tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43190286400999364582024-02-02T16:34:16.770-05:00Little Peach, Big AppleStephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983144506851619815noreply@blogger.comBlogger213125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319028640099936458.post-33184010728881243402012-06-26T01:13:00.002-04:002012-06-26T01:13:51.550-04:00Bummer and a bright side<b>Bummer:</b><br />
Our New Jersey driver's licenses expire six days before we're moving out of the state. We have to renew them so we have current ones to rent cars/trucks for the move.<br />
<br />
<b>Bright side:</b><br />
I guess it doesn't matter what my hair looks like in the new photo.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983144506851619815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319028640099936458.post-71527784724924946102012-06-20T13:58:00.000-04:002012-06-20T13:58:27.380-04:00NYC to Santa FeYou've probably heard or seen by now that Scott and I are off for a new adventure: We'll be relocating in July from our four-year home in NYC/NJ to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where Scott has accepted a new job at <a href="http://www.outsideonline.com/">Outside Magazine</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.santafenm.gov/images/pages/N601/sunset_church%20resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://www.santafenm.gov/images/pages/N601/sunset_church%20resized.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We've been looking to leave New York for a while. While we were thankful for the opportunity to move here four years ago, we never <i>really </i>settled in. Our jobs allowed us to grow professionally and learn new skills, but the hours we worked kept us from really enjoying the city and meeting new people, and although we visited a ton of churches (see visual evidence of why <a href="http://littlepeachbigapple.blogspot.com/2010/02/not-it.html">this one was not it</a>), we never found one to call home.<br />
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We've been talking for the past two years about cities we might like to move to. I didn't spill the beans really in these posts about visiting <a href="http://littlepeachbigapple.blogspot.com/2011/10/seattle.html">Seattle </a>and <a href="http://littlepeachbigapple.blogspot.com/2011/07/arizona-observations.html">Arizona</a>, but they were scouting trips. Santa Fe was on our list, but we didn't get to travel there.<br />
<br />
So for months we've been applying for jobs in our target cities. We were hoping something would materialize before our lease was up in our apartment at the end of April. But nothing did and so we signed a new lease (which we now have to break). Scott applied for this position back in March, and about a week after we moved into the new place, they contacted him, and he accepted the position last week.<br />
<br />
I think this is going to be a great job for him. The people he's talked with have been really nice and helpful, and working at a magazine that focuses on outdoor activities, there will always be people heading out for adventure. Scott will love the opportunity to get out and be active, and I hope I can take advantage of that, too.<br />
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We're planning our move for the week of July 9, shooting for a start date for Scott of July 16. So right now we're in the process of trying to get rid of a bunch of stuff, find an apartment sight-unseen, and figure out how to get us and our dog and our stuff 2,000 miles from New Jersey to Santa Fe.<br />
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After we leave New York, I don't have a job lined up. I'm looking, but I'll also be taking on freelance design and editing work in the meantime. (Shameless self-plug: If you have a job for me or know someone who might, here's my <a href="http://www.stephaniehinderer.com/">portfolio site</a>.) I'm also hoping to spend some more time on my <a href="http://redletterpaperco.etsy.com/">card company</a>. I'm excited to have some time to do a better job of networking and design new stuff.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxU56rtGKFgwIpVWki3YlvPjll2hQpUOhmVKaI8YBqouiEhN5Q7BQr8Cj_FWe43xncf9yMkjoOhl6jV1YVe0FxTvscPBfaYmT2YQi0aONnyVceJZKyh5b15THdawSH-A2MLpNa69mmyVM/s1600/card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxU56rtGKFgwIpVWki3YlvPjll2hQpUOhmVKaI8YBqouiEhN5Q7BQr8Cj_FWe43xncf9yMkjoOhl6jV1YVe0FxTvscPBfaYmT2YQi0aONnyVceJZKyh5b15THdawSH-A2MLpNa69mmyVM/s320/card.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you'd like to pray for us, these are the big things:<br />
- That we find an apartment we'll enjoy in a good area with a decent commute.<br />
- That I can find a job quickly and/or have enough freelance gigs to make a few bucks.<br />
- Finances. This is a big, expensive move, and we have to break our current lease. There are large fees associated with that, and we are on the hook for the rent until the unit is re-rented.<br />
- A little peace in the stress of planning and executing such a huge move.<br />
- Finding the community in Santa Fe we've been lacking here.<br />
- For safe travels. We'll be driving 4-5 days cross-country because Thunder wouldn't do well on a plane.<br />
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Thank you for your love and friendship as we take on this new adventure. I'll try to keep you posted as the move nears!Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983144506851619815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319028640099936458.post-37362973447062788372012-05-04T04:49:00.002-04:002012-05-04T04:49:48.552-04:00How I wound up on MarthaStewart.comA few weeks ago, I got an email from an <a href="http://redletterpaperco.etsy.com/">Etsy</a> admin that said <em>The Martha Stewart Show</em> was taping an Etsy show with an audience of all-Etsy sellers and that they (<em>The Martha Stewart Show</em>) wanted me to join them. I respect Martha Stewart for all her success — I've seen her show more than once and even own a few of her products — but I'm not a die-hard fan. But I knew this could be an opportunity for the business, and so I was in.<br />
<br />
Apparently the audience holds about 150 people. There are 800,000 sellers on Etsy, so I am not sure how I ended up being one of the chosen. The show tapes here in New York, and I met some other sellers also from around the Northeast, so it was probably part awesomeness and part proximity.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7xse9n9sMeN5h2aAGt_fS9s8tHe4wyZhPOF5NM10hCJ1VkHOjGJyOV37AZvEhqB8sgg8qchy57BJmnJZXsWUcuYWZZZtMbSS32FiyUvmQ3Kyh4YTKGxfeKrBlLv2r_6GeJBqGHKFDFZA/s1600/DSCN3976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7xse9n9sMeN5h2aAGt_fS9s8tHe4wyZhPOF5NM10hCJ1VkHOjGJyOV37AZvEhqB8sgg8qchy57BJmnJZXsWUcuYWZZZtMbSS32FiyUvmQ3Kyh4YTKGxfeKrBlLv2r_6GeJBqGHKFDFZA/s400/DSCN3976.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martha answers a question after the taping</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We were told to bring items from our shop to hold up; I brought <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/84395632/valentine-art-print-love-poster-in-your">this print</a> because I figured it would be easier to read on camera, and a few cards ('cause as you know, that's really my thing). I was really impressed that they pretty much taped the show straight through, only stopping once for a technical difficulty. The show taped on Monday, April 23, and aired on Thursday, April 26. I can be seen briefly on camera a few times, but my products never made it. At the end of the taping, Martha herself decided we should all have our picture taken with our items on the way out and they would go up on <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/902171/etsy-show-audience#/902218">her website with a link to our shops</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgxHCICviA04T3sg8VKbR4-yFj2YVKZz_GduInVY67zm9ud8p0r9BSqtUGyy_iRLzNbeOrLRHtP-Qc4fBb9AA2BTuGbW3LQCKdmTLiVtGH60tDxDRM-4LQjpfeYgmTCXmYM0T0vTwGSs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-04-27+at+10.31.54+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgxHCICviA04T3sg8VKbR4-yFj2YVKZz_GduInVY67zm9ud8p0r9BSqtUGyy_iRLzNbeOrLRHtP-Qc4fBb9AA2BTuGbW3LQCKdmTLiVtGH60tDxDRM-4LQjpfeYgmTCXmYM0T0vTwGSs/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-04-27+at+10.31.54+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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And that's how I wound up on MarthaStewart.com :)<br />
