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9.28.2012

Bikini Baby


It's funny the news you hear about when you've been away for awhile.  For instance, I couldn't tell you what happened with our presidential candidates while I was gone but I did hear about a big controversy brewing over Jessica Simpson's baby picture of little Maxwell in a yellow bikini.  Go figure.

Anyway, I searched online to find the photo that was causing the buzz. 

It's Feedback Friday...

Do you find this photo of baby Maxwell "sexualized"?

As a parent, would you have made a photo like this public?

Is this just a sweet photo of a baby  posted by a proud parent?
 


9.27.2012

Doggie Pills





My little Cockapoo is 8 years old and we have been so lucky so far that no medical issues have ever come up...until this year.  For the second time in as many months, I'm faced with have to administer antibiotics daily.  She is NOT a willing participant.

I finally asked my vet for some tips, because all the advice on Google ("place near the back of the dog's tongue" and "hold their mouth closed") wasn't cutting it.  She was upset, I was upset and at the end of it all there was still a pill lying on the floor.


So this is what he suggested and it has worked like a charm!

First, choose a soft treat they really love, like hotdogs or cheese.  I chose hotdog and cut off about an inch long piece which I cut in half.

Second, press the pill into the treat.

Third, with treats each hand place the first treat (with the pill) into the dogs mouth and immediately hold the second treat in front of her face.  She will rush to eat the first treat (sometimes swallowing whole) to get to the second treat!


It worked like a charm and we are almost through our 10 day prescription without a single struggle!

Do you have any other tips to get your dog to take medicine?

9.25.2012

Tutorial Tuesday!

Fabric Covered Pumpkins:


PJ's Made from a Man's Shirt:



CLICK PICKS (last week's most clicked links):

#1   Homemade Peppermint Mouthwash

#2   Rustic Cuff Bracelet

#3   Grow Your Blog


Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog 
address) using the subject of your tutorial to generate  interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!

Ready? Teach Me Stuff!


Hope Studios



9.24.2012

Loving PicMonkey!


Editing pictures is one of my favorite hobbies.  I love to take an ordinary shot and elevate it to something spectacular.  I used to play around with Picnik all the time, and then they shut down the site.  Sigh...my house has been a bit cleaner following the shut down, I have to say!

Well, stop the presses, Gypsy Pioneer hopped on at the tail end of my link up last week and gave me one of the best bits of news I've had in 6 months!  A replacement for Picnik was available - PicMonkey!  It was easy to use, it had lots of effects, and it had the catchy lingo I'd grown to love from my once fave site.

So, I started messing around...



Did you love Picnik?  Have you already heard of PicMonkey?  What photo editing software do you use?

9.21.2012

Topless Drama


Well London was in an uproar while I was visiting over the topless photos of Princess Kate that a French magazine was threatening to publish.  The general public was incensed, the papers covered it on the front page every day, the news ran it as a leading story.

I googled it out of curiosity and saw a very grainy photo of Kate putting sunscreen on William's back.

Some stories I heard there claimed that Kate is not a celebrity, but a political figure  and therefore should not fall victim to the same media coverage as a celebrity.

Some other stories I heard when back in America claimed it was Kate's fault for being topless outside in the first place and she IS a celebrity and signed up for this.

It's Feedback Friday...

What do you think about the photos in question?  Gross invasion of privacy or a natural result of sunbathing topless outside? Or maybe a security breach from her team?

How would you feel if a French magazine threatened to publish topless photos of our First Lady?

Do you think of Kate as a political figure or a celebrity?

9.20.2012

Home From London!



I looked at the London Eye...with no intention of getting on!

Saw beautiful architecture - can you believe this is an aquarium?  Pittsburgh needs to step it up!

 
I spent an afternoon shopping in Portobello with the girls and bought a dress from Princess Kate's fave designer, L.K. Bennett. The girl at the counter told me they just shipped the black and white version of this dress to Kate last week as she was wrapping my purchase.



I quoted Chevy Chase in European Vacation and said "Look kids! It's Big Ben... Parliament."  every time we saw the clock or Trafalgar Square...which was a lot.  I thought it was funny every time.




I floated along the Thames at night and saw the Tower Bridge alight.


I saw the changing of the guard at Windsor Castle, and thought it seemed really uncomfortable for those guards to stand at attention for 2 hours! I should write a letter to the Queen...or maybe Kate since we are now "dress sisters".


And I saw a Red Arrows fly over directly over my head while visiting Buckingham Palace to signify the closing of the Paralympic Games!  It took my breath away!


So that's my trip in a nut shell!  I'm glad to be home but so lucky to have seen such beautiful sights in London!

9.18.2012

Tutorial Tuesday!

 Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate:



Containers Made From 2 liter Bottles:



Finally! An alternative to Picnik!


CLICK PICKS (last week's most clicked links):

#1   10 Tips for IKEA Kitchen Shopping

#2   Charity Sewing: Pillowcase Dresses

#3  DIY Laundry Stain Stick


Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog 
address) using the subject of your tutorial to generate  interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!

