tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84420054144872012622024-03-13T20:04:31.638-05:00HighlowahaRay Wattsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07334304738242059490noreply@blogger.comBlogger656125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442005414487201262.post-64797447674529388462010-02-18T06:11:00.002-06:002010-02-18T06:13:27.840-06:00Movin' On UpIf you've wandered your way into our blog you may be wondering where all the action is...easy answer it is at the House of Shine!!!<br /><br />We've moved to a bigger, nicer, newer HOUSE and we'd love to have you join us.<br /><br />Change your bookmarks to <a href="http://www.houseofshine.com">www.houseofshine.com</a> and come on over to explore!Heather @ HouseofShine.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16648634900509792340noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442005414487201262.post-77018617706660629632010-02-17T04:00:00.000-06:002010-02-17T04:50:57.983-06:00Funny Bone<div style="text-align: left;">Have I mentioned, I'm dyslexic?</div><div><br /></div><div>Don't feel sorry for me, though. I get by just fine. Sure, I trevni srettel semitemos, tub tsom reven eciton.</div><div><br /></div><div>So cashing in "Ahas" for "Hahas" was a no-brainer as far as I was concerned.</div><div><br /></div><div>Heather, our trusty Free For All camera woman assured me there were plenty of "hahas" tucked away in unseen Friday footage. Funnier than the mermaid? Funnier than the three of us sporting our bling while rapping?</div><div><br /></div><div>Hard to believe, but take a look...</div><div><br /></div><div><b><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1iK6PilRJC0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1iK6PilRJC0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Oh, and here is me sporting my new bracelet. Thanks to my fierce competitors, Cheryl (Belt #1) and Heather (Belt #3) for consistently raising the bar and testing my shine.</div><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuHwDpXYSXNuJve7zrcNt-UGMhTygsc56foMbEDjTOvrXXMZ2VmTmI0wDpOt01-xhzEYwHScISQZF7TNQtd5IPwLOjVuAKKdLVRnX1EOdwwcMDiThna7rnkJJ-WM8cpuZP7dYMKEA30UH/s400/IMGP5631.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439059999016672898" border="0" /><div>Needless to say, the fierce didn't show up in <i>your</i> inner competitor yesterday. Not a single person brought us a visitor. That means, tune in later in this week to get a second chance at winning the Rise and Shine tool belt.</div><div><br /></div><div>Signing off until tomorrow... Anniversary Day! </div>Claudia @ Highlowahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18156269935738164157noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442005414487201262.post-78377082406300176752010-02-16T04:00:00.023-06:002010-02-16T14:45:45.980-06:00Belt It Out<div><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 221px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438674264528081298" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO2hsRRyty4YdCI2bzXXITi8q3FEEXBSZEo7ODk9zDF5OdWzOo9FeIhdHM67_El54c-Zl6RYYEFW7ky7Tsi9gdf47podDwgS_WgRNsktkjdhz3CZa6vTXwXzfhiWDo1DjexCJ9i1TxCfnF/s400/Lowes_logo.jpg" border="0" />What kind of blog would Highlowaha be if we dedicated an entire day of our Anniversary Week to "lows?"<div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Heather, Cheryl, and I understand that lows are a fact of life. We get the whole what-goes-up-must-come-down, silver lining, darkest-before-the-dawn thing. Still, when brainstorming how to spend Anniversary Week, the three of us never got comfortable with showcasing "lows."</div><br /><div>On January 22, Kat, saved the day. This loyal reader suggested that a competition between me, Cheryl, and Heather would be a fun addition to our Anniversary Week celebration.</div><div><br /></div><div>Today's competition is titled, <b><i>How "Lowe" Can We Go? </i><span style="font-weight: normal;" class="Apple-style-span">It allows us to revisit November's Cookie Cutter Challenge when I created a Writer's Toolkit in order to showcase the screwdriver cookie cutter.</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Each of us was given one $0.77 tool belt from Lowe's Hardware Store. Our challenge was to create a tool belt using the theme, "<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Shine</span>" </b>- something we think this blog knows a little something about<b>. </b>Before we get to the pictures, some important things for you to know.</div><div><ul><li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">First</span></b>, each reader should vote in the poll below for the tool belt they like best.</li><li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">Second</span></b>, the reader who draws the most visitors to our comment section today will win the Shine tool belt voted #1.</li><li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">Third</span></b>, the other two tool belts will be given away as the week goes on.</li><li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">Fourth</span></b>, Heather, Cheryl, and I are competing for something shiny of our own. Get a glimpse of the picture at the end of today's post.</li></ul></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Shine #1</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">A little mascara and pretty feet are all a girl needs to conquer the world.</span></div></div><div><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 304px; display: block; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438681113785006418" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxHpe-tCPQGDQ4dc-EDqEC4xOX-CB9FBueuF0C2RSr8bvuK7ERA86BCP5fOFndKcD80QNzs8ic5_CL__-qJBYrig-QuPID3zfbTn7zboRFSETrlr-vYM7nYsrNdwB4mEpqNkALBu75PU/s400/lowesbag+002.jpg" border="0" /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Shine #2</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Rise and Shine</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Start Your Day Off BRight!</div><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 266px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438665856119010546" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIunCSWOw1h2B4dRfZogP8EDGxphVQOOPrFYjyVMbFW_2BVEnlpONyE2SiQxWMq9ezZTu6MSjnmyYhotJfn5JVVKFZvm9-vAYuW17cJcvmH_1vc8R125z3u_GsVzk-P0jwCzTVpLGvgq-/s400/IMGP5624.JPG" border="0" /><div><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 293px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438665847659184914" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9YDXa4ulTEaPZ1L28jKMgXmaSB3WNAFhlS9fW6I_C762jsiIQXJ8Kc936LmiYdUIRaSaBJl2eavTvL8XetFcbpHgWv434C67G8NYghzq9N4HO7bQfDLh2DngeP2b0LvRFnD7SJt6f3NG/s400/IMGP5620.JPG" border="0" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51); font-weight: bold;">Shine #3<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Spread Shine</span><br />People who Shine let others know when they do!<br /><b><span style="font-weight: normal;" class="Apple-style-span"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqe-oSdgkm1_Yj1V77X53az-kdmMGF1ENbzw578DNs_5rtRD-YcpPFf5xUQcAS14p2M-DtfKAqs4MAlP_deLUPlCzmumEUnMh51CRTYmhgMjkQedT4XbuRGYIh7jX6hUyPPiFakKSrhzvC/s1600-h/IMG_1136.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqe-oSdgkm1_Yj1V77X53az-kdmMGF1ENbzw578DNs_5rtRD-YcpPFf5xUQcAS14p2M-DtfKAqs4MAlP_deLUPlCzmumEUnMh51CRTYmhgMjkQedT4XbuRGYIh7jX6hUyPPiFakKSrhzvC/s400/IMG_1136.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438705108471021058" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbsSheHMTxv9OCSegyPFungTWaACs0Z9Lul49iFsrYCTK4g7QVgSSrvnHsE1lS-JZ-dlykaM9SU3vGOc-f0qX82zkyjuSNsNpNI6el1C7U9s0vZTu7HGYlq91VUjcyERVxVwdgsfcIUNK/s1600-h/IMG_1134.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbsSheHMTxv9OCSegyPFungTWaACs0Z9Lul49iFsrYCTK4g7QVgSSrvnHsE1lS-JZ-dlykaM9SU3vGOc-f0qX82zkyjuSNsNpNI6el1C7U9s0vZTu7HGYlq91VUjcyERVxVwdgsfcIUNK/s400/IMG_1134.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438707817843343858" border="0" /></a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Cast your vote in the poll below. Will it be <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Shine #1</span></b>, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Shine #2</span></b>, or <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Shine #3</span></b>?</div><br /><img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border="0" width="0" height="0" src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyNjYzMjQxMjUyMzUmcHQ9MTI2NjMyNDEyOTU5NyZwPTE2MTYwMSZkPXd3dy5xdWliYmxvLmNvbSZnPTEmbz*xMmMz/ZmQ5NmRlNGM*NTY*OWU1MzhlNWFkNTY1MzQ*MiZvZj*w.gif" /><div align="center"> <object width="300" height="400" wmode="transparent" data="http://apps.quibblo.com/static/flash/qwidget/qwidget.swf?s=&theme=quibblo&quiz=bE5Czw8" allownetworking="all" allowscriptaccess="never" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><br /><param name="movie" value="http://apps.quibblo.com/static/flash/qwidget/qwidget.swf?s=&theme=quibblo&quiz=bE5Czw8"><br /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"><br /><param name="allownetworking" value="all"><br /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><br /><param name="bgcolor" value="ffffff"><br /></object><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"> <a href="http://www.quibblo.com/">Quizzes</a> by <a href="http://www.quibblo.com/quiz/bE5Czw8/Which-Shine-Toolbelt-Do-You-Like-Best">Quibblo.com</a></span> </div><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"> <a href="http://www.quibblo.com/">Quizzes</a> by <a href="http://www.quibblo.com/quiz/bE1PjQX/Which-SHINE-toolbelt-do-you-like-best">Quibblo.com</a></span> </div><br />Who will shine <i>Brighton</i>? Cheryl, Heather, or Claudia? Polls close at 10:00 CST.<br /><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 296px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438665859785030786" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiif9CkaQ1o1hdCfxaFQ-LYEOoYTt3slqWtuD8hb909FFEd68hyy0tlXUqsC9Yvp-ijmK9We9JCDVAD9zpaDN4l5i96SEtzaNPnGgaWVbXa_AT6_km7KywqEsvJkYvFCCGldbzEayBuXp-E/s400/IMGP5629.JPG" border="0" />Signing off until tomorrow...<br /><br /><div></div></div>Claudia @ Highlowahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18156269935738164157noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442005414487201262.post-86975342799028217672010-02-15T04:00:00.002-06:002010-02-15T04:00:01.015-06:00Flying By<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMmVclGBLj1NhzNVY29I8xFY_I18xsKJ085Q3DviGWgdR593uNOVH4eYcC944Pg5sGSwIOf3mkKmNmMs9GX5Xz9nqzDjg_Qjqz8FcHWZMGrP8Kkk47G9ZRfbBubELB2b8Z04-CKHUQQWE/s1600-h/Mogul+skier.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMmVclGBLj1NhzNVY29I8xFY_I18xsKJ085Q3DviGWgdR593uNOVH4eYcC944Pg5sGSwIOf3mkKmNmMs9GX5Xz9nqzDjg_Qjqz8FcHWZMGrP8Kkk47G9ZRfbBubELB2b8Z04-CKHUQQWE/s400/Mogul+skier.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438320307753428226" /></a>I spent last night watching the Men's Olympic Mogul Skiing. If you watched then you how thrilling it was when Alexandre Bilodeau finally won a gold for Canada and how proud we were when Bryon Wilson won a bronze for the United States.<div><br /></div><div><div>I kind of like the idea of using mogul skiing as an analogy for today's post.</div><div><br /></div><div>Like mogul skiers, Heather, Cheryl, and I are standing at the top of the slope, taking deep breaths in and then slowly, calmly exhaling out. Our year of hard work and commitment brings us to a moment feeling every bit as important as the Olympics - <b><i>Highlowaha's Second Anniversary</i></b>. </div><div><br /></div><div>We want the gold. We want to reach Saturday's finish line and be greeted by all of you jumping up and down in the stands, cheering us on. But, between now and then we have some moguls to maneuver and, with a little luck, a few aerial moves that should leave us all flying high.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Tuesday</span></b> we will weave in and around "lows" - Highlowaha style. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Wednesday</span></b> we will take creative liberties with classic Highlowaha "ahas." <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Thursday</span></b> will feel like <b><i>coming Home</i></b>, because one thing remains certain: no matter how much the world around us changes, the 18th of each month is reserved for reflecting on our "highs," "lows" and "ahas." I won't <i><b>give away</b></i> too much too soon, but suffice it to say, we will finish the work week strong. </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>Don't forget about Saturday. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Saturday</span></b> we will stay true to our <i>Yellow Envelope Project</i>, except this week <i>you</i> will <b><i>drive</i></b> things!</div><div><br /></div><div>This week is going to pass in record time.</div><div><br /></div><div>Deep breath in; slowly, calmly exhale out. And we're off. </div><div><br /></div></div>Claudia @ Highlowahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18156269935738164157noreply@blogger.com71tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442005414487201262.post-84103345524515901372010-02-13T07:48:00.009-06:002010-02-13T12:23:06.690-06:00Yellow Envelope Project: Harker Heights<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDiK0kR0YGEFYyx8nJ4mCk6L5XYChfL7oBgkq4sRJvX4ccKz5Fi_i5pn3Lm09DEGjapIfHPZ17QzVjxnlv1zMwjsC7C9fk55xhkKLBlQIcA2qYMoDr1eeW_mXwUvPlO0lUV6N13hRrYOy/s1600-h/YEP+photo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 189px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDiK0kR0YGEFYyx8nJ4mCk6L5XYChfL7oBgkq4sRJvX4ccKz5Fi_i5pn3Lm09DEGjapIfHPZ17QzVjxnlv1zMwjsC7C9fk55xhkKLBlQIcA2qYMoDr1eeW_mXwUvPlO0lUV6N13hRrYOy/s400/YEP+photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437746102494025730" /></a>Talk about shining. The Olympics is chock full of athletes who shine. <div><br /></div><div>I decided, as someone who supports, studies, and scours the planet for people who shine, that it was my responsibility to watch the opening of the Olympics. I like to soak in as much shine as I can, as often as I can.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sorry we're off to a later start than normal this morning.</div><div><br /></div><div>Last week I got a good dose of shine. I went south to Killeen, Texas to reconnect with a friend of mine from graduate school. Debbie's husband, Robert, is in the military, so Killeen, Texas is just one stop along a long list of moves she and her family has made. Recently back from a year in England, I was anxious to reconnect with my friend of more than twenty years.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sometimes, as is the case with people who shine, their brilliance has an uncanny way of illuminating the things about ourselves that we wished shined brighter. Debbie is the epitome of generous. She has accepted her role as a military wife and does it with such grace, such energy, and such enthusiasm, that it is every bit as inspiring as the troops oversees who are fighting to keep us safe. </div><div><br /></div><div>Debbie has four kids between the ages of five and eleven. She has six schedules to manage, four car pools, two cub scout meetings a week, soccer practice, class mom responsibilities, and because of her husband's rank in the army, a leadership role among military wives that would rival most of our full time jobs. No joke. </div><div><br /></div><div>Her kitchen is like Mission Control. Like clockwork, they get up, eat breakfast, dressed, and get out the door. The school bell, is also Debbie's signal that she must be off to the races. She has five hours to squeeze in meetings on military base, menu planning, grocery shopping, volunteering at the school, running errands for Robert, shuffling kids to and from activities, attending military functions, and oh, by the way... unpacking more boxes from their recent move, while also sewing costumes for her daughter's 100th day of School Celebration.