tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14247142895927257982024-03-05T17:13:43.321-05:00From Nerdy to ThirtyThis is a blog about my quest to go from geek to chic. I set a goal to change my life by the age of thirty, and I failed. Big time. But now, in my mid-thirties, I've gotten out of my own way, and life is wonderful. I'd like to share the journey that brought me to this place and the adventures and insights of my life today.Katie Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698422114925466547noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424714289592725798.post-86994304648534209842019-12-20T20:52:00.000-05:002019-12-20T20:53:15.714-05:00The Best Homemade Taco Seasoning RecipeDIY Taco seasoning is so easy to make, tastes better than the store bought packets and is healthier to boot! I make a big batch every time we need it and keep it in a canister on the counter. I will post two versions of the recipe if you want to make a small batch (for 1-2 lb of ground beef) or a big batch (8x that). The packets at the store are 2 tablespoons, we use between 1 & 2 tablespoons of this mixture for a pound of meat. Since I make my vegetarian crumbles just for me, i use maybe 2 tsp for my serving.<br />
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<img alt="Image may contain: drink" src="https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/s960x960/79508406_10102127678891248_3215004005713313792_o.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_oc=AQkez67uURCYepqhDDtHMUy-3rEzbmW_r9voo5d0epPwV1G3uONPOD7fJWJN204t4lA&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=166c42bcd494423d2b45bfbb55ab419a&oe=5E793186" /><br />
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DIY Taco Seasoning - Single Portion<br />
1 Tbsp Chili Powder<br />
1 1/2 tsp Ground Cumin<br />
1 tsp Sea Salt<br />
1 tsp Black Pepper<br />
1/2 tsp Paprika<br />
1/4 tsp Garlic Powder<br />
1/4 tsp Onion Powder<br />
1/4 tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes<br />
1/4 tsp Dried Oregano<br />
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DIY Taco Seasoning - 8x Portion<br />
1/2 cup Chili Powder<br />
1/4 cup Ground Cumin<br />
2 tbsp + 2 tsp tsp Sea Salt<br />
2 tbsp + 2 tsp Black Pepper<br />
1 tbsp + 1 tsp Paprika<br />
2 tsp Garlic Powder<br />
2 tsp Onion Powder<br />
2 tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes<br />
2 tsp Dried Oregano<br />
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<br />Katie Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698422114925466547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424714289592725798.post-52058342976370606762018-09-26T13:35:00.003-04:002018-09-26T13:40:28.552-04:00Breastfeeding in PublicJust recently breastfeeding in public became protected under the law in all fifty states. This means a breastfeeding mother may nurse her child anywhere she is legally permitted to be without falling under public indecency laws. It doesn't mean that people can't ask you to move elsewhere, they still can. But you don't have to move anywhere you don't want to go, and you can't be arrested for breastfeeding in public. Some moms prefer to find a private location to feed their kid, or use a cover, pump at home and bottle feed in public, or just whip a boob out whenever it's called for. Any of these are acceptable options, and I'm so pleased to see moms taking advantage of what I've perceived as an increase in breastfeeding normalization in recent years.<br />
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Are you comfortable breastfeeding in public? After five years and three kids, I've nursed more places than you can imagine - every type of venue from churches to parks, restaurants, stores, you name it. I've never had a negative comment, only uplifting ones and a few instances of side eye or awkward attempts to cover me up. But I am happy and comfortable with my method, and in general people are so self-absorbed, they don't even notice I'm feeding my kid or think he's asleep in my arms.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-9/42698760_571496889973253_6086513874465456128_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&oh=3c7355d6cb1c4fe092f6ad363f99f451&oe=5C5AC51B" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="482" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breastfeeding in Public wearing an Undercover Mama <a href="https://undercovermama.com/collections/tanks/products/uc-mama-lace-trim-tank" target="_blank">Lace Trim Strapless Tank</a></td></tr>
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The way I choose to breastfeeding in public is uncovered, but still relatively discrete. I just lift my shirt and feed the baby under it. I'm large chested, so my boobs are pretty low and the baby rests on my crossed legs. It's not the most ergonomic position but it works. It is a variation on the "two shirt" method, which allows you to have one layer on to cover your torso while the other layer covers you up top. you pull the bottom layer down (unlatch or lift your bra, depending on the style) and then lift the top shirt up - creating a sort of eyelid look with your boob as the eyeball :D<br />
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There are shelf bra nursing camisoles available to wear as the bottom layer that allow you to forgo a bra altogether. But with my large chest, those don't really work for me. So I love the new Undercover Mama <a href="https://undercovermama.com/products/uc-mama-tank" target="_blank">strapless tank</a> that attaches to any bra, essentially converting it to a nursing tank. They are really long, and I love the <a href="https://undercovermama.com/collections/tanks/products/uc-mama-lace-trim-tank" target="_blank">lace detail on the bottom of the one I selected</a> to try out courtesy of <a href="https://undercovermama.com/" target="_blank">Undercover Mama</a>. I've found that shirts seem too short on me after having kids, so the extra length is welcome and it is snug and smooths out some of those postpartum lumps and bumps.<br />
<img alt="Lace Trim Strapless Tank" height="640" src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2302/0247/products/UMhangtag_e3ab1ec5-17ec-4ca2-a014-0409478adea6_2048x.jpg?v=1515450554" width="361" /><br />
Undercover Mama has a great line of comfy and cute nursing tops and dresses as well, <a href="https://undercovermama.com/" target="_blank">check em out</a>!<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">[A promotional product was provided for review]</span>Katie Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698422114925466547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424714289592725798.post-48013833428814507202018-07-20T11:45:00.002-04:002018-07-20T11:46:50.508-04:00A New Natural RemedyI love natural alternatives to medicines. I was recently given samples of a new product that delivers the same natural treatments I like to use orally in a simple patch format! <a href="https://www.drloosnaturalremedies.com/" target="_blank">Dr. Loo's Harmony Patches</a> are a unique alternative to essential oils, gripe water, etc. The patches are designed for babies, kids, and adults to treat tummy troubles/colic as well as colds and allergies. My biggest complaint with oral medicines is that they are difficult to administer and usually contain sugar, dyes, or other unwanted filler ingredients. These patches provide similar active ingredients in a transdermal application. The adhesive is less sticky than a bandaid - it didn't irritate my skin like many adhesives do. And yes, I tested the adult versions on myself before using on the baby! So simple to use in the middle of the night for a fussy baby! They seemed to help Tom when he had a stomach bug, and I've currently got the Cough, Cold & Allergies one on my chest hoping to ward off what feels like a cold coming on. Check out the full line of products <a href="https://www.drloosnaturalremedies.com/" target="_blank">here</a>!<br />
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Katie Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698422114925466547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424714289592725798.post-45391640266392562932018-06-03T14:44:00.002-04:002018-06-03T14:44:49.880-04:00Homeschool ResourceWith summer here, it is important to keep kids' minds active to prevent the "summer slide" that means children forget what they learned during the previous academic year. My kids are in preschool year-round, but our homeschool co-op does not meet during the summer. I am also hoping to do a more formal curriculum with my older son this year since he will be in Pre-K. I love printing off worksheets and activities I find on pinterest and by googling the themes we are studying. One site that is a great resource is <a href="http://education.com/">Education.com</a>. My Kiddo enjoyed this maze off their site. I think I need to find him some trickier ones though!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwFStxKI45IFAg5oKr-3noEhUZYFPFG0-ZZQ8lA6M_X4hoJNB9r0d3xs6WVFGKOyDX65DTDacCwPPEP9TFcMfIn9hiKiedNHzljnaJAjwTfjiJTpIENLUvIdXoLTGsfDZsvApUu047xg/s1600/34338851_10101615344243988_7511562123240013824_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="896" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwFStxKI45IFAg5oKr-3noEhUZYFPFG0-ZZQ8lA6M_X4hoJNB9r0d3xs6WVFGKOyDX65DTDacCwPPEP9TFcMfIn9hiKiedNHzljnaJAjwTfjiJTpIENLUvIdXoLTGsfDZsvApUu047xg/s320/34338851_10101615344243988_7511562123240013824_n.jpg" width="179" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndimAP9ZUsezgatK_huawbZI-lPUXIL4xDI4huVSMXGyqH2XimJeRB6-l92s35LYkvh1RS3NsCJLYAU2AmeACyiqvSA-xYPL7AX65GGIp1VrtISndC92XhgWLkDuW0GVKv_kUZ-VIjig/s1600/34485954_10101615313570458_3892530419437928448_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="896" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndimAP9ZUsezgatK_huawbZI-lPUXIL4xDI4huVSMXGyqH2XimJeRB6-l92s35LYkvh1RS3NsCJLYAU2AmeACyiqvSA-xYPL7AX65GGIp1VrtISndC92XhgWLkDuW0GVKv_kUZ-VIjig/s320/34485954_10101615313570458_3892530419437928448_n.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Get those fine motor skill ready for spring with this fun maze! Be sure to check out Education.com for more </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.education.com/resources/math/&source=gmail&ust=1528137394268000&usg=AFQjCNEwCqTDSU1MfzfFv4htdDNYcuO1DA" href="https://www.education.com/resources/math/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">learning fun.</a>Katie Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698422114925466547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424714289592725798.post-12122876030007954222018-02-04T17:28:00.000-05:002018-02-04T17:34:43.593-05:00Cabin for Vacation Rental and Homebirths<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaWmxmpZgyy93Znga8583NJjyTan4oYT8l1cygGLuIl6T797xhauJMrLETSKWRb0d_LgcWtZCT5lOLiGINNr7DT8kSgh-ppviDz5I1MaWOyomPUtR7frHRIAme9xArQZd76mtgM1OWIY/s1600/13041129_1693172500950811_2739186111062114535_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="1140" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaWmxmpZgyy93Znga8583NJjyTan4oYT8l1cygGLuIl6T797xhauJMrLETSKWRb0d_LgcWtZCT5lOLiGINNr7DT8kSgh-ppviDz5I1MaWOyomPUtR7frHRIAme9xArQZd76mtgM1OWIY/s200/13041129_1693172500950811_2739186111062114535_o.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNo7eGB3ocbf8jeXEOR32MZ_Nu9lVeYfQp-fyZA0MFMmv7xfHJtlWL8YOhOKQxa3FujfTSv2IJSpuvM3HkJi31dyjafnuRaqAttkPonQlqiWq1S-FJn-U29jzfAUT0eXal_LSgFMN51kg/s1600/20180124_132708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNo7eGB3ocbf8jeXEOR32MZ_Nu9lVeYfQp-fyZA0MFMmv7xfHJtlWL8YOhOKQxa3FujfTSv2IJSpuvM3HkJi31dyjafnuRaqAttkPonQlqiWq1S-FJn-U29jzfAUT0eXal_LSgFMN51kg/s320/20180124_132708.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
We have a small, rustic cabin on our property (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/LazyDuckRanch/" target="_blank">The Lazy Duck Ranch</a>) in Pulaski, TN that is available for short term (vacation) rentals and for home births. If you are from out of state and using one of the wonderful midwives in Tennessee, reserve our cabin and enjoy the comforts and quiet it has to offer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxI0uzzg5Oe1Xa8BFMbjecKLTj8wUj_imdubLc435mYQ9z15CNDAZjjILtPpBJc4WmRwG1rULwyA6FIDw-FfWkFh02mNW_OW4eZB7J7PIBp48WXq6JYtw4urkrk9Lgg_kYVstGZNilHU/s1600/10572197_10204582773024922_2592453458909199156_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="229" data-original-width="988" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxI0uzzg5Oe1Xa8BFMbjecKLTj8wUj_imdubLc435mYQ9z15CNDAZjjILtPpBJc4WmRwG1rULwyA6FIDw-FfWkFh02mNW_OW4eZB7J7PIBp48WXq6JYtw4urkrk9Lgg_kYVstGZNilHU/s640/10572197_10204582773024922_2592453458909199156_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b>Amenities include:</b><br />
