tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46492737211203771282024-03-13T07:48:05.834-07:00Rendered & RenewedBetween two little tykes at home and teaching teenagers in high school, it's a new adventure everyday.Mrs.PJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946039727492035033noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649273721120377128.post-90771290087157867042015-12-16T19:41:00.001-08:002015-12-16T19:41:42.998-08:00Santa's WorkshopOne of the big changes we have made in the past few years was moving into a bigger house. I have my own room! Not just the bedroom that I share with Mr. PJ, but my own office/sewing room/sanctuary. This time of year it feels like I'm in Santa's workshop. Nothing crazy in production now. I recently finished a Christmas quilt. I'll try to post about it soon. Also making scarves for the kiddos. Not that it gets that cold here, but they are fun to make. The kids always like it when they get something made especially for them.Mrs.PJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946039727492035033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649273721120377128.post-63393248480953671432015-11-30T20:14:00.002-08:002015-11-30T20:14:37.537-08:00Write that down.Turning 30 scared me, but life went on.<br />
We found a great home and made a great big move.<br />
my teaching assignment changed and I was faced with the challenge of teaching an advanced placement course.<br />
Time to write wasn't being found, but now things have settled down.<br />
I was thinking that I should start a blog to write about life and then I remembered I had this one right here.Mrs.PJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946039727492035033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649273721120377128.post-90159002241409233752013-07-26T05:32:00.001-07:002013-07-26T05:32:44.944-07:00Fabulous Five Friday Update<br />
<ol>
<li>This week I am grateful for- My little bit of vacation time. My summer has been jam packed with summer school, workshops, institutes, and training's. This past week was the first one I was able to spend at home with my two little ones. We have had a blast playing, enjoying each others company and ignoring most household chores. Basically we have been having a staycation which is fun and cheap.</li>
<li>This week I enjoyed- turning my backyard into a water park. The kiddie pool, water hose, and backyard slide offered exciting and hilarious relief from the heat. My children love the water and their giggles are so contagious. </li>
<li>This week I learned- How hard it is to be a woman in other parts of the world. I have been reading <i><a href="http://www.halftheskymovement.org/" target="_blank">Half the Sky</a>, </i>a very well written book about ways in which women are still oppressed around the world and what type of programs help them. It is a very graphic book and I can only read a little bit at a time before I start crying and wanting to adopt all of the little girls in the world. but I am plowing through. We cannot make the world a better place until we face the realities of what holds us back.</li>
<li>This week I accomplished - pretty much nothing and it was flipping fabulous.</li>
<li>I am looking forward to - finding our next home. We have been house hunting for a few weeks, made offers on two homes and didn't get either one. Am I disappointed? Yes, very much so, but I know that means the right place is still out there waiting for us to find it. Right now most of our evenings consist of doing a drive by on different homes to see where they are located and if we want our realtor to schedule a showing. My son told us the other evening he likes falling asleep in the car. I am ready to start packing. </li>
</ol>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I totally swiped the idea for todays post form <a href="http://www.upwardnotinward.com/" target="_blank">upward not inward</a>, but I had to because I just love it. I think their five question questionnaire is an excellent exercise in self reflection. You can do it too! You can also check out How the ladies at upward not inward answered their questionnaire by going to their site<a href="http://www.upwardnotinward.com/2013/07/fab-five-53.html" target="_blank"> here</a>. What is going on in your world this week? You can share your own reflections there or in the comments here. I hope everyone has a blessed weekend.</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Take care,</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mrs.PJ</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Please, pretty please, click, clickety, click. Thanks so much!</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a alt="Christian blogs" href="http://faithfulbloggers.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://faithfulbloggers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/125X125-2.png" style="cursor: move;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" target="_blank" title="popular mommy bloggers"><img alt="Vote For Us @ Top Mommy Blogs" border="0" height="150" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images/banners/150-tmb.gif" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><img border="0" src="http://picketfenceblogs.com/button/standard/9707" style="cursor: move;" /></span></span></span></div>
</div>
Mrs.PJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946039727492035033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649273721120377128.post-19086676906995220072013-07-07T15:01:00.004-07:002013-07-07T15:03:23.336-07:00Yummy! Yummy! Guest Post!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Hello Readers,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"> If you have been reading Rendered & renewed for a while you will know that I am not always the queen in the kitchen that I imagine myself to be. Today we have a guest post from Angela Gilmore. She blogs on <a href="http://www.workingonworkingmom.com/" target="_blank">Working on/Working Mom</a>, a great Mom blog if you have a chance to read her. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">How I plan a Vegetarian or Vegan Dinner</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">I almost always start my meal planning with either a vegetable or carbohydrate in mind and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">then I build out from there. Try to get a protein and a veggie in each meal with an optional </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">carbohydrate and meal planning will be a snap every time!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> Here are some examples:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">• Spaghetti (carb) with soy meatballs (protein) and a side of roasted cauliflower (veggie)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">• Soy ravioli (carb and protein) with a mixed green salad (veggie)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">• Brown rice (carb) with veggie stir fry (veggie) and tofu (protein)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">• Pasta e fagioli (carb and protein) with a side of broccoli (veggie)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">• Ziti (carb) with tomato sauce and a side of cannellini beans, green beans and cheese </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">(protein and veggie)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">• Veggie burger (protein) on a whole wheat bun (carbs) and a side of green beans </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">(veggies)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Finding ways to match carbs, veggies, and protein makes creating meals super easy. Here is a </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">list of go-to ingredients that I always have on hand:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Carbs:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">• Pasta of all varieties (whole wheat when possible) – spaghetti, ziti, shells, rice pasta</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">• Brown or basmati rice</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">• Potatoes such as sweet or white</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">• Hamburger or hot dog buns</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Veggies:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">• Broccoli</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">• Cauliflower</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">• Spinach</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">• Green beans</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">• Salad greens</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">• Mixed frozen veggies</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">• Peas and corn</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Protein:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">• Beans – all kinds (canned and dried)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">• Tofu</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">• Veggie burger</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">• Soy products like ravioli, edamame, and hot dogs</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">When you break your meals down into these simple components it makes going out to dinner </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">easier as well. For example, If you want to get pizza get it with veggies, if you get a salad ask to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">add chick peas, if you are going out for Italian and you just want a big bowl of pasta ask to add </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">beans and veggies on the side. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">If you can’t get a protein and veggie into each meal, or you know you are going out for dinner </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">and want to splurge, load up on your protein and veggies during lunch. One of my favorite </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">things to eat for lunch is a huge salad full of greens and beans. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Vegetarian and vegan eating can be super easy and healthy; just keep you favorites on hand </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">and mix and match!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Enjoy!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Angela Gilmore </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://www.workingonworkingmom.com/">www.workingonworkingmom.com</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a alt="Christian blogs" href="http://faithfulbloggers.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://faithfulbloggers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/125X125-2.png" style="cursor: move;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" target="_blank" title="popular mommy bloggers"><img alt="Vote For Us @ Top Mommy Blogs" border="0" height="150" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images/banners/150-tmb.gif" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="http://picketfenceblogs.com/vote/9707" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://picketfenceblogs.com/button/standard/9707" style="cursor: move;" /></a></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Click daily to vote.</span></div>
</div>
Mrs.PJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946039727492035033noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649273721120377128.post-16080468262210086492013-07-01T20:11:00.002-07:002013-07-01T20:11:45.150-07:00Cha Cha Cha Changes......I know I am naturally resistant to change. I remember as a child my Mom telling me that, "just because you don't like change isn't going to stop it from happening." So, I plan. If I know change is going to happen I will carefully research all of the options and proceed with caution. I have to prepare myself mentally, cover all my bases and when I feel I can anticipate the outcome, then I can embrace whatever is going to happen. Childbirth was certainly was of those major life changes that I planned for. Recently a friend and I were comparing the school year to childbirth. There is anticipation and preparation before the students get there. The hard work, stress and pressure of the school year could be compared to drawn out labor pains. Summer the final relief of the labor. Top that off with Graduation seeing our students go off into the world to make their way. The school year, spanning from fall of one calendar year to the summer of the next, is a mental and emotional roller coaster. The school year has come to a close. Summer school has finally ended. As much as I need this break, I have not been able to unwind, shift gears, adapt to the change. I have been frantically making to-do lists, telling myself that summer is fleeting and is never long enough to get things done. I know that in a week or so I will adjust and be able to unwind. In the meantime I feel like the most ridiculous person ever. What teacher can't immediately enjoy summer vacation? How do you adjust to change?<br />