</div><div><br /></div><div>Debbie is the kind of strong and independent woman that makes it possible for our troops to travel oversees without having to worry about how families are faring back home. In fact, the only time a tear rolled out of Debbie's eye was when we briefly talked about Robert's deployment to Iraq come September. Even a star as bright as Debbie must feel the enormity of having to fly solo with four kids, while also managing the inevitable worry that comes with a husband at war. </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><div>Debbie is precisely why we developed the <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;">Yellow Envelope Project</span></i></b>. No bells, no whistles, no awards, or accolades. Debbie just wakes up each morning, her feet hitting the floor, shining at everything she does and brightening - illuminating - her corner of the world.</div><div><br /></div><div>Please join me in sending her a yellow envelope. Those new to the game, it's easy.</div><div><br /></div><div>Write Debbie a short note telling her you think she shines and thanking her for making her corner of the world brighter. Place it in a yellow envelope - or a white envelope decorated with yellow markers and yellow stickers. Place the words, "<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;">Yellow Envelope Project</span></b></i>" in the return address, and mail to the address listed below sometime before next Friday.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's easy, you'll feel great, and Debbie will be reminded that shining is worth it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Debbie</div><div>101 West Great Plains Trail</div><div>Harker Heights, TX 76548</div><div><br /></div><div>Signing off until tomorrow...</div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div>Claudia @ Highlowahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18156269935738164157noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442005414487201262.post-49358757060838943882010-02-12T04:00:00.007-06:002010-02-12T04:00:00.639-06:00Rubbish<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvsvQCNsk_q3o8gsF8fFUKjLnR9VMliLqF-4idHBJPQ0hVRnje3p5D5lrTiYnQgO2DAa8w3_hZu2dXjLvJT7pneDVS-kmMyhqSonIggKLpD3UkOKhePNCEJ2wFgIUhaFlny5UIv4W_Mu8/s1600-h/IMGP5599.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 348px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvsvQCNsk_q3o8gsF8fFUKjLnR9VMliLqF-4idHBJPQ0hVRnje3p5D5lrTiYnQgO2DAa8w3_hZu2dXjLvJT7pneDVS-kmMyhqSonIggKLpD3UkOKhePNCEJ2wFgIUhaFlny5UIv4W_Mu8/s400/IMGP5599.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437193160545699410" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">Our Friday plans were foiled. Heather, Cheryl, and I were scheduled to meet last night so we could tape today's Free For All Friday video. Eight inches of snow later, we wimpy Texans decided to stay home instead of braving the wet and slushy roads.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I promised the blog wouldn't fall apart in the absence of our much anticipated video and that, somehow, I would pull out an extra blog post for the week. Void of a real topic, I resort to writing about what is on my mind - good, bad, or boring.</div><div><b>First</b>. Creativity is everywhere. Look at what some of my neighbors whipped up last night.</div><div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 341px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqAJqFy1oxe3-CMFG_hGEkorpKB-0VMBQFwiwwC6xE3cRBVrOPPmOY_vRXzykH-1fStosxSYcrPYAmYNayUXvuftoHAt65mfHFiIiRpI4b5yFnPxW9v16_DUL66AyTIkzlQVUN0aieRvo/s400/IMGP5602.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437185546062584818" border="0" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzoqvrKdbQjs9kRuVJSG5Li5JCg6IUxI2flWVVbGPJfsEpmSyBOfkl26mN-YzpFMoF0wkuZ-mx4cYt4ZCZcPaStZ8o4vZZbyjcQJBC4P64m53fvpC_QsfW3UlZFZXy81pyR4t3GthkkK_/s400/IMGP5609.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437185367889410738" border="0" /> <div style="text-align: left;"><b>Second</b>. How do you throw away a garbage can? My husband and I have been trying to throw away a garbage can for weeks. At first we tried placing the old garbage can in the new one, hoping they get the hint and figure out the can itself was garbage. No go. Then we tried printing "garbage" in black sharpie on the side of the can. Still no go. Got any suggestions?</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><b>Third</b>. Today marks the culmination of the latest <i>Target Challenge</i>. A recap of this creative game for Highlowaha's newbies. I purchase an item from the Dollar Bin at Target and then present it to Heather and Cheryl. Testing their creativity, these women u se the item to do something clever. Then you the readers vote on who made best use of the item. I've recently decided to get in on the action, so check out all three and then vote on the one you like most.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Entry A</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Inspirational Quote </div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJT6SR-5aWX9U7MoJWCNxki-115GnO49kk4mQS_7osBjq-4YKzjqnEpJXyl33K9iYadh52gP_nhiWP1jPsx4cAb1wTA4zKTHQ9EduPYGLWjRuEjW2KnMhF7E_tZ8FfOqWy8X4karHJJPHO/s400/TargetChallenge_Cheryl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437192676147113634" border="0" /> <div style="text-align: center;"><b>Entry B</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cupcake Stand</div><div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvkqOeItq5spjLpokwARXT-ruCqWldhpBMfhShRnVZpooTknakXaVpinZ0Ifk8RUVuyUS-fEAf7lsBAY7-LIg4dBq7kJpHt0fYWMbt85j18dJW0BrFQb9EUJNipme-mzJ89l4l2ebGsko/s400/IMGP5597.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437189398505805186" border="0" /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Entry C</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dishwasher Magnet<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJHq14L6pJ3iyi2MgC1a1D3irPVx5yHBFDokIiDt-KaKAT35Qy_lBDf4QiECCcdHGNcxcOtB5PGm8xJm6YYXJFgzlLatUqWgRmxwzwTDD5Pp7XcA4hjbVQjTylHbqEiCAbr1hqfuErtCy/s1600-h/IMG_1123.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJHq14L6pJ3iyi2MgC1a1D3irPVx5yHBFDokIiDt-KaKAT35Qy_lBDf4QiECCcdHGNcxcOtB5PGm8xJm6YYXJFgzlLatUqWgRmxwzwTDD5Pp7XcA4hjbVQjTylHbqEiCAbr1hqfuErtCy/s400/IMG_1123.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437221275350438306" border="0" /></a></div> </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Fourth</b>. When all else fails, it's Free For All Friday. What do you want to talk about?</div><div><br /></div><div>Signing off until tomorrow...</div>Claudia @ Highlowahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18156269935738164157noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442005414487201262.post-57827726644257780552010-02-11T04:00:00.003-06:002010-02-11T04:00:02.367-06:00Dragons and Cupids and Tigers, Oh My!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVeC-eY26ho8wNOOQol08Xi-ITOs27ntg_r_unEbcm5qMr9JQDkbQKTQaAOAz2GHMy1uSEH5_B0J5rVXNbdR6AN9Mr5LAhUVl3TrqVOH7GDRwPebC8DtX0cUB9ODtkmP77IZvydyKBog_/s1600-h/IMGP5589.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVeC-eY26ho8wNOOQol08Xi-ITOs27ntg_r_unEbcm5qMr9JQDkbQKTQaAOAz2GHMy1uSEH5_B0J5rVXNbdR6AN9Mr5LAhUVl3TrqVOH7GDRwPebC8DtX0cUB9ODtkmP77IZvydyKBog_/s400/IMGP5589.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436819950616687026" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">Raise your hand if you knew Valentines Day 2010 was the same day as the Chinese New Year.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's a dilemma for someone who loves holidays as much as I do to decide how to handle a double decker kind of day. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>One year Matthew's birthday fell on Easter. Obviously, we couldn't not celebrate both, so instead we turned Matthew's party into an Easter Egg hunt. Then there was the year I graduated with my doctoral degree during Mother's Day weekend. Graduation isn't exactly a holiday, but after three years of rigorous work and giving birth to a dissertation, I intended to celebrate like it was a national holiday. My mother, mother in-law, and I compromised. We celebrated graduation and motherhood while receiving manicures and pedicures from a local spa in Athens, Georgia. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>So snubbing the Chinese New Year simply because we Americans can out commercialize the rest of the world didn't seem right.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Luckily, the Chinese love the color red as much as Cupid. </div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_tMqv3NtYR72qTMPevE4RrHCHde9Imd2FLuyZF1urKoxonZS3bS2R1Q21EasoTt4iHazfN2QksJJvZHmyF4wj8pqyV2e39xH3P0oIY189IWafmx_eodeLwHQ25yEEKM4LbvLIJWN5lda/s400/IMGP5586.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436819940259642466" /></div><div>Matthew and I decided on a compromise for his classmates. Traditional red Chinese envelopes made from felt (not paper) and filled with a mixture of Chinese tokens and good old fashioned American chocolates. Kids get their much anticipated candy and China, a civilization dating back somewhere around 67,000 years, gets the respect it deserves.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmcAwHK6N970piWra5LS8tGuKlKR30XfnJwMyYuRQlliKrIZ8z-wnepOflcopWApMq4oU1Rc4PtzcLEfuGiTe29hLt2Z_P13CMkAl0ytAI3w14u2MqyRJOo32Ia7qCV_vjwXknCAdT8u3/s400/IMGP5591.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436819934419619490" /><div>And don't think I won't milk this one on Sunday night when I suggest we eat Chinese food for dinner. How about you? What will you be doing on Valentines Day? And, are any of you Celebrating the Year of the Tiger? </div><div><br /></div><div>Signing off until tomorrow... </div>Claudia @ Highlowahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18156269935738164157noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442005414487201262.post-34595251065526392032010-02-10T04:00:00.007-06:002010-02-10T07:20:26.366-06:00Get to the Point<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cj2JThDoV6CZWDWQuAfbemGJ15IwgOx3Qd27qpB70rty1Ab9gkBW6csMuqQgZwDG4CKCKIsw6qwIhRBf6_wq88OoSeeyrK-Fy1FYdcsAOWxs7roC322n3hXHPAQdNqbFrBHz1H2iLrs3/s1600-h/IMGP5576.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cj2JThDoV6CZWDWQuAfbemGJ15IwgOx3Qd27qpB70rty1Ab9gkBW6csMuqQgZwDG4CKCKIsw6qwIhRBf6_wq88OoSeeyrK-Fy1FYdcsAOWxs7roC322n3hXHPAQdNqbFrBHz1H2iLrs3/s400/IMGP5576.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436445698425266690" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Side note</b>. Has anyone else noticed Ray Wattson roaming the front page of our blog sporting all kinds of construction equipment? Monday a blue print, yesterday a ruler, today a shovel. What's he up to?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Food. That's the thing that holds today's blog topic together.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">First food of old. Does anyone remember last April when we hosted our very first<b> Fancy Flours Cookie Cutter Challenge</b>? I was tasked with using a porcupine cookie cutter to celebrate Earth Day. Most memorable was the "sharp" (no pun intended), but anonymous reader who was kind enough to point out that I packaged my porcupine cookies in plastic bags. All while I had the nerve to ask, "<i>What quill you do to help save Mother Earth</i>?" Ouch... literally and figuratively.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The high of the day, however, was when one of our oh-so-creative-readers suggested using the porcupine to celebrate Valentine's Day. Her slogan, you might have guessed, was... "I'm stuck on you." </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I know a good idea when I hear one, so I couldn't wait to bake up my very own batch of pink, red, and white porcupines. This will make the perfect treat for all the teachers and helpers at Matthew and Jack's school.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4z8ZCt28JPoMW5fnc7TMOwyGu1eGwujdEZMaX1IHQWdQ3Eam0lKsJEribb3RUvXc6lhmjnbDHvywKxy7mdM_93x0X1sPgPwxSOeql1YZD20qy401Bo90c3F6XrJR7LDVyk3KoMIGru2WH/s400/IMGP5576.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436421740141258802" /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Next. More food.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Monday Struble Suds provided a great recap of <b><i>Highlowaha's Super Bowl Snack Throwdown</i></b>. Cristine shined like Howard Cosell, giving a play by play of <i>Kate's Frito Fantasy Candy </i>versus Ray's <i>Two Bean Lettuce Wrap</i>. Nobody commented. Nobody.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I am going to venture to say it's because the team we were all rooting for (Team Kate) didn't win. It's like the Yankees and their billion dollar pompous baseball team swooping in and winning the World Series <i>again</i>, when other teams are harder working and far more likeable.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But we must be good sportsmen - or women. So, hard as it may be... Congratulations Ray Wattson on your winning recipe and for earning the title as champion of Highlowaha's Second Annual Snack Throw Down. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And now, painful as it is.. May I present to you your limited edition Super Bowl. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhFR_XIOOk86V-Hr38TFKg2SbSmXzuYBq6eFNHagmMPDPHsmlm0unyLUfmhnZ_Gs_XT-EO7c7Wrn5aZ3t1um-icF3KPLDR4FCOXOiHY3uClhttPtINW4N6yAbLq6cV5ph9f9vIGeMhlIx/s400/IMGP5580.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436421743349320610" /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Speech. Speech.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 368px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5WO2hCuajaZpPoAB0GWJ9Vv9wTjzp4nAYXKClmqgfb24uk6hWnJbLaV7KIHBqQ4lFmv1qMQQASyNL3wvgnLHDptg7qSq1gLvKOy0RcvGghER1GERQUdzRdyrH1SiFwAsVDlvb7_Or51C/s400/FritoRay.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436421759818974002" /></div><div style="text-align: left;">FritoRay here. So, what can I say? I'd like thank all the little people who helped make this possible. Thanks to the patrons of Struble Sud's who recognized that children, because of their size, should only get half a vote. Thanks to the gallons of beer for spurring on the festivities. Thanks to Kate, who overestimated the sophistication of the beer addled midwest pallet that will unthinkingly select any snack with sausage in it over any snack without. Thanks to the Commissioner of the league. Thanks to my hairy armed sous chef. And a special thanks to Matt and Christine Struble for................</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Now about this bowl. I've been thinking about this bowl. My friends have told me that I should keep this bowl and enjoy it as a symbol of my greatness. I think this is too shortsighted a viewpoint. It's a really cool bowl and blessed with my image; but, I'm fortunate enough to have several mirrors in the house. I'm thinking what Kate and her blog needs is a little, well... me. A little Ray Wattson. So, Kate, I'm going to have Claudia send <i>you</i> the bowl. I know, I know, I don't have to do this. And, yes, I am the coolest. Stop stop stop. Just take the bowl. You can owe me one.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfXvI-8W5uJWmHT1pAi3QLHecUH-C_BW7Z7f5etgZQCL7EUxdHvGFAryGZ6eQwsW8JV0TJOngsPXP6C-TRJD-vVR6xDhK-N526AYRw6bFcQxhLKodI53oyO9EG_GyUQdajXTZO-fUIig3/s200/IMGP5583.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436422690877384466" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQM1uOBFaMeEh22-KfBOXPLqRsBCrsobuCZKRja4BR-Vw0FV6OQGB9E2TMK_htUsGjw9UQi9-Bgr7GslpP5GUl73XpV-gGS0gVou2yBhZBR_bglgPmVGJAgk7FMLwWfcee1Y9iU1tbUYW/s200/IMGP5585.