tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59480533775848881212024-03-05T10:21:06.707-05:00Doing My BestAnother mother doing her best and hoping it is good enough. Also trying to make the world a better place, one Crappy Day Present at a time.Doing My Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899668428457343549noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948053377584888121.post-87338897896754608852018-02-01T06:33:00.001-05:002018-02-01T06:33:20.907-05:00Life with Depression: A Loose Analogy to an Ocean JourneyYou are nearly certain (although it has been so long that sometimes you wonder if you imagined it) that you started your journey on a boat of some sort: maybe a large, fancy boat, maybe a small, simple boat. Either way, the boat allowed you to navigate the ocean safely and relatively easily, even when you encountered rough seas or large waves. Although there was work involved in keeping the boat functioning well, you were able to keep on top of the work without too much trouble, notice the beauty and wonders of the voyage, learn some interesting things along the way, and even take up some hobbies that bring you joy.<br />
But, somehow, you ended up out of your boat. Perhaps a strong wave of adolescent hormones, or a traumatic event, or pregnancy or post-partum hormones, or the long-term cruelty of others knocked you out of your boat. Perhaps you just woke up one day and realized you were not in your boat anymore, and you were not quite certain how you had gone overboard or where your boat was now.<br />
<br />
It is possible to survive in the ocean without your boat, but it is considerably harder. Now you are already busy treading water and trying to avoid sharks, which were not much of a concern when you were in your boat but are QUITE CONCERNING now, when the larger waves crash over you:<br />
<br />
a serious illness *CRASH*,<br />
a change in employment *CRASH*,<br />
a cross-country move *CRASH*,<br />
a baby who never sleeps and cries most of the time *CRASH*,<br />
a child with behavior or medical problems *CRASH*,<br />
seeking treatment for that child *CRASH*,<br />
needing to convince the medical professionals that your child needs help when they don't see a problem *CRASH*,<br />
moving AGAIN *CRASH*, <br />
the death of a loved one *CRASH*. <br />
<br />
All of this leaves you with very little time or energy to work on finding your boat, but you do what you can.<br />
<br />
You managed to hold on to your hobbies when you went overboard, but you notice that even those, which used to bring you so much joy, are making it harder to stay afloat, so you let them go.<br />
<br />
Occasionally, you will see people passing by in their boats. You are weary from your battle to stay afloat, but you muster your strength to call for help. You know that nobody can give you their own boat, but maybe they will have a suggestion that will help you find your boat again.<br />
<br />
Some people will point out that your ocean journey would be much easier if you were in your boat; why they do this is a mystery: Do they think you enjoy treading water? Do they think you have not noticed the loss of your boat and the resulting difficulties? Do they think you have not done everything in your power to find it? When you ask for advice on finding it, they will reply, "Well, if you just have a more positive attitude/take these supplements/get enough sleep and exercise/pray harder/meditate/use these oils, etc, your boat will come back to you!" You try each of these things at some point, but your boat does not return.<br />
<br />
Some people will insist that you ARE actually IN YOUR BOAT, which, they are CERTAIN, is MUCH nicer than their boats, and why are you making such a fuss about taking your journey in such a nice boat anyway?<br />
<br />
Some people will toss at you the web address to access the list of the many, many approved boat-finders in your area, which, by the way, requires you to make a password 9-20 characters
long, including at least one number, capital and lower case letter, one
of 5 specific symbols, and CANNOT include any segments of your name,
address, phone number, ID number, or any words 3 letters or longer that
are found in the dictionary. <i>(Oh, and you'll need to change your password every 180 days.)</i> Although you mention that you have spent significant time with more than one boat-finder in the past with little or no results, these people will INSIST that finding a new one will surely do the trick! You suppose they could be right, but it seems daunting because you have no way of knowing which of the boat-finders have a good reputation, and you know that some can do more harm than good.<br />
<br />
Some passers-by will go so far as to toss you the materials and instructions for building a new boat. But you are so busy trying to tread water, avoid sharks, and stay afloat when the waves come crashing over you, that you are unable to catch and hold onto all of the items they tossed your way, let alone figure out how to fit them all together. If they could, perhaps, stay near you to hand you the pieces a few at a time and read the instructions to you until you can just get the base built...but they are busy with their own journey and have already left.<br />
<br />
Sometimes a person will come near you, become offended by some of
your unconventional attempts to stay afloat, and quickly move away.<br />
<br />
Sometimes a boat-finder will come near you, and your hopes will rise! The boat-finder is an EXPERT and has years of experience helping people find their boats, after all. And you have heard stories from and about others who were helped by a boat-finder! You explain your situation; the boat-finder gives you a raft which s/he hopes will help you find your boat more quickly and tells you that s/he will check in with you in 4-6 weeks to see if the raft is helping you at all. As you watch the boat-finder float away, you are so grateful for this raft and the promise it holds of some protection from the ocean and progress towards finding your boat!<br />
<br />
But after a few days, you realize the raft has some serious flaws, isn't making your journey any easier, you haven't actually made any progress towards finding your boat after all, and it will be a long 4-6 weeks before the boat-finder returns. You survive until then, and the boat-finder gives you a different raft, but this one actually moves you farther away from your boat. The next time the boat-finder gives you a raft, it seems to work right at the start but then stops functioning before too many days have passed.<br />
<br />
You drift out of that particular boat-finder's area, but still no closer to your boat, and it becomes necessary to watch for a new boat-finder, knowing that you will need to explain everything all over again when you find one. With each visit from a boat-finder, you have a little less hope in the subsequent rafts you are given.<br />
<br />
Sometimes a friend will pass by, notice your struggle, and offer to hold your hand and float along near you for a while, so you won't be alone. Or you pass by another friend who has also lost her boat and you are
able to hold her hand and tread water together. Although some part of you worries that your weight might drag your friend down with you, you hope that is not true because having a hand to hold makes it a little
easier for you to stay afloat, especially when the large waves come. And a small part of you even dares to hope that holding hands might be helping your friend too.<br />
<br />
Sometimes a friend is able to give you an emergency flotation device which lifts your spirits as well as your body and gives you a desperately needed boost of hope and energy.<br />
<br />
Sometimes the strong waves stop crashing over you for a brief period, and you are able to gather your strength and even enjoy the scenery for a few minutes.<br />
<br />
And if you can hold on long enough, sometimes you will find a raft that is a perfect fit, with no leaks or structural issues, and, once again, you have hope that you will be able to find your boat someday. But you realize that even if you never find your original boat, the raft is a VAST improvement over your previous situation, and you are confident that you will be able to make better progress on your ocean journey than you were able to without it.Doing My Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899668428457343549noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948053377584888121.post-46066043811900004632017-03-20T00:01:00.002-04:002017-03-20T00:06:36.971-04:00My Experience Getting Siding QuotesHelpful tips:<br />
1) Unless you enjoy dealing with stressful situations face to face, request email quotes from anyone who does not leave you with a detailed quote. For those who leave a detailed quote, tell them you will email if you have any questions.<br />
<br />
2) These guys seem to have a different definition of time than I do. Terms such as "later tonight", "tomorrow", and "a day or two" did not translate in the way to which I am accustomed. I think most of these guys really enjoy doing the actual jobs but do not enjoy the writing-up-the-detailed-quotes part. <br />
*******<br />
<i>As you will see, I did not ask all of the questions to all of the Quoters because it took me a few experiences to figure out what I needed to ask. But I have written down those questions with my notes on that company's page so that I can ask them if I have further contact with the Quoter.</i><br />
<br />
<i>One of the companies I called, and left a message requesting an appointment to get a quote, never called back; I doubt I'll make an appointment with them if they ever return my call. </i><br />
<br />
<u>Quote #1</u><br />
This is a family-owned company that offers: a lifetime warranty on workmanship (<i>I forgot to ask if that meant "parts and labor"</i>), in-house financing (<i>meaning: the company is offering the financing, you don't have to go find a bank that will lend you money</i>), and a 10% military discount.<br />
<br />
When I called this company, a secretary answered and, that day, arranged an appointment for me. Quoter #1 was scheduled to arrive at 10:30 Monday morning. At 11:00 Monday morning, I called the office to see if there had been a misunderstanding about the time. Secretary contacted Quoter and called me back to let me know that he would be here at 2:30 instead (<i>apparently he had originally heard the secretary wrong</i>). Imagine my surprise when at 12:30, in the middle of my stupid-needed-daily-nap, the doorbell rang, and it was Quoter #1! He was in the area and thought he'd drop by; he didn't expect to find me at home and was pleasantly surprised when I was there.<br />
<br />
He was friendly towards my children and a little chatty while he gave me the spiel. He asked me if all of the kids were mine or was I fostering some of them, which I took in a "Wow! You must be an AWESOME, AMAZING woman to choose to give birth to FIVE KIDS" way because I think that's how he meant it. He told me that the company used to mainly be storm chasers (<i>coming in after heavy storms to fix the damage done by the storm</i>), but that the owner's son had recently bought a house and then found out his wife was expecting child #3, so he convinced his dad to let him try doing business through advertising and word-of-mouth in the area instead of traveling to storm damaged areas; his dad said he could try it for a year and see how it went.<br />
<br />
I had not yet thought to ask about the sunroom siding to see what his answer would be, but I told him we were not planning to replace it and he did not try to convince me otherwise.<br />
<br />
He was selling <a href="http://www.exteriorportfolio.com/our-products/traditional-siding/market-square/" target="_blank">Market Square</a> siding (<i>which another Quoter referred to as Crane siding</i>).<br />
<br />
I forgot to ask him how long it would take them to schedule this job and complete it.<br />
<br />
At the end, he told me he would have Owner give me a quote (<i>I requested an e-mailed quote</i>) in a day or two. I hadn't heard anything by Wednesday, so I called him to check on that, and he told me that he had been planning to call me that day to let me know that the quote would still be a day or two. Also, he had forgotten to take some needed measurements, so when would be a good time for him to come back? I scheduled him to come back at 2:00 on Thursday. He arrived on time and brought Son with him. (<i>Son looked to be in his early 30s and could probably tell me which Hogwarts house he was in.</i>) It took them 20 or so minutes to take the measurements, and they left because another Quoter was trying to come by right then too.<br />
<br />
That evening Son emailed me a quote of $11,750 with a military discount of 10% which made the total: <b>$10,575</b>. I didn't know then to ask about how many vents were included or if this price included any wood behind the siding that might need to be replaced; if I was planning to use this company, I would email or call to ask about that. (<i>See update below</i>)<br />
<br />
In the process of emailing me, Son told me that if you add fanfold (<i>insulation</i>) behind the siding you do not also need to add a moisture barrier (<i>Tyvec and Polar Wrap were specifically mentioned by various Quoters</i>) because "the fanfold has one on it" (<i>which makes me wonder why 2 of the other companies use a moisture barrier along with the fanfold...perhaps they are being thorough? Perhaps it offers more protection to your house that way?</i>). He also told me that although the siding and soffit will be vinyl, the fashcia will still be aluminum.<br />
<br />
My impressions: this is a company that is motivated to do good work so they can grow their business. Quoter was new at quoting, and, therefore, a little awkward, but seemed like a good guy; didn't try to sell me anything unnecessary and wasn't pushy. This company is used to people needing them desperately and so their sales spiel isn't quite as polished as some of the other companies.<br />
<br />
<u>UPDATE:</u> Son emailed me a few days after sending the quote to check in, see if I had any questions, and find out if there was anything they could do "to earn my business". Bonus points for the email check-in! I asked him about the things I had forgotten to ask him about before and he said:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Subcontractors: We do use
“subcontractors” however its only bc of tax and workman’s comp reasons. To have
roofing and siding employees on your payroll, your comp costs are out of the
roof! There are very few contractors that have in house crews. Whether it
being roofing, siding, or guttering. If anyone tells you different, I would
encourage you to ask them for proof bc its very rare. The subs we use are not
contractors like ourselves who market like we do to where we must mark it up so
high to make a profit. That’s not how it works. These are basically
installers, who have their own insurance, DBA’s/LLC’s, and get paid by 1099’s.
I do not just hire anyone and put them out on a job All our installers for
whatever the trade may be, have been working with my company for many years.
Some of them have been with me for over 15yrs, but we continue to pay them
through the 1099 process. My installer might do a job for another company from
time to time, but you don’t need to worry about who I put on your property or
whether they are insured or trustworthy or not. That’s why you hire [redacted].
I would be happy to explain more if you’d like. Just know, that our subs all
have a min of 1-million-dollar liability policy, plus we have a 2-million-dollar
policy. So, no matter what, you are covered all the way around, I promise you
that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Vents in your soffit: When we
install soffit, we typically use a 3 to 1 ratio. That means with every 3 pieces
of soffit we use; one piece is vented. This way you are keeping the cost down,
however still getting adequate intake vents in your soffit. There are a lot of
products out there that have hidden vents, or solid venting, however its only as
good as what your current venting is now. These are things we can go over on
site with you one you commit, bc for the most part, it doesn’t really change the
cost. Your gable soffit is non-vent usually so those soffits are
solid.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Rotten wood: The rotten wood
cost is not in the quote, but if we do come across any we would notify you
immediately and not hit you with some big hidden bill. That’s not how I operate
at all. If we did come across any bad wood, usually it’s about 1.75/sf for
plywood or 4.50-4.75/lf (depending on the wood) for any fascia boards.
</span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">(<i>I asked his opinion on having the fanfold added behind the siding because one of the other companies didn't think it was necessary</i>) Having the insulation behind
the siding is beneficial more than just adding an extra R value. It also
provides an extra layer of sound barrier, it comes with a moisture barrier, and
it provides a surface to nail through that helps the walls to have straight
lines. There are other siding products that have a backing to it, but you would
need moisture barrier at that point. To answer your question, yes I definitely
think it is worth the money to have it installed. </span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
I copied his answers and put them above because they give some good information.<br />
<br />
I also asked him to give me a quote to have all of the gutters and downspouts replaced, and the price for that was an additional $1249.65-10% military discount= <b>$1124.69</b><br />
*******<br />
<u>Quote #2</u><br />
This was a larger company. They offered manufacturer's warranty on product, 5 year labor warranty, warranty was transferable, financing, and a $50 military discount. I had to leave a message but someone called me back the same day to schedule the appointment for Tuesday.<br />
<br />
Quoter #2 arrived on time and was practiced at giving quotes. When asked about the sunroom siding, he encouraged me to get that replaced also because "eventually it will start soaking up water" (<i>technically true, but "eventually" is likely to be 20+ years from now</i>). He did not offer an opinion between the fanfold insulation behind the siding or the insulation built in to the siding but gave me quotes for both. He also mentioned, rightly, that the soffit and fascia on the sunroom was badly done and should be replaced.<br />
<br />
He was selling <a href="http://www.plygem.com/wps/portal/home/brands/mastic/siding" target="_blank">Mastic</a> siding.<br />
<br />
It would be 2-3 weeks before they could start my job and it would take 5-6 days to complete it.<br />
<br />
He gave me a detailed quote before he left. Quote did not include the price of any wood that might need to be replaced but did list the price if that were needed to be done. Quote included the price of 1 octagon vent and 0 soffit vents (<i>which I am told are very important</i>).<br />
<br />
Quote for the main house, with fanfold behind the siding: <b>$9,675</b>; to do the sunroom: another $1,795. If I wanted the built-in insulation instead: +$1,600 to the main house quote and $300 to the sunroom price. And then <b>-$50</b> for the military discount.<br />
<br />
My impressions: although this Quoter encouraged me to replace the sunroom siding, he didn't pressure me about choosing the more expensive siding option. I worry that things might come up, like wood needing to be replaced, that would increase the final cost of this project, and I would wonder they were being honest with me.<br />
<br />
UPDATE: Secretary called to see if I had any questions 10 days after Quoter #2 gave me his quote. <br />
*******<br />
<u>Quote #3</u><br />
This is a local, veteran-owned company. They offer a lifetime warranty on parts and labor. They use 3-layers on their siding jobs: fanfold/backer board insulation, Tyvec moisture wrap, and then the siding. Someone answered the phone when I called and was able to make an appointment for me for Wednesday.<br />
<br />
Quoter #3 arrived on time and was very adamant about his company's focus on doing a quality job. He mentioned several times that he knew he would not be my lowest quote and he was okay with that because they were very focused on QUALITY. He did not try to sell me siding for the sunroom, but agreed that the fascia and soffit should be replaced (<i>I neglected to have him add that to my quote</i>). He was a bit pushy about wanting the names and quote amounts of the other companies and seemed inclined to badmouth them. (<i>We should be wary of people "working out of their trucks with no showroom" and who use subcontractors.</i>)<br />
<br />
He was selling Mastic siding and mentioned that they currently have a 20% rebate running on their siding.<br />
<br />
It would be 4-6 weeks before they could start my job, and it would take 2 weeks to complete it.<br />
<br />
He gave me a detailed quote before he left. Quote included the price of any wood on the house that would need to be replaced, 3 octagon vents, and fittings around any faucets or light fixtures that are currently in the siding.<br />
<br />
Quote was: $18,500, -20% rebate, -$750 coupon=<b>$14,050</b>.<br />
<br />
My impressions: this guy is VERY CERTAIN that his company does EXCELLENT work and is very suspicious of any other company that claims to do excellent work. He is proud of his company's reputation for doing QUALITY work. His language was much more colorful than the other Quoters.<br />
*******<br />
<u>Quote #4</u><br />
This is a local, family-owned company. They offer financing, a lifetime warranty on parts and labor, with a transferable warranty available. They also use 3 layers for siding jobs. Right on the ad it said "No high pressure sales tactics", so that gave me hope. This Quoter gave a GENEROUS military discount. I had to leave a message when I called, and Quoter, who is also the Owner, called me back 3 days later to set up an appointment for Thursday. He did call the day of the appointment to see if he could reschedule for a different time, but when I told him the new time wouldn't work for me, he asked if 15-30 minutes later than planned would be okay; it was and he arrived during that time.<br />
<br />
Quoter #4 also stressed his personal commitment to do an EXCELLENT, DETAILED job. He mentioned several times that he pays great attention to detail and makes certain the homeowner is happy before he accepts payment. He grew up in a m!l!tary family and has an excellent understanding of the sacrifices involved in this lifestyle.<br />
<br />
Early on in the conversation, he said, "You're going to replace the gutters, RIGHT *pointed look at me*?" My he's-trying-to-jack-the-price-up alarm bells rang, but it turned out that this Quoter has a good eye for design and the current gutters (<i>which are white when everything else on the house is beige or off white or tan</i>) were offending his sense of design 😂. Even so, I was curious to see how much the new gutters were going to cost me. This Quoter was excited to talk to me about the new color(s) of siding in the same way I am excited to talk to someone about colors for a new crocheted blanket 😍, BUT he's better at choosing colors than I am, so I don't have to worry about choosing on my own and wondering if it will look good!<br />
<br />
This Quoter has been doing this for 23 years and has obviously learned A LOT. He was able to take his measurements and give me an informal quote (detailed quote to be sent later) in about 30 minutes. He has put together a dedicated siding crew that he is very proud of and, since he uses that one well-trained crew, his company can only do a certain number of siding jobs per year. (<i>Nevertheless, there was no pressure to hurry up and schedule before they got booked!</i>)<br />
<br />
I asked for his opinion on the siding on the sunroom and he said it was fine and should last for a good many years still but agreed that the soffit and fascia need to be redone.<br />
<br />
He uses, and strongly prefers, the Market Square Crane siding. He prefers Polar Wrap instead of Tyvec to wrap the house.<br />
<br />
We talked about how far out they were scheduling but I didn't ask for a firm date because I'm not in a hurry. He said the job should take about a week to do. <br />
<br />
He mentioned, again giving the evil eye to the current light fixture 😂, that if we wanted to replace any light fixtures and we purchased them and had them there, he would be happy to install those for us as they are replacing the siding.<br />
<br />
His quote includes all of the above-mentioned things, replacing the gutters, replacing the soffit and fascia on the sunroom, replacing any rotted wood they come across (<i>At this point I was bracing myself for the discovery of how much all of this wonderful detail and design was going to cost</i>), with a VERY generous military discount: <b>$9,800</b> (<i>my mouth actually fell open</i>). He promised to send a detailed quote in a few days, and I am anxiously awaiting that while hoping that interaction was not some sort of cruel hallucination on my part.<br />
<br />
My impressions: this Quoter has lots of experience and is VERY proud of his attention to detail, the quality of his work, and the reputation of his company.<br />
<br />
UPDATE: Two days after I met with Quoter #4, I called to ask him about something and mentioned I was looking forward to seeing his quote; nobody answered, so I left a message. Eight days after meeting with him, I <strike>was battling despair that it had all been a dream</strike> emailed to ask if he'd had a chance to write up the quote yet. Two days after that he emailed back to say that he had sent the quote 4 days earlier and asked if I had received it. He called later that day to tell me that he had been having computer problems but he had sent the quote again and could I check and see if I had received it this time. The quote came through detailed and at the price he had given me before! He did mention that it would be wonderful if I could manage another $1,000, and since I have seen 6 other quotes and strongly suspect he is charging me as close as he can to the actual cost of this job, I will gladly add that amount and still consider myself VERY LUCKY. <br />
*******<br />
<u>Quote #5</u><br />