- Queen size wrought iron bed with bedding<br />
- Desk and Table with plenty of seating for your family or birth team<br />
- Bathroom with shower stall, sink, and toilet, with dedicated hot water heater and linens and toiletries provided<br />
- Window A/C units and space heaters<br />
- Back deck (perfect for a birthing tub) and front porch of the cabin<br />
- View of the pond and wooded property from the back deck, as well as the resident horse, donkey, goose, ducks and chickens, dogs and cats who wander the property.<br />
- Mini-fridge and coffee maker<br />
- High Speed WiFi<br />
- Pack n Play available<br />
- Access to the kitchen in the main home negotiable<br />
- Optional birth kit packages available (bed pads, antibacterial soaps, etc)<br />
- Pets may be allowed on a case-by-case basis.<br />
- No Smoking<br />
- The cabin is three rooms (a woodshop and an office share the space) but your privacy would be guaranteed for the duration of your stay.<br />
- Parked fifth wheel on property has also been converted to guest space, but is still under renovation though can provide extra sleeping space if needed.<br />
- Located about 10 minutes from the Pulaski, TN historic town square, 10 minutes from STRHS Pulaski Hospital, 15 minutes from Walmart, and about 10-15 minutes from Exits 14 or 22 on I-65 (about halfway between Huntsville and Nashville, about an hour from either)<br />
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- $50/night for reserved vacation stays with 2 week notice. $400 for homebirth reservation based on due date availability, dates surrounding your due date will be held.<br />
- CONTACT <a href="mailto:tomandkatie@thewhitfields.me">tomandkatie@thewhitfields.me</a> for more information!<br />
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Katie Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698422114925466547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424714289592725798.post-52420943638517790792017-02-16T19:55:00.003-05:002017-02-17T13:12:23.148-05:00A Font Nerd's Favorite Fonts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have long had an interest in fonts and typography. When I was a kid, Iwould examine the letterpress type blocks in my mom's printer's box displayed on the wall. My mom did keyline paste-up, and I enjoyed playing around with Print Shop on our Commodore 64. Working at the college newspaper, I began to develop an appreciation for the use of different typefaces, the use of good kerning, and design.<br />
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Nowadays you can easily access tens of thousands of fonts on sites such as <a href="http://dafont.com/">dafont.com</a>. These fonts are typically free for personal use, with myriad more available for purchase. Finding just the right font for a project can be challenging. I began a document showing my favorite fonts for doing chalkboards for kids' birthdays so I could easily recall their names. When I started doing projects on my Silhouette Cameo, the list began to grow. And grow... and grow. I re-sorted it to be grouped by font type so I could compare like fonts when envisioning a project layout. I also discovered the website <a href="http://wordmark.it/">wordmark.it</a>, which allows you to visualize any phrase in all the fonts installed on your computer<br />
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Please feel free to download and print the list for your own reference! Just Google the font name to download it to your computer! I will continue to update it as I find new favorite fonts. <b><br /><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/51e4f0kjr5ptfpb/fonts%20sorted.pdf?dl=0" target="_blank"><br /></a></b><br />
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<b><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/51e4f0kjr5ptfpb/fonts%20sorted.pdf?dl=0" target="_blank">DOWNLOAD PDF BY CLICKING HERE</a></b><br />
<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/5q3m0rq356dkfmf/fonts%20sorted.docx?dl=0" target="_blank"><b>DOWNLOAD EDITABLE WORD DOC BY CLICKING HERE</b></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">last updated 2.16.17</span></div>
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Katie Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698422114925466547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424714289592725798.post-29698341636388713562017-01-27T09:00:00.000-05:002017-01-29T10:05:23.309-05:00Introduction to Couponing<span id="docs-internal-guid-17efe68d-e037-7c46-920c-50c43fdacd4c"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-17efe68d-e037-7c46-920c-50c43fdacd4c"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So you want to be an Extreme Couponer?</span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-17efe68d-e037-7c46-920c-50c43fdacd4c"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Welp, I hate to break it to you, but the days of getting a shopping cart full of groceries for next to nothing have come and gone. The manufacturers and retailers have caught on and don’t offer nearly as many sales in conjunction with coupons as they used to. BUT that doesn’t mean you can’t save money at the register, cutting your grocery bill in half! There is a big learning curve with couponing, but before long you’ll get the hang of it! And believe it or not, you can save money not only on junk food, but on healthy food, produce, foods for dietary restrictions, etc.!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Couponing Basics</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE! ***The best way to save money is to not spend it.***</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> A couponing deal is only a deal if you want the product you got a deal on. Free items, or items that you buy for the overage can be donated if it’s not something you’ll use (tax write-off!). But chasing a deal uses time, gas, printer ink, etc. So don't waste precious resources on junk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Before you begin couponing, </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">create a junk email address</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to use when signing up for things. I wish I had done this!!! You can also use an email masking browser extension like </span><a href="https://dnt.abine.com/#dashboard" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blur</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but then the emails will still come to your primary address – it just makes opting out easier in the event your email gets distributed beyond the initial site. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each chain of stores has different policies for coupons. </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get to know the stores’ coupon policies</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (bookmark them even!), and stand up for yourself at the register. Ultimately it’s the store’s discretion, but if you rattle off their policy to them, typically they’ll honor it “just this once.” Sign up for stores’ loyalty cards to get the advertised savings, and download their apps to your phone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rules and Etiquette</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Photocopying coupons is illegal!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If someone is behind you with a few items, and you’re about to begin a huge coupon transaction, you might suggest they choose a different register, or offer they go ahead of you. Couponing can take a long time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Clearing shelves is frowned upon -- leave some deals for others. You can also call ahead and have your store order you the bulk quantity of an item if you know in advance</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you aren’t going to use a coupon, you might want to leave it on the shelf near the product. People who do this are known as “coupon fairies” I’ve spotted one at the Kroger in Lawrenceburg! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coupons have expiration dates! Most places will not accept expired coupons. You can, however, </span><a href="https://www.supportourtroops.org/troopons" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">donate</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> non-print-at-home coupons to military commissaries, where they can be used for 6 months past their expiration date. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learn to Compare Unit Pricing</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Always look at the quantity of something you’re getting for the price. Sometimes buying the store brand is less expensive, but sometimes the name brand is on sale for less. [CAVEAT – Sometimes you get what you pay for, and buying the name brand means a superior quality. Sometimes that matters, sometimes it doesn’t. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LIFE IS TOO SHORT FOR SINGLE-PLY TOILET PAPER</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">] Sometimes buying in bulk can save you money, sometimes, with sales and coupons, smaller volumes might be more valuable. Calculate the price per unit (ounces, piece, etc.) to find the best value. You calculate the unit cost by dividing the cost by the number of units (pounds, pieces, ounces, etc.).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Example</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Let’s say you’re looking at diapers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">162 count box is $36.99 – ($36.99/162 = </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">22.83 cents per diaper</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">32 count pack is on sale for $7.99 – ($7.99/32 =</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 25 cents per diaper</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your better bet in this case is the bigger bulk package. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But you have a $2 off coupon good for any size package!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">162 count box with coupon is $34.99 – ($34.99/162 = </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">21.6 cents per diaper</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">32 count pack with coupon is $5.99 – ($5.99/32 = </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">18.7 cents per diaper</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With your coupon, the smaller pack is a better deal! That is assuming you can stock up at that price and don’t run out of diapers in the middle of the night, having to run out to the local Quick-E-Mart where diapers are $99 for 3.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Manufacturer Coupons vs. Store Coupons vs. Rebate</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the coupon it will say “Manufacturer Coupon” or “Store Coupon.” </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Manufacturer Coupons</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> may be used at any store that accepts coupons (even if a different store’s logo is shown on the coupon). The store will be reimbursed by the Manufacturer for the value of the coupon. You can only use one manufacturer coupon per item, but may use multiple coupons on multiple items. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Store coupons</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> are only valid at the store listed. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rebates</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> are applied for after the purchase has been made, either online, through the mail, or using phone apps. You will then be reimbursed after the rebate is verified. I try not to chase deals that rely heavily on rebates because I know I am unreliable about filing them. I look at them as a little perk, but some folks really successfully take advantage of them. All three, when available, can USUALLY be combined, or “</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">stacked</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” for greater savings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stock Up!