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436422686251750242" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">FritoRay Out.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Claudia @ Highlowahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18156269935738164157noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442005414487201262.post-46921298593848968842010-02-09T04:00:00.004-06:002010-02-09T06:52:18.965-06:00Bad Apple<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXoLTzemYmwV2-JqXIDCFKQTsC6bHoQg0em1kYLbXxuUd6Y3b4PpCWd2-iBLLMa3k3OsSXFlTm8iLMAVeH7rJ1XzuGZc5HiDrzIhEO_tOMQMpos1F1KLVcerdj5z5m6F5ZiMjDWk3dUr0/s1600-h/IMGP5569.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXoLTzemYmwV2-JqXIDCFKQTsC6bHoQg0em1kYLbXxuUd6Y3b4PpCWd2-iBLLMa3k3OsSXFlTm8iLMAVeH7rJ1XzuGZc5HiDrzIhEO_tOMQMpos1F1KLVcerdj5z5m6F5ZiMjDWk3dUr0/s400/IMGP5569.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436080309085973154" /></a><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 330px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtf8xmgffjKjoGaloe2_EZfqcag1MMwnnGcr4E-qGI2pgQLXcNZG1oTF8J3qj_PhsrA6GDIuQGpE_UFKqa_bKOiwhGLwavk1W1OVZAoNWjgo0NYvzluIKdjE20l1APOzkc9HKh5pI1_QKS/s400/IMGP5559.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436072352248518738" /><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwgOYgDKznLjJH4PQmtHow3KUGzy-9Cu6rQsY9SsYSknegz2PgZocXEwJ2dL1ec_0zZFzG4x4nmLBmad94-F5w879BmjtdVCS_j_Xb0LX36AYM0eQ3mLg3XBeUOzU26oXFMjRcwzvMtjv/s400/IMGP5570.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436072344401919122" /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 328px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBr44nwSGKtKhHaMzq52dFt6aSyrGfqx7dTdzVjz5hWcVXtZove_6_TQmERBjY5uIVv5W4POz6s7Ykv0mg_XIUOM13CI4QZHg1vAHasio5hRzzsCcLbmJGlBsqviQSD0igaawDQQXBQgvg/s400/IMGP5568.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436072332623832610" /><div style="text-align: left;">Can we all agree that sometimes trying to <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC9933;">shine</span></i></b> means taking a chance only to fall flat on your face?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Today's post was supposed to be great. It was supposed to <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC9933;">shine</span></i></b> and to provide you with another fun idea for Valentine's Day. It was supposed to showcase the great apple-shaped basket I found on sale at World Market for $1.38. Eyes in a basket with a note attached saying "<i>You are the Apple of my Eye</i>." It was supposed to be witty... maybe even clever.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It wasn't supposed to look more like a creepy Halloween treat than a romantic Valentine's gift. Or a April Fools joke more than a thoughtful gesture. But, alas I failed.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sometimes we try to <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC9933;">shine</span></i></b> and we fail. It's o.k. though. There's always tomorrow.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Don't want to wait until then? Make a suggestion to improve my failed attempt. And, if you think that's useless, let's play Scrabble. Using the letters above U*R*T*H*E*O*F*M*Y, form a word.</div>Claudia @ Highlowahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18156269935738164157noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442005414487201262.post-28771122034497073912010-02-08T04:00:00.003-06:002010-02-08T04:00:03.179-06:00Make a Fortune<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3PGJGnuITUahoquwdCWJsg2z_aJnflwSJ_scBCpwxF_YvLrYgWX9EHvuUeAkaZbtd6nCo0zaRFte0REXqiuHoodySafbZ-WKD_s7sa5w2OIY21ExtMzZu0b2TJHbGEh8ZSsULjvzllLo/s1600-h/IMGP5540.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 106px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3PGJGnuITUahoquwdCWJsg2z_aJnflwSJ_scBCpwxF_YvLrYgWX9EHvuUeAkaZbtd6nCo0zaRFte0REXqiuHoodySafbZ-WKD_s7sa5w2OIY21ExtMzZu0b2TJHbGEh8ZSsULjvzllLo/s400/IMGP5540.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435703745425700002" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">It is my good fortune to bring you today's Valentine's Day gift idea. Four dollars and about forty minutes. That's what you'll need to create you own.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5S4CzLN4GMNXa_XdPFq-PP11rcAtX-ZibL-pphBM0R816YZY75ySn4WNJam7rSOT3IC3BDlps12QRX_tyMowmWABKj1Levl9HuF1aTPtZty93WxAXvvR19vIkbcKB3kl4K1oPy5QDWKJJ/s400/IMGP5529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435698868621084898" /><div style="text-align: left;">Using a glass, trace a circle onto poster board. Cut out.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYYiZ3xYvwV4q2i6sN5RyNiXckJ7nVtNkT4XOgZBmuMOvvRd9D4hq5pEDjKOu5ykk3ef_-W_XP9259bFgLRH0JbbbLooAcw8cM0-MZ5n1k330yFQxDOxA8mbZ8BR2zsCdklmlcX6KruRR/s400/IMGP5530.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435698878938420658" /><div><div style="text-align: left;">Trace and cut circles from red and pink sheets of foam</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fG294oJkYW9Ir4czO6h6uL5bl2L6RjM9myco-H3ar8TeOcTeoLQa9DQqV_NTWWfVnTWhcV24xYyx5Niqj6t4Y2-nW3h0kRLvEbdB6GamNhfelfuxdFAk7Z642nlsLQZmAHGq4cJZN_tE/s400/IMGP5533.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435698883317865202" /><div style="text-align: left;">Place glitter in one bowl and Craft Foam Glue in another.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-cAadsql5mwu3uxFEuIciTtmFXb6B7OGOXMNBLMIRLZPgCM1_LiqbO4pFngqozF61rkQtTkqGaOICtLywB895MA7NeS-SfOTgLVr4j_WY1ohMsw7b1ZtfUIU5kTDmXW06vzicPEmIBmV/s400/IMGP5534.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435698888783228530" /><div style="text-align: left;">Using a craft brush, apply foam glue to half of foam circle on both sides. </div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqoKC39GsUjE3uxskPKIPtG_hd1lPKvQgQkHgaufVDpB6LP9RxA9BPLnqRhqlXC-pBsIq2Nrhx13F1ltx9X5rKxWYYB57cL-wjGvOfOAr4rt6pvTdMwXwqUzG-j_OjcnS0uOSWB2bGJRm/s400/IMGP5536.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435698890971977330" /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Dip both sides in glitter.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStsGiDyAm7lZldkLrJMAiY6Oz93uBNxQhPA4l9hgYNghKYzOHKmrdHd2X21PPfCZfMf8dekKvRnSnSFEGis67TCJAZEDFCLl5Ay9e647puRkMYSkepJNab6i8cTTaUVGz3qUoTXC4PyEn/s400/IMGP5537.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435700613245448002" /></div><div>Let dry.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPL7eRonBBvKkGhR-upEWInXqAWC4FlYukodSmVl1TRPycLjLfSBR8PzrIbf57MWlNfAIWow8oPgX8fbZck0SWPiraSootxoFMxbUPgnCm8O8XtuhJdhf-TJIH5k_HQke_quxAwD9hhwQ4/s400/IMGP5541.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435700603393021826" /></div><div>While drying, cut stripes of paper and write Valentine messages.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgDDlsPqQSzVBVAU6r90GEZnoReZ2005i2DT2Z6v19PXctq3LilJ_9T9S9nvxU-SZ1T20I0RqK7Vw6j5ZHbfccjPOXdkGHMjEHps6KvSwngvQNQttCkNPy8Ex8zSrjos7B6Ou2j8HTXlek/s400/IMGP5544.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435700601547053826" /></div><div>Put slip of paper in center of foam circle, parallel to line of glitter. Using your hot glue gun, glue in two places. First, glue glittered end of circle to non-glittered end. Pinch until dry. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCVveY_sH5PqwtT7gJ-LIV4D3dVC_PWNQa-i_j-PtXa4HpGIeRicX7sZqXpUB3PuUVIS7GAQiAvdNR2PatI3ctuzoeo0WSocm3EQC0Slh8-Imyr9VXJpaPNjzz_bJ_U2QyHcIWhw-scJi/s400/IMGP5546.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435700592213164210" /></div><div>Second, fold foam in half again and use a clothes pin to pinch inside pieces. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Pl9XkEQzIls8JtoUSY7HZBgb_wPS6eOMF_wx6ESq0n8LLs60ADrgzfMVr2IGyhstq2v1pxW7TEKaq8CGSPvKr3KDdkYhBxL8CJDd06xzBHENTzdjEYHApN52nbDWMTsUgZIy2IAkCDyq/s400/IMGP5550.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435700587347988642" /></div><div>Set aside and let dry.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ao0m5r8tW-3pP9PXLDSNlQFnCmPyVw5aavTdFx2taZbTtfs4YlEw9pDZOVi_nWwsUNXrJyYF4AhlMYCjm0yU-xMb3jWkgJ7XxFwN8c0iQgDr7bgMRWOJt5NFDSU0hKTH-JIh89iDejEg/s400/IMGP5552.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435703739546250482" /><div style="text-align: left;">Place in decorative container with a few pieces of holiday candy and present to your special valentine... or day care provider, office colleagues, neighbors, or kids.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Special Note</span></b>: Struble Suds called last night to say that sometime later today, they would post results from our<i> Second Annual Snack Throw Down</i>. Visit them at <a href="http://www.strublesuds.com/">their site</a> to see whose recipe reigned supreme.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Signing off until tomorrow. And hey... how about sharing a few ideas for Valentine messages we could include in our fortune cookies.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Claudia @ Highlowahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18156269935738164157noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442005414487201262.post-3027589307216869832010-02-05T23:59:00.002-06:002010-02-05T23:59:00.289-06:00Yellow Envelope Project: Superbowl Edition<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5MuhBFiDOI08K9cXmeQEJ_YSuWzyVZsXGrx3UY1l1TJcXsHhe1TVWCMYPzcN9caQrtSCCbtpa_YqmmhvgzGlEJDWvIUu8txZuUPj9VzRjnp_A_nggJyT0XAZvqrrGzLgKNfr9FYo9r6b/s1600-h/YEP+photo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 189px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5MuhBFiDOI08K9cXmeQEJ_YSuWzyVZsXGrx3UY1l1TJcXsHhe1TVWCMYPzcN9caQrtSCCbtpa_YqmmhvgzGlEJDWvIUu8txZuUPj9VzRjnp_A_nggJyT0XAZvqrrGzLgKNfr9FYo9r6b/s400/YEP+photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434976417101291506" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">You want to send a Yellow Envelope to someone who shines?</div><div><br /></div><div>Send it to me:</div><div><br /></div><div>Ray Wattson</div><div>House of Shine</div><div>Apt. #218 </div><div>Anytown, USA<br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 368px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXuMjcChshFeCyxwwX-5ZtxbIGULAKJMH3ntp3DrUggxjkaYGZcJhzfEyAzLy4Pd-njiiMNmgT6k12PDjC8ZpzuvWxMS7g1bt4lCj-YXMThxzofqvBM_8w5Kr3lhW_WVv-I2-kLDnO1Du/s400/FritoRay.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434957506242045570" />I'm freaking Raydiculous! This isn't going to be a Throw-down. It's going to be a Beat-down. Introducing.....<i>FritoRay's Superbowl Two Bean Lettuce Wraps - </i>homage to lettuce wraps with a little Texas flair. </div><div><br /></div><div>The best part about this dish? No cooking. Well, that's not true. It wouldn't be the Superbowl without sausage. So I threw some in at the last minute. All you vegetarians out there take note. Sausage is optional.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZ-PWu_6MpOlU030vTyp2F-9WXMDU6LVUN7L3SsqAVbbfkJ2jL8lYopwTJKZnC4mIHL1W03mgxksjD5BKvHc09Pc0N2T2i51RPCJQFP-qIPLWpyxzajVF3ikg9cMKfrZiYCmn3N8HLENl/s400/IMGP5525.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434975890349860674" /><div>Here's the recipe. Read it and weep.</div><div><br /></div><div>1 package cole slaw mix</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2Lpn1d1da2aaMyR0SUD1DKaRLwpkf0jW4ziVA84H7k57u4Vs2-AQ45BlizIVGjsos6J5kFBpKDxmcS-_8tctJpWfUMa3QqP5n3JMy-Pu5TSkW3Hf8CWMHfBr5O9G2tgt4FskGRJSlPca/s400/IMGP5505.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434956886433259266" /><div><div style="text-align: left;">1 can kidney beans + 1 can black beans</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXh9AeG6sdpxcQwRH-LczsfipjlI3xhIbn5QFNoSj-1ZfbGSp_9HAcZgN4Bq4eaY5DUPwOf7RRACu-fnj6w_P7wJFclJ4JuytpvN7lE8FUP4UQbQlfrb4aWyDZugTp2Z6LOcc0qlvtJ5u/s400/IMGP5506.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434956891274793746" /><div style="text-align: left;">1 package of breakfast sausage cooked. </div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xBmmkhOWItzafGagWDDEKLsVMo9W3-q3K-hNAS8zUwQPOoWRR8Z2M07VAUvFdeyO1kPpO_Gu4Y4IoKcLXY89NxJwcpRE5oVHuREgcKuSCmopjSdUWSVPiTnNfM9I79N3nqi9iMCnf-mk/s400/IMGP5507.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434956902208935682" /><div style="text-align: left;">1 can of Ro*Tel</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 329px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFF3uYJmvXYysIvYW_UXucwEHL9V1Sc3OkN_NcRnail0RlsY5V_nvWNykC8LKKVNfOubrpzf9vV2tOg2627NmcVPvXrZrEuP4KTKtNKZPChMegeuBC0bIb9A6oqahW8DD0jSWxywEUf-fk/s400/IMGP5512.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434956903205057618" />Mix<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpIiI184bbO-tDCKlfz4Hg8xuXOcDsnlJwm1CzBkprvky3c_Bivlf0cck1-sN1r52MaWMdy3AbB2ICY6PMSrQtEKaOsdqsuE_gbbPJSG2DQpiUA2Srs4R7iL8x3ilkqbMSOTqONsaTrLl/s400/IMGP5516.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434956914498521474" /><div style="text-align: left;">Add 6 fistfuls of crushed Fritos </div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBP4CXAPRAV_LXbuqlFeM1nrZGhoXcwKv5K8FqWc-kyupHfZGnMHURjQNHJ5kX56C5HJ3ylN_pWc229LLoXFjmy2fFNPtP9rqPUg8-G32aYZ7EZVtwffv_noTJkGJRRrJfIYiKHrkjlfT/s400/IMGP5519.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434957487174233810" /><div style="text-align: left;">Couch filling in Iceburg lettuce wraps</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGysp78b3jJkCtiiWqriXuG3ZBjqBdRBUE6EfdsbQ7i63Ox4AC-xQc8HVf8R2_gwrKrrAPJeu0xqW3KMdRwg61CUOOW-yhcOHQNfVb-mbU2rrYjYKhp0_mW6nwsN84TASLmVbLnKd9Eh1/s400/IMGP5523.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434957489966618674" /><div style="text-align: left;">Munch a bunch</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOCdBRSa0-Vk0CxG2YFNrVq3iLTHg021XUHe0sz7tLgJ6Jdc5X4tOMH1phU4CUHH1BkNO2dm-QKW_TPP7tgC1uqjT5LzS83KcD_sU-nQeVoMKHxQHU36Zuy6StnlfwxWGyXgN_zFeyc0ik/s400/IMGP5525.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434957503166234402" /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">So what'll it be, Kate's sweet <a href="http://goodiesbykate.blogspot.com/"><i>Fantasy Frito Candy</i></a> or my savory <i>Two Bean Lettuce Wraps</i>?</div></div></div>Claudia @ Highlowahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18156269935738164157noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442005414487201262.post-19581042692818492422010-02-05T04:00:00.004-06:002010-02-05T04:00:03.812-06:00Here's the Scoop!Hey Sports Fans! Cheryl Here! I hope you are having a great week. Today I will be wrapping up my painting workshop and headed home. I need to rest up. <div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div>In two days Super Bowl XLIV will be kicking off. If you've been hanging around this past year you'll know that the Super Snack Throwdown Super Snack Bowl challenge is on between Kate and Ray. And all this Frito talk makes me want to share a recipe with you. It's a good one. </div><br /><div>And since Claudia gives pretty much free reign on my Free For All Friday's- away we go.... </div><br /><div>Today's recipe is Black Bean Salsa. This is a really tough recipe so pay close attention to each step. I mean it! Pay attention. Your Super Bowl Party is on the line.<br /></div><div>First, start with one of these. Open it up and take a drink. Ah!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 399px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432721573837654498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMBwACJxMXxa0wvNr_8ytt4jIPSueV2bnGoPa0QoM8OXe5o6QDkocfAcd6wg4MmJS9s2eTSpKhZwqoJRqmP-jRiGJAUnDi26Lz5kTptwX_yh1B64MtY7eIpHmbHCSBBlDHySosDFX5KU/s400/DSCF4349.jpg" /></div><div>Unless you're under the age of 21. In that case, open one of these and take a drink.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 263px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432721568427531314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7wVdvx0w6LT6quE4sctfE61JNN1Y92PsexI0lQvbkDKs1aiyRSpUbtwUEIWDjiEeuJlGyUYp7fDcp3836C2Bajf5yZV_zNyCaCOXfHyi4PoJdQhgJF33rO7QrXa8gSFvwGJEmcHyxnRQ/s400/DSCF4350.jpg" /><br /><div>Here are your ingredients sitting all together. Aren't they pretty. Ooh. Aah.