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Take a few minutes and look through the other sellers, too — you never know what kind of creative goodness you'll find!<br />
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Watch (most of) the whole episode <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/901112/etsy-show">here</a> ... see if you can spot me around 4:16 and 5:06!Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983144506851619815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319028640099936458.post-35586905515656376052012-04-18T01:26:00.000-04:002012-04-18T01:26:37.559-04:00Our own House HuntersFor various reasons, we decided not to re-up our lease this year. We've been in this apartment for three years, the longest we've been in any place since we've been married. (Twice over.) But then life did what life does and threw a curve ball, and we needed an apartment here ASAP. So we went to the leasing office in our same building and asked what they could do.<br />
<br />
Have you seen House Hunters on HGTV? I'm totally addicted. Basically people are shown three different residences matching their space/budget requirements, and at the end of the show, they eliminate one (if it's House Hunters International), and then they announce which one they to chose to buy.<br />
<br />
We were presented with a similar situation: three available apartments, varying pros and cons, and a very short time to make a decision. The options were:<br />
<br />
1. 23rd floor, similar floor plan, similar view of Hudson River and Empire State Building. Same price we would've paid to re-up this place.<br />
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2. Same floor we're on now, two doors down. Opposite side of the hall, faces west toward New Jersey, so no Empire State Building. Similar floor plan. Costs a little less.<br />
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3. 10th floor. Similar floor plan, faces west, closer to the ground, lesser view. Costs same as option 2.<br />
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We eliminated option 3 fairly quickly. Neither of us were loving the location in the building, putting us right over a busy street (and being further down is noisier). Because it was lower, the view wasn't as good. So we were left with 1 and 2.<br />
<br />
In Option 1, the layout was flipped from our current apartment, which was a bit weird. If it was just the two of us, the 23rd floor would be totally fine. But with an old, arthritic dog, 23 flights of stairs during a fire alarm is a LONG way down. But it DID still have the fantastic view of the city, and the price was really reasonable.<br />
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In Option 2, we were aware that the would-be next door neighbors often fight. LOUDLY. Being on the other side of the building seemed to be a plus for us though, since even though we lose the Empire State Building view, we'd get the sun in the afternoon/evening instead, allowing us to sleep better and cooler in the mornings since we keep late schedules.<br />
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And the apartment we chose is ....... Option 2.<br />
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We move in a little over a week. About 10 steps down the hall. No boxes required.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983144506851619815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319028640099936458.post-2676312572205208592012-04-05T23:23:00.000-04:002012-04-05T23:23:04.690-04:00Sometimes, a girl needs hot pink earplugsDear de-construction workers outside my window every.single.morning at 8 a.m. on the dot:<br />
<br />
Obviously you missed the memo that I keep a late schedule, and so I sleep late. After two weeks of you methodically tearing down a tin roof and s-c-r-a-p-i-n-g it across the concrete, back and forth at least 12 times, now you are jackhammering what encompasses AN ENTIRE CITY BLOCK. Enough is enough. You have it your way, I'll have it mine. Nice, quiet, and hot pink.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_k48QGhQnYJnmwUBsGMbjf2808-N16M_SzdYBpYCIUpNCTtgMqdF30jUyIxxyK0PcufjoMV4-jS098HyC2B-BzCvHnP10rVDOptiG4L6yVAGeRPueKgmxdzH6Z6o85neoO7UsKRyUYo/s1600/photo-7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_k48QGhQnYJnmwUBsGMbjf2808-N16M_SzdYBpYCIUpNCTtgMqdF30jUyIxxyK0PcufjoMV4-jS098HyC2B-BzCvHnP10rVDOptiG4L6yVAGeRPueKgmxdzH6Z6o85neoO7UsKRyUYo/s320/photo-7.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Sincerely,<br />
Me.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983144506851619815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319028640099936458.post-36412073803812243322012-03-28T14:13:00.000-04:002012-03-28T14:13:40.454-04:00What's for lunch?It's lunchtime and I can smell the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnati_chili">Cincinnati chili</a>. It's been a favorite since I was a kid. You can't even get the spice packets for it here, but my mom sends me a few in the mail every once in a while. Precious commodity. When I make it, I make it in the evenings so it has time to simmer and the flavors can meld in the fridge overnight.<br />
<br />
But it's lunchtime and I am eating cereal. I can smell the Cincinnati chili because it just got dumped in the trash. Because I made it last night and never put it in the fridge.<br />
<br />
AGAIN.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983144506851619815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319028640099936458.post-55059594431520049322011-11-03T00:50:00.000-04:002011-11-03T00:50:46.024-04:00#OccupyWallStreet is going to ruin my ChristmasI know it's a bit early to be thinking about Christmas. But it's been on my mind lately as downtown NYC starts to sparkle with Christmas lights.<br />
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And you better believe NYC does it up right. Carefully wrapped branches result in beautiful twinkling trees. None of that throw-it-in-the-branches-and-call-it-a-day stuff.<br />
<br />
But one of my very favorite places at Christmastime is currently "Occupied."<br />
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Zuccotti Park, where the Occupy Wall Street movement is camped out, is a block-sized, understated park you really wouldn't think twice about walking through. In the daytime, it's full of people sitting on its stone benches, eating lunch from the nearby food carts. Tourists take pictures from here of the WTC site.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmvnDT4g5qkKO7jWorl5bujGuW3zp1_ZbqXiP4v2Equjs2OHvKahsXv3AREMGyvTs9wnTMAnTJhts6Q6xWgrx5JTnK5D0UQ7U39l46KNi9VOMZnOsPaLnXcGfacSHqDeozdUHg4Wn5r0/s1600/DSCN0587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmvnDT4g5qkKO7jWorl5bujGuW3zp1_ZbqXiP4v2Equjs2OHvKahsXv3AREMGyvTs9wnTMAnTJhts6Q6xWgrx5JTnK5D0UQ7U39l46KNi9VOMZnOsPaLnXcGfacSHqDeozdUHg4Wn5r0/s320/DSCN0587.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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But the real magic of this park is at night. We often walk through Zuccotti Park on our way home from work. (Well, we did, before the Occupiers arrived.) This particular park has light bars built into the ground every few steps, making it a really beautiful, peaceful, ambient place to be at night. I love it. I've even told my husband that if things had been different, I would love to have been proposed to in that park.<br />