<br />
Take care,<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mrs.PJ</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a alt="Christian blogs" href="http://faithfulbloggers.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://faithfulbloggers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/125X125-2.png" style="cursor: move;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" target="_blank" title="popular mommy bloggers"><img alt="Vote For Us @ Top Mommy Blogs" border="0" height="150" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images/banners/150-tmb.gif" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="http://picketfenceblogs.com/vote/9707" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://picketfenceblogs.com/button/standard/9707" style="cursor: move;" /></a></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Click daily to vote.</span></div>
Mrs.PJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946039727492035033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649273721120377128.post-78255920401625927412013-06-22T06:57:00.000-07:002013-06-22T06:57:48.597-07:00How many times do I have to tell you?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdLoy-rYDa7fI4JkQibZFmvZnwq3n4czds3buQltMbpD4PCRjH0b0Z8ykorSotQ5FipSlYKfOOPXqsHweLJvWUdQx9fUDhe0XWZ3vYY9WYO7MvQhGT4HPLB_ecIWOBxOx7HzHhfohrsKT/s1600/IMG_1243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Copyright Mrs.PJ 2013- FOREVER" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdLoy-rYDa7fI4JkQibZFmvZnwq3n4czds3buQltMbpD4PCRjH0b0Z8ykorSotQ5FipSlYKfOOPXqsHweLJvWUdQx9fUDhe0XWZ3vYY9WYO7MvQhGT4HPLB_ecIWOBxOx7HzHhfohrsKT/s320/IMG_1243.JPG" title="http://renderedandrenewed.blogspot.com/" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laundry goes <i>in</i> the hamper, not <i>in front of</i> the hamper.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXEBt9Q974ePvWtLwL_WfE5IpDzGbxK0SzMNxdqMDS8jriju9gQaf5LgdUXdbbbG_TcSBOsef1A3L1IElkwh5xByQMPOJg0dtFzdLzsND8CTa8oW4anyy7nRUxz2JVwkNi13hfe26Opv6/s1600/IMG_1248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="copyright Mrs.PJ 2013-FOREVER" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXEBt9Q974ePvWtLwL_WfE5IpDzGbxK0SzMNxdqMDS8jriju9gQaf5LgdUXdbbbG_TcSBOsef1A3L1IElkwh5xByQMPOJg0dtFzdLzsND8CTa8oW4anyy7nRUxz2JVwkNi13hfe26Opv6/s320/IMG_1248.JPG" title="http://renderedandrenewed.blogspot.com/" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you don't pick up your books they might get peed on or the baby might eat them, or worse, both.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZu6XSptz7oqM2X8oJBzBVuchTAnIAbMYDJq2tKU2n0nOiBVHO-fUIcz88vMGPRoTqDdTkKOJUV1zcj62cCM-avN_LDNz1tW46wvRcUVl9yH1LVz-vLpZJvp4RSFDfCIwqREXbN3Wdzs7T/s1600/IMG_1257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="copyright Mrs.PJ 2013-Forever!" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZu6XSptz7oqM2X8oJBzBVuchTAnIAbMYDJq2tKU2n0nOiBVHO-fUIcz88vMGPRoTqDdTkKOJUV1zcj62cCM-avN_LDNz1tW46wvRcUVl9yH1LVz-vLpZJvp4RSFDfCIwqREXbN3Wdzs7T/s320/IMG_1257.JPG" title="http://renderedandrenewed.blogspot.com/" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't care if it is bright blue and tastes like sugar, it is not candy, so don't eat it.<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQeU0wWVqtrlqiHzSU7Koa6r87XflC2XsED_seswohIW0IGyAe4l9OWwgwoMdg92WMLqpHewZ9DYmC_nqvtDsf4e-gZITMkkdFnJkUUT3obJ5Ug7BdZNalqEcigCHMIq2K-_judxm0G8RX/s1600/IMG_1255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="copyright Mrs.PJ 2013- FOREVER" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQeU0wWVqtrlqiHzSU7Koa6r87XflC2XsED_seswohIW0IGyAe4l9OWwgwoMdg92WMLqpHewZ9DYmC_nqvtDsf4e-gZITMkkdFnJkUUT3obJ5Ug7BdZNalqEcigCHMIq2K-_judxm0G8RX/s320/IMG_1255.JPG" title="http://renderedandrenewed.blogspot.com/" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously, that is not how you operate the toilet paper roll.<br />
(At least he got it off the floor.)<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSThcngSJLnZOO5kCZXyFa0eTUNq4taXKPy15C7etFHfU-2DRUM-P6nHBCW5kMMHCRAGzWRdvxdqWMGNZvR3KeD8T7itfbhlKMSdY1SB3QyMxGDpEBuqLoEYhbF53gaRPGrifOD15rE7M2/s1600/IMG_1246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="copyright Mrs.PJ 2013- FOREVER" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSThcngSJLnZOO5kCZXyFa0eTUNq4taXKPy15C7etFHfU-2DRUM-P6nHBCW5kMMHCRAGzWRdvxdqWMGNZvR3KeD8T7itfbhlKMSdY1SB3QyMxGDpEBuqLoEYhbF53gaRPGrifOD15rE7M2/s320/IMG_1246.JPG" title="http://renderedandrenewed.blogspot.com/" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't care what it looks like, the tub plug is not a pacifier so spit that thing out!<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49U9zCt_gUC6D-Rz6l-E9PgW-jyj0H36GKtDDV-XQ06bSlEFjIwDvzceCrHxqYqk4vntwnCg7lYdwlJ5uv68p62b7-4m1jv03Ej9jmdoISPYkiKwjIJjP66is36cC1BtYGwf3KEZiOMKh/s1600/IMG_1335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="copyright Mr.PJ 2013- FOREVER" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49U9zCt_gUC6D-Rz6l-E9PgW-jyj0H36GKtDDV-XQ06bSlEFjIwDvzceCrHxqYqk4vntwnCg7lYdwlJ5uv68p62b7-4m1jv03Ej9jmdoISPYkiKwjIJjP66is36cC1BtYGwf3KEZiOMKh/s320/IMG_1335.JPG" title="http://renderedandrenewed.blogspot.com/" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Please stop putting the potty seat on your head and announcing that it is a hat.<br />
It is most definitely not. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
Thank you for letting me vent. I am going to go scrub the bathroom now.<br />
<div>
Happy cleaning,</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mrs.PJ</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span>
PS - What room in your home elicits the most nagging? Comment in the comment section below.<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Please, pretty please, click, clickety, click. Thanks so much!</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a alt="Christian blogs" href="http://faithfulbloggers.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://faithfulbloggers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/125X125-2.png" style="cursor: move;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" target="_blank" title="popular mommy bloggers"><img alt="Vote For Us @ Top Mommy Blogs" border="0" height="150" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images/banners/150-tmb.gif" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="http://picketfenceblogs.com/vote/9707" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://picketfenceblogs.com/button/standard/9707" style="cursor: move;" /></a></span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Mrs.PJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946039727492035033noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649273721120377128.post-50515185423736212442013-06-21T11:01:00.002-07:002013-06-21T11:01:53.581-07:00Fab Five Friday Round 2!<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Here we go again. I was worn out last weekend trying to meet the demanding requirements for that dang Leibster Award. This past week I have been busy with work and domestic duties, so now the chance to unclutter my mind with the fab five. Remember, I totally swiped the idea for this post from <a href="http://www.upwardnotinward.com/" target="_blank">upward not inward</a>, but I had to because I just love it. I think their five question questionnaire is an excellent exercise in self reflection. You can do it too!</div>
<ol>
<li>This week I am grateful for- My Mom's talents on the organic farm she operates with my Stepdad. They sent us a big box full of awesome goodies and our bellies couldn't be happier. We are talking about homemade pickles, jelly, bread, and honey from their own bee hives. They sent us loads of fresh veggies and inspired me to cook from scratch one night.</li>
<li>This week I enjoyed- My children. Just hugging those tiny people somehow has the magical power to make any day fantastic. I might be a little weird, but I love the way my tiny tots smell. Not to mention the way they crack me up when they play together.</li>
<li>This week I learned- That my strengths are Creativity and Caregiver. You can find your strengths by taking the online quiz at <a href="http://stronglifetest.com/">http://stronglifetest.com/</a> Just scroll down until you see the pink box. I am reading the book right now. I was skeptical at first, but now I am totally into it and a believer.</li>
<li>This week I accomplished- Creating a new dinner from scratch! I was inspired by the fresh veggies my Mom sent (see question 1) and the picture on the box of linguine. We had warm pasta with fresh chopped tomato, fresh basil, a dash of garlic salt, italian dressing and olive oil. We also had garlic bread that I made with slices of the homemade stuff my Mom sent. It was a party in my tummy and I think everyone else enjoyed it too. </li>
<li>I am looking forward to - My son's soccer practice tonight. He is just so cute in his jersey. It is adorable watching three year olds trying to stop a goal. So Proud :)</li>
</ol>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
You can check out how the ladies at upward not inward answered their questionnaire by going to their site<a href="http://www.upwardnotinward.com/" target="_blank"> here.</a> What is going on in your world this week? You can share your own reflections there or in the comments here. I hope everyone has a blessed weekend.</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Take care,</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mrs.PJ</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Please, pretty please, click, clickety, click. Thanks so much!</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a alt="Christian blogs" href="http://faithfulbloggers.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://faithfulbloggers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/125X125-2.png" style="cursor: move;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" target="_blank" title="popular mommy bloggers"><img alt="Vote For Us @ Top Mommy Blogs" border="0" height="150" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images/banners/150-tmb.gif" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="http://picketfenceblogs.com/vote/9707" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://picketfenceblogs.com/button/standard/9707" style="cursor: move;" /></a></span></span></span></div>
</div>
Mrs.PJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946039727492035033noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649273721120377128.post-85884632388162778342013-06-15T20:00:00.000-07:002013-06-21T10:32:41.259-07:00Awwwwww, how sweet is that?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a class="rg_l" href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=liebster+award&sa=X&biw=1244&bih=615&tbm=isch&tbnid=ygJg2u2TmQTfTM:&imgrefurl=http://thedisorganisedauthor.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-liebster-award.html&docid=WdubsJZ3Cudf-M&imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwnT_obBiEoBibdC5mH9cVi9cxog6bLxVA5zbDNJEuCG5oNLsl56EnoQ65IDrMtpVQ0waiX0nlflBhVaYm1kWbDU-DTWVOgP13gp0ixeDeLg-6GnV78ahf9QGXmpXw9WjtNceokMPSPQ/s200/Liebster%252BAward%252BLogo.gif&w=593&h=557&ei=ToHEUZLoKqnX0gGd74H4CA&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:26,s:0,i:174&iact=rc&page=2&tbnh=211&tbnw=232&start=10&ndsp=21&tx=86&ty=134" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #cccccc; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #1122cc; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; height: 211px; left: 8.5px; line-height: 19px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; width: 232px;"><img class="rg_i" height="375" name="ygJg2u2TmQTfTM:" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSIxfQirW__JmFofAD2N4tbHx9Auo_WB2YfRMD5PGdCM_bHDln2bA" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; display: block; height: 218px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: -2px; position: relative; text-align: left; width: 232px;" sz="f" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Another Mommy blogger, <a href="http://glennbabies.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Angela at Time With A&N</a>, nominated me for a Liebster Award! That is so nice of her to do. I have to admit that I am thrilled anytime someone comments on my posts, so to be nominated for an award for new bloggers is extra exciting. To accept this nomination I have to perform the following<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"> six tasks.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">Link back to the blog that nominated you.</span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">
