tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17560742126889907712024-02-26T02:02:21.423-05:00Dear Miss TraciMiss Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395479603321966395noreply@blogger.comBlogger210125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756074212688990771.post-8537179957320888222015-09-06T18:56:00.003-04:002015-09-06T18:56:47.123-04:00So, Life happened...It has been a ridiculously long time since I've typed anything here.<br />
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Since then -<br />
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I have closed and reopened and closed my Etsy shop.<br />
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I have completed cosmetology school and acquired my temporary license (because the state boards aren't until November).<br />
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I have chopped off most of my hair, gone blonde, messed it all up and gotten a sassy short pixie, only to grow it out, go purple, and gradually fade back into "normalcy" and blondey brown hair.<br />
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I am still married.<br />
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I have a completely different outlook on everything.<br />
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And I am unsure of where to go from here...<br />
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<br />Miss Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395479603321966395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756074212688990771.post-30166275216200068982014-02-04T20:55:00.002-05:002014-02-04T20:55:55.796-05:002014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There are many things I left unsaid for 2013.</div>
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Many things I chose to not share here. And I gradually faded away from my online presence, wrapped into a shell of myself. </div>
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2013 was one of the best years of my life.</div>
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I married my best friend.</div>
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My sister blessed us with a nephew on the Fourth of July.</div>
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I chose to follow my dreams and enroll in cosmetology school in October.</div>
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But amidst these moments of bliss, there was a LOT of heartache.</div>
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I lost two of my uncles over summer 2013, and I retreated into the black hole of my self that I found in 2007 after the death of my grandfather.</div>
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Prior to my grandfather's passing, I hadn't come very close to death.</div>
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I had no coping mechanisms.</div>
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I still struggle with my grief and reactions in situations like these. The tears always come later.</div>
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In addition to losing my family members, the mother of one of my husband's best friends (and if we're going to be honest, the mother of several of our best friends, because that whole family is a package deal) passed away shortly after Christmas. It was not an easy thing to deal with, coming so shortly on the heels of losing others I cared so deeply about, and I am struggling with this latest loss as well.</div>
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But a new year brings a chance of hope.</div>
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A chance to live to its fullest, and take all opportunity that is thrown my way.</div>
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I am already struggling to juggle my new marriage with work, school, and a second "job" (I am now a <a href="http://tastefullysimple.com/web/tsteiner1" target="_blank">Tastefully Simple </a>direct sales consultant! YAY!), and I only expect it to get harder before it gets better </div>
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But there is always tomorrow...</div>
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Miss Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395479603321966395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756074212688990771.post-2614041229741384712013-08-04T20:06:00.001-04:002013-08-04T20:06:32.446-04:00PJ Party Swap Reveal!!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Well before I start this, I should say...I suck at taking pictures lately. Even my instagram feed is alarmingly dull as of late. So you guys are stuck with a crappy pic from ig. Sorry.</span></div>
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Remember my last post about this awesome swap over at CG Swaps?</div>
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Well, here is the big reveal! My partner was Bethany over at <a href="http://happilyrambling.blogspot.com/2013/08/pj-party-swap-reveal.html" target="_blank">Happily Rambling</a>. I am so happy to have had the chance to get to know her through her blog and our emails. We have a lot in common :)</div>
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I was SO excited to get my swap package in the mail! My life has been a bit blue lately <span style="font-size: x-small;">(I will be posting more about this to come)</span> and finding it on my porch was the best pick up! </div>
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She included rad PJ's (check out the outer space tank top! perfect for a trekkie like moi), a mini version of Apples to Apples, a fantastic scrub she made herself, face masks I cannot wait to try out, and super yummy chocolate almonds because I told her about how I'm trying to make healthier decisions so she totally rocked it with those! </div>
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And last but not least, she even send me a second package, straight from Amazon...</div>
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A copy of the book World War Z!!! I was so excited, I just saw the movie and I'm fairly obsessed with all zombie things lately and I was so excited. Yes I said that a few times. I am still excited. Okay? Ok.</div>
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Thank you so much for everything Bethany!! I had a blast!</div>
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You can check out the package I sent to Bethany <a href="http://happilyrambling.blogspot.com/2013/08/pj-party-swap-reveal.html" target="_blank">here</a>. I had as much fun putting this together as I did getting things sent to me! </div>
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Miss Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395479603321966395noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756074212688990771.post-43464905964198658582013-07-12T12:04:00.001-04:002013-07-12T12:05:58.224-04:00Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal! and some fitness too...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I know, I know…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Least appealing picture like ever amiright?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">But let me tell you what: This is literally the BEST oatmeal I’ve ever had. Not that I’d consider myself an oatmeal connoisseur or anything {although I do eat that stuff pretty much every day}, but I have had a bunch of it. Maple kinds, stuff with fruit, cooked and refrigerator kind…LOTS. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">This one came about kind of accidentally. I found a blog post on pintrest about a year ago {sorry no idea where it came from at this point!!} for dark chocolate almond overnight oatmeal. And so I started making that. And as yummy as it was, I fell off the oatmeal wagon for awhile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Now if you don’t know this, overnight oatmeal is supposed to be better for you than cooked oatmeal, something about how it doesn’t lose any nutrient value because nothing’s cooked out of it. {google it cuz that’s all I know fo sho} So as I’ve hopped back on that fitness train, I decided to start my days with oatmeal again because a small amount of it keeps me full for a long time, and well, health benefits and all {high cholesterol and blood pressure runs in my fam and this stuff is supposed to keep it in check!} And I accidentally came up with this.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Overnight Oatmeal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">{yeah, I was having my lady time when I invented it}<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">It is delicious and helps keep those monthly cravings in check, I promise. I posted this on IG a few days ago, but have since improved upon the recipe. I hope you’ll give it a try!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">½ cup old fashioned oats<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">½ cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk {could also use chocolate, plain…whatever you’ve got I guess!}<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">1 tablespoon peanut butter {I happen to currently have a large jar of chunky JIF on hand…organic stuff would be better, but use what you have!!}<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Couple drops of honey {again, what I happen to have. Use agave nectar, sugar, or nothing at all…it’s all taste. If you use sweetened milk you probably won’t need to add this.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">1 chopped up dark chocolate square {or cacao nibs or whatever you happen to have!}<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Basically add everything together in a container {I use a small mason jar} until it’s mixed, then throw it in the fridge overnight. In the morning you have a lovely yummy breakfast! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">In other news, related to being up in the gym and workin’ on my fitness, I caved in and bought a tape measure so I can take my measurements to see what I lose. I don’t want to weigh myself for lots of reasons, but a friend of mine who has recently lost a bunch of weight told me she regrets not measuring herself at the beginning, because she’s only lost 35 pounds but you can TELL she’s lost loads of inches. So…here’s my current measurements! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">26 inches – Thighs<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">43 inches – Ass <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">42 inches – Waist (the thickest part of it)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">37 inches – Underbust<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">45.5 inches – Bust<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">14 inches – Biceps<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">{ahem. Hopefully this illustrates why I’m so eager to get rid of some boobies. I’m not lying when I say they’re huge}<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I am incredibly proud of myself for sticking to a healthy eating plan for nearly TWO WEEKS now, and managing to get out and do some form of exercise EVERY DAY since the 4<sup>th</sup> of July {including lifting with boys and two “workouts” in one day} I have already noticed a difference in my stamina since starting and it feels amazing. I never ever thought I’d actually WANT to get out and do this. But here I am, every day just DOING it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Happy Friday Everyone!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Miss Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395479603321966395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756074212688990771.post-84342753097362328652013-07-08T20:04:00.000-04:002013-07-08T20:04:53.581-04:00Oh, Hello Monday.<div style="text-align: center;">