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 230px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432721563244119106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRH6I1G1sbvgp02NCMsqYISJkklojtZWxfEV-kC9z-bcyQYxQYm-ywDh6-vrnlkhe6JpEmGnq4a8T_EVbTTr2AQeLnM2GV-c4irLqSDsa5fSpOkVeVsp1eU59NjghxjSl2Z6W6dx5vk-0/s400/DSCF4351.jpg" /><br /><div>Let's get started. First up: 2 (15oz) Cans Black Beans - any brand you like. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 230px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432726260543323874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CveoOW0n-t5qtObgfcggQLavZxZWYrzRQIVOLP-mWgI7aN1XJBmmnh377voGpQ4-rE0r2D-_ADgX_Rh7_DhVUs5ljZdnFZ3T0pczFt4eBq0HywchMOAkqI17EaN5A1VbD7jvdzC-dEY/s400/DSCF4356.jpg" />Open them up- drain and rinse.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 243px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432721557784256866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoU2FiIg3PEw8p1W69jb3zF2C80bWdXmUdQ2lEU3pFO_ZjlydXS7VB7omMiR1oidEPZWYd4y4m8DDtJc1gEiOIJ9S-WXFhmvPdbHSga2-qBfwbe1kD7ymQJlGNX_NrJMyWUdaMqXO1dCo/s400/DSCF4374.jpg" /><br /><div>Throw them in a big bowl.<br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 265px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432721557082547602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrsmNepEp8KtAyrW6f7RdirshZmNosZu56O9z0mRjTV9Ml2JBS_QedHgTpudpw2Xmg-LqERsgt7cxTxqax1pTSbJGMCGb20jsZ9cH4luOBcMyPLVLDdCLMlABdOcEaqRB9bVEpH3f-dk/s400/DSCF4375.jpg" /><br />1 (17oz) Can Whole Kernel Corn - that's what the recipe calls for but my store doesn't have 17oz cans so 15 ounces of corn will be just fine.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 230px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432726258286544482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6Sks4zJCCm4pJBRCfjEJsN3P3y-lVpCV2DABskOaubkEuO6BEvp6lot0RfcRHqQe14lG7zdPLZ_LRg9NkktaD8ks0izYeV76zGQMHRpRmga4Df6cRlCKsUDWW-Y9xaJ3t4at2JRKsHw/s400/DSCF4358.jpg" /><br />Drain the corn. You don't have to rinse it. I just wanted to show you that there is none of the can juice- water? - whatever - in it.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432720822312586626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeJryZzMEu-4iy2_AVS4LdxcfHIvDac_JpWIfFkwsl-ghTYTYvyXFNvhwUZKAkdKWZkxC2EkOJeGJWqPBh-SCXjI-dAYpyI1zpC5Hud8tM_ya2DYLjC68NzyXOfIsPKirt1h5eNrCtV0/s400/DSCF4376.jpg" />Throw the corn in with the beans. Hey! That kind of looks like the Saint's uniform colors.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 260px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432720817838900802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DelpGDqTQPZ8-bCF5ktqGKjU9o6qSK14RZSVaT409T2FCvzP_KjZ2GS_fXy3QxiazFnRsNXcF5ohKUTL2hFofDgWgVQ6Tdm1_Bd32cY5FHHM9cU00eWe0E_oPDEUDOaIiq7lqRMjAcE/s400/DSCF4377.jpg" /> <div>The recipe calls for 2 Large Tomatoes but I always use Roma tomatoes because they're so easy to seed.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 231px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432726254144017266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzLH0m1xHmzPH-YwmFps-81LyUNkUF4SDWyoZBQ0un4JmBURshphRs6-jBpyAfz72BM2iTgXZWxeVXlYr8HEvrbOjjXmrJJZgZLd2AfAOV5lAe5LWMmiNOZKV_4HTXuoEgv-GWu9schM/s400/DSCF4359.jpg" />Seed and chop those red beauties up. I wound up only using 3 of these.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 233px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432720808725320098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxmJZisbLIHJyoevpY5XG3y8sLtjSZcp0JOBiBscrPwoeVLrtGZougapUzqVozr513nHJhjNyQLXYMUA_DTLPKlmU1B9rDtZQ2ce4SpYtOYa8PHlb50VOsQ1pAa9lDHLG5FNqYPrEAc4/s400/DSCF4379.jpg" />Throw them in with the beans and corn. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 235px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432720804008916546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUbQ5CRITGKEv5uMH1GqW2j3lfKf77SlU3eu-YPFddxI10oH-eEQ9LkjG6rQgLhhY2U_wls0e3GBuVe1gZZ6bwHZbaJCuoxP-Gr12fbJPmRAqDnsyJRAr2TCkCjfFF-HkVpWD91TLH80/s400/DSCF4380.jpg" /> <div><div><div>Next up is 1 Purple Onion. This purple onion was on steroids so I only used half of it. Just gauge for yourself how much onion you want in it.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432724157326128962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmashss8ueYbBi7ARIOt4q82eOW3Pew1ag_4u1KLj04g_DT2PqJhG_gM5qBYWGV0Cd6ymmsGy-eBoKIqcLAvqZnoQ2nf_HJWmLDSZITDnyC8JYFZoXIfNy3ky5iXCyZ3fBRRAZtWOZg0/s400/DSCF4369.jpg" />Chop up the purple onion and throw it in with the beans, the corn, and the tomatoes.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 260px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432720795359488578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66MSaPCb0340wIhtYV7d2VrRdrG8zQhu2XhoDJ3vrQHq-ZKGCo69dPZcFZWTwsXJhpTUJ7BoJLsVrDdu8suAVRn6nW6IppGkTo0OzZCjjyPao65q4fD86dMiRQLKg9WN1G3Xd-RLnySk/s400/DSCF4383.jpg" /> <div>1 Large Avocado is all the recipe calls for but I never know if the large is large enough and I like avocado so I used two mediums. I know I'm making it more difficult for you. Hang in there.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 199px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432724169013031394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkYG5rLWcC9rfVo7vICMb54SKeMUU7TJbvLsZULNjaJWB7rvJhNAogoS9AtC7e8UBWYk8yo4rFcy5RHJ6PMswfruS_xVEFwwYTf9odefwhhgZf1hPUN3nYVd-4v8VfqHE2AIG6rhhBnE/s400/DSCF4363.jpg" />Chop up the avocado and add it to the beans, the corn, the tomato and the purple onion.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432720277141030802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DrnjwpbJqFhMubrprtPESo1m4guNM4m6VAULhGa2TxS38ZajnFwmofIgPwChJKkcDxIiVgyb7T7qX2azJRDLrigT-_UtiF14yOtqmyGRLB2P6D3nzIQl8f7bfLwnijcx7v0LQXeKsnI/s400/DSCF4385.jpg" /> <div>You'll only need 1/8 - 1/4 cup of chopped fresh Cilantro but you'll have to buy this whole bushel of cilantro! I'm not angry even though the rest of the cilantro will go bad in my refrigerator because I don't cook.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 229px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432724150367383426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZU_nFHaf9ZJBo5wIa8jIYSAtbL50s1kgxzC8xcFxbpbG8e53QcmXfmiNTfkACOyBsaK-7AbwFKLLwdU9JXSWkyikOZbzQFdDdtXBkOLySoVX60PZj1UHdqxGMFpUa3zeIeGEnqLIb4Fs/s400/DSCF4373.jpg" />But go ahead and chop up that cilantro. I just pick off the leaves. No stemmy stems. Bleh! And throw that cilantro in with the beans, the corn, the tomato, the purple onion, and the avocado.<br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 227px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432720270388604002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJoLqJeIeJGJQP1Cix2ZlS3_OMVevuHqZVZf7QF0SJys0-7NbEWMzrbNAtY0pPLa74cbIIbhmg5BkFJf6NgeIU6y8deRfufZdmpPGlu3WpLkxoEbkFAyHpeHtzyZCIFUTL2uQbe0qVPo/s400/DSCF4396.jpg" /><br />3 to 4 tablespoons of lime juice - 3 tablespoons is 1/4 cup. I measured. These three fresh limes equaled 3 tablespoons.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432724154049962946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKvFzySRSGDt6uqXrGLgl1fVpM6mMYJPBNdVJHlODAJLGcNLWKDDau2zqpBnJLyoz5SyVKS5CS-INung-9NLFtcLbcx-axAt-e4sxQPjTO-5Iswf0H8omsuOyp3LwydyAVdAW6mYdhmA/s400/DSCF4370.jpg" /><br />See.<br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432720267316961362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6-bFFc9ECPH7ZnyHFnGLAeTN4vBh6GxqrxxG7xk4r7jo5S9FKhyphenhyphenRSjaSJWhLZ9bxAkXbjtfqBC2wjERva0iOI5e7R7OhMe_MEdH2F9RI980mRhm2RPzTSmeUaEcsQyn3Zau6yI8yBwk/s400/DSCF4397.jpg" /><br />Pour that fresh lime juice over the beans, the corn, the tomato, the purple onion, oh- you get the picture! Throw it in the bowl. Where's my beer?<br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 241px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432720256326581362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJWYhyphenhyphenrUzs4CJbBJJh8Z5kMQ-4_R_AWFlMz0mZGCQ_oA_Rp15jvMODkJleILv8dvsGrccuquBffEz1UXqx8Yf3lLwYKJ0kpcrm-Upz5qIACo3O9X2dO_Kq17lCyQ38QXjfgKqPg3b2so/s400/DSCF4402.jpg" />Now, pour out 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 242px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432724161111241938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Nc6WH1P-LRI0sNNiK8Jrg6zC-Sfy-LFMYNOlFiXz4Bt0IrDEoNkUaIzXRtfct4zqQOh0Q0TY3GFE8jt5iBiDqXf6AODVQA3sjD_-sbOFJKYPMhunUec906ZL621eJCxvySQDpM9Xbr0/s400/DSCF4366.jpg" /> You got it. Add it to the mix.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixe-DXd_zVr_EsqNSCWT-aU267j1vQpMD0ZhCAtyW2DOt4EJ7D7J4TZJvZgJeqkrogAqPdZuvzNca9NEM4fsou0uS_RfYnmdfp7WlXlHQAdAepm4gQIAbOsVudrkJ9j6h4-LBfYmXHpuc/s1600-h/DSCF4404.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 242px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432720255474308034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixe-DXd_zVr_EsqNSCWT-aU267j1vQpMD0ZhCAtyW2DOt4EJ7D7J4TZJvZgJeqkrogAqPdZuvzNca9NEM4fsou0uS_RfYnmdfp7WlXlHQAdAepm4gQIAbOsVudrkJ9j6h4-LBfYmXHpuc/s400/DSCF4404.jpg" /></a><br />1 teaspoon of salt & 1 teaspoon of pepper<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPOg7PW5vMi_e5eADhkUimjJE3obYdNEwMjZIFfR_zv-LaQjKPo2upCD3He5vr3Ka_fDKp-enlErUxOsi7QhnI-72JF_CcfxuekNVqEwmagRzEiAF8ieX_TcTdirkA6QjEWeS51lJDy5E/s1600-h/DSCF4407.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 233px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432719745685984690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPOg7PW5vMi_e5eADhkUimjJE3obYdNEwMjZIFfR_zv-LaQjKPo2upCD3He5vr3Ka_fDKp-enlErUxOsi7QhnI-72JF_CcfxuekNVqEwmagRzEiAF8ieX_TcTdirkA6QjEWeS51lJDy5E/s400/DSCF4407.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ51cWVPWJy8QmRDo827YiyuJ4qSMnPfjHDWO28egz1TW2WxCxDSM0gK6tkz3iOCNUU_xASJGHiGrxy6NsOFemtD-AJrClaOLr4Uyr2d4ijxEps2cFiHnskBbs-fNVyiubiT3he0pt8F0/s1600-h/DSCF4409.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 334px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432719741049172482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ51cWVPWJy8QmRDo827YiyuJ4qSMnPfjHDWO28egz1TW2WxCxDSM0gK6tkz3iOCNUU_xASJGHiGrxy6NsOFemtD-AJrClaOLr4Uyr2d4ijxEps2cFiHnskBbs-fNVyiubiT3he0pt8F0/s400/DSCF4409.jpg" /></a>That picture didn't turn out Bu you know what to do.<br /><br />Let's see... all you have to do now is mix it up.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qaY5-OscDWhNyOFVjdCh-9d_a1n-isb7eEtzOhyphenhyphenI1rNUHY-lizCErO9FePFXLgGAVysGQswdQwHMKsFk37OUj9B9J60IlOzMBvhTh2Krqoq7dNQ_Te9dHUStO0o-rQWoZ_RB2K1g1lo/s1600-h/DSCF4414.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 227px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432719738633794562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qaY5-OscDWhNyOFVjdCh-9d_a1n-isb7eEtzOhyphenhyphenI1rNUHY-lizCErO9FePFXLgGAVysGQswdQwHMKsFk37OUj9B9J60IlOzMBvhTh2Krqoq7dNQ_Te9dHUStO0o-rQWoZ_RB2K1g1lo/s400/DSCF4414.jpg" /></a>At this point you'll want to chill it for a little bit.<br /></div><div>Did I say tough? I meant to say easy!</div><div></div><div>Okay- but I didn't use the secret ingredient- Frito! </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XNrLcQK5rOl6i1qwuNu-qM5jBbsy2Z6FWdXnDZJHkNXxaElHrFVI1WL3vMITEZhoDkG9d57f_qVhNpNebbk4JGk49nDbnetNQOhyphenhyphenpuIF3Ifhyphenhyphenkn7YI66z9tK9btdu2bG06GuGVAdUuM/s1600-h/DSCF4420.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 219px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432719735977259778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XNrLcQK5rOl6i1qwuNu-qM5jBbsy2Z6FWdXnDZJHkNXxaElHrFVI1WL3vMITEZhoDkG9d57f_qVhNpNebbk4JGk49nDbnetNQOhyphenhyphenpuIF3Ifhyphenhyphenkn7YI66z9tK9btdu2bG06GuGVAdUuM/s400/DSCF4420.jpg" /></a>Here you go! Get the Scoops and dive in! I'm going to tell you something. Don't count on any being left over! I have never made this recipe and had any leftover.<br /><br />Say, "Ah"<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1gFQ-l-P0BRx4AEuhdsk0NLo9yRAGN47rkhFuufJdmRlafPrgfhHniDmxMXHK0qYXMSP7IX3IAMdx9xH4NiUX2aM48CXXdDvMA1E06WoyJJC2qcxC4LM9d-ZR3Dd6yzqUdg2eFYJtu0k/s1600-h/DSCF4425.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 230px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432719723513541922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1gFQ-l-P0BRx4AEuhdsk0NLo9yRAGN47rkhFuufJdmRlafPrgfhHniDmxMXHK0qYXMSP7IX3IAMdx9xH4NiUX2aM48CXXdDvMA1E06WoyJJC2qcxC4LM9d-ZR3Dd6yzqUdg2eFYJtu0k/s400/DSCF4425.jpg" /></a><br />So what are doing for the Super Bowl? Hanging with friends? Going to a bar? Making a Super Snack? And most importantly who are you cheering for?<br /><br />I'll go ahead and tell you have to cheer for the Saints or the two monkey's I'm raising will tie me up and lock me in the closet! Go Saints!!</div><div></div><div>Signing off until tomorrow...</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442005414487201262.post-90549735283414949332010-02-04T04:00:00.005-06:002010-02-04T04:00:04.761-06:00Scarecrow<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvS9u2eRVmOsf7OV9RFGvEZYu0ikWL2BqrzreWcg7I6VNx1u9A5xNSR-JWwNaZbhsxffY2GpI_ZKOodr4M5-TQp4yALwtNh7fSVtJiRTTmVYZVIwSAD6FqlQmZzTs0Z2GoryjNhk_TNo2/s1600-h/oz_scarecrow_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 295px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvS9u2eRVmOsf7OV9RFGvEZYu0ikWL2BqrzreWcg7I6VNx1u9A5xNSR-JWwNaZbhsxffY2GpI_ZKOodr4M5-TQp4yALwtNh7fSVtJiRTTmVYZVIwSAD6FqlQmZzTs0Z2GoryjNhk_TNo2/s400/oz_scarecrow_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434217282447459922" /></a>I'm not going to lie, this morning my head is full of stuffing.<div><br /></div><div>Initially I considered doing a fun little segment on Superbowl Sunday. Then I took a sneak peak at the post Cheryl has in store for us tomorrow and I decided there was no way my idea could live in the shadows of her brilliance. </div><div><br /></div><div>So desperate am I for some creative inspiration on this rainy, dreary, I'm-so-over-it-Thursday morning, that I decided to consult with Roger <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">von</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Oech</span>. Roger is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Highlowaha's</span> trusted friend and author or the <i>Creative Whack Pack</i>, most often seen trolling our site on Wednesdays. But, desperate times, desperate measures.</div><div><br /></div><div>Each card in Roger's <i>Whack Pack</i> contains a principle about creativity. The idea is to whack your idea with a card from his pack and, by virtue of applying his creative principle, improve the quality of your original idea. </div><div><br /></div><div>I drew a card wondering how one of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">von</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Oech's</span> creative principles might work in the absence of an original idea. Here's what I got...</div><div><b></b><blockquote><b>See the Positive</b>. The human mind, "notes scientist W.I. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Beveridge</span>, "likes a strange idea as little as the body likes a strange protein and resists it with a similar energy." When you judge new ideas, focus initially on their positive ad interesting features. This will counteract a natural negative bias, and help you to develop more ideas. <b>What's positive about the idea?</b></blockquote><b></b></div><div>I have no choice but to ask myself, what is positive about my having <b><i>no</i></b> idea?</div><div><br /></div><div>Richard just walked by and said, "It's positive, because it makes you appear human." I'm pretty sure there's no question among readers as to whether or not I am human. But, Richard loves me and he hasn't had coffee yet. What can I expect?</div><div><br /></div><div>How about...