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And the beauty of the lights is only magnified at Christmas, when each bare tree is painstakingly wrapped with strands of white Christmas lights. And the planters in the park are taken over by huge, perfect Christmas trees.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1hoS97SbL3le1KavRQX7bTkljGQRViyN5v5f5TRVAEvH6mDOp4mNS15GSrGN4XSoa_6Ls7_BteagRQoT2QC1ihlstTD90ChZjiP5Tic6jlAJugbmMCbTf8RkzN9p_lcVFKA4haDnCGE/s1600/IMG_0077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1hoS97SbL3le1KavRQX7bTkljGQRViyN5v5f5TRVAEvH6mDOp4mNS15GSrGN4XSoa_6Ls7_BteagRQoT2QC1ihlstTD90ChZjiP5Tic6jlAJugbmMCbTf8RkzN9p_lcVFKA4haDnCGE/s320/IMG_0077.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little natural snow never hurts</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I'm a bit sad that it's looking like I won't be enjoying my favorite Christmas spot this year. I wish I had a picture of it at night to show you. But if I took it now, it'd be full of plastic tarps and unshowered protesters.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">{This is not meant to be a political statement. Let's keep it that way.}</span></i></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983144506851619815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319028640099936458.post-41248443318089185612011-10-14T03:45:00.000-04:002011-10-14T03:45:13.533-04:00SeattleNeither my husband nor I had ever been to Seattle, but we remedied that last week.<br />
<br />
See the photos on my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emmarose52/sets/72157627765490821/">Flickr page</a>!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJlaaDv01RRmVpaUfZmhNDgFj98Q0MrfRqgoR9AyiGUohiVhKv-6WTULNhL5jIsu1fEpWqJmk5xEH5-99uTFZcTkFH8KBZwBzveas-WlQZ2rEhkhqxcs7wY2KHC6_h_rnw-cLhG06i9o/s1600/IMG_3656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJlaaDv01RRmVpaUfZmhNDgFj98Q0MrfRqgoR9AyiGUohiVhKv-6WTULNhL5jIsu1fEpWqJmk5xEH5-99uTFZcTkFH8KBZwBzveas-WlQZ2rEhkhqxcs7wY2KHC6_h_rnw-cLhG06i9o/s320/IMG_3656.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983144506851619815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319028640099936458.post-79484526760920837452011-08-04T01:49:00.000-04:002011-08-04T01:49:37.395-04:00Stuck in an elevatorI knew it. I just knew those rickety elevators in our office building were going to let me down someday. Amazingly it took more three years for it to happen. But on our way home from work tonight, we didn't make it past the elevator. At least not for a while.<br />
<br />
I'm glad Scott leaves at the same time as me and I'm glad we were the only ones in the elevator. As we descended, the elevator gave a little jerk when it reached the first floor. We looked at each other. We looked at the doors. They didn't open. We looked at each other. I tried pressing the door open button. Nothing happened. I pressed it again, harder. And again. Nothing. Should I press another floor and see if it will go up? I ask. Sure, he says. So I do. Nothing. So I press the alarm button and the front desk security guard asks if we are stuck and we say yes. Are we fine? Yes, fine. Okay, he says, I'm calling the elevator guy. A few minutes later he is on the intercom again. The elevator guy will be here in a few minutes, just stay put. Where else are we going? We sat on the floor and played games on our phones. No signal to post our misfortune on Facebook. Drat.<br />
<br />
Thankfully we were stuck less than 20 minutes. And we really were fine. The elevator didn't plunge to any depths and neither of us is quite that claustrophobic. So we survived.<br />
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But I might take the stairs tomorrow.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983144506851619815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319028640099936458.post-80366637066773284012011-07-15T18:05:00.001-04:002011-07-15T18:57:44.819-04:00Arizona observationsThe first week in July, Scott and I spent some time in Tucson and Phoenix. Here are a few observations I/we made while we were out there.<br />
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1. Once you turn the cold water into hot water, you're not getting it cold again.<br />
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2. Hair dries really fast.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLVHW7mJp0inZBIDViWuHwwjYYV_dWCEKFpAl-yh4IeHgrDEBufS-r412wrUvOSASJ3hc1xTq4fbsSLBaTNWFVAhDjG-LYRNNrrXTilMc1Tng-FJ_uUuBh_-NVtaUguPsWO-KgrMJD6w/s1600/IMG_2929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLVHW7mJp0inZBIDViWuHwwjYYV_dWCEKFpAl-yh4IeHgrDEBufS-r412wrUvOSASJ3hc1xTq4fbsSLBaTNWFVAhDjG-LYRNNrrXTilMc1Tng-FJ_uUuBh_-NVtaUguPsWO-KgrMJD6w/s320/IMG_2929.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do not touch</td></tr>
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3. Entering Millie's Pancake Haus lowers the median age significantly.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93aHRDJVITl0F8YRYWzWmBe5Fl9oYqgwuMW1TNsc-qfaHCSjO-8rRPRjL1eWuKHsLEvIw88y3WL-RZzMU_32OMqpCZnslsxrBIgPYZ0fltwEoMiJMpwvoLi6AJeCrGxAaWCYksmD_JMM/s1600/IMG_3030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93aHRDJVITl0F8YRYWzWmBe5Fl9oYqgwuMW1TNsc-qfaHCSjO-8rRPRjL1eWuKHsLEvIw88y3WL-RZzMU_32OMqpCZnslsxrBIgPYZ0fltwEoMiJMpwvoLi6AJeCrGxAaWCYksmD_JMM/s320/IMG_3030.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sedona at sunset</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSnz0o5Ft5-GWpENg-RgjsHaywSFi2pKWjiD28g7474Qf2PwrGVX3R0gOI6H6tp6gyBnoBjKu-u6fYBQH1MkX5-fu96sCDqacgGbOiaAXH4vTrFFLrJn5R0QagApCCJMYhj7c0TTW6h6Y/s1600/IMG_3040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSnz0o5Ft5-GWpENg-RgjsHaywSFi2pKWjiD28g7474Qf2PwrGVX3R0gOI6H6tp6gyBnoBjKu-u6fYBQH1MkX5-fu96sCDqacgGbOiaAXH4vTrFFLrJn5R0QagApCCJMYhj7c0TTW6h6Y/s320/IMG_3040.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
4. If you're waiting for a left turn arrow, it won't happen till after the people who are going straight.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfL8iiocIDYeShV9rsTR5J1SsOVncNWmeYa1bxJ_4kyI63-gCmNuuexnfIX4eLXLDABr5BfGarynXG85G12SWDrPlKTV-0h3QQIuL5mJKi_spm-0_tcwahd4PTTs0HU4DLYKoBZPdAnvI/s1600/IMG_2848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfL8iiocIDYeShV9rsTR5J1SsOVncNWmeYa1bxJ_4kyI63-gCmNuuexnfIX4eLXLDABr5BfGarynXG85G12SWDrPlKTV-0h3QQIuL5mJKi_spm-0_tcwahd4PTTs0HU4DLYKoBZPdAnvI/s320/IMG_2848.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the foothills</td></tr>
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5. Flash flooding is no joke.<br />
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6. Palm trees are not just for the beach.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6d78vemykoBeIyAUjcl2qWgMnWsrwaJDcHU52GyTuYFzbL7iKscKB8cz5C56_85vN67-qTjaRZX-WohDxltIQj1-18EbgPfmhmNn29jvwk1C39NUegNN0ncBhwseJ_fP72OPP5qjBbw/s1600/IMG_2890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6d78vemykoBeIyAUjcl2qWgMnWsrwaJDcHU52GyTuYFzbL7iKscKB8cz5C56_85vN67-qTjaRZX-WohDxltIQj1-18EbgPfmhmNn29jvwk1C39NUegNN0ncBhwseJ_fP72OPP5qjBbw/s320/IMG_2890.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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7. Every time I see the word desert, I think <b>dessert</b>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7FJoe-jlAknOuvADUPT12gPj_atv8H8LO9qE-XaZ_koOvTdgcmR_6aMr8sCPn0v_GsJ-om1b2cz7goJPMBcuZoUEdR_leKXZTkCvsUYapvxVqmp1RL8s1UiwedvYJjM8GtbT9dxEvxGM/s1600/IMG_3151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7FJoe-jlAknOuvADUPT12gPj_atv8H8LO9qE-XaZ_koOvTdgcmR_6aMr8sCPn0v_GsJ-om1b2cz7goJPMBcuZoUEdR_leKXZTkCvsUYapvxVqmp1RL8s1UiwedvYJjM8GtbT9dxEvxGM/s320/IMG_3151.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