Well, the whole Fourth of July thing went by in a blur for me! I didn't go to see fireworks, or a parade, and I didn't go to any cookouts. </div>
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But...</div>
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My new baby nephew was born on the Fourth!! He is the most precious thing since my other nephew was born. Just an adorable tiny scrunchy human. I love him. And he shares his birthday with my momma! Now we have two firecrackers in the family :)</div>
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In other more blog-land related news, I have so far made it a week on my mostly clean-eating change! I haven't really "cut out" too much stuff, though switching to gluten free has been interesting (dear Olive Garden - make gluten free breadsticks ASAP!!) due to me not being able to eat like ninety percent of my favorite foods. I've been cheating a bit on the gluten because I can't find gluten free sandwich wraps that I like, but I did find some HUGE ones that were only 80 calories so I'll take it. I have also managed to "work out" every day for the past four days without injury, though working out might be an exaggeration. Going from a mostly sedentary lifestyle to one filled with exercise is no joke...it's hard to even push myself to get out there and WALK at a decent pace for 20-30 minutes, but I just have to keep reminding myself that it takes baby steps and as long as I'm pushing myself to keep getting out there and doing it, it's better than sitting on my couch because it takes me too long to walk a mile. Womp womp. Soooo basically, go me?<br />
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AND last but certainly not least, tomorrow is the last day to sign up for the<a href="http://cgswaps.blogspot.com/2013/07/pj-party-swap-signups.html" target="_blank"> PJ Party Swap</a> over at <a href="http://cgswaps.blogspot.com/2013/07/pj-party-swap-signups.html" target="_blank">Chaotic Goddess Swaps</a>! Have you heard of these gals? About once per month they come up with a new fantastic swap opportunity and they're so fun! I haven't participated in a swap in a long while, so I'm particularly excited for this one!! Make sure to go over there and sign up!!<br />
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Miss Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395479603321966395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756074212688990771.post-88518934541992246482013-07-05T09:35:00.003-04:002013-07-05T09:35:48.921-04:00Heavy Truths.<div align="center">
I'm afraid I haven't been entirely honest with you guys.</div>
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Actually, I haven't been totally honest with myself, either.</div>
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I haven't been particularly active on my blog in awhile, and at first it was easy to blame on being "too busy" while wedding planning. Then I was honeymooning. And then...</div>
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Well, and then.</div>
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And then I realized most of my problem was that I was feeling mostly flat out miserable.</div>
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All. The. Time.</div>
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It is a difficult thing to admit, but I don't know where all of these feelings are coming from. I have been experiencing migraines with an even more annoying frequency, and even on days without a migraine I just feel a general sense of blah-ness.</div>
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But then! Miracle of miracles, I stumbled across an article someplace on the internet of a woman experiencing similar "symptoms" as myself. And her problem? She wasn't getting enough vitamin B12. Jeez I felt like I'd been hit in the head with a sledgehammer. Vitamin b12 deficiencies can cause headaches, mood swings hair loss, loss of energy...basically, my life. And then (big DUH moment right here) I remembered going to the dr a couple of years ago and having bloodwork done, and needing to get b12 shots for six months. And yet, following this, I wasn't taking B12 supplements! WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?!? Point of story: Yes, I'm taking B12 now and starting to feel a bit better. Wahoo!</div>
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But the second part of this untruthfulness is this:</div>
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All of my posts about being confident in your size and body and all? Posting about how I'd tried and failed to lose weight and who really cares anyway?</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I Care.</span></div>
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I've been telling myself for ages about how it's not that big of a deal, and my clothes still fit so I'll eat whatever...blah blah blah. Except now I suddenly have to buy bras from Lane Bryant and pants from Torrid...WTF is happening? (PS - Totally nothing wrong with those stores, but having NEVER been in plus - sizes before, yeah, kind of an issue to me) I'M GAINING WEIGHT, OBVIOUSLY.</div>
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And it's not a good thing. Truthfully, I don't mind how I look without clothes on. My skin is like silk, honestly. Sooo smooth (it's my favorite feature fyi). But when, last weekend, I suddenly had problems zipping up a dress for a friend's wedding that I picked up and tried on (and zipped with NO problem) the same day as I picked up my (size 16) wedding dress? Holy heart attack batman. Not to mention the dress from my engagment photos last June that suddenly doesn't begin to cover my bazoomas. Or the sleep shorts from last year that won't even pull on anymore. To add insult to injury, my hubby's baby mama (who I'm suddenly friends with, a wonderful thing I never expected to have happen in this lifetime!) is suddenly looking fit and slim. I found out she's been hitting the gym and jogging. And she has FOUR kids. Seriously, if a mama with 4 kids can find time and motivation to go to the gym, what the eff is my problem??</div>
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I'M LAZY. If it doesn't show results like NOW I want nothing to do with it. So I've come to the conclusion that I need to just suck it up and do it. I'm not going to spend $$ to replace my whole wardrobe this summer, or this fall, or even next summer. I'm going to fit into what I own. And if I do have to replace my clothes, it better be with SMALLER sizes, not larger. I have two baby nephews...I'm not going to be the fat aunt who can't run around and play with them for more than two minutes without getting winded. I'm not going to be the girl who everyone has to slow down for when walking someplace. I'm not going to give up this time.</div>
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I WILL BE STRONG.</div>
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Oh, and I'm not friggin weighing myself this time. Or taking measurements either. I feel like I set myself up for disappointment when I do those things...I'll be going directly on feel...and by that I mean how I feel. How my clothes fit, how my body feels. </div>
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I have just made the dramatic switch to gluten free & clean eating...which is really expensive, so I hope it will be worth it!!</div>
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I love you all for sticking around even when I don't post anything.</div>
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<3</div>
Miss Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395479603321966395noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756074212688990771.post-4661941277110926122013-05-25T12:08:00.000-04:002013-05-25T12:08:19.095-04:00Heeeyyyy, Sexy Lady!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Or, <span style="font-size: large;">hey party people!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">And by party people, I mean all you awesome people who for some reason follow and read my blog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">For those of you who are a bit new around here, welcome<span style="font-size: small;">!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wh<span style="font-size: small;">en I start reading a new blog, one of the first things I do is check out their fun "about me<span style="font-size: small;">" posts. And since it's been a bit since I've done a little factoid post about moi, I <span style="font-size: small;">feel like this is the per<span style="font-size: small;">fect time. <span style="font-size: small;">After all<span style="font-size: small;">, you should all know <span style="font-size: small;">about the person behind the blog...skeletons and all.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">1: My two absolute favorite television shows are The Walking Dead and Friends. I can <span style="font-size: small;">{and do} pull quotes from Friends as a<span style="font-size: small;">pplicable to daily life as often as possible. A<span style="font-size: small;">lso, my <span style="font-size: small;">husband and I are soooo Monica & Chandler.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">2: My favorite color is purple. I own very few purple things.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">3: I have too many purses<span style="font-size: small;"> & reusable <span style="font-size: small;">shopping bags. I haven't counted purses in a<span style="font-size: small;">whi<span style="font-size: small;">le {and I did recently purge my collection a bit}, but it's well over 20. And I buy a new shopping b<span style="font-size: small;">ag nearly each time I go shopping {sin<span style="font-size: small;">ce I <span style="font-size: small;">always leave them at home...}, and I shop a lot...</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">4: I have a <span style="font-size: small;">lot of tattoos. I'm working on a calf sleeve & a half sleeve on my arm. Plus a bunch of <span style="font-size: small;">others. Like <span style="font-size: small;">Betty the sugar skull on my wrist, accom<span style="font-size: small;">panied by <span style="font-size: small;">my part of the song lyric my husband and I got tattooed for our wedding, "<span style="font-size: small;">I'll be the fire." Ooooh, and my new pink diamond on my if you like it then you</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> shoulda put a ring on it finger.