tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38750928292924312024-03-14T02:43:44.738-04:00Sharing CheriLiving in a vintage home filled with books, food, love, laughter, transformation and life. Sharing what I learn and some adventures along the way.Cheri @ Sharing Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670008304289188147noreply@blogger.comBlogger197125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875092829292431.post-75364730938743683502014-07-11T03:00:00.000-04:002014-07-11T08:07:37.711-04:00An Amateur's view of painting furniture: Part 3: Choosing paint.Hopefully by now you are feeling like your dream of painting a piece of furniture is possible and attainable. Trust me, it is. If you put your mind to it and don't allow yourself to feel overwhelmed, you certainly can do this. Use those two posts to give you encouragement. You can do this... certainly, if I can do it, you can.<br />
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I've given you the how to and the encouragement.... Now which paint do you choose??? Chalk Paint or Latex??? I would add spray paint to this list, but I didn't have luck with my spray paint venture a few years ago. It chipped easily and was a mess. Could have been the piece I used and the fact that I didn't sand it at all but it didn't turn out well.<br />
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Pros and Cons of Latex:<br />
Pro:<br />
1. Cheap<br />
2. Tons of colors from which to choose<br />
3. Different finish types (flat, gloss, semi-gloss, etc.)<br />
4. So easily available.<br />
5. Usually a sample size will over your piece (so 2.50 for paint for a piece works).<br />
6. Can get at any hardware store or Walmart.<br />
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Con:<br />
1. Not sure I'm fond the finish- next time I will use a satin finish...<br />
2. Tons of colors from which to choose.<br />
3. Cannot attest to durability yet. I just did a piece with it this week.<br />
4. need to sand after the layer of primer with very fine sand paper (220).<br />
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Pros and Cons of Chalk Paint:<br />
Pro:<br />
1. Great coverage- one coat usually is enough.<br />
2. Great colors from which to choose - limited but great.<br />
3. Can do multiple pieces with one quart<br />
4. Velvety finish<br />
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Cons:<br />
1. Pricey- but I just saw online that it is available in 4 oz size now instead of just quarts in some areas. That may be enough for a smaller piece.<br />
2. Limited colors<br />
3. Only sold in boutiques.<br />
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A note about Chalk Paint...<br />
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When you go to the boutique to purchase chalk paint (my favorite paint by the way), they will ask if you want the clear wax. Let me tell you, the wax is a pain in the butt. It requires application in a certain way then you have to buff it out after it dries... do it again and yet a third time...<br />
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On the first dresser, I did this and I noticed that the blue started to turn green when I buffed so I stopped buffing...<br />
On the piano, I chose to use polycrylic instead of the clear wax. Life was much easier and I liked the product just as much.<br />
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So, I say skip the expensive wax and get the polycrylic that will cover several pieces in 1 quart easily. <br />
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My personal preference between the paints is definitely chalk paint. It can easily be used indoors and if not waxed or finished with polycrylic can be a chalkboard. I just like the application and finish of it better than latex.Cheri @ Sharing Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670008304289188147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875092829292431.post-41063367308362785652014-07-10T03:00:00.000-04:002014-07-10T08:14:58.463-04:00Amateur's view of painting furniture #2So you read my post yesterday did you? Interested in what to do to paint furniture for the first time??? Let me help you out...<br />
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Disclaimers:<br />
1. I have not worked with laminate or veneer so I cannot give pointers on anything there as far as painting goes, but have heard Annie Sloan Chalk Paint will go right over it with not problem. I actually have a bookcase that fits this description and may try to paint it with ASCP just to see how it works...<br />
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2. I'm not a professional..<br />
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3. I learn as I go and so something I write here may not work for you.. feel free to shoot me an email to ask questions. I may refer you to Lowe's in Stow for their help as they have helped me in the past. I actually had them say to me... "You're back?"<br />
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4. I cannot help with spray painting furniture. It actually scares me because of runs and drips and bubbles, but I've read many posts that swear by it.<br />
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What do you need:<br />
1. a piece of furniture- obviously.<br />
2. paint<br />
3. a sander and sand paper (rough, fine and very fine) if you have rough patches on your pieces and to just rough it up a little for better paint adhesion.<br />
4. primer- possibly (depending on the piece and type of paint you use). Remember for stained items you are painting over, I recommend CoverStain...<br />
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<img alt="Bulls Eye 1-Gallon Interior Oil Primer" src="http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/047719/047719035510lg.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></div>
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5. paint brush- I prefer the purple handle short brush by Blue Hawk and Wooster. I believe Purdy has one, but I only found the oil based brush at my Lowe's that is by them similar to the latex short brush.<br />
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<img alt="Blue Hawk Angle Sash Synthetic Paint Brush (Common: 2-in; Actual: 2.1-in)" src="http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/071497/071497175137lg.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></div>
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6. foam brush for finishing layer<br />
7. finishing protector (polyurethane, polycrylic, clear wax for ASCP - see post 3 tomorrow about this).<br />
8. Cheesecloth<br />
9. drop cloth or sheet<br />
10. Stain and staining cloths if you are staining<br />
11. soap and water and a cloth.<br />
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Step 1: Wash the piece and let it dry. Seriously, don't forget this step. It needs a good scrub down to get rid of debris and dust. If you skip this step, you get dust in the brush which affects the paint color and you don't want that. I made the mistake once... never again.<br />
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Step 2: Sand. You can use a hand sander (my favorite is my little mouse type sander) or just sand by hand. If you are having to fix divots and such in the piece. Also, if it has a shiny finish you want to use at least a 120 grit sand paper to quickly and easily scuff up the piece for paint adhesion.<br />
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Step 3: wipe down with cheesecloth (a damp cloth works, but then you're waiting for it to dry again).<br />
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Step 4: If you are working with a piece that it stained and going to simply paint it, use Coverstain primer and paint that on. You can use a roller, but I learned that sometimes that doesn't work out very well for me, so I stick to hand painting.<br />
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Step 5: Paint.<br />
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Step 6: Finish with whatever top coat you want. Follow the instructions. Be sure NOT to shake the can. You get bubbles and issues if you do... not good.<br />
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Step 7: After drying, put in any hardware and such. Please allow good drying time for this.<br />
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For help deciding on a paint see tomorrow's post. This is between latex and chalk.... I cannot help with paint color... that's on you!Cheri @ Sharing Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670008304289188147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875092829292431.post-49020960530607555232014-07-09T08:27:00.001-04:002014-07-09T08:28:31.359-04:00An amateur's view of painting furniture.It all started when I saw a dresser on a curb.. sitting there... lonely..... deserted..... looking pathetic. I stopped. I'd seen dressers people had refinished and I wanted a buffet or something for in the dining room. It was 2 houses down, had good bones and I decided I needed it.... well, wanted it. I figured I could give this furniture venture a try and see if I can actually refinish or makeover a piece of furniture. That was last August.<br />
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What I didn't know about that piece of furniture was that it was going to lead me into a hobby I both love and hate. I love how everything looks. I love picking out paint colors. I love seeing a transformation and being the creator of that transformation. I love sanding paint off to find what lies underneath. I love looking at hardware and painting by hand. Yes, I have painted all of my furniture by hand. I hate how long it can take and that can take time away from my little boy... however, it is an escape for me. Believe it or not.<br />
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By the way, that dresser turned out absolutely lovely. So much so that a friend asked me to paint her piano despite the fact that I had only refinished one piece, she trusted me with her daddy's piano. I must admit to being totally intimidated.<br />
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I was correct in being intimidated with the piano. There were some stains and rough patches. It needed some serious TLC... It taught me so much. I am so thankful for the opportunity. More to follow on what I learned from each piece below.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EQaorXeQZTU/U70yP68XfII/AAAAAAAADr0/mIpT8Gd_DbA/s1600/20140328_140053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EQaorXeQZTU/U70yP68XfII/AAAAAAAADr0/mIpT8Gd_DbA/s1600/20140328_140053.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before... </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3LjDpHWFC-A/U70yraiVr0I/AAAAAAAADr8/PT8Q2tBioWY/s1600/20140511_174634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3LjDpHWFC-A/U70yraiVr0I/AAAAAAAADr8/PT8Q2tBioWY/s1600/20140511_174634.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After... </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-swK7O6wk1Ag/U70yrV1XV2I/AAAAAAAADr8/8DYBjBOFkoE/s1600/20140511_175221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-swK7O6wk1Ag/U70yrV1XV2I/AAAAAAAADr8/8DYBjBOFkoE/s1600/20140511_175221.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closer up of the damaged area</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EvD_r1xHCYI/U70yrU5mNLI/AAAAAAAADr8/KoMOsNrtAvo/s1600/20140511_175213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EvD_r1xHCYI/U70yrU5mNLI/AAAAAAAADr8/KoMOsNrtAvo/s1600/20140511_175213.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another midrange view.</td></tr>
