smelling. Win win!!</div>
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PRICE & REFERRAL PROGRAM</h2>
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I will be 100% honest with you. These shoes are more than I ever thought I'd spend. My typical dollar amount for flats was about $40-$60. Sometimes more, sometimes less. That being said, My feet never thank me. Those shoes don't last as long as Rothy's. And when you compare Rothy's to flats like Jimmy Choos at $400-$700 a pair, these are a steal! PLUS, Rothy's has a referral program where you get $20 off whenever you refer someone to buy their first pair. You get your own special link that will give THEM $20 off AND YOU get $20 off. What's even BETTER is that they now let you stack the codes, For example, if you refer three people, you'll get $60 off your next order! </div>
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<h2>
EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKnsrsOHbZTbOC4BBQEiLtLANt4NY5Gj2GE3NZF5bx0nw8AHjLdOK7vKy0nJ13Rt5p0wosXCP0yaTzCcc01e6weMOGdAALYW0sWzHfJ_u0c_eT-12y6YSesDy0MA0mFhBavn3-OPilp4Jc/s1600/fullsizeoutput_53db.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKnsrsOHbZTbOC4BBQEiLtLANt4NY5Gj2GE3NZF5bx0nw8AHjLdOK7vKy0nJ13Rt5p0wosXCP0yaTzCcc01e6weMOGdAALYW0sWzHfJ_u0c_eT-12y6YSesDy0MA0mFhBavn3-OPilp4Jc/s200/fullsizeoutput_53db.jpeg" width="200" /></a>Another great about this company, other than everything else I've said, is their customer service. Really. The online chat is extremely convenient. I had to exchange my loafers for a half size larger and I swear they shipped them out even before I put mine in the mail. Oh, and returns are FREE! The only issue I had was with my Marigold points. The first pair I got were a full size larger and I was nervous they were too loose, so I exchanged for a half size smaller. Unfortunately, the new pair were way too tight and I wanted to keep the first pair (since I hadn't returned them yet), but they only allow one exchange per order. So, I had to return them both and reorder. The next pair I ordered in a full size larger, again, however this time my feet were swimming in them! So, again I ordered a half size smaller and they were too tight. I wanted to cry. Luckily, I spoke to a wonderful customer service rep who told me I could get a second return if they still didn't fit. She had told me to email Rothys and put her name with Attn:. I'm so glad I did because the online chat rep wasn't going to give in, this time. When I finally got my FIFTH pair of Marigold in a full size bigger they fit me PERFECTLY! I'm so glad I stuck with it. So for Rothy's Customer Service? Wonderful!</div>
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FINAL ASSESSMENT</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigG5KdeXv4haCk0XWpVM_Yy76SFY6THX9d1hf6KXv48473SvydpDpZ_ylXZndKCVXctRpv-q_WGJ63hhFSDwJeO12uNbw7a2Zqz6ZLCZoMNVVDsdTNvC5EpzdKXBUsso_sOpvPZCdvMaxB/s1600/IMG_2072.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigG5KdeXv4haCk0XWpVM_Yy76SFY6THX9d1hf6KXv48473SvydpDpZ_ylXZndKCVXctRpv-q_WGJ63hhFSDwJeO12uNbw7a2Zqz6ZLCZoMNVVDsdTNvC5EpzdKXBUsso_sOpvPZCdvMaxB/s200/IMG_2072.JPG" width="200" /></a>Rothy's are my favorite shoes and I can't wait to get my next pair, probably Chili points. Of all the Rothy's styles, the only one that did have a break-in period were the sneakers. I still prefer them over my regular Nike sneakers or even Vans/Converse. I wore my white Converse the other day, and as cute as I think they are, my feet were killing me at the end of the day. They always pinch my pinky toes. I may be cleaning out my shoes pretty soon and making room for some new Rothy's. They are stylish, eco-friendly, comfortable, and easy to care for. I will confirm that I have become what is known as a Rothy's Addict, complete with a Facebook 'support' group and everything! If you'd like a link for $20 click the link below. (Links are only good for 30 days, so if it's been past 30 days since you've click the link or since this review was posted, send me a comment with your email address and I'll give you your own link.)</div>
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<a href="https://share.rothys.com/x/g5RhjY" target="_blank">CLICK LINK FOR $20 OFF YOUR FIRST PAIR</a></h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">My dad thinks I'm a nut</td></tr>
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If you're looking for inexpensive no shoe socks, I get mine from Target. Also I put Odor Eaters Soft and Slim over top of the insoles so then I don't even have to wear socks with my points! Just trip to fit! </div>
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Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14672613640909805360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5872929824299220632.post-19765767646261689422018-12-10T00:18:00.000-05:002018-12-10T00:26:17.120-05:00(Review) A Christmas Carol<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy Sunday, Everyone! It's the happiest time of the year, and of course, with that comes the never ending availability of holiday productions. I look forward to this time of year because I set my DVR to record ALL the Hallmark Christmas movies and my poor husband gets the privilege of watching them with me! Isn't he lucky? I love a happy ending! Well, you can imagine how excited I was when I got tickets to see A Christmas Carol downtown at the Walnut Street Theater! First, I know the story, because who hasn't seen probably 10 renditions of the beloved classic? Even though I've read several of Dickens' classics, from A Tale of Two Cities to David Copperfield, Dickens is one of my favorite authors of classic novels; and even though I have seen A Christmas Carol in movie or TV form, I have never seen it performed live on stage! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWm3vMGN6jzHBneQKdVUjBBF3NYdTFPeMkY_NNf7qFkkrpTzw1cVtptenorgML0BI64Y-zT2mByRKHVj5em0irtkgoEm_4eFsEbH5XV-QrlKNtD8hvgPlhMz0Gxrt-kGDRyBkgm1CzS0Vm/s1600/qr3niMsWQi29dU1%2525eQ15sQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWm3vMGN6jzHBneQKdVUjBBF3NYdTFPeMkY_NNf7qFkkrpTzw1cVtptenorgML0BI64Y-zT2mByRKHVj5em0irtkgoEm_4eFsEbH5XV-QrlKNtD8hvgPlhMz0Gxrt-kGDRyBkgm1CzS0Vm/s320/qr3niMsWQi29dU1%2525eQ15sQ.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQw8XCE8-J0KU8XBMQ5a56Gn07jf46Sh-xs8bzHF1SDZdI37rwvRNG820NxL3fLpxWeSC6GU-MjqE2mNGfR16kS_ITKKUQ0kz1BHMCMXDpQA34zXYsLV1qWCSbbL5-nqHNWJoWK1nMqG5/s1600/hJfgtdyXQ3qNb%252BV0tjPgVA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQw8XCE8-J0KU8XBMQ5a56Gn07jf46Sh-xs8bzHF1SDZdI37rwvRNG820NxL3fLpxWeSC6GU-MjqE2mNGfR16kS_ITKKUQ0kz1BHMCMXDpQA34zXYsLV1qWCSbbL5-nqHNWJoWK1nMqG5/s320/hJfgtdyXQ3qNb%252BV0tjPgVA.jpg" width="240" /></a>So, when I told my daughters that we were going downtown again, they were pretty pumped! (As long as Mommy did drive down lol) This time, we decided to take the subway from Fern Rock Station down to the Walnut-Locust stop. It was about a five block walk to the theater, and even though it was chilly, the sun was out and it was a lovely afternoon! We arrived at the theater and found our seats right away, with a little time to spare this time. We were in the Mezzanine section on the right and we had no obstructions. Our view was perfect! Of course, as you know from the last review, I love the Walnut Street Theater and its history! I can image the stars from the past walking across that stage and could just spend forever looking at all the old photos in the lobby. </div>
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The show was wonderful! Benjamin Lovell, who plays Ebenezer Scrooge was just the character you love to hate. With the help of the ghosts of past, present, and future, he turns over a new leaf and loses his grinchiness, if that's even a word. You leave the theater happy that Ebenezer's fate is going to turn out alright. And with all the negativity in the world today, believing there is good in others, no matter how 'ugly' they can be, gives us hope. My fifteen year old thoroughly enjoyed the play as did I. My only concern, though, was that the dialogue was still in the Dickens format. Since it was geared towards children, I was worried that my two younger ones might not understand what was happening, and so I asked them afterwards. Yep, they were a bit confused at the language. They enjoyed themselves, but I had to explain some of the story to them. The part where Marley's ghost shows up in the door knocker also caused a little crying in the theater, but it was very short and that was the scariest part. </div>
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Overall, I wouldn't mind making this a Christmas tradition. Maybe next time, we'll stop in to see the Dickens Village over at Macy's. Philly at this time of year is a fun place to go for the holidays. When we walked to City Hall, there were shop tents set up and I completely forgot about the ice skating rink set up there! I would've let the girls go skating, but one of the girls wasn't feeling so great, so we got some hot chocolate (and a cookie from the 4th Street Cookie Co dipped in chocolate) and headed to the subway. They had a great time and it was a fantastic way to kick of this holiday season! </div>
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<a href="https://www.walnutstreettheatre.org/season/show/charles-dickens-a-christmas-carol-2018" target="_blank">Walnut Street Theater Tickets</a></h2>
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<a href="https://www.walnutstreettheatre.org/season/show/roald-dahls-matilda-the-musical#calendar" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Walnut Street Theater Tickets</span></a></div>
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<b><u>Disclaimer:</u></b></div>
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Though I received tickets to the production at no cost, all opinions are my own. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9Cxkjm95UoFUawezZvFeBKEQPjBrydZ7pm88AoJ88OqB7FRhOPPR82wJN5n5Y1y6yrW8rrXxmzYoYjq6ynEYupLwVsuE0kpy2LAOkEDhcFEyrPh9Rzie2D53-TgdhUK1SK5KRGCjnRy3/s1600/NDlp5pi5RIuL%252BZgq%25257iOew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9Cxkjm95UoFUawezZvFeBKEQPjBrydZ7pm88AoJ88OqB7FRhOPPR82wJN5n5Y1y6yrW8rrXxmzYoYjq6ynEYupLwVsuE0kpy2LAOkEDhcFEyrPh9Rzie2D53-TgdhUK1SK5KRGCjnRy3/s320/NDlp5pi5RIuL%252BZgq%25257iOew.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Of course, I wore my favorite, most comfortable, yet sustainable, shoes...Rothy's in Mocha Spot. Kept my feet comfy all day!<br />