8. The Metro is something you ride, not something you publish.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7rnFeHI7KRJAae4iq24bdeQFJm_abVSUxEsyq6ayDcvVEZp4wX5lf5c8iLlVISc8z0NLqv6mIOqSNTSrXPu8Lp32xK5_b5585pyFBOt0umpgpw78uozSI-hciohnzqLI5wXcb7Deri8/s1600/IMG_2952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7rnFeHI7KRJAae4iq24bdeQFJm_abVSUxEsyq6ayDcvVEZp4wX5lf5c8iLlVISc8z0NLqv6mIOqSNTSrXPu8Lp32xK5_b5585pyFBOt0umpgpw78uozSI-hciohnzqLI5wXcb7Deri8/s320/IMG_2952.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was storming on our way to Sedona, but never on us. If you click on this photo to enlarge, you can see the rain coming down.</td></tr>
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9. Arizona is greener than you'd think.<br />
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10. Dust storms are no joke. Of course, we were in the middle of the biggest one Phoenix has seen in decades.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73R-dcL7ffrLLAMSRhNQAKCB44wCv_KxWT85RJJ1D7ZMshDoiUJtGzYeaUPYYXg53vrRrrmkvKM477EHKFKs2xWYAiPZtDstgURYiY9tH1RTzrKBEFE2uDjx4ZLEs0ifJR7miHwBVu_g/s1600/IMG_2884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73R-dcL7ffrLLAMSRhNQAKCB44wCv_KxWT85RJJ1D7ZMshDoiUJtGzYeaUPYYXg53vrRrrmkvKM477EHKFKs2xWYAiPZtDstgURYiY9tH1RTzrKBEFE2uDjx4ZLEs0ifJR7miHwBVu_g/s320/IMG_2884.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Truck in the parking lot after the storm</td></tr>
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11. Sunscreen is a way of life.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCn0RPjDJCm-GdlZyhry24i9zcmu0_0UB0HNlOX1hQsENRnbj0rIlZU84CDHH5ulec4_2ExlSjLMe7fTexFySLZJBHBqaG0wN9OjbasKmZfqUSyvAZYq4TBRfKQiNj_BUew4i9hDfnsAo/s1600/IMG_2937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCn0RPjDJCm-GdlZyhry24i9zcmu0_0UB0HNlOX1hQsENRnbj0rIlZU84CDHH5ulec4_2ExlSjLMe7fTexFySLZJBHBqaG0wN9OjbasKmZfqUSyvAZYq4TBRfKQiNj_BUew4i9hDfnsAo/s320/IMG_2937.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
12. A Camaro is the car to have, apparently.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8G4KTUzS3ZNCT6b4lMq2v2dL3FoOoAQZBOPEWewvh96scGYTtPVgYoiSQ7SUvFh9lojdgOUVYr4AoUM1nCGHqeSlFWQnfcuosgzCScBenl9XFlpTAuj4pt58Qtttoek2LvOFyVgVYcA/s1600/IMG_3114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8G4KTUzS3ZNCT6b4lMq2v2dL3FoOoAQZBOPEWewvh96scGYTtPVgYoiSQ7SUvFh9lojdgOUVYr4AoUM1nCGHqeSlFWQnfcuosgzCScBenl9XFlpTAuj4pt58Qtttoek2LvOFyVgVYcA/s320/IMG_3114.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset in Sedona</td></tr>
</tbody></table>13. You can walk down the sidewalk without bumping into people.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbfp1hrUxKw37Ql_LKY-CSCECvqo-OnfXNP5ne0sXfkxybXw7HTR4-l7eyznniADQJmGX-sUI1OcLAcV7b3LQovw0jxgYKdsnjNmPRuFcaWg2Pxc_b3FJXVbXmn6dnks5CUJOU2p8GUk/s1600/IMG_3148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbfp1hrUxKw37Ql_LKY-CSCECvqo-OnfXNP5ne0sXfkxybXw7HTR4-l7eyznniADQJmGX-sUI1OcLAcV7b3LQovw0jxgYKdsnjNmPRuFcaWg2Pxc_b3FJXVbXmn6dnks5CUJOU2p8GUk/s320/IMG_3148.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset from the hotel</td></tr>
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14. You can walk down the sidewalk without breathing in cigarette smoke.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirTyNIkImgc4JiVRuAEWEyI0vJdHICtJCMSg_r7Uzaf-8kF5OUAH4XfW_7KEFW2dD6EkaJqPNO4tL64InLwJXNCuPjmJXklyrIOnCvdGUzfrcYlV9xdcXOx4XYWNqbNegloM1Ojq8WjtM/s1600/IMG_2932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirTyNIkImgc4JiVRuAEWEyI0vJdHICtJCMSg_r7Uzaf-8kF5OUAH4XfW_7KEFW2dD6EkaJqPNO4tL64InLwJXNCuPjmJXklyrIOnCvdGUzfrcYlV9xdcXOx4XYWNqbNegloM1Ojq8WjtM/s320/IMG_2932.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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15. There is a mountain view anywhere you turn.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHZIYf-68vXCXFm50qM6cWnxuQU_fTSXLmIfyqfrLn3Ny3rdTZH21vHTYa6xF6FPvHhVBi3YDzVLmbIjMbQkbWMhJgedZLoJARJPQgwZjItjCVUWIzwuP7nAF5e1w40qe6Wz9cVSSi-w/s1600/IMG_2912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHZIYf-68vXCXFm50qM6cWnxuQU_fTSXLmIfyqfrLn3Ny3rdTZH21vHTYa6xF6FPvHhVBi3YDzVLmbIjMbQkbWMhJgedZLoJARJPQgwZjItjCVUWIzwuP7nAF5e1w40qe6Wz9cVSSi-w/s320/IMG_2912.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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16. The food can, in fact, give New York a run for its money. (Seriously. So good. So cheap.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPh4qjSdCjOYbtSZMJLaeBOMLtVJsS-DPvRRor5p89AlcQisG0hl-ZYA7d_YobNEKVtLZWvbYiw3W2-u3wy_00ydmk1vDpdLizGyyDEBkPTlyE32VoGH5YaCCoMVgtGQ-8qeYgaT3vvRw/s1600/IMG_2876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPh4qjSdCjOYbtSZMJLaeBOMLtVJsS-DPvRRor5p89AlcQisG0hl-ZYA7d_YobNEKVtLZWvbYiw3W2-u3wy_00ydmk1vDpdLizGyyDEBkPTlyE32VoGH5YaCCoMVgtGQ-8qeYgaT3vvRw/s320/IMG_2876.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grilled ham and cheese covered in Gruyere</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983144506851619815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319028640099936458.post-85691501662907811432011-06-04T15:41:00.002-04:002011-06-04T23:30:50.462-04:00Sailing on the HudsonYesterday, we went sailing on the Hudson River. Like, on a little tiny boat. Okay, they do get smaller, but there were five of us and it was, uh, intimate.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IdM9FwoG22d3rhx7kJvd4G7YPVVS8EEMYEKl3rTeJ6lS9gkCslc52Up8-oEjyHkd_xPOlBaosBzC0NWDPcWzaRpnf6sDSKCtuiXniQk-ZO0ve-qmZOcYIWZdezS2Ocip6zgL-79qx-k/s1600/DSCN3836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IdM9FwoG22d3rhx7kJvd4G7YPVVS8EEMYEKl3rTeJ6lS9gkCslc52Up8-oEjyHkd_xPOlBaosBzC0NWDPcWzaRpnf6sDSKCtuiXniQk-ZO0ve-qmZOcYIWZdezS2Ocip6zgL-79qx-k/s320/DSCN3836.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Scott's been talking about wanting to learn to sail for as long as I can remember. And with the river just steps away from any part of NYC, this is a good place to get the opportunity. Thanks to <a href="http://www.groupon.com/r/uu5136429">Groupon</a> (if you decide to join, please use that link, cause it tells them I referred you) we got a half-price "Taste of Sailing" outing from <a href="http://hudsonsailing.org/">Hudson River Community Sailing</a>, which they call a "two-hour recreational, hands-on sail."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQok8AfyyZlw6WlxqXpqJdix8OfcAf49AWVT-XOaOb7qHP0jkfLIdF02XN9dGGhAetjJ4jHELfSDMgdjuVHI6t7_r4666DtuvzF7Z6snGz_9pxXQmumQCQl0pp1Lg3aIzqV7pxqhG-MM/s1600/DSCN3839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQok8AfyyZlw6WlxqXpqJdix8OfcAf49AWVT-XOaOb7qHP0jkfLIdF02XN9dGGhAetjJ4jHELfSDMgdjuVHI6t7_r4666DtuvzF7Z6snGz_9pxXQmumQCQl0pp1Lg3aIzqV7pxqhG-MM/s320/DSCN3839.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And it was a blast! (Except for the whole getting smacked in the head by the sail part. But I survived.)<br />
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The weather was absolutely gorgeous. Warm but not hot, and fairly windy. The water was a little choppy because of the wind, but nobody got seasick and we didn't fall in.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGaDTRKYpJTAhvBWllVmkw2d6vCh0mve0F0ZeP8WUHyAu_NRf2U7tw2vyJFmtLtp1RF7FxkrCyPbdrrFR0NVqTTPpDvi4Ol9aplk7Q5-B7Cl7cx_8ba__NkQq-aakbnzyJA73ysukKFA/s1600/DSCN3828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGaDTRKYpJTAhvBWllVmkw2d6vCh0mve0F0ZeP8WUHyAu_NRf2U7tw2vyJFmtLtp1RF7FxkrCyPbdrrFR0NVqTTPpDvi4Ol9aplk7Q5-B7Cl7cx_8ba__NkQq-aakbnzyJA73ysukKFA/s320/DSCN3828.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Scott got to hoist the sail, and I actually steered the boat for a while. And I didn't even 1) run us into anything or 2) capsize us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLqxhCELbAjpBwPVs2f6piRed8pWK3V_KygcKTfSFUoGZXIGrmnoqFRGGCqNKRbFcQaCJu_1WOhC1qPwV57qFh5lJ-kmqnfAndKZIUXjLpW9EtIDrP8WYHKM4YNJbh2ihJSOsihXduvg/s1600/DSCN3838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLqxhCELbAjpBwPVs2f6piRed8pWK3V_KygcKTfSFUoGZXIGrmnoqFRGGCqNKRbFcQaCJu_1WOhC1qPwV57qFh5lJ-kmqnfAndKZIUXjLpW9EtIDrP8WYHKM4YNJbh2ihJSOsihXduvg/s320/DSCN3838.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The life vest adds 10 pounds.