This company was personally recommended to me by 2 people I know, one of whom is a realtor, so I had high hopes for this one. This is a local, family-owned company with 13 years experience. They offer a limited lifetime warranty (<i>I didn't ask what that meant</i>). When I called to make an appointment, Quoter #5, who is also the owner of the company, answered but did not set up an appointment for me; he said he would drop by sometime in the coming week and would call before he came over.<br />
<br />
He called right as I was answering the door for Quoter #1's return visit, so Ian talked to him, told him that we had another company over but that he was welcome to come when they were done. While #1 was re-measuring, #5 drove by, saw the other trucks, and parked around the corner. After a few minutes (<i>#1 and Owner took much longer than I expected</i>) he texted me that he would try again on a different day, but I was able to text back quickly and say that the other guys were supposed to be finishing up, so #5 waited. When the other guys finally finished, #5 came over.<br />
<br />
Quoter #5 is very comfortable with his company's excellent reputation for doing great work. <br />
<br />
I didn't ask him a lot of questions because <strike>I was still thinking dreamily of Quoter #4</strike> starting to get weary of talking to siding people. But I did ask him about the sunroom and he said the siding was fine.<br />
<br />
He was selling Mastic siding. I forget if he mentioned insulation.<br />
<br />
He uses a specialized siding crew and thought the job would take about 14 working days.<br />
<br />
He gave me a somewhat detailed quote before he left. His quote, after I asked about a military discount and he assured me he was giving me a great price, was: <b>$18,750</b>. He did not mention the 20% manufacturer's rebate that Quoter #3 mentioned.<br />
<br />
My impressions: I was QUITE surprised by #5's quote because, unlike #3, he did NOT assure me numerous times that he knew his quote wouldn't be the lowest because he was more focused on doing an excellent job. I think this guy assumed the recommendation from my realtor friend would seal the deal for him.<br />
******<br />
<u>Quote #6</u><br />
This company offers financing, a 5 year labor warranty, and a lifetime warranty on the siding. I had to leave a message when I called on Friday. I received 1/2 a message in return on Monday, and then Quoter called again on Tuesday and arranged an appointment for Friday.<br />
<br />
Quoter #6 arrived on time and was obviously a salesman. He looked sheepish when I asked if his company used sub-contractors and he said yes. His company takes as many siding jobs as they can get in a year.<br />
<br />
Despite being a salesman, Quoter #6 did not try to sell me unnecessary siding for the sunroom and told me in detail what was wrong with the gutter set-up on a certain part of the roof. <br />
<br />
He was selling Crane siding with 1/4" or 1/2" backerboard.<br />
<br />
It would be 6-8 weeks before his company could get to my job, and it would take a week or week and a half to complete.<br />
<br />
He said he would send a quote that day or the next. He tried to send the quote Friday but the email returned to him <strike>EVEN THOUGH I CLEARLY WROTE MY EMAIL ADDRESS ON HIS PAPER</strike>, so he called Saturday morning to clear that up and made sure his message got through.<br />
<br />
His quote includes venting in the soffit, more than 1 octagonal vent, replacing the soffit and fascia on the sunroom, but not replacing the gutters (<i>although I thought I asked for that in the quote too</i>):<br />
<b>$16,605</b>.<br />
<br />
My impressions: This company probably does a fine job. The salesman was mostly focused on making a good sale. I am more inclined to use one of the companies that has their own dedicated siding crew.<br />
<br />
UPDATE: 5 days after emailing the quote, he called to check in and to see if I had any questions. <br />
*******<br />
<u>Quote #7</u><br />
This company was recommended to me by 2 friends who have each had work done by this company. I called this one a few days later than the others, the owner answered and made an appointment with me for a week after my first Tuesday quote.<br />
<br />
He uses Mastic siding and uses one of the house wraps instead of the fanfold/backerboard.<br />
<br />
He said it would be 6-8 weeks before his company could get to my job and it would take 1-2 weeks to complete.<br />
<br />
He asked me if I was planning to replace the doors and I told him I had been thinking about it but that the others I had asked had said it would cost around $5,000 so that would have to wait until next year. His eyebrows went high and he said he didn't think it would cost that much if he did it.<br />
<br />
He said he would send his quote in a day or two; it arrived 3 days later.<br />
<br />
His quote includes venting in the soffit, replacing the soffit and fascia on the sunroom, and replacing the gutters and downspouts: $<b>14,720</b>. (<i>To replace the 4 doors: $3,000; price could go up or down a bit depending on the specific door I chose</i>)<br />
<br />
My impressions: This is another family owned company with a lot of experience. This Quoter seemed like a really great guy; the kind of guy you wish was your dad and a grandpa to your kids. I'm sure he would do a great job.<br />
<br />
UPDATE: He emailed the day after he sent the quote to ask if I had received it and what did I think? I bravely responded that I had received the quote and I thought it was about $3,000 more than the other quote I was considering (<i>I still hadn't heard back from #4 at this point and was leaning towards #1.</i>) and that I would really like to give his company my business; was that the best price he could do? Was there perhaps a military discount he had forgotten to apply? He responded that he was sure we could get the price down a little more and maybe we could split the difference.<br />
*******<br />
FINAL RESULTS: Quoter #4 is the clear winner! Sometime tomorrow I will email Quoters #1 and #6 and say something like: "I have decided to go with a different company. These are things I really liked about your company: _____________ and I will be happy to give your name to anyone who asks me for recommendations for home improvement projects in the future. Thank you for your time!"Doing My Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899668428457343549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948053377584888121.post-39208744815669576332017-03-10T17:22:00.001-05:002017-03-11T09:59:11.294-05:00PSA: How to Get Quotes for Replacing the Siding On Your House (Edited)We are supposed to move AGAIN *WEARY SIGH* in about 2 years, and our siding DESPERATELY needs to be replaced before we try to sell this house. Even though it's been nearly <a href="http://amdoingmybest.blogspot.com/2013/04/psa-how-to-keep-track-of-information.html" target="_blank">4 years</a> <a href="http://amdoingmybest.blogspot.com/2013/04/how-to-sort-through-houses-before-going.html" target="_blank">since I came</a> <a href="http://amdoingmybest.blogspot.com/2013/05/what-i-have-learned-on-this-house.html" target="_blank">house hunting</a>, I STILL remember pulling up to this house and thinking "Ew. It sure doesn't look good from the outside!" specifically because of the siding and the garage door, which were both YEEEEEEEARS old and not in good shape.<br />
<br />
Here are some of the things I have learned during this experience of getting siding quotes.<br />
<br />
<u>Things to Keep in Mind</u><br />
Most of these companies are run by people who take great pride in doing their work very well and in having an excellent reputation. Some of the companies are more concerned with making money and doing as many jobs as come their way. I've heard that some companies do terrible work and are out to make as much money as possible; I'm not CERTAIN, since I'm not going to choose that company, but I think I may have found one company like that. <br />
<br />
<u>To Choose Which Companies to Call*</u><br />
<i>*If you know me, you know how I feel about CALLING, but it is nearly unavoidable in this case. Some of the websites did have a form to fill out to request a quote, but the form was basically giving them your name, phone number, and a description of what you want done so someone could call you back. I prefer calling to waiting to be called back.</i> <br />
<br />
I asked friends and neighbors, the guy who sold me my new garage door, and I looked through those community coupon booklets (Reach) and envelopes (ValPak) that come in the mail. I ended up with 6 companies from the coupons, and 4 companies from the people I asked. I looked at the companies' websites (<i>some of the personally recommended people did not have detailed websites; this did not bother me because I figure those guys are smaller businesses and busy doing the job instead of designing, or paying someone to design, a website</i>) and checked them on the <a href="http://www.bbb.org/" target="_blank">BBB</a> website. All of the companies I looked at had links on their website to their page on the BBB website.<br />
<br />
If you happen to have someone coming to do another home improvement, like I had the garage door being replaced, ask that person if they know if any companies who do siding. I was really lucky because one of the guys who came to give me a garage door quote had been in the home improvement business for a long time, and he also had experience with siding, so I was able to ask him to give me a rough estimate of what I could expect when I had the siding companies start to come. This was very helpful information to get from someone who was not trying to sell me that product. (He said it should cost between $9,000-$12,000.)<br />
<br />
<u>Call in February or March</u><br />
I called during the first week of March because it took me a while to figure out how to choose which companies I wanted to call. April, May, and June are when siding jobs really pick up (depending on the weather where you live). Even calling in March, I am told it will be 4-6 weeks before they can start this job. It's good to plan ahead and leave yourself plenty of time to get this done.<br />
<br />
<u>Terms to Know</u><br />
The frequently used terms for this project
are: siding, soffit, and fascia. Here is an excellent article
explaining what these are: <a href="https://www.angieslist.com/articles/understanding-fascia-and-soffit-repair.htm" target="_blank">https://www.angieslist.com/articles/understanding-fascia-and-soffit-repair.htm</a><br />
<br />
In
this post, I'm using the term "Quoter" to refer to the person who comes
to your house to give you a quote. Sometimes that person will be the
owner of the business, sometimes it will be a salesperson whose job it
is to JUST sell the siding, and sometimes it will be a person who works
for the company and sells AND installs the siding. <br />
<br />
<u>To Organize Information</u><br />
I used a notebook this time, but if I have to do this again, this is what I will do. Start a word processing document; save it as "Siding Quotes". Put the name of the company at the top of a page, along with their phone number and website address. Make notes about the things mentioned in their coupon ad: warranty information, was financing mentioned, is it a family-owned company, what was the coupon discount, etc. When I called to make the appointment, at the top of the page, I wrote the date, time, and person who was coming. I also clipped the coupon to the page. Next time, I will copy the questions below so that I can quickly fill in the answers while I am speaking with the Quoter. I'll print out the page for that company the day before the appointment, put it on a clipboard or folder, and clip a pen or pencil to it so I will be all ready to write things down when the Quoter arrives.<br />
<br />
<u>The Basic Procedure</u><br />
The Quoter comes to the door. I answer the door with notebook and pen in hand and go directly outside. Quoter asks me: what it is I want done (<i>to have the siding, soffits, and fascia replaced</i>), What kind of product do I want to replace it with (<i>good quality vinyl siding</i> <i>and what sort of insulation do you use with that?</i>), Do I know what color I want (<i>see below under "Taking the Stress out of..."</i>), Do I know which style I'm interested in (<i>Dutchlap</i>), Do I also want to replace the rain gutters (<i>you can say yes or that you'd like them to reuse the ones you have; either way you are paying to have them removed and installed</i>, <i>unless you don't have them already</i>), Do I have any questions (<i>this is where I would ask the questions listed below, if they haven't come up already in the course of our conversation</i>)?<br />
<br />
Then Quoter tells me he will take some measurements and then check back in with me; this has taken anywhere from 30-90 minutes. Quoter knocks on the door again, or calls me from my driveway, I go back outside with my notebook and pen, and he either tells me that he has all the information he needs and will work up a quote for me (<i>I request that he email me a detailed quote</i>), or he explains the detailed quote right then and hands me a copy. I ask any questions I've forgotten to ask before or that have occurred to me while I've been in the house mulling things over, and thank him for his time. If he tries to put out any feelers about other quotes I've received, I either say, "I'm still waiting for them to get that quote to me" or "So far I've been quoted (<i>the general amount of previous quotes</i>)". If you give them the numbers of the previous quotes, this gives them the chance to improve their price and/or explain to you why the other guy's price is so low (<i>and what they say is revealing: do they say the other guy's price is so low because he does crappy work or do they say the other guy has just given you a really excellent price?</i>) But if you're not in the mood to take the chance that someone is going to explain to you in great detail why the other guy is terrible, stick with "I'm still waiting for the other quotes to come in" or "I'd rather not talk specifics". (<i>I'm not saying some companies don't do crappy work, and it would be good to know that; you can generally tell by the other things the Quoter has said if he's giving you valid information or just trying to badmouth the other company(ies).</i>)<br />
<br />
<u>Taking the Stress out of the High Pressure Sales Tactics</u><br />
High pressure sales tactics are NOT MY FAVORITE. So far, none of my Quoters have been very pushy. It might help that I am asking questions which indicate I have some knowledge about this procedure, and I am also writing things down, and occasionally flipping back to something a previous Quoter has told me, as the current Quoter talks to me.<br />
<br />
To further head off any pushy sales tactics, casually mention sometime during your conversation that you are currently getting quotes from a number of companies. A good time to do this might be at the beginning, when the Quoter asks you about your color preferences. They all have similar colors, and you can also find that information on the manufacturers website, so, unless your sole purpose of replacing your siding is to get the colors you've always dreamed of, when the Quoter asks what you're thinking about colors, say something like, "Oh, I'm still gathering information right now; I'll look at colors once I've decided which company I'm going with." This lets the Quoter know that a) color is not your first concern, b) you are not desperate to get this done TODAY so you have time to think about your decision, and c) you are looking at multiple companies. It also shortens the time you have to talk to him since you then do not need to have a lengthy discussion about colors. (<i>Although, asking what he would recommend is another good question for finding out what kind of person he is and what kind of experience he has, as mentioned in the next topic below.</i>)<br />
<br />
Upon finding out that you are considering multiple companies, Quoter will likely fish for information about which other companies are
giving you quotes; some are more subtle about this fishing than others. This set off my "this seems like a socially unacceptable/rude/TMI question" alarm bells the first time it happened, so it's good to know this is likely to be coming. Decide whether you'd like to say, "I'd rather not go
into specifics" or "I'm getting quotes from these companies:_________;
what can you tell me about them?" Again, this is a good opportunity to find out what kind of a person you are dealing with. Are you dealing with someone who tries to grow their business by badmouthing other companies? Does this person have the integrity to give you an honest assessment of the other companies, especially if it is a positive assessment?<br />
<br />
I was very impressed with garage door Quoter #2 because when I told him who I got the other quote from he said, "Oh, they do really good work and sell a good product!" He was also honest with me about the excellent price the first Quoter gave me and that he couldn't meet that price. I will happily recommend him, along with Quoter #1, the next time someone asks about getting garage work done!<br />
<br />
<u>Asking Questions</u><br />
Asking questions is a really good way to find out about the integrity, personality, and experience of the person you are talking to. It also tells the person that you have enough information to be able to ask the right questions and so are not completely at their mercy. It is good to ask some questions that you already know the answers to so that you can see how this person would treat someone who didn't know the answers.<br />
<br />
I recommend having something like this ready, "We're also thinking about replacing (something that doesn't actually
need to be replaced) because (we aren't sure how long it's been here or
we aren't sure if it's in good shape); what would you recommend for
that?" In my case, I ask them about the siding on the sunroom that was added to the house sometime in the past few years. So far, only one of the six Quoters has tried to convince me to replace that siding (<i>which does not need to be replaced</i>).<br />
<br />
When the Quoter starts giving you his sales spiel, he will tell you LOTS of things. Chances are he will mention the answers to the questions I will list below, but, if not, these are some things that you will want to know:<br />
<br />
*******Edited to add*******<br />
How did I forget the BEST QUESTION EVER?! Depending on your personality, and to keep him on his toes, it might also be fun to ask your Quoter which Hogwarts house he is in =D!<br />
*******<br />
<br />
-Do you use subcontractors or do you have a siding crew on staff? (<i>Many of the Quoters frown on subcontractors because their quality of work may not be as well-known as on staff crew.</i>)<br />
-How many houses do you side each year? (<i>You want the company to have experience, but do you want a company that's fitting in as many jobs as possible?</i>)<br />
-Do you use fanfold/backerboard insulation or the insulation built-in to the siding? Why do you use that instead of the other? (<i>The built-in insulation is more expensive; most of my quoters use fanfold or backerboard insulation behind the siding, although that kind doesn't add much to your energy efficiency. The fanfold/backerboard insulation was 1/4" with mention of a possible 1/2" and an R value of between 1-2.</i>)<br />
-What is the thickness of the siding? <i>(.044" thickness has been the standard answer in my experience.</i>)<br />
-Which brand of siding do you use? Why do you prefer that brand? (<i>The two brands I've been quoted are Crane and Mastic. </i><i>There can be some strongly held personal opinions about which brand is better.</i>) <br />
-What is the charge if you find any rotting wood when you take down the old siding? (<i>Some quoters itemize this charge-meaning, they listed the price that would be charged if that came up but that wasn't included in the quote, some have included it as part of the total job. This is a place where you could end up with additional charges, if this is not included in the total job.</i>)<br />
-How many vents are included? (<i>Again, some quoters itemize this charge, some have included it as part of the total job.</i>)<br />
-Does the quote include the cost of any fittings (<i>where lights, faucets, etc are on the siding</i>)? (<i>I did not know to ask this question until the last Quoter mentioned that this cost was included in his quote.</i>) <br />
-Which color(s) would you recommend for this house? (<i>As he answered, it became apparent that one of my Quoters had a good eye for design, so I was glad I asked!</i>) (<i>Because I cannot visualize how something is going to look until it is done. Which is too late.</i>) <br />
-How far out are you scheduling this job right now? (<i>4-6 weeks has been the standard response here.</i>)<br />
-How long will the job take? (<i>I've been told anywhere from 1-2 weeks, weather dependent.</i>)<br />
-Do you offer a teacher/military/police officer/firefighter discount?<br />
-What is your warranty for parts and labor and is it transferable (if you know you'll be selling your house)? (<i>I've been told that, since we know we will be selling the house soon, I can get a transferable warranty, which is supposed to be a good selling point.</i>)<br />
-Is your company bonded and insured? (<i>This has generally been mentioned in the coupon ad or on the website.</i>)<br />
<br />
<u>Things to Write on Your Paper about Each Company</u><br />
-Did Quoter arrive on time for the appointment or call to communicate any delays?<br />
-How quickly did someone return your call if you had to leave a message somewhere? <br />
-Did Quoter email the quote when he said he would? <br />
-Did Quoter speak respectfully to you?<br />
-Did Quoter try to sell you something unnecessary?<br />
******* <br />
<br />
Once all of the quotes have come in and I've decided on a company, I will blog about my experience with each company's Quoter, but for your information (<i>in case you're in the middle of this right now and need some hope</i>), keeping in mind that the garage guy said to expect between $9,000-$12,000, here are the quotes (<i>which I will comment on in more detail in the next post</i>) I've received so far: $9675, $9800, $10,575, $14,050, and $18,750. <br />
<br />Doing My Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899668428457343549noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948053377584888121.post-57076818291194289582016-03-15T09:55:00.002-04:002021-01-22T15:40:35.519-05:00I Do Not ApproveI was talking to David the other day about which classes he was interested in taking during high school. He mentioned taking AP Chemistry, and I immediately thought,<br />
<br />
"Oh, perfect! <i> </i><br />
<i>*pesky brain trying to tell me something* *swat pesky brain away*</i> <br />
I'll call Beloved Friend! <br />
<i>*pesky brain trying to interrupt my brilliant thought again*</i> <br />
And she can tell him all about......wait."<br />
<br />
Grief bomb.<br />
*******<br />
<br />
When I first read this poem, many years ago, I thought it was beautifully written, and I admired the way the author was able to use words, like a musician playing her instrument. I know the same words, much like I know how to play many of the notes on the pages of piano music, but, just as I feel I am always playing only the notes on the page instead of the music, I cannot use my words like this talented writer did.<br />
<br />
When I read this poem again recently, there were tears rolling down my cheeks before I finished the first stanza, and I was staggered by the way the author was able to choose the perfect words to describe this experience. I could not find the right words, but THIS! Somebody DID find the words!<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Dirge Without Music<br />
<br />
I am not resigned to the shutting away of loving hearts in the hard ground.<br />
So it is, and so it will be, for so it has been, time out of mind:<br />
Into the darkness they go, the wise and the lovely. Crowned<br />
With lilies and with laurel they go; but I am not resigned.<br />
<br />
Lovers and thinkers, into the earth with you.<br />
Be one with the dull, the indiscriminate dust.<br />
A fragment of what you felt, of what you knew,<br />
A formula, a phrase remains,----but the best is lost.<br />
<br />
The answers quick and keen, the honest look, the laughter, the love,---<br />
They are gone. They are gone to feed the roses. Elegant and curled<br />
Is the blossom. Fragrant is the blossom. I know. But I do not approve.<br />
More precious was the light in your eyes than all the roses in the world.<br />
<br />
Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave<br />
Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind;<br />
Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave.<br />
I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned.<br />
<br />
-Edna St. Vincent Millay</blockquote>
<br />
When I finished reading (<i>and crying</i>), even though <a href="https://www.comeuntochrist.org/beliefs/purpose-of-life/plan-of-salvation" target="_blank">I believe</a> that death is just a part of our journey and does not mark the end of our existence (<i>a belief which, apparently, is not helping me miss those who are gone any less</i>), I wanted to tattoo on my arms, cross-stitch and frame, write on the walls, or go to the top of a mountain or into a forest or the middle of a wide, open field and scream and scream and scream: <br />
<br />
I know! BUT I DO NOT APPROVE! AND <b>I! AM! NOT! RESIGNED!</b>Doing My Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899668428457343549noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948053377584888121.post-84916270370482370042016-01-07T08:35:00.003-05:002019-03-26T16:39:45.613-04:00Tell Me a Story (Updated)I need your help, Internet. This is a rough week for me, so I'd really appreciate it if you would tell me a story (<i>or two or three or however many you can think of</i>). Tell me about times when you tried to do something kind and thoughtful for someone, and that made their day or turned out to be JUST the thing they didn't even realize they needed. Or you carefully planned the BEST! SURPRISE! EVER! for someone and it turned out PERFECTLY or even better than you'd dared hope. Or when someone did something kind and thoughtful for YOU, and that helped you hang on a little longer or was JUST the thing you needed. If you don't want to post publicly, feel free to email me at stilldoingmybest (at) gmail (dot) com.<br />
<br />
<br />
Thanks, friends.<br />
*******<br />
I thought of some fun surprises that I've blogged about! <br />
<br />