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stockpiling</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> when you see a bargain is wonderful. Part of the learning curve of couponing is knowing when something is a good deal.The rule of thumb is:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Retail Price</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">no discount</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">buy if you must.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Buy Price</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">30%-50% off with sales and/or coupons</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">get it if you need it, but only what you need right then</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stock Up Price</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">50% off or more using sales and coupons</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">get as much as you can get (or as much as you’ll use) at that price</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some retailers mark up the retail price of products more than others, so it’s important to have an idea of what constitutes a great deal at the bottom line, not just % off. Carrying a </span><a href="http://www.passionforsavings.com/content/uploads/2015/02/Stockpiling-Worksheet-2015-v1.pdf" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">stockpile price list</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> with you is one way to avoid having to memorize the entire grocery store. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You will also start to learn the </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sales cycles</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Items like meat or cereal usually go on sale every 8-10 weeks, so knowing when something is at its lowest price, and when you might expect it to be at that price again, allows you to get just the right amount until the next deal comes along. You will also find </span><a href="http://thekrazycouponlady.com/2010/08/17/sale-cycles-how-to-be-a-coupon-psychic/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">seasonal sale cycles</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> when you can get stock up prices, like canned veggies around thanksgiving, clearance candy after Halloween, seasonal fruit and veggies (freeze them to use later!), snack foods around Superbowl time, etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stockpiling means you will always have on hand the item you need, which was purchased at a great discount, but only is effective if:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You’ll use the amount of product you acquire before it expires (Spoiled food is wasted money.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You have space to store it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You are paying cash (credit card fees negate your savings)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where to find out about deals and coupon matchups</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you’re on the hunt for deals, it helps to have your finger on the pulse of the couponing world. Couponers love to share their “</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hauls</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” and tip others off to upcoming deals. They often release the sales flyers before the stores, so you can plan your trips and find the matching coupons. Regularly checking blogs, and following Coupon groups online, can help you land the best deals! Just bear in mind the first rule, and don’t get swept up in the thrill of the score, spending money on something you won’t use just because it was a deal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blogs</span></div>
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<a href="http://fabulesslyfrugal.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fabulessly Frugal</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (+ </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/FabuLESSlyFrugal/?fref=ts" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FB</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.couponmom.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coupon Mom</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (+ </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/couponmom/?ref=br_rs" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FB</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></div>
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<a href="http://thegreenbacksgal.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Greenbacks Gal</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (+ </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheGreenbacksGal/?fref=ts" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FB</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></div>
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<a href="http://thekrazycouponlady.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Krazy Coupon Lady</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (+ </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheKrazyCouponLady/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FB</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.couponcabin.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CouponCabin</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (+ </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CouponCabin/?fref=ts" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FB</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></div>
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<a href="http://coupondivas.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coupon Divas</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (+ </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CouponDivas/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FB</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Facebook Groups</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Savings-of-a-Stay-at-Home-Momma-213654089024993/?fref=ts" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Savings of a Stay-at-Home Momma</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/284989365000088/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Giles County Shopping Savers</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Store-Specific Blogs/Pages</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.iheartthemart.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I Heart the Mart</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (+ </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/iheartthemart/?fref=ts" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FB</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) - Walmart specific deals, including a list of items you can get for less than a dollar.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.krogerkrazy.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kroger Krazy</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (+ </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/KrogerKrazy/?fref=ts" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FB</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) - This is a really great site for shopping Kroger. Provides detailed matchups and allows you to create a shopping list of deals.</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/CouponingatDollarGeneral/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Couponing at Dollar General Too</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/CouponingCVS/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Couponing at CVS</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/TargetCouponing/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Target Couponing</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/couponingatriteaid/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Couponing at rite aid</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Apps </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- download from your phone’s app store</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.favado.com/signup/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Favado</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – search for items to find where they are on sale currently. Great tool for </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">price matching</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> at stores like Walmart and Target</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://flipp.com/" target="_blank">Flipp</a> - search and browse sales circulars to find deals for price matching </span></li>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most stores have their own app (listed below in the store breakouts) where you can pull up circulars, load digital coupons, etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rebate apps (listed below)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paper Coupon Sources</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Newspapers – </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You may want to subscribe to the newspaper (</span><a href="http://www.grocerycouponguide.com/articles/where-to-find-coupons-day-47-eating-well-on-1-a-day/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Tennessean</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or </span><a href="http://pjstar_com.gm2-ipstage.newscyclecloud.com/subscribenow" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Columbia Daily Herald</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) to get Sunday coupon inserts, but there are many other ways to accumulate inserts. </span><a href="http://www.grocerycouponguide.com/articles/where-to-find-coupons-day-47-eating-well-on-1-a-day/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">More info on where to find inserts</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coupon Websites</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are many sites that allow you to print your coupons at home. You will likely need to install a little software the first time you print the coupons on your browser. Most allow you to print the coupon twice, just click back and select it again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coupons usually print three to a page (or sometimes just one or two if that’s all you selected). You can just cut the paper into thirds, no need to cut the exact outline of the coupon. A paper cutter is handy - just be careful not to cut off the bar code!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You will go through a lot of ink and paper. A cheap laser printer will save you money in the long run</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some sites to get coupons are:</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.coupons.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coupons.com</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.redplum.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Red Plum</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.smartsource.com/smartsource2/static_content/app/start.html#/?Link=27VCPTQCAKZAK&locale=en_US" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Smart Source</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.hopster.com/coupons" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hopster</span></a></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; list-style-type: square; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://commonkindness.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Common Kindness </span></a></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; list-style-type: square; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.cellfire.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cellfire</span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (also loads digital coupons to certain store loyalty cards)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coupon Databases </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">– a great way to cross reference your shopping list and grocery circular with available coupons. Search for products to see if there are coupons available for it. </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.southernsavers.com/coupon-database" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Southern Savers</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.passionforsavings.com/coupon-database/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Passion for Savings</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brand Websites and Email Lists</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Sign up for email lists for your favorite brands to get exclusive coupons emailed to you, or check their websites and facebook pages for coupons. Some good sources that always offer coupons include:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.kraftrecipes.com/Coupons.aspx" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kraft</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com/Coupons" style="text-decoration: none;">Betty Crocker</a></span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.pgeveryday.com/tag/coupons-offers" target="_blank">Procter & Gamble</a></li>