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcDHZLw3AR5L2mLoXEwrqpWhHE3-TUnOp8GA6z0IWc3yeSKvRr5KuQIinJGzRMtMQv9DqPweswhum7Ut1BnEfLjpQAfExBOK_9Ia5MH3xSv3w2jLVFtX9NU4b31iJ8cujUzucPh4Mnmvs/s1600/DSCN3835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcDHZLw3AR5L2mLoXEwrqpWhHE3-TUnOp8GA6z0IWc3yeSKvRr5KuQIinJGzRMtMQv9DqPweswhum7Ut1BnEfLjpQAfExBOK_9Ia5MH3xSv3w2jLVFtX9NU4b31iJ8cujUzucPh4Mnmvs/s320/DSCN3835.JPG" width="320" /></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/AVvXsEi5rDc5PCI8f3VyOWbEOcby7vVeVvfOLiNdWMaAOjzyKwSAzjv74__tRMPXdMY_HUNHG_GFXLUxH_HaGzazdmXgBupyShyqPrUHUixatCVXoXnOdwGp6XI4gMN8jXa0DsMz4mofEr7WLXg/s1600/DSCN3846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rDc5PCI8f3VyOWbEOcby7vVeVvfOLiNdWMaAOjzyKwSAzjv74__tRMPXdMY_HUNHG_GFXLUxH_HaGzazdmXgBupyShyqPrUHUixatCVXoXnOdwGp6XI4gMN8jXa0DsMz4mofEr7WLXg/s320/DSCN3846.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglssi1L01NBGi6CihkXfwo0huSxK8dAtHUlg4XIA9PJNkErTDraHVT8gFZ0eBZfmgQnMgGCDqEEW1PfUeW-KUhdzucV0FlOH4QDX7ffwg5UU-CdOJFEQcXYfxiFzmerI4JJv8rUlx9fo8/s1600/DSCN3855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglssi1L01NBGi6CihkXfwo0huSxK8dAtHUlg4XIA9PJNkErTDraHVT8gFZ0eBZfmgQnMgGCDqEEW1PfUeW-KUhdzucV0FlOH4QDX7ffwg5UU-CdOJFEQcXYfxiFzmerI4JJv8rUlx9fo8/s320/DSCN3855.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What goes up, must come down.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It was fun to actually be on one of the sailboats we so often watch from our window. Not sure if we'll do it again, but it's something I'm glad we did.<br />
<br />
</div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983144506851619815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319028640099936458.post-52872910603644450462011-05-19T01:01:00.000-04:002011-05-19T01:01:23.090-04:00Judgment DayI know I know, months without posting and now two in a row. And no, this is not an attempt to hide my <a href="http://littlepeachbigapple.blogspot.com/2011/05/museum-of-sex-yep.html">sex post</a>. You can still read it. I just have other stuff to say.<br />
<br />
Surely you've heard — or seen — lately the people who are warning us about Judgment Day on May 21. People all over this city and many others have been handing out fliers and wearing signs on their backs that the Rapture is going to happen in two days. It's been big in the news, even people on the subway are chatting about it.<br />
<br />
Working in a newsroom, this Judgment Day thing has come up a lot. Stories. Quotes. People are asking a lot of questions to the open air. "So good people disappear and sinners stay?" Not quite.<br />
<br />
I've been thinking the last few days that all this talk about Judgment Day is such a huge opportunity to share Christ. To explain what the Rapture really is (not that I'm an expert). Because people are ASKING. I'm not someone who is just going to open up and start talking about God. But if you're asking a question, yes, I will answer.<br />
<br />
Today I stepped into a conversation in the office involving about seven other people to explain that it's those who are saved who are taken. And how you can become one of those who gets taken. And how being a believer doesn't mean we're not sinners. And that it's heaven afterward and not some big dark void.<br />
<br />
Yeah, I'll admit it. I'm proud of myself for saying something. I know I sound just about as crazy as those people saying it's all over in two days. (For the record, I don't believe they're right. "But about that day or hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." [Matthew 24:36])<br />
<br />
But even though I think we'll all be here well past Saturday, I do know one thing:<br />
<br />
If it happens, I'm ready. Bring it on. Take me.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983144506851619815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319028640099936458.post-17252379081465728492011-05-18T02:03:00.001-04:002011-05-18T02:04:07.832-04:00Museum of Sex. Yep.<i>Me to Scott: "I want to blog about this but I'm not sure what to say except that we went."</i><br />
<br />
There are a lot of museums in New York City. This past weekend we went to the Museum of Sex. And yes, it is exactly what it sounds like. And if that makes you want to giggle, go right ahead.<br />
<br />
Like I said, I really don't know what to say about it except that we went. It was fun.<br />
<br />
This is the only picture I took. It was the only thing I was comfortable posting here on the blog.<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/AVvXsEgpf1pHdr_w-yugNt3BGxmriZAzelkM2TcRiJMPpSOQf8mBaZCEQlIQAG1s3smuzMhWQtRI4V0ZGLkz1We-irjcvVBOuYSufB4FCFejQJ0Si3aVIPeob-aSpJweZq9n_5EkeimsmN1esrU/s1600/IMG_0303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpf1pHdr_w-yugNt3BGxmriZAzelkM2TcRiJMPpSOQf8mBaZCEQlIQAG1s3smuzMhWQtRI4V0ZGLkz1We-irjcvVBOuYSufB4FCFejQJ0Si3aVIPeob-aSpJweZq9n_5EkeimsmN1esrU/s320/IMG_0303.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Please do not...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
One thing I can say for sure, the Museum of Sex will change your perspective on things. (This was right after we left the museum.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_hvCQAK26xmpYDVwUVXiR0-UOTBJ7QGv7-b_RHtCOfATlAu4x8DX34sTPaQHquwR2nt0ue_ArL8KFzQow2SLUT0z0zwfoyLEt_VF7pwjB01tgveACT6kgpXf9jC6RPX2Rb0LmLeN27A/s1600/IMG_0305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_hvCQAK26xmpYDVwUVXiR0-UOTBJ7QGv7-b_RHtCOfATlAu4x8DX34sTPaQHquwR2nt0ue_ArL8KFzQow2SLUT0z0zwfoyLEt_VF7pwjB01tgveACT6kgpXf9jC6RPX2Rb0LmLeN27A/s320/IMG_0305.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The famous Flatiron Building</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983144506851619815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319028640099936458.post-83851122807148952772011-04-06T00:41:00.000-04:002011-04-06T00:41:11.331-04:00Hipsters and a house showAre you familiar with the term "hipster"?<br />
<br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">"Hipsters are a subculture of men and women typically in their 20's and 30's that value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter. The greatest concentrations of hipsters can be found living in the </span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Williamsburg</span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, Wicker Park, and Mission District neighborhoods of major cosmopolitan centers such as New York, Chicago, and San Francisco respectively. Although "hipsterism" is really a state of mind,it is also often intertwined with distinct fashion sensibilities. Hipsters reject the culturally-ignorant attitudes of mainstream consumers, and are often be seen wearing vintage and thrift store inspired fashions, tight-fitting jeans, old-school sneakers, and sometimes thick rimmed glasses." </span></i><a href="http://UrbanDictionary.com/"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">UrbanDictionary.com</span></i></a></span></blockquote><br />
Yes, well, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, (aka hipster haven) is where Scott and I spent some time this weekend. And I could not stop giggling. Because every. single. person. who walked past us was wearing a vintage-inspired look and thick-rimmed glasses.<br />
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We went to Williamsburg to see Dave Bazan play a house show. We've been to one of these <a href="http://littlepeachbigapple.blogspot.com/2010/05/getting-intimate.html">before</a>, and enjoyed it so much, we did it again.<br />