Click on the "<a href="http://amdoingmybest.blogspot.com/p/crappy-day-presents.html" target="_blank">Crappy Day Presents</a>" tab above, scroll down, and there are lots of posts about Crappy Day Packages I've been lucky enough to receive!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://amdoingmybest.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-suprise-from-internet-and-will-i.html" target="_blank">A lovely surprise from the internet</a> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://amdoingmybest.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-creation-of-fun-surprise.html" target="_blank">The creation of a fun surprise</a> (this was SO! FUN!)<br />
<br />Doing My Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899668428457343549noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948053377584888121.post-37426500450846049172015-11-21T16:05:00.001-05:002016-01-26T11:27:35.190-05:00Let Me Take Your OrderSometimes, it's pretty cool to be living in the future. Like when your friend is having a crappy day, and you wish you could bring her a plate of freshly baked goodies, but you can't because she lives too far away, but then you remember that you live in the future and you have CHOICES! <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.dominos.com/en/" target="_blank">2-topping medium pizza, stuffed cheesy bread, wings, oven-baked sandwich, pasta, or marbled cookie brownie for $5.99 each when you order 2 or more!</a> (<i>I also HIGHLY recommend the <a href="https://www.dominos.com/en/pages/order/menu.jsp#/menu/category/sides/" target="_blank">parmesan bread bites</a> (scroll down)!</i>) This is a nice variety of sweet and savory treats!<br />
<br />
Maybe this is a chocolate emergency; there are <a href="https://www.dominos.com/en/pages/order/menu.jsp#/menu/category/desserts/" target="_blank">chocolate lava crunch cakes</a>! Or <a href="https://order.pizzahut.com/site/menu/desserts" target="_blank">Hot Chocolate Brownie (not sure how long this one will be available), Triple Chocolate Brownie, Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie, or Chocolate Dunkers</a>!<br />
<br />
If Domino's or Pizza Hut don't deliver to your friend, maybe Papa John's does! <a href="https://www.papajohns.com/order/menu?category=Desserts" target="_blank">Cinnamon Knots, Chocolate Chip Cookie, or Double Chocolate Chip Brownie</a>! Mmmmm, those <a href="https://www.papajohns.com/order/menu?category=Sides" target="_blank">Garlic Knots, Garlic Parmesan Breadsticks, and Cheesesticks</a> look very yummy as well!<br />
<br />
I always figure that if I'm ALREADY ordering something, I might as well make it worth the delivery charge, and, with the places linked to above, it's very easy to add a pizza to your order too! But how do you know what someone likes on their pizza? Is there a universally accepted pizza topping? WHAT IF I ORDERED THE WRONG TOPPING AND RUINED IT FOR HER?! We need to collect some data in the comments.<br />
<br />
Hmm, I think the pizza restaurants have us covered pretty well with a variety of delicious options, but <a href="https://www.jimmyjohns.com/menu/#/" target="_blank">Jimmy John's</a> (<i>mostly sandwiches, chips, raisin oatmeal cookie, chocolate chunk cookie</i>) also delivers in some places. <br />
<br />
If you aren't sure what is available in your friend's area, you can try <a href="https://www.grubhub.com/" target="_blank">GrubHub</a> ("<i>Order Food Delivery Online from Local Restaurants</i>") or <a href="https://www.seamless.com/" target="_blank">Seamless</a>. If you aren't a pizza and baked goods person, what else <strike>is there</strike> would you like?<br />
<br />
If someone wanted to send YOU yummy food to brighten your day, what could they send? Leave your answer in the comments, with a name so people know who you are, and feel free to email me to make sure I have your current address, in case anyone (<i>that I know</i>) should ask me =)! Bookmark this post so you can refer to it later if there's someone you want to send food to; if you're really lucky, she will have left a comment!<br />
<br />
I'll go first, so nobody has to feel awkward about being the first to speak up. My VERY FAVORITE pizza is Pizza Hut's deep dish, Meat Lovers with black olives because that was the pizza I ate in the delivery room right after Jeffrey was born, and nothing has ever tasted so good in my entire life! For Domino's $5.99 special, I usually get ham and black olives. I also LOVE their parmesan bread bites, and their <a href="https://www.dominos.com/en/pages/order/menu.jsp#/menu/category/desserts/" target="_blank">Cinna Stix</a> with the frosting for dipping are the best I've tried, although I can't remember which other brand I tried that I didn't like as well, and it looks like Papa John's Cinnamon Knots might be good too. That Hot Chocolate Brownie (BROWNIE!! TOPPED WITH TOASTED MARSHMALLOWS!! AND DRIZZLED WITH CHOCOLATE SYRUP!!) looks like it might fix whatever ails you <strike>as long as you aren't allergic to sugar</strike>! I...really don't know what other food a person could order and send here because I don't order food for delivery very often. I know that some Chinese restaurants deliver, but I had a bad experience with fried rice some time ago that I still haven't gotten over, so that's out for me.<br />
<br />
Your turn! What would you like, and are there any other delivery places I don't know about that we would find useful?Doing My Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899668428457343549noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948053377584888121.post-89102116414336277752015-02-14T10:02:00.001-05:002019-03-26T16:36:35.762-04:00I Sure Didn't See This Coming!Today started out pretty blah for various reasons, but when I came upstairs after exercising this morning, I noticed that Ian had left me a paper on my desk, right on top of one of my crocheting patterns where he knew I'd see it. When I didn't say anything right away, he asked if I had noticed the Valentine he left me, so I stopped what I was doing and read the paper. I laughed and laughed because it is just SO IAN. When I finished reading, I asked if he had done this all by himself, and he said yes. He also said this was his 3rd draft! <strike>Considering that Husband didn't manage to give me the present I picked out for myself and gave him to give me today, and the fact that none of the other children did anything, I'm certain Husband had nothing to do with this.</strike><br />
<br />
Here is what he wrote, just as he wrote it:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Dear Mom,</blockquote>
Java Script is red, Blackboard collaborate is blue**,<br />
If I get bored in class, It's because of all that I learned from you,<br />
Einstien was smart, Oppenhimer too,<br />
But neither of them are as smart as you,<br />
Louis Armstrong reached high, the Wright Bros. did too,<br />
They must have had mothers like you,<br />
<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne?lang=eng" target="_blank">Nephi</a> was brave, the <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/53?lang=eng" target="_blank">Stripling warriors</a> too,<br />
And they owe it all to mothers like you,<br />
Plumbers are red, Hedgehogs are blue, If i'm intrested in<br />
something, I can count on encouragement from you,<br />
Shakespeare wrote well, Longfellow did to, I can punctuate this<br />
poem so well because of all the help from you,<br />
Robin Hood shot well, Little John did too, I'll bet that they had<br />
mothers like you,<br />
Cargo pants are awesome, Safari vests are too, and you told me<br />
yourself that I got that from you, :)<br />
I like to do origami, and I can draw pretty well too, But only<br />
because of all the support from you!<br />
Happy Valentine's day! <br />
Love [Ian]<br />
<br />
*Blackboard colaborate is blue+red.</blockquote>
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<br />
IAN, you guys! IAN. I am FLABBERGASTED! If you had told me years ago that he would ever do something like this, especially it being his own idea, I would have thought you were CRAZY. <br />
<br />
Wow.Doing My Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899668428457343549noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948053377584888121.post-66074224802739182392014-10-18T09:35:00.000-04:002014-10-18T09:35:24.737-04:00Ice Cream Report<strike>Months ago</strike> A while back, a Lovely Person sent me a gift card to the wonderful, local ice cream place, so I felt it was my DUTY to try a variety of flavors and report! Most of these flavors are from <a href="http://www.graeters.com/" target="_blank">Graeter's</a>, but I discovered other delicious brands and flavors in the time I've been working on this post, so I included those too.<br />
<br />
A couple nice things about the chocolate "chips" in Graeter's ice cream:<br />
1. They are varying sizes and often large.<br />
2. The chocolate melts in your mouth instead of sticking to your teeth!<br />
<br />
NOTE: I *STRONGLY SUGGEST* that you have a delicious pint of ice cream in your freezer before you read this post.<br />
<strike><br />
</strike><br />
<strike>Because I was too busy enjoying the deliciousness</strike> Somehow, I didn't take any pictures of the ice cream that turned out to be my favorite in this report. <a href="http://moosetracks.com/products/moose-tracks-ice-cream/" target="_blank">BROWNIE MOOSE TRACKS</a>!!! Vanilla ice cream with the WONDERFUL fudge ripple throughout and lots of pieces of CHEWY brownies! Moose Tracks ice cream is sold under a variety of store brands, so check your local grocery store for their many yummy flavors. Unfortunately, my local grocery store's brand doesn't make the brownie flavor, although it does have 3 or 4 of the other Moose Tracks flavors, but the store carries a brand called Dean's that has it!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbuuRZycV1rbXSeE-72_rK3mbvyJ73dP6bmgXKJ_5SgZhr7TyO77orLqsBtyoBY3mZcHeISZVQ03njaWRZgwvWbm34IIx7gP2fKQQHsKqdu1Mvr8w1ew28qxOSr_iSlOdsWHT2Eja4xc/s1600/IC+The+contenders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbuuRZycV1rbXSeE-72_rK3mbvyJ73dP6bmgXKJ_5SgZhr7TyO77orLqsBtyoBY3mZcHeISZVQ03njaWRZgwvWbm34IIx7gP2fKQQHsKqdu1Mvr8w1ew28qxOSr_iSlOdsWHT2Eja4xc/s1600/IC+The+contenders.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the contenders</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<u>Graeter's Toffee Chocolate Chip</u><br />
*Vanilla ice cream with pieces of toffee and chocolate chips<br />
*Toffee is PERFECT: easy to crunch and doesn't stick to my teeth<br />
*Milk chocolate chips<br />
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<u><br />
</u><br />
<u>Graeter's Coconut Chocolate Chip</u><br />
*This is what I usually choose because they only have my ABSOLUTE favorite, Mint Cookies and Cream, for ONE MONTH OF THE YEAR *sob*<br />
*Sweet, creamy ice cream; not sure if it's vanilla or coconut flavored<br />
*Lots of coconut flakes<br />
*Semi-sweet chocolate "chips"<br />
*I imagine a <a href="http://smile.amazon.com/Mounds-Candy-Snack-Size-11-3-Ounce/dp/B001FA1DXW/ref=sr_1_1?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1413636135&sr=1-1&keywords=mounds+bar" target="_blank">Mounds Bar</a> turned into ice cream would taste like this<br />
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<u>Ben and Jerry's Scotchy Scotch Scotch</u><br />
*Butterscotch flavored ice cream with a slightly crunchy butterscotch ripple throughout<br />
* SIXTEEN grams of protein in one container! I don't remember other flavors having that much; I guess I'll need to buy them again and check more carefully! (<em>After checking: The other flavors have that much protein too.</em>)<br />
*Ian is quite sad that this is a limited edition flavor<br />
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<u>Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Peppermint Crunch</u><br />
*First bite tastes like a nice, cold peppermint patty<br />
*Chocolate ice cream with a thin mint ribbon <em>(a thicker mint ribbon would be nice)</em>; the description says there are fudge swirls, but I didn't notice those very much<br />
*The "Crunch" is mint chocolate cookie balls that taste like Th!n M!nts or <a href="http://smile.amazon.com/Keebler-Grasshopper-Fudge-Mint-pk/dp/B006NYVGB4/ref=sr_1_1?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1413637568&sr=1-1&keywords=Grasshoppers%27" target="_blank">Grasshopper cookies</a>!<br />
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<u>Graeter's Cookies & Cream</u><br />
*Nice cream flavor<br />
*Very light on the cookies: 2 good size chunks, a few smaller pieces<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavPWCGwwUzXofqHaQo_B7_hTqb6AH8_cAuO26CBDHWO3WLm5i-SRPQZviIDCzZ9MdeGAtUm6Kk8bxhdMykeDEWsT4Rqs6fsQHeDksbHeMWqGPhwiek3-F1y6Xf0QUfpKP_9d24reCmPY/s1600/IC+Cookies+and+Cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavPWCGwwUzXofqHaQo_B7_hTqb6AH8_cAuO26CBDHWO3WLm5i-SRPQZviIDCzZ9MdeGAtUm6Kk8bxhdMykeDEWsT4Rqs6fsQHeDksbHeMWqGPhwiek3-F1y6Xf0QUfpKP_9d24reCmPY/s1600/IC+Cookies+and+Cream.jpg" height="310" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDh993DECQj2MfYLLcsj5NBvzkV5pcoyROVz_AkyBzM4WwH1MwZ_ylMr0dbzFBEF3EnjodbH24AfDNiYyHCjJk8wF6kXTk79ARfDNcYMddRdvyrAAA09Qbk_BEFTrzYUhqBO2_PTLiLA/s1600/IC+Cookies+and+Cream+inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDh993DECQj2MfYLLcsj5NBvzkV5pcoyROVz_AkyBzM4WwH1MwZ_ylMr0dbzFBEF3EnjodbH24AfDNiYyHCjJk8wF6kXTk79ARfDNcYMddRdvyrAAA09Qbk_BEFTrzYUhqBO2_PTLiLA/s1600/IC+Cookies+and+Cream+inside.jpg" height="257" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<u>Graeter's Butter Pecan</u><br />
*Nice buttery flavor in the ice cream<br />
*Nice amount of pecans throughout<br />
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<u>Graeter's Salted Caramel</u><br />
*Very nice caramel flavor with just enough of the salt to keep it from being to sweet<br />
*Smooth ice cream; no chunks of anything<br />
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<u>Graeter's Buckeye Blitz</u><br />
*Chocolate and peanut butter flavored ice cream<br />
*Dark chocolate "chips"<br />
*Little pieces of peanut butter cookie dough <em>(bigger pieces of cookie dough would be better!)</em><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6Qu4T3NM4X6U9g41Qm-e4UaWyqhGL4h1O4P24xK2ckZHvSyiCT2pyvvOn4pN87WDlNFCZlRJJkv87ZP_uSoGv1YJzY_HN7xJYZlhfz1Bw79qkCa_e2o7KZqVhwplhch6Kf4VnpqZnXs/s1600/IC+Buckeye+Blitz+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6Qu4T3NM4X6U9g41Qm-e4UaWyqhGL4h1O4P24xK2ckZHvSyiCT2pyvvOn4pN87WDlNFCZlRJJkv87ZP_uSoGv1YJzY_HN7xJYZlhfz1Bw79qkCa_e2o7KZqVhwplhch6Kf4VnpqZnXs/s1600/IC+Buckeye+Blitz+1.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELfEabe_nne1aHTpNH_98vX_l7zMpi4qHXAI9uCX_EqQac1UsBRMUTF-Yam7tUjQ7dD0PvAKBEz-pm7lHrieZ3zbh6jLtkUGp8_585mjRqyxSezb89uHVlONTrbcn-OjGuJV5cmPahsw/s1600/IC+Buckeye+Blitz+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELfEabe_nne1aHTpNH_98vX_l7zMpi4qHXAI9uCX_EqQac1UsBRMUTF-Yam7tUjQ7dD0PvAKBEz-pm7lHrieZ3zbh6jLtkUGp8_585mjRqyxSezb89uHVlONTrbcn-OjGuJV5cmPahsw/s1600/IC+Buckeye+Blitz+3.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<u>Graeter's Strawberry Chocolate Chip</u><br />
*Varying sizes of melt-in-your-mouth (instead of stick-in-your-teeth) semi-sweet chocolate "chips"<br />
*Natural strawberry flavored ice cream, no food coloring, smallish pieces of strawberry<br />
*Somewhat sweet, but sweetness is balanced by the semi-sweet chocolate<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCskcDxc7YyF39pyVvfpIF79EdghBuXCr6ELqm5hMHk9B4C55Upvifos4CO8y0j57UjEJSy9FZu02WoRBMG01EeDCXQRWcEXG9JLLmpFiDARnpM2A9IuIXIt5HCJWsLtjgO1FjuO5880w/s1600/IC+Strawberry+Chocolate+Chip+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCskcDxc7YyF39pyVvfpIF79EdghBuXCr6ELqm5hMHk9B4C55Upvifos4CO8y0j57UjEJSy9FZu02WoRBMG01EeDCXQRWcEXG9JLLmpFiDARnpM2A9IuIXIt5HCJWsLtjgO1FjuO5880w/s1600/IC+Strawberry+Chocolate+Chip+2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were some SERIOUS chocolate chunks in this one!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyn9Wxh7NHgBw_PPsfxMucUKPmzNFduKt-rVbEvM9CYz3NXhvz7poSRcbbGjnq5Gn_D98s0QRWiRyWLkCN-hkzBpoGqgktenuLaLoOAPNTqhOsJgy5W-OIpEZHJ47cVYYFj0CX7Mlehw/s1600/IC+Strawberry+Chocolate+Chip+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyn9Wxh7NHgBw_PPsfxMucUKPmzNFduKt-rVbEvM9CYz3NXhvz7poSRcbbGjnq5Gn_D98s0QRWiRyWLkCN-hkzBpoGqgktenuLaLoOAPNTqhOsJgy5W-OIpEZHJ47cVYYFj0CX7Mlehw/s1600/IC+Strawberry+Chocolate+Chip+5.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I hit the jackpot!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfYKXcU4A5hMUk1_z-qLWc83b6KKiZxIguDR2L7pBvsUXF8CAFy30-4lIZ4x_Ub5qgrzkvGAMztgB4h89v7GWKzAWwe_WUIT6TnteRYwIGaH2Tdl_TGEtufv-aWqVqhMcGjFRchALcmc/s1600/IC+Strawberry+Chocolate+Chip+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfYKXcU4A5hMUk1_z-qLWc83b6KKiZxIguDR2L7pBvsUXF8CAFy30-4lIZ4x_Ub5qgrzkvGAMztgB4h89v7GWKzAWwe_WUIT6TnteRYwIGaH2Tdl_TGEtufv-aWqVqhMcGjFRchALcmc/s1600/IC+Strawberry+Chocolate+Chip+6.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piece of strawberry</td></tr>
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</div>Doing My Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899668428457343549noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948053377584888121.post-75826276116092811162014-08-08T21:21:00.000-04:002019-03-26T16:00:55.781-04:00PSA: Comparing Photo Books From Shutterfly and BlurbI recently ordered 2 photo books from <a href="http://www.blurb.com/" target="_blank">Blurb</a> after having used <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/" target="_blank">Shutterfly</a> for years. I wasn't sure how the finished products would compare, but now I know, so I'm writing this post to help me remember and to help anyone else who is wondering.<br />
<br />
I make photo books for 2 different things: 1) Photo books that *I* will keep once the children move away, that tell the story of our entire family, and 2) Photo books for each child, containing mostly pictures of that child, which the child will take with him/her when he/she leaves the house.<br />
<br />
I've been using Shutterfly for....well, since we got a digital camera...so for 12? 13? years. I was hesitant to move to a different site because so many years of my pictures are stored there and it's always such a hassle to upload lots of pictures. But, inevitably, when I would have 5 or 10 or 18 minutes here and there to work on photo books, I would have problems uploading my pictures or getting my project to load because of some issue with the site. Also, Shutterfly continues to add to their layouts and other options, so one of the books I was working on became obsolete, I had a hard time learning the new system, and there are now SO MANY options for backgrounds, layouts, and embellishments <i>("stickers"/decorations)</i> that I became paralyzed with indecision. <strike>(But mostly it was the rage from the loading problems that did me in.)</strike><br />
<br />
A Lovely Person recommended Blurb to me, so I looked into that site. One thing I liked about Blurb right away was their program, <a href="http://www.blurb.com/booksmart" target="_blank">BookSmart</a>, that can be downloaded onto your computer, allowing you to work on your photo book offline. Another thing I liked was that the kind of photo book I was interested in could have 240 or 440 pages, depending on the kind of paper I picked. I was a little sad that there weren't any embellishments offered, but they had a variety of customizable photo layouts, 85 patterned backgrounds <i>(whose colors can be changed to pretty much any color there is)</i> and any color of solid background you could possibly want. Lack of embellishments, although a little sad, simplified the process for me and saved me A LOT of time.<br />
<br />
Now for the detailed comparisons!<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>Kinds of paper</u><br />
Shutterfly offers one kind of paper.<br />
Blurb offers Standard Paper, Premium Paper Lustre or Matte, Proline Uncoated, or Proline Pearl Photo. <br />
<br />
*I wasn't sure which of Blurb's papers would compare to Shutterfly's. If I used Standard Paper, I could get up to 440 pages in a book, but if I used Premium, I could only get 240. Since I am expending so much time, energy, and money on these books, and I want them to last <strike>FOREVER</strike> a long time, I decided to try Premium Paper Matte for my photo book and Premium Paper Lustre for Jeffrey's, so that I could see what the difference was between the two, and so I could compare the Premium papers to Shutterfly's standard paper.<br />
<br />
<b>Results:</b> Shutterfly's standard paper is equivalent to Blurb's Premium Lustre Paper. It's a nice thickness with a little bit of shine. I think I will use the Premium Matte Paper from now on because I prefer to not have a glare on the pictures.<br />
<br />
<u>Types of Covers</u><br />
<a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/covers/" target="_blank">Shutterfly</a> offers leather, silk, linen, cloth, padded, hard matte covers for their premium or upgrade options, and hard or soft covers <i>(with pictures and/or text printed on)</i> for their standard option.<br />
*Jeffrey's first photo book has a standard hard cover; the cover has a shiny finish <i>(which is easy to wipe off if it gets fingerprints or something sticky on it)</i>.<br />
<u><br /></u><a href="http://www.blurb.com/pricing" target="_blank">Blurb</a> offers a softcover, hard cover with a dust jacket, or hard cover with ImageWrap <i>(meaning, no dust jacket and pictures/text printed on the front and/or back of the cover)</i>.<br />
*The Family book and Jeffrey's second photo book have a hard cover with ImageWrap; the cover has a matte finish <i>(which does not seem to wipe off quite as easily)</i>.<br />
<br />
<u>Sizes</u><br />
Shutterfly offers books in sizes: 8x8, 8x11, 10x10, 12x12, or 11x14.<br />
*Jeffrey's first book is 8x11.<br />
<br />
Blurb offers books in sizes: 7x7, 7.75x9.75, 10x8, 13x11, or 12x12.<br />
*The Family book and Jeffrey's second photo book are 13x11.<br />
<u><br /></u>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zXOWffKIUQW3SEw9qmq42IqLa66btUXmmDrHF41reS38gEgLZXwPynoSU0_vtVd8gRgTjYoACLxMAfqvJaJk8KqGkj5cdp2-Tt0Uesj8nOPhYWviDqxuFy13bVT3WyoYtjQJ3Xzh2Ek/s1600/080814+2+photo+book+sizes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zXOWffKIUQW3SEw9qmq42IqLa66btUXmmDrHF41reS38gEgLZXwPynoSU0_vtVd8gRgTjYoACLxMAfqvJaJk8KqGkj5cdp2-Tt0Uesj8nOPhYWviDqxuFy13bVT3WyoYtjQJ3Xzh2Ek/s1600/080814+2+photo+book+sizes.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">13x11 book on the left, 8x11 book on the right</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIPuzmX4rk6Z7EsVF9tBhceN24GVf7SeQa2_0W5A7UfI8x732pRjO_zv8npEzVoJoEz1ycuTa22KDq-gRlIpgG49ijwemTZzXV3aseZclcHOfNlzbgq1q-I2M1KnDdxRiOL8VXDBMLRg/s1600/080814+1+Photo+book+pages+size.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIPuzmX4rk6Z7EsVF9tBhceN24GVf7SeQa2_0W5A7UfI8x732pRjO_zv8npEzVoJoEz1ycuTa22KDq-gRlIpgG49ijwemTZzXV3aseZclcHOfNlzbgq1q-I2M1KnDdxRiOL8VXDBMLRg/s1600/080814+1+Photo+book+pages+size.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The top book contains 101 pages (<i>and has been well-loved</i>).<br />
The middle book contains 112 pages.<br />
The bottom book contains 182 pages.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span id="goog_275426620">I am terrible at visualizing what size something will actually be, so I was pleasantly surprised today when the 13x11 books came and I saw the size of the pictures. For some things, like birthdays, where there are 40 pictures of the same event, I like to use the 9- or 16-picture layouts to keep a lot of the pictures but not use up a lot of pages with them. I always worry the pictures will turn out to be too small, especially with the 16-picture layout, but they were perfect!</span><br />
<br />
<u>Design Options</u><br />
<a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-books" target="_blank">Shutterfly</a> offers 2 book-making options: Custom Path <i>(1-25 pictures per page, you design the book yourself, including backgrounds, text and fonts, and embellishments)</i> or Simple Path <i>(1-4 pictures per page, the computer organizes your pictures onto pages according to the dates and you can go through an adjust some things)</i>. In Custom Path, there are LOTS OF OPTIONS. LOTS. OF. OPTIONS. Backgrounds, page colors, embellishments, fonts, picture layouts, and now you can "customize" the picture layouts, which means you can change the size of the picture box, add or delete text boxes, and move things around on the page.<br />
<br />
Blurb's BookSmart offers 85 patterned backgrounds with colors that can be changed, all sorts of solid colors for backgrounds, a variety of picture layouts <i>(and the option to save layouts that you've designed)</i>, the option to "edit" the layout by changing the size of the picture boxes, adding or deleting picture and text boxes, and moving all of those things around on the page, and a variety of fonts.<br />
<br />
<b>Verdict:</b> If you love designing things, having LOTS OF OPTIONS, and scrap booking, Shutterfly is what you want. If too many options make you feel overwhelmed and unable to make a decision, and what you want is a basic photo album with pictures and some text talking about the pictures, you want Blurb's BookSmart.<br />
<br />
Note: Blurb has other <a href="http://www.blurb.com/bookmaking-tools" target="_blank">book designing options</a>, besides BookSmart, but I haven't used those.<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>Uploading Things</u><br />
For Shutterfly, you add pictures to your book from your computer, your Shutterfly account, your Facebook, or your Instagram. You have to be online while you do this. I have had problems with uploading taking A LONG TIME. <strike>Once your pictures FINALLY load</strike> After you have your pictures, you make your photo book online, at the Shutterfly website. I have also had problems with this site refusing to load or loading very slowly. When your book is finished, you order it from the website, which is pretty quick <strike>if the program isn't running slowly/refusing to work that day</strike>.<br />
<br />
For Blurb, you add pictures to your book from your computer, Flickr, Photobucket, Picasa, or Smugmug. I only got pictures from my computer, which was fast, and did not require me to be online. I never had any problems using BookSmart to work on my pages; the program never froze or worked slowly. When I was ready to order my book, I uploaded it to the website, which took over an hour <i>(it was a VERY large file)</i>, but I was expecting that, wasn't in a hurry, was able to do other things online at the same time, AND it never froze and had to be restarted, so that didn't bother me.<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>Prices</u><br />