</span>
<br />
<div>
<a href="http://glennbabies.blogspot.com/2013/06/liebster-award-for-new-bloggers-and-i.html" target="_blank">Time with A&M,</a> where Angela, a fellow teacher shares the woes of balancing motherhood and life. </div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">Nominate 5-11 new blogs with fewer than 200 followers.</span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">
</span>
<br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">I nominate <a href="http://www.truthaboutmommy.com/" target="_blank">The Truth About Mommy</a>, for her brutal honesty.</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">
</span>
<br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">I nominate <a href="http://raisingthelight.com/" target="_blank">Raising the Light</a>, and the awesome ladies who post there about faith and family.</span></div>
I nominate <a href="http://mrsdixxxon.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Super Punk Rock Mommy</a>, for the fun of it.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">I nominate <a href="http://www.workingonworkingmom.com/" target="_blank">Working On / Working Mom</a>, for the tremendous effort she has put into her most recent food challenge.</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">
</span>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I wanted to nominate <a href="http://www.thedeliberatemom.com/" target="_blank">The Deliberate Mom</a>, because she is just one of those cool Moms that everyone should know, but I just checked and she officially has 202 followers. I'm nominating her anyway! (Check her out anyway.)</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">Answer the questions posted for you by your nominator.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">1. What's your dream career?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">Winning the Lotto.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">2. If money wasn't an issue how many kids would you have?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">Shouldn't this question be "If your husband wasn't an issue...?" I kid, I adore the two I have, periodically think about throwing in a few more when these are potty trained, but I don't think we should worry about new babies for a few years and then see how we feel about it then.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">3. What's your favorite vacation? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">The ones that haven't happened yet, when we get to take the kiddos all over the place. With that one rainy camping trip to Enchanted Rock being a close second place. Actually when I was in college I went on a really cool two week trip where we learned Geography by doing Geography. Once when we were dating, Mr.PJ took me to Pensacola Beach, it was kinda romantic. I like getting away and this is not an easy question.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">4. If you could go visit anywhere where would you go? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">Everywhere. Seriously, as a Geography nerd I get excited about a lot of places. Except the really violent and sandy ones. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span">5. Where did you meet your significant other?</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">I met Mr. PJ the old fashioned way, in a bar. Some of my friends were playing in a band there. Mr. PJ was there. We met, talked and the rest is history. Actually the rest is a story for another post one day.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">6. How long did you date before you were married?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">We dated six months, he was on deployment for the six months after that, he came back and we moved in together, we got engaged and then married a year after that. I was 22 when we got married and I'm still kinda crazy about him, even though he can drive me crazy sometimes.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">7. How long have you known your longest friend?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"> My sister, her whole life, 25 years in July. My longest not related by blood friend, Estelle, has it really been 12 years?</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">8. When was your last date night with your husband? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">Some may not count this, but we just got done with a season of co-ed softball. We are on a team for my campus and every Wednesday night for the past several weeks has been a game night. Thank you to my awesome Mother in law for babysitting. Thank you to Mr.PJ for that epic grand slam in the last game of the playoffs. It was very romantic. Go Treefish!</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">9. Where do you live?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">In a cute little two bedroom, one bath, fixer upper that we are quickly outgrowing. It breaks my heart that the home we started our family in needs more TLC than we can give it. I know we are going to have to make a decision soon about what we want to do, but it is just hard for me because I have been in this home longer than any other single place in my life. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">1</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">0. If you could only eat three things what would they be? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Well, being vegetarian, my diet is already kind of restricted. I'm going to go with.......dang this is a hard question. I say carbs, dairy and home cooking. I'm sorry, I really love food and I can't pick just three favorites. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">11. How long have you been blogging? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Since January, so six months. I'm really enjoying it. </span></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: inherit;">
</span>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">Share 11 random facts about yourself.</span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">
</span>
<br />
<ol>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">I gained close to fifty pounds with both of my pregnancies. I lost it by nursing and running around like a chicken with its head cut off while attempting to take care of all of those tasks that we call life. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">I am a Hurricane Katrina victim. At the time we were living in my home state of Mississippi and most of the Mississippi Gulf Coast was wiped clean. We were lucky our home was still there, but with five feet of floodwaters nearly everything inside was ruined. I can honestly say that we have been nothing but blessed since moving to our current home. It did take me a long time to get over the shock of being forced to move because of the storm. I still want to cry anytime an area hit by a natural disaster is on the news.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">My son and I were laying on the couch snuggling the other night. My husband walked in and told him it was time for him to get a shower. He responded, "Um, I'm not done with Mommy yet." I hope he never finished snuggling with me.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">My daughter took her first steps earlier tonight! We were at the little dude's soccer practice and she took a step towards her Daddy. How cool is that? Fact number four- I was nervous about having a daughter, but I could not be more delighted. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">I cloth diaper and nurse my babies. I know that there are people out there that think I am crazy because being a working mom takes up a lot of time and so does pumping and washing diapers. I feel like in a way, that is time I'm giving back to my kids. I know it is not for every family, but it works for us. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">I pretty much neglect every other aspect of homemaking duties all week long. My most hated chore is washing dishes. When we do move, I hope we can get a place with a dishwasher. My home is usually embarrassingly filthy.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">I was an adult before I got serious about my faith and religion. I think that that is one of those topics that will be a longer post for another day. I do have to say I enjoy reading other blogs that post inspirational stuff. It helps keep me on track.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">My Godson has downs syndrome. His Momma is one of my closest friends. We have known each other since before we started having kids and we met at church. His downs was a surprise, but he couldn't have a better family and he is a great little kid. I hope our kiddos are always as close as they are now. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Sometimes I have a hard time relating to other adults, especially if I let myself be judgmental, which I hate doing. I mean, it is easy to make a quick assumption about someone, but then I always feel guilty later on. When I see someone doing something that I think is dumb, I just want to write them off, even though I know that is not the right thing to do. I have been working really hard on having more patience and being intentionally nice to people even when I don't want to. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">When I was a freshmen in college I saw a girl get killed in a drinking and driving accident. A drunk driver hit her car and fled the scene. They caught him later, but I watched the girl die in the arms of her friend. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">My husband and I are kind of opposites. I'm vegetarian, he is not. He will have a beer with dinner, I don't drink. I went to college, he went to the military and then trade school. He smokes I don't. We both love each other madly, tolerate each others craziness, keep each other sane and I hope that he knows how much I love and respect him. I hate it when I realize I'm nagging him about stuff.</span></li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">Create 11 questions for your nominees. </span></li>
</ul>
