tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50943743338471561402024-03-13T08:34:52.568-07:00The Forever EndeavorChronicles of a new wife, future mother, and wannabe Food Network starAmanda Mouryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07042003476382711173noreply@blogger.comBlogger214125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094374333847156140.post-56657970787635076552011-07-11T21:49:00.000-07:002011-07-11T21:49:42.535-07:00where to begin<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ever feel like you've been crazy busy with nothing to show for it? I feel like we've been running, sprinting, hurtling towards these goals that are nonexistant. Bryan still has the same job, I still have mine. We wake up, go to work, work hard, come home, live, eat dinner (most of the time home cooked but I'll admit we like to indulge in a little pizza or teriyaki every once and a while) live some more, go to sleep and do it all over again the next day. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm not complaining, I just feel busy, when in reality, we're really not. Lots on my mind, too much to type and too personal to divulge in one sitting, but I'll start with these thoughts;</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've thought about blogging almost every night. I lay in bed waiting to go to sleep skimming the pages of Pinterest or pouring over another episode of Gilmore Girls for the millionth time, but for some reason it hasn't been so easy to just log into Blogger.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm really struggling with patience right now. Patience with myself, life, friends, coworkers, my husband, future plans, family, you name it, I'm practicing patience. And whoever said practice makes perfect can kiss my butt because in no way am I more perfect at patience than I was two months ago. All joking aside though, it's a constant battle.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I feel as though I've been very selfish lately. Part of me pats myself on the back and says, 'Good job kid! You deserve to be selfish!' and the other part of me scolds it's counterpart for being so thoughtless, that I should be thinking of and putting others before me. Which do I choose? Or how can there be a happy medium?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I don't mean this post to just be word vomit, and if you're reading I'm sure you're thinking to yourself I just need to buck up buttercup, but I think it's more than that. It's a quest to be truly happy and content. I've felt it in fleeting life moments, but never for long periods of time. Every once in a while it will creep up on me like it thought I totally forgot about it. I didn't and never do, but it's tough going without it for a while.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Alas, I won't make any promises this time about being back, I catch up on lots of blogs in the wee hours of the morning to see how you all are doing and it brings joy to my heart :) But I did promise some super yummy recipes so I will work on those for sure.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">See, my heart and burden already feels a little bit lighter :)</span>Amanda Mouryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07042003476382711173noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094374333847156140.post-67189841213322923182011-05-18T07:00:00.000-07:002011-05-18T07:00:06.205-07:00perspective<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'm sitting here, with a warm Mac computer under my palms as I write this, and it feels good.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm so glad I decided to slow things down and take time for me lately and appreciate everything I know I have to offer including but not limited to - <i>self</i> love and respect.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In honor of my first entry post-hiatus, I'd like to reflect and entertain my perspective on this last year.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On Friday, the 13th none the less, was my twenty-fourth birthday. Twenty four years of loving, laughing, crying, learning, breathing, stressing, thinking, hugging & kissing, working, earning & spending, reacting, cooking...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And on Friday felt good with myself - twenty four years of <b>me</b>. Amanda Lynn. Daughter. Wife. Sister. Auntie. Lover of all things sunny and happy - happy with myself.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Who'dve thought? :)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From here on, I will only blog for me. I promise I'm not trying to be selfish (well maybe a little) but I just don't want the warmth and goodness that is blogging, to be lost again. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I can't wait to share more of newlywed stories, <i>super</i> yummy recipes (because I was totally cheating on my blog with my kitchen - it was heavenly), and your lives with you through your blogs.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I missed you girlfriends!</span></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">PS - please stay tuned for the following recipes in the coming week :)</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VwpXJpFwDY8/TdM1nIxVoCI/AAAAAAAAA1c/pwagqxzFg30/s1600/Picnik+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VwpXJpFwDY8/TdM1nIxVoCI/AAAAAAAAA1c/pwagqxzFg30/s400/Picnik+collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</span></div>Amanda Mouryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07042003476382711173noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094374333847156140.post-16223495307010835492011-04-28T06:49:00.000-07:002011-04-28T06:49:05.662-07:00hiatus<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I think I first heard that word on Oprah, or maybe the movie '</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Casper</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">' - you know that one with a super young Christina Ricci and </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">then</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">super cute Devon Sawa. Or maybe it was one of the ghosts who said;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"I feel like Oprah on hiatus." </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I'm rambling...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Either way, it's not till recently that I've truly realized what it meant.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Since September, I've been blogging consistently - pretty much daily. Like I've said before, it's an amazing outlet. It's a place I can come every day, remember to be thankful, tell the ones that are important that I love them, chronicle my cooking endeavors, AND I've made really awesome friends in some of you along the way.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So where am I going with this.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have been, and am going to be a little more absent than normal, and I can only hope you stick with me like you have in the past through everything else that has happened in my life. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm not hurt, my family is ok, Bryan and I are doing great, but it's just time to take a step back and re-evaluate situations and relationships in my life which may take a toll on my blogging life. I'm finally getting a sleep pattern down and getting my anxiety under control, however, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I feel like I'm starting to hold what other people say and think of me in higher regard than what I think and feel about myself - <b>and I'm not ok with that</b>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On that note, I'll still be around, just not as much for the time being.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You ladies are wonderful, and I continue to look in on your lives every day, I might be taking a minor step back for the time being. Thank you for everything - I really do love you guys!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Just know, I'm sure as heck not giving up on myself or this blog :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-viC77DZzMGo/TbjbCV59ycI/AAAAAAAAA1U/0btjk-YQ8GA/s1600/responsible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-viC77DZzMGo/TbjbCV59ycI/AAAAAAAAA1U/0btjk-YQ8GA/s400/responsible.