<a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/shop/custompath-comp" target="_blank">Shutterfly</a>: Jeffrey's 8x11 book, without sales, would cost $39.99 for the first 20 pages, plus $1 per page for additional pages. His book has 101 pages <i>(ultrasound pictures to 18 months old)</i>. I can't find the information on their site after 5+ minutes of looking, but I think 101 was the maximum number of pages I could get at the time; that may have changed.<br />
<b>Total for this book</b>, with no coupon codes would have been <b>$120.99+shipping</b> (which, AGAIN, I have looked and looked for on their site and cannot find, but it ends up being a moot point because they usually have a coupon code that gives you free shipping).<br />
<b>From Blurb</b>, as similar sized book would have cost <b>$61.01+<a href="http://www.blurb.com/shipping" target="_blank">shipping</a></b>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blurb.com/pricing" target="_blank">Blurb</a>: The Large Landscape (13"x11"), Hardcover ImageWrap would cost $60.81 for the first 20 pages, plus $0.50 per page for additional pages. The Family book has 182 pages <i>(January 2011 to the end of July 2013)</i>.<br />
<b>Total for this book</b>, with no coupon codes would have been <b>$141.81+shipping</b>.<br />
<b>From Shutterfly</b>, the similarly sized 11x14 book would have cost <b>$312.99+shipping</b>.<br />
<br />
*The price of the basic 20-page book is the reason I put so many pages in my books; most of the cost is the initial book, so it's cheaper for me to make fewer books with more pages than to make more books with fewer pages. But if you're making a smaller-sized book for grandparents or for one event <i>(for example: a certain family vacation or family event)</i> then this is irrelevant. <br />
<br />
<u>Coupon Codes</u><br />
*Shutterfly's shipping price depends on the amount of money you are spending, but they often have a free shipping if you spend $30+ code. They usually have a 30% off photo books coupon, often have a 40% off coupon, and sometimes offer a 50% off coupon; the coupons sometimes specify a certain size of book. Also, I am signed up for Shutterfly's emails, and will receive a "free 20 page photo book" coupon a couple times per year, so you could sign up for emails and try making the free book to see how you like their system.<br />
<br />
*Blurb: I have only been signed up with them for about 2 months. A couple weeks before that 2 months was up, I received emails from them offering 20% off if I spent one amount or less, or 30% off if I spent more than that before it had been 60 days since I signed up with them. I've also seen 15% and 25% off codes from them. I have not yet seen any free shipping codes.<br />
<br />
<u>Final Thoughts</u><br />
For me, the biggest downsides to Blurb were that I would like a few more decorative options, and I would REALLY like to be able to copy an entire page layout and paste it into another book project, but that isn't possible at this time. <i>(The Shutterfly site isn't cooperating with me again tonight, but, from what I can tell/remember, I can't copy pages there either.)</i> Everything else was a positive for me: ease of use of the website and program, price, and quality.<br />
<br />
I was happy with Shutterfly's quality, and I enjoyed the decorative options before there were so many, but my frustration with their site is a HUGE downside.<br />
<br />
Also, there are MANY places out there that make photo books, so GOOD LUCK choosing one! Doing My Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899668428457343549noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948053377584888121.post-81117391918248002352014-06-01T22:18:00.001-04:002016-08-27T18:50:25.777-04:00The Oatmeal ExperimentSo, after days, weeks, months, and years of complaints and declarations of ingratitude and entitlement, <strike>and a few days of certain hormones</strike> I had finally HAD IT, and declared that we would be eating oatmeal <i>(made with milk, for added protein)</i>, fruits, and vegetables for every meal and snack FOR A WEEK to help us remember how blessed we really are to have our needs met and a variety of food easily available to us.<br />
<br />
<u>Day 1:</u><br />
Ian is resigned; I've been his mother his entire life. He knows I am serious.<br />
David is refusing to eat. <i>(He thinks he will survive just fine on his secret stash of candy.)</i><br />
Marie is resigned; I've been her mother her entire life. She knows I am serious.<br />
Joseph and Jeffrey are happy; they LOVE fruits and vegetables and don't mind oatmeal.<br />
<br />
I go grocery shopping and want to WEEP WITH JOY at how simple it is! No agonizing over what to buy <i>(<b>Is it healthy enough? Is it filling enough for hungry, hungry boys to justify the price? Is it chemicals disguised as food? Should I buy it when I can make it for less money? Shouldn't I try harder to incorporate more beans into our diet since they are healthy and inexpensive? If I buy this will they refuse to eat anything else?</b>)</i>! No hunting through coupons <i>(fruits and vegetables don't usually have coupons and I bought store brand regular oats)</i>!<br />
<br />
Later that day, I decide that people can make things like apple crisp or carrot cake. So far, nobody is feeling desperate enough to put forth the effort.<br />
<br />
<u>Day 2:</u><br />
I told the boys they may take hot dogs on their camp out if they do their chores without complaining or being reminded. One child is refusing to do a part of his chores that irritates him. 3 others: forgetful. <i>(Final total: 2 boys can have hot dogs, 2 bitterly pack oatmeal. One package of candy is confiscated on the way to the van to leave for the camp out.)</i><br />
<br />
Joseph and Jeffrey are getting a little tired of apples and strawberries, and so they try salad with dressing for the first time <strike>as I am unconscious on the floor from the shock</strike>. Joseph decides he doesn't like it; Jeffrey does.<br />
<br />
At 3:00pm, Ian asks if he can eat waffles if he makes them <i>(from scratch)</i>. Unfortunately, he is having a very busy day and doesn't have time to make waffles before they leave for the camp out.<br />
<br />
In time-honored tradition <i>(the boys all go camping about once a year <strike>twice if we're really lucky</strike>)</i>, Marie and I have ice cream and pizza for dinner.<br />
<br />
<u>Day 3:</u><br />
Boys have pancakes and sausage for breakfast at the camp out.<br />
<br />
5:25 Jeffrey, after asking for a treat and being told no, says, "Can we PLEASE go back to what we usually eat?"<br />
<br />
5:53pm Ian BEGS <i>(because I told him that when a person is going to cook dinner they need to start cooking at 5:00 and not at the last minute {due to bedtime and various things})</i> to be allowed to make waffles. Every child, except 1, happily and GRATEFULLY eats waffles for dinner. One child complains that he can't find a waffle crispy enough and is pointed to the oatmeal, fruits, and vegetables.<br />
<br />
<u>Day 4:</u><br />
I am very much enjoying the lack of stress about meals! Nobody is whining in the morning or at lunch about not knowing what to have, and I don't need to keep checking the calendar to see which person is supposed to be cooking dinner and remind that person 4 or 5 times throughout the day.<br />
<br />
Since today was Mother's Day, Husband made sausage, eggs, and biscuits for me for breakfast. The children eagerly ate their share with many proclamations of thanks.<br />
<br />
Entirely unprompted and without one sound of complaint, David made pizza (from scratch) for dinner for everyone.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVb6qwu2P7bQZt3NF7Gf2grksrwhMpgQxQreZ0qgxmCpRcDnXIkOTJYram2F394NL4D0JgSb-G93jeQ7cJAqEeKQczcOJ1A2NlZAqAqN6GPI6QWuWNhxUrbhYt_soLNvGazUaxdXKY5E/s1600/051814+1+S+Making+pizza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVb6qwu2P7bQZt3NF7Gf2grksrwhMpgQxQreZ0qgxmCpRcDnXIkOTJYram2F394NL4D0JgSb-G93jeQ7cJAqEeKQczcOJ1A2NlZAqAqN6GPI6QWuWNhxUrbhYt_soLNvGazUaxdXKY5E/s1600/051814+1+S+Making+pizza.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."<br />
<i>I hope my possible future DIL appreciates all of the effort that went into this ;-)!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u>Day 5:</u> <br />
I am sick, and it is WONDERFUL to not have to worry about what people will be eating all day because: OATMEAL, FRUITS, OR VEGETABLES!<br />
<br />
<u>Day 6:</u><br />
At ~3:00 a child remembers that, in times like these, popcorn is considered a vegetable. The child makes popcorn for snack time and there is much rejoicing in the land!<br />
<br />
Husband, Jeffrey, and I have salad for dinner, Marie has oatmeal, the other boys opt not to eat dinner.<br />
<br />
<u>Day 7:</u><br />
Children practically LEAP out of bed in order to work on their chores, since the oatmeal experiment ends when the weekly chores are finished.<br />
*******<br />
<br />
Since the oatmeal experiment has ended, I have had a lot less stress about dinner times. If the child in charge of dinner doesn't start cooking dinner by 5:00, I happily announce another meal of oatmeal, fruits, and vegetables! I do not worry about who is in charge of dinner and repeatedly remind that person to get cooking! For the most part, the children have HAPPILY and GRATEFULLY eaten whatever food someone has prepared. There has also been an overall decrease in the amount of complaining surrounding the daily and weekly chores. All in all, I call it a SUCCESS and will do it again if needed!Doing My Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899668428457343549noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948053377584888121.post-82662856200637471082014-01-31T19:33:00.000-05:002014-01-31T19:33:09.107-05:00Recipe for Caramel 'N Chocolate Pecan BarsI found <a href="http://www.landolakes.com/recipe/1982/caramel-n-chocolate-pecan-bars" target="_blank">this delicious sounding recipe</a> on the inside of the butter box some time ago, and I finally tried it!<br />
<br />
OH MY.<br />
<br />
Caramel 'n Chocolate Pecan Bars <b>(<i>with my changes in bold and parentheses</i>)</b><br />
<br />
<u>Crust</u><br />
2 Cups all-purpose flour<br />
1 Cup firmly packed brown sugar<br />
1/2 Cup salter butter, softened<br />
1 Cup pecan halves <b>(<em>In an effort to not skimp on the health benefits of pecans--protein and so forth--I did not measure these; I spread a nice, solid layer over the entire crust</em>.)</b><br />
<br />
<u>Caramel Layer</u> <b>(<i>Caramel is one of my favorites and this didn't look like much, so I doubled it. GOOD CALL.</i>)</b><br />
2/3 C. salted butter<br />
1/2 C. firmly packed brown sugar<br />
<br />
<u>Chocolate</u><br />
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips <i><b>(I was suspicious that the strong flavor of the semi-sweet chocolate chips would overpower the more delicate flavor of the caramel, so I sprinkled the full amount on half of the pan.)</b></i><br />
<br />
>Heat oven to 350*. Combine all crust ingredients <u>except</u> pecans in large bowl. Beat at medium speed until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Press onto bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch baking pan. Place pecans evenly over unbaked crust.<br />
>Combine 2/3 cup butter and 1/2 cup brown sugar in 1-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until entire surface of mixture begins to boil. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, 1 minutes. Pour mixture evenly over pecans and crust. <b>(<i>I really don't think this would have adequately covered the pecans and crust if I hadn't doubled it.</i>)</b><br />
>Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until entire caramel layer is bubbly. DO NOT OVERBAKE. <b><i>(I checked at 15 minutes and there were bubbles around the edges; when I checked a few minutes later, the entire caramel layer was bubbly.)</i></b> Remove from oven. Immediately sprinkle with chips; allow to melt slightly. Swirl melted chips over bars leaving some whole for marbled effect. Cool completely. <b><i>(This is a great way to take advantage of the unusually cold temperatures and a nice, chilly garage!)</i></b> Cut into bars.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawPaOtr4nhE1H_A_KAcTEu2OAnesDT-T9OAPl4vwU-NkkwSAIoU3uXzkLIx_ZPoHiVToxRMga5UeMXdefGRrCUPp2av3P0ZaSJP3p2qAP9G80hXdNXhve3eIPrHecg5iYtEFvefHgt9Y/s1600/Caramel+Pecan+Bars+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawPaOtr4nhE1H_A_KAcTEu2OAnesDT-T9OAPl4vwU-NkkwSAIoU3uXzkLIx_ZPoHiVToxRMga5UeMXdefGRrCUPp2av3P0ZaSJP3p2qAP9G80hXdNXhve3eIPrHecg5iYtEFvefHgt9Y/s1600/Caramel+Pecan+Bars+1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right out of the oven</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
TIP: You can use a combination of your favorite nuts or flavored baking chips for variety in these bars. <i><b>(I am SORELY TEMPTED to try them with butterscotch chips...but that might be too sweet.)</b></i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPb7fiPsuhvErjGlP9QfLNMth1D9uEdFNBdSxuHOQTsQ1a49FuinszYUxVgepo5dak7xHQiChk4s8VP0e3dQEC9WpAwIwOGEb173aY88s4gn8zkZxseRhaNaIX200lOJdyXf-nybf4aA/s1600/Caramel+pecan+bars+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPb7fiPsuhvErjGlP9QfLNMth1D9uEdFNBdSxuHOQTsQ1a49FuinszYUxVgepo5dak7xHQiChk4s8VP0e3dQEC9WpAwIwOGEb173aY88s4gn8zkZxseRhaNaIX200lOJdyXf-nybf4aA/s1600/Caramel+pecan+bars+2.jpg" height="223" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With chocolate chips on the left, without chocolate chips on the right</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i><b></b></i><br /></div>
<br />
Mmmmm.<strong><em> </em></strong>I was right: the chocolate does overpower the caramel flavor, but maybe it wouldn't have if I had only used half of the called-for amount. SOMEONE SHOULD TRY IT AND REPORT BACK =)! With the chocolate chips, I think it tastes like a delicious chocolaty treat. Without the chocolate chips, it reminds me of <a href="http://www.sees.com/index.cfm/custom_mix/select?pn=220" target="_blank">Butterscotch Squares</a> or the delicious, gooey part of <a href="http://swistle.blogspot.com/2008/03/beautiful-day.html" target="_blank">Swistle's Mom's Pecan Rolls</a>.<br />
<br />
So! You try it and come back and report on any changes you made and how they turned out!Doing My Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899668428457343549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948053377584888121.post-79313455567387765252014-01-31T18:53:00.002-05:002014-06-01T22:03:45.023-04:00PSA: What Happens When You Go To the Doctor Because of a Smashed Toe (or Finger) (Updated)WARNING: This post contains pictures of a purple toenail and swollen toe.<br />
********<br />
On Monday afternoon, I was walking past Jeffrey with my arms full of things to put away, when I noticed he was messing around with a bar stool, tipping it back and forth. I paused on my way and said, "Please don't do that; you're going to get..." *WHAM* Bar stool to the toe.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOrUCppm7a7cFWMs5IoVxFKHx4-DkjTwCpVXj6R-Piu1Y3j3DEXe6SR7BFueqCwzxSNhH13JfWlUbc0mt7FnqDSUOAPK65TAR_j27zAS1GT69I1OSxVivAEk9Mi7IL6xM5YeOr-_i16Y/s1600/012714+Luke%27s+toe+day+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOrUCppm7a7cFWMs5IoVxFKHx4-DkjTwCpVXj6R-Piu1Y3j3DEXe6SR7BFueqCwzxSNhH13JfWlUbc0mt7FnqDSUOAPK65TAR_j27zAS1GT69I1OSxVivAEk9Mi7IL6xM5YeOr-_i16Y/s1600/012714+Luke's+toe+day+1.jpg" height="320" width="259" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not even 5 minutes later</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
His toenail immediately turned purple, and he cried for quite a while and didn't walk around much for the rest of the day. I asked around, and the consensus was that the way to treat this sort of injury was to have a little hole drilled in the nail to release the pressure. Given the amount of screaming that occurred at Jeffrey's last shots, I knew I did not want to try this at home. Also, I wasn't sure if this was one of those things that, if I took him to the doctor immediately, they would just roll their eyes at me and say we needed to watch it for a couple days, so I decided to skip that experience and just watch it for a couple days. I did give him some ibuprofen for the pain.<br />
<br />
<br />
EDITED TO ADD: If he had broken the skin/nail, I would have taken him in right away because foot wounds like that are notorious for getting infected. <br />
<br />
I tried to go to bed early that night but, a couple hours later, I got out of bed when I heard heartbroken, frantic sobs of, "I don't want to die! I don't want to die!" coming from the hallway. It seems <strike>Joseph</strike> a helpful brother had matter-of-factly commented how sad it would be if Jeffrey died from his toe injury 2 days before his birthday. It took an hour or so to calm him down. It took me a LONG TIME to get to sleep.<br />
<br />
Thank you, helpful brother.<br />
<br />
The next day, the purple had spread, the toe was definitely looking a little puffy, and he said it hurt to wear a sock.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsf__CDcz5wYMFXEc-x_RY5qRShQZ63vlH6yoBBNmGA7viaexkNEomiFXiAd6nDTw04Y8F1UOwKAI8c2KltQrgMMKat4ZT3t2Chh8tbqagVombdhf5foGs3ugS530dIe5FNQtM25JLO1w/s1600/012814+Toe+day+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsf__CDcz5wYMFXEc-x_RY5qRShQZ63vlH6yoBBNmGA7viaexkNEomiFXiAd6nDTw04Y8F1UOwKAI8c2KltQrgMMKat4ZT3t2Chh8tbqagVombdhf5foGs3ugS530dIe5FNQtM25JLO1w/s1600/012814+Toe+day+2.jpg" height="221" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The third day, his toe was so swollen that I expected his toe nail to pop off at any moment from the pressure.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhkgx6UGJPwPDdfZbxe8yR_TQ0WhWl0GoMcR5KZHmXoCue6V9m2GfXiQYwaI7-grLDjLzreNP_-vY5J2NKe4guzOcZwDMk4lbALQiIttAaC8Z0S7Bi6lSv4YAxnkGwmjV8W8OvXyTEdk/s1600/012914+Day+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhkgx6UGJPwPDdfZbxe8yR_TQ0WhWl0GoMcR5KZHmXoCue6V9m2GfXiQYwaI7-grLDjLzreNP_-vY5J2NKe4guzOcZwDMk4lbALQiIttAaC8Z0S7Bi6lSv4YAxnkGwmjV8W8OvXyTEdk/s1600/012914+Day+3.jpg" height="320" width="279" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The picture doesn't do it justice; it was really bad.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
But it was his birthday, and I didn't want to ruin his birthday with an unpleasant trip to the doctor, so we went in the next day.<br />
<br />
<br />
While we drove, I told him a little bit about what would happen when we got to the medical clinic. I tried to explain things to him a little ahead of time so he would know, generally, what to expect. I presented a calm and unworried face so he wouldn't become alarmed. (I truly wasn't worried; by boy #4, I'm pretty resigned about these things.)<br />
<br />
When we checked in, a couple people made comments about this having happened DAYS ago and what did I expect them to do about a broken toe AT THIS POINT. I told them I was worried about the swelling, not the possible break.<br />
<br />
<br />
While we were waiting for the doctor, I told Jeffrey that the doctor was going to need to look at his toe, and that he was probably going to do something to it to make it feel better. He asked me what the doctor was going to do, and I told him I didn't know, which was true! I didn't know...exactly...what he was going to do. As soon as the doctor came in the room, I told him it would be best if he did NOT tell or show Jeffrey what was going on. (At his shot appointment, Jeffrey was so terrified about the shots that there was no reasoning with or bribing him, so I knew it would not go well if he had a specific idea of what was coming.) The doctor looked a little puzzled but he followed my lead. He went to get some back-up and whatever the tool was that was going to burn a small hole in Jeffrey's toenail. <br />
<br />
When he came back, I laid Jeffrey on the bed and leaned over him, pinning his top half down and blocking his view. He asked what was going to happen, and I told him that the doctor was going to do something to his toe to make it feel better. He asked what they were going to do, and I told him I would tell him that after the doctor was done. The other guys held his legs while the doctor did his thing. Of course, the first tool broke, so the doctor had to go get another one. Jeffrey looked a little apprehensive, but stayed pretty still and did not scream! When the doctor used the 2nd tool to make the little hole, Jeffrey didn't know exactly what was happening but laughed nervously and said it tickled. It hurt a little bit when someone pressed on his toe gently to help the fluid come out, but it was quick, and then it was finished!<br />
<br />
The doctor had made a tiny hole in his toenail, about the size of a pin head. Since Jeffrey wasn't screaming or flailing around, it was VERY FAST. His toe IMMEDIATELY looked and felt a lot better! 24 hours later it isn't draining and still looks good.<br />
*******<br />
UPDATE:<br />
4 months later, the toenail fell off to reveal a new, bumpy toenail that had grown in about halfway; I assume it will keep growing until it covers his toe again.Doing My Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899668428457343549noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948053377584888121.post-64327840036304242122014-01-23T18:38:00.000-05:002019-03-26T15:47:53.771-04:00The Chocolate Cakes ReportIMPORTANT: Make sure you have a decent quantity of unsweetened cocoa powder and other baking supplies BEFORE you read this post.<br />
*******<br />
A while ago, I had a reason to make chocolate cake, so I tried out LOTS of chocolate cake recipes in an effort to find the BEST one. I used A LOT of cocoa powder and parchment paper that week. Here are my results.<br />
<br />
<u>Items of Note</u><br />
Although I did attempt to follow each recipe exactly, it is <strike>highly likely</strike> possible that there was some degree of <strike>overcooking</strike> user error involved in the results of these recipes, so keep that in mind as you are evaluating my results. <i>(In my defense, the ovens in my new house are not heating up to the correct temperature, so that complicates delicate cooking projects.)</i><br />
<br />
The newly shrunken, yet same price, chocolate squares are just as irritating as people have been saying!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghU_PnyquEJ65y5wYKv-SrysLcl2f6yPmlS9q6bLYrExhdJld1dl4AT2hD0RDhkHMeTfI8_v5PNmvRLCMtB5iGHSpDuSjKzCPINoYRu4xzs5Rnwro53qMMd1VbrBZy8YNAZ8T35Is88T8/s1600/Cake+unsweetened+chocolate+bar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghU_PnyquEJ65y5wYKv-SrysLcl2f6yPmlS9q6bLYrExhdJld1dl4AT2hD0RDhkHMeTfI8_v5PNmvRLCMtB5iGHSpDuSjKzCPINoYRu4xzs5Rnwro53qMMd1VbrBZy8YNAZ8T35Is88T8/s1600/Cake+unsweetened+chocolate+bar.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Easy Break" indeed!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Parchment paper is magical stuff! The cakes came right out of the pans and barely stuck to the parchment paper!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Wr0GvEU_fKx7Kvn5sKWYrEjpbY0d0RQ3-pigoq3zoIG5xBrD0OvZD5zeq3KWsV7IvVTSC9JBqZFTk9CitKIAaHpuYaIt-jQEfOEqDqEV6eadw87up095jr772iBR91IbZiZOs5t2jqc/s1600/Cake+parchment+paper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Wr0GvEU_fKx7Kvn5sKWYrEjpbY0d0RQ3-pigoq3zoIG5xBrD0OvZD5zeq3KWsV7IvVTSC9JBqZFTk9CitKIAaHpuYaIt-jQEfOEqDqEV6eadw87up095jr772iBR91IbZiZOs5t2jqc/s1600/Cake+parchment+paper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I kept these cakes, covered, in the garage when it was just warmer than refrigerator temperature out there. Apparently, chocolate cake needs to be at room temperature; when it is chilled it seems dry...which is especially unfortunate if you accidentally overcooked the cake in the first place.<br />
<br />
<b>*******</b><br />
<b>I made this </b><a href="http://foodwithpictures.wordpress.com/2012/04/29/chocolate-cake/" target="_blank"><b>Chocolate Cake</b></a><b> and this </b><a href="http://foodwithpictures.wordpress.com/2012/03/26/chocolate-frosting-2/" target="_blank"><b>Chocolate Frosting</b></a><b>.</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8u7uBHF6Hu0b7WVWIWa14tXNxirM5SmgyD1-H_Qo4Vx9QYAav4V7hyqpi_mrKiAmGZvlAxJb1mUFK1rL59eZBmQqQOQ5QcIdX6Ksr6djDkRgBenmgAFRUUUXsXVN7vGqigoUePhtcVgM/s1600/Chocolate+Cake+Twisterfish+truffle+frosting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8u7uBHF6Hu0b7WVWIWa14tXNxirM5SmgyD1-H_Qo4Vx9QYAav4V7hyqpi_mrKiAmGZvlAxJb1mUFK1rL59eZBmQqQOQ5QcIdX6Ksr6djDkRgBenmgAFRUUUXsXVN7vGqigoUePhtcVgM/s1600/Chocolate+Cake+Twisterfish+truffle+frosting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Note: </b>I made this one in a stoneware bar pan and baked it for 25 minutes.<br />
<br />
<b>Verdict:</b> This cake was frosted and uncut for about 24 hours with no ill effects. The cake itself had a nice chocolate flavor without being too sweet. The frosting was very smooth and buttery, not overly sweet, and very much reminded me of the filling in a chocolate truffle. My frosting didn't look like the picture in the post; once cooled, my frosting was solid enough that the kids could separate it from the cake in one piece.<br />
<b>*******</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Fudgy Chocolate Layer Cake</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcs7PE4BAit7CWBWK0ziIZMOwn6lkWFplX-lHXuvshdrotywsShLb4tIMf6-FweT4NGwEf2qttow_bUuOGRANPmFdGG_duHCFa9BshnAB1cEwrdesiOmqLXqu1to-dZ18b8UIMl57Zivs/s1600/Cake+chocolate+layer+cake+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcs7PE4BAit7CWBWK0ziIZMOwn6lkWFplX-lHXuvshdrotywsShLb4tIMf6-FweT4NGwEf2qttow_bUuOGRANPmFdGG_duHCFa9BshnAB1cEwrdesiOmqLXqu1to-dZ18b8UIMl57Zivs/s1600/Cake+chocolate+layer+cake+card.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Thanks to this picture, I have LONG wanted to try this cake. This recipe came from a <a href="http://promo.mygreatrecipes.com/great-american-home-baking/" target="_blank">Great American Home Baking</a> card that I received many years ago. <i>(I like quite a few recipes from that collection, by the way.)</i><br />
<br />
<u>Cake</u><br />
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour<br />
1 cup less 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder<br />
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda<br />
1/8 teaspoon salt<br />
3/4 cup butter, softened<br />
2/3 cup granulated sugar<br />
2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar<br />
2 large eggs<br />