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<a href="https://www.healthyessentials.com/printable-coupons" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Johnson & Johnson</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.pillsbury.com/coupons" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pillsbury</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.frenchs.com/coupons/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">French’s</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.puritylovers.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Purity</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Store</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Peelies</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - the coupons found in stores that are affixed to items on the shelf</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blinkies</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – coupons in the little dispensers attached to the shelves</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tearpads - </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">coupons on tearpads by the products or on freestanding displays, distributed at the sample tables, etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Catalinas</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Coupons printed at the register based on what you buy</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 9.33333px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One kind is a $ amount off your next purchase depending on how many of a select item you buy (buy 3, get $1 off your next purchase, buy 4, get $2 off, buy 5 get $3 off, etc). These are sometimes hit-or-miss so </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YMMV</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (your mileage may vary). The $ off coupons are only good at the store at which you received them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kroger often shows them on the shelf price tag, and blogs will alert you to them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can also sometimes </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">roll </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the catalinas, using one on the next purchase, which generates another catalina, and so on. This is advanced couponing! It will take many transactions and a patient cashier!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another is a coupon printed when you check out, based on previous purchases</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.grocerycouponguide.com/articles/catalina-coupons/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">More info</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rebate Apps</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Download these apps to your phone and login before your shopping trip. Unlock the offers on the apps that require that (Ibotta/MobiSave). After you get home, you will scan in the UPCs of the items and photograph you’re receipt. The app will send you money back (via check or paypal, generally) either immediately or after you’ve accumulated a certain amount.</span></div>
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<a href="https://ibotta.com/r/ofpccq" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ibotta</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - use referral code </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ofpccq</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.checkout51.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Checkout51</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.mobisave.com/referral/HMPHGZVT" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MobiSave</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - use referral code </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">HMPHGZVT</span></div>
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<a href="https://savingstar.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Saving Star</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Organizing your Coupons</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keeping your coupons organized and easy to use can be a rather time-consuming activity. It will take a little while for you to accumulate a coupon stash, so as you do, think about how you want to organize everything. I personally use a combination of all three of these methods below. You’ll also want to always carry a small pair of scissors, a pen, and some scratch paper.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Binder Method</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The binder method is the most popular but most time intensive way to organize coupons. I like it because it makes it easy to see my coupons on the fly as I shop. I tend to sort and file my coupons while watching TV in the evening, so the time is not wasted, in my mind.To set up your binder:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get a nice fabric zipper binder (look for them on clearance after school starts in the fall!), clear plastic baseball card protector sheets (30-50 sheets), and tabbed file dividers (you’ll need maybe 3 sets of 10). Alternate a tabbed divider and a plastic sheet until they are all in your binder.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="20170124_190758.jpg" height="409" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/y6pK_9BhJ2IRZsUjh5kFQX08K0f1-4zAySWH3DqLE05lnbIr60h5bdy85W_y-qc0C-tUpT7EPBFeqbT7Gi8S_5pyCCcdQpzx71sY6SqVhZsyIC5KZfIye8fzOy0pzuZ5aWkgI1co" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="230" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="20170124_190739.jpg" height="413" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/wUDMiYGbXeKrjA5hPlc6mSYY2m-G2Siq2_Ac65dd1i1XAAm0TJl_3rqLmRlhhighgSHWkuKsP1VhKOxlm_5jT5DtXQ0tFB37Txr6x0nJIPx4Opbp7ds3KpotKWmHK7PQkZqLrGD_" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="233" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Label your sections or create an index at the front of the binder, for the different categories of coupons. Think about how your favorite grocery store is laid out, and try to put your coupons in matching order. I have my food coupons in one section and non-food in another</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Food Categories:</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Produce, Dairy (or break out into sub categories: cheese; yogurt/dips; eggs/milk/Butter), Meat, Bread, Snacks (chips, crackers, nuts, popcorn), Candy & Cookies, Granola Bars, Canned Goods (or break out to canned beans, meat, soup, chili; and canned fruit and veggies), Sauces and Dressings, Pasta and Dry Goods, Baking, Breakfast, Beverages (water, juice, soda), Coffee and Tea, Frozen (or break out to Frozen fruits, breads, breakfasts and desserts, Frozen meals and snacks, Frozen meats and veggies)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Non-food Categories</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Baby, Diapers/Wipes, Laundry, Dishes, Cleaning Supplies, TP/Paper Towels, Other Paper products, Dental, Hair Care, Soaps, Pets, Misc, Medicines, Vitamins, Misc Pharmacy</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fill the pockets of the plastic sheets with your coupons. Printed coupons folded in half and then half again fit perfectly. I usually jot the expiration date on the front so i can see it without having to remove the coupon. Coupons for the same item can all go in the same pocket</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">About once a month go through the binder and toss (or </span><a href="https://www.supportourtroops.org/troopons" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">donate</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) the expired coupons.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Accordion File Method</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get a small envelope-style accordion coupon organizer</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can use this to organize all your coupons, but then you must flip through them all to locate the ones you want to use. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The file can also be used to pull out just the coupons you plan to use in your trip.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I use one with sections labeled for different stores I frequently shop at to sort coupons I plan to use at each store, or store-specific coupons. I also use a section in the front as a place to store coupons I am pulling throughout a big grocery haul, so they don’t get lost as I shop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No-Clip Method</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The </span><a href="http://fabulesslyfrugal.com/coupon-orginization-making-it-work-for_24/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">no clip method</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> saves time clipping coupons from newspaper coupon inserts</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you receive the inserts, write the date they were released on the front. Then, store them in an accordion file or in sheet protectors in a binder. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Print out an </span><a href="http://fabulesslyfrugal.com/coupon-insert-lists/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">alphabetical list of coupons</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in each insert from a website that provides that service, and store the lists with the corresponding inserts.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then when shopping, you can identify which coupons you will use from the coupon-matchup blogs or the coupon databases and clip only those coupons. No wasted time clipping coupons you will never use.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You may need to keep the inserts for up to four months before all the coupons have expired</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Planning your Shopping Trip</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Planning ahead is the best way to save money. Stick to your list and avoid impulse buys to also stick to your budget. However, having well organized coupons will help you scoop up unadvertised deals like Managers Specials, Overstock discounts, Clearance items, etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some deals are quick. In and out with just a few coupons. I’ve found that since I’ve become a mom, my desire to run all over town with kids in and out of car seats is nil. If you follow couponing blogs and facebook pages, you'll be alerted to these deals and can jump on them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keep a running grocery list so you don't forget anything. There are apps for this, or magnetic paper pads to stick on your fridge. I have a chalk board in my kitchen with a list that my husband and I both add things to.whatever is functional for your family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When it's time to shop, depending on your level of OCD, make a master shopping list or better yet, a spreadsheet </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Organize it to correspond with the layout of your store. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the list, you may want to put the expected price, how many you intend to buy, the value of the coupons you're using, and if there is a rebate. This is where a spreadsheet comes in handy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When planning a big shopping trip:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Peruse the blogs for the store you're planning to visit to see if there are any items at stock up prices or other coupon matchups you're interested in. Print the corresponding coupons and add the items to your list. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Look at the weekly circular and identify what sale items you might also be interested in. Add them to your list</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Search a coupon database to find coupons for other items on your list that may not be in the sale flyer. Print those coupons</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can either pull the coupons you intend to use and keep them separate from your filed coupons (or never file them at all), or keep them filed and pull as you go once you're in the store.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After you Shop</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If the store doesn’t have what you were looking for, ask for a rain check. This means you can go back after the sale and get the good price. Just make sure to go back before your coupon expires. I usually get my rain checks before I go through the freezer aisle, so my ice cream isn’t melting while the person at the customer service desk takes their sweet time writing up the rain checks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As you are checking out, keep an eye on the register. Know what your total should be so that you can spot any inconsistencies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If something didn’t ring up like it was supposed to, don’t be shy about returning the items in question or asking for a price adjustment. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you go to use a product and it isn’t right - foreign matter in your frozen peas, not enough frosting in your toaster strudels, a bag of frozen french fries that wasn’t sealed properly, fruit that was already moldy [all of which have happened to me], call the manufacturer or bring it back to the store. Manufacturers will usually send you coupons for free product to compensate you for their error.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t forget to file for your rebates!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Store Couponing Policies and Tips</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each store has their own </span><a href="http://thekrazycouponlady.com/2011/03/15/store-policies-2/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">couponing and price matching policies</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, as well as apps and store coupons that you can use. Learning these nuances is one of the main learning curves as you begin to coupon. You may want to bookmark the policy, or memorize it, and recite it back to a cranky manager unwilling to your coupons. Ultimately it is the manager’s decision which coupons to accept, but being armed with the policy is helpful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Walmart</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can </span><a href="http://corporate.walmart.com/policies#00000150-2910-d285-add2-fff8e8700000" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Price Match</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> at the register. Their </span><a href="http://corporate.walmart.com/policies#00000150-2910-d285-add2-fff8e8700000" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">policy</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> states you don’t need a circular as proof. They will also match certain online prices. See above notes regarding how YMMV.</span><a href="http://corporate.walmart.com/policies#00000150-2910-d285-add2-fff8e8700000" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Download the Walmart app to your phone to use their Savings Catcher feature, which automatically compares your receipt to local grocery circulars. It will credit you back the difference in an e-giftcard for use on future transactions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Overages (if the coupon amount exceeds the price of the item) will be given as cash back or applied to the total bill.</span></div>
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<a href="http://coupons.walmart.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Print coupons</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> off their website (coupons.com-based, but offers some unique coupons)</span><a href="http://coupons.walmart.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Use the pickup in store option to save money on shipping.</span></div>
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<a href="http://corporate.walmart.com/policies#00000150-2910-d3e8-a7d3-29bf8d860000" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coupon policy</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kroger</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Southern Middle Tennessee and Northern Alabama (Nashville/Huntsville) Krogers double coupons of 50 cents or less. This is a great way to maximize savings!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Download the Kroger app to load digital coupons to your loyalty card. The can also be loaded to your card on the Kroger </span><a href="https://www.kroger.com/coupons" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">website</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. These are manufacturer coupons, so cannot be used with paper coupons on the same item. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve started receiving two monthly coupon packs mailed to my house with coupons based on my previous purchases – often free cereal or carrots, and money off favorites like hummus, frozen veggies, and coffee.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every Friday Kroger posts a “</span><a href="https://kroger.softcoin.com/programs/kroger/freefri/?banner=Kroger&origin=freefri" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free Friday Download</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” digital coupon to load to your card. Usually an item valued at about $1-$2 like a pack of gum, protein bar, single serve beverage, etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kroger offers Fuel Rewards – for every $100 you spend you get 10 cents off gas at Shell and Kroger gas stations. Just enter your phone number in as the “Alternate ID” when beginning your gas transaction.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some Krogers will limit the number of like coupons you can use in one transaction (2 printable, 4 total, etc.) You can either give the coupons and some cash to your toddler, leave and come back another time, beg and cry, or just accept your fate if you are met with a stickler cashier.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kroger sales are often “Buy X, Save $Y”. As you shop, keep a running tally of how many of these mix-and-match items you’ve gathered. To get the additional discount on all the items, you must have a multiple of the “Buy X” amounts.</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.kroger.com/topic/coupon-policy" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coupon Policy</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Target</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can price match to other stores’ advertised prices at the customer service counter. They generally have access to all local circulars to verify.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Download the Cartwheel app to unlock digital coupons to use at the register</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Print store coupons off their </span><a href="http://coupons.target.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Website </span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get their Red Card, which links to your checking account and saves you 5% on all purchases (and has other benefits like free shipping on web orders.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All of these can be combined with manufacturers’ coupons.</span></div>
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<a href="http://help.target.com/help/subcategoryarticle?childcat=Coupons&parentcat=Promotions+%26+Coupons&searchQuery=search+help" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coupon Policy</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CVS</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Scan your loyalty card at the red kiosk to get a printout of several store coupons.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get coupons back on future purchases (“ExtraBucks”) when you buy select items as advertised, every time you fill 5 prescriptions, and quarterly based on how much you spend. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Load coupons to your account by signing up for their email list - 15-30% off discounts are regularly available for non-sale items.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Store coupons, ExtraBucks, and percent off coupons can be combined with manufacturers’ coupons.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Download the app to access digital coupons.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.cvs.com/bizcontent/general/help/coupon-policy.pdf" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coupon Policy</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Walgreens</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Has a system of Balance Rewards - points that are loaded to your card based on how much you spend (10 points/dollar), with bonus points added when you make qualifying purchases. For every 5,000 points accumulated, you get a $5 store coupon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is a booklet of store coupons available in the front of the store that changes monthly. They can also be loaded to your card as </span><a href="https://www.walgreens.com/offers/offers.jsp#/availablecoupons" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">paperless coupons</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. These coupons can be combined with sales and manufacturers’ coupons.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coupons are often found in the weekly circular</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.walgreens.com/topic/help/generalhelp/coupon_policy_main.jsp?_requestid=37856" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coupon Policy</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dollar General</span></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Receipts often come with a $5 off $25 coupon printed at the bottom, redeemable the following Saturday</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Download their app to load digital coupons to your account, which is accessed by entering your phone number at checkout</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sign up to receive coupons via text message</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Watch for their clearance days – when it is 50 percent of the clearance price, you can score amazing deals, especially when combined with manufacturer’s coupons</span></div>
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<a href="http://www2.dollargeneral.com/Customer-Care-Center/pages/coupon-policy.aspx" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coupon Policy</span></a></div>
</li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Family Dollar</span></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Download their app to load digital coupons to your account or load them on their </span><a href="https://www.familydollar.com/smartcoupons" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">website</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.familydollar.com/legal/Coupon-Policy" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coupon Policy</span></a></div>