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>Amanda Mouryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07042003476382711173noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094374333847156140.post-70418806791332737842011-04-25T07:05:00.000-07:002011-04-25T07:05:40.797-07:00eleven weekend realizations<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>1.</b> Find out who your true friends are, sooner rather than later</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>2.</b> Do not, I repeat, do NOT - use the internet inappropriately at work</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>3.</b> Inevitably, when you look and feel cute, you won't see anyone you know when you go out on the weekend. But when you look a hot mess and feel like crap, you will see ten people you know</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>4.</b> The sound of a box fan in the window on a sunny day makes my heart go pitter-patter</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>5.</b> One day of sunshine in Seattle = six days of rain</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>6.</b> It's ok to stay in on a Saturday evening to catch up on laundry, do your dishes, and cuddle with your husband who is playing x-box - ps, I make a pretty good grilled cheese sandwich, or so I'm told :)</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>7.</b> It always feels good to come back to Mom and Dad's house - especially on holidays - food for days!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>8.</b> '<i>Love and Other Drugs</i>' had a lot more sex in it than I was expecting, alas, it was still a really good love story.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>9.</b> Pepsi slurpees from AM/PM are not, I repeat, are NOT as good as Coke slurpees from 711.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>10.</b> I should've video taped me teaching my dad how to use/download apps on his new iPhone4 - pretty funny</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>11.</b> New mascara always makes me feel better</span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Here's to a better/less emotional/up-coming week.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But to be honest, I'm already looking forward to next weekend: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">hopefully going <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multnomah_Falls"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><b>here</b></span></a> and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">seeing <b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1596343"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">this</span></a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Until then just for good measure, I wanted to share this with you, found it on Pinterest this weekend and I kind of love it :)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qF3M4Dq-Ez0/TbTN_dBUY5I/AAAAAAAAA1Q/fX1kfWI7YTg/s1600/16016916_AlUNRdyN_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qF3M4Dq-Ez0/TbTN_dBUY5I/AAAAAAAAA1Q/fX1kfWI7YTg/s400/16016916_AlUNRdyN_c.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div>Amanda Mouryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07042003476382711173noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094374333847156140.post-87590382717984582802011-04-20T07:00:00.000-07:002011-04-20T07:00:04.953-07:00Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dr3D2Yp96vo/Ta5q_CYzE1I/AAAAAAAAA1M/R4UdzdmcVW4/s1600/218091_640435425503_39204356_34533285_1020791_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dr3D2Yp96vo/Ta5q_CYzE1I/AAAAAAAAA1M/R4UdzdmcVW4/s400/218091_640435425503_39204356_34533285_1020791_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Someday :)</span></span></div>Amanda Mouryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07042003476382711173noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094374333847156140.post-11101109761565950552011-04-19T06:50:00.000-07:002011-04-19T07:02:23.282-07:00Today's Letters Inspired Tuesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6AaEcK66P1o/TazzMAIOGGI/AAAAAAAAA1I/ci6zxZO3fwU/s1600/IMG_4553.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6AaEcK66P1o/TazzMAIOGGI/AAAAAAAAA1I/ci6zxZO3fwU/s400/IMG_4553.PNG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today's Letters: <b>Dear recipient of my fabulous lunch making skills</b>, I can only assume that because of this text message. Not only am I more confident in my roast beef sammich making skills, but I know that you appreciate the effort - that's even better. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1201607/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><b>Dear Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-Part 2</b></span></a>, I start giggling like a school girl and my voice goes about eight octaves higher when I think/talk about you [or so I'm told]. I know, I may be THE biggest HP nerd ever, but I can't help it - I grew up with Harry through each book and I'm so excited to see his last quest come to life on the big screen July 15th. Whoop! <b>Dear Pam [checker at Walmart]</b>, I watched you chat it up with the family two turns in front of me, then with the person in front of me, then it was my turn to hear all about how your sister is naming her daughter 'Reality'. I get that you think it's an awful name, but maybe you should be giving your sister the same benefit of the doubt that I gave you. I sat and waited patiently for you to bag my groceries, and when you were finished, all I could do was smile. You obviously needed someone to talk to about this matter, I'm glad I could be of service :) <b>Dear Bear</b>, you are the sun to my shine, the bon to my fire, and grilled to my steak, can't wait for summer to get here so we can enjoy all of these wonderful things together, our first summer as husband and wife :) Until then, take advantage of all that X-box gaming, microphone talking, electronic male bonding in that you can, because baby, once that sun is out, <i>we</i> are <i>out</i>side<i>. </i>Over and out.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">One of the things I want to get better at, especially approaching the summer months, is making our lunches to save money. What's something you're doing to cut costs?</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">PS - see the inspiration for this post and all my other Tuesday Letters - <a href="http://www.todaysletters.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><b>HERE</b></span></a>!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">PSS - I have been sadly neglecting "<a href="http://brymandamoury.blogspot.com/2011/03/pollyanna-project.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Pollyanna Project</span></b></span></a>" and my heart is taking a toll. This is me making myself accountable for looking for ONE good thing in everyone and every situation. I believe in myself.</span></div>Amanda Mouryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07042003476382711173noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094374333847156140.post-68060913646644253002011-04-18T07:15:00.000-07:002011-04-18T07:15:00.858-07:00weekend loves<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">not having to set an alarm</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">being woken up by him</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z_MfAr2mTXo/TZgkwHZzrsI/AAAAAAAAAzY/1pQ3YjxfFoI/s1600/200263_636721358523_39204356_34485475_2263510_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z_MfAr2mTXo/TZgkwHZzrsI/AAAAAAAAAzY/1pQ3YjxfFoI/s200/200263_636721358523_39204356_34485475_2263510_n.