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">5: I <span style="font-size: small;">finally married my soulmate on May 11, 2013. {so we're super newlyweds}<span style="font-size: small;"> I now have a nea<span style="font-size: small;">rly 11 year old stepdaughter. The ne<span style="font-size: small;">xt few years will be terrifying<span style="font-size: small;">, if her father's teenage years are any indication of how hers will be<span style="font-size: small;">... </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">6: I live in Western New York. It's k<span style="font-size: small;">ind of great - a short drive to the beach in summer, ski/snowboard in winter, and <span style="font-size: small;">a short drive to great campgrounds and <span style="font-size: small;">national parks. But I li<span style="font-size: small;">ve in a tiny town, and there's<span style="font-size: small;"> fields on both sides of my house...so outside it always smells like ma<span style="font-size: small;">nure. Ahh, farming.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">7: I'm kind of obsessed with decorating my home. I'm constantly on the lookout for cool knick-knacks and art<span style="font-size: small;">. <span style="font-size: small;">In addition, I own seven couches. {seriously, i don't even know how th<span style="font-size: small;">at happened but <span style="font-size: small;">they're all here...though mostly in my basement}</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">8: I love scrapbooking, jewelry making, sewing...<span style="font-size: small;">my hobbies have taken over a few rooms of my tiny abo<span style="font-size: small;">de.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">9: I believe the movie E<span style="font-size: small;">lf i<span style="font-size: small;">s <span style="font-size: small;">a perfect rep<span style="font-size: small;">resentation of how people should <span style="font-size: small;">feel every day. That every day is ma<span style="font-size: small;">gic, and everything is ama<span style="font-size: small;">zing...</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">10: I am a <span style="font-size: small;">size 14. Up around 190 p<span style="font-size: small;">ounds. <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is the most I've ever <span style="font-size: small;">weighed...<span style="font-size: small;">and it's the happiest I've ever been in my life. I am finally in a place in my life where I am happy with what I see in the mirror {at least 90%<span style="font-size: small;"> of the time, which is a damn lot}, and I don't care if you think I'm <span style="font-size: small;">fat. I know I am a bit overweight. And I'm cool with that. I have a husband, a family. Fr<span style="font-size: small;">iends for <span style="font-size: small;">like ever. And I <span style="font-size: small;">no longer feel like I have to be "skinny" to fit i<span style="font-size: small;">n, because I've finally found who I'm supposed to be.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
Miss Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395479603321966395noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756074212688990771.post-90276733990846123282013-05-23T21:04:00.000-04:002013-05-23T21:04:44.261-04:00Love is Patient, Love is Kind...<div style="text-align: center;">
Well, it's been nearly two weeks since I became a Mrs.</div>
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It's funny, how something that seems so hugely monumental, can totally end up being no big deal.</div>
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For over a year we planned and planned and planned for our Big Day.</div>
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Spent hours agonizing over colors, centerpieces, venue, food.</div>
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And ya know what? I have no idea what my bouquet even looked like.</div>
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I don't remember seeing anyone's boutineers.</div>
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I cannot tell you what my cake looked like.</div>
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Honestly...I was fairly bored most of the wedding day.</div>
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I woke up early, having not been able to sleep.</div>
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{a great combination of nerves and my stepdaughter sleeping sideways with me...kids are thrashers!}</div>
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I kind of fiddled around getting ready.</div>
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EVERYTHING ended up taking much less time than I'd planned for.</div>
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So, I got my hair done at ten, had my makeup done afterwards...so here it was, noon, and I'm all set except the dress, sitting in a room full of my girls getting ready, and I had pretty much nothing to do. </div>
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I really got to the point where I just wanted it to be over with.</div>
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All this build up, all this anticipation...</div>
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And the ceremony was over with in like ten minutes.</div>
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Followed by a whirlwind of pictures</div>
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{in which we got photobombed by Japanese tourists}</div>
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{i'm not kidding}</div>
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{side effect of taking pictures at Niagara Falls}</div>
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Then a bomb.com dinner</div>
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and a special appearance by our friends' band.</div>
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{which was the best part, except the cake}</div>
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At some point, I will post some pictures.</div>
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{and by that, I mean when the best photographer in the world is finished making them prettier}</div>
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Oh, and re-hash the ol' honeymoon.</div>
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Miss Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395479603321966395noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756074212688990771.post-40070007124634580752013-05-07T09:40:00.001-04:002013-05-07T09:40:13.917-04:00Things I Just Don't Understand.<div align="center">
1: It is the year 2013. We can now send emails from our phones...not to mention browsing the internet, take pictures, play games... Why do people still insist on FAXING?? Especially when the machine is located in my cubicle and makes annoying noises all. day. long. whilst the facsimile in question refuses to go through?</div>
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2: Socks and Sandals. Seriously? If you're worried about blisters, get a bandaid. Feet cold? Invest in some sneakers. But please do not wear socks with your sandals.</div>
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3: Roadside crosses. Ya know, the ones that people put up in spots where their loved one has died in a horrific accident. I understand the sentiment...but if people always put crosses up where someone died, the whole darn planet would be covered! Also, that is why gravesites exist - for the living to mourn.</div>
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4: How do people NOT like "Gangnam Style"? It's so catchy.</div>
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5: Why do I always wake up with bruises randomly scattered on my body? I know I'm clumsy, but really. I am pretty glad I'm not wearing a short wedding dress...I walk into things far too often. Whoops.</div>
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6: Mullets. Really.</div>
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7: Also, how can people not love "Achy Breaky Heart"?? I know the nineties are behind us, but I love me some Billy Ray Cyrus. LOVE.</div>
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8: Why are baby noises the same as dinosaur noises? Don't get me wrong, totes adorbz, but I feel like something went wrong during evolution...</div>
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9: Unfailingly, as soon as all of my nails are the same, perfect length...one will break. WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING TO ME??!?</div>
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10: The noble platypus. Good joke, mother nature. WTF. Also in this category...the mighty narwhal.</div>
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<3</div>
Miss Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395479603321966395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756074212688990771.post-27531562730980111512013-05-05T13:10:00.002-04:002013-05-05T13:10:55.781-04:00On Gratitude.<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>My life is far <span style="font-size: large;">from perfect.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I am far from perfect.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I mess up. I<span style="font-size: small;"> don't always showe<span style="font-size: small;">r every day.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sometimes I rock my jeans for a week st<span style="font-size: small;">raight before I wash em.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">I lie.<span style="font-size: small;"> I forget to feed my fish.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">My eyeline<span style="font-size: small;">r never looks the same on both eyes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I los<span style="font-size: small;">e my phone, keys, purse, etc on a nearly daily basis.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">{once even losing my car keys at walmart and having to leave my car there overnight until someone miraculously fo<span style="font-size: small;">u<span style="font-size: small;">nd them. true st<span style="font-size: small;">ory.}</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">But in all of my lack of perfection, there ar<span style="font-size: small;">e always people who want to hang out with me anyway.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">People <span style="font-size: small;">who love me despite my need to <span style="font-size: small;">constantly correct their improperly spoken movie quotes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Also despite my constant <span style="font-size: small;">hair twirling.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">People who've held me while I've cried, lent me money w<span style="font-size: small;">hen I've been unable to pay my own way, cheered me up with a funny s<span style="font-size: small;">tory, <span style="font-size: small;">or listened when I had something to get off my chest.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">For these people, I am grateful.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am thankful.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am <span style="font-size: small;">lucky and blessed.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am grateful for <span style="font-size: small;">my momma. For my <span style="font-size: small;">sisters, my family.