<ol>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">What is your favorite family tradition?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">What quality about yourself do you want to improve on?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">What prayer do you say the most often? </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Who inspires you?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Who is your favorite author and what was the last book that you read?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Which radio station do you listen to / what is your favorite music genre?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">What are you sick of making for dinner / what is your most hated chore?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Which blog do you read the most and why?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">What are your hopes for your kids when they grow up?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Have you ever paid to see a movie in the theater more than once or what is your favorite film? </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Where do you see yourself in ten years?</span></li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-color: rgb(170, 177, 35); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; color: #333333; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">Contact your nominees and let them know you nominated them.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Done! Whew, that was a beast of a post. It took me two days to do. Nominees, I wish you good luck.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">If you made it through this extra long post, go the extra mile and click below to vote for me. Thanks!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" style="color: #ff98d3; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><img alt="Vote for me @ Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory" border="0" height="90" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images/banners/tmb-728x90.gif" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 1px 1px 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;" width="728" /></a></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></div>
Mrs.PJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946039727492035033noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649273721120377128.post-16876591838530277142013-06-07T20:09:00.003-07:002013-06-07T20:10:56.487-07:00Fab Five FridayI totally swiped the idea for todays post form <a href="http://www.upwardnotinward.com/" target="_blank">upward not inward</a>, but I had to because I just love it. I think their five question questionnaire is an excellent exercise in self reflection. You can do it too!<br />
<ol>
<li>This week I am grateful for- My awesome hardworking husband and my sweet kiddos. The love I get at home helps me survive the roughest days at work.</li>
<li>This week I enjoyed- Getting to see the Seniors get ready to leave for the graduation duty. I didn't have to actually go to graduation this year (alright, I'm grateful for that too), but getting to help them get ready and seeing them all dolled up was exciting. </li>
<li>This week I learned- I am done with speculating. Life is interesting enough without playing the "what if ..?" game. I need to trust in God more and work with the challenges I already have before me. </li>
<li>This week I accomplished - Getting my classroom packed up and my sign off sheet done early! It only took five years for me to figure out how to get on top of that.</li>
<li>I am looking forward to - AP Human Geography. I will be teaching it next year for one class period and I am thrilled. It is a great opportunity to work with student who are eager to learn and for me to approach the material in a new way. I normally teach regular World Geography which is different.</li>
</ol>
<div>
You can check out How the ladies at upward not inward answered their questionnaire by going to their site<a href="http://www.upwardnotinward.com/" target="_blank"> here.</a> What is going on in your world this week? You can share your own reflections there or in the comments here. I hope everyone has a blessed weekend.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Take care,</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mrs.PJ</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Please, pretty please, click, clickety, click. Thanks so much!</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a alt="Christian blogs" href="http://faithfulbloggers.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://faithfulbloggers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/125X125-2.png" style="cursor: move;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" target="_blank" title="popular mommy bloggers"><img alt="Vote For Us @ Top Mommy Blogs" border="0" height="150" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images/banners/150-tmb.gif" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="http://picketfenceblogs.com/vote/9707" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://picketfenceblogs.com/button/standard/9707" style="cursor: move;" /></a></span></span></span></div>
</div>
Mrs.PJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946039727492035033noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649273721120377128.post-57936661013179719252013-06-06T19:59:00.001-07:002013-06-07T19:48:09.623-07:00 Guest Post: Five Top Tips for Family Vacations<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Hello Dear Readers,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Today's post is written by travel expert and mother of three Kendra Thornton. You can read about here on the <a href="http://renderedandrenewed.blogspot.com/p/guest-contributers.html" target="_blank">Guest Contributers Page</a>. My family still has several weeks before we travel anywhere for Summer, but I know many people will be traveling soon. Anyone who has ever traveled with kids in tow knows there can be many challenges, so Kendra's post comes at the perfect time. Enjoy and feel free to share your own travel ideas/tips/stories in the comments section.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
It’s summertime and we all know what that means: time for a family vacation. Trips with the kids can be the perfect time to bond and enjoy one another. As a travel advocate and enthusiast, I have been fortunate enough to continue traveling with my family. The best times we’ve had have been those I’ve taken the time beforehand to plan for success.<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
Tip 1: Find a truly family-friendly hotel</h3>
When looking for a family-friendly hotel, don’t just take the hotel’s word for it. Be sure the accommodations have amenities your family needs in order to enjoy their stay. Look for a hotel that provides in-room refrigerators to store leftovers and kid-friendly snacks. This is essential for small ones who require bottles. See if you can find a hotel that has a playground or other play area for young children to enjoy. Also, take a look at customer reviews to learn if the hotel’s claims are true. My family found a great family friendly resort in Oahu by reading through other families reviews of the top<a href="http://www.gogobot.com/honolulu--hotels" target="_blank"> hotels in Honolulu. </a><br />
<h3>
<br />Tip 2: Preparing for Fourth-of-July celebrations</h3>
Many families choose to go on vacation over Independence Day. If you are planning such a trip, consider fireworks displays when you book your hotel room. Watching local displays from a hotel balcony provides a safer, more kid-friendly option than celebrating amid the crowds and close to the hot embers. When booking your hotel, check to see if you can get a room with a <a href="http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/best-hotels-for-july-4th-fireworks" target="_blank">good view of the fireworks display. </a>In addition to safe viewing, you will be able to balance different interests and bedtimes seamlessly.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Tip 3: Help everyone enjoy themselves more by sticking to a routine</h3>
<br />
Both adults and children find comfort in routine. For young children who are used to regular meal and snack times as well as naps, a break in routine can be extremely stressful. While on vacation, don’t neglect regular naptimes and meals. It may take a little extra planning, but your kids will be much less fussy when these needs are addressed in a timely fashion.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Tip 4: Carry a backpack</h3>
<br />
You’ll find hundreds of trendy travel bags that you can purchase for your trip. I have found, however, that a backpack meets my needs best. A good, ergonomic bag will allow you to carry more without being encumbered by the weight. Also, most backpacks offer plenty of carry space as well as multiple pockets for organizing everything you need. Plus your hands will be free! <a href="https://www.everlane.com/collections/canvas-leather-packs-womens" target="_blank">Everlane</a> offers some trendy ones or try your local sporting goods store for a variety of shapes, sizes and prices.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Tip 5: Remember to bring a few plastic bags</h3>
<br />
You probably won’t forget the big things you need to pack. You’ll bring clean outfits and underwear. You’ll remember everyone’s toothbrush. But don’t forget to stash a few extra plastic bags in your luggage. These come in handy when someone has an accident, the kids can’t resist a last-minute dip in the pool before leave or you just need to keep clean and dirty clothes separate.<br />
<br />
Vacation is a time for fun and relaxation. Use these tips for the most success possible.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Thanks for the tips Kendra! I think my favorite is the plastic bag tip. We go through a lot of the sandwich and gallon slide top bags in our household. The small ones make the perfect holder for baby wipes, so everyone can carry their own in their bag. Also the backpack tip works for little ones as well. As soon as our son was big enough to walk we got him a backpack so he could carry his own diapering supplies. He loves it. What makes traveling with little ones easier for you? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Happy Travels,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Mrs.PJ</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="color: black; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Thanks for reading! Click below to vote, reviewing R&R on the directories and share.</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a alt="Christian blogs" href="http://faithfulbloggers.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://faithfulbloggers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/125X125-2.png" style="cursor: move;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" target="_blank" title="popular mommy bloggers"><img alt="Vote For Us @ Top Mommy Blogs" border="0" height="150" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images/banners/150-tmb.gif" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="http://picketfenceblogs.com/vote/9707" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://picketfenceblogs.com/button/standard/9707" style="cursor: move;" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
Mrs.PJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946039727492035033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649273721120377128.post-69767225790392972012013-06-01T20:55:00.000-07:002013-06-01T20:55:00.194-07:00A Win & A Fail<h3>
A Win</h3>
<div>
For the past several months I have been looking for the perfect bookshelf for my children's room. We read every night and acquire new books on a regular basis because we want our kiddo's to enjoy reading. By new I mean new to us. Most of our books are yard sale and thrift shop finds. As a teacher I can testify that being able to enjoy a book is something that can make the difference between students who struggle and those who are successful. Anyway, the book situation was getting a little out of control in their room. We are talking piles of books creating a trip and slip hazard of ridiculous proportions. Every bookshelf I found was over priced or cheaply built. This morning I stopped at an estate sale and picked up the perfect shelf for less than half of what they had it priced for. I ended up not putting it in the children's room because it was a little wobbly on the squishy carpet, but there was a good spot for it in the living room. My little dude was super excited to help clean it and put the books on it. It is big enough that it also holds most of the toys that are usually randomly strewn around the living room. Score one for Mommy!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
A Fail</h3>
<div>
I am vegetarian and I am outnumbered in my home by people who are not. Sometimes we all eat vegetarian and other times I make a combo meal. Vegetarian spaghetti with frozen meatballs on the plates of those who partake (heated up of corse). Portabella fajitas with chicken strips thrown in the pan after I fix mine. Point being, I gotta get creative sometimes. Sometimes I get carried away. Tonight's meal was supposed to be vegetarian, a simple pasta dish with some added veggies from our garden. It started out decently enough with some sautéed diced bell pepper. I started adding tomatoes from our garden, because they are really sweet and I thought they would make a good sauce. I should have googled "making spaghetti sauce" but I didn't. That was where it started to go downhill.<br />