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">rolling over [with half still sleepy eyes] to see if Bryan is awake yet</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">secretly creeping out of bed if he is, time to catch up on my SVU, do the laundry, and have me time</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">if he is, cuddling between Harley and him, and laughing about our silly dreams during our slumber</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">pulling the blinds open to let the day shine in, and the sunshine if I'm so lucky</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">making breakfast burriots, my weekend speciality</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">lighting candles and turning on the Scentsy to make it smell better than 'sleep'</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">greeting the day, at about eleven - I'm okay with that</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">spending time with family, making it a late night of laughing, games and contentment</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">taking road trips up, up, up into the mountains</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">picking up dirty clothes that have been strewn on the floor from the day</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the weekend'ly trip to the grocery to buy groceries for the coming week</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">snuggling back into bed, finding the cold spot in the sheets, and ready to do it all over again </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">what are the things about your weekends that you love?</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ps - HP7 came out this weekend - makes me excited all over again for the second part to come out in July!!! Until then:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OTX47788Vm4/TavHbaE9STI/AAAAAAAAA1E/2OnMk5fbZTM/s1600/14267760_4Bf80XV5_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OTX47788Vm4/TavHbaE9STI/AAAAAAAAA1E/2OnMk5fbZTM/s400/14267760_4Bf80XV5_c.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span>Amanda Mouryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07042003476382711173noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094374333847156140.post-23073239495907549002011-04-15T07:15:00.000-07:002011-04-15T07:15:00.347-07:00what does your home say about you?<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">You know, you walk into someones house and there are a few things that you notice off the bat. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>1. the smell</b> - every house, in my opinion at least, has a smell. Could smell like yummy candles, or fresh baked cookies, or your pets, or laundry [like my parents] </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>2. the mess</b>[or lack there of] - Listen, if any of you were to ever come to my house, you may see 1 and/or 3 things. Clean laundry, because I always put off folding it. Dirty dishes that are soaking, because I hate scrubbing pans right after dinner.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>3. the atmosphere</b> - whether it is the photos and/or decals, the movie/book shelves, the general home-yness.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These are past contenders that I absolutely fell in love with, especially the third one:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qmJY1ilWkLU/TafL_RwM3eI/AAAAAAAAA00/sioz-aSpyTk/s1600/3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qmJY1ilWkLU/TafL_RwM3eI/AAAAAAAAA00/sioz-aSpyTk/s400/3.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aTWdLsSSLKI/TafMCtD0uOI/AAAAAAAAA04/oZ1triv0t-8/s1600/wake_up_every_morning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aTWdLsSSLKI/TafMCtD0uOI/AAAAAAAAA04/oZ1triv0t-8/s400/wake_up_every_morning.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yRI4j3KWZow/TafME72hx7I/AAAAAAAAA08/y4t_YU-88Tw/s1600/13646827_RJWSLruG_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yRI4j3KWZow/TafME72hx7I/AAAAAAAAA08/y4t_YU-88Tw/s400/13646827_RJWSLruG_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and just recently I found this one:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Abff1zMpLKw/TafMSZp3E0I/AAAAAAAAA1A/t2_mSsa4Df8/s1600/13646734_t7Z5RQwh_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Abff1zMpLKw/TafMSZp3E0I/AAAAAAAAA1A/t2_mSsa4Df8/s640/13646734_t7Z5RQwh_c.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">so within the next month or so, the challenge to myself and to my <s>readers</s> friends to decide for yourself and your family:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What does your home say about you?</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'd love to check back in a couple weeks to see what you guys have thought of and share with you our home's 'mission statement'.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I hope you all had a fabulous week!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Finally Bryan and I are both getting over our colds and our house is becoming a sick free zone once again. Remember how I talked about smells? I think if someone walked into our home this week it would smell like Vicks, cough drops, and hot peach tea! :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy weekend loves!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">XOXO</span></div>Amanda Mouryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07042003476382711173noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094374333847156140.post-62572867601289420992011-04-12T07:15:00.000-07:002011-04-12T07:15:00.659-07:00Today's Letters Inspired Tuesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xraz4AYeERo/TaPGAdr1i8I/AAAAAAAAA0w/HzLbIizcBHI/s1600/tumblr_likr250qt01qdsk88o1_500_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xraz4AYeERo/TaPGAdr1i8I/AAAAAAAAA0w/HzLbIizcBHI/s400/tumblr_likr250qt01qdsk88o1_500_large.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today's Letters: <b>Dear WWF Champ</b>, that would be 'Words with Friends' champ, <u>not</u> 'World Wrestling Federation' champ. I'm pretty sure you're the most amazing wordmaker ever. Reason #789 being your wife is awesome. <b>Dear Xbox</b>, listen - you're new around these parts so let's get one thing straight...I had dibbs on him first. <b>Dear freshly mowed grass</b>, as much as I adore you, I think you may be causing more problems than good. I'm so ready for summer, I'll give you another chance in a couple weeks, pinky promise. <b>Dear father of my future littles</b>, I'm pretty sure my ovaries skipped a beat when you brought Sophie in to sleep between us on Friday evening. She woke up crying, you rushed out to the living room, scooped her up, and snuggled her safely between us like a little sophie-sandwich. I know that our littles are going to feel just as content.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">Has your mister ever done anything that's ever made your ovaries skip a beat?</span> </b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">PS - Please see inspiration for all my Tuesday Letters <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><b><a href="http://www.todaysletters.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">here</span></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">- <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">you'll LOVE them!</span></span></b></span></span>Amanda Mouryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07042003476382711173noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094374333847156140.post-55912680530007813062011-04-11T07:25:00.000-07:002011-04-11T07:21:09.073-07:00weekend wrap-up round four!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Good morning!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I trust you all had amazing weekends! I got to sleep in a little, hang out with <a href="http://brymandamoury.blogspot.com/2011/01/martin-luther-king-jr-says.html"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>these</strong></span></a> lovely ladies AND have a - </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">sleepover with Sophie!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DkOYHnxdaV8/TaJvoCIeYlI/AAAAAAAAA0o/8DcDmsfh-qI/s1600/Picnik+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DkOYHnxdaV8/TaJvoCIeYlI/AAAAAAAAA0o/8DcDmsfh-qI/s400/Picnik+collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I spent most of the weekend in bed, surrounded by tissues, sniffling. Needless to say, I'm sicky. However, Friday evening was the highlight of my weekend. I got to pick up Sophia for an evening of Auntie/Niecey fun :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1</span></b>. If you can't see, she was picking dandlions for me. How did she ever know they are my favorite?! ;)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>2</b></span>. The our shoes - wouldn't it be fabulous if you didn't have to grow up and just wear princess high heels forever? She walked through 711 and Walmart clicking those little suckers like there was no tomorrow! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3</span></b>. In the car singing 'Baby Beluga' and telling me about what letter she learned on Friday at school. It was 'W' by the way, then we proceeded to talk about words that started with 'W' - white, wiggle, waffle, etc. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">4</span></b>. All snuggled up, full of yummy pizza and juice, watching 'The Legend of the Guardians' - which by the way, is <i>kinda</i> scary for little kids!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I loved every minute I got to spend with her</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;">♥</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">can't wait to tell you my favorite part in tomorrow's <span id="goog_1203675066"></span><a href="http://brymandamoury.blogspot.com/search/label/Today%27s%20Letters%20Inspired"><strong>Tuesday Letter<span id="goog_1203675067"></span></strong></a> :)</span></span></div>Amanda Mouryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07042003476382711173noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094374333847156140.post-83500644330444256562011-04-10T09:53:00.000-07:002011-04-10T09:53:06.368-07:00very pinteresting...<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Good morning to you on this Sunday.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As most of you know if you've been following my blog for a while, I have a touch of <i>baby fever.</i><i> </i>I caught it back when I was born I think, and since Bryan and I got married it's been the topic of conversation with many of our friends and family. Really, we've heard it all.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"When are you getting pregnant?"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> "There will never be a <i>right</i> time"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> "You should live a little before you have kids" </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"You should travel before you have kids"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"You should have a kid so I can spoil it" </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Babies are a big responsibility"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Hurry up already!"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>really</i>, we've heard it all.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well, I was poking around on <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><b>Pinterest</b></span></a> this morning and came across this -</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fcU0pi5stZE/TaHd9h4lZKI/AAAAAAAAA0k/fJYPHPhvZFE/s1600/12759169_I7GPCy3o_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fcU0pi5stZE/TaHd9h4lZKI/AAAAAAAAA0k/fJYPHPhvZFE/s320/12759169_I7GPCy3o_c.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and I feel like my world got a little rocked.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We have yet to hear,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>"A baby is worth the wait"</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I guess whatever the time period for </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>wait </i>is</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, it will be worth it :)</span></div>Amanda Mouryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07042003476382711173noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094374333847156140.post-66054457343795763902011-04-07T08:46:00.000-07:002011-04-07T08:46:09.646-07:00thankful quickie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">THANKFUL</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iZmdn-3llh4/TZ3bJVIUimI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/4M4MMn0Kg9A/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iZmdn-3llh4/TZ3bJVIUimI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/4M4MMn0Kg9A/s320/photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">for a good cup of coffee to keep my eyes open</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-acX_IHAongQ/TZ3bSiNJdgI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/H8ezscFd5XU/s1600/morning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-acX_IHAongQ/TZ3bSiNJdgI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/H8ezscFd5XU/s320/morning.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">for living next to a lot that makes me think I live in the country</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IU0F5UNGKPc/TZ3bVFOuItI/AAAAAAAAA0c/KoWesh139uE/s1600/words.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IU0F5UNGKPc/TZ3bVFOuItI/AAAAAAAAA0c/KoWesh139uE/s320/words.png" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">for Bryan being so good at word games</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V5d1Cp5ReOg/TZ3bWXS2K6I/AAAAAAAAA0g/GBUcXu-PDZg/s1600/me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V5d1Cp5ReOg/TZ3bWXS2K6I/AAAAAAAAA0g/GBUcXu-PDZg/s320/me.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">my hair dresser that knows JUST what I like! Back in blonde!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">What are you thankful for today? :)</span></div>Amanda Mouryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07042003476382711173noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094374333847156140.post-89353902658271292372011-04-06T08:20:00.000-07:002011-04-06T08:20:47.011-07:00The Holiday says...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-atVyvPkY8AM/TZqNY-kDxqI/AAAAAAAAAzw/d62SD0BB3Ro/s1600/11812014_lCD3zvDa_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-atVyvPkY8AM/TZqNY-kDxqI/AAAAAAAAAzw/d62SD0BB3Ro/s400/11812014_lCD3zvDa_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: #136cb2; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Olivia</span></strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">: We never have grownups here that are girls. </span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<b sizcache="1" sizset="159"><span style="color: #136cb2;">Sophie</span></b>: I know. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<b sizcache="1" sizset="160"><span style="color: #136cb2;">Olivia</span></b>: I really like it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<b sizcache="1" sizset="161"><span style="color: #136cb2;">Sophie</span></b>: Me too</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of my most favorite movies, and one of the most fantastic forts! :)</span><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Wednesday friends!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">PS - see my newest recipe post <a href="http://brymandamoury.blogspot.com/2011/04/lemon-creamy-chicken-pasta-asparagus.html"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>here</strong></span></a></div></span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"></div>Amanda Mouryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07042003476382711173noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094374333847156140.post-30924380308802723452011-04-06T07:15:00.000-07:002011-04-06T07:15:00.613-07:00Lemon, creamy, chicken pasta & asparagus<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Last night was my mother-in-law's birthday so there was an extra special reason to get together and make dinner! Isn't she beautiful?! Love you Kim, Happy birthday!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDJcy-N2Dns/TZvrOzyKRdI/AAAAAAAAA0M/Tef8MPMKdhY/s1600/45605_584478912803_39204356_33777477_4561405_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDJcy-N2Dns/TZvrOzyKRdI/AAAAAAAAA0M/Tef8MPMKdhY/s400/45605_584478912803_39204356_33777477_4561405_n.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Dinner was SO good I had to share the recipes! I'm including an asparagus recipe because believe it or not, it's one of my favorite veggies but I really didn't know how to cook it - until now! :)</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u><br />