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am grateful for my home. <span style="font-size: small;">Even the floor t<span style="font-size: small;">hat's fall<span style="font-size: small;">ing ap<span style="font-size: small;">art.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am grateful for m<span style="font-size: small;">y friends, who always seem to know me better than I think<span style="font-size: small;"> they do.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am grateful for my blog, and the frie<span style="font-size: small;">nds I have come to know through it.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am thank<span style="font-size: small;">ful to have modern technology.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am grateful for indoor plumbing.<span style="font-size: small;"> No way am I gonna haul out to a<span style="font-size: small;">n out<span style="font-size: small;">house to do my business.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Also, very thankful for the inventor of the tampon.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Throughout the last year, as I've been planning my upcoming wedding<span style="font-size: small;">, there has been so much dram<span style="font-size: small;">a and stress, I haven't known how to cope with it at times. If I had to choose again, I'd have just e<span style="font-size: small;">loped and saved myself several months of hassle with unp<span style="font-size: small;">redic<span style="font-size: small;">table vendors. But as the day approaches, I am now realizing that I couldn't po<span style="font-size: small;">ssibly be happier, or more excited.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Or more grateful for the man who will soon be my husband.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Because he loves me. Flaw<span style="font-size: small;">s and all.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span> </span> </span> </span></span> </span></span></span></span> </span></span> </span> </span></span></span> </span> </span></span> </span> </span></span></span> </span> </span> </span></span> </span></span> </span> </span></span> </span></div>
Miss Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395479603321966395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756074212688990771.post-57839565120326954482013-04-26T15:27:00.000-04:002013-05-05T13:11:24.501-04:00Our Story...part one.<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I originally published this post in March of 2012. Since I've been a horribly slacking blogger lately, and more importantly, it's now TWO WEEKS til my Big Day, I decided to re-share it all with you now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Here is my proposal story.</i></span></div>
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I hope you love it :)</div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">You know I’m newly engaged and beginning to plan the Big Day, but of course you always have to know how the proposal went. It’s the most romantic part, isn’t it? And really, the biggest deal, since it’s the beginning of the rest of it. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Firstly, I was the one to propose. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I don’t know exactly what it was that tipped the scales. I’ve known to the deepest part of me that he is my soulmate. My absolute other half. We were friends for ages before we started dating, beginning in high school and then just with MySpace and social networking. Then came the fateful night that led to the dating…we ran into each other at a rock show. Which led to more talking, then the invite to hang out, then the rest happened. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In April of 2010, he officially moved in with me. We redecorated my little house a bit, and I gave him a man cave so he could have his own room (because I know how badly everyone needs private space…I know I do!). So as it’s been occurring to us that we’ve successfully lived together for nearly a year, we’ve been making more and more jokes about getting married eventually and never really thought much about it. We never figured there was a reason to rush it. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";">But if there's no reason to rush it, then there's also no reason to keep waiting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone could always use more money or a better job, but that's not a real enough reason to not marry your soulmate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of that stuff can change at any moment anyway, no matter how rich or poor you are.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> The only real reason I could even think up to NOT propose to him was that “the guy should be the one to propose”. But why? Nothing about us is traditional to begin with. We’ve already been through rich & poor, and sickness and health. And survived it. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">And then I found these:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua";"></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8WPYnho08wA80tT10-RogS7JOjNDgHcl3ttAt2pmRJvBtfI5Ymy_WKCdBL6n_ExkYpJpJUNzwXPj-fl0uVq6LenxhNvN3JSpPw6ln7omJnWmMEV4l2Y9kGrnvb-GMi8s3KFmyF6Z23Ge/s1600/wedding+bands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8WPYnho08wA80tT10-RogS7JOjNDgHcl3ttAt2pmRJvBtfI5Ymy_WKCdBL6n_ExkYpJpJUNzwXPj-fl0uVq6LenxhNvN3JSpPw6ln7omJnWmMEV4l2Y9kGrnvb-GMi8s3KFmyF6Z23Ge/s320/wedding+bands.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://spiffingjewelry.etsy.com/">http://spiffingjewelry.etsy.com/</a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Since my fiancé is such a huge Star Wars fan, I HAD to do it. So I asked him. In my car. In our driveway. At approximately four am on a Saturday night (Sunday morning?)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">And he said YES.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua";"></span></div>
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Miss Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395479603321966395noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756074212688990771.post-59662981872570698692013-04-15T21:07:00.000-04:002013-04-15T21:16:31.865-04:00Bridal Showers: The Dirty Secret...<div align="center">
Ok, there's not really a dirty secret.</div>
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But let me tell ya, I was wholly unprepared for it.</div>
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I have a tendency to get really bad anxiety around large groups of people at any time, let alone when I personally am the center of attention. <span style="font-size: x-small;">{you don't even know how nervous i used to get during chorus concerts in high school...ughh} </span><span style="font-size: small;">And a bridal shower, when you're the bride...well. Wow.</span></div>
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1: Everyone wants to say hi. And some of them want to chat your ear off forever, not realizing there's a million other people who want to say hi.</div>
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2: Some people will not even bother to say hi. You will find this highly annoying and rude, though you were already annoyed with saying hi to everyone else.</div>
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3: Everyone just wants food and to see their gift opened. They really don't care about anything else. <span style="font-size: x-small;">{ok so that's how i feel at parties...sue me! LOL}</span></div>
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4: You will be totally overwhelmed by people's generosity. And completely underwhelmed by some.</div>
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5: The cake at your shower will be the most highly anticipated dessert until the wedding day.</div>
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6: There will be young children trying to help you rip open each and every gift. And they'll shout loudly to tell you what their parents got you. It's pretty hilarious.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGbV03yCjQJMYniSZN6gu1pCWI1yP_K3f5qWuMzJxmMYdmQFmKPiwWSFrSv4LoE5aukhGmABqbOajEzkHZNlyIijqpbuv82r1AWtLhVdJ2icYniNVSPtx1e_Px5azWI-h-9MPegLSFwgW/s1600/cake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" psa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGbV03yCjQJMYniSZN6gu1pCWI1yP_K3f5qWuMzJxmMYdmQFmKPiwWSFrSv4LoE5aukhGmABqbOajEzkHZNlyIijqpbuv82r1AWtLhVdJ2icYniNVSPtx1e_Px5azWI-h-9MPegLSFwgW/s1600/cake.JPG" /></a></div>
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I am one of those people who tends to need to be all OCD about every little detail. I actually didn't even lend any input into my shower, except for my venue preference and a guest list. Everyone was honestly was surprised that I didn't tweak out over anything {excepting the part where my fiance didn't even show up to help open gifts at the end...he's never living that down.} <br />
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I was completely unprepared for the awesomeness that awaited me. Everyone was there for me, to celebrate my joy and my fiance's. I couldn't believe the mountain of gifts we received, it seriously took three vehicles to cart them all to my house! I was completely in awe.<br />
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That being said, I was also amazed by these things:<br />
1: We received zero repeat gifts. Not that that is a bad thing, but EVERY single shower I've been to {including one that only 12 people were at!} has had at least one large gift be repeated. <br />
2: We received no personalized gifts. Again, not a bad thing, as it's not exactly our style, but there's always someone who gets something from Things Remembered for you. Always!<br />
3: We were given very few gift cards. Only 3 actually. Definitely not a bad thing, but again, at every shower there seems to be a group of people who didn't have a chance to buy a gift or weren't sure what to get and so they give you a gift card...not the case at my shower!<br />
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All these things said - pretty much every single item on our registry ended up in our possession! A definite rarity, to be sure!<br />
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Thank you so much to my sisters and my mom for throwing such an amazing shower for me!<br />
And my bridesmaids for helping out!!<br />
:)</div>
Miss Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395479603321966395noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756074212688990771.post-7669681311331949512013-03-25T15:41:00.001-04:002013-03-25T15:41:21.812-04:00In a nutshell.<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />There are about a million things I've wanted to write you about over the last couple of weeks.</div>
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I've started posts about my wonderful bridal shower, stressing over wedding plans, even started conjuring up a delicious recipe post.</div>
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But my mind simply will not focus on a task.</div>