Ready? Teach Me Stuff!


Hope Studios



9.17.2012

Jet Lag...ugh...




I'm home!  I'm tired!  I'm cranky and I have a stomach ache!

So, here are some helpful tips to help you get over jet lag after your next big trip...


Check out my Pinterest Jet Lag board!


9.14.2012

Please Bow Your Heads...

All "my boys" before the game


Football has begun for another tackling, blocking, passing, running, scoring season!  My boys of fall...

Our teams have our school name, but is actually not a school funded sport, rather a "club" league.  This year's coach sent an email with the following proposition for parents:

"I would like to gather the boys, just before the game and say a prayer.  It will not be a “religious recruitment”, rather a prayer to God to thank him for our blessings, keep the boys safe, and have fun."

He asked for parents to contact him if they had questions or concerns.  I am team mom, so I heard from many of the parents after this email was sent.

It's Feedback Friday...

What would you feel if you received this email from your child's coach?

What feedback do you think I received after this email?

 


9.13.2012

September 11




 While I am away in London, our own country remembers a meaningful date in our history.

Our family visited NYC this summer and made a stop at the National September 11 Memorial while there.  Did you know you can take a virtual tour of the memorial online?


Did you know that our U.S. schools are not mandated to have 9/11 teachings in the curriculum?  I learned while I was there that because of Youtube and other internet outlets, our kids are learning lots of false information and "conspiracy theories" rather than learning the facts. Kids are accepting this information as fact, because they are not taught anything different.  This needs to be corrected.

The National Memorial Website has lesson plans that can be downloaded here:    https://www.911memorial.org/lesson-plans

Names of each victim are etched into the walls surrounding each waterfall.  The names are grouped according to what building they died in or near. They are also arranged with co-workers and friends together.



Buildings are being erected right now to surround the original World Trade Towers footprint.

The original footprint of the towers has been transformed into waterfalls that cascade into a bottomless hole, representing the void left by this tragedy.  It's really beautiful and symbolic.


Can a tree make you cry?  This "Survivor Tree"  was planted in the original World Trade Center plaza in the 1970's.  After 9/11 it was brought to a NYC park and nursed back to health.  It was returned to the WTC site in 2010 and has sprouted new branches and grown to be 30 feet tall.  It is a touching symbol of survival.


May we never forget 9/11.


9.11.2012

Tutorial Tuesday!

 Easy Watercolor Map (wall art!):




 Roasted Garlic and Brie Twists:



Wallet/Clutch Tutorial:




Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog 

address) using the subject of your tutorial to generate  interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!



Ready? Teach Me Stuff!

9.10.2012

Pumpkin Cobbler


While I'm away in London I'm going to re-run a yummy recipe from last year.

How about some yummy Pumpkin Cobbler?

Pip, pip, cheerio! Be home soon!

9.07.2012

Evening Dress


So, I mentioned yesterday that I am going to London next week.  I have spent my entire month this far cleaning, making lists,  packing, making more lists, practicing my English accent (ha), and shopping.

You know how it is with dress codes - they are so confusing!!!  Why can't they just say "put on a dress!"

I felt like I had it down when I researched dress codes last summer for the conference in San Diego.  I discovered "summer chic",  "spiffy", and "resort wear".  Done, right?

Nope, this year's conference is in London and the dress codes are "Smart", "Smart Casual", and "Evening dress".

It's Feedback Friday...

Want to help decode the dress codes for me? 

"Smart"
"Smart Casual - no jeans"
"Evening dress"

If the itinerary says "Evening dress" would a cocktail dress be appropriate?  Long gown? Help!

While I'm at it, what should I try to see while there??

9.06.2012

Hope Studios' Book Club

Okay, I think we have about 12 takers for the Book Club, so it's a go!

Because of the situation we're learning about at the Middle School, and since the votes were about split, I'd like to choose Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides for our first book.  I'm leaving for London on Sunday (tagging along with the Big Guy for his conference) and I'm finishing up another book, so let's plan to discuss Middlesex on the last Friday of October, the 26th.  You can order this book "used" super cheap on Amazon if you don't have it (like, 2 bucks).

Anyone can participate, even if you didn't comment on the original email. This is a very loosey, goosey, free-flowin' book club, man....No rules, except one:  If you comment, you have to have read the book.  That's it!

Ready...Set...READ!



9.04.2012

Tutorial Tuesday!

 Baked Banana Doughnut:



Stenciled Drop Cloth Curtains:




 Duct Tape Pencil Pouch:



CLICK PICKS (last week's most clicked links):

#1   Soap Scum Killer

#2   DIY Swarovski Bracelet

#3   Easiest Dessert Recipe Ever

Please... (this is the part at the end of the commercial when the announcer talks real fast)

* Link up using the link to your actual post (not your general blog 

address) using the subject of your tutorial to generate  interest.

* Add my button or a clickable link back to this post so everyone can join in.

* Visit and comment with all our friends. Show them some love! Meet some new friends! Learn something new!



Ready? Teach Me Stuff!

Hope Studios 

How to Avoid Stress At Work