<br />
Mr.PJ informed me later that sauce can take a day. I wanted to be done in half an hour. After <strike>destroying </strike> dicing five perfectly good tomatoes I decided they weren't cooking down fast enough and I threw the whole mess in the food processor with some garlic salt. The result of that was orange runny tomato soup. Not being one to give up easily I just named dinner tomato soup with pasta and served it with a wheat roll. My husband quietly pretended to be too busy feeding the baby to eat. My toddler son loudly announced he didn't like it and began to play with it. I don't know if you have ever smelled real fresh parmesan cheese, but it is on the somewhat stinky end of the cheese spectrum. Our pasta was parmesan tortellini served in warm watery tomato juice that was slightly chunky. I have made some cooking blunders before but tonight was an all time low. The meal I tried to serve my family tonight looked and smelled like bowls of vomit. I've got to get some sort of meal plan together.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The good news is I went grocery shopping today so I have lots of ingredients I can use to follow a real recipe tomorrow.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Take care,</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mrs.PJ</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Thanks for reading! Click below to vote, reviewing R&R on the directories and share.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a alt="Christian blogs" href="http://faithfulbloggers.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://faithfulbloggers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/125X125-2.png" style="cursor: move;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" target="_blank" title="popular mommy bloggers"><img alt="Vote For Us @ Top Mommy Blogs" border="0" height="150" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images/banners/150-tmb.gif" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="http://picketfenceblogs.com/vote/9707" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://picketfenceblogs.com/button/standard/9707" style="cursor: move;" /></a></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Mrs.PJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946039727492035033noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649273721120377128.post-77560113049869512962013-05-28T19:03:00.001-07:002013-05-30T18:47:47.022-07:00Would you look at that?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjz2zX8IIAra8HBlmgfKyvOtHydvMWpddpOJbA77-IjkcqKGLIWOWrzesDJj21z7ESTM3AgFPyOCY5bX-ljrPBHCFrc8z9jDIaN4p7io5Fe-jJzhxkybZg1aqGxWKRWrevT9IEQYGYHJh/s1600/Picture+6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="55" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjz2zX8IIAra8HBlmgfKyvOtHydvMWpddpOJbA77-IjkcqKGLIWOWrzesDJj21z7ESTM3AgFPyOCY5bX-ljrPBHCFrc8z9jDIaN4p7io5Fe-jJzhxkybZg1aqGxWKRWrevT9IEQYGYHJh/s400/Picture+6.png" 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-size: large;">Rendered & Renewed is in the top 200! Keep clicking!</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="color: #523815; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/pages/index.php" target="_blank"><img alt="Right click this image to save it to your computer. Then upload it to your blog for use" border="0" height="580" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images/banners/tmb-600x600-please-vote.jpg" width="580" /></a></span></div>
<br />
Thanks so much,<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mrs.PJ</span>Mrs.PJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946039727492035033noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649273721120377128.post-33511478760652182462013-05-25T08:49:00.002-07:002013-05-25T08:49:56.400-07:00Aspirations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0e98p-8rIodf-FNAbfYDxwniE9YIdut64OoGuYUZvFRRexLoVDSheFjfWQAG8Jw8ZbBOv0UIIBwdS4VKONtFRll8cPMhO8XI59xgwxecXNRvr-XAh4Vs6lxh4fqe8ar1Jvrx7XNynW8xb/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0e98p-8rIodf-FNAbfYDxwniE9YIdut64OoGuYUZvFRRexLoVDSheFjfWQAG8Jw8ZbBOv0UIIBwdS4VKONtFRll8cPMhO8XI59xgwxecXNRvr-XAh4Vs6lxh4fqe8ar1Jvrx7XNynW8xb/s400/Picture+1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>I love to write. There are pages of unwritten stories and essays floating around in my head. Non-fiction mostly, but some totally made up in my imagination. One day I want to write a book so I can share it all with other people. I want Oprah to read my book that does not exist, so then <i>everyone</i> will read it. Then I want to write five more.</li>
<li>Quilting and crafting are another creative outlet I enjoy, but there is never enough time for. My supply stockpile is so huge that if I ever get around to it I want to open an Etsy shop. I have already done tons of research, come up with a business plan, store name, picked out a theme and everything. Now all I need is the time to make all of the things I want to make.</li>
<li>After my Etsy shop becomes wildly successful I want to open a real store. There are several funky 1970's era buildings in our town that I want to take over. I want to sell handcrafted goods and vintage finds. I want to sell records and comics and be the cool hangout for all the hipsters. My husband has informed me that no one but me is into records anymore, bummer. Well, I'm going to bring them back.</li>
<li>I want to buy up all of the cute little properties that are for sale in our town. I want to fix them up and rent them out. I want to be a real-estate mogul. I want to get filthy rich and own the town.</li>
<li>One day I will get my masters. After that I will get National Board Certification. and be the best teacher ever. Then after that I will teach at a University and I will teach aspiring teachers how to rock. Maybe I will write a book about that too. </li>
<li>My children's daycare is so awesome that I want to have one too. There is a need in our community and our church has tossed around the idea. I want to help open it and be the director. I want to help run everything and play with the kids and lead the teachers. </li>
<li>Having this blog has made me want to create a website for my students. This project I am actually working on. There are several great sites out there that have inspired me, but this will be one for my kids. I want to have resources available for other teachers as well. Hopefully my students will gat excited about it and actually use it. </li>
<li>Summer is almost here. In a few years I want to be able to take our real kids on awesome summer vacations. Not theme parks, but real destinations. The redwoods, grand canyon, Niagara Falls. Ok, Geography destinations, but I want to take them camping and hiking. </li>
</ul>
<br />
One step at a time. I know realistically I can't do all of these things all at once, but I can pursue them a little bit at a time. I can let my big dreams inspire me to do fun things and take a leap. What inspires you? What are your secret ambitions? Who do you aspire to be? Share below and have a great weekend!<br />
<br />
Work hard and have fun,<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mrs.PJ</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Thanks for reading! Show your support by clicking below to vote, reviewing R&R on the directories and commenting. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a alt="Christian blogs" href="http://faithfulbloggers.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://faithfulbloggers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/125X125-2.png" style="cursor: move;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" target="_blank" title="popular mommy bloggers"><img alt="Vote For Us @ Top Mommy Blogs" border="0" height="150" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images/banners/150-tmb.gif" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="http://picketfenceblogs.com/vote/9707" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://picketfenceblogs.com/button/standard/9707" style="cursor: move;" /></a></span></span></div>
Mrs.PJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946039727492035033noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649273721120377128.post-64979573341086432442013-05-23T20:30:00.000-07:002013-05-23T20:30:39.603-07:00Lovely Landscape<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cnnphotos.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/17/exploring-farms-from-above/" target="_blank"><br /><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4hv6tSI3dWsV4H4KixB8BvZEoCJLAkCPbw3ATcqgEm1oaMCyJhPucbuF8E01OjxHAzVbUYMcXeOu780a2LyGByOjjEDUcdPEuVnvde1iH6qYBdKeHGtyDHTepuuNRPmWfPg-w_oRBW-P/s640/lg.10.jpg" title="http://cnnphotos.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/17/exploring-farms-from-above/ " width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
How pretty is this farm? It looks like a quilt to me. I love landscape pictures and city skylines. You can click on the photo to go to an article of about a man that has been photographing agriculture in the United States for 40 years. Of course being the geography geek I am I found the pictures and story so fascinating I wanted to share them with you. I will be showing them to my students tomorrow for sure.<br />
<br />
Take care,<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mrs.PJ</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Thanks for reading! Don't forget to show your support by clicking below. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a alt="Christian blogs" href="http://faithfulbloggers.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://faithfulbloggers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/125X125-2.png" style="cursor: move;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" target="_blank" title="popular mommy bloggers"><img alt="Vote For Us @ Top Mommy Blogs" border="0" height="150" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images/banners/150-tmb.gif" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="http://picketfenceblogs.com/vote/9707" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://picketfenceblogs.com/button/standard/9707" style="cursor: move;" /></a></span></span></div>
Mrs.PJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946039727492035033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649273721120377128.post-21880495031305034522013-05-21T19:57:00.001-07:002013-05-21T19:57:16.150-07:00Reasons I am kicking myself.<h4>
3. I signed up to teach summer school and now I totally wish I hadn't.</h4>
<i>sensible me:</i> It's an extra three grand, great way to make up money I lost on my maternity leave.<br />
<i>not so sensible me: </i>Yeah, but that was last year. I'm ready for a break now.<br />
<i>sensible: </i>It will be easy. It's initial credit, so the kids will all be nerds.<br />
<i>not: </i>But summer won't start until July now.<br />
<i>sensible:</i> It's just a few weeks, besides, there will still be the whole month of July and most people don't even get a month of vacation.<br />
<i>not: </i>Why? Whyyyyyy? I want my summer!<br />
<br />
<h4>
2. I forgot the diaper bag.</h4>
My daughter had her nine month checkup today. So I had to speed pump milk, quickly resolve an issue in the parking lot (lady bumped into my car just before I pulled out but only damaged her car, so we parted ways), speed home as safe as possible (30 min drive), put pumped milk in fridge, feed dog, speed to day care, grab baby, go to pediatrician (25 min drive), go to get out of car and realize I don't have any clean diapers or wipes. We cloth diaper and the only thing I have with me is the bag of dirty diapers sent home from the daycare.<br />
I felt like everyone in the waiting room was staring at me like I just kidnapped this baby because I had no bag or other baby accessories. I was sure they were going to call child protective services because my baby was in a wet diaper when she had her exam. Then the nurse says, "Oh that's nothing, my sister left her baby in a restaurant when they left once." So I guess by comparison it wasn't that bad, but I still felt negligent.<br />