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The last piece of furniture I did, my third piece, was in need of serious TLC but again had good bones... Oh and did I mention that it was at the same house from which the first dresser came from?? Again, sitting lonely and pathetic on the curb for over 24 hours (I was out of town when it was put there)... clearly it was meant for me to refinish....<br />
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Before</div>
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The rotted back... the only thing aside from a drawer that I thought was wrong...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front view... Forgot to get a back view... maybe I will today...</td></tr>
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This dresser taught me much more than I had ever thought of before. Because of the rotted out bottom, broken tracks for the bottom drawer and rotted out back, I learned to use a jigsaw and circular saw. I now feel unstoppable!<br />
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FYI the total cost for this dresser including paint and such was $12. Doesn't include the amount of time spent working on it (at least 4 hours a day for 3 days- includes drying time on paint and primer and poly).<br />
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Lessons I've learned... piece by piece:<br />
Dresser 1:<br />
1. I love doing this work.<br />
2. It's hard work.<br />
3. It can take a long time and a lot of prep work.<br />
4. The outcome is so worth it.<br />
5. Chalk paint is so easy to use.... the wax not so much.<br />
6. I love staining things.<br />
7. Polyurethane is a pain, but such a lasting finish.<br />
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Piano:<br />
1. Sometimes even with chalk paint you have to prime a piece.<br />
2. Cover stain primer (oil based) is a pain in the rear to work with, but does a fantastic job. When I started the piano, I didn't use any primer because truly you don't need to with chalk paint - so they tell you... and I didn't for dresser 1 but that was a darker color. I'll explain more in a post tomorrow.<br />
3. It was fun to tear apart the piano and clean it all out- goodbye spider webs.<br />
4. Working in a garage is not my favorite things, but it does suffice. I prefer open air but I can't move a piano by myself!<br />
5. Chalk paint is wonderful, but can be temperamental... maybe I should try latex for the first time on my next project.<br />
6. Polycrylic is my favorite. Shorter dry time and just as easy an application as polyurethane without the yellowing effect.<br />
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Dresser 2:<br />
1. Don't be afraid to tackle a harder project. It teaches you so many new things that help you gain confidence.<br />
2. Primer is your friend.<br />
3. Sometimes crackle paint is your worst enemy... It gummed up the sander... peeled off in smaller pieces (when there was a large piece, I was stoked).<br />
4. Using latex for the first time... it went on easy but not as thick as chalk paint (which I still prefer but not at the price they sell it).<br />
5. I still love polycrylic.<br />
6. Hobby Lobby has lovely drawer pulls at a price, but Habitat Restore has some good ones to use as is or paint for a fraction of the cost.<br />
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So, you have your eyes set on a piece of furniture you want to refinish... Go for it.<br />
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For the least labor intensive work, I can't tell you what to do. I know I have used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and said it's easiest but the piano taught me that isn't always the case. They say you can just paint over whatever with chalk paint. My experience was I couldn't really with the piano due to the stain. There is a disclaimer made by the ASCP company that some stains put on furniture during a certain time period can lead to bleed through. Let me tell you that is totally the truth and when that happens, you <b>must</b> get out the cover stain primer. It must be Cover Stain. I tried a different primer first and it didn't work. Imagine repainting something 4 times.... Yep, that's what I learned with the piano. Use cover stain. It's a pain... it stinks... it's gives a lovely finished product because it gets the job done.<br />
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I will say I love the look of furniture covered with Annie's Chalk Paint, a nice velvety finish... It was easy to use with the first dresser where I covered over black paint with no problems. Covering over something with stain was a bit more challenging. Latex was nice and easy. Easy clean up (chalk paint is easy clean up as well) and cheap... cheap.. cheap.... I'm not sure on the durability of it as I just did this project. I know the dresser with chalk paint is still going strong... as in not easily chipped off or anything. I pray the latex paint does well after a year as well.<br />
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Overall, when you set out to paint furniture, you may love it or hate it. If you're one of the people I've spoken with about painting furniture, you may swear at me and curse me and hate my guts when going through the process... depending on how you go about it. (Are you sanding??? staining??? Polycrylic? Polyurethane?? chalk paint? Primer?? Latex paint??? Spray paint???) It's all so overwhelming!<br />
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Tomorrow I will set out to give pointers on painting furniture when you're just getting started... from an amateur's point of view... because that's what I am....<br />
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<br />Cheri @ Sharing Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670008304289188147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875092829292431.post-54713546185788207492012-09-01T08:56:00.001-04:002012-09-01T08:56:41.624-04:00Just journaling....It's been an interesting month. August was harder on me this time. It could be the new position at school, in addition to teaching. It could be because I was really struggling with lil man going to preschool and getting bigger. Maybe it had something to do with feeling unprepared for the school year or the fact that I hadn't gotten anything on my list of things to do this summer done. Don't get me wrong, I did some things, but the majority of it was chilling with my boy and enjoying life with him.... til July 31 when things got really hectic. <br />
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I was doing well and holding it together and then things started to fall apart in more ways than I anticipated. Maybe some of it was my fault. Maybe some of it was I just took on too much and attempted to do too much. Maybe it's just how things are supposed to be. Only God knows really. <br />
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When school started, I spent 4 days crying from stress and anxiety. Yep, I got that bad. I ate crappy foods, didn't make the farmers' market as I usually did, didn't clip coupons or even really shop for food. Meal planning? I couldn't even think about it. I think it was mild momentary depression. It seemed like everything, and I mean everything (relationships of all kinds, work, home) was falling apart. <br />
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Then a magical thing happened.... I laughed... for the first time in over a week and a half. It felt great. I felt light. What was the change? I gave up thinking I could do everything and relied on God to just take it away and help me to do what I could in that moment. It felt great. <br />
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Then I woke up the next morning. The toilet had overflowed all night. We had water all over the bathroom, through the kitchen ceiling, the kitchen cabinets, on the counter and the kitchen floor, down into the basement. I didn't think anything of it. Cleaned everything up with towels and whatever, told the hubs what happened. He said he would take a half day off work later in the day to help with cleaning up. He came home to a hot, smelly house. He called a company to come out and the insurance company. He handled it all while I worked away. I was stressed, yes, but not crying stressed. Just overwhelmed and defeated stressed. That stressed that makes you feel worn out. Sometimes that feeling is almost as comfy as a pair of old jeans. It just is. It makes you realize that you can't do it all. That you need help. That sometimes it's just time to stop and slow down. You're tired from it all. The good thing about that stress, you have to rely on something bigger than you to make it through. For me, that is Jesus Christ, my Savior. He actually gave me a genius idea (well, maybe it wasn't from him, I don't know). Maybe this is God's way of reminding me that I'm not in control and to rely on Him more. Letting me know that I can't control it all and nor should I attempt to. Do you know what a weight it was that came off my shoulders? It was/is amazing. <br />
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I am lighter now. I may have lost a few friends. I may mess up in my new leadership role. I may even mess up in parenting and marriage. I can't control it all and am just grateful that I don't have to. That really the only relationship that matters is the one I have with God and when that is in perspective, so will be the others. Growing that relationship will help the marriage, parenting and others. So for now, I'm focusing on that and my family. Yes, I'll still have to work, but the those relationships are the ones I am choosing to focus on for now. It is needed and it took the stressors of the month to get me to this point. I must say, I'm kind of glad for them..... Now, bring on the chaos of home repairs.<br />
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Cheri @ Sharing Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670008304289188147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875092829292431.post-39475558540579264082012-08-06T07:30:00.000-04:002012-08-06T07:30:04.358-04:00Something to come....I had a garage sale. So did my neighbor. I found this at their garage sale for $0.75. <br />