</u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Lemon Cream Pasta with Chicken</span></u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ingredients:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 lemon halved</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3 tsp garlic powder divided</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 tsp ground pepper</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2 14.5oz cans chicken broth</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 16oz package penne noodles</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 cup heavy cream</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u>Directions:</u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. Cube chicken into inch by inch cubes. Saute in enough olive oil to cover the skillet, season with salt, pepper, 2 tsp garlic powder and squeeze the juice of one half of the lemon.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2. Meanwhile in a saucepan, bring the two cans of chicken broth to a boil, season with the remaining garlic powder and 1 tsp pepper.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3. Add the pasta and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until all the liquid is absorbed [or for about 25 minutes]</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4. When pasta is finished, pour pasta and the cup of heavy cream into the pan that the chicken was saute'd in and mix together.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5. Add a squirt more of lemon juice, add salt and pepper to taste and heat on low for about 5-7minutes.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">6. Serve and enjoy!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>My two cents:</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-I got the original recipe from Allrecipes.com however, there were many things I changed so I just wrote the recipe as such.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-the whole adding the pasta to the chicken broth thing and waiting 25 minutes totally confused me! I was like, isn't the pasta going to get all mushy? The answer is no, there is more pasta than liquid, so the pasta will in fact absorb the chicken broth! And it's ok if it doesn't absorb it all because whatever is left over will help become the sauce in the end when you add the cream</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Oven Baked Asparagus</span></u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ingredients:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 bunch [about 1lb] of asparagus spears, washed and dried</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">salt</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">cracked black pepper</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1-2 TBSP olive oil</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u>Directions:</u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. Preheat oven to 400degrees F. Trim the bottoms of the asparagi [that's my plural for asparagus] removing about one inch.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2. Lay out asparagi in a single layer on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with Pam.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3. Drizzle evenly with olive oil and add enough salt and pepper to your liking.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4. Bake for about 8-12 minutes or until tips begin to brown and asparagus is tender. *NOTE - cooking time will depend on the thickness of your spears. Serve immediately.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>My two cents:</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-my asparagus cooked WAY faster than 8-12 minutes so be sure to keep an eye on it, you will be able to hear the olive oil sizzling.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-make a LOT - it's a crowd pleaser! I actually used two bunches or about 2lb's </span>Amanda Mouryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07042003476382711173noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094374333847156140.post-23498464534643014962011-04-05T10:30:00.000-07:002011-04-05T10:30:01.695-07:00if anyone needs me -<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'll be pretending I'm here.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-96ZzQ2QpUE8/TZqPn-jPWSI/AAAAAAAAAz4/U1f0AqeaZxU/s1600/11757866_QqYv896E_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-96ZzQ2QpUE8/TZqPn-jPWSI/AAAAAAAAAz4/U1f0AqeaZxU/s320/11757866_QqYv896E_c.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or possibly here</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Urlepg4V4lM/TZqSTEgnxGI/AAAAAAAAA0I/3lpNEDEE2Zk/s1600/7037979_iRXUA1f9_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Urlepg4V4lM/TZqSTEgnxGI/AAAAAAAAA0I/3lpNEDEE2Zk/s320/7037979_iRXUA1f9_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or here</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hKka7VcGgv4/TZqQG1WyWvI/AAAAAAAAAz8/ooICUEk-S80/s1600/6406421_cPFdRRMP_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hKka7VcGgv4/TZqQG1WyWvI/AAAAAAAAAz8/ooICUEk-S80/s320/6406421_cPFdRRMP_c.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or maybe here</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XIQxvXd0Jfs/TZqRXH5ly0I/AAAAAAAAA0A/a2tohKesaFc/s1600/4671113_eSwENl1e_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XIQxvXd0Jfs/TZqRXH5ly0I/AAAAAAAAA0A/a2tohKesaFc/s320/4671113_eSwENl1e_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or even here</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pl8KFx7W3GM/TZqR3lEdXbI/AAAAAAAAA0E/1dFe-J38fxA/s1600/10238562_AYnjrs97_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pl8KFx7W3GM/TZqR3lEdXbI/AAAAAAAAA0E/1dFe-J38fxA/s320/10238562_AYnjrs97_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Where might you be today?</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Amanda Mouryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07042003476382711173noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094374333847156140.post-90912280811303952582011-04-05T07:12:00.000-07:002011-04-05T07:12:44.494-07:00Today's Letters Inspired Tuesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TWIkL2JfYxU/TZqO9XLUZCI/AAAAAAAAAz0/NpEZmKexGho/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TWIkL2JfYxU/TZqO9XLUZCI/AAAAAAAAAz0/NpEZmKexGho/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today's Letters: <b>Dear Mr. Sicky</b>, it is on a very rare occasion that you get sick and I don't. Here is to a few of grilled cheese/tomato soup eating, gatorade drinking, Price is Right watching days of you resting up and getting better. <a href="http://www.dyrdek.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><b>Dear Rob Dyrdek</b></span></a>, to put it lightly, my husband loves you and may have a slight mancrush on you. Not because you have this ridiculously cool factory where you do freakin awesome things, not because your filthy rich and spend it however you please, but because he thinks you would be a <i>genuinely</i> 'cool dude' and friend. <b>Dear anxiety</b>, you've been quite under control lately which is particularly out of character for you, however I'm not complaining, I'm thankful. <b>Dear Snuffleupagus</b> [that nickname may stick] I love you more than Rob loves Big Black, Paula Dean loves butter, and the entire cast of 'The Hills' love drama - I'm pretty sure you should be feeling a LOT of love right now.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Does your husband have a mancrush? bromance? [Bryan's gonna hate me for saying that LOL] basically a celebrity that he wishes he knew?</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">PS - See the inspiration for this post - I love <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.todaysletters.com/">the Loerke's</a></span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Happy Tuesday friends!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>Amanda Mouryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07042003476382711173noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094374333847156140.post-53984770826477488532011-04-04T09:50:00.000-07:002011-04-04T09:50:35.424-07:00Javier Bardem says...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cKhw4clqB6Q/TZnw2bmWrRI/AAAAAAAAAzs/9naOq8Awtx8/s1600/julia-roberts-and-javier-bardem-in-eat-pray-love-162587b8e67a1b76_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cKhw4clqB6Q/TZnw2bmWrRI/AAAAAAAAAzs/9naOq8Awtx8/s400/julia-roberts-and-javier-bardem-in-eat-pray-love-162587b8e67a1b76_large.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">[well technically Elizabeth Gilbert says:]</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Liz Gilbert <span style="font-size: small;">[Julia Roberts]</span></span>: </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm sick of people telling me that I need a man. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