</div><div><ul><li>It's positive because you'll get through the post faster and you'll have a couple extra minutes to spare.</li><li>It's positive because in the absence of something new to think about, you might actually reflect on something old. </li><li>It's positive because it reminds us that new is not always better and there's room for tried and true.</li><li>It's positive because, having no idea means my brain is declaring today a holiday and, as is usually the case after holidays, that it will come back better and more refreshed.</li><li>It's positive because my lack of idea might prompt one of you to jump in and share one of <b><i>your</i></b> ideas...</li></ul><div>Do I finish with an invitation to join me in the comment section and to share one of your ideas? Or, maybe you'll help generate more reasons why my lack of ideas is positive. Or, maybe someone takes a hand at applying <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">von Oech's</span> creative principle to a totally different idea. Or, maybe I scrap the whole meet-me-in-the-comment-section thing and end with something trite or witty. Here's the thing...</div><div><br /></div><div>I have no idea.</div><div><br /></div><div>Signing off until tomorrow...</div></div>Claudia @ Highlowahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18156269935738164157noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442005414487201262.post-18045849420430477562010-02-03T04:00:00.008-06:002010-02-03T04:00:01.513-06:00Fancy Flours Cookie Cutter Challenge: February<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfQHJFF6Y4MLWZC_3AQBtk0R4_T6f47f8mgSp8wpahdtVxcWgPSBnAPUDnhUdlzQM_A_fTgcRD93A_PP22A_BO4txf-pNLYyB5huIPYOKsDFcfrzOqsCS1kie7xRtmUE0uYXUNrYlA0_o/s1600-h/cookie-cutter-question-mark.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfQHJFF6Y4MLWZC_3AQBtk0R4_T6f47f8mgSp8wpahdtVxcWgPSBnAPUDnhUdlzQM_A_fTgcRD93A_PP22A_BO4txf-pNLYyB5huIPYOKsDFcfrzOqsCS1kie7xRtmUE0uYXUNrYlA0_o/s400/cookie-cutter-question-mark.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433841029307473618" border="0" /></a>I inspired myself with all of yesterday's mumbo jumbo about getting off the merry-go-round and doing things differently. I've decided this month we will select the cookie cutter for our monthly <i>F</i><i>ancy Flours Cookie Cutter Challenge</i> a little bit differently than we do normally.<div><br /></div><div>Newcomers, once a month Highlowaha readers put me to the test. I select a holiday worth celebrating and you, the readers select a cookie cutter from the <a href="http://www.fancyflours.com/cgi-bin/fancyflours/index.html">Fancy Flours website</a> that you think I should have to use. The key is to find the cookie cutter you think I will have the hardest time incorporating into my celebration. My job is to bake them, decorate them, and package them.</div><div><br /></div><div>This month you vote on both - the cookie cutter and the holiday. Check out the polls below.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><img style="visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyNjUxNjkzMTk3MzcmcHQ9MTI2NTE2OTMzMjY*MiZwPTE2MTYwMSZkPXd3dy5xdWliYmxvLmNvbSZnPTEmbz1mMGI3/ZTJhZjU2ZTU*NjRlYWVlYzVmOWNiM2I*MDE5ZiZvZj*w.gif" width="0" border="0" height="0" /><div align="center"> <object wmode="transparent" data="http://apps.quibblo.com/static/flash/qwidget/qwidget.swf?s=&theme=quibblo&quiz=bzVk4-T" allownetworking="all" allowscriptaccess="never" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="300" height="400"><br /><param name="movie" value="http://apps.quibblo.com/static/flash/qwidget/qwidget.swf?s=&theme=quibblo&quiz=bzVk4-T"><br /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"><br /><param name="allownetworking" value="all"><br /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><br /><param name="bgcolor" value="ffffff"><br /></object><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"> <a href="http://www.quibblo.com/">Quizzes</a> by <a href="http://www.quibblo.com/quiz/bzVk4-T/Vote-for-the-holiday-of-your-choice">Quibblo.com</a></span> </div></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Now for the cookie cutter...</div><div><br /></div><div><b><img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyNjUxNjk*Njg*MDImcHQ9MTI2NTE2OTQ3MzcyMiZwPTE2MTYwMSZkPXd3dy5xdWliYmxvLmNvbSZnPTEmbz1mMGI3/ZTJhZjU2ZTU*NjRlYWVlYzVmOWNiM2I*MDE5ZiZvZj*w.gif" /><div align="center"> <object width="300" height="400" wmode="transparent" data="http://apps.quibblo.com/static/flash/qwidget/qwidget.swf?s=&theme=quibblo&quiz=bzVy85R" allownetworking="all" allowscriptaccess="never" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><br /><param name="movie" value="http://apps.quibblo.com/static/flash/qwidget/qwidget.swf?s=&theme=quibblo&quiz=bzVy85R"><br /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"><br /><param name="allownetworking" value="all"><br /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><br /><param name="bgcolor" value="ffffff"><br /></object> <br> <font size="1"> <a href="http://www.quibblo.com/">Quizzes</a> by <a href="http://www.quibblo.com/quiz/bzVy85R/Vote-for-the-cookie-cutter-of-your-choice">Quibblo.com</a></font> </div></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>The holiday and cookie cutter receiving the most votes will be my winning combination for the month of February. Tune in at the end of the month to see what I have come up with.</div><div><br /></div><div>Signing off until tomorrow....</div>Claudia @ Highlowahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18156269935738164157noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442005414487201262.post-63987841724136278052010-02-02T04:00:00.004-06:002010-02-02T04:00:01.741-06:00Shine: Back to the Future<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOUa3GOE74CJ8dPstpuBzAfGs-xoDUN7IXil3LS-A2mJIodo82dkF_cuUAO0VdoEGMqiqWfBBGR0zqxRxsteMEdAy63yfTrHRA33wrhbjvt3AU0tbyTxUE95Bd9FpiUI2ETQoKtzObaRf/s1600-h/bullseye.i.shine.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOUa3GOE74CJ8dPstpuBzAfGs-xoDUN7IXil3LS-A2mJIodo82dkF_cuUAO0VdoEGMqiqWfBBGR0zqxRxsteMEdAy63yfTrHRA33wrhbjvt3AU0tbyTxUE95Bd9FpiUI2ETQoKtzObaRf/s400/bullseye.i.shine.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433488211958427394" border="0" /></a>Dust off your notes from last week. It's time to revisit our commitments to dreams so important we named our years in their honor. My year for instance is the <i>Year of the Book</i>. Robin committed herself to the <i>Year of Me</i>. Kat's year is named the <i>Year of the Schedule</i>, Katie the <i>Year of the Phone</i>, Lindsay the <i>Year of Yoga</i>, Peggy the <i>Year of Balance</i>, Holly the <i>Year of Organization</i>, and so many more. <div><br /></div><div>If you haven't dedicated your year yet or you've had a change of heart and want to rename your year, no worries. Now is the time. We have eleven months of thought provoking fun ahead of us. <div><br /></div><div>We'll take our cue for today's topic from <b>Groundhog Day</b> - the annual celebration for which we have come to know and love February 2. It is not only the day that weathermen gather to see if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow at Gobblers Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, it is also the holiday around which the hilarious movie Groundhog Day was based.</div><div><br /></div><div>Murray plays Phil Connors, an egocentric Pittsburgh TV weatherman who, during a hated assignment covering the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, finds himself repeating the same day over and over again. After indulging in hedonism, Murray's character begins to reexamine his life and priorities.</div><div>One, two, three, JUMP.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's right I'm making a leap.</div><div><br /></div><div>In her book, "<i>This Year I Will..</i>." M.J. Ryan poses the question, "How do you get off the merry-go-round of doing the same old thing again? How, oh how can you have faith that this time will be any different?" Like Bill Murray in the movie <i>Groundhog Day</i>, how can you assure this year's dream won't result in failed attempts again and again?</div><div><br /></div><div>I talked about writing a book at least two years ago. I started off last year with a renewed sense of promise and even told a few friends of my plans. Two years later and still no book. Holly, I am assuming you didn't wake up this year suddenly wanting to be organized and Kat, I assuming you've been in search of a schedule that works for a while. The question is what will make this year different for Holly, Kat, me, and... f or, that matter, for the rest of <i>you</i>?</div><div><br /></div><div>Ryan maintains, and I agree, "we have a wealth of information and experience from the previous attempts , no matter how many those may be, to draw on this time." Rather than believing that nothing can be done about failed attempts, she suggests that successful people view failure as an opportunity to learn new things. When people have a "growth orientation" (as opposed to the previously described, "fixed orientation") they focus more on developing new strategies for success and less on simply giving up. </div><div><br /></div><div>For example, I've learned quite a few things from my last two failed attempts to write a book. I've learned:</div><div><ul><li> It's never going to happen if I try squeezing writing time into my already busy schedule.</li><li>I get easily distracted by other ideas and projects.</li><li>A year goes fast.</li><li>I have allowed the magnitude and unknown elements of this project to intimidate me.</li><li>I am most productive in the morning.</li><li>It helps me to have an outside person to whom I feel accountable.</li><li>I am more successful when I carve out some time every day, as opposed to big blocks of time periodically.</li><li>I excuse lack of progress on my book by reminding myself of the time spent writing my blog post each day.</li></ul><div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmg_nvlCYWEjy_DZ67lXmn1JVp7Er1AEgnx3hfsQJYcwkKBACjQMHmd5A3KxXanMfhrjP7sDKdsWe0FgJvRrg50wJDpf6YBi5TktiQeau-RMEYOLbnvf0UcYPlufnmwIlPHnqLmVK_hgFM/s1600-h/groundhog-day-1-1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmg_nvlCYWEjy_DZ67lXmn1JVp7Er1AEgnx3hfsQJYcwkKBACjQMHmd5A3KxXanMfhrjP7sDKdsWe0FgJvRrg50wJDpf6YBi5TktiQeau-RMEYOLbnvf0UcYPlufnmwIlPHnqLmVK_hgFM/s400/groundhog-day-1-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433487534936412674" border="0" /></a></div> <b>How about you? What does your Groundhogs Day scene look like and what can you learn from it?</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Signing off until tomorrow, Tuesday, February 2.</div></div><div> </div></div>Claudia @ Highlowahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18156269935738164157noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442005414487201262.post-82701309214723743962010-02-01T04:00:00.009-06:002010-02-01T04:00:04.422-06:00Psst...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRW7Qb6J871S5-vQrp5iZkJKR8pvTXv69kjTheBWofbPZsASv-BN_pcYCU6pDN_czqRQloj8Z8isPkwLkfWViLhmoGjCl7sTJmH_90Nipy1aszOIYd8a9ZnpIcRjsYvTIaP-ALahi3GeyM/s1600-h/FritoRay.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 368px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRW7Qb6J871S5-vQrp5iZkJKR8pvTXv69kjTheBWofbPZsASv-BN_pcYCU6pDN_czqRQloj8Z8isPkwLkfWViLhmoGjCl7sTJmH_90Nipy1aszOIYd8a9ZnpIcRjsYvTIaP-ALahi3GeyM/s400/FritoRay.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433098360686879458" /></a><br /><div>Hey Kate,</div><div><br /></div><div>FritoRay here. Get that Polaroid of yours ready. You made it to the Superbowl. Just barely, though. That was neck and neck. Gotta love some buttery crust around a kielbasa. Nice touch. Okay, so here's the deal. I'm tempted to change the rules again, but I'm afraid that Michelle friend of yours might lose her mind. So, we'll use the same four criteria Heather, Cheryl, and Claudia laid out at the start of football season. </div><div><br /></div><div>Your secret ingredient, in case you haven't figured it out yet is Fritos. </div><div><br /></div><div>Who are you competing against? Why, none other than the King of Krunch, the Colonel of Corn, Master of Muncha a Bunch and the Deacon of Dip. Yours truly, FritoRay. Kate, you better leave all that sweetness behind. This is the real deal. You're going to have to dig deep. The Deacon of Dip is going to dish out defeat and you're first in line at the buffet.</div><div><br /></div><div>You've got until Friday at midnight to post your recipe, so <a href="http://www.strublesuds.com/">Struble Suds</a> can get busy in their test kitchen. This is for all the glory......and of course the hand painted Highlowaha super bowl. Good luck Kate, you're going to need it.</div><div><br /></div><div>What about the rest of you? Other than rooting on Team Ray in the <b><i>Second Annual </i></b><i><b>Snack Throw Down</b></i>, what will you be doing Super Bowl Sunday?</div><div><br /></div><div>FritoRay out.</div>Claudia @ Highlowahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18156269935738164157noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442005414487201262.post-85055914688623275282010-01-30T04:00:00.002-06:002010-01-30T04:00:00.994-06:00Yellow Envelope Project: Georgia<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWIajlb1zd0lp8aAOuTDieX09rQZRLAEV_v08rGpv7oHulRLsLrTaUrS-yyIXIJp-9MhV39hIwRzk9PHRtKmX5rIDwEMDD2jLPnCYQCVPLP3PeYluEXaiiW36Gr3TdO33OFrGUvKqiExJ/s1600-h/YEP+photo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 189px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWIajlb1zd0lp8aAOuTDieX09rQZRLAEV_v08rGpv7oHulRLsLrTaUrS-yyIXIJp-9MhV39hIwRzk9PHRtKmX5rIDwEMDD2jLPnCYQCVPLP3PeYluEXaiiW36Gr3TdO33OFrGUvKqiExJ/s400/YEP+photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432355051649171394" border="0" /></a>The recipient for this week's Yellow Envelope Project seems particularly fitting considering we just finished celebrating, <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">National Have Fun at Work Day</span>.<br /><br />Those new to the site might wonder what we mean by the, <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">Yellow Envelope Project</span>. The project was created to recognize everyday people who reject the status quo and opt for excellence. Recipients of our Project shine and, because they shine, their corners of the world are brighter<br /><br />This week's recipient was nominated by a fellow colleague. The nominator described their office environment as serious and corporate. A strict dress code is in place, rules exist about what items you can and can't have on your desk, and no promotion is granted to an employee until the spouse is interviewed (I suppose so the company can assure there is mutual understanding about the "real order of things").<br /><br />Today's winner of the <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">Yellow Envelope Project</span> is a ray of sunshine in an otherwise gloomy environment. Below is brief description of what makes Brace deserved of our recognition.:<br /><blockquote>"Brace singlehandedly brightens up our entire office. She pushes the envelope by decorating her cubicle for every holiday. She also surprises people in the office by decorating their cubicles for special events such as birthdays, promotions, and people getting engaged and having babies. She is a one woman show. Brace uses her own money to do special things, since our office would never support the activities. A while back I received a handmade birthday card from Brace and when I opened the card, out poured a bunch of confetti. Brace makes work fun. She shines and that's why I think she deserves to be a winner of the Yellow Envelope Project."