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More to come... hopefully soon...Cheri @ Sharing Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670008304289188147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875092829292431.post-9271584049458009062012-08-04T14:43:00.002-04:002012-08-04T14:43:56.153-04:00Making the menu pretty!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love my command center. The white board with the pen holder and notecard holder for jotting down messages when the menu was on the white board etc. I just didn't really care for the white board as the menu spot. Why, I couldn't tell you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One day, hubby and I were cleaning out a room and I came across an old mirror that was kind of stained and had a fog on it in spots and some yellow dots on it. I didn't want to let it go as I liked the styling of it. It's quaint and could easily have a new purpose. So, I figured I would turn it into a menu board in the kitchen.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I029-Y67NfM/UB1qjOqw-1I/AAAAAAAABXE/zY0z0rI8Fh4/s1600/IMG_2289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I029-Y67NfM/UB1qjOqw-1I/AAAAAAAABXE/zY0z0rI8Fh4/s320/IMG_2289.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep, them are my legs and the crocs flip flops I've had for over 5 years. Love those things!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With a little primer, left over white paint from the trim in the dining room and chalkboard paint from E's playroom, I took to turning the mirror into a menu board. I chose to use the white paint because it goes with everything (we plan on repainting the kitchen in the next year or two so I can update it then) and because I had a lot of it available!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In a matter of 2 days, I had a new menu board. Next it was where to hang it. I decided I would put it right by the back kitchen door above our current ginormous trash can (one day we'll hide it away and use a small one that fits into a pantry or something). Confession, the trash can is not ginormous, it's 13 gallon capacity just sits on the wall by itself beside (and behind when open) the kitchen door.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No, I didn't take a pic of that corner as it needs cleaning and I didn't feel like doing it before snapping the picture. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love where I hung it as I can see exactly what I need to do and if I forget on the way out in the morning, there's a quick reminder for me to do a 5 second turn and get whatever from the freezer for dinner that night or the next night. So nice! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Best thing, this cost us nothing as we already had everything from previous projects! :) Yippee Skippy!!!</span><br />Cheri @ Sharing Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670008304289188147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875092829292431.post-34334443186194823232012-07-20T00:00:00.000-04:002012-07-20T00:00:09.041-04:00MAPS Museum visit- on the fly...Hubby told me he decided to take an impromptu long weekend this weekend. He asked me what I wanted to do. In my head I said, "You to take care of cleaning the house, making dinner (not take out), take lil man out and just let me have a day to myself- after you've cleaned the house." What I really said was "I don't know." <br />
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I decided to take lil man to the library for storytime in the morning and let the hubby sleep in as he was out fishing really late the night before. It helped that lil man woke up extremely cranky and not wanting to listen to a thing I said. I was exhausted an hour into the day. But, let's make the most of it. <br />
We had fun at the library and picked up books on the theme of the week- spiders. <br />
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When we came home, hubs was up. He said he wanted to go to Chuck E. Cheese. I said he could go without me so I could have time. He didn't really like that idea as he wanted us all to do something. I wanted my time but can appreciate the need and desire for good quality family time. He mentioned going to Cleveland to a museum. My wheels started spinning. It was noon. Museums close at 5. It's a 45 minute drive and someone gets cranky between 2 and 4. Hmm... not a great idea. I started looking at museums near us in the Akron/Canton area. <br />
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Google never fails. It gave me a list and I started to go through thinking what would be good. The Fossil museum would be cool, but we have a play date there with friends next week. Something else... Then I stumbled upon the MAPS Museum near the Akron Canton Airport. I was leary at first. Not sure what it held. The pictures shows planes but also displays. Lil man, at 3, would certainly not be into displays. I talked it over with hubs and we headed out to check out the museum with the idea that if the museum is not the best for lil man, we would head to Chuck E Cheese.<br />
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This museum, while small, is FANTASTIC! I cannot express enough how much I absolutely loved this place. I think I was more in love with it than either of my boys. It was the coolest thing ever. There were planes all over in the gift shop area hanging from the ceiling (what I want to do in lil man's room). There were all kinds of planes everywhere in the museum... hanging from the ceiling, on the ground, outside (thankfully the weather cleared a little). There were descriptions of everything military plane. It was so cool. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitting at the first exhibit- a military gun.... E is rotating the chair, daddy is moving the gun up and down.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Switched spots and focused...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So glad to see the planes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super cool glider from the 1920's.</td></tr>
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The greatest surprise came to us while at the museum. We saw in the corner the gondola of the Goodyear Blimp. This is a huge thing in our house. Hubby used to work for the blimp (landing crew) and in our dating years, I would visit him at the hanger and sit in the blimp gondola. What was great about it was it was the exact same gondola he worked with- the GZ22. It had crashed a few years after he left (to settle down and be married to moi. Too much travel for him to be newly married and such) and apparently MAPS got the gondola of the blimp that crashed. The very one I sat in and explored (not that there's much to explore, but I looked into the balloon part of the blimp in that gondola and sat in the pilot's chair. Good times. Hubby said many memories came flooding back and he reminisced with one of the gentlemen working/volunteering with MAPS. Needless to say, this was lil man's favorite part of the museum and he had a ton of fun in the blimp. We sat in there for about 20 minutes just letting him play on one of the two trips to this exhibit. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our blimp... see story below.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside our blimp.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flag hanging from above the cockpit in the blimp.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thought this sign was interesting. The how to make your own radio handouts were gone though.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fox radios you can make using the missing handouts.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the rotor of the blimp</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You could climb up the ladder and look inside this fighter jet...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a big space... at all....especially when you consider the gear they have to wear.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">umm... okay. Didn't think I'd fit anyway... or be able to climb over the gate....</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another favorite for lil man... helicopters.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fastest plane here.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, that speed says 1,372 MPH. Yowza!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was in love with this B-25 Bomber It was my favorite.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love this plane. Love love...</td></tr>
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After looking at the planes in the hanger and outside, we headed inside to use the restroom (which was the nicest and cleanest I had ever seen in a museum. I almost took a pic but decided better not) and tour the Heroes Hall. <br />
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The Heroes Hall was filled with all kinds of really neat things. There were uniforms of all eras displayed, planes and helicopters, various stories of the heroes from the Akron Canton area who served (which was so cool to read). What I loved best about the Heroes Hall was the handwritten pieces they had. There was a handwritten flight log listing the date, time and mission they were on. There were lots of handwritten notes (my favorite things in the world to pour over) to family and friends from these heroes. It was wonderful and beautiful and reminded me of the book I just finished and can't stop thinking about, The Bungalow. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Various helmets and piloting/air traffiking equipment.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">various military uniforms for women.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Handwritten flight mission log. So cool!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-czcaWaxtHqg/UAjDArV0j1I/AAAAAAAABWM/6K0RCCRX1EE/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-czcaWaxtHqg/UAjDArV0j1I/AAAAAAAABWM/6K0RCCRX1EE/s320/071.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He tried to open every display and play with the planes... There were many.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interesting note....</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another handwritten note home from a local hero</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hobby to pass time- art- by another local hero.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rosie the Riveter display.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool missles. </td></tr>
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I loved this museum and will be back. I think it may become a semi-annual event. It's fantastic. If that's not enough to convince you to visit, the guest book I signed had people who visited from Oklahoma, Florida and other places who said it was a great museum as well. It really is. We saw kids of all ages who enjoyed it and some on guided tours (not something we can do with our lil man yet). <br />
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As always, I was in no way, shape or form compensated for this post. I simply loved this museum and can't wait to go back. It really is a gem. <br />