</li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aldi – </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">does not accept coupons</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Save-A-Lot</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – accepts coupons</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whole Foods</span></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Has store coupons available to print on their </span><a href="https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/sales-flyer/mcewen" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">website</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, which may be combined with manufacturer coupons. </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Digital coupons can be loaded on their app</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you buy a case of something you will get 10% off, which can also be stacked with coupons.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Their bulk bins are a great way to save money</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trader Joe’s – </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s be honest, you’re there for the Two Buck Chuck</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sam’s Club/Costco</span><span style="font-size: 9.33333px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">IN MY OPINION </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the bulk warehouse stores are NOT a great way to save money. You can USUALLY find a better price on things by couponing. It is a quick way to get things at a reasonably good price, but I don’t recommend joining unless you’re going to make some big purchases there in a year (I hear Costco’s return policy is very forgiving on something pricey that could easily break, like a robot vacuum)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Online shopping/Chrome browser extensions</span></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://www.ebates.com/r/KJEFFR22?eeid=28187" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ebates</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - visit this site before buying anything online and you’ll get cash back! Use referral code <b>KJEFFR22</b></span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/prime?_encoding=UTF8&ref=mrp_10002_shr_cpbd_rf_d&refcust=ULQK2BMMUYTELODRGCJASAWBLY" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon Prime</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Pay the fee to join and get benefits like free 2-day shipping, streaming tv shows & movies, music, photo storage, etc. Use Subscribe and Save to get 15% off select items, which combined with their digital coupons can be cheaper and more convenient than driving all over town. Join under Amazon Mom and get 20% off diapers & wipes, and other benefits. Register through the link as a referral!</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://camelcamelcamel.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CamelCamelCamel</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – track the price history on Amazon items to see if you are buying at a good deal (as their prices fluctuate wildly). You can also set up alerts when an item reaches a certain desired price</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://joinhoney.com/ref/7ix94y" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Honey</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – compares Amazon prices to other websites and applies coupon codes at checkout from other online retailers. Use referral code </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7ix94y</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://wbuy.me/E60060" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wikibuy</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – compares online prices before you checkout and syncs with Ebates. Use referral code </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">60060.</span></div>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://www.retailmenot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Retail Me Not</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">– find coupon codes for online retailers. </span></div>
</li>
</ul>
</span>Katie Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698422114925466547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424714289592725798.post-32518277134103052732016-12-18T22:56:00.000-05:002016-12-18T22:56:16.023-05:00Roasted Butternut Squash, Carmelized Onion, Goat Cheese and (optional) Bacon Tart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-__VXqhYOgv76KvvZ_TFRt7GlfvD4rjmxvj5tt_AMnCRTO6N7OZEbLvB064LsnppLrkoZInJLqtm0BFufJc3szVL9VRaxny85uQRK6fFHb2kjfO4EZC62wPanmlt-y1BJyHy1x3Vehc/s1600/20161216_082342a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-__VXqhYOgv76KvvZ_TFRt7GlfvD4rjmxvj5tt_AMnCRTO6N7OZEbLvB064LsnppLrkoZInJLqtm0BFufJc3szVL9VRaxny85uQRK6fFHb2kjfO4EZC62wPanmlt-y1BJyHy1x3Vehc/s320/20161216_082342a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is a recipe I made up after scrolling through Pinterest and not finding just the right appetizer for this year's Thanksgiving. It came out so delicious that I wanted to share it here. It takes some time to make, but doesn't require much actual work. The recipe makes 2 tarts. For my vegetarian/omnivore family I would do one with bacon and one without. You can make the onions and squash ahead of time and then just bake the tart prior to your event. It would also keep overnight, and makes EXCELLENT leftovers. Though if your guests know what's up, there won't be any.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvAZZOP6qomGt9jgVIOJDxeK4tmKrJk15pTdwuA-BxCpKXbu4rUFnyGgYDtwp1X_pBjJ-M4n0PcwvhyODURHLbPA3JShMiwHlxFd3m8n6WRvtKBoEWvC2Eum5czNO6JuOJkWDeqobcLo/s1600/20161215_184620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvAZZOP6qomGt9jgVIOJDxeK4tmKrJk15pTdwuA-BxCpKXbu4rUFnyGgYDtwp1X_pBjJ-M4n0PcwvhyODURHLbPA3JShMiwHlxFd3m8n6WRvtKBoEWvC2Eum5czNO6JuOJkWDeqobcLo/s320/20161215_184620.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<h3>
<b>Ingredients</b></h3>
1 onion (red or yellow)<br />
1 tbsp butter<br />
<br />
1 butternut squash<br />
olive oil<br />
salt & pepper<br />
sage & garlic powder<br />
<br />
2 cans crescent roll dough (or crescent roll sheets)<br />
8 ounces goat cheese (two small tubes)<br />
6 slices pepper bacon, cooked and crumbled<br />
<h3>
<b>Directions</b></h3>
1. <b>Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGMgFaSj1fcgF6fgTzDDRWLEdmpkswEKP3vFTtyIRBHoUOXUPsuv-RHeD9eObTiWvesqIiZlszyZQrWCAhKy6xFrdrKlsd9rDcWIN1v3Dz52ZTtzhZKmSZNVMFtJ_mxw05AcU88Ahrjs/s1600/20161215_191425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGMgFaSj1fcgF6fgTzDDRWLEdmpkswEKP3vFTtyIRBHoUOXUPsuv-RHeD9eObTiWvesqIiZlszyZQrWCAhKy6xFrdrKlsd9rDcWIN1v3Dz52ZTtzhZKmSZNVMFtJ_mxw05AcU88Ahrjs/s320/20161215_191425.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaTiiH1LiFtPIl4k_Vcwhsrglb7MoVP3e8p4y0ean2WO7FOBm4zBQt4nWiaSbqF4r3DxhsoG2-WW2vGRPP-MUGGTzI6goK-hGZnSvy7-P_bG_OB_OlelLdEjyk0PomqftlU0kTaweu84/s1600/20161215_192537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaTiiH1LiFtPIl4k_Vcwhsrglb7MoVP3e8p4y0ean2WO7FOBm4zBQt4nWiaSbqF4r3DxhsoG2-WW2vGRPP-MUGGTzI6goK-hGZnSvy7-P_bG_OB_OlelLdEjyk0PomqftlU0kTaweu84/s320/20161215_192537.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOHSNqxeA-Z-DzmcsB5rLnAShNB2jUrXlnMwhMLE7EK9_EsxVXYM4jhMPQnFKltelDNoDvacWCKUO759u961r2u7nmXvwEnWBKAAc6ZFuaN1oA93ubuEfjyVE5x8XMKpKAMMct6y5BWc/s1600/20161215_192822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOHSNqxeA-Z-DzmcsB5rLnAShNB2jUrXlnMwhMLE7EK9_EsxVXYM4jhMPQnFKltelDNoDvacWCKUO759u961r2u7nmXvwEnWBKAAc6ZFuaN1oA93ubuEfjyVE5x8XMKpKAMMct6y5BWc/s320/20161215_192822.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysxY4IgHww0Er9gZvmjpbRMLpvvEDthGlTRQwWDZVT17aTVv0aOO17_vSKH96KIIiytqOhb9oGraf1iTOC3shsxYe3uwgvNWPM4oZ_t5DAmdugeu4g8rIgWRfOZZaGgbh7zwk7OPgTRw/s1600/20161215_200421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysxY4IgHww0Er9gZvmjpbRMLpvvEDthGlTRQwWDZVT17aTVv0aOO17_vSKH96KIIiytqOhb9oGraf1iTOC3shsxYe3uwgvNWPM4oZ_t5DAmdugeu4g8rIgWRfOZZaGgbh7zwk7OPgTRw/s320/20161215_200421.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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2.<b> Carmelize the onion</b>. Follow the directions <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-caramelize-onions-35933" target="_blank">here</a>. Basically: Peel and slice the onion into strips. Melt the butter in a pan over medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring every 5 to 10 minutes. Continue cooking low and slow until the onions have fully carmelized. You can make a bigger batch as long as you're making them, and use them later for sandwhiches, pizza, etc.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmThH5a0mfx7UoM6oXIpzpW82FBp1HVa8o3hhG3mqZehp0lY0oN24xbKjM4mG6LohhDILEtOGcpXKwwkFZbzCfSufRv6JanPYw3Afggr5DUGvSkSMlLqBNobK-AsgJfTOtbfSaP7gwCk/s1600/20161215_185018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmThH5a0mfx7UoM6oXIpzpW82FBp1HVa8o3hhG3mqZehp0lY0oN24xbKjM4mG6LohhDILEtOGcpXKwwkFZbzCfSufRv6JanPYw3Afggr5DUGvSkSMlLqBNobK-AsgJfTOtbfSaP7gwCk/s320/20161215_185018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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3. While the onions cook, prepare and <b>roast the butternut squash</b>. Peel the squash with a vegetable peeler. Cut the top and bottom off, and cut the bulb from the neck. cut each piece lengthwise. Remove the seeds and stringy guts. I like to use a grapefruit spoon. Dice into 1/4" to 1/2" cubes. Toss in olive oil and season with salt, pepper, sage, and garlic powder. arrange on cookie sheets in a single layer and roast for 25-35 minutes, or until tender. Depending on the size of your squash, you may end up with extra - it would be great with some quinoa and black beans, or as a first food for baby!<br />
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4. You can store the squash and onion until later, or continue on immediately. <b>Lower the oven temperature to 375 degrees.</b><br />
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5. To <b>assmeble the tart, </b>unroll one crescent dough on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Pinch the seams to secure. Down the center one-third of the sheet, arrange the squash and onion until it looks like it's a good dough-to-filling ratio, as well as 4 ounces of goat cheese and 3 slices of bacon (both crumbled). On each side of the filling, slice strips. Alternately wrap the strips around the filling, creating a braided effect. Seal off the ends. Repeat with the second can of crescent rolls.<br />
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6. <b>Bake for 20-25 minutes</b> or until the pastry is golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature.<br />
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<br />Katie Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698422114925466547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424714289592725798.post-35934982505798605202016-08-15T23:39:00.000-04:002016-08-16T13:19:00.754-04:00Surviving Travel with Babies and Toddlers: Pro-Tips from a Road Warrior Mama<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">I've traveled a lot with my two little guys. Sometimes my hubby comes along. Sometimes the dogs come along. It's always an adventure, usually with some stress and always with great memories. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">Because we're road warriors by now, I've got some tips for what you might expect on the road (and in the air) with kids. Since I'm often asked for my advice, I thought I'd put it here to</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;"> have it as an easy reference.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">Before kid number two arrived, we flew everywhere. Hubby was traveling a bunch for work, so frequent flier miles were abundant. Since the second baby arrived, we acquired a mini van, and have been road-tripping like crazy. In the first year of his life the baby accumulated more than 10,000 miles in his car seat on family trips, flown on two round trip flights, and has been to 15 states. (Big brother went to an additional 4 states - including Hawaii, by air, and racked up 5,000 more road miles in the 2 years before the baby arrived). </span></span><br />
