Before we moved to Texas, we lived in Boston. My Mom and sister still live there. The fact of life in such an old town is that MOST homes are really old. When my BIL took down their shutters years ago, they were made with asbestos. He had to make sure he wore a mask the whole time that was approved to filter out asbestos. And he wore gloves. Honestly, if I were you, I'd look into someone who is an asbestos removal expert. It won't be cheap, but safety is KEY when dealing with that stuff.
I went to the early voting center last week, so my civic duty is DONE! Now, I don't plan on even looking at the TV until it's all done and over with. All the TV babble makes my head hurt!
I think sometimes people lose sight (no pun intended) of the fact that people on TV are still real people, minus the halos and pedestals. My hubs and I watched all season and were so completely thrilled that you won. Truth is none of us at home were standing next to you tasting what you made so we have no room to judge. We left that to the three actual judges and I don't believe for a minute that any of them would have made decisions based on anything other than the merit of the food in front of them. I wish you nothing but happiness, continued success and hopefully better health in the future. Oh and maybe I hold a secret hope that I can taste your food for myself someday!
I'll be your free assistant if all four of us can come and live with you for free :)
Obsessing over: Toys for the kids for Christmas. It's beginning to look like "the list of things Mom would totally play with"
Working on: Work :) Trying to close out a project that I should have been done with back in July but keeps haunting me.
Thinking about: Finding a sewing project. Haven't pulled the machine out in ages
Anticipating: Halloween! And my birthday. Both are not that far off
Listening to: "Survival" by Muse...because I can't stop
Drinking: Hot peppermint tea
Wishing: It was 3:30 so I could go home!
Wow, it looks like R. really knows how to enjoy dessert! I had a stomach bug all weekend (BOO) but the kids tucked me into bed so I could rest and they read me stories, which is cool!
I understand that you are torn. Honestly I never watermark any of my photos, with kids or without because I feel like it distracts from the photo. I know that sounds ridiculous. Also, people can find ways to work around them. The only real way to make the photo "less desirable to steal" is to put the watermark in a place that basically screws up the integrity of the picture, which is smack in the middle. I realize there is no way I can prevent someone who wants the shot bad enough from stealing it. I try to use Flickr whenever possible because the site bars you from saving images that you view. I'm always paranoid about my kids safety, but I've yet to have any creepy experiences, so for now, I'm OK with the pictures I share.
Your little garden box grew SO nicely! My experience could be called "101 tragic gardening lessons I learned". First, I learned the hard way that some veggies are NOT good to plant in the spring in Texas. Then I had to pull them out and replant ones that ARE summer veggies here. Then some ick got to my summer squash. The a torrential rain tore the leaves off my hot peppers :( My tomatoes are all greens. My co-worker told me they will likely not fruit until the fall because it's too hot. UGH! The only things that have done well enough to use are my herbs! I made pesto with my fresh basil last week. WOOO!
Dude, I'll get an alpaca if you do :) Me thinks the homeowners association will not be hip to that. Funny, I think chickens are trending because I have no less than 3 friends who own them now, in various settings. My kids would DIE for any animal, but the truth is, we had dogs for 15 years and the kids took the last one's passing SO hard, we aren't mentally prepared for another animal that may or may not live long. I got upset when our last fish died. Of course, if I had it my way, we'd have horses and cows and ducks an alpacas...and a farmer to help me take care of them!
Hooray for baby Felicity :) And WOO HOO for you for going to BlogHer. I REEEEEALLLY wanted to go this year because it's in NYC and I could have visited a few of my friends and gone to the conference...but it just wasn't in the cards this year with work and all. I've promised myself to make it a mission to go next year.
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Alyssa S. 
Brainchild