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Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14672613640909805360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5872929824299220632.post-68783007024132692252018-11-26T22:23:00.001-05:002018-11-26T22:23:27.040-05:00{Review} Matilda The Musical<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUnrDvELuD8V55XvXpcuHw-CSkK3amNLhbmU2UmSW2k7Yy6KeAVclpSulsAQHDOLx7fcJaQPbMJFDcY4DoKTwdeNQVbTwzIATFfXXGljDDx9mkEQt11z0cp26CMW7oGhTrYiKL7siIKHj/s1600/Matilda.Press1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUnrDvELuD8V55XvXpcuHw-CSkK3amNLhbmU2UmSW2k7Yy6KeAVclpSulsAQHDOLx7fcJaQPbMJFDcY4DoKTwdeNQVbTwzIATFfXXGljDDx9mkEQt11z0cp26CMW7oGhTrYiKL7siIKHj/s320/Matilda.Press1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Okay, so, I know it's been quite some time since there has been a new post on here. Life has been CUH-RAY-ZEE! Good crazy...mostly...sad crazy quite a bit for about eighteen months (and still sometimes), but that's another story altogether. I've had the privilege of teaching sixth graders in my school district and it really consumes a lot of my time on top of being a mother and wife. Soooo, that being said...I keep thinking about which direction I want to go with A Ginger Mess...stick with recipes? DIY? Lean towards education? It's still undecided. After all, I'm a ginger <i>mess</i> no matter where I am, ask my students. </div>
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Let's focus! See...I'm a mess. A couple weeks ago I was offered four tickets to see the new play at the Walnut Street Theater in Center City Philadelphia. I mean, how could I say no? It's a musical! And Roald Dahl? No brainer! I mean, c'mon...I'm a teacher! Who doesn't love Roald Dahl? </div>
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So of course, I let my daughters know about the show...and told my husband, "Sorry, you can't go. Not enough tickets." Poor guy. He was HeaRt BrOkEn. Well, Friday night came along, and we decided to make the trek downtown by driving. Usually, we like to either take the subway from Fern Rock station, or take Septa Regional Rail from nearby. However, knowing we'd get out of the show at 11:30ish my husband and I decided that driving and parking nearby was the better, safer bet. I don't mind taking the train or subway. It's actually a non-stressful way to travel, but nope, I drove...not doing that again. I'll just bring pepper spray next time so that my husband feels better. It was a rainy, miserable evening. It had been pouring all afternoon and wasn't letting up. Now usually when I drive in the city, I take Lincoln Drive because I can't stand Broad Street and it's such a beautiful drive, with trees and beautiful houses, not at all like the typical part of the city. Well, the road was closed for some reason once I hit Germantown Avenue and my GPS re-routed me. I'm not as familiar with all parts of the city as my husband is, so I just followed along, worried that Lincoln Drive might be a mess from all the non-stop rain. Well, I ended up on Broad Street, of course. Luckily, we left a couple hours early because we needed to eat dinner, so we stopped at the Taco Bell, then McDonald's drive-thru at Broad and Rt. 1. Bad. Idea. Really bad idea. It took us more than a half an hour to get our food. Slow. As. Molasses. </div>
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Then, we finally made it downtown and the traffic was ridiculous. I think (well, actually I know) I was suffering from a case of road rage. By the time we made it to the garage and walked to the theater and actually sat in our seats, we had two minutes to spare, and I needed those two minutes to calm my nerves. It took TWO HOURS to get down there that night! It should have only taken me forty-five minutes. Next time, I'm taking a train (or the subway). It's so much faster and way more convenient. </div>
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Okay, so now you know all about my drive and the miserable time it took to get to the theater, but you know nothing about the actual musical. I mean, my title says "Review" right? First, let's talk about the theater. The Walnut Street Theater is wonderful because no matter where you sit, you don't have a pole or anything in front of you. No obstructed view. My husband and I saw Wicked years ago in a different theater downtown and we had a pole in front of us the entire time. Additionally, the Walnut Street Theater has so much history! I could just spend hours looking at all the pictures of people who performed in this theater, from Marlon Brando to the Marx Brothers to Katherine Hepburn to Jane Fonda. Did you know it's the oldest theater in America and actually started out as an equestrian circus? Check out their site at <a href="http://www.walnutstreetheater.org/">www.walnutstreetheater.org</a> for a lot more interesting history. </div>
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Here we are, finally in our seats. We were in the Mezzanine Right, a few rows back, but all the way to the right, near the outside aisle. There was only one song that we couldn't see the actress's entire face because she was singing all the way to the right of the stage. Overall, I was thrilled with our location and so were the girls. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBh9dXIVu8vu8hLdFGhEsH7SSX6QPhtfIM86FTH9Pu3uf2myNLGDSO3a3pFq-ux2dZUTv3UAHc7y1C3dwYhzr_6Ys9CS_F9Yj1Uk3eVfC6uqTz7cN4kVwpn85dxgPf_64dj4feCmWZ4GGa/s1600/HFJ98l%252BuT4uFAgyySrpbiQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBh9dXIVu8vu8hLdFGhEsH7SSX6QPhtfIM86FTH9Pu3uf2myNLGDSO3a3pFq-ux2dZUTv3UAHc7y1C3dwYhzr_6Ys9CS_F9Yj1Uk3eVfC6uqTz7cN4kVwpn85dxgPf_64dj4feCmWZ4GGa/s320/HFJ98l%252BuT4uFAgyySrpbiQ.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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From the moment the cast came out singing "Miracle" the show was mesmerizing. You know how sometimes kids shows are a little funny? For adults? I mean, they're funny, but not really laugh out loud kind of funny? This wasn't one of those. I was so pleasantly surprised to find out how much I'd actually laugh throughout the show. And after that horrible drive down, I needed some laughs. The singing and dancing numbers were fun to watch and my girls and I loved every moment! Christopher Sutton and Lyn Philistine were the perfect disgusting parents who only cared about themselves and didn't value Matilda or her unique qualities. I'll admit. I have never read the book, Matilda, *gasp* I know, but I had seen the movie version with Danny DeVito, so I was curious how they'd actually pull off a musical version. Not only did it make me laugh, often, the story and the actors brought tears to my eyes, too. I know that when I go to something like this, having an emotional connection to the story is so important. The relationship with Miss Honey and Matilda, played by Jemma Bleu and Laura Giknis was heartwarming and seeing these two find each other after all of their heartbreak and truly value each other moved the audience, well, I'm guessing it did because it certainly moved me. </div>
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<img height="212" src="https://www.walnutstreettheatre.org/season/images/enlarge/matilda01.jpg" width="320" /> <a href="https://www.walnutstreettheatre.org/season/show/roald-dahls-matilda-the-musical" target="_blank"><img height="320" src="https://www.walnutstreettheatre.org/season/images/enlarge/matilda12.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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Overall, this was a family-friendly production that I would highly recommend to anyone, big or small. My daughters and I enjoyed every moment and look forward to seeing more productions at the Walnut Street Theater. Even after the miserable driving adventure, it turned out to be a great experience! Make sure you get your tickets, soon! You won't regret it! </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The show is running from now until January 6th. </span></div>
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Click the link below to go to the Walnut Street Theater. </div>
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<a href="https://www.walnutstreettheatre.org/season/show/roald-dahls-matilda-the-musical#calendar" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Walnut Street Theater Tickets</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXPt8C0Wm7nXhMPGb7UGCu8_klfGta1tnKAzyCfi5fiJ-QjlYBOLaPXOXHJW5jPLoD5g1R06dfFeL78YXCUYdEXYpYxS_VD6NR0NXDfMCoUG_MAsuB93Lm4m-cy2Sk92CSOfeoMTo1v8V/s1600/Matilda.Press2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXPt8C0Wm7nXhMPGb7UGCu8_klfGta1tnKAzyCfi5fiJ-QjlYBOLaPXOXHJW5jPLoD5g1R06dfFeL78YXCUYdEXYpYxS_VD6NR0NXDfMCoUG_MAsuB93Lm4m-cy2Sk92CSOfeoMTo1v8V/s320/Matilda.Press2-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><u>Disclaimer:</u></b></div>
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Though I received tickets to the production at no cost, all opinions are my own. </div>
Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14672613640909805360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5872929824299220632.post-11201877069286157362017-11-16T00:02:00.000-05:002017-11-16T00:02:07.008-05:00Loaded Potato Soup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikiaf_FpdVTdQV2GS1jLJRdfO9-VvZ9lIS9DlJcTprFe-tu-iTNmbVr1B3vOAl2kQysd5XHNgwOgm_X4pgV5bXkXtac1j_SFuo0SrZ8KhP1Vl001v7PlqprfYqtPH4KHxRkspAka_VZ8WO/s1600/potato+soup+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikiaf_FpdVTdQV2GS1jLJRdfO9-VvZ9lIS9DlJcTprFe-tu-iTNmbVr1B3vOAl2kQysd5XHNgwOgm_X4pgV5bXkXtac1j_SFuo0SrZ8KhP1Vl001v7PlqprfYqtPH4KHxRkspAka_VZ8WO/s640/potato+soup+1.JPG" width="619" /></a></div>
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There's nothing like a nice bowl of soup on a cold, wintry day. What's even better is to be able to make a simple, delicious soup in a short amount of time. This recipe is amazing. It's hearty and satisfying. I adapted the recipe from __________ . The great thing is that I usually have all of these ingredients on hand!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Ingredients</u></span></b><br />
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2 lbs. Russet potatoes or White Potatoes<br />
8 slices bacon, diced<br />
1 stalk celery, diced small<br />
1/2 large onion, diced small<br />
3 Tablespoons flour<br />
3 cups milk<br />
1 cup heavy cream<br />
1 cup chicken stock<br />
2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese (or your favorite cheese)<br />
salt and pepper, to taste<br />
1/2 tsp. thyme<br />
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<b><u>Toppings</u></b>:<br />
Cheese<br />
Sour Cream<br />
Bacon pieces<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnEMs5o62x-CJC1f-mq3fjsdR9tSBh3_Ip2CIqKRIS0BY4eUv8yDJasXlctDpUOnGDOas4ZSLiGIc1kx5RgKYmN1kl7CAoWvWx9GN48snY68TZ2bsYNd45bwmoL4ll94PGT7ZzK3Vd2uY/s1600/potato+soup+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnEMs5o62x-CJC1f-mq3fjsdR9tSBh3_Ip2CIqKRIS0BY4eUv8yDJasXlctDpUOnGDOas4ZSLiGIc1kx5RgKYmN1kl7CAoWvWx9GN48snY68TZ2bsYNd45bwmoL4ll94PGT7ZzK3Vd2uY/s640/potato+soup+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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1. Wash and scrub the potatoes. Place them on a plate and pierce with a knife in several spots to allow steam to escape. Microwave for 11 min.</div>
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2. While the potatoes are cooking, dice up the bacon slices and cook in a large pot. Once crisp, remove to a paper towel-lined plate.</div>