Little Miss PJ handled the whole ordeal with a smile and didn't even cry when she got her vaccine.<br />
<br />
<h4>
1. I missed the boat.</h4>
If you have been reading R&R for awhile now you know I love my job teaching, but I wish my school was closer so I wouldn't have to spend such a huge chunk of my day on the road. Last week I saw that the school district I live in had an open position. I hesitated to fill out the application because it was already 11:30 at night and the application is loooooong. I left right after school let out on Friday rushed home to fill it out before I went to pick up the kids and, drumroll please, it was gone. I guess they filled the spot that fast. Maybe it was posted for a while before I saw it. I e-mailed the principal to let them know I'm interested in case anything opens up, but I still feel like I let my family down. Totally kicking myself.<br />
<br />
What was I thinking? Anyone else out there wondering where there mind is?<br />
<br />
Take care,<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mrs.PJ </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Thanks for reading! Don't forget to show your support by clicking below. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a alt="Christian blogs" href="http://faithfulbloggers.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://faithfulbloggers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/125X125-2.png" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" target="_blank" title="popular mommy bloggers"><img alt="Vote For Us @ Top Mommy Blogs" border="0" height="150" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images/banners/150-tmb.gif" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="http://picketfenceblogs.com/vote/9707" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://picketfenceblogs.com/button/standard/9707" /></a></span></div>
<center>
</center>
Mrs.PJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946039727492035033noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649273721120377128.post-787520912289319692013-05-20T19:46:00.001-07:002013-05-20T19:46:34.844-07:00Our Puppy Dog<br />
<div>
<i>me: </i>Hey, you wanna come help me get dinner ready in the kitchen?</div>
<div>
<i>son:</i> Um........no.</div>
<div>
<i>me: </i>Why not? You love helping in the kitchen.</div>
<div>
<i>son:</i> Um...I'm getting comfy with my puppy. </div>
<div>
<i>me: </i>You know she is not a pillow pet.</div>
<div>
<i>son:</i> Yes, she is my comfy pillow. She is my puppy.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiX2ddI2XvkubqYrQCe-4B4NeQcp_NB9oUyDwqmDvk31s9N3DgMLconQJ0BW2LlCBu6wzgLRBacSTxRfzyMZilp9GiRlgBFHiJe33-2GQsZEmbKKnlZYjsq70TLVrG9t9aZ0vhs81WQhG/s1600/IMG_1122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="copywrite Mrs.PJ 2013- FOREVER!" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiX2ddI2XvkubqYrQCe-4B4NeQcp_NB9oUyDwqmDvk31s9N3DgMLconQJ0BW2LlCBu6wzgLRBacSTxRfzyMZilp9GiRlgBFHiJe33-2GQsZEmbKKnlZYjsq70TLVrG9t9aZ0vhs81WQhG/s400/IMG_1122.JPG" title="http://renderedandrenewed.blogspot.com/" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big dogs are comfy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
She is not really a puppy anymore. Our sweet little puppy is eight or nine years old, which is way older than our three year old. She has loved him since the day he was born though. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOWj2T75dN_4zOZclEV9-KDR9O_ia-HGx6VUjmtRkF2IplBQteqAOgvUUgslf_W5-F02uYawz6F-7Sqd-uFARajrWwv496aq8Rl_daPtQ2M6ArbtWdAqhPXW2FfLcmPbSH2nnC1WYp7f9/s1600/100_0533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="copywrite 2013-FOREVER! Mrs.PJ" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOWj2T75dN_4zOZclEV9-KDR9O_ia-HGx6VUjmtRkF2IplBQteqAOgvUUgslf_W5-F02uYawz6F-7Sqd-uFARajrWwv496aq8Rl_daPtQ2M6ArbtWdAqhPXW2FfLcmPbSH2nnC1WYp7f9/s400/100_0533.JPG" title="http://renderedandrenewed.blogspot.com/" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On guard the first day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
She was our practice baby before we had our real babies. When she was a puppy Mr. PJ would carry her around in his arms all day. She has adapted without hesitation to new homes and both of our babies. Most importantly both of our babies adore her. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8DoSWUbn_gY9FPVFOmZAtUog3kXYdIaFokmxzq5sEFxKga_93BPZbUlyFfMSWN2fAeZQAbT3jUyVZgAW4u7lfqvTfRwMG_1TqqSUhdnWS7yMjJwJezHLl4KRajEr9kfIeOk3V2yWBbU5H/s1600/IMG_0178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="copyright 2013-FOREVER Mrs.PJ" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8DoSWUbn_gY9FPVFOmZAtUog3kXYdIaFokmxzq5sEFxKga_93BPZbUlyFfMSWN2fAeZQAbT3jUyVZgAW4u7lfqvTfRwMG_1TqqSUhdnWS7yMjJwJezHLl4KRajEr9kfIeOk3V2yWBbU5H/s400/IMG_0178.JPG" title="http://renderedandrenewed.blogspot.com/" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"She is my Clifford!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
We have taught him how to be gentle with her. He doesn't try to ride her like a horse anymore. His only chores are to feed her and let her outside to go potty. He takes this responsibility very seriously and loves out puppy dearly. Really she is already an old girl and I worry about what will happen when she is gone. She is smart and sweet and for now I will tolerate the white fur on everything because we love her.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3sbeaPLwbQC1ZC2hDX4r2rGVc9eo19A7SGNrXwKCKrEEsk96gXRHE6VjGyFfrIm7vFxe-S3j9ZHN777VL4S0XN64bfox5AZIDNcENUGW_zXvg0QbRgwgZ_12yp2MS25nUwKbJR1eplkVJ/s1600/HPIM1253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="copywrite 2013- Forever Mrs.PJ" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3sbeaPLwbQC1ZC2hDX4r2rGVc9eo19A7SGNrXwKCKrEEsk96gXRHE6VjGyFfrIm7vFxe-S3j9ZHN777VL4S0XN64bfox5AZIDNcENUGW_zXvg0QbRgwgZ_12yp2MS25nUwKbJR1eplkVJ/s400/HPIM1253.JPG" title="Mrs.PJ @ Rendered and Renewed bloggspot" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boo!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
This past Sunday the baby was sleeping between Mr.PJ and myself. She is nine months and trying to talk a little, not doing more than "mamamama" and "dadadada". Anyway, I was watching her wake up and she smiled with recognition when she saw me and her daddy. Then she sat up and saw the dog at the foot of the bed. She let out a gasp and said, "A puppy!" It was too darn cute.<br /><br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8gcp8-gxi9UNp7bHHfZzNTzYqrJYsXDmbXxNst4ZcnzjBhMMPO9H0mexFtDZmIGRgRScC6YsjijUaRoVsHa_hnubxXkH_L6wsnFaZxV-EzUDVZH6GtuKMr1TuIaEIM00kjIqdLC3JooM/s1600/HPIM1266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="copyright 2013- FOREVER Mrs.PJ" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8gcp8-gxi9UNp7bHHfZzNTzYqrJYsXDmbXxNst4ZcnzjBhMMPO9H0mexFtDZmIGRgRScC6YsjijUaRoVsHa_hnubxXkH_L6wsnFaZxV-EzUDVZH6GtuKMr1TuIaEIM00kjIqdLC3JooM/s400/HPIM1266.JPG" title="http://renderedandrenewed.blogspot.com/" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretending to be a jackrabbit.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On a completely different note, you might want to know that I have added a new <a href="http://renderedandrenewed.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_18.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Frequently Asked Questions</span></a> page to the Sharing is Caring section on the left over there. Hopefully that will clear up a few questions people have asked. I don't get tons of free time to work on the old blog since I am a working momma, so I do appreciate your feedback and support. How can you support this blog? Super easy, just share links with your friends by e-mail or on your facebook page. If you have two seconds to click on the squares below it would be much appreciated.<br />
<div>
<br />
Take care,</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mrs.PJ</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a alt="Christian blogs" href="http://faithfulbloggers.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://faithfulbloggers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/125X125-2.png" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" target="_blank" title="popular mommy bloggers"><img alt="Vote For Us @ Top Mommy Blogs" border="0" height="150" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images/banners/150-tmb.gif" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="http://picketfenceblogs.com/vote/9707" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://picketfenceblogs.com/button/standard/9707" /></a></span></div>
<center>
</center>
Mrs.PJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946039727492035033noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649273721120377128.post-73108364675709701152013-05-19T11:31:00.000-07:002013-05-19T12:00:48.940-07:00In this moment VIThis is the final post in this series. If you would like to read the others here are the links:<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="http://renderedandrenewed.blogspot.com/2013/04/in-this-moment-i.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">In this moment I</span></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="http://renderedandrenewed.blogspot.com/2013/04/in-this-moment-ii.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">In this moment II</span></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="http://renderedandrenewed.blogspot.com/2013/04/in-this-moment-iii.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">In this moment III</span></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="http://renderedandrenewed.blogspot.com/2013/04/in-this-moment-iv.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">In this moment IV</span></a><br />
<a href="http://renderedandrenewed.blogspot.com/2013/05/in-this-moment-v.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">In this moment V</span></a><br />
<br />
Sometimes the prayer I need to say the most is the one that is the hardest. Somedays I find myself questioning Gods motives. Somedays I doubt myself and worry that I'm not cut out to be a mommy or teach. Sometimes I look at everything going on around me and I just want to ask God why? The most challenging part of having faith in God is having it on the bad days too. On the days when it appears everything is going wrong, everyone is crabby and miserable, and it appears that chaos reigns.<br />
<br />
On those days, when the moment of silence comes in the morning I am tempted to ask God, "What the f*ck is going on? How am I supposed to be a good mom when I have to work? How the hell am I supposed to be a good teacher when these kids come to me from these totally screwed up situations? How am I supposed to be a good spouse when my husband is so difficult to talk to? How can I be a good friend when I have no free time? Why is the world so crazy sometimes?" It is not my place to question God. I know in my heart that even when it seems like there is no plan, that that is when I need to have faith the most. God will provide.<br />
<br />
That prayer that I mentioned, the hardest one to say. It is not a prayer that questions or begs. It is a prayer of thanks. When I am frustrated and stressed out a prayer of thanksgiving can be the most difficult to say, but it the type of prayer that helps me get right with God and get ready for the day. After reading some of the other posts in this series you might wonder what there is to be thankful for. Everything.<br />
<br />
I am thankful for my partner and spouse, help me to show him that. I am thankful for our amazing children, let me be the best mommy to them that I can. Thank you Lord for providing me the opportunity to work so that I can contribute to our household and be a good model for my children. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to work with students who will benefit from the work I do. Thank you for providing this school. Thank you for guiding all of us and thank you for the many blessings you bestow.<br />
<br />