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I've still been struggling with migraines, no matter what I do to try to prevent them. And they like to come up at the most inconvenient of times. I think it is very closely related to stress in general.</div>
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As I'm already stressing out about wedding stuff {namely, invited guests RSVPing with more than the intended invitees, with no clear cut way to tell them there is no way they can come} an added layer of stress related to money {or lack thereof thanks to my chronic migraines} has decided to crop up as well. My mind keeps spinning, and there is just no shut off point.</div>
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Two weeks ago {or was it just over a week??} my uncle was taken into the hospital due to complications following a hernia surgery {specifically, some idiot nurse in the ER had taken his blood pressure while IV's were in the arm, causing clotting, which in turn had spread and his leg and arm to swell}. His complications while in the hospital have only just finally come to head, and he will need additional surgery {and a ton of prayers, if you're willing to add him to your list} before he begins to get better, finally. And all I can do is worry about him as well. He's only 52, been healthy as a horse all his life... it is incredibly scary to see someone who's been a constant in your life have to deal with something like that. </div>
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I keep worrying about everything. Last night I had a nightmare that it was my wedding day {though for some reason I was getting hitched at the food court at the mall...wtf?} and I hadn't gone through the song list with the DJ so nothing was played that I wanted to hear. And that the cake was delivered in pieces and set on the floor, where it was promptly smashed and I recall threatening to bring litigation to the bakery {no lie, I said that in my dream. yupp}. If the cake does end up getting smashed in real life, there's not a thing to be done about it anyway. And there is no way I'd let the DJ show up without knowing what the song lineup was going to be.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Am I just a control freak with no outlets to control things??</i></span></div>
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But really, am I?</div>
Miss Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395479603321966395noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756074212688990771.post-87322300113539179042013-03-15T17:33:00.001-04:002013-03-15T17:33:31.028-04:00Dear Friday...<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>dear doctor's office: </b>an hour is not an acceptable wait time for a fifteen minute appointment. it's just not. <b>dear sinuses: </b>please please please don't show any abnormalities!! kind of nervous after getting an x-ray finally...but if abnormalities do show up at least it'll be an answer to why i keep having these headaches and issues. <b>dear fiance: </b>we're officially under the two month mark...can you believe it?!?! <b>dear friends and family: </b>i am so excited to see so many of you tomorrow at my bridal shower!!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>dear readers:</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>some of you (or probably most of you!) have heard that google is going to be doing away with GFC...so I am inviting all of you to swoop on over to bloglovin' and follow my blog!<b> </b></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/4951375/?claim=qe9pmu84bhe">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a></div>
Miss Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395479603321966395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756074212688990771.post-41064038378947458672013-03-13T12:24:00.000-04:002013-03-13T12:24:49.386-04:00Totally Nerdy Wedding Inspiration.<div style="text-align: center;">
I bring you some of the greatest wedding ideas ever.</div>
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Courtesy of Pinterest.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhi5vZp8GhB7EEqHe2sNw6tlAcUhP4AHgF4smYG1_N12b6Ag3xUsvdtJ-LGpPlf2b1YW1rp939tnWdOQt-Fo0OH7nsbHkeCpJDjfM28vbW4tKaSDiUhVifMJLEfZs7-2Ef8NNwO_9mCvCh/s1600/batmanCatwomanWedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhi5vZp8GhB7EEqHe2sNw6tlAcUhP4AHgF4smYG1_N12b6Ag3xUsvdtJ-LGpPlf2b1YW1rp939tnWdOQt-Fo0OH7nsbHkeCpJDjfM28vbW4tKaSDiUhVifMJLEfZs7-2Ef8NNwO_9mCvCh/s1600/batmanCatwomanWedding.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKrQIV6v-Uo2ZaJ2p5Zcho6fVTLMo0G1fPc-aa7iFr23Ff72Z6r4O7P8QIlb75mfNUAhUKhixiX3kDES6yIhBd3F5t1gfgwZWnkRuD0uBF2wNFUWKnT6HlRwrAg8buQquOnwjLm4wV1cl/s1600/spidey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKrQIV6v-Uo2ZaJ2p5Zcho6fVTLMo0G1fPc-aa7iFr23Ff72Z6r4O7P8QIlb75mfNUAhUKhixiX3kDES6yIhBd3F5t1gfgwZWnkRuD0uBF2wNFUWKnT6HlRwrAg8buQquOnwjLm4wV1cl/s400/spidey.jpg" width="374" /></a></div>
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<br />I am almost wishing I'd have seen that Batman thing before we chose colors and bought stuff - because how classy and amazing is that??</div>
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And I seriously laughed out loud at those action figure boutineers.</div>
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<em><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Happy Wednesday Loves!</span></strong></em></div>
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And to those of you joining me from <a href="http://www.mysocalledchaos.com/" target="_blank">My So Called Chaos</a>, Welcome!!!</div>
Miss Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395479603321966395noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756074212688990771.post-38213712193554035932013-03-08T10:52:00.001-05:002013-03-08T10:52:20.387-05:00Men don't make passes...<div style="text-align: center;">
At girls who wear glasses.</div>
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At least that's how the song goes.</div>
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I beg to differ.</div>
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When I wear glasses, the "sexy secretary" and "naughty librarian" comments just don't stop.</div>
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Maybe I'm just that irresistible.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SibAK-dEe2YcAeBWJOxSOfKHlvnLP2fptF3O3tzSB6rNwJZT2NbvrqsimUECuFqBWwle38VG38IRGN7Z6wzd_mu2pPD81egsypx4fvAUpF1oshvR1R_uyYvmGA_zoNV1If-pc6W1Qlos/s1600/photo(29).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SibAK-dEe2YcAeBWJOxSOfKHlvnLP2fptF3O3tzSB6rNwJZT2NbvrqsimUECuFqBWwle38VG38IRGN7Z6wzd_mu2pPD81egsypx4fvAUpF1oshvR1R_uyYvmGA_zoNV1If-pc6W1Qlos/s640/photo(29).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyL6bjMpS4LgYrBA-VDQlpnv64kuwtfNkvVtZcgb8Y4h7zgPav4fH4DVNNOFdUkhfLZDudAezM55HQ34YZhQGjSWSz4SbA_KTSoseRAVrI5jHeThJFqDeaE4y4myDFwcOgw5dk1NtvN3lh/s1600/photo(28).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyL6bjMpS4LgYrBA-VDQlpnv64kuwtfNkvVtZcgb8Y4h7zgPav4fH4DVNNOFdUkhfLZDudAezM55HQ34YZhQGjSWSz4SbA_KTSoseRAVrI5jHeThJFqDeaE4y4myDFwcOgw5dk1NtvN3lh/s640/photo(28).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Or maybe it's my new glasses from <a href="http://www.firmoo.com/" target="_blank">Firmoo</a>.</div>
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I have seen a few <a href="http://www.firmoo.com/" target="_blank">Firmoo </a>reviews around blogland now, but I had to try it out for myself. So when I was contacted to receive a free pair of glasses, I was more than excited to participate.</div>
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Two things about me:</div>
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1: I love a good deal.</div>
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2: I am blinder than a damn bat.</div>
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These two things led me to <a href="http://www.firmoo.com/" target="_blank">Firmoo </a>like a moth to flame. For one thing, I have horrible vision, so for me, glasses and contacts are a necessity. And do you know how expensive glasses are? The last (cheap) pair I got from the Walmart vision center cost me about $100. I don't know about you, but I do not have the money to shell out for glasses, especially around $100 a pair! And those are just the cheap pairs...the frames alone can cost $200, and lenses are even more expensive. Even without the amazing offer of a <a href="http://www.firmoo.com/free-glasses.html" target="_blank">free first pair</a>, <a href="http://www.firmoo.com/" target="_blank">Firmoo </a>has great pricing, and there aren't hidden costs. The price for the glasses is for the FULL pair of glasses. Not the frames alone, leaving you to still spend an ungodly amount on the lenses.</div>
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<a href="http://www.firmoo.com/" target="_blank">Firmoo</a>'s easy to use website also allows you to "try on" glasses by simply uploading your picture to the site, to see if the frames suit your face or not. Personally, I was too lazy to utilize this feature, but the sample image was of a woman with a similar face shape so I "tried" the glasses on her first, and decided that I liked them enough to choose them.</div>
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The other thing that really stood out to me on <a href="http://www.firmoo.com/free-glasses.html" target="_blank">Firmoo</a>'s site, was that I was able to choose two different pupillary distances when inputting my prescription information. I have a lazy eye, so my two pupils aren't in the same location in both of my eyes. Coastal.com also has a first pair free deal going on, but their site doesn't allow for this distinction!</div>
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After placing my order, I was excited and pleased to find my glasses had arrived within a week! And not only did I get glasses, the package included a hard eyeglass case with a cleaning cloth, a soft case, and a packet of tools to fix a loose glasses screw. </div>
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Are you interested in getting a new pair of glasses? Check out <a href="http://www.firmoo.com/free-glasses.html" target="_blank">Firmoo</a>'s first pair free program! I know I'll be back for more pairs soon!</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*these glasses were provided at no charge, for a product review on my blog. all of these opinions stated are my own. </span></div>
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Miss Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395479603321966395noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756074212688990771.post-74156893791197415192013-03-08T10:20:00.003-05:002013-03-08T10:20:56.392-05:00February Cara Box Swap Reveal!<div style="text-align: center;">
In case you haven't heard of it, each month the lovely Kaitlyn at <a href="http://www.wifessionals.com/" target="_blank">Wifessionals</a> puts together a box swap. This swap is called Cara Box (cara meaning friend), and is a great way to meet some new wonderful bloggers and begin friendships with these wonderful women across the blogosphere!</div>