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3. Pour off all the bacon drippings except 3 Tablespoons. Saute the celery and onions in the bacon drippings. </div>
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4. Once tender, add the flour and whisk.</div>
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5. Add the spices and milk. Whisk together.</div>
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6. Add the heavy cream and chicken stock and whisk again. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNf270gqeuuAdPXy0i3WFsMDwKIK1vGxjLC9QsXL4yjBtdjHObO6AqmaagaoVy6qaX2YXAvPhk7NnwoeZJfPy2qqnH5el0imeURTD3KT_q68vf6DjWqwJRdkaYnDi1gTRjWtnKqUjJ8iwn/s1600/potato+soup+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNf270gqeuuAdPXy0i3WFsMDwKIK1vGxjLC9QsXL4yjBtdjHObO6AqmaagaoVy6qaX2YXAvPhk7NnwoeZJfPy2qqnH5el0imeURTD3KT_q68vf6DjWqwJRdkaYnDi1gTRjWtnKqUjJ8iwn/s640/potato+soup+3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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7. The potatoes should be finished by this point. Dice them up.</div>
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8. Add the diced potatoes to the soup and stir.</div>
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9. Add cheese and stir.</div>
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10. Use a masher to mash up some of the potatoes right in the soup. I like how it makes the soup a little thicker and you get chunks of potatoes with it too. </div>
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11. Add all but a few Tablespoons of the bacon (to use as a topping) and stir.</div>
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12. Ladle some soup into a bowl. Top with cheese, sour cream, and bacon. Enjoy!!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/12gaT2_XgSMfqr6aX94cgO5RdsCxYiQi3CoywuDYirsY/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Click here for a Printable Recipe</a></u></b></span></div>
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Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14672613640909805360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5872929824299220632.post-26455926844638055972017-01-07T09:20:00.001-05:002017-01-07T10:42:34.801-05:00Grab and Go Homemade Soup Storage <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbj1clTcmGDOQ5_MBZYpaFYFdjK61R8PYq-lFJ2TwDCoUnIvbyvukRHf4j3CCzoqK02205FmSWw6XDpOd6KmocMDj87lJTL3FPDEhD_dX9zf944dVuDT7jiXPbZ599ssN86lt4IUIo_je/s1600/freezersoup4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbj1clTcmGDOQ5_MBZYpaFYFdjK61R8PYq-lFJ2TwDCoUnIvbyvukRHf4j3CCzoqK02205FmSWw6XDpOd6KmocMDj87lJTL3FPDEhD_dX9zf944dVuDT7jiXPbZ599ssN86lt4IUIo_je/s640/freezersoup4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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For years, I have been freezing my soups in individual servings. I really do not like canned soup, so making my own soups with fresh ingredients has always been one of my go-to lunches. It's nice to be able to reach into the freezer, grab an individual serving and toss it in a freezer bag to put in my lunch. At work, I have a glass soup bowl that I'll use to microwave them in. Delicious, fresh-ingredients, and full of flavor! </div>
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However, for years my method was to use plastic cups for the mold. I'd then cut them away and RECYCLE them. However, in recent years, people have been more environmentally conscious and have complained about the waste this creates. Although I have ALWAYS recycled the cups and NEVER put them in the trash, I did discover that not all municipalities actually have the capability to actually recycle these cups (even though the cups have the recycle symbol on the bottoms). SOOO, I was on the hunt for a new method. I liked the idea of using silicone molds, but in order to have enough soup for a single serving, I needed something larger than the typical cupcake mold. On Amazon, I was so happy to discover these jumbo cupcake liners and was even more excited when they worked out perfectly! </div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KHH375K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank"><img alt="Webake 12-Pack 4.3-inch Non-stick Jumbo Silicone Cupcake Liners, Baking Cups, Muffin Liners" height="200" 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" 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First, I just made my soup as normal. Then, after letting it cool, I lined up the cups on a baking sheet, ladled soup into each liner, and then placed the sheet in the freezer. The next morning, I easily peeled away the silicone molds and tossed them in the sink to be washed. Finally, all of the molds fit perfectly in a gallon freezer bag.SCORE! Now, I have an environmentally friendly, simple way to store my homemade soups individually. This can be used for gravies, chili, stocks, etc. Simple, environmentally friendly, and convenient! Can't get much better than that!</div>
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<br />Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14672613640909805360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5872929824299220632.post-73569401280549559102017-01-02T13:23:00.003-05:002017-01-02T13:28:24.485-05:00Buffalo Chicken Salad Sandwich<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBcXTeCb96TwvFluoAz5NyVeNWaLQnAODXsRkq8JHOkvP5kzffi_otcHNA6NtDcqDUb9z-vFcGzH_TkNhrSqZfiuXpQBuHjo2OHS0wT0zEZOVrkhHzMni1YV9SrvUQpJRTsHDoijGyucd/s1600/buffalochickensalad7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBcXTeCb96TwvFluoAz5NyVeNWaLQnAODXsRkq8JHOkvP5kzffi_otcHNA6NtDcqDUb9z-vFcGzH_TkNhrSqZfiuXpQBuHjo2OHS0wT0zEZOVrkhHzMni1YV9SrvUQpJRTsHDoijGyucd/s400/buffalochickensalad7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WQ21z-XSU1KYpiaBhZ51BOKoc8kYsh8y-5e2RS631js/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Click for PRINTABLE RECIPE</a></div>
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Sometimes, I get so tired of the same old foods I eat for lunch. As much as I love my homemade soups, sometime I just need a little more substance, which is why I was so glad when I came up with this recipe. Typically, traditional chicken salad isn't my thing. Really, the flavor isn't that exciting. However, I usually have some Gorgonzola crumbles (for salads) on hand, as well as Texas Pete hot sauce. With my very busy schedule, our family will often pick up a rotisserie chicken from the local grocery store and will usually have leftover chicken. I will usually save this chicken for use in some of my meals, such as <a href="http://www.agingermess.com/2012/12/chicken-and-broccoli-braid.html" target="_blank">Chicken and Broccoli Braid</a> or <a href="http://www.agingermess.com/2011/11/chicken-quesadillas.html" target="_blank">Chicken Quesadillas</a>. However, this recipe is a great alternative. </div>
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<b><u>Ingredients</u></b></div>
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2 cups cooked chicken</div>
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1 stalk celery, diced small</div>
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2 Tablespoons Texas Pete (or your favorite hot sauce)</div>
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1/4 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese</div>
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1/4 cup mayonnaise </div>
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salt and pepper (to taste)</div>
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First, break up the chicken either by hand, shredding it with two forks, or chopping it. Add chicken to a bowl. Add the remainder of the ingredients and mix thoroughly. Taste. Add more salt and pepper, if needed. Serve on toasted bread and enjoy! Pretty easy, right?? The Gorgonzola really makes this recipe! Feel free to substitute crumbled blue cheese instead. If you REALLY just hate stinky cheese, you could, of course, add some other types of crumbles. I, however, prefer the stinky cheese. Absolutely delicious!</div>
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Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14672613640909805360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5872929824299220632.post-88938869175573406352015-03-02T18:51:00.000-05:002017-01-02T12:03:40.763-05:00Hot Mexican Spinach Dip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Updated 3/2/15 from an earlier post 11/18/11</div>
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Okay, so this is one of the most delicious dips ever! I came across <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Hot-Mexican-Spinach-Dip/Detail.aspx?prop24=etaf">this recipe</a> years ago on allrecipes.com. I can't take the credit but it's always been a hit at parties. One thing I do differently is use pepper jack cheese instead of just monterey jack and also I sometimes add a little bit of jalapeno peppers. Just serve it up with some tortilla chips. I prefer my<a href="http://www.agingermess.com/2011/11/homemade-tortilla-chips.html" target="_blank"> homemade tortilla chips</a> but store bought ones are fine too. </div>
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<strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">Hot Mexican Spinach Dip</span></u></strong></div>
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1 (16 ounce) jar salsa</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDijfNHe7Tz-LmJiP5Uz0eU3t4Lli6drO-FTO5vEKZrQ-I_rtQmeXzNU_n7RsZ9rf9XfyTIZz3yLjCABR_34lORdvrwdSwCHU3XD8sSqYmEsk0LAIDNoX50QDG1twGinpodziXwbV0BSF/s1600/DSC00413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDijfNHe7Tz-LmJiP5Uz0eU3t4Lli6drO-FTO5vEKZrQ-I_rtQmeXzNU_n7RsZ9rf9XfyTIZz3yLjCABR_34lORdvrwdSwCHU3XD8sSqYmEsk0LAIDNoX50QDG1twGinpodziXwbV0BSF/s200/DSC00413.JPG" width="200" /></a><strong><u> </u></strong>1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained</div>
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2 cups shredded pepper Jack cheese</div>
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1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, diced and softened</div>
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1 cup evaporated milk</div>
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1 (2.25 ounce) can chopped black olives, drained</div>
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1 tablespoon red wine vinegar</div>
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salt and pepper to taste</div>
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chopped pickled jalapeno slices, to taste (Optional)</div>
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First what you're gonna do is place diced cream cheese in a microwave/oven safe bowl. Then using a strainer place defrosted spinach and press the water out. You can also use cheesecloth, just get as much moisture out as possible.</div>