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You know that saying, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." Well, when in Williamsburg, you gotta pull out the Hipstamatic camera.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91er2UhXz3uALFdJn0H4C5vb7Yfzph2SOmSUElU5YUktC9MEBOjsB_DNyMQNwGGybCbQ7f65azB7Orgl5EVVupsQ-v4K8epUIiH3TkhDEoD8vf21NMe8blGbF7UAKCgxdOIw6ZrdwWWg/s1600/IMG_0270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91er2UhXz3uALFdJn0H4C5vb7Yfzph2SOmSUElU5YUktC9MEBOjsB_DNyMQNwGGybCbQ7f65azB7Orgl5EVVupsQ-v4K8epUIiH3TkhDEoD8vf21NMe8blGbF7UAKCgxdOIw6ZrdwWWg/s320/IMG_0270.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4L_VxV_oSDNSSuYzXScfuY0GCxxF2yqcgJXEJ2YZG_gXDJ347nimWUSRfB1Qwgr7UfjiLpbkctpZ0w_321f50nHC007T1CPT3LWQC283vh9r2TZD7XPiZYJe3Q7aAcg9QqTmgfr-pAQ/s1600/IMG_0271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4L_VxV_oSDNSSuYzXScfuY0GCxxF2yqcgJXEJ2YZG_gXDJ347nimWUSRfB1Qwgr7UfjiLpbkctpZ0w_321f50nHC007T1CPT3LWQC283vh9r2TZD7XPiZYJe3Q7aAcg9QqTmgfr-pAQ/s320/IMG_0271.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymXfo0CgBfNWXiDYBfrB0M-EVklN4mHZrCKbsfW5-tqku-hjlcPHFomcWSu_RTzaWOBHdygrzVrlR1xdAnzIeOZoGyeAhrmWS5Ht5Xnpon3NAhD9NiRaDopnitlgzMyiLYLRxMFnfYs0/s1600/IMG_0273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymXfo0CgBfNWXiDYBfrB0M-EVklN4mHZrCKbsfW5-tqku-hjlcPHFomcWSu_RTzaWOBHdygrzVrlR1xdAnzIeOZoGyeAhrmWS5Ht5Xnpon3NAhD9NiRaDopnitlgzMyiLYLRxMFnfYs0/s320/IMG_0273.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dave Bazan's new mahogany Martin guitar</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCAU6uwpB7lIzzzE1KB-opDFF5uXxPq2Qhzg6L1rxOSLAFP5iSnCXwuxrISCgysEF0EeTJ1dFjkydbfz37Xc866jEEw1lSTVI-UHUZ2Gfpvy6sCCKP5eVmTaKz8HcTDMxytzULqPZ1kY/s1600/IMG_0275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCAU6uwpB7lIzzzE1KB-opDFF5uXxPq2Qhzg6L1rxOSLAFP5iSnCXwuxrISCgysEF0EeTJ1dFjkydbfz37Xc866jEEw1lSTVI-UHUZ2Gfpvy6sCCKP5eVmTaKz8HcTDMxytzULqPZ1kY/s320/IMG_0275.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wooden swing in the "living room" of this space</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITX9oP1HThSYIHQakSuMW_gvC5QduRJr_HZ2vgxsgCeTdSBtEoLE1GTTKgs3quXkIWfT6W89IlLq5VgZM38MVKUzR33XnZMNkI8ebJ_Ry90Gn0Hd6bSJUo9TN9ZjSZr6wf5RVCrLZUCU/s1600/IMG_0278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITX9oP1HThSYIHQakSuMW_gvC5QduRJr_HZ2vgxsgCeTdSBtEoLE1GTTKgs3quXkIWfT6W89IlLq5VgZM38MVKUzR33XnZMNkI8ebJ_Ry90Gn0Hd6bSJUo9TN9ZjSZr6wf5RVCrLZUCU/s320/IMG_0278.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bazan doing his thing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983144506851619815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319028640099936458.post-39225514694212476892011-03-22T23:18:00.000-04:002011-03-22T23:18:27.956-04:00Holy page views, BatmanBlogger does this neat thing where you can see stats on your blog. How many page views you've gotten today, this week, all month, etc. Which links sent them here. What countries your readers are in. Pretty cool stuff.<br />
<br />
So tonight I go check it out, and for whatever reason, March 18 was a good day. 147 page views, 91 hits on the Georgia Peach entry. Which was 17 days after I posted it. To put that in context, in the last 30 days, the next highest day was 31 page hits.<br />
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It is a bright spot in what admittedly has been a decline in the blog in the last six months. Most of my free time outside my day job is spent keeping up with <a href="http://www.redletterpaperco.com/">RLPCo</a>. I love it, but sometimes I miss the simple life of LPBA. I need to get back to writing more often.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983144506851619815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319028640099936458.post-24486092232676785022011-03-01T01:41:00.000-05:002011-03-01T01:41:48.838-05:00Not so peachyThere was an article in the paper today (well, tomorrow's paper) about a writer from North Carolina who moved to New York and wrote a book. As I was scanning through the pages when I got in, the headline caught my eye: "A Southern peach in the Big Apple." Can't imagine why that would've piqued my interest.<br />
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But more importantly, can you be a peach if you're not from Georgia? I mulled it momentarily and ulitmately voted no. As the resident Southerner, I made them change the headline. (It wound up being, "A Southern girl in the Big Apple.")<br />
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But what do you think? Can you be a peach if you're not a Georgia peach?Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983144506851619815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319028640099936458.post-60955697250332117582011-02-08T00:01:00.000-05:002011-02-08T00:01:00.595-05:00The littlest Darth Vader<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By now, you've probably seen the Super Bowl commercial featuring a diminutive Darth Vader. If you haven't, you must.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/hN41zcXJjmk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
The reason I think this commercial is so great is 1) It's totally adorable. The kid is just so believable. But 2) It's wholesome. It gets laughs without anybody getting hurt or insulted. Nobody's yelling. It's a family. A dad who is helping his son to dream big.<br />
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Of course they're trying to sell 2012 Passats. But I think the beauty of this commercial is that it sells a whole lot more than just a car.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983144506851619815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319028640099936458.post-19625290553010921452011-01-29T00:52:00.001-05:002011-01-29T12:52:07.869-05:00Outside inOur mission this weekend is to clean our apartment as though we were going to have company. There's no company in sight, of course, but this place looks like, oh, two blizzards and four snow storms blew through it. (January's equivalent of a tornado, I suppose.) Anyway, it's a wreck. We were traveling for Christmas and then traveling again last week (more on that later), so there were bags still unpacked, laundry to be done, floors to be swept, mail to be sorted, etc etc etc.<br />
<br />
The bathroom is the room that got most tackled today. Toiletries put away, gels and creams consolidated, tub, toilet and floor scrubbed. But for the last few months, we've had nothing on our shower except a clear shower curtain. We'd bought one a few weeks back, but hadn't put it up yet. Today, we remedied that. Today, we brought the outside in.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyG2uX5W6_IoWStGPze4Z_mXA8CmW1LDvTHTtk7JruEXA1_CoTE2xLgc55Z8XBen5tGlSgM7k8K2A9AH7ujQ2va2I_OvPOkDEZOxLBHLAbJX0l1cqHU4UYweLKBSbW7RVG4T5PnxTkiM/s1600/shower+curtain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyG2uX5W6_IoWStGPze4Z_mXA8CmW1LDvTHTtk7JruEXA1_CoTE2xLgc55Z8XBen5tGlSgM7k8K2A9AH7ujQ2va2I_OvPOkDEZOxLBHLAbJX0l1cqHU4UYweLKBSbW7RVG4T5PnxTkiM/s320/shower+curtain.jpg" width="243" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nice, huh? But I haven't really shared here on the blog WHY we had to get a new shower curtain. It's a bit of a traumatic event involving an early morning and a snake...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, a few — I guess months — ago now, Scott had a morning appointment and so he had left the apartment. I don't remember exactly what time it was, something like 9ish. Which is early when you don't go to bed till 3 a.m. I was awakened by a weird sound coming from the bathroom. It sounded like metal in the pipes. I begrudgingly got up, closed the bathroom door, and went back to bed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">No dice. I could still hear it. So I got up again and went into the bathroom. There was no evidence of anything except a metal clanging in the sink pipes. I went out to the living room to try to find a number for our apartment building management to call and see if they knew what was going on. Then I heard POP! CLANK! from the bathroom. So I went back in, and the stopper in the sink — not like the cheapy metal ones you buy to collect hair, no, it's the kind that actually goes up and down when you press the lever on the back of the sink — has been popped out and is now laying in the sink. Weird. So I go back out to the living room to make a more earnest effort at finding that phone number. (All the while, weird noises still coming from the pipes.