2 teaspoons vanilla extract<br />
1 1/2 cups buttermilk<br />
<br />
<u>Frosting and Garnish</u><br />
1/2 cup butter, softened<br />
1 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted<br />
3 ounces (3 squares) unsweetened chocolate, melted<br />
2 teaspoons vanilla extract<br />
Chocolate shavings (optional)<br />
<br />
1. Preheat oven to 350* F. Line bottoms of two 9-inch round cake pans with waxed paper <i>(the recipe says "waxed" paper, but I was told to use PARCHMENT paper instead)</i>. Grease paper and sides of pans. Dust with flour.<br />
2. Mix flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each additions. Add vanilla.<br />
3. At low speed, alternately beat flour mixture and buttermilk into butter mixture just until blended. Divide batter equally between prepared pans.<br />
4. Bake cakes until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer pans to wire racks to cool for 10 minutes. Turn out onto racks. Remove paper. Turn layers topside up and cool completely.<br />
5. To prepare frosting, beat butter and confectioners' sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add melted chocolate and vanilla; continue beating until shiny and smooth.<br />
6. Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate; spread with frosting. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread frosting on top and sides of cake. Let cake stand for at least 30 minutes before sprinkling with chocolate shavings and slicing.<br />
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<b>Notes:</b> I doubled this recipe because I wanted 4 layers. Luckily, I made a batch of frosting from <a href="http://foodwithpictures.wordpress.com/2012/03/26/chocolate-frosting-2/" target="_blank">this recipe</a> for the frosting in between the layers because the amount of frosting given in the recipe, even doubled to go with the doubled cakes, just BARELY covered the top and sides; if I make this again, I will make twice as much frosting called for for the top and sides. I did not use chocolate shavings.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcUKKmoLmVgsZYfGjbHcmQcdqiQCV7pp5UNu0Eibf1_jRYbViLjL6_aX3PGMBn3UGJfJNz0nhVQv_GfCuXnD3I7OUG3oJAQ1LudffF-0n5afTmXCyPfyeds96Xedgiq6j4HTy4By5_uU/s1600/Cake+chocolate+layer+cake+unfrosted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcUKKmoLmVgsZYfGjbHcmQcdqiQCV7pp5UNu0Eibf1_jRYbViLjL6_aX3PGMBn3UGJfJNz0nhVQv_GfCuXnD3I7OUG3oJAQ1LudffF-0n5afTmXCyPfyeds96Xedgiq6j4HTy4By5_uU/s1600/Cake+chocolate+layer+cake+unfrosted.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<b>Verdict:</b> This cake looked really impressive. It was WAY too dry when it was chilled but decently moist when it warmed up. I'm nearly certain that I overcooked it. The truffle frosting in between the layers had a definite "semi sweet" flavor while the cake was more of a sweet chocolate, so I think I'll try milk chocolate chips in that frosting if I try this recipe again.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXE31V74fhk476BQH0YczNCUlPGvRz91rw_pZgpVBn0m3Ad02yHLapfO6sqOy0v-rHm_Hzb4Tb3tufhkFAi-bmUe4tHd8ckOPQZb8Oaac5bbYUzxXo5K31KRV9VVWqMmaMHCNPOdcC4s/s1600/Cake+chocolate+layer+cake+frosted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXE31V74fhk476BQH0YczNCUlPGvRz91rw_pZgpVBn0m3Ad02yHLapfO6sqOy0v-rHm_Hzb4Tb3tufhkFAi-bmUe4tHd8ckOPQZb8Oaac5bbYUzxXo5K31KRV9VVWqMmaMHCNPOdcC4s/s1600/Cake+chocolate+layer+cake+frosted.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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*******</div>
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Chocolate Mousse Cake</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevG-amOGb_Al_GidwM80z9A3leBLPkNLoXOgvZLpSRfL8pESJa-0G1xLEH0fv0QkgRXwf1lEg-MS898GbHjjVbFxZkd9pTtuz7GLowx7BdzsP-iDKkfrEBwF86Z5m0nZixLxPPdmejA8/s1600/Cake+chocolate+mousse+cake+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevG-amOGb_Al_GidwM80z9A3leBLPkNLoXOgvZLpSRfL8pESJa-0G1xLEH0fv0QkgRXwf1lEg-MS898GbHjjVbFxZkd9pTtuz7GLowx7BdzsP-iDKkfrEBwF86Z5m0nZixLxPPdmejA8/s1600/Cake+chocolate+mousse+cake+card.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This was another recipe that came from the <a href="http://promo.mygreatrecipes.com/great-american-home-baking/" target="_blank">Great American Home Baking</a> cards.<br />
<br />
<u>Crust</u><br />
1 cup chopped walnuts (4 ounces)<br />
1 cup chopped hazelnuts or almonds (4 ounces)<br />
1/4 cup butter, softened<br />
<br />
<u>Filling</u><br />
1 pound (16 ounces) semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped <i>(Genius that I am, I realized in time that I could use chocolate chips instead of buying a bar of semisweet chocolate and chopping it!)</i><br />
1 cup heavy cream<br />
6 large eggs<br />
1 teaspoon vanilla extract<br />
1/2 cup all-purpose flour<br />
1/3 cup granulated sugar<br />
<br />
<u>Garnish</u><br />
1 cup whipped cream<br />
1 cup fresh raspberries<br />
<br />
1. Preheat oven to 325* F. <br />
<br />
2. To prepare crust, mix together nuts and butter. Press evenly over bottom and up sides of a 9-inch springform pan. <br />
<br />
3. To prepare filling, in a medium saucepan, heat chocolate and cream over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted and smooth. Cool to room temperature, 10 minutes.<br />
<br />
4. Beat together eggs and vanilla at low speed until foamy. At high speed, gradually beat in flour and sugar until thick, 8 to 10 minutes.<br />
<br />
5. Fold one-third of egg mixture into melted chocolate mixture. Fold chocolate mixture, one-quarter at a time, into remaining egg mixture. Spread batter in prepared pan; smooth top.<br />
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6. Bake cake until puffed around outer edges, 45 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool for 30 minutes. Remove sides of pan.<br />
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7. Chill cake for 4 hours or overnight. Garnish with whipped cream and fresh raspberries before serving.<br />
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<b>Notes:</b> I used all almonds for the crust. I used a deep dish pie pan because I don't have a springform pan. I did make whipped cream but did not garnish with raspberries.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi949lkLQTnqtiZi5K6QTYh2q9rtWwkODHBFc_uEF6g7weMvNYwEWsnnUTL_-1SMudnAVztX7rzuyX0ViWU85MPl9sa0QnzKKNwziQbt2IV52PYt7IWKt-G7RlLUGIAJwNsLFRrIXp2JAg/s1600/Cake+chocolate+mousse+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi949lkLQTnqtiZi5K6QTYh2q9rtWwkODHBFc_uEF6g7weMvNYwEWsnnUTL_-1SMudnAVztX7rzuyX0ViWU85MPl9sa0QnzKKNwziQbt2IV52PYt7IWKt-G7RlLUGIAJwNsLFRrIXp2JAg/s1600/Cake+chocolate+mousse+cake.jpg" width="317" /></a></div>
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<b>Verdict:</b> Oh my. <br />
<br />
<br />
*fans self*<br />
<br />
<br />
Even though this cake was definitely overcooked, it was rich and dense; it reminded me of the richness and density of cheesecake. A small slice was enough to satisfy a sweet/chocolate craving. Again, this cake wasn't overly sweet; definitely semi-sweet as opposed to milk chocolate. WILL MAKE AGAIN. Ahem.<br />
*******<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Chocolate Mayonnaise Cream Cake</b><br />
I have long wanted to make this Chocolate Cream Cake from the Lion House Desserts cookbook <i>(which I don't see anymore but maybe </i><a href="http://deseretbook.com/Lion-House-Cookbook-Set-Deseret-Book-Company/i/5101841" target="_blank"><i>this set</i></a><i> which appears to be on clearance has the same recipes?)</i><br />
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<br />
and the recipe called for two round layers of chocolate cake made from a Devil's Food Cake mix, but I wanted to try the famous chocolate cake made with mayonnaise, and a Lovely Twitter Lady gave me this recipe.<br />
<br />
<u>Cake</u><br />
2 cups flour<br />
1 cup sugar<br />
4 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder<br />
2 teaspoons baking soda<br />
1 cup water<br />
1 cup mayonnaise<br />
1 teaspoon vanilla extract<br />
1/2 teaspoon salt<br />
<br />
Mix everything together in one bowl. Make 1-10 1/2" round cake. Bake at 325* F for 30-40 minutes. Do not overbake.<br />
<br />
<b>Notes:</b> I doubled this recipe because I wanted 2 layers so I could try out the cream cake recipe. The batter for this cake did not smell good to me but that may be because I don't like mayonnaise.<br />
<br />
<u>Chocolate Frosting</u><br />
4 tablespoons cocoa<br />
3 cups powdered sugar<br />
4 tablespoons softened butter or margarine<br />
2 to 3 tablespoons milk<br />
1 teaspoon vanilla<br />
<br />
Mix cocoa and powdered sugar in mixing bowl. Add softened butter, milk, and vanilla. Beat until smooth.<br />
<br />
<b>Notes:</b> Again, I needed more frosting so I will double it next time.<br />
<br />
<u>Stabilized Whipping Cream</u><br />
1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin<br />
1/4 cup cold water<br />
3 cups heavy whipping cream<br />
3/4 cup powdered sugar<br />
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla<br />
<br />
Combine gelatin with water in a small saucepan. Let stand until thick. Over low heat, stir constantly until just dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. (It should still be liquid.) Whip the cream, sugar, and vanilla until slightly thick in a large mixing bowl. Turn mixer on low and gradually add the gelatin, then beat on high until the cream is thick.<br />
<br />
Stabilized Whipping Cream will hold up for 4 to 5 days without separating. It can also be used to garnish cheesecakes or in any recipe that calls for whipped cream or nondairy whipped topping.<br />
<br />
<b>Notes:</b> STABILIZED WHIPPING CREAM! OH, THE POSSIBILITIES! Ahem. This amount of Stabilized Whipping Cream was perfect for a thick layer between the two cakes with a little left over. Also, I didn't dare try to split my cake layers, but I think I would like this cake even better if I did split the cakes to make more layers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4f09VEiGAGDXwBWlVwXB7CAcBuv-oKaGEAWHm53C8S7VN4lHXIy2ca7pU7vDkg5XiI-ixAu3KkpMR2ujn2AR8H8kBsnFGvGjXp72XKMmLYTLqpi9fHXkkgIPVXC8BzKzQ-U8F3VMJYa0/s1600/Cake+cream+cake+unfrosted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4f09VEiGAGDXwBWlVwXB7CAcBuv-oKaGEAWHm53C8S7VN4lHXIy2ca7pU7vDkg5XiI-ixAu3KkpMR2ujn2AR8H8kBsnFGvGjXp72XKMmLYTLqpi9fHXkkgIPVXC8BzKzQ-U8F3VMJYa0/s1600/Cake+cream+cake+unfrosted.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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To assemble the cake: Place one layer of cake on a serving plate. Put the Stabilized Whipping Cream on top of the layer of cake. Spread evenly, being careful to leave about 1/2 inch border around the edge of the cake with no cream. Then put another layer of cake on top of the cream. <i>(Er, they use more layers than I did, so I'm going to leave those instructions out.)</i> Gently push down on the cake to set the layers together. Frost entire cake with Chocolate Frosting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLiY217VH2vEOLXvapAejrf5Vp7hyphenhyphenddscuEXFw43Fl-vnokh3SGQJ3R2YbJQdoP2czbubfytAShukPumDynKSqKpbXfWdnnzQsQLRAFIGMvJpJRp8SFY08TPWb3igRbfcj1Z6lIgUPDcQ/s1600/Cake+cream+cake+frosted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLiY217VH2vEOLXvapAejrf5Vp7hyphenhyphenddscuEXFw43Fl-vnokh3SGQJ3R2YbJQdoP2czbubfytAShukPumDynKSqKpbXfWdnnzQsQLRAFIGMvJpJRp8SFY08TPWb3igRbfcj1Z6lIgUPDcQ/s1600/Cake+cream+cake+frosted.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Verdict:</b> The cake itself was nice and moist, but I noticed a slight, unpleasant aftertaste. The frosting was definitely a sweet chocolate frosting, which I liked, but the Stabilized Whipping Cream was not very sweet and the difference between the two bothered me, so I would increase the sugar in the Whipping Cream if I made this again.</div>
*******<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.scharffenberger.com/pairings-and-recipes/recipes/cakes/that-chocolate-cake/" target="_blank">That Chocolate Cake</a><br />
<br />
<b>Notes:</b> I didn't have 5 ounces of the called-for 99% Unsweetened Chocolate for the frosting, so I used 5 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder instead. <strike>Probably</strike> Possibly related: my frosting stayed runny.<br />
<br />
<b>Verdict:</b> I...didn't write any notes down for that recipe, so you'll have to try it and tell me what YOUR verdict is!<br />
*******<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Texas Sheetcake</b><br />
This recipe is in my recipe box, and I do not remember from whence it came.<br />
<br />
<u>Cake</u><br />
2 Cups Flour<br />
2 Cups Sugar<br />
1/2 Cup Butter<br />
1/2 Cup Shortening or oil<br />
1 Cup Water<br />
1/4 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder<br />
1/2 Cup Buttermilk<br />
2 Eggs<br />
1/2 teaspoon Salt<br />
1 teaspoon Baking Soda<br />
1 teaspoon Vanilla<br />
<br />
In large bowl combine flour and sugar. In saucepan, combine butter, shortening or oil, water, and cocoa. Stir and heat to boiling. Pour boiling mixture over flour mixture and stir. Add buttermilk, eggs, salt, baking soda, and vanilla. Mix well. Pour into an 11x17 pan. Bake at 400* F for 20 minutes.<br />
<br />
<u>Frosting</u><br />
1/2 Cup Butter<br />
2 Tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa Powder<br />
1/4 Cup Milk<br />
3 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar<br />
1 teaspoon Vanilla<br />
<br />
In saucepan, combine butter, cocoa, and milk. Heat to boiling, stirring. Mix in powdered sugar and vanilla. Pour warm frosting over cake that has cooled just a bit.<br />
<br />
<b>Notes:</b> This frosting is so delicious that I often make it to use for <a href="http://amdoingmybest.blogspot.com/2011/06/strawberries-with-chocolateor-should-it.html" target="_blank">dipping strawberries</a>!<br />
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
<b>Verdict:</b> This cake was also nice and moist, and I LOVE the frosting, but the flavor of the cake was pretty blah. I used to have a recipe for this cake that called for cinnamon in the cake batter; I need to see if I can find it so I can make it and see if the cinnamon makes a big difference.</div>
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<br />Doing My Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899668428457343549noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948053377584888121.post-29631886858773328432013-11-12T19:38:00.001-05:002016-08-27T18:53:29.696-04:003 Recent Brilliant Helpful Ideas<u>Brilliant Idea #1</u><br />
After trick-or-treating, any time your kids start to fight with each other, talk back to you, or "forget" to do something they've been told, you don't have to say a thing! Just walk over to their candy bag/bowl/pile and start eating. Do this each time and it will either cut down on fighting, talking back, and "forgetting", or, since you have to suffer, you can do it while eating something delicious!<br />
<br />
<u>Brilliant Idea #2</u><br />
When the children come out of their rooms after the bedtime routine (brushing teeth, using the potty, getting on pajamas, reading stories, saying GOOD NIGHT), we have been <a href="http://amdoingmybest.blogspot.com/2011/06/some-fun-rules-at-my-house.html" target="_blank">giving them extra chores to do</a>, but this has lost effectiveness with the older boys. So, lately, when the 11 year old or 14 year old boy comes out after bedtime, Husband escorts him back to his room and gives him an earnest, informative speech about something necessary, but generally awkward to bring up, like puberty! Or the birds and the bees! Or girls! <br />
<br />
GENIUS.<br />
<br />
<u>Brilliant Idea #3</u><br />
It took ONE TIME of every child getting on winter gear to go outside and play in the snow and then returning to the house and leaving a trail of wet winter gear in their wake for me to <strike>lose my mind</strike> decide that Something had to be done. <br />
<br />
Meet Something:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDzlOmZhQU29DgGIBqXCFmFZCBE5EDFx2U9uWW-1K3gr1Y_wmq4BdP79GUIQCUg0nJ2C_rE9AjNeJyZHaAHnaCzAQtxY1bNEFWSZOFkWYHJkhTdGGh5BMWo-JK82VMLZroubakhKAa4c/s1600/111213+Something.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDzlOmZhQU29DgGIBqXCFmFZCBE5EDFx2U9uWW-1K3gr1Y_wmq4BdP79GUIQCUg0nJ2C_rE9AjNeJyZHaAHnaCzAQtxY1bNEFWSZOFkWYHJkhTdGGh5BMWo-JK82VMLZroubakhKAa4c/s320/111213+Something.jpg" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This lovely over-the-door, wire shoe organizer may be purchased at T@rget for about $16 or delivered right to your door from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Organize-Over-The-Door-18-Pair-Wire-17701/dp/B002F92P4S/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1384302665&sr=8-10&keywords=over+the+door+shoe+organizer" target="_blank">Amazon</a> for about $20.<br />
It was assembled with minimal <strike>swearing</strike> effort on my part. (I suggest hanging it and THEN attaching the shoe holder things.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7x60n8BW8pVR4SgXSWN3aE8QPn816z_HAow5wXKHJJNmTCYLD2PmTZRmH2HszC2UuEQzzrPpnTBn87Td0EmBLmawSOgTvot6LuBges-sPam2sFGQySk3N1JXAvMyIRz_YIbA-RRmpuJU/s1600/111213+1+Something+filled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7x60n8BW8pVR4SgXSWN3aE8QPn816z_HAow5wXKHJJNmTCYLD2PmTZRmH2HszC2UuEQzzrPpnTBn87Td0EmBLmawSOgTvot6LuBges-sPam2sFGQySk3N1JXAvMyIRz_YIbA-RRmpuJU/s320/111213+1+Something+filled.jpg" width="154" /></a></div>
MUCH. BETTER.<br />
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*fist pump* Doing My Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899668428457343549noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948053377584888121.post-75989735244474918192013-08-27T08:39:00.001-04:002013-08-27T08:39:37.361-04:00Tutorial: How To Make Cloth Shopping Bags, Part 2, Sewing<a href="http://amdoingmybest.blogspot.com/2013/08/tutorial-how-to-make-cloth-shopping.html" target="_blank">Click here for Part 1, Cutting and Pinning Cloth.</a><br />
*******<br />
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This is the part of the bag construction when I like to use my serger, but if you don't have a serger, do a zig-zag stitch with your sewing machine, near the edge of the fabric, wherever I mention serging.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgHVYkbk7Nk8DOyZJn-oIHH-BJqBVjEl9Sb9W2_bhSSGvfvhHYyWhDwa5ADhSWm4H2S9Zq7hfK-7NecAv-jz9tyKxRZxAZchaNnUJ_GlP5aA1RpmbWhkKWMsfK-Q0miVEviYnRYaAZIk/s1600/Sewing+Bags+2+labels+on+serger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgHVYkbk7Nk8DOyZJn-oIHH-BJqBVjEl9Sb9W2_bhSSGvfvhHYyWhDwa5ADhSWm4H2S9Zq7hfK-7NecAv-jz9tyKxRZxAZchaNnUJ_GlP5aA1RpmbWhkKWMsfK-Q0miVEviYnRYaAZIk/s320/Sewing+Bags+2+labels+on+serger.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SO GLAD I labeled these knobs when I first got the serger!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga23H0e3Dij0NMl23BXko-rZ3HbRDZIHnf82P_IBpwIUgrt69xK9D6Uc7IAD1-lZAEXmC0j0Pi7PbMMpoyDGuis9sURmE0sM3oLTh0s7A18NONSXHWm4cq93ps-EXry5lp_CzZFgu5UT0/s1600/Sewing+Bags+1+It+is+a+good+thing+I+labelled+the+serger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga23H0e3Dij0NMl23BXko-rZ3HbRDZIHnf82P_IBpwIUgrt69xK9D6Uc7IAD1-lZAEXmC0j0Pi7PbMMpoyDGuis9sURmE0sM3oLTh0s7A18NONSXHWm4cq93ps-EXry5lp_CzZFgu5UT0/s320/Sewing+Bags+1+It+is+a+good+thing+I+labelled+the+serger.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Threading this beast can be a little...overwhelming.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcCTj3s7k0TiRzM2R1qgSLBaJjiNIab1IqFo5I7d6jtbiFPTKZRpFDip2FuDU-H44021XCr-qMm2F5yNL1ylK9rpfD8dQgGyoz_K39jrwSd_Qnz1TyyEEQyG8hgJjgRKJ0yJ4blRGXC4/s1600/Sewing+Bags+3+serger+fuzz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcCTj3s7k0TiRzM2R1qgSLBaJjiNIab1IqFo5I7d6jtbiFPTKZRpFDip2FuDU-H44021XCr-qMm2F5yNL1ylK9rpfD8dQgGyoz_K39jrwSd_Qnz1TyyEEQyG8hgJjgRKJ0yJ4blRGXC4/s320/Sewing+Bags+3+serger+fuzz.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ooops. Remains of the last project. Time to vacuum the fuzz out!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u>Serging the straps:</u><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKpUvVYjdu86ab1NdAu5dVM6UHo_b_l-1DnBevqvk-O7EcRv7QRjkyqG6XoEOlaygty4r7w6ACq-4fZ5VKBnXq_6Xk8xPmsTwqoVjkcSJdL_vetVlJzfnkxZ6z2-S1gx511M2bXnnYLQ/s1600/Sewing+Bags+4+serge+straps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKpUvVYjdu86ab1NdAu5dVM6UHo_b_l-1DnBevqvk-O7EcRv7QRjkyqG6XoEOlaygty4r7w6ACq-4fZ5VKBnXq_6Xk8xPmsTwqoVjkcSJdL_vetVlJzfnkxZ6z2-S1gx511M2bXnnYLQ/s320/Sewing+Bags+4+serge+straps.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you ironed and pinned your straps as described in Part 1 of this tutorial, you can turn your knife off and serge without it because we hid all of the unfinished edges on the inside of the strap. Serge both sides of each strap, removing pins as you come to them.<br />
If you are using your sewing machine for this step, you could use a decorative stitch.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u>Serging the bag:</u><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHf6KuX0rZmRF5j8I1gPHVskXA0SC7fmbjrRFrmnP82IR54ZEs8Z3oaWHcLMWM5xvjqORTSYQscgHwyh67nEk8qvM1xzt5-itieXyO6yXrOe1yhHDPT27vY5-l5Ev9yI5uohcxJkP5yk/s1600/Sewing+Bags+5+Serge+one+side+of+bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHf6KuX0rZmRF5j8I1gPHVskXA0SC7fmbjrRFrmnP82IR54ZEs8Z3oaWHcLMWM5xvjqORTSYQscgHwyh67nEk8qvM1xzt5-itieXyO6yXrOe1yhHDPT27vY5-l5Ev9yI5uohcxJkP5yk/s320/Sewing+Bags+5+Serge+one+side+of+bag.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serge down one unfinished side of the bag, leaving a long tail when you clip the thread when you get to the end of this side. Take out the pins as you come to them, so that, after you finish this side, you can stick your hand inside to make sure you caught both layers of fabric.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYx8t51lEWjaU4xFnAgGzMBtIDRl8Ycf0fucWghSBaiyUqB_d58a-x2HLD6Ddr7Rd5o0rOwgQCf0JkjpYVYuBhRN-VeeXV53xto8S1pYC929LsC3XrT9v3ZCc33DdOJaJTLs9_FBXl4U/s1600/Sewing+Bags+6+Serge+the+other+side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYx8t51lEWjaU4xFnAgGzMBtIDRl8Ycf0fucWghSBaiyUqB_d58a-x2HLD6Ddr7Rd5o0rOwgQCf0JkjpYVYuBhRN-VeeXV53xto8S1pYC929LsC3XrT9v3ZCc33DdOJaJTLs9_FBXl4U/s320/Sewing+Bags+6+Serge+the+other+side.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serge down the other unfinished side of the bag, again leaving a long tail when you clip the thread. Again, check inside to make sure you caught both layers of the fabric.<br />
<i>(I was starting so far over because I didn't trim the cloth before I started serging, so I had to move over that much to catch the inside cloth too.)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5HiPcFuJEuoKQLri06_Peo4hKxTm4AGkpK1AEVSljfeHSY9JO2upIvZcjzEON2mLvIIAVrKbsi-6RTlUfqUv6BYkUJPSzCQ0aKHuz4KxuQKA-d80CPDQu9ZEWHslFP4cAVJfzKnWZ70/s1600/Sewing+Bags+7+Sew+around+serging+to+pin+ends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5HiPcFuJEuoKQLri06_Peo4hKxTm4AGkpK1AEVSljfeHSY9JO2upIvZcjzEON2mLvIIAVrKbsi-6RTlUfqUv6BYkUJPSzCQ0aKHuz4KxuQKA-d80CPDQu9ZEWHslFP4cAVJfzKnWZ70/s320/Sewing+Bags+7+Sew+around+serging+to+pin+ends.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Because I <strike>am a worrier</strike> like to make sure these bags are nice and strong, and because I've never been able to find anything that tells me if the serging will unravel if I trim it close, I sew a line straight stitching next to the serging, pinning down the tail from the previous serging as I go.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMFH0CDIVuA3VgO31RFD9qpF6UHWAHiALhfU8ayscGH5F-31eh2Kp7Nl12dCpUC-zHwWlcJlG5Nz83HeVQVwUPnEVobCqZ-vmoIFnEXnDD8pQ-Pu6f9HByqt9eC-lZWB0toYICks5cgA/s1600/Sewing+Bags+8+turning+the+corner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMFH0CDIVuA3VgO31RFD9qpF6UHWAHiALhfU8ayscGH5F-31eh2Kp7Nl12dCpUC-zHwWlcJlG5Nz83HeVQVwUPnEVobCqZ-vmoIFnEXnDD8pQ-Pu6f9HByqt9eC-lZWB0toYICks5cgA/s320/Sewing+Bags+8+turning+the+corner.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turn the corner and sew down the other side.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXiAFvmY0ShIs-jE5eFFNfE4VbBSHZgNTeONVzsFvHxmHBKlat_fDvsNzeHiMYQzM0MCOEwxiCxMOv7H6YQNRZ0yh6UEqreFRmBXr8AfTHHazvoc1s6o0RLEHO19f6IS80I1ycuHsQHvQ/s1600/Sewing+Bags+9+Trim+the+ends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXiAFvmY0ShIs-jE5eFFNfE4VbBSHZgNTeONVzsFvHxmHBKlat_fDvsNzeHiMYQzM0MCOEwxiCxMOv7H6YQNRZ0yh6UEqreFRmBXr8AfTHHazvoc1s6o0RLEHO19f6IS80I1ycuHsQHvQ/s320/Sewing+Bags+9+Trim+the+ends.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now trim the ends close.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DmJpmSJGgghs18CjD_GnsNV6CYmY5nMKU_zBgdffvy0iyXyL4ytMqXRUwXY0BDgYYuBdbT-BqgJs17hu5j1g19vxloxn3t8PHGLcoNpcJi-JXDGD_s4aWyBfNDTduiJx3IWzy3BWN88/s1600/Sewing+bags+10+iron+finished+edges.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DmJpmSJGgghs18CjD_GnsNV6CYmY5nMKU_zBgdffvy0iyXyL4ytMqXRUwXY0BDgYYuBdbT-BqgJs17hu5j1g19vxloxn3t8PHGLcoNpcJi-JXDGD_s4aWyBfNDTduiJx3IWzy3BWN88/s320/Sewing+bags+10+iron+finished+edges.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iron your <strike>beautiful sewing job</strike> bag and straps. (I'm not sure why...something about setting the stitches, I think.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u>Pinning the straps</u><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjith9NEJm72BeHzO15tzABxY2eA574o3pTpgKzEFu7VUj2gG0eyqurNHgMk37SPWixJb-m_6jHnA7eWl6pP-6lbLY8TDs6E67X5oRRxBtx2kLj7IBsCUOyZHburiNfjs76yAKJ3Y_MFBg/s1600/Sewing+Bags+11+Iron+the+top+of+the+bag+down.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjith9NEJm72BeHzO15tzABxY2eA574o3pTpgKzEFu7VUj2gG0eyqurNHgMk37SPWixJb-m_6jHnA7eWl6pP-6lbLY8TDs6E67X5oRRxBtx2kLj7IBsCUOyZHburiNfjs76yAKJ3Y_MFBg/s320/Sewing+Bags+11+Iron+the+top+of+the+bag+down.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the bag still inside-out, fold the top over, all the way around, about an inch or so. If you don't want the unprinted edge of the fabric to show inside the bag, fold it over one more time to hide that. Iron it so it will stay down.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMK998uLeZVhsf9s0QyKAFiTlJNG08z3UoxYFMiN3_YOtzed0l9LsxUNMdWWOLqjryWNyJFyc7Pbz0FN9znQw_YWSMK5IbJPdHtPJdJf0ZrOwu4O0EJz5e7zrg0OHQZqk3C16U0Dnd31k/s1600/Sewing+Bags+12+position+the+strap+at+an+angle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMK998uLeZVhsf9s0QyKAFiTlJNG08z3UoxYFMiN3_YOtzed0l9LsxUNMdWWOLqjryWNyJFyc7Pbz0FN9znQw_YWSMK5IbJPdHtPJdJf0ZrOwu4O0EJz5e7zrg0OHQZqk3C16U0Dnd31k/s320/Sewing+Bags+12+position+the+strap+at+an+angle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Since both ends of the straps will be sewn down, I trim the serging thread close.