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I was lucky enough to be a part of the February Cara Box swap, and the theme was #clubsexy. In other words, it was our mission to create a box full of items to create a fun date night for our partners! And on top of that, Kaitlyn went out of her way to pair us up so that our partners were from the same state (in case any of us were able to meet up for the exchange!) Unfortunately my meeting will have to be postponed, but t was so much fun to put together a box of goodies for my partner <a href="http://lauriebreaker.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Laura</a> (she's totally awesome by the way. If you haven't checked out her <a href="http://lauriebreaker.blogspot.com/2013/03/february-cara-box-reveal.html" target="_blank">blog </a>do so immediately!!) I filled her box with some goodies to make herself feel sexy (and to invoke thoughts of warmth, after this brutal winter we've had in WNY!), and a great recipe book (because sometimes just making dinner with your guy is the best date!) You can see her box reveal <a href="http://lauriebreaker.blogspot.com/2013/03/february-cara-box-reveal.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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My box came from the amazing <a href="http://www.faithloveandhopeeverafter.com/" target="_blank">Janna</a>, at <a href="http://www.faithloveandhopeeverafter.com/" target="_blank">Faith, Love, Hope</a>. I was so excited at the unexpected box that turned up at my place of work! <span style="font-size: x-small;">(She sent it via UPS, and my local UPS driver isn't the best, so I make sure the guys in my shipping/receiving department always snag my packages before they are delivered to the wrong address!)</span> I was so excited to see she'd packed the box full of supplies for what my fiance and I do best - cuddle on the couch for movie night! She included a super cozy fleece blanket, loads of yummy candy, movie theater popcorn, and best of all - an old Marilyn Monroe movie!! One I haven't even seen yet! I have her films Some Like It Hot and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, but Janna included The Prince and the Showgirl, and I am soooo thrilled to be able to watch this great old film with my man!! Thank you so much Janna!!</div>
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Miss Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395479603321966395noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756074212688990771.post-12862606271061998012013-03-01T09:03:00.000-05:002013-03-01T09:03:26.305-05:00Not an average Friday.<div align="center">
Usually, when I post on a Friday, I participate in some sort of link up.</div>
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I love linkups. They're fun, and I generally find at least one new blog to follow.</div>
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As I sat at my computer starting to write today's post (because let's face it, Fridays are when I most regularly post something, thanks to those linkups), I just wasn't feeling a Friday's Letter post, or anything like that.</div>
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This past week has been a bit of one for soul searching for me, in a lot of ways that don't even make sense. Although, it all spins back down to the same thing...an issue that probably lies heavily on the hearts of many women.</div>
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Weight.</div>
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When you really think about it, it's such an arbitrary thing. Weight is simply a measure of the Earth's gravitational pull on mass.</div>
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Why should it matter if I "weigh" 140 pounds or 240pounds?</div>
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<em>Because the clothes I like don't fit??</em></div>
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I read <a href="http://www.lalalists.com/2013/02/true-life-big-girl-issues.html" target="_blank">this post</a> on <a href="http://www.lalalists.com/" target="_blank">Rachel's blog</a>, and I got pissed.</div>
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Like, seriously and truly upset. Not at Rachel, but at that stupid StitchFix place.</div>
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And then I started thinking about all the clothing stores I've had to <strong>not</strong> purchase from, because <em>nothing fit me properly</em> (or nothing fit me at all). <span style="font-size: x-small;">Granted, I'm 26 and could probably do with not shopping at junior stores anymore...but the alternative seems to be dressing like an elderly lady, and while I love me some 80 year old women, I'd rather not dress like I'm going to my own funeral. </span><span style="font-size: small;">I know I'm not very small, but...I don't even fit into plus sized clothing. Seriously. It's all too big. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Except bras. Totes hafta buy that shizzzz at Lane Bryant. 38DDD's ya'll. boom)</span> And yet...why is other clothing too small? Why am I forced to feel as though I need to lose weight to fit into something?!?!?!</span></div>
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And then, I read<a href="http://i-know-the-line-between-straight-and-plus-size-is-fictional-but-crossing-it-feels-super-real/" target="_blank"> this article</a> on xoJane, and it completely reaffirmed my feelings.</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Clothing companies are bullshit.</span></strong></div>
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Who the hell comes up with these sizes anyway?? There are stores that my aunt can't buy from, because they don't make clothes small enough, and stores I can't buy from because their size extra large is approximately the same size as a children's blouse.</div>
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Why does the fashion industry consistently mess with our heads?</div>
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And why the hell can they not figure out how to make larger shirts LONGER instead of just WIDER??? <span style="font-size: x-small;">(All the width in the world will not help keep my boobs inside my shirt, fyi.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My name is Traci.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I weigh 187 pounds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I ate doublestuff Oreos for breakfast.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I think I'm really pretty. Like, really really pretty.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I don't give a shit if you think I'm fat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Also, I have superhero boobs.</span></div>
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Happy Friday.</div>
Miss Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395479603321966395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756074212688990771.post-14740408616926225322013-02-26T14:22:00.002-05:002013-02-26T14:22:36.905-05:00Creating a Wedding Website.<div style="text-align: center;">
For the longest time, I didn't do this.</div>
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I didn't really see the point, and didn't want to waste my time.</div>
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Who's going to look at it anyway?</div>
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<br />Here's what happened to change my mind.</div>
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<b>1: Every wedding invitation I've gotten this year has had a wedding website attached. </b></div>
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Clearly, I must be missing something...</div>
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<b>2: Did you know you can customize the site to be all about you & your fiance??</b></div>
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Can we say, DUH? But really, I didn't realize the extent you could do this.</div>
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<b>3: Information!! Do I really want to have to include every last little detail with the invitations??</b></div>
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No. And that's where the websites come in!</div>
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I tried for probably weeks to create a wedding website with theknot.com. I love theknot for a lot of reasons, but their website navigability is not exactly one of those reasons. A lot of their pages take ages to load and when I continually attempted to use their template for making my site, it would fail to load and not work at all. Luckily, a friend of mine is getting married shortly and I took the cue from her to go to <a href="http://mywedding.com/">mywedding.com</a> Their site is much, much easier to work with, and I absolutely love the site I came up with.</div>
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Bottom line:</div>
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If you don't feel your guests will benefit from a website, don't worry about it. If you don't have time, don't sweat it. But if you want a way to easily communicate with guests, including having someplace they can see accommodations (especially for out of town guests!), I definitely suggest doing the website!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBxkgiUW3EM3bbpPuSFlg_mKFLRukqn5lijBoHDeD2U0KCo_EkMGG28dCKAAaeuz6PmdtppnZBBsenyt_s6dak6LWugFJrTKZsY9xcUXHiPMEdJFERFtoSTPHE_lZD0pX8zF50xBCq2x_/s1600/website.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBxkgiUW3EM3bbpPuSFlg_mKFLRukqn5lijBoHDeD2U0KCo_EkMGG28dCKAAaeuz6PmdtppnZBBsenyt_s6dak6LWugFJrTKZsY9xcUXHiPMEdJFERFtoSTPHE_lZD0pX8zF50xBCq2x_/s640/website.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can view my site <a href="http://www.mywedding.com/westonandtracisteiner/index.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What do you think of wedding websites? Did you use one?</b></span></div>
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<3</div>
Miss Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395479603321966395noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756074212688990771.post-68050959458380310322013-02-22T11:33:00.004-05:002013-02-22T11:33:44.940-05:00dear friday...{confessions and a freebie!}<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglodI2C8YUudoFvsd49DXz87Pz5ey-2NniWpSWHWT4remvYRkBcSyTvCv9m6bBcAQLV9nNg5NnK0uhrV_CnqCKBUzS_hyvCjmkhg7OVj3evkv05eWtLdcDWcKpmRqSx1Z8rIy-oYiuA-1z/s1600/photo(23).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglodI2C8YUudoFvsd49DXz87Pz5ey-2NniWpSWHWT4remvYRkBcSyTvCv9m6bBcAQLV9nNg5NnK0uhrV_CnqCKBUzS_hyvCjmkhg7OVj3evkv05eWtLdcDWcKpmRqSx1Z8rIy-oYiuA-1z/s400/photo(23).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a snippet of Valentine's day...i cannot keep my eyes open when flash is involved.</td></tr>
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<b>dear fiance:</b> thank you for bringing home flowers. and for taking care of me through my latest sicknesses. i love you more than you'll ever know :) <b> dear sister:</b> i am so excited to meet my new{est} nephew in a few months!! congratulations again. <b>dear baby brother:</b> i hope you guys rock your basketball game tonight! go eagles! <b> dear mysterious migraine/sinus thing: </b>really? it's been several weeks now. please just go away now. <b>dear snow: </b>yeah you can leave too.</div>