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Tomorrow, we hit our next annual event... The hotair balloon festival for the Football Hall of Fame Inauguration. It's our 3rd year attending. It's something we wouldn't pass up. <br />Cheri @ Sharing Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670008304289188147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875092829292431.post-28360555957310954152012-07-19T00:00:00.000-04:002012-07-19T00:00:00.128-04:00Stealing from Hamlet..."To be or not to be: that is the question" <br />
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There are many things going on in our house. Trying to find a new sitter or a part-time sitter, possible new job for the hubs at his current employer (not getting our hopes up, but it would be cool for him- granted we couldn't ask for a better company for him to work at regardless- thank you, cousin). I hope to return to school in the fall to do an endorsement or master's. Lots of things to think about and move forward with. <br />
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I, of course, like to add more to the plate. For a while (say a year or so), have been debating whether or not we should move. Since more homes seem to be selling in our neighborhood, I'm getting that inclination more. It's not that I don't love my home or where I live, I just want more land. Shoot, if I could have a triple lot where I am, I would take it in a minute and not move at all. I brought this idea up to the hubs who was taken back by my repeat presentation of said idea. We decided we are going to do our research and see what we can find in a price range we thing feasible. <br />
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Now, we have not started really looking or doing anything major. It's just something I'm kicking around in my head. Let me share with you my thoughts....<br />
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1. I love my house. Yes, I would like more room and a more open feel to the place, but it's a home that was built in 1918. It has weathered many families and probably at one point had 10 or more people living in it (let's face it, back in the day, families were large). I would also like a new kitchen- like tomorrow... actually a year ago, but that's okay. I'm being patient.<br />
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2. I love the town I live in. Where else can you go that there are 5-6 parks with FREE wading pools. yes, Free pools that are 1-2 feet deep for little ones- big playgrounds and lots of sand. The parks and recreation department is unmatchable, offering classes for adults, children, seniors, and anything from baseball to pottery to knitting and photography- as well as growing your own garden or chickens. I would love chickens, but where I am, I can't. :( We have free movies down on the river for kids in the summer. Free music concerts in the summer. <br />
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3. I love the proximity to everything. It doesn't matter where I need to go, essentially everything is within 20-25 minutes (talking bigger cities- well, aside from Cleveland). I bike alot of places, pulling little man behind me in his trailer to any place that allows us to avoid busier roads). I have a local expressway half a mile from my house- both entrances to the expressway (north and south). I am also not far from national parks or county parks and great museums and such.<br />
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4. I love, I mean LOVE, my neighbors. They are like extended family. If we were to move, I'd have to take them with me or constantly visit. Not only that, I think they love us and I know they love the lil man. They are truly great people and we are blessed to be their neighbors. <br />
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5. I'm close to family. Doesn't matter who it is, I'm pretty doggone close to all of them. Hubs' family doesn't count. Some of them are in other states and further south of us, but on my side, we're within a few minutes of them (10-15 depending on traffic).<br />
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What I don't love: <br />
1. my kitchen. <br />
2. my small yard.<br />
3. the houses so close together. <br />
4. lack of storage space/closet space (in our "master" bedroom, there is one very small closet that houses my hubby's clothes. I have mine tucked into a closet that will be for our next baby. At that point, I guess I'm living out of.... I don't know yet.... :) <br />
5. 1 bathroom (not that that's unmanagable). Great for bathroom cleaning day as there is only 1 to do!<br />
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I don't even mind that we share a driveway. That doesn't bother me a bit- probably because I have the coolest neighbors anyone could ask for. <br />
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So really, I don't know that I need to move. I would if I could find something I love for a great price, but for the time being, I think I'm set. Whew, one thing to cross off the list.... maybe....Cheri @ Sharing Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670008304289188147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875092829292431.post-2524498232356272162012-07-17T22:24:00.001-04:002012-07-17T22:24:21.314-04:00Button Love...I've had a great few weeks. Some of my projects that were on my list of things to do are getting done. Not many, but a few. Really, truth be told, I'm just enjoying my time with lil man. He's so fun- sometimes out of control, but you'll have that with 3 year old little boys. I wouldn't have it any other way. <br />
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One of the projects on my list was the button bracelet I started at the May Craft Day... yes, I still hadn't finished. I can honestly say, I want to add about 4 more little buttons (when I find some I like in the huge stash of buttons lying around my home). I hadn't been feeling creative until the past 2 weeks. Now I'm in a groove and getting things done. One day when I had finished an amazing book (I'll blog about it soon), I needed to just process things in it and get myself back to reality. In order to do so, Hubs and I turned on Season 1 of Game of Thrones (which I actually liked and now want to read the books- I never want to do that after watching something in a movie/tv). I grabbed my needle, thread, band, and buttons and began working away. In 2 episodes, I had completed my bracelet (save the 4 small buttons that I need to find. <br />
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I totally love it! I put a Mickey Mouse button on there for my son who loves Mickey. Other than that, the buttons are just ones that I liked and in a variety of colors. I can wear this with almost everything! Love those types of pieces. <br />
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Next up, maybe a necklace, some canvas work with initials and symbols relevant to us to be used as artwork. I love it!<br />Cheri @ Sharing Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670008304289188147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875092829292431.post-2239578498446315302012-07-13T08:22:00.000-04:002012-07-13T08:22:00.071-04:00Teaching 'im young...Remember the cool scarf I made at the Parks and Recreation department? Well, I saw they offered classes for little ones too. One of them was called Mudpies. It's a clay class for kids 3-5. For $15, you could enroll your child in the class 1 day a week for 3 weeks and 45 minutes each day to teach them how to work with clay. Well, I was all over that! How cool would it be to get some gifts for father's day made and possibly for other holidays as well? <br />
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I wasn't sure what to expect, but I must admit, this was so much fun and lil man looked forward to it every Thursday. Miss Amy, our instructor, taught us how to use the pottery wheel, join clay together, make finger pots, leaf rubbings and other fun things. It was so much fun. There were 4 other kids in the class who seemed to love it as well. <br />
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My son most enjoyed getting to roll the clay with what we called the "steamroller". I don't know the real name for it. It was a table with wires and a roller and handle. By rotating the handle, the roller moved over the clay to smash it down flat. So fun for little boys and girls who love steamrollers... or smashing things. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ze9UtNYC55E/T_69ow2PvvI/AAAAAAAABQk/xfOXOoU0uKo/s1600/20120607_144008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ze9UtNYC55E/T_69ow2PvvI/AAAAAAAABQk/xfOXOoU0uKo/s320/20120607_144008.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing the role of the steam roller</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First time using a pottery wheel. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">soaking up the extra water in the bowl with a sponge... he didn't like doing that.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where to place the paint.... hmm...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right there....</td></tr>
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The first week, we made pinch pots, handprint plaques, leaf imprints and whatever else "came into our head". The second week, we made frogs and more of whatever else while making bowls on the pottery wheel. The third week we spent painting and glazing. In all, we ended up with 7 items my some made. It was so much fun for both him and me. We will definitely do it again!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gifts: one for Daddy and one for Grandma</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First bowl - week 1</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">second bowl... week 2</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lesoSMImUII/T_3tlcfqOtI/AAAAAAAABQE/tLVozd7mgL0/s1600/20120629_075251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lesoSMImUII/T_3tlcfqOtI/AAAAAAAABQE/tLVozd7mgL0/s320/20120629_075251.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">handprint and frog...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-orFVdeqrphg/T_3t033RJvI/AAAAAAAABQM/0MSAmLCTOjk/s1600/20120629_075300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-orFVdeqrphg/T_3t033RJvI/AAAAAAAABQM/0MSAmLCTOjk/s320/20120629_075300.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An owl for mommy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">adding texture to the handprint.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Cheri @ Sharing Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670008304289188147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875092829292431.post-90522772582456143942012-07-12T00:00:00.000-04:002012-07-12T00:00:08.795-04:00Book Review: The Language of Flowers<em>The Language of Flowers</em>.... what a wonderful tale is spun in this book. It's really a challenging book to sum up without giving away some of what happens, but I will try. <br />