</blockquote>Telling Brace she shines is easy. <br /><br />Simply take five minutes to jot her a short note. Tell Brace you heard about her thoughtful gestures and that you think it is great she spends time brightening her corner of the world. Put your note in a yellow envelope - or a white envelope decorated with all kinds of yellow markers and stickers. Write the words, "Yellow Envelope Project" in the return address and mail it to the address below. You'll feel great about doing it and you will make her day. <br /><br />Join me, won't you? Even feel free to throw in some confetti.<br /><br />Brace<br />1 Cedar Run<br />Apartment F<br />Dunwoody, GA 30350<br /><br />Signing off until Monday...Claudia @ Highlowahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18156269935738164157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442005414487201262.post-71216378376705184932010-01-29T04:00:00.003-06:002010-01-29T04:00:00.660-06:00FFAF: Inspire Your Heart...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaF2ZPA4-Nj50dZyUVaoAng-ojl6xdr_Qknfu9rwPaFbs5C5jEQFQQo5Vygw-G53P_u-nHkRWz1FN7x9ne84CWgKSYzC-1L-GzeWxz8y3HU6hEtMw8eEvwSRHtAscIth6NzvqfxkAMkw/s1600-h/DSCF4337.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 185px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431254257585149010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaF2ZPA4-Nj50dZyUVaoAng-ojl6xdr_Qknfu9rwPaFbs5C5jEQFQQo5Vygw-G53P_u-nHkRWz1FN7x9ne84CWgKSYzC-1L-GzeWxz8y3HU6hEtMw8eEvwSRHtAscIth6NzvqfxkAMkw/s400/DSCF4337.jpg" /></a>Happy Friday, Highlowaha fans! Cheryl here.<br /><br />Sunday, January 31st is <span style="color:#cc0000;">National Inspire Your Heart with Art Day</span>. Quite fitting for a girl who will be driving down to next to nowhere Cypress Mill, Texas that very day to embark on a week long painting workshop with a fabulous artist named <a href="http://www.robertburridge.com/">Bob Burridge</a>. I've been planning it for over a year now. I hear his classes are fabulously inspiring and they fill up quickly so you can imagine how excited I am. I will be eating, sleeping and making art for 5 days straight.<br /><br />I have no doubt that I will be well on my way to completing my 2010 resolution next week and inspiring the rest of the year to follow suit. (Jessie- your piece <strong>WILL</strong> be finished next week!!) I can't wait for this new experience.<br /><br />But, what does that have to do with you. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.<br /><br />I could, of course, go on and on about all the wonderful art out there. Old and new. The Internet provides us with such great resources to discover and purchase art. Just scan <a href="http://www.etsy.com/">Etsy </a>or <a href="http://papernstitch.com/">PapernStitch </a>for lots of great artists.<br /><br />And art covers a broad spectrum. Photography, watercolor, ceramics, jewelry making, weaving, knitting, cooking, sculpture. Music is a form of art and one of my very favorites. Dance is a form of art. Shoot, kamasutra is the Art of Making Love! Whatever form of art you love I hope you will celebrate it on Sunday.<br /><br />I was chatting with a friend that said in that sad voice, "I'm not artistic." That's all well and good but it doesn't stop you from appreciating it. On Sunday, just take 20 minutes out of your day and embrace your favorite form of art. (Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned kamasutra.) <strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">In the comment section, tell us what form of art you appreciate most? What inspires you? But before we run into the comment section, I have a little project for you.<br /></span></strong><br />It's another little Valentine gift for your loved one. Many years ago I attended a wedding shower where the hostess made a sign for the bride and groom. On one side of the sign it said <em>Yes</em>. On the other side it said <em>No</em>. It's a gift for the bedroom when you need to communicate with your honey. My version is a small pillow you can leave on your bed.<br /><br />Do I need to spell it out for you? We're still PG-13, right? It's for the bedroom, wink, wink. It's an easy way to communicate your mood, wink, wink. Oh hell, let's get on with it.<br /><br />I chose to work with felt because 1) I had a lot of laying around my house and 2) it holds its shape and is super easy to work with. Especially if you're not a seamstress. If you are a natural with needle and thread or a sewing machine, please feel free to adapt this to your skill level because it could be really cute. But, I'm telling you- this simple one is CUTE if you'll excuse me for bragging on my own work.<br /><br />1. Cut out two squares of fabric the same size.<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyySvxqoxMYDiv-K8bxFB6NL1knBZ1bR7MwfFI65MjV61RCxmTxsDpYr2lSYYtxVtVplqhvbzcfeURvxHSuaXak9jw7pHUBHLJ_w7FytUpgQYiBakn_Ay7Hv9p26gcomcWaG7xZNkCCk0/s1600-h/DSCF4321.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 236px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431252782836712018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyySvxqoxMYDiv-K8bxFB6NL1knBZ1bR7MwfFI65MjV61RCxmTxsDpYr2lSYYtxVtVplqhvbzcfeURvxHSuaXak9jw7pHUBHLJ_w7FytUpgQYiBakn_Ay7Hv9p26gcomcWaG7xZNkCCk0/s400/DSCF4321.jpg" /></a><br />2. I drew the words yes and no on paper. You can use the computer if you think you're not artistic enough. I wanted my letters to touch so the stitching would flow from one to the other.<br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 260px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431252780019280658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzy_Ity-T5rVweGrgn_0H2JqHuwIZx76CKsPGfuIZT7aj4NuScSFHma0sltZel893e958bN8_Qs8jCJqb9YsVZB-DJVK4sUSlqdpmC23HfTE6-LBSGJ3fIyfKdCsCJad2KI0F9ls1FSi4/s400/DSCF4322.jpg" /><br />3. Cut out the words on paper. This is your pattern. Your template.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhihlIbmgM8kdl0UuCVuN4AI9ePVw2mpzyn14qMBSAABTLlN2oG93YafvMq3khioDDyMynF9GAUlhP7kSTeFizL8S6IOrVHKZKdiU5XsQV5VBKlyAisk5NH8NJHfq2RqkONNM9CVabwEr8/s1600-h/DSCF4326.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 232px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431252776561571634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhihlIbmgM8kdl0UuCVuN4AI9ePVw2mpzyn14qMBSAABTLlN2oG93YafvMq3khioDDyMynF9GAUlhP7kSTeFizL8S6IOrVHKZKdiU5XsQV5VBKlyAisk5NH8NJHfq2RqkONNM9CVabwEr8/s400/DSCF4326.jpg" /></a><br />4. Turn the words backward on another contrasting color of felt and trace with a Sharpie and cut this out.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VJ3gS6hHp18hx7qhwA68Sdzsh2LJdMStg1WJz5GJpjQmnxYwevgZAhvUhPbX2Y-4dutKcvkJXobSikGBKpOJ8rv5oVLwNNYcx_Ib0Fk0QdWzVPpMDSYlvMRNP-sriluKC1g1isQ2wMA/s1600-h/DSCF4327.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 232px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431252768669217234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VJ3gS6hHp18hx7qhwA68Sdzsh2LJdMStg1WJz5GJpjQmnxYwevgZAhvUhPbX2Y-4dutKcvkJXobSikGBKpOJ8rv5oVLwNNYcx_Ib0Fk0QdWzVPpMDSYlvMRNP-sriluKC1g1isQ2wMA/s400/DSCF4327.jpg" /></a><br />5. Using embroidery floss, stitch one word on each of the felt squares.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObqAvFpi8ZRy9DweE-CYxST2WWmHwrZnp8YXcNj0OGs7e5WNQP0-0mVRAz6agefxlcYv-qDZzu__ViEOdA4ue9bHGazi-1z5xqyzbxCO9nfJVCJtAuA2bFiGoxevpwgixeh6NSYmm9xM/s1600-h/DSCF4333.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 242px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431252288104115186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObqAvFpi8ZRy9DweE-CYxST2WWmHwrZnp8YXcNj0OGs7e5WNQP0-0mVRAz6agefxlcYv-qDZzu__ViEOdA4ue9bHGazi-1z5xqyzbxCO9nfJVCJtAuA2bFiGoxevpwgixeh6NSYmm9xM/s400/DSCF4333.jpg" /></a><br />6. And embellishments like this cute little heart. Hi cute little heart. You inspire me.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaF2ZPA4-Nj50dZyUVaoAng-ojl6xdr_Qknfu9rwPaFbs5C5jEQFQQo5Vygw-G53P_u-nHkRWz1FN7x9ne84CWgKSYzC-1L-GzeWxz8y3HU6hEtMw8eEvwSRHtAscIth6NzvqfxkAMkw/s1600-h/DSCF4337.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 185px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431254257585149010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaF2ZPA4-Nj50dZyUVaoAng-ojl6xdr_Qknfu9rwPaFbs5C5jEQFQQo5Vygw-G53P_u-nHkRWz1FN7x9ne84CWgKSYzC-1L-GzeWxz8y3HU6hEtMw8eEvwSRHtAscIth6NzvqfxkAMkw/s400/DSCF4337.jpg" /></a><br />7. Once both sides have their words stitched to them place them back to back and start stitching around the edge. I used double width of floss for the edges. Just tie a knot at the end and stitching the thread up through the middle of the two fabrics so the knot is hidden. Go to town around the edges.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtoC-mieFH-3esj0cvpND_5DUYVT1wduKWYfSUSq_XTmVfA5JZOjryr_uUzuAR3wL2Uo_a6e3WeExEPt1Un_JjuyX4jlteX6SNKlwhh4lDW-UvCu3px_ECZEBIDRO9szLS-dVOxQCYXLY/s1600-h/DSCF4334.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 244px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431252285532530978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtoC-mieFH-3esj0cvpND_5DUYVT1wduKWYfSUSq_XTmVfA5JZOjryr_uUzuAR3wL2Uo_a6e3WeExEPt1Un_JjuyX4jlteX6SNKlwhh4lDW-UvCu3px_ECZEBIDRO9szLS-dVOxQCYXLY/s400/DSCF4334.jpg" /></a> (Note: I did not stitch the edges with the stuffing in the middle. Why make things more complicated trying to hold it in there?)<br /><br />8. When you get nearly all three sides done, throw some kind of stuffing in the middle. I had Polyester batting laying around (did I do that right Claudia? Laying?) so that's what I stuffed in the middle. (And honestly, I could have used more.)<br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 219px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431252278209664386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvaDhMvHi5SOAeGZ-f-g725bpZ9wpxLUP_-Wv7JIUGzY3k0VwZ1BbkiTYaUW_KIocQegjFs_WbrsSVqtpEo6XV0a7tgxRgAZ1KE-v2kSqUNB69HH_ZglGEMcX__52MYZcwNunBT_6iym8/s400/DSCF4335.jpg" /></div><div> </div><div>9. Finish sewing the edges, put it on your bed, sit back and wait for your honey to come in and see what you're mood is. Is cute, yes?</div><div> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 246px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431252274269248146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmdNwGUqA0BNYQaBgHRwewqke31N_eUajuP1PlI_VcTBvbIUO5tgekH7FCJTziIOv8WV479awqbh-9I4KFEIWskoxCUjjZm-C9yqp71CIFX0lu1c9FFTZdEmKoQwvIfR_BOK2LBjpmjw/s400/DSCF4339.jpg" />Glad you agree. But maybe your sweety deserves more than just a simple yes and no.</div><div> </div><div>Maybe YOU want to add some spice to your life and in your bedroom. Go ahead. I dare you. Instead of just yes and no... why don't you put Yes on one side and OH YEAH on the other. <div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBI-kMycuEal-i0Qj5aTvsO_PGcKv3RQ_R0ijQESaMh4cu7oderTb2tSGjyh1XEMtumjL9LlAX5OSNjvNJEbv4CCRmViVaKfKgl12Lhkk9u1-J5ILAesNyhgnmJjnGrvJKhlUGxlbba0Y/s1600-h/DSCF4343.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 271px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431252268846948386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBI-kMycuEal-i0Qj5aTvsO_PGcKv3RQ_R0ijQESaMh4cu7oderTb2tSGjyh1XEMtumjL9LlAX5OSNjvNJEbv4CCRmViVaKfKgl12Lhkk9u1-J5ILAesNyhgnmJjnGrvJKhlUGxlbba0Y/s400/DSCF4343.jpg" /></a> Your sweety will thank you for it. I promise.<br /></div><div>Don't forget to tell us in the comment section what form of art inspires you most.</div><div><br />My job as cupid is done here. Signing off until tomorrow... </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442005414487201262.post-8351366803057312262010-01-28T04:00:00.003-06:002010-01-28T04:00:00.624-06:00You're Fired... Up<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 354px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xYv9x1BhGXF8B9ZnZunjfN6uQG8rDn2BKSGZxuPGdvU_wxgNBYNtFlYjy36wLouoVhR-0CxETrULwc1IZsT9mnwR5UX3tt4NWIlBuXdSTNJi3W4IMn3lteCazoZtQJDLMfc9eUnLPb5-/s400/IMGP5501.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431624628839929586" /><div>Are you like so many Americans, trudging through the work week, counting the minutes until quitting time? You might even like your job, but still you find yourself breathing a sigh of relief on hump day, followed by a happy dance on Friday.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is an art to keeping work fun. It takes some... well, work. Having fun at work means remembering colleagues birthdays, hosting pot lucks, tuning into the highs and lows of your office mates, laughing over favorite t.v. shows, baking extra cookies for the break room, pulling pranks, declaring theme days, rewarding one another for work well done, and so much more.</div><div><br /></div><div>Last month we decided to tackle fun in the work place, by partnering with Fancy Flours to celebrate, <i><b>National Have Fun at Work Day</b></i>. As is usually the case, readers voted on which cookie cutter I should have to incorporate into the celebration. This month the dragon was the winning cookie cutter. </div><div><br /></div><div>Work Day Drag-on?</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbKk90FDGYzyBFN2VvHRGP3UafprWxLLkIXLXhBMUlF8WDbUoiLimjTyMeufqw7-80pgRc-kLPB7uEw9VQw71Kkf3hvQJ_BGoQDE2gfi5HCFNsEPmwzhL0YSbL-7reyjwrnMbQYAk-VuF/s400/IMGP5495.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431624624649197810" /><div>Fire up and...</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22yTngp9uPCEXN9fzH9-DsFMPLV0t6DBZdnK_b7cG5nrgKLQk40HTvVzw43SC5gu34EufqbFMYRltUW5wMQohfT_9Dp3U8xc6KGmMUO3SlPhaFX-P3qn1LkNkX3GYFxHyDYbvFaXiIxL5/s400/IMGP5504.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431624639276160082" /><div>Now it's your turn to slay the drudgery. How you'll make your work place more fun tomorrow?</div><div><br /></div><div>P.S. If you're eyeing my dragon cookie because you know the Chinese New Year is coming up and you want your very own, don't despair.</div><div><br /></div><div>Win your very own dragon cookie cutter. Visit the comment section and recommend other occasions for which it could be used. Add a slogan and earn brownie points. The person Cheryl, Heather, and I agree came up with the best idea and slogan will win his/her very own dragon cookie cutter.</div><div><br /></div><div>Signing off until tomorrow...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Claudia @ Highlowahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18156269935738164157noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442005414487201262.post-50124137567724633052010-01-27T04:00:00.008-06:002010-01-27T04:00:02.319-06:00Kate Wins in Overtime<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vlfYe599IF5w_7i-i6fD7xufbSbDmb4Jl6yR5kXg1KsVVGfGxsqGiqBTSp2lzs_YHwoJEwalQAl6xWXCYLZ7cVeX_K_yf_gJGuWX6o0yqzjhASIKmKxfJTvNe5t8a31_3pbLEhD44vU/s1600-h/foodcollage.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 160px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431245322484852658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vlfYe599IF5w_7i-i6fD7xufbSbDmb4Jl6yR5kXg1KsVVGfGxsqGiqBTSp2lzs_YHwoJEwalQAl6xWXCYLZ7cVeX_K_yf_gJGuWX6o0yqzjhASIKmKxfJTvNe5t8a31_3pbLEhD44vU/s400/foodcollage.jpg" /></a>I used to think I worked hard bringing you a blog post each day.<br /><br /><div>Then I began recapping highlights from Highlowaha's <b><i>Second Annual Super Bowl Snack Throw Down</i></b>. Now I know... I <i>am</i> a slacker. It is Lauren and Kate, our favorite foodies who competed this entire football season, that are true All Stars.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>These two women cooked seventeen recipes over an eighteen week period AND competed in a week of half-time activities. They exemplified creativity and skill as, each week, Kate and Lauren worked to incorporate the secret ingredient voted on by our Highlowaha readers. We challenged them by selecting things such as asparagus, wine, pineapple, and everything in between. </div><div><br /></div><div>Little did we know when we put these two women head to head, exactly how well matched they were. Both fierce competitors, both fighting week after week, and both taking their turn as leaders of the pack.