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<iframe height="480" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1gOByYNpfQTlg9tw-Kb0uTXooZjk" width="640"></iframe>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">BABY #2's Travels in his First Year</span></span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16.08px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Road Trips</span></b><br />
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<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">Load up on snacks and drinks, some new car friendly activities, and patience.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">Plan for it to take 1.5x the time of whatever the gps says.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 16.08px;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">We stop every 2 hours or so. At EVERY stop make sure everyone in the car: small, grown and 4 - legged has food, drink, and bathroom/diaper. Or you</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">'ll be pulling over at the next exit</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">I breastfed both boys. Pumping and bottle feeding didn't work great for us on the road (or ever). Both babies liked to be held to eat and needed a chance to stretch, so we had to stop anyhow. They also weren't used to bottles so that didn't help matters. But they do make travel warmers, and your milk should stay good in a cooler for the duration of a drive, so you might try feeding the baby in the carseat. Just don't bank on ir (see my first point).</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">Little babies are great to travel with because they mostly just sleep... until about 45 minutes from wherever it is you're going (no matter if it's 4 hours or 14. They know.)</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">Anticipate one long stop mid-day to stretch out. When they're a little older a nice mall play area & food court or <a href="http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Locations/Locator" target="_blank">Chick-fil-A</a> are great options.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">Pack a small tote bag with a change of clothes for EVERYONE in the car, so when the baby inevitably explodes out of some orifice, you don't have to unpack your whole suitcase</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">Pack extra diapers. You think that's enough? Great, add a dozen more. Leave them handy in the car as they will be used often.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">Expect baby digestive troubles the day or two after driving. Being squished in a car seat messes up their digestion, as can a breastfeeding mom's strange diet of gas station burritos.</span></li>
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16.08px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Air Travel</span></b></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">If you have a lap baby, you need to get a boarding pass for the baby at the baggage check-in counter. If one of the adults you're traveling with has any kind of status: pre-check, priority boarding, whatever... get the baby's boarding pass attached to their ticket. Unless you're flying Southwest, then have that person scurry ahead with the bags and secure great seats for everyone. You'll get to board with family pre-boarding which nowadays falls somewhere between first class and the goats and chickens.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">There is a best way to deal with baby gear when traveling. Then there is the way we've done it. </span></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">Car seats- take your pick.</span></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">We generally check the car seat at the baggage check. They make big <a href="http://amzn.to/2aY309R" target="_blank">car seat bags</a> that look like laundry bags you'd use in a dorm. Checking a car seat may invalidate its warranty so check with your manufacturer.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">It's better to gate check the car seat, but then you lug it through the airport. They make little<a href="http://amzn.to/2bkNOZK" target="_blank"> rolling carriers</a> for car seats that you can wheel through the airport and even strap the kid in. </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">It's best to use an FAA approved car seat on the plane in the baby's own seat (that you paid for).</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">Older than two and you need to buy the kid a seat on the plane. You can use the FAA approved car seat in the seat, or buy a <a href="http://amzn.to/2aY3Svh" target="_blank">CARES harness</a>, an FAA approved adapter for the plane's seatbelt, or just let the kid sit.</span></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">We often bring a stroller, but it is used mostly for carrying stuff not kidsI But if the stroller is more than 20 lbs you'll need to check it when you check your bags, so i suggest one of those <a href="http://amzn.to/2aWYaJP" target="_blank">frame bases</a> that the car seat clicks in to or an <a href="http://amzn.to/2aY56GN" target="_blank">umbrella stroller</a>. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">You will need to get a special tag at counter at the gate for a stroller or car seat you plan to gate check.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">Buckle all the buckles on anything you plan to check. they can get smashed.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">If you will be traveling to a home where no kids live, and your baby sleeps in a crib, it's economically sound (and more convenient) to buy a cheap (or used - try <a href="http://craigslist.com/" target="_blank">Craigslist</a> or local facebook garage sale sites) pack n play and keep it there (or resell it after one visit). One round trip with the extra checked item will more than cover the cost. Grandmas or other accommodating hosts may also find you a high chair or booster seat at a garage sale or on loan from a friend. </span></span></span></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;"><span style="line-height: 16.08px;">Baby wear, y'all. It's better than a leash. You can <a href="http://www.nappyshoppe.com/" target="_blank">baby wear</a> through security if your carrier doesn't have metal parts. They will swab your hands and send you on your way.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">You can bring liquids and food through security for your kids. That includes pouch food, breastmilk, ice packs to keep the milk cold, formula, water to make formula, juice, whatever. Just let the TSA agent know - it's for the children. If they give you any problem - direct them to their own <a href="https://www.tsa.gov/travel/special-procedures/traveling-children" target="_blank">website</a>. They might stick a little strip in the liquid and then into a machine to make sure you're not carrying contraband in the Kool-Aid. Alternately, bring a water bottle and those powder drink mix tubes, then fill up at the water fountain to save time at security.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">Depending on the length of your trip, you might consider shipping bulky consumables like diapers and wipes ahead to your destination. Amazon Family FTW (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/family/signup/welcome?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0&ref_=assoc_tag_ph_1457104784749&_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=pf4&tag=tomshomepage00&linkId=2b949139035ef157b0b0f641d6f9813c" target="_blank">Join Amazon Family 30-Day Free Trial</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=tomshomepage00&l=pf4&o=1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />)</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">Many airports now have play areas for kids like in malls. Great way to pass the time before a flight or during a layover. Ask around. Dallas, Boston, O'Hare, Nashville, and </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">Nurse (or give a bottle or paci) on takeoff and landing to help baby's ears pop. You'll probably be asked to remove the baby from the carrier if he's in one.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">Please don't be shy about nursing or pumping on a flight. I know several flight attendant breastfeeding moms and they all do it. Go for it!</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">Hope this helps. If you have any questions, leave them in the comments and I'll reply!</span></span></div>
Katie Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698422114925466547noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424714289592725798.post-82827901127005587462016-08-03T00:00:00.000-04:002016-08-03T12:42:10.817-04:00Pre-order New Mom Comics Today!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZWggbHU8tpXFdmUPJIFEP8M3PfeHLTzaEzjboLKkdFcJyteaKcrQgYNGeRwb1jRJ2-iWFrg05WEEgcx0NC5Jx5O1NU8H-jRng5mN_PoYxZAaD_boU6V1Of73sqWaN5sWVNnSI0wxu54/s1600/milk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZWggbHU8tpXFdmUPJIFEP8M3PfeHLTzaEzjboLKkdFcJyteaKcrQgYNGeRwb1jRJ2-iWFrg05WEEgcx0NC5Jx5O1NU8H-jRng5mN_PoYxZAaD_boU6V1Of73sqWaN5sWVNnSI0wxu54/s320/milk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Have you been online in the last year? Then you may have seen these comics on <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/19-comics-that-perfectly-capture-the-first-year-of-motherhood_us_56ddaf9ae4b03a40567937de" target="_blank">Huffington Post</a>, <a href="http://www.upworthy.com/these-17-comics-get-real-about-what-it-feels-like-to-be-a-new-parent" target="_blank">Upworthy</a>, or shared on my facebook page! In honor of World Breastfeeding Week, we have a giveaway for you!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsl74GRS7JqFL_1xG2E1ltyZXOxF3Rj9GsVY7GkO0-xoOD52tjEARZBTiE723NeXhZLhPC-pp-KdELDZXD3OHwNWmquTgXEPBphC3bcT3eQy0oWA7nOn3YVThuh_e3fwvobnFhIwrQSzE/s1600/pump_talking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsl74GRS7JqFL_1xG2E1ltyZXOxF3Rj9GsVY7GkO0-xoOD52tjEARZBTiE723NeXhZLhPC-pp-KdELDZXD3OHwNWmquTgXEPBphC3bcT3eQy0oWA7nOn3YVThuh_e3fwvobnFhIwrQSzE/s320/pump_talking.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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New Mom Comics are spot-on depictions of life with a baby from breastfeeding and pumping, to diaper blowouts, babyproofing, phantom cries, and all the other hurdles of Mom Life. Without exception, when artist Alison Wong posted her weekly comic on her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NewMomComics" target="_blank">facebook page</a>, my response was "Ha ha! Yup!" Now she is self-publishing a compilation of the comics from her first year as a mom into a book, which is available for <a href="http://newmomcomics.com/book" target="_blank">presale</a> to ship in time for Christmas. The perfect gift for a new or expecting mom<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcH8dedFye7Ki0Msg4YPdNOUQ3MJMTAjqMj7Omv-vDsZ6yCHhfyLHXuXTsVuUSU1eRsQepbESJqUZ1vXUXhnFokMt1D6qU4zwPPYkIirtlCPlmaemE2MpFWLf5sYUh5gH2J7aUlYQX6yo/s1600/outfits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcH8dedFye7Ki0Msg4YPdNOUQ3MJMTAjqMj7Omv-vDsZ6yCHhfyLHXuXTsVuUSU1eRsQepbESJqUZ1vXUXhnFokMt1D6qU4zwPPYkIirtlCPlmaemE2MpFWLf5sYUh5gH2J7aUlYQX6yo/s320/outfits.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Alison Wong is a friend I love to name drop (Have you used the <a href="http://www.heinzdipandsqueeze.com/" target="_blank">Heinz Dip and Squeeze</a> packets or the Orville Redenbacher pop-up popcorn bowl? Thank Alison. Remember that show <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Brain_Theory" target="_blank">The Big Brain Theory</a>, hosted by Kal Penn? Then you saw Alison.). A decade and a half ago she was drawing comics for <a href="https://thetech.com/" target="_blank">The Tech</a>, MIT's campus Newspaper, and I was her editor. Now we are both moms and may or may not be wearing clean pants! Time flies, so does food off a high chair! For this reason, I am so excited for the opportunity to give out copies of <a href="http://newmomcomics.com/book" target="_blank">her book</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha09DBXAa47I_0z7oXGCzEA1_ziEL_QYWeKQYaQTgkOZCXnJcom4VmavE8xM2PW5OW-n4_U5dLKHAcDPn9tlUakKZZWKOIurEcn9n6zsUb3zCfKULQTEOQF_kMvzC8JSvYJRR2dXdRjw0/s1600/just_check_on_him.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha09DBXAa47I_0z7oXGCzEA1_ziEL_QYWeKQYaQTgkOZCXnJcom4VmavE8xM2PW5OW-n4_U5dLKHAcDPn9tlUakKZZWKOIurEcn9n6zsUb3zCfKULQTEOQF_kMvzC8JSvYJRR2dXdRjw0/s320/just_check_on_him.