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Victoria has lived her life in and out of foster care. She has made some choices that of course do not promote her adoption. At the age of 18, Victoria is emancipated and thrust into life on her own. She is homeless, cashless, and essentially has little skills in relationships or work. She must learn how to make it on her own as she has burned many bridges in her past.<br />
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She stumbles upon a floral shop and seeks to find a position there; however, the owner is not hiring, especially someone with no experience. Saying Victoria has not experience with flowers is not true. She has experience and can easily match a flower to what someone is going through and help them through it. It's a gift. She's good at it and touches many people's lives. She ends up in a mess of her own and struggling with how to manage learning to live with and get along with others as well as how to give and receive unconditional love. It's a really beautiful and amazing tale.<br />
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According to the book jacket, Vanessa Diffenbaugh called upon her experience as a foster mother to write this novel. It certainly showed through. <br />
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Victoria is a character you will not soon forget. She embodies and shows the struggle we all go through in developing and maintaining relationships. It's not easy. It's uncomfortable and definitely a lot of work. The emotions and feeling she displays upon some of the choices she makes make her so real. She was a character I could totally identify with. The anger, making of poor choices just because you can then realizing it was the wrong thing and trying to mend it. <br />
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This book is a book about unconditional love, helping others when you can't seem to help yourself, and ultimately forgiveness. An AMAZING novel. Now, let me go see what flowers I can get that bring peace and calm to a house! :)<br />Cheri @ Sharing Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670008304289188147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875092829292431.post-79312149822339622882012-07-11T08:24:00.000-04:002012-07-11T08:24:00.440-04:00I'm Batik!... I mean, back!Back in April, I took a class on how to make a Batik scarf. Oh, you didn't know this? That's because I forgot to tell you. I haven't been in a blogging mood lately. Nor have I had motivation or a creative bone in my body. I don't know what happened, but the end of the school year through now has just had me in a funk. I feel I might be getting my groove back, but we'll see. <br />
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One of the great things about where I live is the Parks and Recreation Department. It's truly amazing what all they offer. We have 6 parks in the area with playgrounds, wading pools, and sand boxes. They offer classes for all ages ranging from sports, to cards to dance to crafts. As I said, in April, I took a class on how to make a Batik scarf. The course fee was $15 and the registration fee was $2. So for $17 I was going to make a scarf. It's about what you would pay for a scarf at the store (unless you hit up Burlington which has amazing prices on great scarves). But the best thing, I design it and create it myself. <br />
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This was the first craft class I had taken. Walking into it I had some anxiety. What if I was the oldest person in there? What if I was totally crappy at this? What if my scarf didn't turn out and I ended up making a mess out of something so beautiful and wasting my $17? Calmed by dear friends and the hubby, I set out to the class. I was 2 minutes late... oops.<br />
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I was not the oldest... I was the youngest.<br />
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I was not crappy at it... I had more compliments that any and an offer to buy my scarf.<br />
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My scarf did turn out. I did not waste $17. <br />
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Most importantly, I had FUN! <br />
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I sat in the class with a bunch of retired women (a few school teachers) and we talked about whatever. We helped each other. It was so great. I realized how much I love talking with women who are wiser than me. I realized how much I love to make things in fabric. I realized I loved being me. <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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8Pf8SePfk4/T_wd8ZeyOcI/AAAAAAAABPI/M_-T18MPA2A/s1600/IMG_2175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8Pf8SePfk4/T_wd8ZeyOcI/AAAAAAAABPI/M_-T18MPA2A/s320/IMG_2175.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used a favorite Zentange design. :) The dark green is supposed to be white, but I had to dye my scarf a few times to make it not as flourescent as it initially was. So that lead to dye leakage.</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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EJ1xiQxc-aM/T_weaAdOD7I/AAAAAAAABPQ/KKapXT1tVLw/s1600/IMG_2171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EJ1xiQxc-aM/T_weaAdOD7I/AAAAAAAABPQ/KKapXT1tVLw/s320/IMG_2171.JPG" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love it! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was a great time. It was cheap fun. I immediately asked when the next class would be so I could sign up to make another scarf. It was great!Cheri @ Sharing Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670008304289188147noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875092829292431.post-9567234609920375872012-07-10T07:59:00.001-04:002012-07-10T07:59:18.692-04:00Those 10 pounds....I haven' really talked with anyone much about this, other than hubs and a few friends, but I'm trying to lose 10 pounds. Really, I would like to lose 15-20, but I'm starting with 10. My journey thus far has only been slightly successful. <br />
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Initially, when I decided I couldn't take it anymore, I took up running every morning before hubs left for work and while lil man was sleeping. I was surprised how things had changed in the year I was off from running due to constant strep and 2 tonsillectomies mixed with several sinus infections. I'm a healthy one, let me tell you. I used to run a mile in 10 minutes. Nothing fantastic or anything but I didn't mind that speed. It was just fast enough for me and let me get in a minimum 30 minutes of cardio when I did the 5K course I designed in my neighborhood. Well, after the year off, I was at a much slower pace (12.5 min mile) and couldn't make it more than 2 miles. REALLY? While this was good exercise, and regardless, I was burning more calories doing that than sitting on my bum at the computer or the couch, I just realized how out of shape I had become. <br />
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Oh the horror of being someone my age and realizing, yes, Cheri, You are getting old. This means that in order for me to lose the 10 pounds I've wanted to lose for a year I need to work harder. Enter the major sinus infection from allergies that I developed this year. I ended up running for a week strong then having to take a week off due to not being able to breathe. Fun. Add in 2 birthday parties, the Fourth of July and some other get togethers... I'm a goner. <br />
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As I usually do, I choose to see the brighter side. Why give up? Why not make the change now? So what if I ate a bad breakfast, now I just have to make the calories up elsewhere- a walk, better choices throughout the day, etc. <br />
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On Sunday, I decided I'd try going back to running again. My speed was a little better (I did some intervals). The problem- my knee twisted funny and I got major shin splints. I took Monday off. This morning I figured I'd speed walk for 2 miles and try to do a few block long sprints here and there. I did, but I hurt my knee more and my right shin is killing me. So, I'm not giving up on running, but I'm definitely not going to practice it this week. Instead, I'll bike to the farmers market and to the stores and take walks as much as I can with little man. It's simple things like that that do make a difference. I mean, there's no reason I can't WALK somewhere or for a little bit to help with this. <br />
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Eating... well, that's a different story. You all know how I love to make homemade fresh food for my family. I'm working on it and just making better snack choices as well as eliminating calorie laden beverages (a can of Sprite or Sierra Mist which was a once a day treat or some iced tea- this one is HARD). I don't really drink alcohol unless it's a girl's night where I'll have a glass of wine or a fru-fru drink so that's not a problem. <br />
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I'll let you know how the progress goes. It's just a challenge to get that last 10 pounds.....Cheri @ Sharing Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670008304289188147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875092829292431.post-16099538555441208092012-06-21T08:37:00.001-04:002012-06-21T08:37:50.612-04:00Recipe Review: Brown Sugar and Bourbon Flank Steak and Cheesy Zucchini RiceRemember this <a href="http://sharingcheri.blogspot.com/2012/06/yummy-eats-for-week.html" target="_blank">post</a> about my meal plan for the week? I had 2 new recipes on there for our Monday meal: Brown Sugar and Bourbon Flank Steak and Cheesy Zucchini Rice. I'm going to do a crazy thing and review both on this one post! Usually, it's a 2 post situation, but today I'm generous and don't want you to wait.<br />
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Brown Sugar and Bourbon Flank Steak:<br />
I've never cooked flank steak... well, I can't say that any longer because I did this past Tuesday (yep, the rain on Monday made me delay the grilling until Tuesday). <br />
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When I was shopping for the flank steak, I must admit that I wasn't impressed with how it looked. I was kind of surprised by how much it cost too. It was outrageously expensive, but more than I anticipated for what it looked like. Meat prices are just ridiculous.... Flank steak is simply a flat and long piece of meat. Not much marbling too it (aka, fat, juicy goodness). It looked just like the pink styrofoam it sat on... okay maybe a little bit different. It's thin too- which scared me because my husband likes to eat meat, well, food in general. I didn't know if it would be enough for all 3 of us at 1.5 pounds, but you figure that's a half pound for everyone and I know myself and lil man won't eat that much meat. <br />