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<a href="http://www.thesweetseasonblog.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/ashleyjps2326/FridaysLettersButton_zps485705e4.jpg" /></a>
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...</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>I confess...</i></b></span></div>
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i am anxious for these upcoming months...3 weddings (including my own!) and a new baby nephew on the way. a lot of things going on!</div>
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i am worried that things are going to get harder soon as money gets tighter thanks to so much missed work due to my health problems...but i don't know what to do about it. just hope.</div>
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i am regretting having such a large bridal party! somehow it makes it more nerve wracking to have so many more people up there with us...and i'm still not over the nightmare in which my friend fresstyle raps to marry us...</div>
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i am so sick of being sick. i don't remember my last "non headache" day. it's always there, even if it's not a bad one. i am sick of this. sick of missing out on everything lately.</div>
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<a href="http://www.high-heeledlove.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo HighHeeledLove_zpsbbcc137c.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/o621/highheeledlove/Blog%20Graphics/HighHeeledLove_zps6db62c81.jpg" /></a></center>
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...</div>
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And just because I love you guys, I made a really cute iPhone wallpaper. Free for you to download :)</div>
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<a href="http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh507/thor0830/quote1_zps03e50ba4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh507/thor0830/quote1_zps03e50ba4.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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(get the full sized version <a href="http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh507/thor0830/quote1_zps03e50ba4.jpg" target="_blank">here</a>) </div>
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Miss Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395479603321966395noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756074212688990771.post-91297480313600719682013-02-21T12:00:00.002-05:002013-02-21T12:00:53.198-05:00that time i told a 9 year old what a drag queen was.<div style="text-align: center;">
It was Father's Day actually.</div>
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And I had taken my <span style="font-size: x-small;">{future}</span> step daughter to the mall because:</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">{i wanted to let her dad sleep, after working until 3am}</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">{i felt like shopping, and Bath & Bodyworks had a sale}</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqeoIQ_mZoCB0BnFomhKC4w1SbR-IjAO5keqppdRhGwp611cYnTieylGQnIWydgN-yz2ljazG_9CLFhTvzazEBHL2kUppARvU7sCUEx75BvH9g4AzeaQoJ5LuF7FH1Q8fxjiLiT7nMo4g/s1600/boo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqeoIQ_mZoCB0BnFomhKC4w1SbR-IjAO5keqppdRhGwp611cYnTieylGQnIWydgN-yz2ljazG_9CLFhTvzazEBHL2kUppARvU7sCUEx75BvH9g4AzeaQoJ5LuF7FH1Q8fxjiLiT7nMo4g/s400/boo1.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's the one looking right at the camera...sheesh she's a cutie.</td></tr>
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And since it was Father's Day, we had to find a gift for my fiance.</div>
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And since it was the mall, we had to go into Hot Topic...</div>
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Which led to me finding myself a Lady Gaga Tshirt.</div>
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That proclaimed</div>
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"Don't be a drag, just be a queen"</div>
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Which led to the wee one asking what that meant, and me explaining that Lady Gaga sings about drag queens and all kinds of different people and how they don't deserve to be treated any differently than we do...and she asked what a drag queen was. Damn. I should have known that a nine year old wouldn't know what that meant.</div>
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So I explained it to her. <br />
Which pretty much led into a whole lecture on alternative lifestyles.<br />
But why shouldn't she learn about it? Regardless of other people's feelings on the matters of "gay marriage" and other things of that sort, my fiance and I are all about equality, and making sure that his daughter is going to grow up that way too. <span style="font-size: x-small;">{as in, concious that just because someone has a different belief/lifestyle/upbringing/etc. than you, doesn't make them any less of a person, and everyone should be treated equally.}</span><br />
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I know those conversations are ones that a lot of parents shy away from, much like the "where does a baby come from?" questions, but I think kids have a right to know this stuff. Maybe not a full on breakdown of what happens in the bedroom, but generally speaking it can't be a bad thing.<br />
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What do you think of having these discussions with your children??<br />
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Miss Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395479603321966395noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756074212688990771.post-21267120551242211832013-02-14T14:17:00.000-05:002013-02-14T14:17:10.527-05:00Make Glitter Letters in PS Elements<div style="text-align: center;">
Since it's Valentine's Day...I thought I'd hook you guys up with a little gift.<br />
A tutorial that I think is pretty awesome.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Especially because I did it all myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Score one for me.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqUCKqBSQR7CZe4dgwSm-7hu2ggUQ6pAtyX2P2zZK0vtK6rXofVllajF3czpn7vwQ4WGoPeDuIiNtDFtv8a6SQVTCHLOPiWMOQ3RDawKdEMSDA9AA0Idam2jG3OrZ8L8rCw9gxkUHQ7sS/s1600/glitter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqUCKqBSQR7CZe4dgwSm-7hu2ggUQ6pAtyX2P2zZK0vtK6rXofVllajF3czpn7vwQ4WGoPeDuIiNtDFtv8a6SQVTCHLOPiWMOQ3RDawKdEMSDA9AA0Idam2jG3OrZ8L8rCw9gxkUHQ7sS/s1600/glitter.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">I know what you're thinking.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">"OMG she's actually posting a tutorial she promised us!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Yupp. I am finally posting a tutorial I've promised to you!! I have a thing for glitter, and I've seen blogs and sites with glittered text...and I wanted it! So I googled a bit, read some different tutorials...and discovered that doing it in Photoshop Elements is a bit different than Photoshop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Actually, a bunch different.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Luckily, I spend enough time messing around with PSE to figure this stuff out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I use Photoshop Elements 10 for all my photo editing (except for what I mess with on Instagram...oh, and since losing my camera charger cord most of my pics are thanks to my iPhone now.) because it's affordable, easy to use, and definitely worth investing in! I have used it to create all of my blog designs (oh yeah, I make all my own stuff. FYI) and it rocks. But enough about me and what I do when bored...on to the tutorial!</span></div>
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1: You first need to set the glitter background as a pattern. I found free glitter downloads <a href="http://sweetcsdesigns.com/archives/7590" target="_blank">here </a>and <a href="http://www.puglypixel.com/2011/08/02/star-dust-part-3-glitter-textures-from-real-glitter/" target="_blank">here</a>. You use the select tool to make a square/rectangular selection of glitter (you don't want any of the background or it doesn't work properly...trust me).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJl9Iies16fpivRJ3vABDyko4VF6KFnvJwvzeQ1TplWDZQrl4-b_IBn_H8xqixEef_1k7qWMGpqlgLu4kCkKVn_5NGaurVF1ahTp7xg37vx7YLtYZ60cl4qkDmiF_-9jF1eiZeczomaUp/s1600/glitter1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJl9Iies16fpivRJ3vABDyko4VF6KFnvJwvzeQ1TplWDZQrl4-b_IBn_H8xqixEef_1k7qWMGpqlgLu4kCkKVn_5NGaurVF1ahTp7xg37vx7YLtYZ60cl4qkDmiF_-9jF1eiZeczomaUp/s640/glitter1a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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2: Then you'll go to Edit > Define Pattern From Selection. This will save the glitter background to your Patterns for use later on.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOIh_ooeSyQkXvWLT1xhNXZO5EwLCkkH5mtgkTyYXTXBGPhrec74kMFwD6gBuKet0KRRlDpSY7NBgQM_JfZFpPdBwQ37CmbHi0jTwayDkz28qDL3aRSXcBlWuTEfBjhRBM7Cr9NfjIPaA/s1600/glitter2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOIh_ooeSyQkXvWLT1xhNXZO5EwLCkkH5mtgkTyYXTXBGPhrec74kMFwD6gBuKet0KRRlDpSY7NBgQM_JfZFpPdBwQ37CmbHi0jTwayDkz28qDL3aRSXcBlWuTEfBjhRBM7Cr9NfjIPaA/s640/glitter2a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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3: To start making glitter letters, open a new blank file and add a layer of text. Thick fonts work the best for this. You can find a ton of free fonts on <a href="http://www.dafont.com/" target="_blank">dafont</a>. The font I'm using here is <a href="http://www.dafont.com/channel.font" target="_blank">Channel</a>.</div>
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4: Making sure the text layer is selected (it has the dark box on the right hand side like shown above), go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Pattern. Check the box "Use previous layer to create clipping mask". Click ok, and the box will pop up letting you select which pattern to use. Choose one of the glitter patterns we made above.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFOx5arVJ_H09weEwyLBduohvMurOqudskZberinKfuAXHW92rCbFxh4J-o_E1dkbqltdyqnVCmMU02HrsR1ONf_kdaW_OieYs_RxzubrvPxzxTu4_AlEyyttR1sIP4pCpjO_bXApk2_Y/s1600/glitter2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFOx5arVJ_H09weEwyLBduohvMurOqudskZberinKfuAXHW92rCbFxh4J-o_E1dkbqltdyqnVCmMU02HrsR1ONf_kdaW_OieYs_RxzubrvPxzxTu4_AlEyyttR1sIP4pCpjO_bXApk2_Y/s640/glitter2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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5: See the glitter now? We're almost done! The glitter makes the edges of the text a bit less clear, so to make it really pop, we're going to add a bit of shadow to the text. Make sure your text layer is selected again (not the pattern layer), and go to Layer > Layer Style > Style Settings. Check the Drop Shadow box. You can adjust the shadow to your liking, for this example I set the size to 2 pixels, distance to 1 pixel, and opacity to zero.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjPdQce4ImMQYiQ7Jx2IjtTfPT34acb2bPhHJJEwABDKCh1EJiSnqmhi1pwa5u5LT-slisHdXMt78rxpHuvdpGqH-XeITRocXbxMpx2qGXjRKXNs-h2eODd-gZd4z2qCwU3e9S3A3AzkN/s1600/glitter6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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6: The only thing left to do is merge all your layers together to save your image as a picture! You can do as many different layers of text as you want, just make sure you follow all the steps properly to apply your patterns to the right layers! Woohoo - glitter text in five minutes!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlKUoEvxqACx1eZlPr_SwD1PAQJ6XWu_wFmQyTC1r7ZY30wQylcj1JU8klIqtMHq0wpiu-KS0dAcMF-03cEXF_axzGweHSqNxl7N4MXAKfxUYvJRlsRGndhnDu7JeXzQKCc3fEYkcTX_3/s1600/glitter7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlKUoEvxqACx1eZlPr_SwD1PAQJ6XWu_wFmQyTC1r7ZY30wQylcj1JU8klIqtMHq0wpiu-KS0dAcMF-03cEXF_axzGweHSqNxl7N4MXAKfxUYvJRlsRGndhnDu7JeXzQKCc3fEYkcTX_3/s640/glitter7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Please be sure to let me know how this tutorial worked for you! And don't forget to Pin this :)</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">{please note - I did not create the glitter background patterns used here. I have included the links to the glitter patterns above. This tutorial is based on a tutorial by <a href="http://sweetcsdesigns.com/" target="_blank">SweetC'sDesigns</a>, but as her tutorial was for Photoshop, I changed everything to be applicable to Photoshop Elements users.}</span></div>