</div><br />The only thing harder than creating their weekly recipes might have been <i>judging</i> the weekly recipes. Recipes were judged on (1) creative use of the ingredient, (2) most likely to be eaten first, (3) best photograph, and (4) reproducibility. Struble Suds, Beantown Baker and you the readers were our esteemed judges for the first fourteen weeks. The foodie who earned the majority of the votes won the overall vote for the week.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>At the end of the regular season the score was: Kate, 11 votes vs. Lauren 7 votes.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>9/11/09, Sausage</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Tie</span></b>: Lauren: <a href="http://lacucinadilauren.blogspot.com/2009/09/superbowl-snack-throw-down-new-england.html">NE vs Buffalo Sausage Balls</a> Kate: <a href="http://goodiesbykate.blogspot.com/2009/09/super-bowl-snack-throw-down-week-1.html">Pizza Pie Poppers</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>9/18/09, Mushroom</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Winner Lauren</span></b>: <a href="http://lacucinadilauren.blogspot.com/2009/09/superbowl-snack-throwdown-marsala.html">Marsala Potato Skins</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>9/24/09, Cheese</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Winner </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Kate</span></b>:</span></span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><a href="http://goodiesbykate.blogspot.com/2009/09/super-bowl-snack-throw-down-week-3.html">4th Down Poppers with Sweet Apple Mustard Dip</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>10/2/09, Potato</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Winner Lauren</span></b>:<a href="http://lacucinadilauren.blogspot.com/2009/10/superbowl-snack-throwdown-sweet-potato.html"> Sweet Potato Hummus</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>10/09/09, Sour Cream</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Winner Kate</span></b>: <a href="http://goodiesbykate.blogspot.com/2009/10/super-bowl-snack-throw-down-week-5.html">Punting Pumpkin Pies</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>10/16/09, Asparagus</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Tie</span></b>: Lauren, <a href="http://lacucinadilauren.blogspot.com/2009/10/superbowl-snack-throwdown-frittata.html">Frittata Bites</a>. Kate, <a href="http://goodiesbykate.blogspot.com/2009/10/super-bowl-snack-throw-down-week-6.html">Asparagus Wrap Up</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>1</i></b><b><i>0/23/09, Black Beans</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Winner Kate</span>: <a href="http://goodiesbykate.blogspot.com/2009/10/super-bowl-snack-throw-down-week-7.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Blitz this Black Bean Kielbasa Soup</span></a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>10/30/09, <i>Hamburger</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Tie </span>Lauren: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://lacucinadilauren.blogspot.com/2009/10/superbowl-snack-throwdown-cheeseburger.html">Cheeseburger Kabobs</a> Kate: <a href="http://goodiesbykate.blogspot.com/2009/10/super-bowl-snack-throw-down-week-8.html">Tackling Tex Mex Bruschetta</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>HALF TIME WEEK LONG CHALLENGE: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Winner Kate (2 points)</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>11/13/09, Cayenne</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Winner Kate</span>: <a href="http://goodiesbykate.blogspot.com/2009/11/super-bowl-snack-throw-down-week-9_10.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Triple "S" Snack Sacks</span></a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>11/20/09, Tortillas</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Tie</span></b>: Lauren, <a href="http://lacucinadilauren.blogspot.com/2009/11/superbowl-snack-throwdown-cheeseburger.html">Cheeseburger Quesadillas</a>. Kate, <a href="http://goodiesbykate.blogspot.com/2009/11/super-bowl-snack-throw-down-week-10.html">"Lime Backer" Tortilla Chicken Strips</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>11/27/09, Wine</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Winner Kate</span></b>: <a href="http://goodiesbykate.blogspot.com/2009/11/super-bowl-snack-throw-down-week-11.html">"Wine" Receiver Fondue</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>12/4/09, Onion</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Winner Lauren</span>: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><a href="http://lacucinadilauren.blogspot.com/2009/12/superbowl-snack-throwdown-brie-stuffed.html">Brie Stuffed Mushrooms</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>12/11/09, Pineapple</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Winner Kate</span>: </b><a href="http://goodiesbykate.blogspot.com/2009/12/super-bowl-snack-throw-down-week-13.html">Upshot Brownies</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>12/18/09, Turkey</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Winner Kate</span>: </b><a href="http://goodiesbykate.blogspot.com/2009/12/super-bowl-snack-throw-down-week-14.html">Turnover Turkey Ring</a></div></span></b><br /><b>Post Season Play</b>: During post season play, Struble Suds and Bean Town Baker each still cast one vote. But, it was the third vote where we switched things up a little bit. Heather, Cheryl, and I agreed to <i>make</i> each recipe and to appoint a panel of celebrity judges who collectively cast the third vote. During play offs, each competitor earned a point for each vote they received - meaning each competitor could earn upwards of three votes per week.<br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>1/8/10, Worcestershire</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc0000;">Lauren</span></b>: <a href="http://lacucinadilauren.blogspot.com/2010/01/superbowl-snack-throwdown-crockpot.html">Sloppy Joeys</a>, 2 votes. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Kate</span></b>: <a href="http://goodiesbykate.blogspot.com/2010/01/super-bowl-snack-throw-down-week-15.html">Drop Kick Chip Dip</a>, 1 vote</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>1/15/10, BBQ Sauce</b> </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc0000;">Lauren</span></b>: <a href="http://lacucinadilauren.blogspot.com/2010/01/superbowl-snack-throwdown-mesquite.html">Mesquite Chicken Pizza Sticks</a>, 2 votes. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Kate</span></b>: <a href="http://goodiesbykate.blogspot.com/2010/01/super-bowl-snack-throw-down-week-16.html">Bowl Game BBQ Nachos</a>, 1 vote</div><div><br /></div><div>The score going into this week's competition was Kate 13 vs. Lauren 11.</div><div><br /></div><div>In true Lauren and Kate form, it was a contest to the bitter end. The first two votes rolled in earlier this week. Bean Town Baker voted for Lauren. That makes it Kate, 13 vs. Lauren 12. Struble Suds voted next. Their vote went to Lauren, making the score heading into last night, Kate 13 vs. Lauren 13. A TIE!</div><div><br /></div><div>Recipes were made, dishes tasted, and votes were cast.</div><div><br /></div><div>The final score is...</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/22/10, Kielbasa</div><div style="text-align: center;">Lauren: <a href="http://lacucinadilauren.blogspot.com/2010/01/superbowl-snack-throwdown-moms-super.html">Mom's Super Easy Kielbasa Bites</a>, 2 votes</div><div style="text-align: center;">Kate: <a href="http://http://goodiesbykate.blogspot.com/2010/01/super-bowl-snack-throw-down-week-17.html">Inside Pocket Sausage</a>, 1 vote</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Kate, 14 vs. Lauren, 13</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>And the crowd goes wild! What a season it was down to the bitter end. </div><div><br /></div><div>A true and heartfelt thank you to all the people who helped make the Second Annual Super Bowl Snack Throw Down work. First and foremost, thank you to Kate and Lauren who have been troopers and good sports throughout the entire competition.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you to Bean Town Baker and Struble Suds who graciously accepted our invitations to be guest judges and who provided thorough critiques each week.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you to Heather who really did most of the organizing and to Katie K. who generated many of our weekly polls.</div><div><br /></div><div>Cheryl, your picture collage is, of course, first rate.</div><div><br /></div><div>And to Michelle and all the other fans who turned out every week interested in the outcome, thank you.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>But wait...</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Don't go yet. Tune in next week to find out what secret ingredient Kate must cook with and who she will be up against in Super Bowl XXXXIV.</div><div><br /></div><div>Signing off until tomorrow...</div><div><br /></div></div>Claudia @ Highlowahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18156269935738164157noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442005414487201262.post-52628823263431729792010-01-26T04:00:00.009-06:002010-01-26T04:00:00.669-06:00Got a Minute?<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimPqzQGkyJ5S2ZTTrOMI-kx_SrI8Q6GWWnonN9Ymu-xJK28kDxgG9XfLp7AapwsS4n4wII9kFXK_bvESLlN6kX6zyZNZ0w_SA06cmWpZTFD5kYshZLpCCYmEclgWoQAPSMFYBhrKLkxH-/s400/bullseye.i.shine" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430879550504932146" />Whether you are new to our site or a veteran reader who knows <i>exactly</i> what to expect given the <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;">Shine</span></b> logo, there is something in today's post for you.<div><br /></div><div>This week, by the way, is <i>National Take Back Your Time Week</i>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>It's kind of fun to think about taking back your time. I have images of myself marching right up to my three year old son, stomping my feet, and saying, "Give me back the fifteen minutes I had to fight with you about brushing your teeth this morning." Or, how about the person who still uses checks. Wouldn't you love to tap him on the shoulder and ask for the five minutes back you just wasted standing behind him in the check out line?</div><div><br /></div><div>Truth is, gaining time is a little like losing a bad habit. You never real lose a bad habit, you simply replace it with a new one. The same is true with time. You never really get time back, you just gain more by managing what you have better.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>So, if you are <b>Cheryl</b> and this is the <i>Y</i><i>ear of Art</i> or <b>Lindsay Marie</b> who is committed to the <i>Year of Yoga</i>, or <b>Peggy</b> all revved up for the <i>Year of Balance</i>, or <b>me</b> determined to make this the <i>Year of the Book</i>, or anyone else excited to make something new happen in 2010, then taking (or making) time is an important topic.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Our friend and companion for the next year, M.J. Ryan, pulls no punches in her book, "This Year I Will..." She explains that, "Falling into the no time trap when it comes to exercising is really like saying to yourself, 'I don't want to work out.' "</div><div><br /></div><div>And since few of us would admit to such unabashed laziness, we must explore <i>how</i> to steal back the time necessary for making our dreams a reality. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'll be brief, so I don't end up owing <i>you</i> time.</div><div><ul><li>I lose time when I allow myself to check email and read blog comments throughout the day. I take back my forty wasted minutes when I only check in twice a day. The extra time could be pages towards my book. </li></ul><ul><li>I lose time when I stay up late watching Iron Chef on the Food Network. I take back the time when I go to bed at a reasonable hour and am able to wake up thirty minutes earlier. Thirty minutes is just enough time to fold and put away a load of laundry or to edit what I wrote the day before. </li></ul><ul><li>I lose time when I don't plan my week in advance, because small pockets of free time are frittered away contemplating what I <i>could</i> be doing if I just had a couple minutes. Taking 30 minutes at the start of the week, to generate a list short tasks, could generate upwards of 70 minutes. That time could be used for reading books about publishing books. </li></ul></div><div>Ryan reminds us, "Time is one of our most precious resources, Even if you can carve out only fifteen minutes a day to devote to your new habit, that's ninety-one hours over the course of one year."</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Tell me how you might steal back some time in order to get what you really want this year?</b></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlF8CTQqFtQpv4CDq1c5K_06XeWx0WUYYRbIzzVDPnJmu7B2AqjQcpK5dehwpHvIkQSYx57lwydek7mTIujMCeGl8KoC4KqlrFShQ-vOI0fcNwsrP6FoP99mqYMSaEGOMr13lEVt6m-n4/s400/planner.pad.1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430899200916351538" /><div>Make it good and your name will go in a drawing to win your very own $25.00 Planner Pad - the best calendar on earth. And if you live close by, I'll throw in a lesson on how to use it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Signing off until tomorrow...</div><div><br /></div>Claudia @ Highlowahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18156269935738164157noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442005414487201262.post-12484801842107863252010-01-25T04:00:00.013-06:002010-01-25T04:00:02.614-06:00Box of Shine<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3Ayp7LxKDQZUm4RdkhLvy5z8i-6AWe77Ud70AlL_vZDKseGanqgcJKWcRv9guOLjXVHPO6Ec2NcyD6QoEs4sgtCMM1YyIIwxX1h4ryQQUaW8-WhAndEGYUf2d34VNY_BWelQBJmCnvZo/s400/IMGP5473.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430476799352208258" />I love writing a daily post where the pictures can do all the talking. I feel like today is one of those days.<div><br /><div>Yesterday a small gathering of women joined me to send boxes of sunshine. Our goal? Put a ray of sunshine in the mailboxes of family and friends around the country. </div><div><br /></div><div>We called the party, <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC9933;">Box of Shine</span></i></b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Theme?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>All things yellow! </div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2T5RnD2xioVPJecaQ4OD93ybEfVKIKKJvhLFvjE9QzKSmffEw6Mbcl50IFPvSsy3nlbqg-gUkzn2Z9FMPT-rEEKn-GEHHflNEYMkg7sjvEjxbM1nb-5wwbH3f-6uva7yXCD8aVYmRpJJg/s400/IMGP5437.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430475911638570098" /></div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gU2N01SyFlhQiE3QEuJCsBBnJy0YYaWNR6ZZuS40cEKMOsfLzlIk7Mtr_u82XXkC5rTKgxAxXNVhnf8mY4e6WuJzO58rPk_i-6fGBcl0S6XS2fvX0C2Q5p8pDA8qZQ7pBfbTlkGivyqU/s400/IMGP5438.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430475902736794690" /><div>Each guest brought twelve yellow items and boy, did they get creative! Starbursts, handmade yellow fortune cookies, beautifully packaged yellow jelly beans, seeds for yellow flowers, yellow tea bags, bumble bees, happy faces, yellow toiletry items, m&ms, yellow note cards, calendars, pencils, post-it notes, and MORE!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">All I had to do was supply:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Boxes, tubes, and mailing envelopes...