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SNXEtdknj0eadS1U8IZHcqOF5cJNar53CUUocI7aA_pIzL-9_aRCONHnKYYuU35SzxUjhjkJYdRfE4iJl1oE_4422mik8hSHavEbcAz92eM-XWgC0LvL0zPvXf9mUv4Md6ih5UzKEno/s1600/Sewing+Bags+13+put+strap+under+ironed+part.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SNXEtdknj0eadS1U8IZHcqOF5cJNar53CUUocI7aA_pIzL-9_aRCONHnKYYuU35SzxUjhjkJYdRfE4iJl1oE_4422mik8hSHavEbcAz92eM-XWgC0LvL0zPvXf9mUv4Md6ih5UzKEno/s320/Sewing+Bags+13+put+strap+under+ironed+part.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slip the strap under the top fold at an angle....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3LBFw_DC4MPTYxsczzmurU9XSc-sr1jAOlxODlOlclul0LHtBNAht5uKqIfzLH6S-MkQ3coklXbecy4hjs7urdk3EUtA2uiGOnhlKiwX8QFHU7s5ESTAkUwNLin3JIqRcWg0eCTb2YOQ/s1600/Sewing+Bags+14+Fold+strap+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3LBFw_DC4MPTYxsczzmurU9XSc-sr1jAOlxODlOlclul0LHtBNAht5uKqIfzLH6S-MkQ3coklXbecy4hjs7urdk3EUtA2uiGOnhlKiwX8QFHU7s5ESTAkUwNLin3JIqRcWg0eCTb2YOQ/s320/Sewing+Bags+14+Fold+strap+up.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and fold it straight up. Pin in place, being careful not to pin through to the other side of the bag.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArf6C41Mlo60ToCCP43_LG8Y2GcIEHTTBgXM_W1v2buebnmGyvkiUUaNHyrj1k9Ofq2OYyK5I_M0CAgQy_RhcPGIORlziB4R3Gti9UiKHYI-3kOXEXgzOIhsxxjXZ5CmOOyNRU9Ktjdw/s1600/Sewing+Bags+15+strap+pinned+like+this.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArf6C41Mlo60ToCCP43_LG8Y2GcIEHTTBgXM_W1v2buebnmGyvkiUUaNHyrj1k9Ofq2OYyK5I_M0CAgQy_RhcPGIORlziB4R3Gti9UiKHYI-3kOXEXgzOIhsxxjXZ5CmOOyNRU9Ktjdw/s320/Sewing+Bags+15+strap+pinned+like+this.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pin the other end of the strap the same way. Good luck getting it pinned so that the strap isn't twisted! I may...struggle...with that. Pin the second strap to the other side of the bag in the same manner.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u>Sewing the straps on</u><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNadlQgk_oqkKA8Xhaih9-C6f0RNLqRH_7PSCTmep02GX_70dsnGUeupyOFEJZCTLwb5qZrHVT6NdOBLgQk1fSSmkznbh4xObOpr-B-0iq1gFzfASU68eZIjFZFZg1P3FsTgzvyuelrs/s1600/Sewing+Bags+16+Sew+about+this+far+from+the+edge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNadlQgk_oqkKA8Xhaih9-C6f0RNLqRH_7PSCTmep02GX_70dsnGUeupyOFEJZCTLwb5qZrHVT6NdOBLgQk1fSSmkznbh4xObOpr-B-0iq1gFzfASU68eZIjFZFZg1P3FsTgzvyuelrs/s320/Sewing+Bags+16+Sew+about+this+far+from+the+edge.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting on the opposite side from the side seam, and close to the edge, making sure you aren't sewing the bag shut, start sewing around the top of the bag.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0LWiM9t0H3H_bb-E70PVLM9UVCGCp8YD91I1-dYGSc2vLgsuAKC8sfUe2Q04J9enX-JLTm4ZHkrFmiRqw4y75gi9a1YbEcTh_ee64_ws2EjxlAd8XxNfGuA-BoNK3-GWP8ALr0N79W8/s1600/Sewing+Bags+17+Make+a+square+on+the+strap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0LWiM9t0H3H_bb-E70PVLM9UVCGCp8YD91I1-dYGSc2vLgsuAKC8sfUe2Q04J9enX-JLTm4ZHkrFmiRqw4y75gi9a1YbEcTh_ee64_ws2EjxlAd8XxNfGuA-BoNK3-GWP8ALr0N79W8/s320/Sewing+Bags+17+Make+a+square+on+the+strap.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When you get to a strap, sew a square around the edges...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJGwXYNuFQay5stgXKC2Li5iOSAhuxouDQpI_hV6MrYy7fEET_X-o_dFuegIAeMYv1XyGSdIjl7yji17cdy2PiCVucdxIAQBtdgpX-cODe0ZxlsnXHx7zkOEsUKYVUMhu3069SnJORJM/s1600/Sewing+Bags+18+Then+make+an+X+on+the+strap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJGwXYNuFQay5stgXKC2Li5iOSAhuxouDQpI_hV6MrYy7fEET_X-o_dFuegIAeMYv1XyGSdIjl7yji17cdy2PiCVucdxIAQBtdgpX-cODe0ZxlsnXHx7zkOEsUKYVUMhu3069SnJORJM/s320/Sewing+Bags+18+Then+make+an+X+on+the+strap.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and an X inside the square. I sew over the sides of the square and the X a couple times since this is what is holding the straps to the bag.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGU7K8kSFPurvOoJctoBO1iVNybzIic69QCdbhiHM65pKg3Y3SQ_iPqPFDvrZLROsLaCBXmqYlAVgA1FvmCQzs0DcblRjPUkEkPplHYYRkXSSuddF1r1ztqsw65GvyM6tqxv5QBjeN4cg/s1600/Sewing+Bags+19+half+an+X.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGU7K8kSFPurvOoJctoBO1iVNybzIic69QCdbhiHM65pKg3Y3SQ_iPqPFDvrZLROsLaCBXmqYlAVgA1FvmCQzs0DcblRjPUkEkPplHYYRkXSSuddF1r1ztqsw65GvyM6tqxv5QBjeN4cg/s320/Sewing+Bags+19+half+an+X.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The second part of the X</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgChBaiNabiLltRqXqhec0ynVI1I6LwhWMTb2VeHnPLmizuFCedw-tbWsMCctl5d5EsqsbJ1nL8of1IXaLa1nvldyEq0mQcHsVdLOOpTAxhVjHOdVyIQrEButHeOz34EXTkPL4r6YNT0/s1600/Sewing+Bags+20+finish+X+and+continue+going+around.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgChBaiNabiLltRqXqhec0ynVI1I6LwhWMTb2VeHnPLmizuFCedw-tbWsMCctl5d5EsqsbJ1nL8of1IXaLa1nvldyEq0mQcHsVdLOOpTAxhVjHOdVyIQrEButHeOz34EXTkPL4r6YNT0/s320/Sewing+Bags+20+finish+X+and+continue+going+around.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get back to the top of the bag, and continue sewing around, making a square and an X on each strap you come to.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdf2Qy9UvZyxzO-m7jWXN2N3NRAhbWZZTgSkERN-mXrOzBLEsMT7levi7mbX2yIjqeFleIUySxjdfabiDnHTHSpSNaR70LLJVcbmOT3N1yKjQrTmENohoD37QmOlU01wVunz1yBHxmpvk/s1600/Sewing+Bags+21+anchor+stitches+at+the+beginning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdf2Qy9UvZyxzO-m7jWXN2N3NRAhbWZZTgSkERN-mXrOzBLEsMT7levi7mbX2yIjqeFleIUySxjdfabiDnHTHSpSNaR70LLJVcbmOT3N1yKjQrTmENohoD37QmOlU01wVunz1yBHxmpvk/s320/Sewing+Bags+21+anchor+stitches+at+the+beginning.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When you get back to where you started, sew over your first few stitches and anchor your thread. Cut the thread.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCKWymrkcrxeXlrZT56ggtShhVrSTErFF7Qj4rd6TpI4RGMNOR_673mcwkcBGWXEKPCP7TKDOh0eziC8De8D__QiSjS9QrIxgG9aifxx2sA5xnQOjxw1wm2yyVcFdKeVkSf3T4WzRD1ms/s1600/Sewing+Bags+22+Sew+along+the+other+edge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCKWymrkcrxeXlrZT56ggtShhVrSTErFF7Qj4rd6TpI4RGMNOR_673mcwkcBGWXEKPCP7TKDOh0eziC8De8D__QiSjS9QrIxgG9aifxx2sA5xnQOjxw1wm2yyVcFdKeVkSf3T4WzRD1ms/s320/Sewing+Bags+22+Sew+along+the+other+edge.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Move over to the bottom edge and sew around the bag. This step is much quicker because you don't have to stop for the straps.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzamgop17esSsax-XsH_PfkZyqhTH3h-PsQ2ZF21G0B5FFzRNbi8oyYp1Q8S6lXkahh9GMoc2rxSLBizGaLp7uL5VHIdcSFmP-GUpFyKq3B0xuKoXOadt5CUTnBOZb5xGj9duo9wynh4/s1600/Sewing+Bags+23+two+lines+of+sewing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzamgop17esSsax-XsH_PfkZyqhTH3h-PsQ2ZF21G0B5FFzRNbi8oyYp1Q8S6lXkahh9GMoc2rxSLBizGaLp7uL5VHIdcSFmP-GUpFyKq3B0xuKoXOadt5CUTnBOZb5xGj9duo9wynh4/s320/Sewing+Bags+23+two+lines+of+sewing.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sew all the way around the bag and anchor your thread again.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3toCsZh_NA5wkrkPLR2cbMTaE66IbJokOBLUqdxGnig5XS1dHvLqaOYc5Zd7W3YIY7ij25RXUdJIkzPDsCmq3iDyN3kQz81GxHX_cgDRhUzraD4Q08wlkqCCzUGSdZDpiECs5tkGn78Q/s1600/Sewing+Bags+24+A+tag+for+hanging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3toCsZh_NA5wkrkPLR2cbMTaE66IbJokOBLUqdxGnig5XS1dHvLqaOYc5Zd7W3YIY7ij25RXUdJIkzPDsCmq3iDyN3kQz81GxHX_cgDRhUzraD4Q08wlkqCCzUGSdZDpiECs5tkGn78Q/s320/Sewing+Bags+24+A+tag+for+hanging.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A friend who worked as a checker at a store, suggested that I put some sort of tab on the bags so the checker can hang the bags on the bag holder.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Iron your beautiful stitching, turn your bag right-side out, and voila! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmn3KeEAk6Gn6kmBKo-l5bPXK1d-Ph4spFTo_Ixi63ZUluY99SAvF-RCeiDV2gLg6YJ-rotz2kcWPV3nSC0XU7GN-C5GGnmynlRkvAFZCeM8KRvhN9UhZ3sQxH5UQ_cBVHO3l9BsrSrHI/s1600/Sewing+Bags+Finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmn3KeEAk6Gn6kmBKo-l5bPXK1d-Ph4spFTo_Ixi63ZUluY99SAvF-RCeiDV2gLg6YJ-rotz2kcWPV3nSC0XU7GN-C5GGnmynlRkvAFZCeM8KRvhN9UhZ3sQxH5UQ_cBVHO3l9BsrSrHI/s320/Sewing+Bags+Finished.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very cute, very sturdy, easily washable, re-usable cloth bag!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Doing My Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899668428457343549noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948053377584888121.post-15853333929979617302013-08-19T18:37:00.002-04:002013-08-24T21:03:57.216-04:00Tutorial: How To Make Cloth Shopping Bags, Part 1, Cutting and Pinning ClothSorry to have teased anybody the other day! I accidentally hit "publish" instead of "save" after I had loaded some of the pictures!<br />
*******<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0FcqjMzUJWwkMy7rr1z3Ircv2_U8vxT4poxIHAcLBYiiVP7RR17aK8XsPJeXJQjpFPK237KnJ1X45i2KAkCqGJ8XMF2jMEfiIsN9smlxbK59WzACgoNb6KAblW_Uqs5ZTkQOH4jqrzU/s1600/Sewing+Bags+Finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0FcqjMzUJWwkMy7rr1z3Ircv2_U8vxT4poxIHAcLBYiiVP7RR17aK8XsPJeXJQjpFPK237KnJ1X45i2KAkCqGJ8XMF2jMEfiIsN9smlxbK59WzACgoNb6KAblW_Uqs5ZTkQOH4jqrzU/s320/Sewing+Bags+Finished.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I LOVE this fabric! I chose to use red thread because of the cherries. I also used one of my sewing machine's 6 non-straight or ziz-zag stitches for decorative purposes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Let me be upfront about this right now: my motto when sewing is <b>"Good Enough" Is Better Than Trying To Be "Perfect" and Losing My Mind.</b><br />
<br />
I am NOT a talented sewer; I don't know much about selvage edges or which direction the weave of the fabric is going or things like that, but I have figured out how to make a few things I like that aren't too complicated for me. <a href="http://www.stillplayingschool.com/" target="_blank">Still Playing School</a> requested a tutorial for these cloth bags, so here it is <strike>finally</strike>! You'll see a variety of fabrics in this tutorial because I was working on a couple different projects at the same time. Also, I'm sorry about the pattern on the ironing board cover; my choices were limited.<br />
<br />
These instructions will help you make 2 cloth bags. I like to use 2 layers of fabric to make sure the bags are strong; my bags can hold 2 gallons of milk without breaking. I'm sure there are other, better ways to do this, but this is the way I know how to do it.<br />
<br />
<u>Materials</u><br />
<ul>
<li>1 yard of 45" wide material for the outside of the bag <i>(I like to pick something fun and/or pretty for this one.) (Er, I think I used basic cotton fabric.)</i></li>
<li>1 yard of 45" wide material for the lining of the bag <i>(Often, I will pick a solid color of less expensive cloth for this layer.)</i></li>
<li>30" of 45" wide material for the straps <i>(You will lose about 2" of length on the straps when you sew them to the bag. Use a measuring tape to see if this is a length you like; if not, make them shorter. I like them long enough to hang over my shoulders so I can carry in lots of groceries in one load. Also, this is actually enough fabric to make 11 straps, so keep that in mind if you're making more than two bags; this gives you enough straps for 5 bags.)</i></li>
<ul>
<li>Remember that lighter fabric will look dirty sooner, but these bags are easy to wash, so take both things into consideration when choosing.</li>
</ul>
<li>Thread that matches or coordinates with your fabric</li>
<li>Tape measure or yard stick</li>
<li>Scissors</li>
<li>Pins</li>
<li>Iron and ironing board</li>
<li>Sewing machine</li>
<li>Serger <em>(but if you don't have a serger, I hear you can use the zig-zag stitch on your sewing machine instead) (for the story behind why I have a serger, despite not being an expert sewer, see </em><a href="http://amdoingmybest.blogspot.com/2011/06/more-adventures-in-parenting.html" target="_blank"><em>here</em></a><em>)</em></li>
</ul>
<br />
<u>Cutting and pinning the bag</u><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2MjrlZVGJSUeoELUFa5VQ-niMWYmBXjaT_9saNE4TM7EOlIQ3zngBK3bKxx6w_VCG5eY0nteut-q3oEfLE2bInZH8jaOu06MjHzZ25d0WeyNgN5QXGII0pOgeQtGKOlFE8keO4SabN8/s1600/Making+bags+1+picking+out+matching+fabric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2MjrlZVGJSUeoELUFa5VQ-niMWYmBXjaT_9saNE4TM7EOlIQ3zngBK3bKxx6w_VCG5eY0nteut-q3oEfLE2bInZH8jaOu06MjHzZ25d0WeyNgN5QXGII0pOgeQtGKOlFE8keO4SabN8/s320/Making+bags+1+picking+out+matching+fabric.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the fabric I picked for the outer of these bags because my friend likes this particular franchise. <br />
Fabric has little circles of colors on one edge that tell you which colors are in the pattern and which color is most prominent. If I'm not trying to use up fabric I already have, I will use those circles to help me pick out a color for the inside of the bag and the straps.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxziHD4jL-1DfLqNXnx5kxgeKMiTb9rr2M6SP-xj-aKInfIt6ZCma9XpNdL9nlx4aDL1JHl2vs_rt_kBZRPbURCkEHt_VXx6NS-X0u6rKwkvpdQPHDNnUWVDAadIQDglotorTIK6nFqK8/s1600/Making+bags+2+fabric+picked+out.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxziHD4jL-1DfLqNXnx5kxgeKMiTb9rr2M6SP-xj-aKInfIt6ZCma9XpNdL9nlx4aDL1JHl2vs_rt_kBZRPbURCkEHt_VXx6NS-X0u6rKwkvpdQPHDNnUWVDAadIQDglotorTIK6nFqK8/s320/Making+bags+2+fabric+picked+out.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the fabric I picked to go with the outer fabric. I made 2 bags with a dark blue lining, 2 with a light blue lining, and used dark blue <em>(or was it black?)</em> straps for all 4 bags.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Before I cut anything out, I wash and dry the fabrics I'll be using, just in case they are going to shrink at all. After the fabric comes out of the dryer, I iron it, using the steam setting if I need to, to get out the wrinkles. If I'm making more than 2 bags, and have 2 yard pieces of fabric, instead of measuring and cutting at the 1 yard point, I fold each piece of fabric in half and cut there so that the resulting pieces are approximately 1 yard long.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs22zc8THh0EGSz7bv6ozL3Q2PKAHw0puvCbFyeqDc-YKy2HjBDNRGw5uhK3JPagmJ_N7sIDdBgbpN2TcNE0oqEsIQjK0TDmmuTznspwuvvMjQERFXLId6oUZu1LcGgOt_4fBTXkn1crg/s1600/Making+bags+3+fabric+laid+out+to+be+cut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs22zc8THh0EGSz7bv6ozL3Q2PKAHw0puvCbFyeqDc-YKy2HjBDNRGw5uhK3JPagmJ_N7sIDdBgbpN2TcNE0oqEsIQjK0TDmmuTznspwuvvMjQERFXLId6oUZu1LcGgOt_4fBTXkn1crg/s320/Making+bags+3+fabric+laid+out+to+be+cut.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is ~one yard of 45" wide fabric, washed, dried, and ironed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGI9_MQMzasUbMwqx3OHDoDVTB43V3QW6dZCQMtOCzEqaPOzhcjp_3WOWOSx17AadpNg4TgBgmNouHQECC7cfJmYb1gNSbN5rhMGoBpmXAHjbUZ_2XeTJQL8zyJ7Y5Id8crDG2uhVE4C4/s1600/Making+bags+4+fabric+cut+to+22x36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGI9_MQMzasUbMwqx3OHDoDVTB43V3QW6dZCQMtOCzEqaPOzhcjp_3WOWOSx17AadpNg4TgBgmNouHQECC7cfJmYb1gNSbN5rhMGoBpmXAHjbUZ_2XeTJQL8zyJ7Y5Id8crDG2uhVE4C4/s320/Making+bags+4+fabric+cut+to+22x36.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cut the fabric in half so that you end up with (2) ~22"x36" pieces. I was able to use the pattern on this fabric to cut relatively straight down the middle.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LaSPO5ZfhpE3GQX2GiyTKfOJ3pTWnWVp2EywDa75OfMS66g7PIFBPNzusHkrWb9oiin8_-UyHrv6ViBmCHQBx5qcGoozRDwlqByFQDweTbpG3k8-5C2gtLRE6Fomn8p_LwQP7pWmfP8/s1600/Making+bags+5+lining+fabric+folded+in+half.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LaSPO5ZfhpE3GQX2GiyTKfOJ3pTWnWVp2EywDa75OfMS66g7PIFBPNzusHkrWb9oiin8_-UyHrv6ViBmCHQBx5qcGoozRDwlqByFQDweTbpG3k8-5C2gtLRE6Fomn8p_LwQP7pWmfP8/s320/Making+bags+5+lining+fabric+folded+in+half.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cut the lining fabric to the same dimensions. Since this fabric didn't have a pattern, I folded it in half....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis3sjiKNES_1LUPmMdVwI2C3YPa2-M-eV6t8uctgwFt7VKJacE08j2Y6xmWRMCN9hXb-43qDjVQqi2mM5ccemIqa2Gm6GQfuhdcolUuB13B1cWK05FAYNDI9CePfusfLph7d9DZpd9Tv0/s1600/Making+bags+6+lining+fabric+cut+in+half.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis3sjiKNES_1LUPmMdVwI2C3YPa2-M-eV6t8uctgwFt7VKJacE08j2Y6xmWRMCN9hXb-43qDjVQqi2mM5ccemIqa2Gm6GQfuhdcolUuB13B1cWK05FAYNDI9CePfusfLph7d9DZpd9Tv0/s320/Making+bags+6+lining+fabric+cut+in+half.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...held it down with one hand so it wouldn't move, and then cut along the fold.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqHnX7-h_Ol2nhNFizGwILEOhNG14L4cMTnQwD9D0aA6CUdt-JWlnouMs2xX3mYRPDmJ1mgdsLVs4TaiyTvh6Huqpjgy-5zHBCKr6aG1tw_8iN1KHM_6D2GyBr-B4RLDYmC_esiD9KfM/s1600/Making+bags+7+put+together+and+outside+and+inside+piece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqHnX7-h_Ol2nhNFizGwILEOhNG14L4cMTnQwD9D0aA6CUdt-JWlnouMs2xX3mYRPDmJ1mgdsLVs4TaiyTvh6Huqpjgy-5zHBCKr6aG1tw_8iN1KHM_6D2GyBr-B4RLDYmC_esiD9KfM/s320/Making+bags+7+put+together+and+outside+and+inside+piece.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Place one piece of the outer fabric, with the pattern side facing you, on top of one piece of the lining fabric. I match up the finished sides, the selvage edge(?), the one side of the fabric that hasn't been cut, and make those the top of the bag, if I can. If you are using a pattern that has a definite "up" and "down", pay attention to which way is up so that you don't end up with up-side down bags...not that *I* have ever done that. Ahem.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWnECpWJEHqtsL2jYaMH-wO5Wvs5G_MhsZXo7EiuG7oyAUztQoO2XLvk4r93kplTvDAWDVkVXv9yZ36-CNrqNauSiumFgecsJZmVz6wyXw-0jUFwMGw1WWOVzg3DgmdQewAJwFjyPcUc/s1600/Making+bags+8+pin+fabric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWnECpWJEHqtsL2jYaMH-wO5Wvs5G_MhsZXo7EiuG7oyAUztQoO2XLvk4r93kplTvDAWDVkVXv9yZ36-CNrqNauSiumFgecsJZmVz6wyXw-0jUFwMGw1WWOVzg3DgmdQewAJwFjyPcUc/s320/Making+bags+8+pin+fabric.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pin every so often around the edges so the fabric doesn't shift when you move it.<br />
NOTE: If you are not using the finished edges of the fabric for the top of your bag, you will want to serge or ziz-zag the two pieces together right now.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEI1lEkKBx6D5mFXbqiUWdKTtZIIFyQtvXzS1jmtf2eCR3Rqg-u7e12mimrFI71MsV5yYSbYKQVrU7S1xqrMiEkm34Fjv6FX2P-wF0WIUJF5wPQt4JwNOkhsOuyc6skz_2Kk93qH0crh8/s1600/Making+bags+9+fold+in+half+with+outside+on+the+inside+and+pin+again.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEI1lEkKBx6D5mFXbqiUWdKTtZIIFyQtvXzS1jmtf2eCR3Rqg-u7e12mimrFI71MsV5yYSbYKQVrU7S1xqrMiEkm34Fjv6FX2P-wF0WIUJF5wPQt4JwNOkhsOuyc6skz_2Kk93qH0crh8/s320/Making+bags+9+fold+in+half+with+outside+on+the+inside+and+pin+again.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fold the pinned pieces in half, with the patterned piece facing itself on the inside, so you end up with a 22" tall, 18" wide rectangle, and pin around the edges again, taking out the pins from the previous step as you go so that you don't accidentally sew over them. I pin the bottom and the side frequently, but put one pin in the top so that I know which side is the top. Trim the edges so they are even. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u>Cutting, ironing, and pinning the straps</u><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfvBQG0iRU9RP1Rm_qcyUtBiBRoGcQlWRSW_KG7Lm6wqT96sRcRHZ0wiXuqv9-_7g8LGaQYeMzspzpglkTQEdID1p6TkkXuh3i350KV93_ylJcwts_Dlp8NSV_eYwd7joxTL1fhsv7hI/s1600/Making+bags+10+28-30+inches+for+straps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfvBQG0iRU9RP1Rm_qcyUtBiBRoGcQlWRSW_KG7Lm6wqT96sRcRHZ0wiXuqv9-_7g8LGaQYeMzspzpglkTQEdID1p6TkkXuh3i350KV93_ylJcwts_Dlp8NSV_eYwd7joxTL1fhsv7hI/s320/Making+bags+10+28-30+inches+for+straps.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You are going to cut the straps ~30" long, 4" wide. I like to use a yardstick for this part.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-ji7yBpM_B6F1TaD-KxNIhvvAibVCyy0G5qOWvqPIZRLZtJzPFSaXtFLFig2Yk3NxFiTD4XXmtWK4tyo_Lb9oKHEdayU3TsDSEfKVAjml2BtDHsjjX-cYozmSBoe2yHhlnVJcRtseXk/s1600/Making+bags+11+4+inch+straps+oops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-ji7yBpM_B6F1TaD-KxNIhvvAibVCyy0G5qOWvqPIZRLZtJzPFSaXtFLFig2Yk3NxFiTD4XXmtWK4tyo_Lb9oKHEdayU3TsDSEfKVAjml2BtDHsjjX-cYozmSBoe2yHhlnVJcRtseXk/s320/Making+bags+11+4+inch+straps+oops.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I lay the yardstick near the top of the fabric and make a cut every 4" all the way across the fabric. <em>(Pretend I did that correctly instead of cutting every 2 1/2" because I hadn't done this in a while and forgot.)</em> I slide the yardstick down and keep cutting until I have my 4" strips. I'm sure there's a better way to do this which involves a rotary cutter, but rotary cutters make me nervous.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-5Auy1JMLVhQcAki7t6Hz8RpWLUvk_0TPbAc3wNTsB7Y2QEG7vGRekYbKrZycdRSsmIrSD8522U98DG-IgflauWCGj6CT1apUxDSDLYPdlWmFSj0DInTRUTaeAt17iMRA5NnF8iT41k/s1600/Making+bags+12+iron+4x30+strap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-5Auy1JMLVhQcAki7t6Hz8RpWLUvk_0TPbAc3wNTsB7Y2QEG7vGRekYbKrZycdRSsmIrSD8522U98DG-IgflauWCGj6CT1apUxDSDLYPdlWmFSj0DInTRUTaeAt17iMRA5NnF8iT41k/s320/Making+bags+12+iron+4x30+strap.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iron the strip.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqJH3Df1YfEqx_kSY-N7QQl-R9cpjjY1pfYCRciFYRS7_N_14I-Kp-EW2q3KpEfQnvJNx9GOusyrSg8R3JnSvAZUKCKnQr9XK1qoFXLlYDZjL1CsVWQfvHWK5Ga13335SpnW_EO1wOus/s1600/Making+bags+13+fold+strap+in+half+and+iron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqJH3Df1YfEqx_kSY-N7QQl-R9cpjjY1pfYCRciFYRS7_N_14I-Kp-EW2q3KpEfQnvJNx9GOusyrSg8R3JnSvAZUKCKnQr9XK1qoFXLlYDZjL1CsVWQfvHWK5Ga13335SpnW_EO1wOus/s320/Making+bags+13+fold+strap+in+half+and+iron.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fold the strip in half the long way and iron again.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR89ssjyDVDgBkMm1Ua4cHIP_mF4sE34ZK-QAGtyHLk5XtdrpDSqkWeihmFKu0hHWn01jSHB7GcMoo3Q4BgZUf95kWAmX9XReew5RC3lHnm3FeWDydfne2hg6YJ-o3BiY8NWzExDocvZM/s1600/Making+bags+14+open+to+see+crease.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR89ssjyDVDgBkMm1Ua4cHIP_mF4sE34ZK-QAGtyHLk5XtdrpDSqkWeihmFKu0hHWn01jSHB7GcMoo3Q4BgZUf95kWAmX9XReew5RC3lHnm3FeWDydfne2hg6YJ-o3BiY8NWzExDocvZM/s320/Making+bags+14+open+to+see+crease.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Open the strip and notice the line you ironed in.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKoIMIAiB8_kRZCpGMpJ8HLYciEJCz6rK1CkkUfCW_pAoU-ASjnfOYQ6mg0EyYvEH1JgJhAEx5ezViwhAyRJsc8R03qzRk5JD2rKjnd-o6lCLGr6o98k3EUdCNinbt7-JNz9y9MWYlyo/s1600/Making+bags+15+fold+top+down+and+bottom+up+and+iron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKoIMIAiB8_kRZCpGMpJ8HLYciEJCz6rK1CkkUfCW_pAoU-ASjnfOYQ6mg0EyYvEH1JgJhAEx5ezViwhAyRJsc8R03qzRk5JD2rKjnd-o6lCLGr6o98k3EUdCNinbt7-JNz9y9MWYlyo/s320/Making+bags+15+fold+top+down+and+bottom+up+and+iron.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fold the top down to the middle line. Fold the bottom up to the middle line. Iron again.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYS6DcvXgLSE-jgeA-A8BiQUGtTHMyu6GLKzapBLwulDPBfE3ndFewU8w5_osvflemvAbIHmxifZHPMHU_WpPjT33YI2Q9AkvNfy34NPuxzrEqAV-06lNHGRmN2hOSPUj7dt_YkK1CTzk/s1600/Making+bags+16+Fold+in+half+and+pin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYS6DcvXgLSE-jgeA-A8BiQUGtTHMyu6GLKzapBLwulDPBfE3ndFewU8w5_osvflemvAbIHmxifZHPMHU_WpPjT33YI2Q9AkvNfy34NPuxzrEqAV-06lNHGRmN2hOSPUj7dt_YkK1CTzk/s320/Making+bags+16+Fold+in+half+and+pin.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fold the strip in half so that all of the unfinished edges are on the inside and iron again.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlYs_7ZJ86zq_lQ9Pzn3u7dWz1jI6RGCS_4nNmbQCsyhUAC5ekr-gLKJgLOR7BJzzpGL2qFKTxpVqXlJX7T88HF5tgXGvgwEk-_w2IToPvh7ifM3m5khpNZLirU5FuXoPdLU8_SrL37w/s1600/Making+bags+17+pinned+strap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="87" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlYs_7ZJ86zq_lQ9Pzn3u7dWz1jI6RGCS_4nNmbQCsyhUAC5ekr-gLKJgLOR7BJzzpGL2qFKTxpVqXlJX7T88HF5tgXGvgwEk-_w2IToPvh7ifM3m5khpNZLirU5FuXoPdLU8_SrL37w/s320/Making+bags+17+pinned+strap.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pin the strap so it doesn't come unfolded.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
*******<br />
Next up: Part 2, the Sewing (and more ironing and pinning)<br />
<br />Doing My Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899668428457343549noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948053377584888121.post-30481429140010530852013-07-15T23:29:00.001-04:002016-01-25T02:14:39.753-05:00A Suprise From the InternetI knew this month was going to fly by, and I WAS RIGHT. In TWO SHORT WEEKS we will start our journey across the country. And there is no turning back because <a href="http://andreaunplugged.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">some</a> <a href="http://www.readingandchickens.com/" target="_blank">Lovely</a> <a href="http://princessnebraska.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Ladies</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/charliesue" target="_blank">on</a> <a href="http://diniwilks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">the</a> <a href="http://www.solvingstephanie.com/" target="_blank">internet</a> <a href="http://julesvsnuts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">cheered</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/grace134" target="_blank">me</a> <a href="http://emilyshollow.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">up</a> <a href="http://www.ourlittlegeekling.com/" target="_blank">and</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SarahLena" target="_blank">gave</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/HBapothecary" target="_blank">me</a> <a href="http://www.jonniker.com/" target="_blank">the</a> <a href="http://rambleramble.com/" target="_blank">strength</a> to continue packing by sending me the most awesome moving reward I was bribing myself with... <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXF6Vg9mxtD9OArY7lk95zgOhSPN6ylmEHPDP88prJPGkCopsr2nW5nOx2XxQRnD6VwnXebQ0w7OojvMsejbLrVxMcKPcPP-kbyz-TfXz4YKPixPC6l2I9TZlCB-P63Q2kj2_ybjOnnE/s1600/CDP+from+the+internet+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXF6Vg9mxtD9OArY7lk95zgOhSPN6ylmEHPDP88prJPGkCopsr2nW5nOx2XxQRnD6VwnXebQ0w7OojvMsejbLrVxMcKPcPP-kbyz-TfXz4YKPixPC6l2I9TZlCB-P63Q2kj2_ybjOnnE/s1600/CDP+from+the+internet+1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such a fun box!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISvgdS1BpmpODLuZB8ysUFs1M9EHtM3hNxizejOCSH4bNFkXoPdIF6WSD-FHLc57uuJKrFDbBa8Npg0DUPxvV9buaSI0bsiUyT-RkPvVgsCA6dfU2VVCsDyFzHxU9sWovrkAnX_OyCNU/s1600/CDP+from+the+internet+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISvgdS1BpmpODLuZB8ysUFs1M9EHtM3hNxizejOCSH4bNFkXoPdIF6WSD-FHLc57uuJKrFDbBa8Npg0DUPxvV9buaSI0bsiUyT-RkPvVgsCA6dfU2VVCsDyFzHxU9sWovrkAnX_OyCNU/s1600/CDP+from+the+internet+2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aren't they BEAUTIFUL?!?! And they will stay that way because the children are not allowed to touch them!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