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Basically all you do now is combine all the ingredients. Depending on how much of a "kick" you like will determine the hotness of the salsa you use. I have even added some chopped pickled jalapeno slices to give some extra added heat.</div>
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To go a little quicker, I like to microwave it for about 5 minutes or so and stir to get all the cheeses melted together. You can finish in the microwave if you like, it'll taste just as delicious, but I usually finish mine off in a 400 degree F. oven for about 15 minutes. Then just serve it with your favorite <a href="http://www.agingermess.com/2011/11/homemade-tortilla-chips.html" target="_blank">tortilla chips. </a>It'll be a hit, I promise!</div>
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<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kdO9RwivVIfXHUfrm2d0gvMbabHPSHTjA1L-RmLPqec/edit#">Click HERE to print the RECIPE ONLY</a></div>
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If you've tried this or made this before or have any questions or suggestions show me some comment love! :)</div>
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Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14672613640909805360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5872929824299220632.post-2148394108940775232014-07-31T00:19:00.000-04:002014-07-31T00:19:18.835-04:00Carolina Pulled Pork in the Slow Cooker<br />
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Updated: July 31, 2014<br />
Originally Published July 31, 2012<br />
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There's nothin in the world like a good ol' southern pig pickin'. It's something quite common down in North Carolina. My husband and I had one at our wedding reception 14 years ago as did my cousin who got married a couple years ago. It's nothin' fancy, just some down home cookin'. So I decided it was time to make my <span style="font-size: large;">own </span>version of <span style="font-size: large;">Carolina BBQ</span>. Typically a pig (or two) are slow roasted in a large barrel cooker, which looks like an oil drum, for hours and hours. Then, after the pork is pulled it is served with some famous <a href="http://www.theredheadedprincess.com/2012/07/carolina-barbecue-sauce.html" target="_blank">Carolina barbeque sauce</a> which typically is apple cider vinegar and red pepper flakes and a few other spices. There are a million and one versions but they all have to have that vinegar as the base. It's what makes Eastern Carolina Barbeque different. Nope, it's not sweet like Memphis Que, but has some tang and spice. Don't get me wrong..I love me some molasses-based barbeque sauce...(like my <a href="http://www.theredheadedprincess.com/2011/09/jack-daniels-sweet-and-spicy-bbq-sauce.html" target="_blank">JD Barbecue Sauce</a>) I can eat that with most anything, including potato chips. BUT, Carolina BBQ is what I was raised on and though both are good I cannot choose my favorite because they are so different. <span style="font-size: large;">I love them both!</span> So anyway..I was on a mission to create a delicious Pig Pickin for my Princess's third birthday party complete with barbecue,<span style="text-align: center;"> </span><a href="http://www.theredheadedprincess.com/2012/07/perfect-cornbread.html" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">cornbread</a><span style="text-align: center;">, potato salad, baked beans (I cheated and used Bush's) and </span><a href="http://www.theredheadedprincess.com/2012/01/cole-slaw.html" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">cole slaw</a> . Well, I don't know about you, but up here in PA I don't have a barrel smoker sittin' in my backyard thank you very much. PLUS, who has the time? Seriously? Not me, that's for sure! So instead I tried to adapt my <a href="http://www.theredheadedprincess.com/2011/09/jack-daniels-sweet-and-spicy-bbq-sauce.html" target="_blank">Jack Daniels</a> Memphis style <a href="http://www.theredheadedprincess.com/2012/01/slow-cooker-pulled-pork.html" target="_blank">Slow Cooker Pulled Pork</a> recipe to a Carolina Slow Cooker Pulled Pork. Okay, now I'm going to tell you the secret in the sauce...because, if you're gonna cheat, there HAS to be a trick somewhere. The trick here is to use.....drumroll please......<br />
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.........Liquid Hickory Smoke. Yep, they bottle smoke. Who knew? It'sbasically water that has had smoke pass through it, then it's bottled. I can usually find liquid smoke in my grocery store. It's the <span style="font-size: large;">key </span>to giving the pork that smokey flavor. I know, I'm a cheat...but so what?! It tastes amazing and is less hassle! Seriously, my mouth is watering right now just thinking about Caroline Pulled Pork. Sigh....luckily I was down south a few weeks ago and got some straight from my old stompin ground...and it was delicious! I think I smell some pulled pork in my near future.<br />
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SO..without further adieu...here's my tasty recipe. I love it! Hope you do too! It's got a little kick to it, but what do you expect when it calls for red pepper flakes? :)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Ingredients:</u></b></span></div>
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<b>Rub:</b></div>
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1 T. Chili Powder</div>
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1 T. Salt</div>
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1 T. Onion Powder</div>
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1/2 tsp. pepper</div>
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5lb shoulder roast or picnic roast</div>
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1 T. Liquid Hickory Smoke</div>
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3 cups divided <a href="http://www.theredheadedprincess.com/2012/07/carolina-barbecue-sauce.html" target="_blank">Carolina Barbecue Sauce</a></div>
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BTW: Make the barbecue sauce the day before! </div>
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1. Preheat a skillet over medium high heat. Then mix spices together then rub all over the pork. Sear the roast on all sides. This will give it a little more flavor and since we are slow cooking, we need to cheat as much as possible. :)</div>
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2. Flipping the roast can be tricky because it is pretty heavy so I used some tongs and a big spatula. Just be careful because it's pretty hot.</div>
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3. Next, place in the slow cooker and add 1 cup of <a href="http://www.theredheadedprincess.com/2012/07/carolina-barbecue-sauce.html" target="_blank">barbecue sauce </a>along with 1 tablespoon of liquid hickory smoke. Place the lid on and cook over night on low. (8 hours) </div>
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4. Remove roast to a separate dish to cool slightly.</div>
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5. Using two forks at first, shred the pork. Once it is cool enough to handle then definitely use your fingers to pull the pork. You have a better feel of what is fat and what isn't that way and it is much easier too.</div>
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6. Pour the drippings into a separate bowl. </div>
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7. Skim the fat off the top and discard. Reserve 2 cups of juices and add <a href="http://www.theredheadedprincess.com/2012/07/carolina-barbecue-sauce.html" target="_blank">2 cups of the barbecue sauce.</a></div>
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8. Place pulled pork back in the slow cooker and pour in the sauce mixture. Cook on low for 3 hours. You can cook longer, it really doesn't hurt anything. I cooked mine for 6 hours.</div>
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9. Here y'all go! <span style="font-size: large;">Doesn't that look amazing??</span> You can serve it up just on a plate with some fixins like <a href="http://www.theredheadedprincess.com/2012/07/perfect-cornbread.html" target="_blank">cornbread</a>, potato salad and <a href="http://www.theredheadedprincess.com/2012/01/cole-slaw.html" target="_blank">cole slaw</a> on the side. OR you can serve it on a bun. <span style="font-size: large;">Just make sure to pour some of the Carolina Barbecue Sauce over it before you dig in either way. </span><i>Oh, and it ain't right if you don't put the <a href="http://www.theredheadedprincess.com/2012/01/cole-slaw.html" target="_blank">slaw </a>ON the sandwich. You gotta do it up Carolina style!</i> The combo of textures with the sweet and the tang is what makes this sandwich most incredible. Just try it! No whining :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZjgC7aTh2H3uVqGXwVx9lJX8TqiDMFlXlLc1MaLKDgCSrW2NMOZnZ21QzFZIrNTVnp_76CkQit13ZLqHR86ZUfa_89isy3l6f7_s1_HCxrR2VYgA7GqPJV_RItpJ7fol4io5g2QHyH0/s1600/photo+(24).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZjgC7aTh2H3uVqGXwVx9lJX8TqiDMFlXlLc1MaLKDgCSrW2NMOZnZ21QzFZIrNTVnp_76CkQit13ZLqHR86ZUfa_89isy3l6f7_s1_HCxrR2VYgA7GqPJV_RItpJ7fol4io5g2QHyH0/s320/photo+(24).JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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I got a ketchup and mustard container set from Walmart for less than 2 bucks. I'd suggest cutting off the tip to make the spout a little larger. Have this filled with the sauce to make it easier for guests to pour sauce on the pork.</div>
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<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D4oPacehV5NB8bG_qotTiXxTAfcT5GiDZhQLea6GsxE/edit" target="_blank">To Print the RECIPE ONLY Click Here</a></div>
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<br />Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14672613640909805360noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5872929824299220632.post-67144277390244721442014-06-16T14:58:00.000-04:002014-06-16T15:28:50.145-04:00We're Getting a New Bathroom!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVeY-Pod_1jHpRSqlGD32kzhpJZ935Wf0PcD0QTvWiDLQ70B6rDoFH8NSWR9Su_78KU77U1e1nXwcbR5nk5baXrGvWYJMiB1nA8Wxs9aQqKvfuIIsC7yWWYnSZuHbYg5A43We3lTHSv5Y/s1600/IMG_3566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVeY-Pod_1jHpRSqlGD32kzhpJZ935Wf0PcD0QTvWiDLQ70B6rDoFH8NSWR9Su_78KU77U1e1nXwcbR5nk5baXrGvWYJMiB1nA8Wxs9aQqKvfuIIsC7yWWYnSZuHbYg5A43We3lTHSv5Y/s1600/IMG_3566.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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So, we've been living in our current house for about 2 1/2 years. There are five of us; one male and four females....with one bathroom. So far, it hasn't been a nightmare, because I'm really the only one who truly monopolizes the bathroom. Well, my oldest is now ten and she and my 7-year-old both have hair as thick as mine. SO.....I know we're not far off from needing another bathroom desperately. So, my parents have come up several times and when they do, they usually stay for an extended period of time. Now, do the math...add two more adults (one of them being my dad who totally TAKES FOREVER in there ;-) and has an innate ability to go in the bathroom about 30 seconds before I really need to get in there.... ;-) love ya, Dad!)...yeah, we need another bathroom. </div>