There are so many blessings to be thankful for. Often the students that push me the hardest are the ones that come back later on to tell me how much of a difference I made in their lives. Students who acted out come back and apologize and thank me for teaching. I take their testimony as evidence that God does have a plan for us all, even if we can't see it right away. A teenage mother comes back two years after graduating to tell me she is working and in college, "It was only with the love and support of my Grandparents and the Grace of God that I have made it to where I am." A teenage father (not related to her) comes back after graduation to tell me he has finished his associates degree and is going to college. Thank you Lord for getting him there. A student that was arrested his Junior year comes back to tell me he finished his GED and is going to barber school.<br />
<br />
My husband doing the dishes, my son making it to the potty, my sister getting a job, finding a great new resource to teach with, my daughters smile, the students who work hard without a struggle, the opportunity to serve. There are countless things to be thankful for. Sometimes when I find myself downtrodden, the best thing I can do is remember all I have to be thankful for and demonstrate my gratitude by saying a prayer of Thanks. It helps me to remember there is a plan and get my mind right.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that which is good and acceptable and perfect.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Romans 12:2</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Thanks be to God,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mrs.PJ</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a alt="Christian blogs" href="http://faithfulbloggers.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://faithfulbloggers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/125X125-2.png" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" target="_blank" title="popular mommy bloggers"><img alt="Vote For Us @ Top Mommy Blogs" border="0" height="150" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images/banners/150-tmb.gif" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="http://picketfenceblogs.com/vote/9707" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://picketfenceblogs.com/button/standard/9707" /></a></span></div>
<center>
</center>
Mrs.PJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946039727492035033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649273721120377128.post-70718894470693177252013-05-12T14:49:00.001-07:002013-05-12T14:49:28.578-07:00You know you are grocery shopping with a toddler when......- You speed through the parking lot to flag down a bag boy collecting carts, screaming out the window, 'Hey, excuse me sir! I will take that cart! Yes<i> that</i> cart right there." Which cart could be so special?<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFU6eED2khhaHvKO-WIU0aV4ef-GIPdOJV7bxz9rtkWL0CgebwyhgQzccBA3-yttK-J9kLJz9iMq6-8yQsmrZOAJmVgoaWwXAONN4fbZ6Im6tQpo0UvW_7vBVeo9b6pclRAqA8BUBXFWv2/s1600/12758_stupid_shopping_cart_580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFU6eED2khhaHvKO-WIU0aV4ef-GIPdOJV7bxz9rtkWL0CgebwyhgQzccBA3-yttK-J9kLJz9iMq6-8yQsmrZOAJmVgoaWwXAONN4fbZ6Im6tQpo0UvW_7vBVeo9b6pclRAqA8BUBXFWv2/s320/12758_stupid_shopping_cart_580.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep, that's the one.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
- Your trip is slowed down by random, well meaning people who have to come introduce themselves to your kids and try to initiate a conversation with your three year old. Yes he likes to help shop. No he will not be the one making dinner, but he can help. No we will not be stocking up on cookies, and I don't appreciate you telling my kid this is where cookies come from. Thanks.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
- You can barely navigate your extended cab car cart around the store because it is so crowded. That is until you accidently knock over an entire display of air fresheners, then everyone else disappears. The toddler declares, "You made a <i>big</i> mess Mommy!" After being momentarily frozen in shock / embarrassment you decide to have a contest to see who can pick it up the fastest. I swear there was 100 cans of aerosol spray and 75 car fresheners on the floor. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
- You have to explain to the cashier why you have items in our cart that you did not pick up. They are there because your helper helped himself to a few cans of ravioli and surprise surprise, cookies. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
- You are physically exhausted after pushing a jumbo car cart loaded down with groceries all over the store and through the parking lot. You happened to be wearing the baby, so that is another 18lbs of wight lifting. By the time you get home you just want a nap, but you still have to put up all of the groceries. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
-You kind of wish your grocery store offered a service where you could just shop online and have every thing delivered.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Happy shopping,</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mrs.PJ</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
Happy Mothers Day to mommas everywhere. You can support this Momma's blog by clicking below.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" target="_blank" title="Best Mommy Blogs"><img alt="Visit Top Mommy Blogs To Vote For Me!" border="0" height="50" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images/banners/tmb-200x50_vote_banner.gif" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="http://picketfenceblogs.com/vote/9707" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://picketfenceblogs.com/button/half/9707" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
Mrs.PJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946039727492035033noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649273721120377128.post-38261640599033630172013-05-03T21:31:00.000-07:002015-11-30T19:58:13.561-08:00My United States of Geography<div class="visually_embed" data-category="History" rel="infographic">
and now for a little fun and geekery.......<br />
<img alt="The Names Behind The States" class="visually_embed_infographic" src="http://thumbnails.visually.netdna-cdn.com/the-names-behind-the-states_517b41b0038f1_w587.png" rel="http://thumbnails.visually.netdna-cdn.com/the-names-behind-the-states_517b41b0038f1.png" />
<br />
<div class="visually_embed_bar">
<span class="visually_embed_cycle"><a href="http://visual.ly/names-behind-states/?utm_source=visually_embed">The Names Behind The States infographic</a> by <a href="http://alfonsomoreno.net/?utm_source=visually_embed" target="_blank">Fonx</a>. </span>
<br />
<span class="visually_embed_cycle"><br /></span>
<span class="visually_embed_cycle"><br /></span>
<span class="visually_embed_cycle">I adore geography. Interesting graphic huh? So did you learn anything? </span><br />
<span class="visually_embed_cycle"><br /></span>
<span class="visually_embed_cycle">Take care,</span><br />
<span class="visually_embed_cycle" style="font-size: large;">Mrs.PJ</span><br />
<span class="visually_embed_cycle" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="visually_embed_cycle" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<a href="http://visual.ly/names-behind-states?utm_source=visually_embed" id="visually_embed_view_more" target="_blank"></a>
<link href="http://visual.ly/embeder/style.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"></link>
<script src="http://visual.ly/embeder/embed.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
</div>
Thanks for reading! Don't forget to comment, subscribe, like us, and click on the links to vote.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" target="_blank" title="Best Mommy Blogs"><img alt="Visit Top Mommy Blogs To Vote For Me!" border="0" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images/banners/tmb-200x50_vote_banner.gif" height="50" width="200" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://picketfenceblogs.com/vote/9707" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://picketfenceblogs.com/button/half/9707" /></a></div>
Mrs.PJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946039727492035033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649273721120377128.post-36181591248038696712013-05-02T19:46:00.000-07:002013-05-02T19:46:10.568-07:00Already This Saturday marks nine months since our little girl was born. That means she has been out of the belly longer than she was in. Already. Really. She is standing on her own and will be taking her first steps any day now. Already. She is eating squishy food and trying to talk. She recognizes her name, is doing a super fast crawl and is chasing all of us around the house. Already. She has outgrown the baby whale tub and is bathing in the big tub (in about three inches of water). Already. She loves it and I can tell she will be outgrowing her rear facing car seat soon. Already.<br />
They say time flies when you are having fun. They aren't kidding. Days and months disappear so quickly that I find myself writing the wrong date more and more. It is not just the little girl. Our son is telling us stories about his day and pretending to read his books. He wants to help with dishes and laundry and dinner. This year is just disappearing so fast. It is almost the end of the school year already. It is almost the weekend already. Wait, it is almost 10:00pm already. Good God where does the time go?Mrs.PJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946039727492035033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649273721120377128.post-10306308487602081042013-04-27T17:33:00.000-07:002013-04-27T17:33:52.328-07:00How my son plays house.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuyKCy56IDQD2xvj9Q-4m3HG82iCHwjCt_jG2uzj7zV5gp4XjlPo9C1S-ACwfh-AKejqE29nAnOrhZr1XavFxPYCv2i8osCrzwc64yIEJliWIc3lDEwGXgqvSFl72Ne4YAnn_2dG8vLhr/s1600/IMG_1109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="copywrite Mrs.PJ 2013- FOREVER" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuyKCy56IDQD2xvj9Q-4m3HG82iCHwjCt_jG2uzj7zV5gp4XjlPo9C1S-ACwfh-AKejqE29nAnOrhZr1XavFxPYCv2i8osCrzwc64yIEJliWIc3lDEwGXgqvSFl72Ne4YAnn_2dG8vLhr/s400/IMG_1109.JPG" title="http://renderedandrenewed.blogspot.com/" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mommy Tractor with her little baby lawn mower(?) and baby dump truck.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>steam roller:</i> Oh Mommy you are so big and yellow.<br />
<i>Mommy Tractor:</i> Little lawn mower, you are sooo cute. I love you. And I love you my little baby dump truck.<br />
<i>dump truck:</i> Mommy you have big wheels and you have four wheels.<br />
<i>Mommy Tractor:</i> Get into my big hand baby dump truck. Get in too sister lawn mower. I can pick you up with my big hand and hug you.<br />
<i>dump truck:</i> Aww Mommy, you put us in your big hand and take us for a walk?<br />
<i>Mommy Tractor:</i> Yes baby we will go outside.<br />
<br />
This conversation was voiced entirely by my three year old son while I was putting up laundry in his room. I just had to share this.<br />
<br />
Take care,<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mrs. PJ</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
If you like it, click the little like on FB button below. If you love it and want more, subscribe in the box at the top left. If you want to support it on some blog directories, click the picket fence or beaters. If you have a cute story, add it in the comments. Thank you so very much.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" target="_blank" title="Best Mommy Blogs"><img alt="Visit Top Mommy Blogs To Vote For Me!" border="0" height="50" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images/banners/tmb-200x50_vote_banner.gif" width="200" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://picketfenceblogs.com/vote/9707" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://picketfenceblogs.com/button/half/9707" /></a></div>
Mrs.PJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946039727492035033noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649273721120377128.post-34461324878197731142013-04-21T08:29:00.003-07:002013-04-21T08:29:45.303-07:00Milestones 1. Starting with the youngest, our eight month old baby girl is crawling with her belly off of the floor. She is also pulling up and walking along while holding to furniture. Yesterday she pulled herself up to standing using my leg and then she let go and was standing on her own! So exciting.<br />