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So the flank steak was chosen and purchased. On the day of cooking/preparing, I took a whole 5 minutes to mix together the marinade/sauce, pour it into the plastic bag and add the steak. I put it in the fridge for 30-40 minutes then pulled it out to bring to room temperature as the recipe stated. While it was working it's way to room temp, I started grating a zucchini (which was totally fun! I'm weird, I know).<br />
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Flank steak at room temp meant I got to start up the grill (and clean it). It was only 91 degrees. No problem cooking out on the grill.... I oiled the grates with olive oil (using a paper towel) and set the flank steak on it. No problems. Super easy. Recipe said cook 5 minutes. I can handle that- granted I moved away from the grill during that time. I went back into the house where the rice was cooked and I was adding the zucchini and butter. Mixed those to incorporate and all was good. Back out to flip the steak and start again. <br />
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The steak was done and I brought it in to rest for 5 minutes. It was perfect! So easy to cook and beautiful. I had some good grill marks on that puppy I tell ya! I will cook flank steak again.<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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6MbKRDwekL8/T-MUi11gNXI/AAAAAAAABO0/MP6l0fG0wso/s1600/flank+steak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6MbKRDwekL8/T-MUi11gNXI/AAAAAAAABO0/MP6l0fG0wso/s320/flank+steak.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from Tracey's Culinary Adventure Blog</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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While the flank steak was cooking, I warmed the marinade to make it "syrupy" as Tracey called it. It didn't smell the greatest and lil man asked if I was making stinky food. I added the cheese to the rice and sliced up the steak. Serving was ready to commence. <br />
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Now to the good stuff: This flank steak was amazing! Delicious, easy, flavorful and delectable. I think I "MMMM"'d after every bite I ate. Yes, I'm pretty sure I did. I gave some to lil man who decided he liked it too. Hubs said it was pretty good and very tasty. He loved the sauce.<br />
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The rice: It was good, needed more salt and pepper. I loved that it was just like those Knorr packs you buy but it was totally homemade and you know what's going into it (something I love)! No sneaky ingredients or things you can't name. I think next time I make it (yes, there will be a next time), I'm going to add sauted onion and garlic as well as some parsley and other flavors. I will also grate my own cheese (It's a kick I'm on right now and I love it. Melts better and is just so stretchy and cheesy- delicious!). I can also imagine grating up many other veggies to add- cauliflower (yum), broccoli, other squash, what about some pumpkin????... the possibilities are endless. Simple and delicious.<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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UxgokqoqlPA/T-MU6EM8hEI/AAAAAAAABO8/8CfvnVTUxIQ/s1600/zucchini+rice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UxgokqoqlPA/T-MU6EM8hEI/AAAAAAAABO8/8CfvnVTUxIQ/s320/zucchini+rice.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from Tracey's Culinary Adventure Blog.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I recommend making both of these, but if you only want to try one, go with the flank steak. Both together were fantastic and I can't wait to eat the left overs for lunch. Not terrible with calories either just watch your portion sizes on the rice with that cheese!<br />
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For the recipes click <a href="http://traceysculinaryadventures.blogspot.com/2012/06/bourbon-and-brown-sugar-marinated-flank.html" target="_blank">here for Steak</a> and <a href="http://traceysculinaryadventures.blogspot.com/2011/10/cheesy-zucchini-rice.html" target="_blank">here for rice</a>.Cheri @ Sharing Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670008304289188147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875092829292431.post-39948680270414289702012-06-19T00:00:00.000-04:002012-06-19T00:00:10.091-04:00Kitchen fear 1Remember me telling you about things I was afraid to make? One of those was pizza crust. Yes, simple, basic, pizza crust. Why was I afraid of it? I can't tell you. Maybe it's because of the fear of time it would take, I would miss a step (happens frequently in my cooking endeavors- have you read my Tasty Tuesday posts?), I would burn it, whatever. <br />
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Enter (my heroine), Ree Drummond (aka The Pioneer Woman). You know I love her and her recipes. I was looking to make calzones and didn't want to use biscuits (as I usually do), so I used one of her recipes for pizza crust. It was so stinking easy and basic and wonderful. I loved the crust. It was tasty, simple, and not time consuming! yes, I made it the night before (which is typical for bready things). <br />
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So easy. I'm actually looking forward to using it for something else I'm afraid of doing- grilling! Yep, I'm going to grill and I'm going to grill pizza. You watch and wait. I'll report back. I'm sure I'll love it and everything will be fabulous... and if it isn't, it was a learning experience- take out here we come!<br />
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Here is the <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/02/my-favorite-pizza/" target="_blank">link</a> for the pizza crust recipe I used (I think- there are 2 cookbooks with 2 different recipes- can't remember which book I used and which crust! UGH! I really should write these as I go!). Enjoy!Cheri @ Sharing Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670008304289188147noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875092829292431.post-67132119787891841742012-06-18T19:12:00.000-04:002012-06-18T19:12:03.226-04:00Yummy Eats for the Week.The story goes that since I'm on summer break, I've fallen out of many habits. I'm getting lazy. It's true. It's terrible. Don't get me wrong, I'm doing a lot and have really only spent 5 days of the past 20 at home all day. I'm making little progress on my goals for the year and I really am not into reading much either. I don't know what's up. I just want to play with my lil man. <br />
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So, I'm going to start writing out my meal plans for y'all again. It keeps me accountable and maybe it will give you some ideas. I'm shopping on Monday mornings now as the stores are not busy and doesn't take from time with hubby and lil man. Granted, shopping with lil man is a little challenging at times. The links will lead you straight to the recipe for the items. Be sure to stop back as I'll review the recipes after I make them. <br />
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Monday: <a href="http://traceysculinaryadventures.blogspot.com/2012/06/bourbon-and-brown-sugar-marinated-flank.html" target="_blank">Brown Sugar and Bourbon Flank Steak</a> with <a href="http://traceysculinaryadventures.blogspot.com/2011/10/cheesy-zucchini-rice.html" target="_blank">Cheesy Zucchini rice</a>. Both from Tracey's Culinary Adventure... a favorite food blog.<br />
Tuesday: Meatball subs and french fries<br />
Wednesday: Breakfast (french toast with bacon or a quiche)<br />
Thursday: Taco salads served in biscuit bowls (I forgot the shells at the store as lil man was trying to escape from the cart).<br />
Friday: <a href="http://cookingwithkrista.blogspot.com/2011/06/honey-grilled-chicken-breasts-with-corn.html" target="_blank">Honey grilled chicken </a>with grilled potatoes and veggies served with cake for lil man's birthday!<br />
Saturday: Leftovers<br />
Sunday: Grilled cheese or burgers or quesadillas.<br />
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Hopefully, this week the local farmer's market will have some good stuff so I can get some new things to try. This morning, I gave my son a piece of toast with a flavored honey from the market and he loved it! Let's see what else I can get him to like.Cheri @ Sharing Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670008304289188147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875092829292431.post-34788711159204056772012-06-14T00:00:00.000-04:002012-06-14T00:00:02.955-04:00Wardrobe Re-doI know it's been a while, but remember how I was redoing my closet and wardrobe using ideas from Haley's The No Brainer Wardrobe? I have to tell you something. I love that I can see what I have in my closet and not have to dig in the back. Everything I currently own is stuff I will use again and again. Nothing in there (that I can think of right now) is something that will just sit there. It's so nice and easy. <br />
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I know where everything is (even the stuff in my dresser drawers). I can't tell you how freeing this process has been. I find it easy to get ready and look put together when I need to. I can't thank Hayley enough for all she's done. Coming soon.... some favorite outfits! I love that part!<br />
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Fore more on how to feel better about your ensemble without the stress of not knowing what to wear, click The No Brainer Wardrobe on your right side. Great ebook and so easy. I love that Hayley gives you action steps to take that are simple and that the advice has worked! <br />
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<br />Cheri @ Sharing Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670008304289188147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875092829292431.post-14702556680737782492012-06-12T00:00:00.001-04:002012-06-12T00:00:09.372-04:00YUMMMMMM! Try this!Thursday was a super busy day. I mean super busy. I am not much of a crock pot cook primarily because my husband doesn't like food in a crock pot (I don't get it, but whatever). So what else is easy and convenient- grilling! <br />
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Confession, I'm afraid of cooking on the grill. Like, I've never actually completed a meal on my own on the grill and the one time I tried to grill, it was yuck - like raw. You know the cooked on the outside but raw in the middle... Ewww. I hate that. However, we just bought a new grill as our 12 year old grill pretty much died on us (crusty, rusty and not cooking evenly due to poor upkeep on our end). I decided it would be the year that I overcame my fear of grill cooking. I mean, it could blow up, I could catch on fire, lil man could get burned, what if I dropped the food in the grates and lost it forever... <br />
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I had some pork chops in the fridge that I picked up the day before hoping to make this recipe that night (but didn't work out as we wanted burgers badly). So, since they were thawed, I whipped up this quick recipe from Kraft Food and Family Magazine. It was called something like zesty pork and veggies. <br />