Miss Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395479603321966395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756074212688990771.post-78380782532268151132013-02-11T12:23:00.002-05:002013-02-11T12:23:41.360-05:00Monday Musings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYKVVgpAc7IkJghpKQiqZq2bmfrNtFUSfxvzixkl3QBzT83ScxKcI2Qvd4X7TjvfV2oTgwAq37r8aPXoTuug6W0RNP2IzDEwJWXv0MFPaNqVn3P5M6gUBgzkN5jJs05d0I5d5vHXF_5Qx/s1600/photoc.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYKVVgpAc7IkJghpKQiqZq2bmfrNtFUSfxvzixkl3QBzT83ScxKcI2Qvd4X7TjvfV2oTgwAq37r8aPXoTuug6W0RNP2IzDEwJWXv0MFPaNqVn3P5M6gUBgzkN5jJs05d0I5d5vHXF_5Qx/s1600/photoc.JPG" uea="true" /></a></div>
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{you can find these all <a href="http://pintrest.com/dearmisstraci/quotables/" target="_blank">here</a>}</div>
Miss Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395479603321966395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756074212688990771.post-86680972548309229872013-02-08T14:43:00.002-05:002013-02-08T14:43:41.075-05:00Friday Confessional...<div style="text-align: center;">
I've never participated in this link up before...but hey why not?</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I'm stuck to my couch anyway...thank you random stomach bug that won't go away...</span></div>
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<center>
<a href="http://www.high-heeledlove.com/" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo HighHeeledLove_zpsbbcc137c.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/o621/highheeledlove/Blog%20Graphics/HighHeeledLove_zps6db62c81.jpg" /></a></center>
<br />
<i><b>I confess...</b></i><br />
I have watched like three seasons of Friends in the<i><b> </b></i>past week. I have zero regrets about this.<br />
<br />
<i><b>I confess...</b></i><br />
That lately, as I watch so many people in my life start their families {as in, having babies or trying to have babies}, I am moving further and further away from wanting that. I am so ready to be married to my fiance and start our life together, but more and more I am moving away from wanting children of my own. I can't picture being unselfish enough to want to go through that... and that makes me feel like a horrible person.<br />
<i><b> </b></i><br />
<i><b>I confess...</b></i><br />
I am sick of seeing other people plan their weddings on Pintrest. Mostly because I keep seeing ideas I love and need to reign myself in, because pretty much all of mine is planned already...and all of those ideas won't mesh with what's already in place.<br />
<i><b> </b></i><br />
<i><b>I confess...</b></i><br />
I am super nervous about the impending snow storm/blizzard. I am not a fan of snow. At least, not when it can potentially mean a loss of power or people crashing in it while driving...like my fiance. Who I now panic about being in the car and driving in the snow every single time. I'm a freak.<br />
<i><b> </b></i><br />
<i><b>I confess...</b></i><br />
I still have my Christmas decorations up. Including my tree. I can't help it...I love Christmas.<br />
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<i><b> </b></i>Miss Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395479603321966395noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1756074212688990771.post-19853876370577155942013-02-07T14:08:00.002-05:002013-02-07T14:10:45.836-05:00Ta-ta-ta-talkin' bout...<div style="text-align: center;">
Linking up with miss <a href="http://www.twentythreeseventeen.com/2013/02/coffee-talk-21-last-edition.html" target="_blank">Nat</a>.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Seriously, these are the funniest random questions...</span><br />
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<a href="http://23seventeen.blogspot.com/search/label/coffee%20talk" target="_blank"><img src="http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315/nbest1980/buttons/NEWCOFFEETALK_zpsf2db38cc.png" /></a></center>
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<b>1. What's for dinner tonight?</b><br />
I've been sick all week...well, two days of migraines and now some sort of stomach bug...so basically, something that won't cause my stomach to start a revolution. Like soup. Or sleep. <b><br /></b><br />
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<br />
<b>2. Top 3 tv shows you never miss.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPZDfCoqwgVdKmPxyPwZ0xyVNcdkmLrJNFeXW-QinHolnayZ7MzAYAkp6TFB7vzC-qp6Rn2IvFOOIpMaMZkgOhTxNtx55cCL22QV0nwSenxNCkKGHHucxPfqixIhH22BgQ3zFeqH7RtnA/s1600/daryl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPZDfCoqwgVdKmPxyPwZ0xyVNcdkmLrJNFeXW-QinHolnayZ7MzAYAkp6TFB7vzC-qp6Rn2IvFOOIpMaMZkgOhTxNtx55cCL22QV0nwSenxNCkKGHHucxPfqixIhH22BgQ3zFeqH7RtnA/s400/daryl.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amctv.com/shows/the-walking-dead" target="_blank"><b>The Walking Dead</b></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YIQD3t5u46hQSk3abXkxYKe509Aqz_7165BxdMllwJBD4OWYZXsEAVDg1gdq6IN_XL1yHN6hGYMp-btbmQhmn2qh7F58oP8XYFA4hNambwQ3cnuFADBCmSxTDWry9Uc0TW0oNzBlGZF6/s1600/manny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YIQD3t5u46hQSk3abXkxYKe509Aqz_7165BxdMllwJBD4OWYZXsEAVDg1gdq6IN_XL1yHN6hGYMp-btbmQhmn2qh7F58oP8XYFA4hNambwQ3cnuFADBCmSxTDWry9Uc0TW0oNzBlGZF6/s1600/manny.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modern Family</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL424nowznTEluGpxPxt9l3V5FwL4wVl_cgQo2g7_rPrfgD47NOMI36fobh5tkR1irSiBZCI55R4Q5-vb0INKb3jDlyRheRiIiOktIyOkVlRxWaPxWkICYWRE8PpVC-3S5HQpo-JC7hON6/s1600/sheldon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL424nowznTEluGpxPxt9l3V5FwL4wVl_cgQo2g7_rPrfgD47NOMI36fobh5tkR1irSiBZCI55R4Q5-vb0INKb3jDlyRheRiIiOktIyOkVlRxWaPxWkICYWRE8PpVC-3S5HQpo-JC7hON6/s400/sheldon.jpg" width="337" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Big Bang Theory</td></tr>
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<br />
<b>3. What type of body wash are you currently using?</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkl69Vxt6OFgQu2w-s4_bHwWqNMM4TvFnN0xctDGu74NuNEN4dKcQnYPNgXZPOcbSpsnVzSgQc-ZkAAxyoi8-CAwpbFjnpWarx6S6JGA7uUGRRH6UaAMlZ2hxnKTLUyjMhikaw4C37zVh/s1600/pBBW1-13010127v275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkl69Vxt6OFgQu2w-s4_bHwWqNMM4TvFnN0xctDGu74NuNEN4dKcQnYPNgXZPOcbSpsnVzSgQc-ZkAAxyoi8-CAwpbFjnpWarx6S6JGA7uUGRRH6UaAMlZ2hxnKTLUyjMhikaw4C37zVh/s400/pBBW1-13010127v275.jpg" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/product/index.jsp?productId=13021853&cp=12586965.12587141.4191834" target="_blank">my fave</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>4. Take a photo of what's in front of you. </b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfZInsyu2FE3pfSj3MpSs81UH6TGyE4VS5VdIewKLI6eFIdvZw6c5ehJB9hLPUPYT44bpLf_6LKt68afkuGKgEPGGGR6KKs5-ltCkjNpbfqIpxwsfwWNUTq3n1ud34WG1w2gvw8dv6dzm/s1600/photo(22).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfZInsyu2FE3pfSj3MpSs81UH6TGyE4VS5VdIewKLI6eFIdvZw6c5ehJB9hLPUPYT44bpLf_6LKt68afkuGKgEPGGGR6KKs5-ltCkjNpbfqIpxwsfwWNUTq3n1ud34WG1w2gvw8dv6dzm/s1600/photo(22).JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my laptop, couch, blankets i'm covered in because i'm freezing {pretty sure I have a fever} shelves and knickknacks, rocking chair and pillows, fish tank. my fishies are named Edwin, Blue Fin, and Zazz Blammatazz.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>5. What's your favorite fruit?</b><br />
Grapefruit & Pineapple. I can't choose, it's really both. <br />
<br />
<b>6. Spring is almost here (well, it's already here for us Floridians haha), show me your go-to outfit!</b> <br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0 auto; width: 600px;">
<div style="position: relative;">
<a href="http://www.polyvore.com/spring_dress/set?.embedder=4156916&.svc=copypaste&id=71483464" target="_blank"><img alt="spring dress" border="0" height="857" src="http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/z0mF1Bz0jR7EXcBxnTZ5w/cid/71483464/id/zRTnTNy8QBib7Ke2uJcI4A/size/c600x857.jpg" title="spring dress" width="600" /></a></div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/spring_dress/set?.embedder=4156916&.svc=copypaste&id=71483464" target="_blank">spring dress</a> by <a href="http://traci-horschel.polyvore.com/?.embedder=4156916&.svc=copypaste" target="_blank">traci-horschel</a> featuring <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/gold_jewelry/shop?query=gold+jewelry" target="_blank">gold jewelry</a></small></div>
<div style="margin: 0 auto; width: 600px;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=4156916&.svc=copypaste&id=63599852" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/63599852.jpg" title="Leopard print flat" vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=4156916&.svc=copypaste&id=69575086" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/69575086.jpg" title="Tan handbag" vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=4156916&.svc=copypaste&id=66230210" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/66230210.jpg" title="Gold jewelry" vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=4156916&.svc=copypaste&id=75292688" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/75292688.jpg" title="Nail care" vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=4156916&.svc=copypaste&id=73609123" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/73609123.jpg" title="Xhilaration® Juniors Lace Racerback High Low Dress - Assorted Colors" vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=4156916&.svc=copypaste&id=75757259" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/75757259.jpg" title="Mossimo Supply Co. Juniors Open Weave Cardigan Assorted Colors" vspace="4" width="50" /></a></div>
</div>
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<br />Miss Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395479603321966395noreply@blogger.com4