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<a name='more'></a>Over this past Christmas, when my parents came up to visit, their Christmas present to us was to get a bathroom up and ready before they left. Since I'm lucky to have a dad who does construction and plumbing, and a handy husband who does construction and minor plumbing as well, we started our project. Unfortunately for us, the only place we have available to put a bathroom in is our basement. So now we had the decision to make...Do we cut into the concrete and hope the cast iron stack from 1975 will hold up OR invest in an upflush system which is less mess BUT costs several hundred dollars more? We opted for the less messy version and by the time my parents left us after the new year we had a working toilet, sink and shower with these framed walls. (Yeah, we didn't use the shower...but I'm sure you figured that out by now. Well, now our issue was just coming up with the funds to finish the project. Fortunately, we've been very frugal and a few weeks ago Mr. Clean put the walls up for me, finished them, painted them and even began to tile! And me being obsessed with subway tile....opted for, well, subway tile.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9SVijwiFgCxzzeCFclMaqyL3yun5xXw_fgTBEg3ouk8HDslupxwfK4DFN3juhoJZoqKdL1G68VtXXw8OeUHWsvtVtFbjMnglomkpcruGgKP3Rmxn6AS-X-F7qCuOrUM5MFQCVi_cguuU/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9SVijwiFgCxzzeCFclMaqyL3yun5xXw_fgTBEg3ouk8HDslupxwfK4DFN3juhoJZoqKdL1G68VtXXw8OeUHWsvtVtFbjMnglomkpcruGgKP3Rmxn6AS-X-F7qCuOrUM5MFQCVi_cguuU/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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Doesn't it look lovely??!? I seriously love it! And as with the rest of my house...my wall color is yet another form of teal...I think I'm a little bit obsessed. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzhAo_3ZADB7u0Ci5uF7ac3BdDvlBAT-gQP-eLB-6LcZb6Ej2BbN61CfLJxeAxB7Ne-lmoa0YD9HI71S1tRSe98omIGpkYWJivYshB7_hErgNSLtkvp9YN2mOnDWWCyzj9BDc-2B2g4n9/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzhAo_3ZADB7u0Ci5uF7ac3BdDvlBAT-gQP-eLB-6LcZb6Ej2BbN61CfLJxeAxB7Ne-lmoa0YD9HI71S1tRSe98omIGpkYWJivYshB7_hErgNSLtkvp9YN2mOnDWWCyzj9BDc-2B2g4n9/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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I also love the classic black and white mosaic hexagon tile pattern. Fairly inexpensive from the Home Depot. </div>
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We are one step closer to a finished bathroom! Next step?? The Step. See that step into the shower? It's been our nemesis for the past couple weeks....more on that later....</div>
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Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14672613640909805360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5872929824299220632.post-66168056587633529222014-06-13T15:01:00.000-04:002014-06-16T15:05:24.602-04:00{DIY} Father's Day Mugs<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1TzfoSvDcJuKds7hrhdCZZj3rpMjQUu9jwGB67nJ9zJIoDL_1GHRADjcCllOII2n4iSMQWeQqtCJfjCjhIofq6dmfCHC2jtLRe4nzW12099IeS8Wx4CjYS-a2Qnl9ScvOVibVgfXOcxJ/s640/blogger-image--496488618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1TzfoSvDcJuKds7hrhdCZZj3rpMjQUu9jwGB67nJ9zJIoDL_1GHRADjcCllOII2n4iSMQWeQqtCJfjCjhIofq6dmfCHC2jtLRe4nzW12099IeS8Wx4CjYS-a2Qnl9ScvOVibVgfXOcxJ/s640/blogger-image--496488618.jpg" /></a></div>
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Alright, I know we are only a few days away from Father's Day but I just had to share what I am doing with my preschoolers. Every year I do a really cute poem with their feet prints in a picture frame, but after, I don't know, five years, I need something new. So... after some Pinterest research I sort of morphed a few ideas into one. </div>
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I decided that they'd paint these stoneware mugs I found at Walmart for. $1.75. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1szxNQl13UJtD6bdGUOJRi5CswGLNtDrQ_cKwsWZw5Mh1rwnnTxLo_PgOYAhwGRhgpBCkeprsoB91Xf1mqq2MW5RNPC6mFQEdu63_5m8GnWoJYBCUflhKXZLzGwQ28f7pDX0JkSr8iDrX/s640/blogger-image-1060989780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1szxNQl13UJtD6bdGUOJRi5CswGLNtDrQ_cKwsWZw5Mh1rwnnTxLo_PgOYAhwGRhgpBCkeprsoB91Xf1mqq2MW5RNPC6mFQEdu63_5m8GnWoJYBCUflhKXZLzGwQ28f7pDX0JkSr8iDrX/s640/blogger-image-1060989780.jpg" /></a></div>
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I also made sure (per my research) to use enamel acrylic paint (also from Walmart). It is made for this type of project and even has directions for baking. Additionally, I bought these two Sharpie brand oil-based paint markers from Michael's using a 40% off coupon totaling a little less than $7 for the pair. Next, I purchased rectangle foam stickers from Walmart.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWt9BXmG8DJw6ofBvh_aVEMJ6MG1T0b6eWIWFnawujTz7WwIhVWdV2E-5MWSi38B_s2UdjpYZQGcCeaRt73CJEw-hKZDH4OLpVncq6pjLrssTN9zwQ4w0Y493lDtgvi5Tla1f6_auHJYs3/s640/blogger-image--1192910231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWt9BXmG8DJw6ofBvh_aVEMJ6MG1T0b6eWIWFnawujTz7WwIhVWdV2E-5MWSi38B_s2UdjpYZQGcCeaRt73CJEw-hKZDH4OLpVncq6pjLrssTN9zwQ4w0Y493lDtgvi5Tla1f6_auHJYs3/s640/blogger-image--1192910231.jpg" /></a></div>
Okay, so here's what I did. I took a foam rectangle and traced one of their hand-prints on it. Then, I cut it out...very carefully. You want to make sure there is separation between the fingers. Originally, I was going to use TWO hand-prints but realized that their little two year old hands aren't as small as I thought so I opted for ONE.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDAk5l8KSe_BbU7brWJJTrs-s7H7RFtd6Yyu_KqScaeaSfNrPdw2mTyHrMkGUfABkZET_ux2PeQ7Eg7y3eS53_2u-hbmYlxrTpwI1h15rTSKY-WEQOeZK1aalk8bacvQqVtxOkYcROvm3/s640/blogger-image-1618087109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDAk5l8KSe_BbU7brWJJTrs-s7H7RFtd6Yyu_KqScaeaSfNrPdw2mTyHrMkGUfABkZET_ux2PeQ7Eg7y3eS53_2u-hbmYlxrTpwI1h15rTSKY-WEQOeZK1aalk8bacvQqVtxOkYcROvm3/s640/blogger-image-1618087109.jpg" /></a>Since I didn't have any foam heart stickers I traced hearts onto the foam and cut them out. If you want to buy foam shapes or already have them, just use them instead as long as they are the sticker kind. Next I wiped the mugs down with alcohol to hopefully remove any oils or residue. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrDTQIJaACKQXJ2m0BjRk_GxpYl8dosZKAKGBC0MDnsRNz_HXZxavM8WrAtrIYARhDfjrOMZ2dsLwF4gbwhKyGZ1-tB9erH4AFmoMxFw5Z2dJ1uB8hEXXP28fgUaeL0PhByl6GjBvZSqg/s640/blogger-image-1837920952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrDTQIJaACKQXJ2m0BjRk_GxpYl8dosZKAKGBC0MDnsRNz_HXZxavM8WrAtrIYARhDfjrOMZ2dsLwF4gbwhKyGZ1-tB9erH4AFmoMxFw5Z2dJ1uB8hEXXP28fgUaeL0PhByl6GjBvZSqg/s640/blogger-image-1837920952.jpg" /></a>Then, I peeled the back of the hand-prints and placed them thumb side up on whichever side the hand it was. So if it was their right hand I put it on the right side of the cup so it sort of looked like they were holding it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3K73Gx_yRQ98omPn1eRbBhO4n7UWtjmsIKlk76Dn2-UZCHvRjpSx7Ca3SLK9oZwYzni0i7AGH2b_wo7330qcdEAwHiajUdl-JCYD9ns_77Rzo4EZszBXQJFgJKWma-u6zUtauJR1cQ2uZ/s640/blogger-image-1529903693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3K73Gx_yRQ98omPn1eRbBhO4n7UWtjmsIKlk76Dn2-UZCHvRjpSx7Ca3SLK9oZwYzni0i7AGH2b_wo7330qcdEAwHiajUdl-JCYD9ns_77Rzo4EZszBXQJFgJKWma-u6zUtauJR1cQ2uZ/s640/blogger-image-1529903693.jpg" /></a>Next, I peeled the back off the heart and stuck it in the center on the opposite side. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FT32D_YTNEZr4NBLS5DKhwaB4GFuOVjktDzxgWrG6oWj8kUDJ4zCKCj6-pj1E5SqDwP3F9I4GPSMANs8_sS_kjWV6utt6rks5iqQA-jVhJMKURNjakXgUMv2OIL5PLolUe62FN08o8U6/s640/blogger-image--1884912123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FT32D_YTNEZr4NBLS5DKhwaB4GFuOVjktDzxgWrG6oWj8kUDJ4zCKCj6-pj1E5SqDwP3F9I4GPSMANs8_sS_kjWV6utt6rks5iqQA-jVhJMKURNjakXgUMv2OIL5PLolUe62FN08o8U6/s640/blogger-image--1884912123.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Finally, I put a little paint in three separate little cups with a separate brush for each color. This way they know not to mix. The paints still mix together a little but with these colors it's ok.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi284SZ6t4hJ8HZQE34mgSttn4mg1RAegdk3_aK9TOAqLX9VXkP_sx7UYTQ4mt3TgNKnNd48qbEU8eZtfVFFt-tAYKQtFaD-zNr7tPRRqg_OYdNWLMsnTrUvkIvu9TeXUuQU_-Tp1BqG3TQ/s640/blogger-image--868943311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi284SZ6t4hJ8HZQE34mgSttn4mg1RAegdk3_aK9TOAqLX9VXkP_sx7UYTQ4mt3TgNKnNd48qbEU8eZtfVFFt-tAYKQtFaD-zNr7tPRRqg_OYdNWLMsnTrUvkIvu9TeXUuQU_-Tp1BqG3TQ/s640/blogger-image--868943311.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">After they finished painting, I went over them with a brush to smooth out any areas where they gooped a lot of paint together. Carefully peel off the stickers and use a wipe or wet paper towel or a damp q-tip to fix any errors where the sticker came loose or scrape off any of the foam that stayed on the mug. You can see in the photos below what I'm talking about. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkEmoWOs2lpeVJ915E2zZPNeKUny4j7ybPl5hiCvWQaiDv7fJW37JsvJt83ooOVOs50mbQzULTguRcE7IYSjDjYsBwkHi0U-uk-piJwJDf33DTsSCHpgzdBiJeA3-IEXOiU49pMTWUbIp/s640/blogger-image--1720996819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkEmoWOs2lpeVJ915E2zZPNeKUny4j7ybPl5hiCvWQaiDv7fJW37JsvJt83ooOVOs50mbQzULTguRcE7IYSjDjYsBwkHi0U-uk-piJwJDf33DTsSCHpgzdBiJeA3-IEXOiU49pMTWUbIp/s640/blogger-image--1720996819.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7fgeDGr-CWS_QBWKx2n_iKlvbCqwyKqW0t51reqFuwRsj5MSl9u80qxRqjk9qkWL9rv2SCp8X3eQ0zpcR1ovFDqDGG4ElhFqXWGfLvLD9JpgS0Oh1OuRWek32xxjs94JATJoPpnISCyk/s640/blogger-image-733574518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7fgeDGr-CWS_QBWKx2n_iKlvbCqwyKqW0t51reqFuwRsj5MSl9u80qxRqjk9qkWL9rv2SCp8X3eQ0zpcR1ovFDqDGG4ElhFqXWGfLvLD9JpgS0Oh1OuRWek32xxjs94JATJoPpnISCyk/s640/blogger-image-733574518.jpg" /></a></div>
Use the pens to write in the heart, "Best Dad", and in the hand-prints write, "Hands Down"<br />
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Inside I wrote the little note "Love (in the shape of a heart) Their Name"<br />
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Place the cups inside a COLD oven, close the door and turn it to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake for 45 minutes. Turn the oven off and leave the cup in there while the oven cools. This will take at least an hour. You don't want any extreme changes in temperature. The paint directions say the mug will be top rack safe or hand-wash safe, but I'd stick with hand-washing to be sure. Voila! Adorable personalized mugs! Love it!<br />