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This recipe is beyond easy. Beyond... seriously. Simply take the pork chops out (bone-in or boneless) and poke them with a fork then place into a shallow bowl. Whip up 1/4 c. Italian dressing and 1 Tbsp Grey Poupon (or other dijon mustard). Pour half of it over the pork (I poured all and made more for basting). Cover and refrigerate... get this... not hours... for 15 minutes! Yep, 15 minutes. <br />
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During that 15 minutes, I chopped up green pepper, red pepper and zucchini (I forgot the onion) then I added in some fresh garlic and drizzled with olive oil covered and stuck in fridge. In the meantime, we played for another hour outside giving everything time to marinate- besides in the summer, we don't eat until a little later. <br />
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I warmed the grill... put the pork on and the veggies into the basket on the grill. I waited... and waited. I then realized, the grill ran out of gas at the beginning of cooking... nice. Ran to the store for a new propane tank, grilled up my food and basted the pork with the extra batch of marinade that I made. The veggies were simple and fantastic. The pork was some of the tastiest that I've had in a while. The flavor kept throughout and there was no need for more. Despite the fact that I overcooked the pork a little (due to running and chasing an almost three-year-old who was into EVERYTHING), dinner was amazingly delicious. Hubby even said it was some of the best pork he's had in a long time. The flavor was splendid. I will certainly make this again. And the fact that it took 5 minutes to whip up and 15 minutes cooking time is a plus. <br />
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Try it. It's good. No lie. If my almost three-year-old son wanted seconds, so will you!<br />
<br />Cheri @ Sharing Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670008304289188147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875092829292431.post-13950089369425736612012-06-11T13:26:00.000-04:002012-06-11T13:26:00.118-04:00Book Review: DivergentGET THIS BOOK- NOW! Wow, I just shouted at you. I apologize. I just really really enjoyed this book. It was definitely a good read. Remember, I do not write spoilers, so you are safe to read on.<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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8VqJso0xnnE/T9DkObWsx-I/AAAAAAAABOo/S9XD6yNhHYc/s1600/divergent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8VqJso0xnnE/T9DkObWsx-I/AAAAAAAABOo/S9XD6yNhHYc/s1600/divergent.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from Google Books</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Set in the future where at the age of 16 you must choose which faction you are going to live in and become part of or stay with your family. Faction or family? Hmm What to choose? Most people are given the choice between their current faction (with their family) or another that they tested to have an affinity for. Then there are the special people, the Divergents, who have an affinity toward 2 or more factions. Such is the case with Beatrice. <br />
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Beatrice makes her choice and goes through the initiation (which everyone does even if they are from that faction - ie staying with the faction their family is part of). Being one of the divergent, she soon finds that she's not as safe as she thought. <br />
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This book is so fantastic. Pretty well written for a YA novel. Yes, it's another post-apocalypse/dystopian society book. It's one of the best I've read in a long time. The series of events in the book are amazing. At one point, I looked at the different factions Roth created and wondered if they were based off characteristics in the Beatitudes. Weird, I know, but for some reason, I thought of the factions in that way. <br />
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If you like YA and page turners, this is it. It is long (550 pages) but it's definitely not a cumbersome read. Just pick it up and give it a shot. I have yet to meet someone who hasn't enjoyed it. Yes, it's part of a trilogy and I've read the second book "Insurgent" which is PHENOMENAL! I'll review that for you soon! GET THIS BOOK!Cheri @ Sharing Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670008304289188147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875092829292431.post-79440507762974588342012-06-08T00:00:00.000-04:002012-06-08T00:00:06.606-04:00My addiction....I have a problem. Yes, I'm finally admitting it... I can't believe I'm about to tell you... Really? Should I? Hmm... Well, here goes nothing... I'm addicted to books. There I said it. Whew! <br />
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I have so many stinking books that it's absolutely ridiculous. Sad thing, I haven't read them all. Problem: I not only have shelves of books at home, they are at school, and since Hubby bought me a Kindle Fire for my tonsillectomy, I have a bunch on there as well. Not to mention it's library reading program time and I have library books too. <br />
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I love free Kindle books. I download them all the time. I love going to the library and just perusing the books (children's, YA, adult, fiction, nonfiction, you name it). The greatest thing, the library lets you check out books for free- provided you 1. return them, 2. return them on time. It's a sad state. Really, it is. <br />
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What's the problem? Well, I'd rather read than do housework or exercise or watch tv. I so love to read. The other problems: I'm a slow reader (I like to read in my head as I would outloud - animated and fun) and I have many books going at the same time. Who does that to themselves? Seriously, it's an illness and I need to get on some major medication. <br />
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Right now, I'm reading: <br />
<em>The Total Money Makeover</em> by Dave Ramsey<br />
<em>The Chocolate War</em> by Robert Cormier (a whole 180 pages of ease but I'm not into it right now)<br />
<em>Fifty Shades Freed</em> by E L James (not a genre I usually read and I skip the explicit parts- I'm reading it because the first was a book club choice and I get hooked on trilogies- I have to finish them).<br />
<em>To Love Anew</em> (some free Kindle book)<br />
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My goal: Finish 50 shades and move to Chocolate War then to Total Money. I have about 10 books I brought home from my classroom that I want to read and figure lesson plans for (am I crazy or what?). I think I'm attempting to overachieve and I doubt I'll finish all of it, but it's worth a try- not to mention other books I want to read that I've heard about, read excerpts from, friends recommend, or whatnot. Oh yeah, plus the 2 books about reading instruction and comprehension I borrowed from the library that are due next week. I better get reading!<br />
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Please tell me there are others like me out there? How do you have time to read it all? It's so true: "So many books, so little time". I'm out! Off to get a few minutes to an hour in reading. <br />Cheri @ Sharing Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670008304289188147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875092829292431.post-32467476913073059162012-06-07T00:00:00.000-04:002012-06-07T00:00:01.898-04:00My Little Secret(s)Yep, I'm gonna share a secret with you... actually, a few. <br />
1. I used to be a HORRID cook<br />
2. I'm actually afraid to make some foods/try some cooking methods....<br />
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Whew! I feel better now. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. <br />
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I have to share this story only because it's so funny and it's one my hubby likes to share when people try my cooking. I mean, it's no secret that hubs and I have put on a few pounds since marriage, but moreso since I've started cooking (the past 5 years or so).<br />
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I have to admit, I used to only make certain foods. Our menus were hot dogs served with mac and cheese and occassionally broccoli; spaghetti and take out. Literally. I may get spiffy at times and attempt something fun.... Let's go with fish.<br />
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Here's the story: Hubby and I spent our first 6 months of married life living in an apartment. It was on the fifth floor at the very end of the hall. Actually, for what we paid, it was a nice place. One day, my brother, an avid hunter and fisherman, brought me some serious fish steaks. They were thick and beautiful. Don't ask what kind it was because I can't tell ya. All I know is they were nice looking. He told me how to cook it (because being the outdoorsman he is, my bro can cook some mean dishes- he is a terrific cook). I thought it was way too easy. I didn't feel like eating it so I put it in freezer wrap in the freezer. A month or so later, I decided I would try it. I was feeling adventurous. <br />
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I was so excited. I wanted to surprise the hubby with a great home cooked meal and try my hand at cooking.... plus, I was in the mood for good fish. Well, I did what I thought my brother said- put under the broiler for a few minutes with olive oil and some spices. I was curious when I looked at the fish as to what the dark vein-like spot was but figured it needed to be in there so I left it. <br />
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While it was cooking, the apartment really started to smell like fish. I'm talking so strong even with the patio door open (to the balcony) the stench was overwhelming. I thought we would have to crawl on the floor as though smoke were filling the room except instead of smoke, it was fish smell. I didn't think anything of it other than it was a stinky fish and going to taste disgusting. <br />
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Hubby came home and said he smelled fish down at the other end of the hall. I said, "Oh. It's probably because I'm cooking fish and it just wafted down there." I mean, I had opened the door to the apartment as well because it was so overwhelming. The timer went off and I took the fish out to find a black smudgy fluid all over the pan. Ewww... <br />
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Hubby looked at it and said, "Honey, you're supposed to cut that part out. Now it's ruined and we'll have to eat something else. That's the poop vein." I thought he simply was avoiding trying my wonderful dish, so I called my brother who confirmed what hubby said. I was devastated. What's worse, that apartment smelled like fish until we moved out a month later! Boy, am I glad I cooked that fish there instead of in my current home! To this day, when someone comments on my cooking or says to hubs something about why they see he stays with me, he chuckles and says "She didn't always cook like this." <br />