...and a gift card to Target <i>(which I think I'm going to use to help buy a toaster oven because I've wanted one for a while now!)</i>, so I MUST go through with it! <span style="font-size: x-small;">And, you know, my family would <strike>probably</strike> certainly miss me if I didn't go with them.</span> <a href="http://vandeblog.com/" target="_blank">Thank</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aprilbapryll" target="_blank">you</a>, <a href="http://ennorath.typepad.com/" target="_blank">again</a>, <a href="http://www.swistle.com/" target="_blank">ladies</a>!!!Doing My Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899668428457343549noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948053377584888121.post-5617050710147498282013-05-06T01:46:00.000-04:002019-03-26T14:25:24.804-04:00Example of a Crappy Day Package #19A Lovely, Lovely Person* sent a package of Crappy Day Presents to <strike>help me hang on a little longer</strike> brighten many of my days!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLsFZiGSg22yd26G7jA733j5KiP2-R24RA7lboDbGflRPW9FO4mZU6Wa6MKOcloMHp5fRFSozHRhGrvMPnBLAW2NCf2eOjPjXq5hGUQ5kzjvwbmtfn7iyuB2i-4TDPap0AuQ7rSKSkIo/s1600/020713+1+CDP+from+twisterfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLsFZiGSg22yd26G7jA733j5KiP2-R24RA7lboDbGflRPW9FO4mZU6Wa6MKOcloMHp5fRFSozHRhGrvMPnBLAW2NCf2eOjPjXq5hGUQ5kzjvwbmtfn7iyuB2i-4TDPap0AuQ7rSKSkIo/s320/020713+1+CDP+from+twisterfish.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yarn! And a beautiful plate that is just the right size for brownies! And lots of cheerfully decorated presents!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHEJdDjVPtsQq9w8r-Hf_SxIFmAMPY1LGkmjumEdUZ2JuJncr3i9tJv-bwhFVoWlwdKL5rBU94ndXrxTNbkIIwNphqsy73te9hGP1gJ_a2Ph0morq89_5AQ1U1IZpRlZxrKPpOqjOzpU/s1600/020713+2+these+speak+for+themselves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHEJdDjVPtsQq9w8r-Hf_SxIFmAMPY1LGkmjumEdUZ2JuJncr3i9tJv-bwhFVoWlwdKL5rBU94ndXrxTNbkIIwNphqsy73te9hGP1gJ_a2Ph0morq89_5AQ1U1IZpRlZxrKPpOqjOzpU/s320/020713+2+these+speak+for+themselves.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was a nice thing to open on one of those "Why do you have to be so MEAN, MOM?!" days.</td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51aV0jPNCR12_djiD5Fnd6d4bhLgkVTdQ_oNXLePDrk5gSdgAAiJ1exlLPNw23AvqOdk7VPMBlcCrKTUw9w89Mw0gRAdAIydqa98qoVsccHLpkhmJ7i0HF7zVd-01qA7XycquBRP3x4Q/s1600/020713+3+Shh+these+are+only+for+you+and+one+of+my+favorite+things.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51aV0jPNCR12_djiD5Fnd6d4bhLgkVTdQ_oNXLePDrk5gSdgAAiJ1exlLPNw23AvqOdk7VPMBlcCrKTUw9w89Mw0gRAdAIydqa98qoVsccHLpkhmJ7i0HF7zVd-01qA7XycquBRP3x4Q/s320/020713+3+Shh+these+are+only+for+you+and+one+of+my+favorite+things.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These delicious chocolate bars and this awesome vegetable cutter were opened on a day when Husband was working late, and I was in the middle of trying to fix dinner, so, naturally, Baby's stinky diaper oozed all over him, the carpet, the chair, and the nearest piece of furniture. Then a friend dropped off some cookies I was trying desperately not to eat, and, of course, since I was hungry dinner took much longer to cook than it was supposed to! CRAPPY DAY!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm1Fa2vJXTQf27fxG8nLY85Z-MRA0dUBw3t52sjKrQvThZJ96h6IFN11tgYnUNKlveyYye5a-ENl_gZSsmEAuLaFSFZW3Uf93RNwuBVNj9-QWJ4ey4PmAYSKWPiwzkOufQtMp6Hkyqmz8/s1600/020713+4+Valentine's+present.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm1Fa2vJXTQf27fxG8nLY85Z-MRA0dUBw3t52sjKrQvThZJ96h6IFN11tgYnUNKlveyYye5a-ENl_gZSsmEAuLaFSFZW3Uf93RNwuBVNj9-QWJ4ey4PmAYSKWPiwzkOufQtMp6Hkyqmz8/s320/020713+4+Valentine's+present.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yummy! And such a fun Valentine's Day present =)!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKp5I_46cgLLb7NYnEhsKLYx2tjmpUck349Z0sl_vNwnh9TcjVnsgBowkl5fE9hgi9qWPcDgFRga55GPFknrIg5prS2BaCGa5caUIxL_qGqqgG5pDZ_UAR7v97mKrmhgmTpmZsr6ON-I/s1600/020713+5+brownies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKp5I_46cgLLb7NYnEhsKLYx2tjmpUck349Z0sl_vNwnh9TcjVnsgBowkl5fE9hgi9qWPcDgFRga55GPFknrIg5prS2BaCGa5caUIxL_qGqqgG5pDZ_UAR7v97mKrmhgmTpmZsr6ON-I/s320/020713+5+brownies.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I laughed when I opened this one because just THE DAY BEFORE, I had been thinking of sending someone some brownie mix along with a bag of chocolate chips and instructions to mix them together, and, even so, I hadn't guessed what was in these presents =). Great minds think alike!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIXycuI7viRd7kd1DTdI87VEhfRvwUBw7tsrFkTUGkijDIM0nfqMjjplJJX68p1oq4_1l10vXHnIV9zVJu2QHqkIf6jHP1wUXc3FASwvgTzI_zFFiEvPh2PvYIAhoVwu5IDzSgGInV1Q/s1600/020713+6+Stressed+maske.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIXycuI7viRd7kd1DTdI87VEhfRvwUBw7tsrFkTUGkijDIM0nfqMjjplJJX68p1oq4_1l10vXHnIV9zVJu2QHqkIf6jHP1wUXc3FASwvgTzI_zFFiEvPh2PvYIAhoVwu5IDzSgGInV1Q/s320/020713+6+Stressed+maske.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can't remember what was stressing me out on the day I opened this <strike>probably kids</strike>, but I will be taking it with me to use during my house-hunting trip!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmMtX27MW_S9Po9K7gwkO3AUKxjuRyLFP4igMKbMsg4vnLbfrDEEG76hEEe-bMe4qixxx6WU6XR6DX-5BDUUExQbew9B4_tfPGfMSbYuBQQVg64fhzk4HokdzAeHmJUE2tG9jU2lPDlM/s1600/020713+7+for+teh+kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmMtX27MW_S9Po9K7gwkO3AUKxjuRyLFP4igMKbMsg4vnLbfrDEEG76hEEe-bMe4qixxx6WU6XR6DX-5BDUUExQbew9B4_tfPGfMSbYuBQQVg64fhzk4HokdzAeHmJUE2tG9jU2lPDlM/s320/020713+7+for+teh+kids.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids had SO MUCH FUN with this! SO MUCH! Which I thought was funny, considering how much play-doh we have in our house, but, apparently, M0del Mag!c is MUCH more enjoyable to use!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBSrgKv2EDWGIJ_K6TRIbNsiGVxtBTKmjBj2N-RVcyMUi5WXxIFN5MKEjkoH8_vz9K0BqVHS4mROzCQcAMRd_Se7OeAvAj8QkbhmL84Cf0K_N5se4QndRBS6ODmEjn3T6SqCQnn7GRR0/s1600/020713+8+soap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBSrgKv2EDWGIJ_K6TRIbNsiGVxtBTKmjBj2N-RVcyMUi5WXxIFN5MKEjkoH8_vz9K0BqVHS4mROzCQcAMRd_Se7OeAvAj8QkbhmL84Cf0K_N5se4QndRBS6ODmEjn3T6SqCQnn7GRR0/s320/020713+8+soap.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You know, with the number of Lavender-scented things I've received, I'm starting to think that you ladies think I need to relax or something ;-).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thank you, Lovely Person! Your thoughtfulness and support are much appreciated!!<br />
*******<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*I will be keeping Crappy Day Present senders anonymous so that the sender doesn't have to worry that Person Q is going to see what they (the sender) sent me and possibly feel bad that their (Person Q's) package was not as fabulous as mine ;-). But if you <strike>don't worry as much as I do</strike> aren't worried about that, you are welcome to claim your package in the comments!</span>Doing My Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899668428457343549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948053377584888121.post-18808471769712727602013-04-27T12:48:00.001-04:002019-03-26T14:25:03.788-04:00How To Sort Through Houses Before Going House HuntingI am sure there are many, better, easier ways to do this, but this is the way I have done it.<br />
*******<br />
<br />
So! I discovered that I was doing things out-of-order! The <a href="http://amdoingmybest.blogspot.com/2013/04/psa-how-to-keep-track-of-information.html" target="_blank">House-Hunting Notebook</a> is going to be very helpful while I'm on my trip, but first there were many, many houses that needed to be sorted through, because they would not all fit in the notebook.<br />
<br />
There are lots of websites listing houses for sale. I've mostly been using <a href="http://www.realtor.com/" target="_blank">this one</a> and <a href="http://www.zillow.com/" target="_blank">this one</a>. <br />
<br />
Because I didn't know exactly what my options were going to be, I started searching with a broader range of requirements than I wanted to end up with: a little smaller square footage than I wanted, no specific yard size, slightly higher than the price we can afford, a wide variety of locations. These criteria brought up MANY, MANY results, so I needed a way to narrow the results down further.<br />
<br />
In our case, there is a pretty large area where we could live, so the number of listings I was looking through was overwhelming because of that. I finally decided to pick a location based on the school ratings; although I home school, there is a good chance we will be moving again in a few years, and we will need to sell this house, so, during this entire process, I have had to keep that fact in the back of my mind and choose a house that I <strike>hope</strike> think will be likely to sell when we have to move. If this was going to be the house we stayed in for many years, my search criteria would be different. A Lovely Person helped me find the school ratings by looking <a href="http://www.schooldigger.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. <i>Note: I realize there is no perfect way to rank schools. This particular site uses test scores to rank, and I know that test scores are not an accurate reflection of quality of teaching or student knowledge, but I have to work with what is available.</i><br />
<br />
With the school rankings in mind, I picked the top 3 locations that had been on my list. This helped narrow down the number of houses a little bit, but still: SO MANY.<br />
<br />
I went through all of the listing results that came up and briefly looked at each one, keeping in mind the different categories in the <a href="http://amdoingmybest.blogspot.com/2013/04/psa-how-to-keep-track-of-information.html" target="_blank">notebook</a>. If, after this initial look, I thought the house could work, I copied and pasted the web address <i>(which, for the site I linked to above, included the street address)</i> into an email draft with the subject: houses to look at later. I chose an email draft because, with the email program I am using, it allows me to keep lots of different windows open at the same time, but you could also use a word processing document. This part took a lot of time at first because of the number of houses available. I suggest doing this 3-4 weeks before you go house hunting.<br />
<br />
After I had made it through all of the listings for my areas from my initial search, I've gone back about once a week to see if there are any new listings; this doesn't take NEARLY as long as the initial search.<br />
<br />
Next, it was time to look at the houses more closely, to narrow the selection down. In my case, I had about 60 houses left at this point. I opened another email draft and gave it the subject "deleted houses" because I know my <strike>lack of</strike> memory, and all of these houses blur together after a while, so I knew I needed a way to check if I had already looked at a certain house. Every time I took a house off of the list of "houses to look at later", I cut the web address out of that email and pasted it into the "deleted houses" email; underneath that, I made a little note of why I had cut that house, so that I would remember when I looked at it later.<br />
<br />
Then, I opened <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tab=wl" target="_blank">G00gle maps</a>. As I went through the list of "houses to look at later", I clicked on the link for each house, copied the street address, and pasted it into G00gle maps. I got directions from that house to Husband's work and made note of the time. I zoomed in on the house to see it closer. <br />
<ul>
<li>Was it on or near a busy street? </li>
<li>How close was the house to the neighbor's houses? </li>
<li>Were there any streams or lakes nearby? </li>
<li>Was the yard going to work for us? </li>
<li>Was there a fence <i>(this could have changed because I don't know how old the g00gle pictures are, but I made a note of this anyway)</i>? </li>
</ul>
Some of the maps, offered a street view, so I looked at that too. A few houses were cut off the list after looking at the map.<br />
<br />
Then I went back to the house listing. Underneath the web address in my email draft, I listed this information: # of bedrooms, square footage of the house, size of the yard/lot, school district, whether or not it had a basement, and price. On the line underneath that, I put things I noticed as I looked through the house pictures: <br />
<ul>
<li>Was there a nice kitchen? </li>
<li>Would we need to buy a refrigerator? </li>
<li>Were the rooms nicely painted <i>(in colors I would enjoy and not have to paint myself)</i>? </li>
<li>What kind of flooring in the main house and bedrooms? </li>
<li>Were there mature trees in the yard? </li>
<li>Was the laundry room a cave or did it have a window and cabinets?</li>
</ul>
Anything that caught my attention about that house, I wrote it down.<br />
<br />
I looked up the information for our current house to help me compare. We need more space in the house and the yard, so any houses that were too close to our current measurements were cut.<br />
<br />
I still had too many houses on the list, and then I remembered <a href="http://www.swistle.com/" target="_blank">Swistle's</a> tier system for rating chocolates and thought something similar could work for houses too! I decided to dream big and make the requirements for the top tier very specific and as close to dream house specifications as I could force myself to <strike>because, in my experience, dreams don't really come true and if they do they turn out to be nightmares</strike>. I opened another email draft and gave it the subject: <br />
<ul>
<li>Tier 1: x+ bedrooms, x+ square feet, x+ acres, certain school districts, basement</li>
</ul>
I was quite surprised, when I had finished cutting each house and its information from the "houses to look at later" list and pasting it in the "Tier 1" list, that I actually had about 13 houses!<br />
<br />
<strike>Not believing that it would ever actually work out for me to buy one of those glorious houses</strike> Just in case all of those houses sell before I arrive, for the houses that were close to Tier 1 status, I opened another email draft and gave it the subject:<br />
<ul>
<li>Tier 2: x+ bedrooms, >x square feet, >x acres, certain school districts, may or may not have a basement</li>
</ul>
There are about 20 houses on this list.<br />
<br />
So! About once a week until I leave, I will do a new search and see if there are any new listings that meet Tier 1 or Tier 2 requirements and add them to the appropriate list.<br />
<br />
<strike>As soon as Certain Persons make certain decisions/arrangements</strike> Soon I will contact a realtor, tell her what I'm looking for, and send her my list so she can start making arrangements for me to see some of these houses.<br />
<br />
The week before I leave to go house-hunting, I will <strike>be making CDP Exch*nge assignments, yay =)!</strike> put the Tier 1 houses that are still available in the <a href="http://amdoingmybest.blogspot.com/2013/04/psa-how-to-keep-track-of-information.html" target="_blank">House Hunting Notebook</a>.<br />
<br />
Now, what are the chances I will actually be able to buy a house in a one-week period of time? <i>(Don't answer that.)</i>Doing My Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899668428457343549noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948053377584888121.post-20193026379240212962013-04-18T23:48:00.001-04:002013-05-06T01:14:37.616-04:00Example of a Crappy Day Package #18 (Edited)EDITED TO ADD: I KNEW I was forgetting something! The red "Yum!" package, shown below, contained a package of GHIRARDELLI DARK CHOCOLATE & SEA SALT W/CARAMEL SQUARES! <strike>I must have eaten them before I had a chance to take a picture</strike> Somehow, I didn't get a picture of that. But I was SO EXCITED when I opened it because I had heard a few people mention chocolate and sea salt with caramel and I had wanted to try it! <br />
<br />
The day I opened that present: I had to go pick up yet ANOTHER package at the post office <em>(someone should really invent some sort of service that delivers packages TO YOUR HOUSE....wait...) </em>and then the package did not contain the oil I was waiting for that I was hoping would help my arm stop hurting. To stop the downward spiral of despair, I decided I would stop for my favorite pork fried rice <em>(conveniently, the fried rice place is right next to the post office!)</em>, but when I checked my wallet, I didn't have enough cash. Baby hadn't taken a nap that day and was GRUMPY, I received a load of the "look how perfect our family is!" Christmas cards, and it was day 29 of my cycle, which is always enough to make me quake with fright. It was the PERFECT day for Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt With Caramel, is what I'm saying.<br />
*******<br />
<br />
Well. This has been a Crappy Week for TOO MANY people =(. I think it's the perfect time to be reminded that there are still good, kind, thoughtful people in the world!<br />
*******<br />
<br />
A Lovely, Lovely Person* sent this CDPackage to me and was worried that I would think less of it because of the non-froofy wrapping. She need not have worried!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYIWhTUUpSL_UGwkZ5fV3W8kLx5MuLZH1URexgkqaXqWlrV35HYmk_sxCVHdstw1fnXss0znm_Vfd3UezIFBC37kX_9O48cFrEQdtZ94IJuF-1mHrE7n-CDDyECKyKIChoFAepTenDxM/s1600/101712+1+CDP+from+Slim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYIWhTUUpSL_UGwkZ5fV3W8kLx5MuLZH1URexgkqaXqWlrV35HYmk_sxCVHdstw1fnXss0znm_Vfd3UezIFBC37kX_9O48cFrEQdtZ94IJuF-1mHrE7n-CDDyECKyKIChoFAepTenDxM/s320/101712+1+CDP+from+Slim.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8FiNsExh3Wx5r8TvskgAMYmPi1f79nfCbfDc8cj7riUV-onv5GQ4y_6WruUT9ReVy6NvBvJOXjjjJtRWEzO-B_ZIZHluA6XbW4uZAyxSjSiKPY-QvlLH7eSkvsUP5rzRQQx88nPb39U/s1600/101712+2+CDP+from+Slim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8FiNsExh3Wx5r8TvskgAMYmPi1f79nfCbfDc8cj7riUV-onv5GQ4y_6WruUT9ReVy6NvBvJOXjjjJtRWEzO-B_ZIZHluA6XbW4uZAyxSjSiKPY-QvlLH7eSkvsUP5rzRQQx88nPb39U/s320/101712+2+CDP+from+Slim.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helpful labels on the presents</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBEUb2XPb6kcirPJfxtl9q6ZbnQsn98d2JSIzfdB5RBu-EqaFzEDBcfzwotIR2g4vBNtkWTWsHc5Vy7foG9KJB5OGEBonqPGjj97iVtiqBBN7bxNSDQB8x1KmHq4NZB4qNHyfl_6WfuE/s1600/101712+2+Ha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBEUb2XPb6kcirPJfxtl9q6ZbnQsn98d2JSIzfdB5RBu-EqaFzEDBcfzwotIR2g4vBNtkWTWsHc5Vy7foG9KJB5OGEBonqPGjj97iVtiqBBN7bxNSDQB8x1KmHq4NZB4qNHyfl_6WfuE/s320/101712+2+Ha.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If I display the mug prominently enough, do you think the children will catch on?<br />
(Spoiler: it has been displayed prominently for some time now and the children haven't caught on.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdP45inNovck6kyLRtA5ymzJcpPdJN5GGQIgEufdjaSK3yo8jd2MUm2u93hPCIy4WgAKxgK1wkPKIcmVzFN7AUJUREiEOUaEdd8OO5GpU8z250b-6ZOXsE27WrxGUgcUQ4O4ubxr6z7Tg/s1600/101712+3+A+little+bit+of+pretty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdP45inNovck6kyLRtA5ymzJcpPdJN5GGQIgEufdjaSK3yo8jd2MUm2u93hPCIy4WgAKxgK1wkPKIcmVzFN7AUJUREiEOUaEdd8OO5GpU8z250b-6ZOXsE27WrxGUgcUQ4O4ubxr6z7Tg/s320/101712+3+A+little+bit+of+pretty.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had JUST been thinking that I would really like to get some towels for the kids' bathroom that I could crochet something on the top of to attach the towel to the towel rack so I stop finding them on the floor! These are PERFECT because that bathroom has red towels!<br />
Soothing, lavender body wash<br />
Lip stuff!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclAKSHoNUveV4G_FirE05u9HAvD_AkhL__tYn77h0Ibij0YCNouto9uXi-8rfAzXYBVXl7GWwtqvP_rjqMcmGKjebZKw2Luyt4_jAgfP1D3yRMSmWTXhuyuMh1CsXkbglJAv4MhqLtc8/s1600/101712+4+When+you+need+tomorrow+to+start+better.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclAKSHoNUveV4G_FirE05u9HAvD_AkhL__tYn77h0Ibij0YCNouto9uXi-8rfAzXYBVXl7GWwtqvP_rjqMcmGKjebZKw2Luyt4_jAgfP1D3yRMSmWTXhuyuMh1CsXkbglJAv4MhqLtc8/s320/101712+4+When+you+need+tomorrow+to+start+better.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">REAL MAPLE SYRUP!! I never knew, but it is SO DELICIOUS!<br />
Usually I make my pancakes from scratch, but when I used this mix the <strike>ingrates</strike> children RAVED about how FLUFFY and DELICIOUS the pancakes were!<br />
I hide flax meal in my baking, so this was also a welcome gift =)!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJ-L0TfaKoInkfMH4qgFYyRuG-lYD6CxHODM0XC_k6WHKNW2ekesyQKcOc5192Ao-B7qcDa7qpNQOHFNgihtqVuOUn2iqX9BmgAbtda2yeE12NF26TTWmvSRv2ViNlA2ksxtHbwSxZHw/s1600/101712+5+Refined+Sugar+No+prescription+necessary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJ-L0TfaKoInkfMH4qgFYyRuG-lYD6CxHODM0XC_k6WHKNW2ekesyQKcOc5192Ao-B7qcDa7qpNQOHFNgihtqVuOUn2iqX9BmgAbtda2yeE12NF26TTWmvSRv2ViNlA2ksxtHbwSxZHw/s320/101712+5+Refined+Sugar+No+prescription+necessary.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmmmmmmmm. The ice cream toppings were especially amazing! It was a close contest, but I liked the fudge topping the best.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNnprq8BnIYMAlvaA9kkH8WALcZ9B2iwMIRhyphenhyphenDLYmhCAfr9-XfVdJ2KKqv-lCahCH1VY9RWgUh1TlJQ3xN1j-6YBihuoNwPKsrug0r7EMTv4v3V8wVpNtVMH6xynuZZFPCpTn3zh-LBA/s1600/101712+6+The+science+of+food+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNnprq8BnIYMAlvaA9kkH8WALcZ9B2iwMIRhyphenhyphenDLYmhCAfr9-XfVdJ2KKqv-lCahCH1VY9RWgUh1TlJQ3xN1j-6YBihuoNwPKsrug0r7EMTv4v3V8wVpNtVMH6xynuZZFPCpTn3zh-LBA/s320/101712+6+The+science+of+food+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was a fun one!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-kKTYT9p7wJglcdpwhwqUZdhaAaIqDoBy7ZlJnMwhaWAyZ-xbxQOesEAMwKTRAWxoCUXQ0v6phOd5v1MvJ7U5_bq-UWVP-74WA45cn2xoHYdhxS_45aHid6r51EKa4R3mbJMHN7g018/s1600/101712+8+the+science+of+food+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-kKTYT9p7wJglcdpwhwqUZdhaAaIqDoBy7ZlJnMwhaWAyZ-xbxQOesEAMwKTRAWxoCUXQ0v6phOd5v1MvJ7U5_bq-UWVP-74WA45cn2xoHYdhxS_45aHid6r51EKa4R3mbJMHN7g018/s320/101712+8+the+science+of+food+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was really cool to see that the corn popped right on the cob!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjHm_Yh4DBEFrKK_rlBMfpsQbhqyMwg39i7iOaiK1x7f0I7MF25ZTNY-E-d0f1vFLjQKaHsHVjcnqCfLQbAKC3uENme7azYy9IPjbwzivyGpmOvDMpQTkDH3o9cHfstO_BxAQBD2AG0c/s1600/101712+7+the+science+of+food+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjHm_Yh4DBEFrKK_rlBMfpsQbhqyMwg39i7iOaiK1x7f0I7MF25ZTNY-E-d0f1vFLjQKaHsHVjcnqCfLQbAKC3uENme7azYy9IPjbwzivyGpmOvDMpQTkDH3o9cHfstO_BxAQBD2AG0c/s320/101712+7+the+science+of+food+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The popcorn was crispy and delicious!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-gA_sV4JbbTCwC-uS_Ux893D9Nf5PEA8pNpvBIn7rC9fzZKOolY4pw9aSkoQePzx7vSU9htmJPhiCeBpHEsUM7AR-UKZPLcWZH3I7jrkUiebsrt-Z4IVR84SA72DvirtIZ9ir5nq3JOc/s1600/101712+9+Dinnertime+Blues.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-gA_sV4JbbTCwC-uS_Ux893D9Nf5PEA8pNpvBIn7rC9fzZKOolY4pw9aSkoQePzx7vSU9htmJPhiCeBpHEsUM7AR-UKZPLcWZH3I7jrkUiebsrt-Z4IVR84SA72DvirtIZ9ir5nq3JOc/s320/101712+9+Dinnertime+Blues.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The children are always using my skewers for one thing or another; now I am re-stocked!<br />
I used the BBQ sauce to marinate and cook some chicken; it was delicious =)!<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5q02UYkWGO_JZJq4Z4kQ93__LhAK_6X4n9hsyfPiGEKVL_DatnoDGxNgaCgrxrjghAUY71JWwZ_sAcRGujiu7gAnaXLZJjhpcpahsotlHdROIIvYQ8SXWcNFvuKktXUsktVqBNQZoIo/s1600/101712+10+food+stuff+for+kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5q02UYkWGO_JZJq4Z4kQ93__LhAK_6X4n9hsyfPiGEKVL_DatnoDGxNgaCgrxrjghAUY71JWwZ_sAcRGujiu7gAnaXLZJjhpcpahsotlHdROIIvYQ8SXWcNFvuKktXUsktVqBNQZoIo/s320/101712+10+food+stuff+for+kids.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Food-related projects for the children<br />
They IMMEDIATELY grabbed the recipe magazine and started plotting which delicious things they wanted to make.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thank you, Lovely Person! The presents and resourceful wrapping job were much enjoyed =)!<br />
*******<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*I will be keeping Crappy Day Present senders
anonymous so that the sender doesn't have to worry that Person Q is going to see
what they (the sender) sent me and possibly feel bad that their (Person Q's)
package was not as fabulous as mine ;-). But if you <strike>don't worry as much
as I do</strike> aren't worried about that, you are welcome to claim your
package in the comments!</span> Doing My Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899668428457343549noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948053377584888121.post-72175322437284623572013-04-15T02:12:00.000-04:002013-04-27T12:52:15.956-04:00PSA: How To Keep Track of Information While House HuntingIf you are just <strike>entering house-hunting hell</strike> starting your house-hunting journey and are looking for helpful organizational information, start <a href="http://amdoingmybest.blogspot.com/2013/04/how-to-sort-through-houses-before-going.html" target="_blank">here</a>, and then come back to this post.<br />
*******<br />
<br />
Thanks to <a href="http://amdoingmybest.blogspot.com/2013/04/did-i-remember-everything-house-hunting.html" target="_blank">all of your great suggestions</a>, I think I finally have all of the headings I need for my keeping-track-of-all-the-details-of-NUMEROUS-houses chart!<br />
<br />