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Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14672613640909805360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5872929824299220632.post-48729783230575471642014-06-09T16:10:00.000-04:002014-06-09T16:40:01.585-04:00The Cow and the Curd Is "Not Costco" {Philly}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Okay, so last weekend was the annual June Fete, a big carnival held every year in Hatboro hosted by Abington Hospital. It's something sort of like a tradition for my husband who grew up there and went every year as a child. So, of course, we have to take our girls every year as well. We arrived with our wallets loaded with an 'arm and a leg' so the princesses could each ride a few rides and play a few games. We even ate dinner in the food tent and were livin' it up. While I was there, I passed by a new culinary concoction being served out of a truck, The Cow and the Curd. Apparently, it's some sort of deep fried cheese curd from the mid-west that drives around the Philadelphia area. I stood there, rather perplexed, trying to find a description (other than "Fried Cheese Curd") or a picture or even catch a glimpse of the food being transported by hungry individuals but every time I stopped while going from ride to ride, I just couldn't get a good look. So, right before we left, being the foodie that I am and loving to try new things, especially cheese related..and who doesn't love almost everything deep-fried? (I had never had or even heard of such a thing) I was on the precipice of forking over my hard earned 8 bucks (more than the cost of my cheeseburger and cheese fries combined, mind you) for a small portion of an appetizer. Yeah, I was almost ready. The only thing was, I wasn't quite sure what I was getting into. So, very politely when there were no customers standing at the window I walked over and sweetly (remember, I'm from the south so I always use manners when approaching people) asked "Excuse me, do you by chance give samples?" And do you know what the quote/unquote 'gentleman's' response was? (in not so nice of a tone) "No. We don't do that." Well, that's not too bad, right? I mean, I completely 'get' that. Not everyone DOES do samples, right? But of course, he didn't stop there. He just HAD to add, (in a very sarcastic, rude and condescending way) "We're not Costco." <i>Um...seriously?<span style="font-size: large;"> Did you just say that?</span></i> </div>
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<a name='more'></a>Did you just tell a <i><span style="font-size: large;">potential customer</span></i> who's ready to mortgage her life away (okay, an exaggeration, I know) for a measly fried treat and is being polite that you're "NOT Costco"? Do you think she's stupid? Are you that arrogant to think that Costco is the only store to give samples? Are you 'too good for that'? What are your thoughts about wineries, or restaurants that give you samples of wine or cheese, or gourmet ice cream or gelato places that KNOW that if you sample their product, you'll actually BUY it because it's <span style="font-size: large;">that good</span>?? Are you afraid it's not good enough? But even putting that aside, what kind of response it that to someone who is actually being polite? Maybe you should take some people skills courses for business because apparently, I'm not the first person you've been rude to. The more appropriate response, if you're not giving away samples (which again, I understand) is (in a kind voice or at least not a rude one) "No, ma'am" or "No, we don't, BUT do you want me to tell you about it?" Or here's another one, "We don't do samples, I'm sorry, but you won't regret it." and proceed to describe your product since you DON'T have a picture of it anywhere on the truck. I'm sorry, but pictures of cows don't tell me anything. You're in Philly. Not everyone has had cheese curd before. Sorry, but it's true. Oh, and when I said, "I've just never had it before, so I don't know what it's like" don't expect to say "Well, it's really good," and have me turn around and say "Okay, I'll trust you" when you were just a jerk. I'm going to keep walking because you don't deserve my money even if the food is delicious. Oh how I wish when someone shocks me that I could immediately have a sarcastic response or confront them. Usually, it just blows me away that someone would be that rude and I walk away, processing what just happened. Then I proceed to get upset and angry, especially when it was uncalled for. It's kinda like that episode of Seinfeld where George has trouble with his comebacks..anyone know what I'm talking about? So since I'm not in the vicinity of The Cow and the Curd and even if I was, would rather stick a fork in my eye than try their product at this point, even though I'm sure it's delicious, (yeah, I'm a stubborn one) I'll just tell the small corner of the universe that visits me that The Cow and the Curd is "not Costco" so don't you dare ask for a sample. And if it were up to me, I'd say don't waste your money on someone who obviously hasn't earned the right to be respected because he doesn't give respect in return. My two cents....<br />
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(p.s. if they get a new driver...I might consider trying it...it's this guy in the pic)<br />
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Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14672613640909805360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5872929824299220632.post-65701710554309548032014-06-06T23:37:00.002-04:002014-06-09T13:44:10.956-04:00Just Smile...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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Some days, life just seems to get in the way. Do you ever feel like that? Like right now. I'm sitting in my bed, listening to my girls talk to each other....nicely...and giggle...and did I say, they were being nice? While here I am, stuck on my computer...writing about my lesson on The Cask of Amontillado that I taught 8th grade English a few weeks ago. This is for my third to last class before I do student teaching in the fall. And all I want to do is cry. (...hmm..I hear an Etta James song coming on)</div>
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....Okay, back on track. In our over scheduled lives, I've become a tighta**. I seriously think there is a stick situated up my rear end half the time and don't know how it got there. I feel like, sometimes, I don't even remember what 'fun' is. Then I hear them giggle. I see the twinkle in my seven year old's eye when she wants something and knows how to schmooze her momma and daddy. I feel my four-year old's sweet hugs and hear her tiny little voice tell me "I love you most" (like in Tangled) and I see my incredible fourth grader announce the strings band's next song in front of the entire school like pro at her school's spring concert and then proceed to play the violin like a tiny professional violinist (although it can be quite painful to sit through an entire night of it). Then I look at my prince charming, tickling our babies and irritating the heck out of them and wiggling in his seat himself because he can't stand to sit in one place for too long. Then he 'tries' to whisper so the ladies who keep talking through every performance in front of him don't hear. And instead of shushing him and being annoyed, (which is my typical reaction) I let him be and I smile to myself and can see my blessings. I see the man I fell in love with who is an amazing father and balances me out completely. I may not be where I want to be in many ways, but I'm right where I need to be. We walked in to DQ tonight after the spring concert to spoil my little violinist a tad (because doesn't ice cream always soothe the soul?) and there was a man probably younger than me who walked in. He had lost both of his legs below the knee and had two prosthetic legs. They had military images on them, so I'm almost certain he must've lost them in service to our country. How blessed am I? I have three amazing, HEALTHY, smart, talented like you wouldn't believe, beautiful, kind, thoughtful, little ladies for daughters and one incredible husband. I live in a great country, have a nice home, little debt, food to eat and clothes to wear. Sometimes I forget. Sometimes I can't see the forest through the trees and can't see what's right before my eyes.</div>
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I think the hardest part right now is not being able to fully enjoy them because of the time constraints and pressures of school, topped with dance lessons, parties, work, yard work, house work...yada yada yada...you all know the drill. How I look forward to graduating and being able to just be mom. To just be able to hear my girls giggle and play nice, and instead of doing school work/<strike>getting sidetracked writing this blog post </strike> I can just go join them, or eavesdrop and enjoy the blessings I've been given. Do any of you feel this way sometimes? (Minus the school distraction) I think my hardest thing at home is to remember to smile and not take myself too seriously. So instead of being a royal pain in the you-know-where I'm going to try really hard to smile. To laugh at my incredibly funny husband and to enjoy the time I do spend with them and be thankful, because they are truly remarkable children and I am amazed at their many talents and caring thoughtful personalities/characteristics. And at the end of the day, aren't they what really count. Thank you, Lord, for summer and for my family! We certainly need some quality time. I pray that I do a better job at this thing called motherhood. </div>
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Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14672613640909805360noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5872929824299220632.post-23891128351177390772014-05-29T20:18:00.001-04:002014-06-09T13:44:40.078-04:00Can you Walk and Roll? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Almost four years ago, two of my best friends welcomed to this world their second son. Now, where most of us parents have all the joys that motherhood (or fatherhood) bring in that miraculous moment you meet your new child, theirs was filled with uncertainty. Their son was born with the condition spina bifida. Basically, a portion of his spine never fully closed and his nerves were developing outside of his body. Before, Ciarlo (pronouned Char-loh...like the Italian word 'ciao') was a day old, he was whisked away to surgery where they proceeded to close the hole. This little man either lost, or never had feeling below his hips due to the damaged spinal cord. Without getting too detailed, Ciarlo's life has seen its fair share of surgeries and trips to CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) with many overnight stays. </div>