Felipe <span style="font-size: small;">[Javier Bardem]:</span> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You don't need a man, Liz. <em><strong>You need a champion.</strong></em></span></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong>Isn't that the truth, doesn't every woman want a man that is a champion?</strong> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I read this book at the beginning of last year and enjoyed it. But to be completely honest, I feel like I may have enjoyed the movie even more - or maybe it was because I fell in love with Javier and Julia's chemistry :) </span></div>Amanda Mouryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07042003476382711173noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094374333847156140.post-53044957044344628652011-04-04T07:41:00.000-07:002011-04-04T07:41:46.594-07:00weekend wrap up round three!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Sunday = Funday</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We spent the afternoon at Alki, Pike Place Market, the Seattle waterfront, and ended up on Queen Anne Hill for some fabulous Thai food - whew! It was still pretty overcast and chilly, but one thing is for sure in Seattle, if it's not raining - GET OUTSIDE! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We had to visit Pike Place so Bryan could get some of the roasted candied nuts we had seen when we went for Valentine's day</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>[insert numerous extremely immature 'nut' jokes here]</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-geLQwW8odwU/TZlT9h8etqI/AAAAAAAAAzc/Ki2qghiuRNw/s1600/Picnik+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-geLQwW8odwU/TZlT9h8etqI/AAAAAAAAAzc/Ki2qghiuRNw/s400/Picnik+collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We then enjoyed a stroll down town. I absolutely love Seattle in the spring. Pike Place is booming with gorgeous flowers, fresh produce, and lots of interesting people. But most of all I just like being in the city. I'm not gonna lie, I was channeling my inner Carrie Bradshaw strolling down the cobble streets, arm in arm with Bryan, and cafe latte in hand. Not sure if the 'city life' is for me but it definitely is great for a fun afternoon.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lvxb_SYuank/TZlVLdHQWkI/AAAAAAAAAzg/OJr9iyUJu6g/s1600/Picnik+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lvxb_SYuank/TZlVLdHQWkI/AAAAAAAAAzg/OJr9iyUJu6g/s400/Picnik+collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We also marveled the beautiful architecture and again, gorgeous flowers!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wnHXli63qDM/TZlWHRrytqI/AAAAAAAAAzk/cWr3pBwOLWw/s1600/Picnik+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wnHXli63qDM/TZlWHRrytqI/AAAAAAAAAzk/cWr3pBwOLWw/s400/Picnik+collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And just had so much fun I was smiling THIS big at the Ye Old Curiosity Shop!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I1UfgMs4YVo/TZlWQRnfeuI/AAAAAAAAAzo/Y9Al5WQPvok/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I1UfgMs4YVo/TZlWQRnfeuI/AAAAAAAAAzo/Y9Al5WQPvok/s320/photo.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I hope your weekend was so fun whether you stayed at home in your jamies or were out on the town with friends and family :)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">PS - Please pray for Bryan, he is down with a cold this week :( Also! I have a couple of fun posts in store for this week - stay tuned!</span></div>Amanda Mouryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07042003476382711173noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094374333847156140.post-76749634221167876272011-04-02T10:14:00.000-07:002011-04-02T10:14:17.716-07:00seaglass<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tossed by the sea</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">smoothed by the sand</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o4qwISUKyg8/TZdYvDxTyMI/AAAAAAAAAzU/0yEeaDIGzHI/s1600/Picnik+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o4qwISUKyg8/TZdYvDxTyMI/AAAAAAAAAzU/0yEeaDIGzHI/s400/Picnik+collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">it started as something that Bryan and I would collect whenever we went to Alki Beach while skipping class during our senior, but it has turned into something more. We've now collected a piece of seaglass from each beach we've been to including;</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-the Washington coast</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-the Oregon coast</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-the California coast</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Cabo san Lucas, Mexico</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Mazatlan, Mexico</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I hope it's something that we can continue to do and can give to our children as a keepsake from our many travels. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Not to mention, aren't they just beautiful? Each individually shaped by the waves. I love to think about the places it's been. Our jar is full of seaglass, a few seashells and memories</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">♥</span></span>Amanda Mouryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07042003476382711173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094374333847156140.post-25022493022444384782011-04-01T07:00:00.000-07:002011-04-01T07:00:08.393-07:00dear future littles<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Dear future littles, </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">This is your future mother speaking.</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Some people may think this is completely crazy, but not me. I want you to know that it is my will in life to be a mom, and I feel so blessed to be yours. I think about you every day and dream of what you'll look like. I imagine you growing in my belly, laying on our bed and watching you kick, and the day you come into this world. I imagine you taking your first steps, eating your first yummy treat, and what your giggle will sound like.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Will you have my golden eyes? Will you have Bryan's mousey brown hair? Will you have long black eyelashes or short stubby blonde ones like me? Will I be able to breast feed you adequately? Will you be healthy? Will I love you no matter what? Will you love me no matter what? Will I be a good mom like I've thought I would be all this time? Will I break down and cry when I can't get you to stop crying? Will I spend all my time worrying about the person you grow up to be and wanting to protect you? Will I make some of the same mistakes with you that other mother's have made? Will you be born in time to meet your great grandparents?</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aLGih04JbG0/TZS_td9ArvI/AAAAAAAAAys/IaurAVkB62o/s1600/10938115_tHDgk5K1_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aLGih04JbG0/TZS_td9ArvI/AAAAAAAAAys/IaurAVkB62o/s320/10938115_tHDgk5K1_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I can't wait to watch you play with your cousin Sophie, she will love you so much. I can't wait to spend maternity leave for you, it may not be as long as I'd like, but none the less it will be our time. I can't wait spend quiet nights with you rocking you to sleep and nights soothing your tears. I can't wait to watch you grow, and for the first time I can put your hair in a pony (if you're a girl) or a little stud muffin outfit (if you're a boy). I can't wait to see Bryan hold you and fall completely in love with you because he will. I can't wait to rejoice in every milestone - big or small - because you will be brilliant.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">No matter what, I will love you unconditionally.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">We both love you and can't wait to meet you someday down the road. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Until then I'm counting down a little <a href="http://brymandamoury.blogspot.com/2011/03/impatient.html"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>impatiently</strong></span></a>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Lovingly waiting,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Your mama</span>Amanda Mouryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07042003476382711173noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094374333847156140.post-83863547838330257482011-03-31T09:34:00.000-07:002011-03-31T09:35:06.063-07:00girl crush number three<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Lauren Conrad </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-large;">♥</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x3LbxuDP6zU/TZQRYfIe5iI/AAAAAAAAAx4/ds9Ow24oiiA/s1600/tumblr_lhi93aavcd1qdpsx9o1_500_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x3LbxuDP6zU/TZQRYfIe5iI/AAAAAAAAAx4/ds9Ow24oiiA/s320/tumblr_lhi93aavcd1qdpsx9o1_500_large.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4evRY5-ViwI/TZQRbJh4BHI/AAAAAAAAAx8/1FY9kspiC2o/s1600/9694396_Rp0hBJu6_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4evRY5-ViwI/TZQRbJh4BHI/AAAAAAAAAx8/1FY9kspiC2o/s1600/9694396_Rp0hBJu6_c.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iEB7CywpoOQ/TZQRdb8027I/AAAAAAAAAyA/v2ZPNqpKlkc/s1600/9694355_IVrPISuZ_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iEB7CywpoOQ/TZQRdb8027I/AAAAAAAAAyA/v2ZPNqpKlkc/s320/9694355_IVrPISuZ_c.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tIu90LVE1JM/TZQRffDJcuI/AAAAAAAAAyE/fhQaNW4Jxoc/s1600/thing.22825668.orig_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tIu90LVE1JM/TZQRffDJcuI/AAAAAAAAAyE/fhQaNW4Jxoc/s320/thing.22825668.orig_large.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KkYiAtpRceA/TZQRhC2IhkI/AAAAAAAAAyI/WMA9uHRqE3k/s1600/tumblr_lijr4s5vwE1qenuluo1_500_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KkYiAtpRceA/TZQRhC2IhkI/AAAAAAAAAyI/WMA9uHRqE3k/s320/tumblr_lijr4s5vwE1qenuluo1_500_large.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h7a1ZFK1kTk/TZQRkPezqzI/AAAAAAAAAyM/V2f3AyyEoz4/s1600/tumblr_lgdvnhloXF1qcqsvro1_400_large.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h7a1ZFK1kTk/TZQRkPezqzI/AAAAAAAAAyM/V2f3AyyEoz4/s320/tumblr_lgdvnhloXF1qcqsvro1_400_large.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fbc3MdrMu_s/TZQRnd5jdnI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/joF5ggpluPM/s1600/tumblr_li2fqqxS4y1qhiz91o1_500_large.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fbc3MdrMu_s/TZQRnd5jdnI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/joF5ggpluPM/s320/tumblr_li2fqqxS4y1qhiz91o1_500_large.png" width="320" /></a></div><div align="right" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">She's so stinkin pretty! And I love how her hair <em>always</em> looks gorgeous! Well done LC, well done.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">ps - what are you <a href="http://brymandamoury.blogspot.com/2011/03/thankful-thursday_31.html"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>thankful</strong></span></a> for today?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">pss - what is your opinion on <a href="http://brymandamoury.blogspot.com/2011/03/lets-talk-about-amway.html"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>Amway</strong></span></a>?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">psss- what would the letter to your future littles look like? Check back tomorrow for mine :)</span></div>Amanda Mouryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07042003476382711173noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094374333847156140.post-16419228912450865822011-03-31T07:00:00.000-07:002011-03-31T07:00:03.756-07:00Thankful Thursday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Thankful Thursday!</span></u></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">71. <b>Harley</b> - as much as I want to wring his neck at night when he's bouncing off the walls and won't let us sleep...I just remember this sweet face and his funny relaxing places, and forgive him for being a complete terror...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mq4jDrMTzXI/TZQR2s-UxcI/AAAAAAAAAyU/OGLSMFo6MX8/s1600/Picnik+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mq4jDrMTzXI/TZQR2s-UxcI/AAAAAAAAAyU/OGLSMFo6MX8/s400/Picnik+collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">72. <b>American Idol nights</b> - It's kind of become tradition to curl up on the couch with some pizza and watch AI - we pretend we're the judges. PS - any other AI watchers out there? Is Steven Tyler becoming the new Paula?! LOL</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">73. <b>Full Throttle energy drinks</b> - this morning I totally remembered why/how those little suckers got me through two loooong years at college. Thanks for the extra little boost in the morning :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">74. <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><b>Pinterest</b></span></a> - a FABulous new site I stumbled across. I haven't quite figured out exactly how it all works yet however, there is something for EVERYone. For example I've found:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NqG28t4HbIs/TZQTjihicvI/AAAAAAAAAyY/VXOrdauYVIM/s1600/8995921_0zWIu4vw_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NqG28t4HbIs/TZQTjihicvI/AAAAAAAAAyY/VXOrdauYVIM/s320/8995921_0zWIu4vw_c.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9_NQDS6Emik/TZQUCiJzvZI/AAAAAAAAAyk/S6SJpz2-AmQ/s1600/10838233_Pe2o0d7m_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9_NQDS6Emik/TZQUCiJzvZI/AAAAAAAAAyk/S6SJpz2-AmQ/s320/10838233_Pe2o0d7m_c.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">[super cute things I want to make]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RhovPbSmngk/TZQTvxm66QI/AAAAAAAAAyc/IX4tnvbhUBE/s1600/6658272_Ddxs91B0_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RhovPbSmngk/TZQTvxm66QI/AAAAAAAAAyc/IX4tnvbhUBE/s320/6658272_Ddxs91B0_c.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">[Quotes that make me smile</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6dsrCkz1P0/TZQTyd0Z28I/AAAAAAAAAyg/3vk3NdCXdAw/s1600/10837600_jI7KIPR8_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6dsrCkz1P0/TZQTyd0Z28I/AAAAAAAAAyg/3vk3NdCXdAw/s320/10837600_jI7KIPR8_c.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">...and giggle]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hi6TN4UDbKk/TZQURsIOu1I/AAAAAAAAAyo/uG9hevwO0Fs/s1600/10864505_IILBnLZw_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hi6TN4UDbKk/TZQURsIOu1I/AAAAAAAAAyo/uG9hevwO0Fs/s320/10864505_IILBnLZw_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">[not to mention SUPER cute recipes!]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">75. <b>My new </b><s><b>followers</b></s><b> friends</b>! I'm so glad you've stopped by my corner of blogger land :) Welcome! I try to check out your blogs as well, I'm sure we will be good friends :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What are YOU thankful for this week? </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sunshine? Hopefully you've got some of that Vitamin D in your neck of the woods! :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Amanda Mouryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07042003476382711173noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094374333847156140.post-65664811057969459342011-03-30T13:56:00.000-07:002011-03-30T13:57:06.814-07:00Let's talk about Amway...<div align="center"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cPojUeLXnw8/TZOZEdp_sjI/AAAAAAAAAx0/Q9Iy8JRZQeY/s1600/amway-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cPojUeLXnw8/TZOZEdp_sjI/AAAAAAAAAx0/Q9Iy8JRZQeY/s320/amway-logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://www.amway.com/"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>www.amway.com</strong></span></a><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong> </strong></span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><strong>This a disclaimer that this is only my personal opinions of our time working for this system. Please read more about Amway; I may not tell our story in the most eloquent way so you may want more information.</strong></span></div><div align="center"><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm not sure how many of you are too familiar with Amway so if you'd like to read more please click the link above. I'm also not sure how well I'm going to do explaning our experience, but after being involved with the company in my own words:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> <em>It is an online business that helps families start their own online website that sells products in bulk and their own line of products, similar to that of Costco's Kirkland Signature Brand. It helps husbands and wives become a closer unit, and brings parents home from their jobs. If you are willing to put in the work.