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm sitting at my computer, and all of a sudden, I hear a CRASH in the bathroom. I run in there to find my SHOWER CURTAIN BEING PULLED DOWN THE DRAIN OF THE SINK. It's been pulled so hard the whole tension rod fell into the bathtub. I immediately begin a tug of war with whatever is pulling the shower curtain down the sink (you can see how far away it is!) and realize that a MECHANICAL METAL PIPE SNAKE has come UP OUT of the sink, GRABBED the shower curtain, WOUND around it, and PULLED IT BACK DOWN THE DRAIN. I am tugging in vain on my shower curtain and the snake is fighting me hard. I'm screaming "STOP IT, STOP IT!" at the top of my lungs, but no one hears me. After what felt like an eternity but was probably more like a minute, I manage to get what was left of my gauzy shower curtain unwrapped from around the snake and the metal tube retreats back down the drain. (You really have to picture it like a tug of war. Back and forth, back and forth, the whole time.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By this time, I and my bathroom are covered in dirty water. My shower curtain is in shreds. I march straight down to the management office and demand to know what the heck is going on. I'm sure I'm a sight to see. They get a maintenance guy on the phone who is, lo and behold, snaking out the drain between our neighbors and us. Well DUH. The apartment manager nicely apologizes and offers to reimburse us for a new shower curtain. He also sends up the cleaning lady who does an amazing job scrubbing down the entire bathroom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, yeah. I am slightly traumatized by my horror movie-like morning, but in the end, we got an expensive shower curtain we likely would never splurge for ourselves (hey, they're paying for it) and a sparkling bathroom. And a heck of a good story. If you didn't have to live through it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Disclosure: Curtain seen here is not the expensive one. I'm not putting that one up with snakes in drains on the loose. We found the current one for $15 at Target, on a whim after we had already bought the other one. Photo of expensiver CB2 curtain is below.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrbfKGbkOAyfOFJoqiBpCchVkntj0OTXhKSe2sZZquiv9UknaSiID2QWEsbkFVib9NAJwDOaldFMT1604WETPN6YCSJRLTsCd8FjZLT2oH9pZL0BTYMSOVXeWNAKp4vk1fr0Ful7F7_0/s1600/AAAACxRMpCYAAAAAAPtGLQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrbfKGbkOAyfOFJoqiBpCchVkntj0OTXhKSe2sZZquiv9UknaSiID2QWEsbkFVib9NAJwDOaldFMT1604WETPN6YCSJRLTsCd8FjZLT2oH9pZL0BTYMSOVXeWNAKp4vk1fr0Ful7F7_0/s1600/AAAACxRMpCYAAAAAAPtGLQ.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983144506851619815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319028640099936458.post-48899553810092276562011-01-02T23:04:00.000-05:002011-01-02T23:04:09.080-05:00Go on, read it!I know many of you — whether you got to my blog from hers or vice versa — enjoy reading my friend Kari's <a href="http://jkmassonfrance.blogspot.com/">blog</a>. Well, she just celebrated her 1000th post on <a href="http://jkmassonfrance.blogspot.com/">C'est la vie</a>, and I really think you should go check it out. Make sure you click on her link for more details :)<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/AVvXsEhKlOBqxGCmQk_UqPPWTgToP6t81WMYwFFJohu5xmzW-Z7ISbkH8Y5lXCRIftJIPsPSOGzZmNgE3t5MOFnLosDUWdY8bJm2QpthPDcy-rJF7HObbYwK0Tnr4ERlc4EXSi6C08BtlojTv40/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-02+at+11.01.26+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlOBqxGCmQk_UqPPWTgToP6t81WMYwFFJohu5xmzW-Z7ISbkH8Y5lXCRIftJIPsPSOGzZmNgE3t5MOFnLosDUWdY8bJm2QpthPDcy-rJF7HObbYwK0Tnr4ERlc4EXSi6C08BtlojTv40/s320/Screen+shot+2011-01-02+at+11.01.26+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://jkmassonfrance.blogspot.com/">http://jkmassonfrance.blogspot.com/</a></td></tr>
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Congratulations, Kari, on your 1000th post, and its contents!Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983144506851619815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319028640099936458.post-4912139313231644312010-12-31T01:48:00.000-05:002010-12-31T01:48:21.027-05:0023 inches of snow...... leaves a real mess. Sure it looks beautiful here ...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1UsgSZvgCDSPvkCb1s3YorBJKj8eE1HG1PTx-kBAXRyV0hcyOIwF9L_6Wf995roVsN9_Cu6FDpu09UX2Jxu1UfgXl3jdk5YOnePoesEvdyy9kW1KZFugIk__sD8TfxzRkK6TPgtDpl8/s1600/IMG_1547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1UsgSZvgCDSPvkCb1s3YorBJKj8eE1HG1PTx-kBAXRyV0hcyOIwF9L_6Wf995roVsN9_Cu6FDpu09UX2Jxu1UfgXl3jdk5YOnePoesEvdyy9kW1KZFugIk__sD8TfxzRkK6TPgtDpl8/s400/IMG_1547.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
but I wouldn't want to be this person.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6T5Cy5XZNeo7vmWJbJfV_dHAsq3zj1A5T5AsiSXa25AE4uMDxN9PcRMvlCO0-KHWXQZN1foJ4gVVz6fXCNSpNQEmI94xvsDv8_luMm4kkb3TB0D1E3pDfev44dx7tRgweBFFTi6E4pWs/s1600/IMG_1546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6T5Cy5XZNeo7vmWJbJfV_dHAsq3zj1A5T5AsiSXa25AE4uMDxN9PcRMvlCO0-KHWXQZN1foJ4gVVz6fXCNSpNQEmI94xvsDv8_luMm4kkb3TB0D1E3pDfev44dx7tRgweBFFTi6E4pWs/s400/IMG_1546.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983144506851619815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319028640099936458.post-34724888092254325822010-12-21T03:39:00.000-05:002010-12-21T03:39:33.067-05:00This year's ornamentI think I've written about it before, but every year, the one Christmas tradition Scott and I have is to pick out an ornament for that year. It can be cheap, expensive, have some meaning, or just be something we happened to like.<br />
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This year, we wanted to find something that commemorates my new <a href="http://www.redletterpaperco.com/">greeting card business</a>. We came across this one at Macy's, and it's now on our tree.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mVtRd0zUY-Zh8zKscmkZ9qldJa1BuaQHSLBner3SdNNUHT82TYqG14Q4Cpr4lzDyvB2GnPrAILiTsuf6Y4RkDOAeUO_gDHIvVSf8j_Nwv8Kqmtb6LqmKfCPvheTFg2R9lOM6HS2RqzM/s1600/ornament2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mVtRd0zUY-Zh8zKscmkZ9qldJa1BuaQHSLBner3SdNNUHT82TYqG14Q4Cpr4lzDyvB2GnPrAILiTsuf6Y4RkDOAeUO_gDHIvVSf8j_Nwv8Kqmtb6LqmKfCPvheTFg2R9lOM6HS2RqzM/s320/ornament2010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Granted, it's not a Christmas CARD per se, but it's a scroll. Close enough, right?<br />
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Here's a look at the other ornaments we've gotten each year since we've been married:<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/AVvXsEji5vgBJ8DxCpa6FS7RFNjkl56E_VEXDALFBAJHR5od58TFYYSnksjXrxMbrQB95ADqyrx1PuNEVoy3fZUd_xBKtbhXMw0U9-LvypZXPCSi-4vl24sv1pB6EsuyeREMCXTr5h2rvcgHxKM/s1600/ornament2004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5vgBJ8DxCpa6FS7RFNjkl56E_VEXDALFBAJHR5od58TFYYSnksjXrxMbrQB95ADqyrx1PuNEVoy3fZUd_xBKtbhXMw0U9-LvypZXPCSi-4vl24sv1pB6EsuyeREMCXTr5h2rvcgHxKM/s320/ornament2004.jpg" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2004 - The first ornament</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/AVvXsEipIXt3EFXMz0mj2as8x_iGFomUYQcdlk-dPS5RM4P7J-6javppVU3ZgWup8IJKcJ9tKwBkcqasOd9boZ9kseDLFRJQRuSdisIMLk1RHxd8e7AXsSo_W1R_xPTcUlEK56Cp_drXIdFFVvA/s1600/ornament2005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIXt3EFXMz0mj2as8x_iGFomUYQcdlk-dPS5RM4P7J-6javppVU3ZgWup8IJKcJ9tKwBkcqasOd9boZ9kseDLFRJQRuSdisIMLk1RHxd8e7AXsSo_W1R_xPTcUlEK56Cp_drXIdFFVvA/s320/ornament2005.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2005</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/AVvXsEgoAdpX3FjzLRAmBI-3gt0_lkcQBR6buqnfXE4pgtfhqXdwiJILoY6vpAa0mFXjVX1NpKN5uVmXflLPe86LNmb_W6Zz4bc_CXgBGapK6DN2XF0m7xaRZPpUtxpfuYHcHdqUoJsYbcY_bKs/s1600/ornament2005-2006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAdpX3FjzLRAmBI-3gt0_lkcQBR6buqnfXE4pgtfhqXdwiJILoY6vpAa0mFXjVX1NpKN5uVmXflLPe86LNmb_W6Zz4bc_CXgBGapK6DN2XF0m7xaRZPpUtxpfuYHcHdqUoJsYbcY_bKs/s320/ornament2005-2006.