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Though Ciarlo has a long road ahead of him, this little guy has far surpassed any of our expectations thus far. He is a light to our lives and loves to be the center of attention. Ciarlo is incredibly smart and will live a full life and be able to accomplish anything. He has a gift to make you smile and His doctors are constantly amazed at his abilities, as am I. One thing is for certain though,children are a gift. No matter what the circumstances. Ciarlo is a gift to all those he meets. His parents are incredible examples of love and perseverance. They model grace under pressure and their little boys are lucky to have them. Not all parents are as fortunate as they are, though. Just last weekend I heard of a little boy around the same age as Ciarlo who had many complications and sadly passed away. I cannot imagine the heartache his parents are going through. My family, on a personal note, was affected by this condition as well when my dad's sister died from it shortly after birth. We never met her, but my dad always talked about his baby sister Anna Maria. So, for Ciarlo, this little boy, my aunt, and all the families affected by this condition my family is participating in this year's annual Walk and Roll for Spina Bifida. This is a local organization that helps local families of children with Spina Bifida.</div>
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I know it's very short notice (I'm definitely behind the 8 ball this year) but i<span style="text-align: center;">f you find it in your heart to donate, please click </span><a href="https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1105412&supId=379007283" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">HERE. Donation Page</a></div>
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Here are two pics of Ciarlo enjoying the new ramp my husband and Ciarlo's father built for him to get into their treehouse...Look at that smile!! He's a champ in that little wheelchair!</div>
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Ciarlo and my littlest girl at the playground.</div>
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He asked me to take him down the slide at Chik-Fil-A...how could I say no to that little face???<br />
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Hmm...yeah...I'm the queen of selfies...it's the only way I get into pictures...lol</div>
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<br />Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14672613640909805360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5872929824299220632.post-5532118578675065012014-05-22T00:56:00.001-04:002014-06-09T13:45:03.625-04:00Idol Finale 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Wow, so this season of American Idol was definitely different than years past. I don't know about you, but I've been watching the show since the first season when Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini went head to head. (minus about 3 seasons along the way) So for 10 of the thirteen seasons I've seen beginning to end. Though I've missed the original trio (Simon, Paula and Randy) the talent has always drawn me in and watching their journey is always fun. This year, though, I was super excited about the judges. They are all so talented and they are here, not just for our entertainment, but because they really care about the contestants. (the money doesn't hurt either) The banter and camaraderie among them was enjoyable to watch and they really seemed to have fun. In my opinion, these are the best judges Idol has seen. The talent this year though, was not as great as seasons past. And though I've liked Jena Irene and Alex Preston from the beginning, I didn't 'love' them. </div>
<a name='more'></a>I did end up really liking them and hoping they'd both be in the finale, but no such luck. I most definitely wasn't a fan of Jessica Meuse and though Caleb won..I never liked him either. Sorry, I'm not much for the rock-n-roll hair bands....never was. The finale this year was awesome! For me, my favorite parts were when Ryan sang (not so well) with Richard Marxx and when Randy, Harry, Keith and Jen all sang and played together. That, by far, was the best moment of Idol. I'm not sure where the series is headed, but I'd love to see at least one more season with this trio united. They made me laugh throughout the season and their advice was sound, heartfelt and genuine. They were kind yet honest, something that was refreshing, as far as judges go. What was your favorite part of Idol? Did your favorite win? Did you love the judges? Who has been your favorite Idol winner or contestant?<br />
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(Well, the videos are available right now...let's see how long they last before youtube takes them off) :) </div>
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Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14672613640909805360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5872929824299220632.post-57254265226360155822014-05-21T20:31:00.001-04:002014-06-09T13:45:28.367-04:00(Sponsored Post) Animal Planet Monster Week<script src="http://video.unrulymedia.com/wildfire_186005269.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
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So, is anyone out there one of those people who loves to be freaked out? Have you ever watched something that makes you think about it for days afterwards? Yeah, when I saw the Blair Witch Project, that was me. Why do I do this to myself? I know I'm not the only one. How about you? Well, some of the Animal Planet's documentaries are completely like this. Have you ever watched any of them? Well, I hate to admit it, but several months ago, they totally 'got me' with their <u>Mermaids: The Body Found</u>. Seriously! Did any of you watch that? It was insanely convincing and I totally was sucked in to the episode! Until someone recently told me it was just entertainment, I was questioning whether they could be real. SMH...Okay, well Animal Planet has done it again. They've totally freaked me out with their new series this week. It ends on May 26 so you still have time to catch some of their latest shows. A different episode airs each night, sometimes two. One thing is for sure though, Animal Planet knows what they're doing with this stuff and they keep you glued to the t.v.. Tell me, are there any shows that you've loved on Animal Planet, or loved to hate? Anyone fooled by their well put together 'documentaries'? I'd love to hear from you...mostly so I don't feel so silly. Ha ha...Oh...and fyi...Shannon Doherty (anyone remember her?) yeah, she's in Blood Lake: Attack of the Killer Lampreys...any 90210 or Charmed fans out there?</div>
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For a complete listing, check out <a href="http://unr.ly/1nrAHkH" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Animal Planet's website</a> or your local cable t.v. provider. </div>
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Mermaids: The Body Found is actually airing on Friday at 10. You should watch it! Even if just to make fun of me. It's pretty great! </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*Disclaimer: This post has been sponsored by Animal Planet, but all thoughts are my own.*</span></div>
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Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14672613640909805360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5872929824299220632.post-81987010615285039452014-05-16T23:09:00.001-04:002014-05-16T23:10:13.634-04:00{Philly Love} Paint Nite <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Okay, so....I know, I know...it's either feast or famine 'round these parts lately, huh? You have no idea how stressed I've been. This class I'm taking is killing me! Now, I'm doubling up classes so I can do my student teaching this fall so...just a heads up...it may get worse... That being said, I'm so excited to tell y'all about this great event that I went to with my mother in law and my sister in law. It's called Paint Nite! This group holds painting parties all around the Philadelphia area almost every night of the week. I saw their Groupon back when there was still snow on the ground...you know..two weeks ago...lol...only kidding. (So glad to have warm weather!) We got these tickets for about 40% off the regular price which is $45. Now all we had to do was pick a locale and a painting that we all agreed upon. We ended up in the Manayunk section of the city at Mad River Bar and Grill, the day after the river flooded. Other than the musty smell from flood, we had a great time! </div>
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They had an artist and all of the supplies provided and set up for us. He went step by step how to create the painting but gave everyone the freedom to do whatever the heck you want. It was so much fun! I wasn't in love with the green on green dots, so I opted to add a little blue, just to change it a little more towards my tastes. Some other people went WAY off pattern and painted something completely different. We all walked away with a great experience AND a lovely painting to hang up. I can't wait to go again! I'm thinking a double date OR a mommy/daughter date. Either way, it'll make for another fun night! Interested? Just go to <a href="http://www.paintnite.com/" rel="nofollow">www.paintnite.com</a> and register. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Disclaimer: I was not asked by PaintNite to promote their business nor compensated in any way. All opinions are my own. </span><br />
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Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14672613640909805360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5872929824299220632.post-26248769296132921322014-04-09T23:06:00.003-04:002014-04-09T23:06:57.476-04:00Go See Mom's Night Out!<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3-wAiqh33NFXVGGd3ZrlKdcBSYz5SReWFryhrgv0jn0qjAahSU8a1Eqrua7Bv0U3JQmLIdJmKlwRomfJG9JCrY7_bIfhpwdlejEebGIgXcjy2vjMVFh2DJCmWTd8PpYhuNhCYo4KBYg8/s1600/mno_fbcover1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3-wAiqh33NFXVGGd3ZrlKdcBSYz5SReWFryhrgv0jn0qjAahSU8a1Eqrua7Bv0U3JQmLIdJmKlwRomfJG9JCrY7_bIfhpwdlejEebGIgXcjy2vjMVFh2DJCmWTd8PpYhuNhCYo4KBYg8/s1600/mno_fbcover1.jpg" height="240" width="640" /></a></div>
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So, last week I was invited to see a pre-screening of the upcoming movie, <a href="http://momsnightoutmovie.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mom's Night Out</a> produced by the same producers as October Baby. So I, along with a friend of mine got our husbands on Daddy Duty and headed out for a Mom's night out of our own. Let me just say, this movie was absolutely hilarious!! I honestly haven't laughed that much in quite some time. Sarah Drew (Grey's Anatomy), Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond and The Middle), Sean Aston (Rudy, Lord of the Rings, The Goonies), Trace Adkins (Love him!) were so funny! They made real life comical including so many things that moms and dads go through. When I watched it, I felt like I was seeing myself on the big screen along with seeing actual conversations I've had with my husband play out before my eyes. The movie has a serious element where it speaks to the heart of motherhood and all the emotions (good or bad) that comes with it and may even make you cry (I did). I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone out there! It's funny and clean and great for the entire family!<br />