2. Our son has been voluntarily brushing his teeth and sitting on the real toilet to poop. I mean without us prompting or nagging, he is getting excited about personal hygiene. This might have something to do with the fact that he has figured out how to make "snakes" with his toothpaste and likes flushing toilet paper. Hey, it doesn't matter what his motivation is, he is doing it. So proud.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHaCRAvlYp8xVbEmMCbeSefPoBIt1WVTpD6LxNHBgnr59dZece9pCeBbGdPwtTfw33fmUQozvDAZWDCY2guh-SIgJSVAPRUFK5Yt-J2F_gqqGmnvzR8fvy6ZsneJIrkAH28zM0xQqjXXw/s1600/IMG_1095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="copywrite Mrs. PJ 2013-FOREVER" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHaCRAvlYp8xVbEmMCbeSefPoBIt1WVTpD6LxNHBgnr59dZece9pCeBbGdPwtTfw33fmUQozvDAZWDCY2guh-SIgJSVAPRUFK5Yt-J2F_gqqGmnvzR8fvy6ZsneJIrkAH28zM0xQqjXXw/s320/IMG_1095.JPG" title="http://renderedandrenewed.blogspot.com/" width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That was a new roll five minutes ago.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
3. The school district I work for has hired me to work on two curriculum projects. I feel honored that I was selected, plus it will help me recoup some of the money I lost when I took a three month maternity leave. Then on Friday my Assistant Principle and the Lead Principle gave me high praise for a study guide I created. So nerdy, I know.<br />
<div>
4. Mr. PJ is making mad progress on the car he is rebuilding in the garage. A few weeks ago it just looked like an empty frame with a couple hundred parts laying around. Now it is starting to look like it might run again one day. So impressive.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Take care,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Mrs.PJ</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Thanks for reading! Don't forget to comment, subscribe, like us, and click on the links to vote.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" target="_blank" title="Best Mommy Blogs"><img alt="Visit Top Mommy Blogs To Vote For Me!" border="0" height="50" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images/banners/tmb-200x50_vote_banner.gif" width="200" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://picketfenceblogs.com/vote/9707" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://picketfenceblogs.com/button/half/9707" /></a></div>
Mrs.PJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946039727492035033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649273721120377128.post-62765048673030536772013-04-13T19:30:00.002-07:002013-04-14T11:18:04.091-07:00You know you share your bathroom with a toddler when ............. you get the play by play on the laundry, "The dirty laundry was this big and now it is this big." He tells me this with his hands clearly exaggerating how tall our laundry pile is.<br />
... every beauty and hygiene product you leave out on the counter gets stacked into a carefully balanced "mountain".<br />
...no matter how hard you scrub the toilet, how long you burn a candle or how much disinfectant you spray, it always smells like someone just peed on the floor.<br />
... the toilet paper roll (that you just replaced) looks like someone unwound the entire roll and then carelessly rolled it back on, creating a giant toilet paper wad that barely turns, because someone did.<br />
... you emerge from a nice warm relaxing shower to be greeted with the double whammy of a tiny ice cold hand slapping you on the bum and then jabbing you in the bely button.<br />
<br />
I might need to start locking the door,<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mrs. PJ</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> Subscribe, Like, Love, Comment, Vote, Peace & Thanks<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory" border="0" height="59" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images//banners/tmb-468x60.gif" width="468" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://picketfenceblogs.com/vote/9707" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://picketfenceblogs.com/button/half/9707" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Mrs.PJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946039727492035033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649273721120377128.post-69136443904919404392013-04-11T19:12:00.000-07:002013-04-11T19:12:11.965-07:00Show and Tell<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">How to change a wriggly toddler:
</span><br />
1. Lay toddler on floor and sit at a 90 degree angle facing him or her.<br />
2. Use your leg to pin toddlers upper body and arms. There has to be some kind of wrestling term for this maneuver, I just don't know what it is. If you don't want to pin their arms you can hand them a toy or a book and hope they don't throw it back at you. Then pin their body.<br />
3. Fold your other leg under you, sing a song to distract them and quickly change the offending diaper.<br />
4. Release your toddler.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzSkaL71TPiGJQpGhKRv3bzEeTC9zN9j3YGn_rQVL3rwTVgpA_i7wEcr_tQmXHvHsuZZr7CdlPO1wiWhj2wx_PhEQaC__vWssrOuY2hPAJbGVcFoZ2GhrkQQSxsUtfJH4O2ut1VP5DFIo/s1600/IMG_1067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="copywrite Rendered & Renewed Mrs.PJ 2013- FOREVER" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzSkaL71TPiGJQpGhKRv3bzEeTC9zN9j3YGn_rQVL3rwTVgpA_i7wEcr_tQmXHvHsuZZr7CdlPO1wiWhj2wx_PhEQaC__vWssrOuY2hPAJbGVcFoZ2GhrkQQSxsUtfJH4O2ut1VP5DFIo/s400/IMG_1067.JPG" title="http://renderedandrenewed.blogspot.com/" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">Don't let that tiny baby head confuse you, the toddler is behind the Dr. Suess book.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The demonstration photo above looks a little confusing, but this technique really works, trust me. I witnessed a good friend of mine changing her little man this way and asked if I could share it with you. Our tot is in undies most of the time now, but I will definitely be using this when little miss PJ gets big enough to fight back. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">How to break in a new glove:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1. Buy your new softball or baseball glove and make sure the person using it can fit their hand into it before you bring it home. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2. Slather that crisp glove with vitamin E oil. Yes, the same vitamin E oil you used on your post pregnancy stretch marks. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
3. Now coat that thing with lanolin, rubbing it into every crook, seam and cranny. Yes, the same lanolin you use on breast feeding nipples. Trust me, I know what I'm talking about. This stuff is good for your glove. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
4. Put the ball you will be using in the pocket of the glove and wrap that thing like a christmas present. Wrap a hand towel or handkerchief around the ball and glove, tie with twine, and then toss the whole ensemble into a pillow case and tie that off. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
5. Throw that thing into the dryer with a load of wet laundry. The heat will work the oil and lanolin into the leather, the tumbling action will beat the stiffness out, and the humidity from the laundry will prevent your glove from getting to dry. The pillow case and towel layers around the glove protect your glove. You will see a noticeable difference in the play of your glove, but you can repeat steps 2-5 as needed.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">How to wear your baby:</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9h_uX64uxICkCADsUt-BYvYYYorSiD_iqjYUbNOKqwBhnIREoPHj0-7a7Ibr3hpXCVMICq6nijo9H9F040ZyLUnvOHTN_Mgp4XuDAvn05xHAOToVJ3YfPIYxV3wb-G9Y-AK-yxb32vbB/s1600/IMG_1066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="copywrite Mrs.PJ 2013- FOREVER" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9h_uX64uxICkCADsUt-BYvYYYorSiD_iqjYUbNOKqwBhnIREoPHj0-7a7Ibr3hpXCVMICq6nijo9H9F040ZyLUnvOHTN_Mgp4XuDAvn05xHAOToVJ3YfPIYxV3wb-G9Y-AK-yxb32vbB/s400/IMG_1066.JPG" title="http://renderedandrenewed.blogspot.com/" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wish I could carry her to work like this.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1. Find a baby wearing support group like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/bayareababywearers/" target="_blank">Bay Area Baby Wearers</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2. Check out the great guides at <a href="http://www.becomingmamas.com/babywearing/" target="_blank">Becoming Mommas</a> or <a href="http://www.sleepingbaby.net/index.php" target="_blank">Sleeping Baby Productions</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
3. Enjoy snuggling with your baby and having your hands free!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Remember I share because I care. Nobody is paying me to, <a href="http://renderedandrenewed.blogspot.com/p/fyi.html" target="_blank">FYI</a>. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Take care,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mrs. PJ</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://picketfenceblogs.com/vote/9707" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://picketfenceblogs.com/button/half/9707" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory" border="0" height="59" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images//banners/tmb-468x60.gif" width="468" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Mrs.PJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946039727492035033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649273721120377128.post-39185849006720711792013-04-10T08:33:00.000-07:002013-04-10T12:28:00.636-07:00Money is dirtySeriously people, money is filthy. I don't mean in a hippie dippie socialist let's go back to bartering way. I mean money carries a lot of germs. Why is that you might ask? Basically because toddlers and other gross people handle it. Let me explain. Our house should be under quarantine right now because the little dude and I have a bad stomach virus. Apparently it is very contagious because lots of people we know have had it. How bad could it be you ask? Every time the poor little dude passed gas yesterday we had to change his underwear. So he was wearing just his underwear and a t-shirt for most of the day. At one point he walks through the room and quarters start falling out of his undies. They were coming out of the leg hole every time he took a step. It was like we won the jackpot at a toddler casino. He had been going through his easter basket and found the quarters in some of the plastic eggs. He explained that he put them in his "pocket"(the flap on the front of his undies). So these quarters were jingling around in what is probably the most germ contaminated spot in our house. Where are those quarters now? Who knows. They are probably in a piggy bank, waiting to release their evil stomach bug germs on the next unsuspecting victim. It reminds me of when I used to work in retail and people would use the waistband of their spandex bike shorts or their bra as a wallet. It is pretty gross being handed cash soaking wet with sweat. Remember when you were a child and your classmates carried their lunch money in their shoes? Bottom line, money is dirty, so wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after you handle cash. Don't try to blame it on my toddler either.<br />
<br />
Don't forget to wash those hands,
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mrs.PJ</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
Thanks for reading! Don't forget to comment, subscribe, like us, and click on the links to vote.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/" target="_blank" title="Best Mommy Blogs"><img alt="Visit Top Mommy Blogs To Vote For Me!" border="0" height="50" src="http://www.topmommyblogs.com/directory/images/banners/tmb-200x50_vote_banner.gif" width="200" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://picketfenceblogs.com/vote/9707" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://picketfenceblogs.com/button/half/9707" /></a></div>
Mrs.PJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946039727492035033noreply@blogger.com0