</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtu9isF12qefPTSbIdHB-gEl-DrXW_Z1d6l9hIhjHUn0bFJF15lqe39XAarhjnsvG2Qu8xL-s2FWzQ45w6wAkmmirIHDJVyBPimXoiKEftvballqhNPZCrZ-0vHl8tFDx9qe8APRfAoGT/s400/IMGP5436.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430475915635155922" /><div style="text-align: left;">Packaging tape...</div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-bG45m-NLsRQd_xMmGLKYyFq4PjnYsBt77608r7FE07Vu_jF7-pInIrmnvGKgqC5wP6VyDBVKoOKgpjPTfpmeJiZaSoo3HYybGWC0mmKafU6b5ccHqTp6pKl5W0QzhpOV9V-0yC5wJVT/s400/IMGP5442.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430475438413995650" /><div style="text-align: left;">Ribbons and stickers...</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BuJIvqGzVDQ49lHqSKJhP5Uvc3K45lLqEdWuAYn5y4q89WN-gWfAEuCwqZGGZVkKnAoCHr_Ez6h1KkMCACVgVDgMJZeubhBOGA-ByqLK7t7J0m-8Z3YN9hkCZ63DX5QKgjfuVJctFv6S/s400/IMGP5439.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430475432623619970" /><div style="text-align: left;">Shred...</div></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnceiPsgezbt4refI2aPuIUxQ5Npwe1F06C9mr7uP15H-6mOD1Lth-b3DvBLTYIMcZCjdez4-63TaPdno8QKx5fV6YEWC4dMLj_wXr2uRP_3kD0pooB2EZwtcCo1rXwz1eDrEHpR2U5VBG/s400/IMGP5443.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430475429934186914" /><div style="text-align: left;">Scissors, notecards, and markers, and...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzPcHCVNI7PwI0qJUZN-u9KRIMmdB1yoVBadHbvb6AtoGpmzv5wxhcGY0DwF0kBC6C4ScB1p8KHmhuRW5TeJjmD0wUrCo3Xm10iFqRzz91Fw907b3aNIRqKNN1ECu2EttsYWgYh3nGMMw/s400/IMGP5449.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430474890289650050" /><div style="text-align: left;">Fun stickers to decorate the outside of our packages (compliments of Cheryl).</div></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxzuf9OHyXEKYEA87Bbld7noAIr1ltsFsUX3OGhfw8Yonk8VKZlOQ3zmt9PCmIvkqdU4rcQhO59WolV-0_Ntqhg7WRJ2e5mn6zozjmCE_o2iOlgpx8U14Ibbj-P_U0nrfUVXISw7yxVdt/s400/IMGP5468.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430474886632102130" /><div style="text-align: left;">Include yellow food (compliments of my culinary friends)</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvNoASgjBfYNVTMia4_BdQneN66WTUQgYboJMUpuLNA7YMdk_0ViLOb15EL0NVfWMPL8qPWSP_K5QLlbdqf-BL77L1kdJVX07hgnwubsUEHB3pz90rl3GJSWWfG9Xkgr1e72lAV-P4E4ow/s400/IMGP5435.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430475443325825906" /><img style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 284px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4ar82GgkHruTmlBhgZxjJJWXw4fD-_YIAi_kBpAr5JiOVFbZ-3QmSF-SE7l5puNJnJe0RaVB3sWFL-zL9OkbSNNs9LDNnO3itDa_SYyfGfDfA37aJ4jgPjdcH-iP7lFq4aHfuaLWLCgL/s400/IMGP5455.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430475449101083154" /><div style="text-align: left;">Some decorations</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="text-decoration: underline;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFAr-Nx6teXZGY6gQSI5kuxc-l2BwEEox5nEzma0d6zTiDPosLX2BxGixQevHURavitVoj15_i3Zz7TlIWdhQvBlWKq3tVrxaqCrzGuDowc5p9Nz4vMtd8ysDoWXdfHkeiEyvwMXvM56H/s400/IMGP5444.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430475898916877826" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline; "><br /></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 322px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHPQxM49SsoVuvBQhyphenhyphenQRYUc0GboIE0T2FNL2gYcpMiHpfUVV7VAxHC8mINGOs4_bTfhkaiCwY8aGIuk6BVl81dM-Q0hQho4jq3OPLeFGIC5gqY3Oe7BZUb2_CyqGhdFjV0yiauRDRHg1X/s400/IMGP5469.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430488216185849138" /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Insert great company...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOK1LFfA9BLGeaunf_Q1nVYe5W8tPmQOw5sGXM-2O-HdbQInxQuJCth6Q1SyxqEcnxdGj17wW2lA_381MaHWZn05OVgC9QXYBvYPc0aNeUkEcOuuHR64a_LzpgRI0fPujVBvK41L_8OqT/s400/IMGP5454.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430497827337477730" /></div>Put it all together and what do you get?</div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTa934bHlS072EFTYb7VPZfK7AqamVFHZhDB3sK4ATbGCKrvzvVDesN-8oDapRowkNLi90fbJu6f9xUZOBvDDOswx3B6EM7e_JSuxaRDPLbPewKFiZcK6op4ZaFYdPSkrpD6jn9Wgk7M7i/s400/IMGP5451.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430474879295135186" /></div><div>It was a great afternoon of friends, fun, and food - topped off with 31 boxes of shine.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQF2WqDujQie1Kpde_8KyhKuECInu11mVCOQFDI2KtsNTx-8Oy74AMNJYaqRMycZDBU0e8uJP1uim4qiM2wQAWYr6767hdBnxkjrpQHZK9GTkFdSX5RulrE-YOx1oqdtJCWPquAJTDmkQr/s1600-h/IMGP5476.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 208px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQF2WqDujQie1Kpde_8KyhKuECInu11mVCOQFDI2KtsNTx-8Oy74AMNJYaqRMycZDBU0e8uJP1uim4qiM2wQAWYr6767hdBnxkjrpQHZK9GTkFdSX5RulrE-YOx1oqdtJCWPquAJTDmkQr/s400/IMGP5476.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430474872815410466" /></a>It might be mid-January and cold where you are, but for a brief time yesterday at my house it was <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;">warm</span></i></b> and <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;"><i>shining</i></span></b>!</div><div><br /></div><div>Signing off until tomorrow...</div></div>Claudia @ Highlowahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18156269935738164157noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442005414487201262.post-70667301595659287442010-01-23T04:00:00.002-06:002010-01-23T04:00:01.532-06:00Yellow Envelope Project: Atlanta<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCH4MAHDdAIHXLGojxPJ2ZjxVl1H05lDjuHrow5DxWPj15dzICJTOS4PuaOmZTNd-MwTIYMxjFkDcCyINeD7L4p3K2bEEHJuwLO2Qmydgwmjqifr7S9ELkCMR9Z1QpuciSCbuJnRCr36jB/s1600-h/YEP+photo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 189px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCH4MAHDdAIHXLGojxPJ2ZjxVl1H05lDjuHrow5DxWPj15dzICJTOS4PuaOmZTNd-MwTIYMxjFkDcCyINeD7L4p3K2bEEHJuwLO2Qmydgwmjqifr7S9ELkCMR9Z1QpuciSCbuJnRCr36jB/s400/YEP+photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429754128565462690" /></a><div>It's been a week and I'm still thinking about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Sanjay</span> Gupta, the CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, whose work in Port <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">au</span> Prince on January 17 exemplified what it means to shine!</div><div><br /></div><div>I know we pride ourselves on using the <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;">Yellow Envelope Project</span></i></b> to recognize every day people who do extraordinary things <i>and </i>that you might not think Gupta is an "ordinary" guy. It's true he is regularly on t.v., but t.v. or no t.v., I maintain he is a deserved recipient of this week's <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;">Yellow Envelope Project</span></i></b>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Despite other doctors and nurses leaving, due to alleged security issues, Gupta stayed overnight as the lone doctor on duty in a Port <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">au</span> Prince field hospital. Gupta shines because he listened to his conscience instead of giving into fear. I want to know, if the tables were turned, there would be compassionate people like Gupta, willing to pitch in and do their part.<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/16/haiti.abandoned.patients/index.html"> Click here</a> to get the full story.</div><div><br /></div><div>Please join me in sending <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Sanjay</span> Gupta a short note in a yellow envelope. Tell him what you think about his staying to tend to those 25 patients. Tell him he shines! </div><div><br /></div><div>Remember to print the words, "<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC00;"><i>Yellow Envelope Project</i></span></b>" in the return address. Final note: it would be nice to have a good showing this week, as I am sure his inbox is full and we want our envelopes to get noticed.</div><div><br /></div><div>P.O. Box 105366 </div><div>One CNN Center </div><div>Atlanta, Georgia 30348</div><div><br /></div><div>Signing off until tomorrow...</div>Claudia @ Highlowahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18156269935738164157noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442005414487201262.post-11875985387166054452010-01-22T04:00:00.006-06:002010-01-22T06:34:34.230-06:00Free For All Friday: Technical DifficultiesT.G.I.F. everyone!<br /><br />Click below, but don't blink. We experienced quite a few technical difficulties while taping, so who knows how much of today's video will actually transmit.<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/purL8UAtvnI&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/purL8UAtvnI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Don't forget to visit <a href="http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/">www.thebreastcancersite.com</a> and to click on the words, "donating a mammogram." Get 10 other people to visit and help provide mammograms to underprivileged women.<br /><br />Finally, win the unclaimed rooster cookie cutter by sharing suggestions for fun ways we might celebrate Highlowaha's upcoming anniversary week. Coming your way in mid-February!<br /><br />Signing off until tomorrow...Claudia @ Highlowahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18156269935738164157noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442005414487201262.post-92052155153919038772010-01-21T04:00:00.003-06:002010-01-21T04:00:05.284-06:00Labor of Love<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsFYpFXV7T0ZUk1Ifkqf4gpmgq-CxVKKro6P1kygqUeimxclEX94vd1Mw_dpcOgOwNPfZVNKqAEggqpmxf2Pqfa9J78zWGyjqWKNPj6BvozfRgvvZZZ1WS2PIUpQrNb62zjO-VuWPipqI/s1600-h/IMGP5434.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsFYpFXV7T0ZUk1Ifkqf4gpmgq-CxVKKro6P1kygqUeimxclEX94vd1Mw_dpcOgOwNPfZVNKqAEggqpmxf2Pqfa9J78zWGyjqWKNPj6BvozfRgvvZZZ1WS2PIUpQrNb62zjO-VuWPipqI/s400/IMGP5434.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429009578053149074" /></a><div><div style="text-align: left;">Months and months ago I did a post on a concept explained by Malcolm Gladwell as<b> Concerted Cultivation</b>. In his book, <i>Outliers</i>, Gladwell shared research showing that children whose parents cultivated their skills and interests ultimately outperformed children whose parents did not.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What Gladwell was saying - in Highlowaha language - is that a child's inherent talents and gifts will <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC9933;">shine</span></b> brighter when their interests are supported by parents. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm here to say that Concerted Cultivation or shining or whatever you want to call it takes time <i>and</i> is tiring.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In December my middle son gotten bitten by the entrepreneurial bug. He sold pine cone ornaments in our neighborhood and $22.00 later got a taste of what it feels like to be a boss. I think he decided it suited him well. This, of course, was right up Richard's alley, as he's an entrepreneur and could cultivate til the cows came home. He and Richard held lots of business meetings, one of which was Richard explaining to Matthew that, in order to continue making money, he had to "feed the roots." </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Mostly Matthew didn't want to hear much about "feeding the roots" and instead wanted to blow his whole wad of cash on Bakugons and candy. Finally, after some additional cultivation from me, Matthew decided it would be acceptable to part with $6.48 to "feed the roots" of his business and create our next product.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Valentine cards with a twist.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But, first...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's where the theoretics of Concerted Cultivation meets the realities of implementation. Who do you think was really helping Matthew trace, decorate, stencil, cut, glue, and stamp his 40 handmade Valentine cards?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You got it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Oh, and by the way... fifteen minute increments. That was the longest a work shift could last before Matthew was ready to move on to something new. About the same amount of time it took to get all the supplies out and set up.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But, right on schedule Matthew's cards are done and he's ready to start selling. According to him, "Two dollars per card or as much as you are willing to pay."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Take a look.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">White puzzles mounted on hearts of either red or pink card stock and then decorated with complementary hearts cut from stencils.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgSTRCZNlnHmp24Q8mzyNjqvHnDgU5VXnjwuo_BpbAroBZJS0WCSafs4XlK309-q1CtshMmccufZXNLYZct5qP3xxbT1y8lVSsxtSGgpHxYfng_KywlAGa6j5DKpsImkYWF_gKq_1Tf8c/s400/IMGP5432.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429008936853613778" /></div><div>Each puzzle valentine was placed in a brown bag, along with a decorated white envelope. Brown bags were stamped with pink and purple DO-A-DOT paints from Crayola and a white heart (compliments of mom) reading, "Thrill Your Valentine to Pieces."</div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 131px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80sUpN9Dbd8g6ecTvIrqRAg-MlHOd26HWL7QebcjW7IvAvblNgRLNPtVqSgetx59pTQZeb9I-jHNb9oiHD2GZaKnYF1wf_PLL_V0tyNFG_XEFeUHfPz7yvH9qrut_1OxYufiKg5zNJncI/s400/IMGP5428.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429008927483205298" /><div style="text-align: left;">Instructions are placed on the back of each bag to assure ease of use.</div></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJgwnfk_W1Zb_Ftyy-RfoCOmR9n8QUI3MWPXJcKhVkczkLwqSPr13s173rpjq9bmx9ZejBRRwYe0t-AwsNNGbPVVpOwJx_A2NDGV-02lfHidbVQeSF3Ac7CWaI5WTl63jdKmvzPcSaMyt/s400/IMGP5433.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429008947248419442" /><div style="text-align: left;">A small display showing a "Before" and "After" shot.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYXQS0SLYFbn3wHChcoaM5EthyjlTov0wp2NCbijEfBhS5Z3VS9hl0BoPy3EGwEwL-wlUbURAhAeX1kSwlQRIllpR4rigkMd9jehiWqBvMnEv_OGRAIbLQDxl7yh3bTeQW1ynWnT5OCBC/s400/IMGP5431.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429008932244692258" /></div><div>And, of course, the 0h-so-important-carrying case that allows Matthew to peddle his wares through neighborhoods, parks, his school, and - if he has it his way - through the grocery store with Richard on Saturday morning.</div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 293px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKImFb2Kd_gO4z1F-zSbryLcC2GdrGKWHUdIaU5vOyc4rmDM3G_llDsmZShLInJxQWMMbQQS55jvEAQ1nBNWKdgEcFo1ZnLyQfKp_VFjAc6NBGnFCO2HLSN1zrW7AOZrQSGvgIEw8r5gP/s400/IMGP5426.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429008922833184370" /></div><div>Matthew is excited about the prospect of 40 valentines at $2.00 a pop, but he is also excited to donate $0.50 per card sold to Haitian Relief (that's a Concerted Cultivation conversation for another blog post).</div><div><br /></div><div>Me? I'm excited for this second little business venture to come to its natural <i>cultivated</i> conclusion. I also think I'll make a <i>concerted</i> effort to have Matthew's <i>next</i> project involve wood, nails, a jig saw and the sundry other tools taking up space in Richard's half of the garage. </div><div><br /></div><div>Limited edition cards. Get yours today.</div><div><br /></div><div>Signing off until tomorrow...</div><div><br /></div></div>Claudia @ Highlowahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18156269935738164157noreply@blogger.com10