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My suggestion? <span style="font-size: large;">Go see it! </span></div>
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Take your spouse, take your girlfriends, go on a double date with another couple. <span style="font-size: large;">I don't care how you see it...JUST GO!</span> You won't regret it!</div>
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The movie comes out Mother's Day Weekend. Let me know if you see it. I'd love to hear how you liked it and what your favorite part was. All I'm going to say is mine was when Trace Adkins and Sarah Drew have a private conversation...you'll know it when you see it.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Disclaimer: While I was provided admission to view this movie, I received no monetary compensation and all opinions are my own.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3RZxmdlPzjl0tC5Dr2e-10bLuRnQCuX91i43jCyKBH1mdvP0T_O0hQo25aVlguhU6I-9hXOGMHN2HB0dsuetxl2w53nTSHr0_1zy-bjARxsr6hxvq7ngXmDLhsr0B0G3eX_XsnYeb_LBu/s1600/signature1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3RZxmdlPzjl0tC5Dr2e-10bLuRnQCuX91i43jCyKBH1mdvP0T_O0hQo25aVlguhU6I-9hXOGMHN2HB0dsuetxl2w53nTSHr0_1zy-bjARxsr6hxvq7ngXmDLhsr0B0G3eX_XsnYeb_LBu/s320/signature1.png" height="81" width="200" /></a></div>
Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14672613640909805360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5872929824299220632.post-89126097809963396332014-03-17T13:06:00.000-04:002014-03-17T13:06:00.671-04:00{DIY} Monogrammed Wreath<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Alright, so I've seen lots of these types of wreaths on Pinterest and for some time now, I wanted to make one for our home. I had an old wreath with berries someone gave me but didn't love, so I took all the berries off so I could start with a clean slate. </div>
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I then strung a piece of burlap to hang the wreath on. </div>
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I used some floral wire to connect it and attach the bow to. You could also use a stapler for a cleaner look</div>
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Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14672613640909805360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5872929824299220632.post-90000494964142313422014-03-12T13:30:00.000-04:002014-03-12T13:30:01.010-04:00Ambitious Must Be My Middle Name<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So I was sitting here thinking about all the things I want to accomplish this summer. Just like that, with my finger on my cheek. I had so many ideas in my head I figured I had better write them down so I wouldn't forget anything. Mind you, I'm going to school part time and working on top of my normal wifely/motherly duties. So we shall see what I actually accomplish at the end of the summer. I really want to paint my house a tan/grayish color and though I have added that to my list, that costs quite a bit and Mr. Clean doesn't really want to do it himself so that may not even be an option yet.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My List of Projects for the warmer months:</span></div>
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<li>Paint my long dress/mirror</li>
<li>Paint my blanket chest at the end of our bed</li>
<li>Paint Mr. Clean's tall dresser</li>
<li>Paint kitchen breakfast nook table/benches</li>
<li>Build Window boxes for my house</li>
<li>Bodie Island Lighthouse pallet art project</li>
<li>Paint shutters on house black OR build new ones</li>
<li>Sell current china cabinet, purchase new/old bigger one and paint it</li>
<li>Make mason jar wall sconces for living room</li>
<li>Bamboo trellis for my climbing rose bush</li>
<li>Paint my house</li>
<li>Plant day-lilies and hostas around the tree in my front yard.</li>
<li>Redo my bedroom closet</li>
<li>Paint the inside of my other cabinet with chalkboard paint and add hooks for measuring cups/spoons</li>
<li>Paint my daughter's room</li>
<li>Add shelves in my kitchen</li>
<li>Make shelves/cornices for my bedroom windows</li>
<li>Make pallet sofa/sectional for basement</li>
<li>Finish half-done 3/4 bathroom in my basement</li>
<li>Paint basement walls/rip up carpet and put down faux wood vinyl flooring</li>
<li>Install butcher block counter-tops in my kitchen...maybe</li>
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I'm sure the list will grow although I'm not sure how many of these I will actually tackle this summer. We shall see!</div>
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Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14672613640909805360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5872929824299220632.post-194813360154535362014-03-10T06:30:00.000-04:002015-03-14T17:38:16.330-04:00Easy Homemade Spanish Rice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, if you haven't noticed...I tend to make a lot of Mexican food in my house. However, I usually buy packaged Knorr brand Spanish rice to go along with most of my Mexican dishes. Last week, though, the grocery store was all out. So I had to improvise. I looked up several recipes and then adapted it to make with the ingredients I like or had on hand. This is what I came up with. It may not be 100% authentic, but it certainly is closer than the prepackaged stuff I normally get. This recipe is pretty simple, and delicious! (fyi my phone is going crazy, so I ended up losing some of my pics.</div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Ingredients:</span></u></b></div>
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1 cup long-grain white rice</div>
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1/4 cup vegetable oil</div>
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2 cups chicken stock</div>
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1/4 cup tomato sauce</div>
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salt and pepper to taste</div>
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2 cloves garlic, minced</div>
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1/4 tsp. cumin</div>
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1/4 tsp. chili powder</div>
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1. Heat oil in a pot or deep skillet. Add rice and cook until browned. </div>
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Here's the rice all browned. </div>
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2. Next, add the chicken stock, salt & pepper, minced garlic, cumin, chili powder and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15-25 minutes. </div>
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Voila! Delicious Spanish Rice!</div>
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Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14672613640909805360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5872929824299220632.post-56220915115616160302014-03-04T23:49:00.000-05:002014-03-04T23:49:56.409-05:00Jiffy Greenhouse Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So I have a bad case of the winter blues. I hate being stuck inside this long so I need things to look forward to....such as the spring. Though it doesn't look like it's coming to Philly any time soon I decided to get some of my plants going for my garden this year. Last year I started it at the end of March/beginning of April and the plants weren't ready in time. SO...lesson learned. I did some internet research on different seed starting methods and was hemming and hawing about whether to make my own (I've been saving toilet paper rolls for this and did it last year) or buy some. I found these Jiffy Greenhouse starters at Walmart for under $5. They have several sizes and I opted for 2 that hold 36 plants each. All I had to do was add water and Voila! The pots expanded and have a netting around each that can be planted right in the ground. What's also great is the lid! It is its own little greenhouse! How cool is that? Also, the directions are written right on the box and very simple to follow. All you do is add water. I planted mostly veggies and some perennial flowers in the one and my annuals in the other. I will let you know how it goes. So far, I think it's worth the five bucks. No messy soil, no cleanup! Love it! It was exciting because after 3 days my daisies were already sprouting!</div>
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Taking turns adding the water. </div>
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After they expanded</div>
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Tip: I store my seed packets in an old recipe box. How do you store yours?</div>
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Stay tuned for updates! I'm excited that I won't have to spend a ton on flowers and veggies. Let's pray I don't kill my seedlings! lol</div>
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Overall, I am very happy with my Jiffy Greenhouse. I was not contacted by Jiffy in any way and am not being compensated for sharing my opinion. </div>
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Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14672613640909805360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5872929824299220632.post-46988818734675772882014-03-03T07:55:00.000-05:002014-03-03T08:55:40.337-05:00{DIY} Chalkboard Paint Inside Cabinet Doors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, with all the snow we've gotten this winter...we've been snowed in...A LOT! Well, one of the days we were stuck indoors I got an itch to do something crafty. Since I had some leftover chalkboard paint I decided to paint the insides of my cabinet doors with it. I lightly sanded them, wiped them clean and then painted two coats. Now I have a great place to keep important info and now I won't have to have little papers stuck to the fridge cluttering it all up!</div>
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Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14672613640909805360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5872929824299220632.post-12450955646593770542014-02-26T00:00:00.000-05:002014-02-26T00:00:08.433-05:00"Welcome to A Ginger Mess" GiveawayAlright, so in honor of my new space in the blogosphere, I am hosting a Giveaway!! Who doesn't love Starbucks?? Good luck everyone!!<br />
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