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I thought you would enjoy that story. I'll share more on my cooking fears over the next few months. I'm still overcoming some and loving what I'm learning and the fact that I'm challenging myself! Do you have any cooking mishap stories? I love hearing them!Cheri @ Sharing Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670008304289188147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875092829292431.post-23782862253593900482012-06-06T07:54:00.000-04:002012-06-06T07:54:42.651-04:00Book review: WitherI'm back... Figured I'd start easy- a book review. <br />
Anyway, while lil man was snuggling with me after his tonsillectomy/adnoidectomy (that's just a weird word - adnoids... add ectomy and it's weirder- who named those things anyway??), I finished reading <em>Wither</em>. A book that came recommended by a friend, coworker, and fellow reader - she's a librarian. She felt I would enjoy it. Imagine my surprise when I found it at Ollie's for $3.99. It was hardcover in perfect condition brand new... fantastic! I've gotten off the book buying habit as I feel we have WAY too many books in our possession (more on that later). I just couldn't resist buying it because I could also put it in my classroom for the students to read. That's the main reason I buy books- can I use them for my classroom or if they are a good reference book. If not, I get them from the library (I'm posting about our wonderful libraries soon. They truly are great places.).<br />
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I picked it up and about 6 weeks later, I was finally diving in; however, I must say, I got extremely busy at work and my reading was down to 1-2 pages a day because of the work load and needing to spend time with my family. Reading is the last thing I do before bed and I try to sneak some in during lunch- but I do it daily. <br />
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Back to the book review.... sorry... I get talky at times.<br />
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Wither is the story of a girl, well 3 really, who lives in a world where despite the fact that diseases such as AIDS and cancer no longer exist, life expectancy is not long. A nearly perfect race proves to still have imperfections. Males live to 25 and females to 20. This means, in order to have children, girls are married off (or kidnapped and sold) by the age of 13 so they can have children in the hopes of finding a cure for the short life span.<br />
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Rhine is captured and sold to a wealthy man, Linden. She is noted and sought after for her beautiful eyes. Her twin warns her not to leave their home; however, she didn't listen and was whisked away to be sold to Linden. With him, she lives in a mansion where wealth knows no bounds with 2 other sister brides and her father-in-law. Watch out, he's creepy! The man is pure evil in my sight! <br />
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Rhine seeks knowledge, understanding and freedom. She spends time with the staff (when it's forbidden) creating an interesting love triangle- or is it? Does she love Linden or not? Does she simply want to go back to her twin brother and be free from the bondage of this house and father-in-law? She sets out to gain all of those things - knowledge, understanding, freedom, and, yes, love.<br />
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While I thought the world that was created was intriguing and unique, I struggled with getting into the story. I don't know that I really connected with Rhine. In hindsight (since it's been a while since I read it) it wasn't terrible. It was okay, but it could have something to do with all the interruptions in my reading and such. Should you read it? Sure. It's a short YA novel that is the first in a trilogy (The Chemical Garden). The second book, <em>Fever</em>, just came out not too long ago. I'll pick it up and give it the "old college try"- but this time, I'm sticking to my rule - 50 pages and I'm out if I'm not into it!<br />
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<br />Cheri @ Sharing Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670008304289188147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875092829292431.post-51938535408834173082012-06-04T08:10:00.001-04:002012-06-04T08:10:17.749-04:00I'm back!!!Hi everyone. I'm back from the abyss of life that prevented me from blogging. There really isn't much reason other than work, sinus infection and potty training my soon-to-be 3-year-old. Wow. I can't believe my son is going to be 3! Amazing how time flies!<br />
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I've accomplished a little in that time. I haven't made an incredible amount of new recipes, but a few. I managed to read a few books and will be reviewing them soon. I also managed to clean out my cabinets at work to get them more organized. Now, I will admit that I didn't get through all of them, but I got through 4 out of 6 that needed cleaned. Hopefully, this week, I'll clean out the rest. <br />
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So I have to tell you that I'm working on my son's birthday party. I had a theme in mind and the invitations written and printed, but I'm thinking of changing my mind.... AND there are 4 weeks til the party! YIKES! I doubt I will, but I'm thinking about it. I have a HUGE surprise for him on his actual birthday and can't wait til he finds out what it is. That will be a GLORIOUS moment in his life.<br />
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That's about what I've been up to (aside from playing with my lil man). Several of you have asked if I'll be blogging again. To answer your question, yes. I'm just trying to figure out a time to do it! For some reason my use of time has changed and I'm not on the computer much at all. I must admit that I frequently forget to check email - even though I can do it from my phone which sends me reminders.... Maybe I'm just too caught up in the moment, but isn't that the way to be?Cheri @ Sharing Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670008304289188147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875092829292431.post-63715090528827423552012-05-01T00:00:00.000-04:002014-11-16T07:48:48.134-05:00Tasty Tuesday: Kale and Feta Breakfast CasseroleI've been cooking my way through my pinterest pins. A few at a time. Can i just say, I'm addicted to checking what's out there all the time? Can I also tell you that I really like to be able to visit favorite sites and pin things for later review using Pinterest? Okay. I'm done now. <br />
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Back to cooking. I decided I would make a recipe for Kale and Feta Breakfast Casserole using my friend's farm fresh eggs. Since hubby doesn't like these things, I knew it would be up to myself to eat it all (thank goodness for friends who like what I like!). <br />
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I made up this yummy recipe and at the same time made hubby tuna noodle casserole (something I really do not like). I was afraid my dinner would smell like tuna, but it wasn't the case- thank goodness! <br />
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The breakfast casserole cooked a little longer than I wanted, but it wasn't bad. The other problem is with my oven. It is at an angle so things do not cook evenly. I will fix this when we fix our flooring (hopefully this summer or next year). Until then I just work with it. <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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M-BFjZhU97w/ThxjSoEsvRI/AAAAAAAASBo/CQohaeGoNIE/s1600/1-kale-feta-breakfast-casserole-500x500-kalynskitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" closure_uid_s2k8f5="2" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M-BFjZhU97w/ThxjSoEsvRI/AAAAAAAASBo/CQohaeGoNIE/s1600/1-kale-feta-breakfast-casserole-500x500-kalynskitchen.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from<a href="http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2011/08/recipe-for-kale-and-feta-breakfast.html" target="_blank"> here</a></td></tr>
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I loved the bite of the kale and the tang of the feta (one of my favorite cheeses). The recipe was easy to make and made a lot. I didn't have spice seasoning so I used Lawry's Season Salt. It's my go to seasoning for things like this. <br />
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As far as reheating, I did this in the microwave and it turned out just fine provided I didn't microwave for more than 1 min 30 sec-2 min. <br />
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Click this <a href="http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2011/08/recipe-for-kale-and-feta-breakfast.html" target="_blank">link to get the recipe</a>. <br />
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Join me at 33 Shades of Green for Tasty Tuesday. Let's see what's cooking!Cheri @ Sharing Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670008304289188147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3875092829292431.post-33171254962074385782012-04-27T00:30:00.000-04:002012-04-22T22:29:08.947-04:00The "Excavator's" EffortsRemember <a href="http://sharingcheri.blogspot.com/2012/04/excavator.html" target="_blank">this post</a> about lil man playing the role of an excavator and planting seeds for basil and parsley? I have to tell you, this was a great idea to do with him. Every morning he asks about his plants and if they need water. It's the cutest thing! <br />
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Imagine his surprise when I announced I had something to share with him then proceeded to show him the seedlings pushing through the surface of the soil to get that glorious sunlight. His face beamed so brightly. Now, everyday he wants to see how big they are. I thought I'd share with you...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CwVPpS7n9HQ/T5Sy6uDrwjI/AAAAAAAABIY/ilsPV3RRsVA/s1600/IMG_2151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CwVPpS7n9HQ/T5Sy6uDrwjI/AAAAAAAABIY/ilsPV3RRsVA/s320/IMG_2151.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting big! Grow seeds grow!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pemty8UT8-s/T5SzF6hvepI/AAAAAAAABIg/y7UlEK_qw0k/s1600/IMG_2152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pemty8UT8-s/T5SzF6hvepI/AAAAAAAABIg/y7UlEK_qw0k/s320/IMG_2152.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look how fun!</td></tr>
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Next step, moving them to seedling pots. I'm going with an idea I found on pinterest- making seedling pots out of newspaper. I'll let you know how it goes!Cheri @ Sharing Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02670008304289188147noreply@blogger.com0