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2006</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/AVvXsEh3WMhwVpCXdc8cBYYfdz-an0CteNDBBrl3ysaJMteOySqMHbetqdgvDTyIyKhOQfCQwdZwgBOABHVezfOoN-YkJckEi10u1SbiIVUcvSfKsCl2T8Ls8X75kLa5g58SK4sKzs7ZfUvt0-4/s1600/ornament2007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WMhwVpCXdc8cBYYfdz-an0CteNDBBrl3ysaJMteOySqMHbetqdgvDTyIyKhOQfCQwdZwgBOABHVezfOoN-YkJckEi10u1SbiIVUcvSfKsCl2T8Ls8X75kLa5g58SK4sKzs7ZfUvt0-4/s320/ornament2007.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2007 - Christmas in Atlanta</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/AVvXsEgN4xqr2xfzI_7HlPKoNX5G8y0k5zksPVd2xj__0kbhmFf50e6bRfcQt5-4Albs4k01qDglw7TUthUpTeRqZEOZmkWmO95GmWfP4gU_Kp-1pG5X6WxKIJJN-WgxZGP5QqP-z0nE-fsNaRw/s1600/ornament2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4xqr2xfzI_7HlPKoNX5G8y0k5zksPVd2xj__0kbhmFf50e6bRfcQt5-4Albs4k01qDglw7TUthUpTeRqZEOZmkWmO95GmWfP4gU_Kp-1pG5X6WxKIJJN-WgxZGP5QqP-z0nE-fsNaRw/s320/ornament2008.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2008 - The year we moved to NYC</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/AVvXsEgz4mYnmrz-YYvLw6WmGtaZP2c0b0XpV1CEd5TP9khrcXBqdPe0m-V8kgUGZmUKBGbzQIYfLLSOKpRWX9xrB-js8EdWcOaxeLM9wkCbpUq5LmSlqz83f4Mg6q04opx0-0iPphcAjerqHg4/s1600/ornament2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4mYnmrz-YYvLw6WmGtaZP2c0b0XpV1CEd5TP9khrcXBqdPe0m-V8kgUGZmUKBGbzQIYfLLSOKpRWX9xrB-js8EdWcOaxeLM9wkCbpUq5LmSlqz83f4Mg6q04opx0-0iPphcAjerqHg4/s320/ornament2009.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2009</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983144506851619815noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319028640099936458.post-68368175265933471662010-12-17T04:08:00.000-05:002010-12-17T04:08:09.813-05:00Why this year's tree is specialWell, I guess it's not so much the tree itself that's special. It is, after all, the same tree we've used for the last three Christmases. What makes it special is the tree's location.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08woOXVwM4sw8rwuXjYZcuYY3x06beynbcR-nIOxddsglZSlzmrlfDETUCMNCXbqfmkCQRttUZreszYHHFZt9y892qXlsu5ICaaunaelmZP0c0cXBv8nvdqOocimQlSxETblotSPYDnE/s1600/christmas+tree+2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08woOXVwM4sw8rwuXjYZcuYY3x06beynbcR-nIOxddsglZSlzmrlfDETUCMNCXbqfmkCQRttUZreszYHHFZt9y892qXlsu5ICaaunaelmZP0c0cXBv8nvdqOocimQlSxETblotSPYDnE/s200/christmas+tree+2009.jpg" width="143" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2009</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEMjNs0iWLl2i9e3gqs3u4PkPwDXEdJfdZsXS6N7IwL516oZ5yyOdf7gqjCajgo2-sBJkmvc7PLFJlUli0-i3lm9o0yeIqsUctxDjp5r3OOsLKuBLVNIUao9pPaIntI7gbEZD49_d3dE/s1600/christmas+tree+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEMjNs0iWLl2i9e3gqs3u4PkPwDXEdJfdZsXS6N7IwL516oZ5yyOdf7gqjCajgo2-sBJkmvc7PLFJlUli0-i3lm9o0yeIqsUctxDjp5r3OOsLKuBLVNIUao9pPaIntI7gbEZD49_d3dE/s200/christmas+tree+2010.jpg" width="130" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2010</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>You might not recognize it because we've moved around some furniture, but that tree is in the exact same spot it was last Christmas. Which is the first time that's happened since we got married six and a half years ago. It's the first time we've been in the same apartment for two Christmases.<br />
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So even though every year's tree is special, this one's just a little bit more so. It's funny to say we've put down some roots here, because we feel far from that, but I guess it's a little bit true. There are some options in the cards for being in a different place next year, but all things the same, we'd love to still be in this apartment come next Christmas. But we'll see what the winds of change have in store.<br />
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For now, I'm going to enjoy my little tree in my little apartment for the second year in a row.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983144506851619815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319028640099936458.post-67481953065979730382010-12-10T18:59:00.000-05:002010-12-10T18:59:16.089-05:00How we know Santa is from the SouthEverybody knows Santa lives at the North Pole. But what they didn't tell you is that he originally lived in the South. Not the South Pole. The South South. The y'all South. I bet you're wondering how I know this, aren't you? It's because I've seen him twice in the last week.<br />
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</div><b>Reason #1 we know Santa's from the South: He flies Airtran (which is based in Atlanta).</b> And he said he had spent the past week in New Orleans. On one of our flights this week, a jolly-looking man with a big white beard sat behind us on the plane. Someone else asked if he was Santa, and he said actually, he was. He travels for a photo company letting kids sit on his knee and make Christmas wishes to the Jolly Old Elf himself. (Super-nice guy. He even let us out of our seats on the plane without trying to push past us first.)<br />
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<b>Reason #2 we know Santa's from the South: He eats at Chick-fil-a.</b> While he and Mrs. Claus were visiting a shopping mall in Delaware this week, we spotted the couple dining at my favorite joint. And what self-respecting Southern boy don't like him some fried chicken?<br />
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So there you have it. Santa's a Southerner. I was going to suggest replacing his cookies with some waffle fries, but on second thought, we Southerners like both, and you DO want to be on Santa's good side, don't you?Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983144506851619815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319028640099936458.post-69282961532894240342010-11-21T02:13:00.000-05:002010-11-21T02:13:12.870-05:00Leaf-peeping in Central Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylp46hfc9T7Tol2-WTd-1sxMLmG-ahPrs5okrKYu6iXGgLeJucyCLSl75Btzw_SS_-b0JbQznbbM8s-Bo6CI6G6BD2IQRp1o0IjLtoEoVvbvrp8PDs21vaTmuiOXXEuRleVXLiZiOJVI/s1600/IMG_1308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylp46hfc9T7Tol2-WTd-1sxMLmG-ahPrs5okrKYu6iXGgLeJucyCLSl75Btzw_SS_-b0JbQznbbM8s-Bo6CI6G6BD2IQRp1o0IjLtoEoVvbvrp8PDs21vaTmuiOXXEuRleVXLiZiOJVI/s320/IMG_1308.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Self-portrait</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9TMs9w7c_sJtEvz5maFydLmfL-7bn3PKfhEFczrPkb_YT-qkVW7YVMN0KrAuAjk8snEyyqLAr6_jaQxvRuQn55PkG7PhB0Z6Jl2YAqNCh30K721sgpZET6ubb62q0rioFJOkvO284vbs/s1600/IMG_1363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9TMs9w7c_sJtEvz5maFydLmfL-7bn3PKfhEFczrPkb_YT-qkVW7YVMN0KrAuAjk8snEyyqLAr6_jaQxvRuQn55PkG7PhB0Z6Jl2YAqNCh30K721sgpZET6ubb62q0rioFJOkvO284vbs/s320/IMG_1363.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983144506851619815noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4319028640099936458.post-66244982176152283612010-10-22T17:20:00.000-04:002010-10-22T17:20:35.039-04:00All treat, no trickI am a firm believer that when you find something that makes you feel beautiful and sexy, you should act on it. Because we don't feel that way about ourselves often enough. Or at least I don't. So whether it's an $80 bra (and that was the cheaper one!) or a $130 haircut, sometimes you just have to go for it. (If you're lucky, sometimes it's a $10 shirt). It's easy to let cost get in the way of feeling amazing. Granted, none of us can just run out and buy whatever we want that makes us feel good whenever we want it. But, you know, occasionally, I think it's absolutely necessary.<br />
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If you don't mind, I'll not share the bra. But here's the haircut!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's pretty windy today, so I had the girl at the desk at the salon snap one with my iPhone before I walked out the door.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983144506851619815noreply@blogger.com3