</em></span><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">In 2006 I got a call from Bryan while at college, he said he was going to watch some business meeting at his sister's house and he'd call me afterwards. The call I received hours later was not from the same boyfriend I had talked to earlier. The boyfriend I heard from hours later was excited, uplifted, and determined. He had just seen a business plan that he foresaw changing our future. It was presented by multimillionaires <a href="http://eaton.wwdb.biz/"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>Tracey and Kimberly Eaton</strong></span></a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">In the months that followed I saw a different side of Bryan. Someone something had a lit a fire underneath him and he had a new passion for life and me. Which brings me to my first point. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong>Amway changed our relationship</strong> [for the better] Bryan has never been a big reader, and he was excited and encouraged to read and build a better foundation in our relationship before we got married. We read books like <em>'Love & Respect'</em> and <em>'The Five Love Languages'</em> and truly grew emotionally from them both. I mean at the time, what 20 something year olds were worry about their future and reading books to strengthen their future marriage? One of the points they teach is family comes first and putting your spouse before your kids. I'm not a mom, and I've heard some mom's sound astonished by this. But for example; I once heard Tracey Eaton tell a story about a time when his kids were talking back to Kimberly and he said to them, "Don't talk to my wife like that." That blew me away.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In the beginning it was tough. Amway has been around for 50+ years, but back when it first started it built a bad reputation for being a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_scheme"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>'pyramid scheme'</strong></span></a><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: black;"> Which made it incredibly hard to talk to the older generation about. Even when asking them to become clients of our website and shop for the things they shop for anyway to support us - it was hard to earn the trust back from those bad memories[a<span style="color: black;">nd not to mention when met with opposition my outlook on the entire situation turned sour]</span> However, when I started investigating into the matters myself, I realized that pyramid schemes are illegal and that<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://hamilton.bbb.org/commonreport.html?id=395261394"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>found</strong></span></a> that it was accredited and given an A+ by the Better Business Bureau - which brings me to my second point. <strong>Amway may never escape the bad reputaion it's been given, but is truly a different company it was 50+ years ago</strong>.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I went to meeting after meeting, after event, after board plan with Bryan and watched hundreds of couples just like us, with the same fire lit under them, ready to be in business for themselves. We were never told that this business would replace our income at the time, you were in business for yourself and the time to build it was from 5pm-midnight after you've finished working for the man and everyone else was sleeping. Which brings me to my third point - <strong>Amway changes people's lives</strong>. What do I mean by that? We watched our sponsor go from a socially awkward, shy, confidence lacking guy to an extremely outgoing, funny, and assertive man. Not many companies can do that for you. Not to mention, after a certain point in the business you may make enough money where you are able to come home from your job - however that is after some extrememly hard work, tears, and possibly years. But it was encouraging and seemed attainable no matter what we had to do.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">At this time last year Bryan and I were at a crazy busy point in our lives. He had just started a new job and we were planning for our wedding that was fastly approaching us in July. It truly broke our hearts [and spirits] for a while because we had to take a step back from the business. We weren't able to put <u>'our all'</u> into it at the time. It may be something we look into in the future and I know our experience will be just as gratifying. Which brings me to my fourth and final point - <strong>I hope that Amway didn't burn any bridges for us</strong>. We were encouraged to talk to anyone and everyone we thought might be interested, which inspired us to speak with friends, family, even people we knew in high school. We only had good intentions and never meant to come across as weird - quite the opposite. We knew we had a vehicle that could be the answer for some families.</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><u>So what's my point?</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I used to be timid and embarrassed to say that we were affiliated with this company - but now I am proud to say that we were and became better people because of it. We met some amazing people, become closer as a couple, and spent our time dreaming about our future together.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> So if someone asks to 'show the plan' to you, don't be so quick to judge - hopefully they had the best intentions like we did and want to help you :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Amanda Mouryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07042003476382711173noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094374333847156140.post-15726469289966745192011-03-30T07:00:00.000-07:002011-03-30T07:00:14.330-07:00Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_FdHZMIwMok/TZK77p_kAtI/AAAAAAAAAxw/LVdT2KFRejE/s1600/199668_617293362383_39204356_34470036_5633643_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_FdHZMIwMok/TZK77p_kAtI/AAAAAAAAAxw/LVdT2KFRejE/s400/199668_617293362383_39204356_34470036_5633643_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Sunday I looked up and there was a heart in the sky - </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">God knew just what I needed at that very minute.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Happy Wednesday friends!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">PS - Check back later for my "Let's talk about it" post - I'm going to discuss our experience in</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></b></span><a href="http://www.amway.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Amway</span></b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - The good, the bad, and the honest truth.</span></div>Amanda Mouryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07042003476382711173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5094374333847156140.post-15877187821172207742011-03-29T21:55:00.000-07:002011-03-29T21:55:47.042-07:00Impatient.<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Is it possible to feel sad/hopeful/defeated/excited/tearful/realistic/optimistic...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">all at the same time?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hi, my name is Amanda and I suck at being patient, growing up, and waiting my turn.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I don't care what anyone else says, I'm ready now.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Sigh..</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That's all, goodnight.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R92J6H1EEws/TZK3gBwxuoI/AAAAAAAAAxs/sBz6bmjQvSc/s1600/tumblr_lhc6qlFGiQ1qc0dx7o1_400_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R92J6H1EEws/TZK3gBwxuoI/AAAAAAAAAxs/sBz6bmjQvSc/s400/tumblr_lhc6qlFGiQ1qc0dx7o1_400_large.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>Amanda Mouryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07042003476382711173noreply@blogger.com4