If you are the kind of person who is going to think, "But, DoingMyBest, you can just print all of those house descriptions and put them in a 3-ring binder and then you don't have to go to all of this trouble!" or, "But, DoingMyBest, it would have been more economical to use one of the notebooks you bought for $0.15 during the back-to-school sales than to spend THREE DOLLARS on a notebook just because it was pretty!" then this is not the post for you.<br />
<br />
If you are someone who finds comfort in picking out a pretty, new notebook and making a soothing chart for a challenging occasion, READ ON.<br />
<br />
I had to go to T*rget for something, so, having recently decided I should get organized for this house-hunting trip, I decided I would look for a pretty notebook to help make this job more bearable. Before I made it to the notebook section, I found an end display of some bright, cheery office supplies. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">*******lack of picture here because the T*rget website SUCKS and I couldn't find it anywhere*******</span><br />
<br />
One of the things made in that cheery design was a clip board/folder sort of thing. There was a clipboard on the front, but you could open it like a folder and there was a notepad inside. I was HIGHLY tempted because I liked the pattern and I thought that a clipboard might be useful, and then I was even MORE tempted when I found a similar one on clearance for 1/3 of the price! But I was a little concerned that the notepad might not give me enough space for all of the information I wanted to keep track of, and then I noticed that these things were called "portfolios" and I remembered that Husband had brought something similar home from a conference and given it to me...and it was still sitting underneath my desk at home.<br />
<br />
One of the portfolios had a graph paper notepad, and I thought a graph paper notebook would be helpful for this chart, but I couldn't find one. I DO have some graph paper, lab book type notebooks at home, but they aren't pretty.<br />
<br />
There were ALL SORTS of notebooks at Target, and I was starting to think I should just use one from home because I was never going to be able to choose, when my eye was caught by THIS:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhUH1ZStHeIOLxzYSt7ZJmyKM8I_i_xzoYhPd8zpYZO1vFXlm4X8eRBjI6SQ9IO3W15OnwYYquMF7Wz3u-0MrgKQB-y-sx3256LB5sXKrbPpepcnMLX-BoBZXIyHNsbmONc7XwJ4EISY/s1600/041213+1+HH+Notebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhUH1ZStHeIOLxzYSt7ZJmyKM8I_i_xzoYhPd8zpYZO1vFXlm4X8eRBjI6SQ9IO3W15OnwYYquMF7Wz3u-0MrgKQB-y-sx3256LB5sXKrbPpepcnMLX-BoBZXIyHNsbmONc7XwJ4EISY/s320/041213+1+HH+Notebook.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello, Beautiful!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was concerned that it would shed glitter everywhere, but it doesn't!<br />
<br />
On the inside cover, I am writing the names and phone numbers of those who live in the area I will be visiting, who have offered to help.<br />
<br />
On the first page of paper, I am making a list of the different areas in which I am looking for houses <strike>because I cannot seem to remember to save my life and it is necessary to ask Husband every time I need to know</strike>.<br />
<br />
I skipped a few pages <em>(in case I need them for something later)</em> and then listed out the room dimensions of our current house, so I can more easily compare these spaces to the other houses.<br />
<br />
Then came the place where I wanted to put all of the information that I want to find out about each of the new houses. I put it at the top of two pages like this:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAW3p3-KEjeQeWIEH8IyS3E5XJ6xcjSV5nZmJI2otIrN6LpcZa5-2ELxT0743mgsZxncYnqLIIma22ByNZ59h8rtjIW9-UtT7oC3-O_D3av7t22AtnK-aJb6asv4NFeeZBlIIzV8QvNbk/s1600/041213+3+HHN+left+side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAW3p3-KEjeQeWIEH8IyS3E5XJ6xcjSV5nZmJI2otIrN6LpcZa5-2ELxT0743mgsZxncYnqLIIma22ByNZ59h8rtjIW9-UtT7oC3-O_D3av7t22AtnK-aJb6asv4NFeeZBlIIzV8QvNbk/s320/041213+3+HHN+left+side.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left page</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xitsidLkK6d_XGdeCaYMori8rGgIlv32ZllDoXauUGx2wwHTAIGroSGi7qY_ELqhMAJGWAzaiiFl8RAnH2fThN6aCp3qaELs5P1OZZUtp7sbtJUjEDBiZP3p1VWAMNSLyzkvCc2KNCE/s1600/041213+4+HHN+right+side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xitsidLkK6d_XGdeCaYMori8rGgIlv32ZllDoXauUGx2wwHTAIGroSGi7qY_ELqhMAJGWAzaiiFl8RAnH2fThN6aCp3qaELs5P1OZZUtp7sbtJUjEDBiZP3p1VWAMNSLyzkvCc2KNCE/s320/041213+4+HHN+right+side.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right page</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I did not want to have to write the list of information at the top of the page for each of the MANY houses I need to keep track of, so I carefully cut the top part of the pages on the right side, so that I can flip the bottom part of the page, but the list of information I need stays up at the top.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNGHTe6TtMtdK_soPG0OsIYJYjsRmwe2PDxbZt4CnuOMuXhAWhDxX1pcWlokXuvKADDibheMe4_PENkPGMah-p2iHaviXSBTAQlgmNgQr8jZyRpQNXovhdT7bEjzlYsZJYWy3EfWiFc0/s1600/041213+HHN+cutting+the+top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNGHTe6TtMtdK_soPG0OsIYJYjsRmwe2PDxbZt4CnuOMuXhAWhDxX1pcWlokXuvKADDibheMe4_PENkPGMah-p2iHaviXSBTAQlgmNgQr8jZyRpQNXovhdT7bEjzlYsZJYWy3EfWiFc0/s320/041213+HHN+cutting+the+top.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I decided to turn the page twice to start the information for a new house, so that the writing from the previous house doesn't show through and distract me. If I need to <strike>HEAVEN FORBID</strike> I can go back and put house information on the pages I left blank <strike>PLEASE DON'T LET THERE BE THAT MANY HOUSES!</strike>.<br />
<br />
I decided I'd better reinforce the top part of the page that has the list, so I put clear packing tape on the front and back and then trimmed it. Then I added some colors <em>(because I forgot to do that before I put tape over it, oops)</em>, so that I could easily see which groups of information were related. For example, I have a column labelled "laundry room" and the two columns after that are "cabinets" and "sink/window"; since I am wanting to know if there are cabinets, a sink, and a window in the laundry room, I put the same color on the end of each of those columns.<br />
<br />
On the right side page, I will write the room sizes, and, on the last 3 lines, the distance to the closest grocery stores, library, and parks.<br />
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<br />
At the bottom of each left side page, I am writing the address and listing number of the house. Above that, I am making a pros and cons list. There is enough room left on the pages for me to make notes while I'm visiting each house.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWf3BYbOjQVFkawYunrT9ujXkeC8peIsPGu7-nRMF-ARIJXlb41kG29cLxcE0dbk25lVR4wZx6EWIn2olZEcoeAXJcdtuUoUl7ysDmnr2bMq1Edb6dRahFVHk_JyhJQ4qbNP7FJkOanf8/s1600/041213+6+Left+page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWf3BYbOjQVFkawYunrT9ujXkeC8peIsPGu7-nRMF-ARIJXlb41kG29cLxcE0dbk25lVR4wZx6EWIn2olZEcoeAXJcdtuUoUl7ysDmnr2bMq1Edb6dRahFVHk_JyhJQ4qbNP7FJkOanf8/s320/041213+6+Left+page.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
I used green ink to fill out the information I could find online about each house; when I visit the houses, I will use blue ink.<br />
<br />
I tried to organize the information in the columns in a logical order, or, at least, an order that makes sense to me. I imagine I will get to a house, look around the front yard on the way to the door, look at the kitchen/living room/dining room/main house, the backyard, then the bedrooms, and, lastly, the basement, if there is one. The columns at the top of the pages are:<br />
<ul>
<li># of rooms</li>
<li>Sq. Footage</li>
<li>Yard size (acres)</li>
<li>Backyard size <em>(not a specific number; a comparison to our current backyard)</em></li>
<li>Sidewalks</li>
<li>Proximity to neighbors</li>
<li>House material <em>(brick, vinyl, etc.)</em></li>
<li>Neighborhood Ambiance</li>
<li>Busy street?</li>
<li>Type of roof</li>
<li>Spaces in garage</li>
<li>Fence in front</li>
<li>Front porch?</li>
<li>Cooling system</li>
<li>Heating system</li>
<li>Floors-main house <em>(wood, tile, carpet, etc.)</em></li>
<li>Ceiling fans-main house</li>
<li>Hall closet?</li>
<li>Mudroom?</li>
<li>Overall energy efficiency</li>
<li>Windows <em>(drafty?)</em></li>
<li># bathrooms</li>
<li>bathroom storage</li>
<li>Curtains/blinds <em>(what comes with each house?)</em></li>
<li>Kitchen space</li>
<ul>
<li>Counter material</li>
<li>Counter space</li>
<li>Cabinet space, # doors</li>
<li>Pantry</li>
<li>Appliance age</li>
<li>Room for table 97"</li>
</ul>
<li>Laundry Room</li>
<ul>
<li>Cabinets</li>
<li>Sink/Window</li>
</ul>
<li>Bedrooms #</li>
<ul>
<li>floors</li>
<li>ceiling fans</li>
<li>closets</li>
</ul>
<li>Painted rooms?</li>
<li>Bonuses? <em>(built in cabinets or bookcases, etc.)</em></li>
<li>High Speed Internet <em>(available?)</em></li>
<li>Back Patio/Fence</li>
<li>Outbuildings</li>
<li>Basement</li>
<ul>
<li>Finished?</li>
<li>Sump pump</li>
<li>radon</li>
</ul>
<li>Distance to Husband's work</li>
<li>Taxes-city, township</li>
<li>Price</li>
</ul>
Edited to add: I also need to find a spot for "Slope of the ground from the house", "Signs of water damage", and "Property taxes".<br />
<br />
*******<br />
Apparently, I'm really doing this:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZcJ4JCVRWVZv6XruvpWAGUCZog-OPM2Elej7oa0LvlgupA0hB2RgIkqnuCi9KZ6VYsgDIB8YzyjA_mKBj3df8A9fnk8lP84v6uwsOWPIQ7ktkiX2BTAxN3ITBcW1UBAWYannvTqr_IhU/s1600/041213+7+outside+portfolio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZcJ4JCVRWVZv6XruvpWAGUCZog-OPM2Elej7oa0LvlgupA0hB2RgIkqnuCi9KZ6VYsgDIB8YzyjA_mKBj3df8A9fnk8lP84v6uwsOWPIQ7ktkiX2BTAxN3ITBcW1UBAWYannvTqr_IhU/s320/041213+7+outside+portfolio.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flight information, ack!<br />
A <a href="http://amdoingmybest.blogspot.com/2012/11/example-of-crappy-day-package-13.html" target="_blank">Lovely Person</a> gave me a giant paperclip for when I need help holding things together. <br />
I THINK NOW WOULD BE ONE OF THOSE TIMES.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
House-hunting supplies:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Za9JvdAJ-PGyVEsAFPLsoEFuDWab2iOtuDuJ_m3hHMY8QVILrtTeDUdkzYkqC_19IAszCnkin2DMO4c3CHVJpTN2OY1zETXCOu_9kqoJvg1ec3-5k0e2E_ysmT4d2wj15MzNjsybp0U/s1600/041213+8+Supplies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Za9JvdAJ-PGyVEsAFPLsoEFuDWab2iOtuDuJ_m3hHMY8QVILrtTeDUdkzYkqC_19IAszCnkin2DMO4c3CHVJpTN2OY1zETXCOu_9kqoJvg1ec3-5k0e2E_ysmT4d2wj15MzNjsybp0U/s320/041213+8+Supplies.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If only there was a handy spot for a medicinal pint of ice cream...</td></tr>
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Doing My Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899668428457343549noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948053377584888121.post-89949962831066451852013-03-17T00:12:00.002-04:002013-03-17T00:12:58.729-04:00Fun CDPExch*nge FactsAll assignments have been sent, so, if you haven't received yours, please let me know!<br />
*******<br />
<br />
There are 42 participants in the current CDPE, so it was worth it to enlarge the Master List =)! <br />
<br />
An enlarged Master List will hold 46 names, so that will be the cut-off from now on because enlarging the list again would make it unmanageable.<br />
<br />
It took around 8 hours to find all of the information (who knows who, who has sent to who before, etc.) and put it on the Master List, decide on each person's assignment, and get each assignment email ready to send.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-ng-4S84pt7_yHnb2zXBoKt_YSfDoYTC0WBUltOFRnn2bhiQw0cTgqBzgEPCNGkMIFDV8H4N2PmABbxmKLoZZB_bCKIYSdYMO5gFAx4E0T8Zo0Mvz-eEJDbxIwnmi5hxKfTJXZit5B8/s1600/031513+1+Partway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-ng-4S84pt7_yHnb2zXBoKt_YSfDoYTC0WBUltOFRnn2bhiQw0cTgqBzgEPCNGkMIFDV8H4N2PmABbxmKLoZZB_bCKIYSdYMO5gFAx4E0T8Zo0Mvz-eEJDbxIwnmi5hxKfTJXZit5B8/s320/031513+1+Partway.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Partway filled out, Friday night<br />
(Why is it when I WANT to take a fuzzy picture of something, I have to try 4 or 5 times, but when I DON'T want a fuzzy picture, it happens the FIRST time?!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSehGcTNIrn2FCRB2mb3RzWXwvQZKFYqjaWQ7djivFMQVJslam_4DP2ptgDSI7w0Px7z0UQ61pOWw_6zB9PD_-fm_jnqYomkm2PBTEj8K88CabUecr7v5zOtKHPMf6vqs7baMblLxg2U/s1600/031613+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSehGcTNIrn2FCRB2mb3RzWXwvQZKFYqjaWQ7djivFMQVJslam_4DP2ptgDSI7w0Px7z0UQ61pOWw_6zB9PD_-fm_jnqYomkm2PBTEj8K88CabUecr7v5zOtKHPMf6vqs7baMblLxg2U/s320/031613+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Assignments sent, early Saturday afternoon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There were 3 people who wanted to send but not receive this time.<br />
<br />
There were 14 new participants.<br />
<br />
11 people signed up on the last day of registration.<br />
<br />
The participants are from 20 different states and 1 country outside of the USA.<br />
<br />
In the various exch*nges, at various times, my feeble mind has needed to keep track of/not mix up:<br />
<ul>
<li>3 Lisas</li>
<li>2 Maggies</li>
<li>2 Emilys</li>
<li>3 Heathers</li>
<li>3 Kates (plus another which was spelled differently)</li>
<li>3 Dianes</li>
<li>2 Megans</li>
<li>7 names ending in "y" or "ie"</li>
<li>4 names beginning with "E" and 4 names beginning with "A"</li>
<li>6 names beginning with "A", 3 names beginning with "E", 4 names beginning with "D", and 4 names beginning with "L"</li>
</ul>
I have coordinated 8 of these exch*nges so far =).<br />
<ul>
<li>1 person has participated in all 8.</li>
<li>2 people have participated in 6.</li>
<li>6 people have participated in 5. </li>
<li>4 people have participated in 4. </li>
<li>5 people have participated in 3. </li>
<li>10 people have participated in 2. </li>
<li>4 of the people who participated in the very first exchange, also participated in this one.</li>
<li><strong>TWO HUNDRED TWENTY</strong> CDPacakges have gone out into the world through these exch*nges!!</li>
</ul>
Any questions =)?Doing My Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899668428457343549noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948053377584888121.post-91684680303182901962013-02-16T14:29:00.002-05:002015-02-13T15:00:45.009-05:00The Creation of a Fun Surprise1. Find <a href="http://www.worldmarket.com/product/love+is+all+you+need+decorative+tea+towel.do?&from=fn" target="_blank">something</a> that seems JUST RIGHT for a <a href="http://swistle.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Certain Person</a> <em>(this is generally the hardest part)</em>.<br />
<br />
2. Notice there is a coupon AND the item qualifies for free shipping!<br />
<br />
3. Wonder if you might not be the only one who thinks this would be an EXCELLENT surprise for Certain Person, if only everyone else knew about it!<br />
<br />
4. Realize that NOT ONLY is this thing JUST RIGHT for a Certain Person, but it would ALSO make a WONDERFUL Valentine's Day Package!<br />
<br />
5. Email everyone you think might like to be involved in a fun surprise <em>(and whose email address you have)</em>.<br />
<br />
6. Keep track of the people who are participating so you know how many packages you are waiting for.<br />
<br />
7. Anticipate strange look from your mail-delivery person when you receive 12 identical packages over 1-2 days.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAyv977o5yarlBwDoX1Hy5KA-5uz6rPs1LQWTjOGYq0DMpbyqYYFXmIrvEfYFja9XyzXDoTccRWh_kdnrJk4QEKqrOZe8BsIBcYNpjG-BIAuEPI2Mk3KT_ZvhNEY1KVMwLtPKPY7aJJg/s1600/02+2013+Packages+for+Swistle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAyv977o5yarlBwDoX1Hy5KA-5uz6rPs1LQWTjOGYq0DMpbyqYYFXmIrvEfYFja9XyzXDoTccRWh_kdnrJk4QEKqrOZe8BsIBcYNpjG-BIAuEPI2Mk3KT_ZvhNEY1KVMwLtPKPY7aJJg/s320/02+2013+Packages+for+Swistle.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Packages!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
8. Open packages and check packing information so that you can make sure you have received everything that's been sent and properly label each item with its sender's name.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4MuFnzivOjyJwlOUiGcW-Wywv7-WxUzS1LI5VjJLTawRxLOx5bpElHtZ_CiGKnuawVosvimRRnAulGkVIsDTOBbmitiOl90LNQE97SFo1lGLDvexhZEpmBg6ecapDVYKRTv83IVWvWI/s1600/02+2013+Towels+for+Swistle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4MuFnzivOjyJwlOUiGcW-Wywv7-WxUzS1LI5VjJLTawRxLOx5bpElHtZ_CiGKnuawVosvimRRnAulGkVIsDTOBbmitiOl90LNQE97SFo1lGLDvexhZEpmBg6ecapDVYKRTv83IVWvWI/s320/02+2013+Towels+for+Swistle.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
9. Wrap some additional presents, include large amounts of chocolate, write an explanatory card, and send the box.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqAZa3M5p-O7_9oaLaM-9kAUgYfLIxNdJcEAaSYWb4U-glQdW0SX-OHKMfAgXZv6ms_5L63KsXXRnKvYAQ8ikuSQ7aeQSvv-iqP8DGDIP1gvZrbI1Xmwmv7-9Pz4NzVs1Sn2jeFOXr2Y/s1600/02+2013+The+box+is+ready+for+Swistle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqAZa3M5p-O7_9oaLaM-9kAUgYfLIxNdJcEAaSYWb4U-glQdW0SX-OHKMfAgXZv6ms_5L63KsXXRnKvYAQ8ikuSQ7aeQSvv-iqP8DGDIP1gvZrbI1Xmwmv7-9Pz4NzVs1Sn2jeFOXr2Y/s320/02+2013+The+box+is+ready+for+Swistle.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
10. Email everyone who participated to let them know that the box is ON ITS WAY!!!<br />
<br />
11. <a href="https://www.usps.com/" target="_blank">Stalk</a> the box's progress.<br />
<br />
12. Enjoy a <a href="http://www.swistle.com/2013/02/14/valentines-day-bird-towel-surprise/" target="_blank">Certain Person's surprise</a> when the box arrives =).Doing My Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899668428457343549noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948053377584888121.post-28751612007154097742013-02-11T00:09:00.001-05:002013-02-11T00:09:59.651-05:00Example of a Crappy Day Package #17<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A Lovely, Lovely Person* sent me a wonderful CDPackage <strike>months ago</strike> <strike>hey, I already admitted that I'm a CDP hoarder</strike>!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDO_yWzaG9hVDHKoMl2gmbP9AjuEMZTzEb2gQkupy99BisZrdgy4-as7uf8HPgE6mcfZGzovhYV4Vy-AJU_62TXweSESBxKtnXHI732R40689VhexflN2215EIOm8J45Je4aVsa5LpNFc/s1600/110612+1+CDP+from+Shelly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDO_yWzaG9hVDHKoMl2gmbP9AjuEMZTzEb2gQkupy99BisZrdgy4-as7uf8HPgE6mcfZGzovhYV4Vy-AJU_62TXweSESBxKtnXHI732R40689VhexflN2215EIOm8J45Je4aVsa5LpNFc/s320/110612+1+CDP+from+Shelly.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheery paper and helpful labels</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDm27z2RAVsywYINj6sMNyQozf4a-Dc9dmnNaMFo3TBk9Nsnq3Q4-tuXhEn4onc5w2e9GXUU4O_uRduxYAnl9IJ2LvSVUO9UYOvcAu6hLWdYjoClB-kvrQDP_OsdNgK_MfGkX2XIk1wS0/s1600/110612+4+earrings,+clips,+lips,+towels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDm27z2RAVsywYINj6sMNyQozf4a-Dc9dmnNaMFo3TBk9Nsnq3Q4-tuXhEn4onc5w2e9GXUU4O_uRduxYAnl9IJ2LvSVUO9UYOvcAu6hLWdYjoClB-kvrQDP_OsdNgK_MfGkX2XIk1wS0/s320/110612+4+earrings,+clips,+lips,+towels.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I feel pretty! Oh so pretty!"--pretty earrings<br />
"Need help holding it together?"--fun binder clips <em>(anyone know why they are called "binder clips"?)</em> <br />
"Pucker up!"--Burt's bees lip stuff <em>(I had JUST been needing more lip stuff because the children stole all of mine!)</em><br />
"Do I hear jingle bells?"--cute towels that cheered me up every time I walked into the hall bathroom</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsZJ_Fxz-wSXG8dYHYfEmNfLcj38HaWSOC08-CuQgUA-MEZirk8ndMi-WRqD-IYngxNSqoaLS3sofN8BIHqzHsUTfx5R0YdQP6oIOFOBPA5IYCwHOu1bfRu-9CzQRFI10eB_0PpmmK9Y/s1600/110612+3+put+on+earmuffs+and+enjoy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsZJ_Fxz-wSXG8dYHYfEmNfLcj38HaWSOC08-CuQgUA-MEZirk8ndMi-WRqD-IYngxNSqoaLS3sofN8BIHqzHsUTfx5R0YdQP6oIOFOBPA5IYCwHOu1bfRu-9CzQRFI10eB_0PpmmK9Y/s320/110612+3+put+on+earmuffs+and+enjoy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Goes nicely with earmuffs"--Peppermint Hot Cocoa, one of my favorites!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8XMqQHZNmbWLVG-uZIFPb8QdJW-6kk0H6SRjDOoSNHZjjEkRDV8c-ZvLv3vr7WfiesEycYDcF1xXYdcZvpLhw3Te7FChJNwDgjXtLB_lOK-JK3fYShyqCGaQ4WqqOeFRXnAzmVeIOlk/s1600/110612+5+Hot+chocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8XMqQHZNmbWLVG-uZIFPb8QdJW-6kk0H6SRjDOoSNHZjjEkRDV8c-ZvLv3vr7WfiesEycYDcF1xXYdcZvpLhw3Te7FChJNwDgjXtLB_lOK-JK3fYShyqCGaQ4WqqOeFRXnAzmVeIOlk/s320/110612+5+Hot+chocolate.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Maybe curl up with a good book"--White Chocolate Hot Cocoa, my other favorite!<br />
<em>(In one of my favorite mugs: "Challenges, I expected times like this but I never thought they'd be so bad, so long, and so frequent.")</em></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uROwEXy7ORYChYYkaFdnARhbFxCL8g7E291SILYBFrHe00jO5ofAQ8uD0l4v26LEsaxAuJGHURdJ8RtcsiVrWYpxuJMU5QSPMYxCMBWenlOavytjkPg5FQFIaNo9VslN4vNilikgzrg/s1600/110612+2+Someone+made+a+mess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uROwEXy7ORYChYYkaFdnARhbFxCL8g7E291SILYBFrHe00jO5ofAQ8uD0l4v26LEsaxAuJGHURdJ8RtcsiVrWYpxuJMU5QSPMYxCMBWenlOavytjkPg5FQFIaNo9VslN4vNilikgzrg/s320/110612+2+Someone+made+a+mess.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Did someone make a mess??"--(<em>Why, YES! Someone DID just make a mess! Right in his pants! And I got to clean it up!) </em>Peppermint hand soap! Peppermint is one of my favorite cleaning smells!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1omd9NFyCv_zUTSKpg3BmPcv_HIbjZDVcYZSNqDSXB2Uu5nj2Anb5T8rUFXJ1LzXyL5IJBQafzXA-D9gwjkLkzlmYG2akHSUUDxeLWC18Pg54NZ7C_Lc1FAfjSl3_NAn_EyORRrYmvE/s1600/110612+Baking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1omd9NFyCv_zUTSKpg3BmPcv_HIbjZDVcYZSNqDSXB2Uu5nj2Anb5T8rUFXJ1LzXyL5IJBQafzXA-D9gwjkLkzlmYG2akHSUUDxeLWC18Pg54NZ7C_Lc1FAfjSl3_NAn_EyORRrYmvE/s320/110612+Baking.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Baking, anyone?"<br />
I was SO EXCITED when I opened these! I had received a pack in a <a href="http://amdoingmybest.blogspot.com/2011/10/example-of-crappy-day-package-4.html" target="_blank">previous CDP</a>, and I had LOVED them! I wanted to immediately order another set, since I make muffins in a batch of 24, but I had just stocked up on the paper wrappers, so I decided that I ought to be responsible and wait until I used those up. Now I don't have to wait! Squeeeee!!!</td></tr>
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<br />
Thank you again, Lovely Person! I appreciate your thoughtfulness and excellent taste in Crappy Day Presents =)!<br />
*******<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*I will be keeping Crappy Day Present senders
anonymous so that the sender doesn't have to worry that Person Q is going to see
what they (the sender) sent me and possibly feel bad that their (Person Q's)
package was not as fabulous as mine ;-). But if you <strike>don't worry as much
as I do</strike> aren't worried about that, you are welcome to claim your
package in the comments!</span>Doing My Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899668428457343549noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948053377584888121.post-5813317735739430102013-01-31T10:53:00.000-05:002019-03-26T13:52:39.677-04:00Recipe For Crock Pot Chicken That Does Not Involve Cream of Anything SoupThe original recipe is called "Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings". I can't remember where I got it...possibly the red and white checkered Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. I will put the original recipe first, then I will tell you what I actually did =).<br />
<br />
4-6 potatoes, cut up<br />
2 carrots, cut up<br />
14 oz. chicken broth<br />
1/2 cup flour<br />
1 tsp. salt<br />
1 tsp. onion powder<br />
1 tsp. garlic powder<br />
1/4 tsp. pepper<br />
2 lbs. chicken<br />
<br />
In crock pot, mix potatoes and carrots. In a medium bowl, combine broth, flour, and spices and blend well until smooth. Pour over vegetables in crock pot. Add chicken. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Cook on high for 20 minutes while preparing dumplings.<br />
<br />
Dumplings<br />
In a small bowl, combine 2 cups of flour, 1 Tbls. Baking Powder, 1 tsp. salt. cut in 2 Tbls. of butter until crumbly. Add 1 cup of milk. Mix just until combined. Drop by spoonfuls onto hot chicken mixture in crock pot. Cook on high for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center of a dumpling comes out clean.<br />
<br />
I have made the recipe this way, and it was good! I remember being impressed that the dumplings would actually cook in the crock pot in 20 minutes.<br />
*******<br />
<br />
This is what I did for dinner yesterday:<br />
<br />
2 cups of uncooked brown rice<br />
7 red potatoes, washed and stabbed once with a knife<br />
5 carrots, washed and cut in half<br />
2 cans of chicken broth<br />
1/2 cup white flour<br />
1/2 cup wheat flour<br />
4 tsp. salt<br />
4 tsp. onion powder<br />
4 tsp. garlic powder<br />
1/2 tsp. pepper<br />
4 lbs. chicken thighs <i>(on sale for $0.50 per pound!!)</i><br />
<br />
Put the rice in the bottom of the crock pot. In a medium bowl, mixed broth, flour, and spices and blended until smooth. Poured that mixture over the rice. Placed potatoes and carrots in a lovely artistic design on top of the rice. Placed chicken on top of vegetables. Sprinkled garlic salt and celery salt on top. Cooked on high for 5 hours. <i>(Next time I will try cooking on low for 8 hours or on high for 6 hours.) </i><br />
<br />
Results: It was delicious! However. I cooked it on high for 5 hours because of when I had made it home from grocery shopping and was able to get everything in the crock pot. While I was watching it cook, it looked like I had put in too much liquid, and when we sat down to eat, the rice wasn't quite done and the carrots were firmer than usual. <i>(The potatoes were EXCELLENT! Perhaps they had such a delicious flavor because they were from a new crop?)</i> I left the crock pot on for another hour and then let it sit for an hour after I turned it off, and when I checked on it, the rice was perfect because the extra liquid had cooked in to it.Doing My Besthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01899668428457343549noreply@blogger.com4