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<i>New Mom Comics: The First Year</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijad4C4gGiqBB991n2NbGg_bqbqjvjVy2RKxh1IrpOP0SiYEpaffhbh9EXdNSsZIsgIK2A96YIkqTLanQyjrp1L4EA73RQ5PqOh0-EN80mZvdq9c3PW90814nPOl5UjA4y6SllAi0IUoI/s1600/book.jpe" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijad4C4gGiqBB991n2NbGg_bqbqjvjVy2RKxh1IrpOP0SiYEpaffhbh9EXdNSsZIsgIK2A96YIkqTLanQyjrp1L4EA73RQ5PqOh0-EN80mZvdq9c3PW90814nPOl5UjA4y6SllAi0IUoI/s320/book.jpe" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The book is compilation of a year of comics drawn by Alison Wong about the adventures of being a new mom. It’s a humorous guide on what to expect as a new parent. “I created this series because it’s what I wished I had during the first year – like a friend to tell you how it really is, with humor and love. My husband and I always try to look for the humor in each day, even in tough parenting moments, as it helps us laugh and remember them so fondly.”</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXVIyIymJu7pSNiaYTpFK1afqW_70l0sCEVUolo-llufpMGuBFt-AJYnu2XWBAWFOVtgFTJQ4jOK3MtsII0HLFdLYpxdsOhBo9S8eUa1Eif2yX_nMkpYvFX39JxyGrGQ9GjhwMurMpCs/s1600/pooped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXVIyIymJu7pSNiaYTpFK1afqW_70l0sCEVUolo-llufpMGuBFt-AJYnu2XWBAWFOVtgFTJQ4jOK3MtsII0HLFdLYpxdsOhBo9S8eUa1Eif2yX_nMkpYvFX39JxyGrGQ9GjhwMurMpCs/s320/pooped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><br /><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Perfect if you are an expecting, new or experienced parent, or love kids. They make great gifts too! 100+ pages paperback, 55+ comics, with some color. </span><a href="http://newmomcomics.com/book" target="_blank">Currently taking pre-orders</a>, $15 plus s&h. Delivery in Dec before the holidays. </i></div>
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<i>ENTER BELOW:</i><br />
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Katie Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698422114925466547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424714289592725798.post-62278857629237130562016-07-27T00:44:00.001-04:002016-07-27T00:45:14.923-04:00Vegan Soyrizo TacosWe had family over tonight for dinner, and I made this up on the fly using ingredients we had in the house. It was a hit with the vegetarians and omnivores alike, and had folks going back for seconds! I typed up the recipe to recreate again sometime! The two specialty ingredients in this really made it. One was the Soy Chorizo from Trader Joe's. I was anticipating the kind of chorizo that is a sausage you can slice, but I was thrown off that this was like a ground meat product once you removed the casing as instructed. It ended up being a blessing as it converted a boring grain dish in to TACO TUESDAY! It was really flavorful, with a strong salt and cumin flavor that meant the whole dish required no additional seasoning.<br />
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<a href="https://traderjoesrants.wordpress.com/2011/04/20/soychorizo/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2pWBVi_OBxfr33jPt0_r7o8-mgbC_0cKqfG4cpmIwGIm5LOjFmji55Ru-NFbl1rSDyy1JwFiJ7DZcd19-vL3MbolQZXRZd-T3AGWNeLy0B7AXPbaP962bi0RYSiKjwJhXipr62puPfI/s320/trader-joes-soy-chorizo-michelle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The second special item was a bag of "Earthly Grains Quick Cook 5 Grains" from Aldi. It has spelt, barley, wheat, rice, and wholegrain oats. I've seen these at a couple Aldi's, but as with all things Aldi they are ephemeral and you might not find them. Any healthy grain - quinoa, farro, freekeh, wheatberries, brown rice, etc. would do nicely, but I'd recommend some of the larger. chewier ones for the texture. </div>
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<b>Vegan Chorizo (Soyrizo) Tacos</b><br />
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1 package Earthly Grains 5 Grain Blend (or 1.5 cups dry grains of your choice)<br />
2 tbsp olive oil<br />
1 bunch fresh spinach, stems removed<br />
1 medium onion, chopped<br />
1 green pepper, chopped<br />
1 package Trader Joe's Chorizo<br />
1 bag (10 oz) frozen corn<br />
1 can (~16 oz) great northern beans (or canellini beans/white kidney beans)<br />
1 tomato, chopped<br />
1 can (6 oz) black olives, sliced<br />
20 small taco size tortillas (flour or corn)<br />
Grated soy cheese, as desired<br />
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Prepare the grains according to the package. While the grains cook, in a large pan, heat 1 tbsp olive oil. Cook the spinach until wilted, and set aside. Add another tablespoon olive oil and sautee the onions on medium until slightly translucent and browned. Add the green pepper and cook another few minutes. Remove the casing from the soyrizo and add to the pan, stirring to break up the crumbles. After a few minutes add the frozen corn and cook until thawed. Add in the beans, tomato, olives and spinach, stirring to combine. Add the chorizo mixture to the grains and fill tacos with the mixture and top with cheese.<br />
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This made a LOT of food, and I bet it would freeze well rolled up burrito style to reheat later. Speaking of reheating, I'll have to add a picture of the final product when I have the leftovers!<br />
<br />Katie Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698422114925466547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424714289592725798.post-16696617478257224352016-06-09T19:28:00.003-04:002016-06-09T19:29:50.015-04:00Vegan Banana Blueberry Lactation Muffins<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3rF8XNMY_Y4gjIARSmY1jV-TEqCSb6ph_QN8KBiZyVLGdtsoikJ3_7UuI4g_DFwnL14xo-NFjJtujrIjxYzOlBoGeNf6R3eD8I9wpX9OIwxGxuboTD-n3LAx3o7hikukA2PJgjAGHBc/s1600/muffins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3rF8XNMY_Y4gjIARSmY1jV-TEqCSb6ph_QN8KBiZyVLGdtsoikJ3_7UuI4g_DFwnL14xo-NFjJtujrIjxYzOlBoGeNf6R3eD8I9wpX9OIwxGxuboTD-n3LAx3o7hikukA2PJgjAGHBc/s320/muffins.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My nursling has a sensitivity to both eggs and milk, which means I've had to cut them from my diet. Because of that, I can't have most standard baked goods and really miss those sweet treats. I was having some moms over for a meeting to plan our upcoming expo in support of World Breastfeeding Week, so I made some lactation cookies. But since I had some over-ripe bananas, blueberries, and the galactagogue trio of flax meal, brewers yeast, and oatmeal on hand, I thought I'd try to make some muffins, too. Fun fact: flax meal soaked in water is a good egg replacement! I couldn't find a recipe online that exactly fit the bill for what I imagined making, so I modified a few I found online. The cookies came out okay, but the muffins were the real hit. I was a little short on flour, and the muffins were a little TOO moist (if there is such a thing), so I'm modifying the recipe to include a little more flour than I used. I also threw in all the blueberries we had left, which was slightly more than the cup the recipe calls for.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XdtZgDVvgWmlDHs2nVoslsytVpoI_gUsLpd-8a5EMMKna1HQ90NXbVqbgFys6CCtArCdXtOsNz0Nu0IxyF1S9eu2UG2L7M-NuZ2NIm4Kn5Sw5olK1gZ4nLMJFbkSswp9RVEbkDqpBkk/s1600/20160608_092907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XdtZgDVvgWmlDHs2nVoslsytVpoI_gUsLpd-8a5EMMKna1HQ90NXbVqbgFys6CCtArCdXtOsNz0Nu0IxyF1S9eu2UG2L7M-NuZ2NIm4Kn5Sw5olK1gZ4nLMJFbkSswp9RVEbkDqpBkk/s320/20160608_092907.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Vegan Banana Blueberry Lactation Muffins</span></b><br />
Yield: 12 muffins<br />
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<b>Ingredients</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyExNPJPJWDhct98Dakv9w1h3WMw_1JtvVv1OcaK9UeOYDBLI5MdIMyPZCrjjswxy92G8yUdP6j63zfb3FzeiscbCzjPI6kciYI0ceF4u7_svEUjnbI_JoBLyX_whFBsV3nAL0E3nSSt8/s1600/20160608_161343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyExNPJPJWDhct98Dakv9w1h3WMw_1JtvVv1OcaK9UeOYDBLI5MdIMyPZCrjjswxy92G8yUdP6j63zfb3FzeiscbCzjPI6kciYI0ceF4u7_svEUjnbI_JoBLyX_whFBsV3nAL0E3nSSt8/s320/20160608_161343.jpg" width="180" /></a>2 tbsp flax meal<br />
4 tbsp warm water<br />
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1/3 cup cocount oil<br />
2 medium ripe bananas<br />
1 tsp vanilla<br />
1/4 cup unsweetened almond (or other non-dairy) milk<br />
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1/2 cup white sugar<br />
1/4 cup brown sugar<br />
1 1/4 cup flour<br />
1 cup quick oats<br />
2 tsp baking powder<br />
1 tsp baking soda<br />
2 tbsp brewers yeast<br />
1/4 tsp salt<br />
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1 cup blueberries<br />
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<b>Directions</b><br />
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, combine flax meal and warm water. Allow to soak while you prepare the remaining ingredients, at least 5 minutes. In another small bowl, microwave the coconut oil until liquefied. Combine the dry ingredients (sugars, flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, brewers yeast and salt). In a medium bowl, mash the bananas, Add the remaining wet ingredients (vanilla, milk, oil and flax meal slurry). Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and combine. Fold in the blueberries. Pour batter in to a greased or lined muffin tin, approximately 1/4 cup batter per muffin. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool slightly before serving.<br />
<br />Katie Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698422114925466547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424714289592725798.post-52220054363320577802016-01-12T19:16:00.000-05:002016-01-12T22:24:47.229-05:00Simple Teething Pain Relief Solution<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvx-BRrvimJb-eedSLock5n-uurO03WXmYsAy2NrYt87ZKyFiIDVDZIe3PDNNglHsenhLl403B7HqmxVMDC1RtIfHUJRtP3WD7qfN-2jbBBGuzyLWYuZ-DHz7In9FO12gxl8LYhz4wlrA/s1600/paci.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvx-BRrvimJb-eedSLock5n-uurO03WXmYsAy2NrYt87ZKyFiIDVDZIe3PDNNglHsenhLl403B7HqmxVMDC1RtIfHUJRtP3WD7qfN-2jbBBGuzyLWYuZ-DHz7In9FO12gxl8LYhz4wlrA/s320/paci.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My sweet infant is three months old now, and I am pretty certain he's begun teething. He's drooling, chewing his (and my) fingers, and has bouts of uncharacteristic fussiness. Having been through this before, I preemptively armed myself with baby Tylenol, clove oil, Orajel, and chewelry, and an amber necklace. Because folks, teething is NO JOKE.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-yZlXbn95cbyPj9Hc8HvMTH8Svxki9qj8tYJ8Hn4U-fxzxkNB8dDpQtSUOBTZBu_k6zyRFthcGshzLhDnQuwStSYrlwm3RGeR2MNUFQQWQPqd2xuh6OUYThdhwz-V0Jc3TS9D11JqWE/s1600/20160105_135029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-yZlXbn95cbyPj9Hc8HvMTH8Svxki9qj8tYJ8Hn4U-fxzxkNB8dDpQtSUOBTZBu_k6zyRFthcGshzLhDnQuwStSYrlwm3RGeR2MNUFQQWQPqd2xuh6OUYThdhwz-V0Jc3TS9D11JqWE/s320/20160105_135029.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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But my favorite teething pain remedy, and the one that I share with all exhausted parents, is the paci-pop. So quick, so easy, so soothing. Ready? Here's the secret technique:<br />
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Take a pacifier (MAM, Playtex, etc. - The Soothie brand ones won't work). Better yet, get a bunch.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_bbeudi9KO-vg3oe-28MjPKsD2XcaI48lsMmNjmlSSUDSOt2CsYoYr2QAU6PQmVOV9qLrs5Qwv6qgAWLtg_YezJFUwUEqYqKElbYjEpesYl9s-87vezFUqzjMJNPt3mTshBOTL4Xlvw/s1600/20160111_152501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_bbeudi9KO-vg3oe-28MjPKsD2XcaI48lsMmNjmlSSUDSOt2CsYoYr2QAU6PQmVOV9qLrs5Qwv6qgAWLtg_YezJFUwUEqYqKElbYjEpesYl9s-87vezFUqzjMJNPt3mTshBOTL4Xlvw/s320/20160111_152501.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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Pinch the nipple.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1j06O9QVUST-1lVUh1CcQXjddoGpvOxBjb75l4U2Zm7y0Y81CQ_1XM4tjhyb7k-ei4oKGh_TMACdYePfvTBnN-faCDPdISRXn_FF9gmTdIraFvuMtYhQMUjDRKW4RKLmg7SU0fXbK9o8/s1600/20160111_152513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1j06O9QVUST-1lVUh1CcQXjddoGpvOxBjb75l4U2Zm7y0Y81CQ_1XM4tjhyb7k-ei4oKGh_TMACdYePfvTBnN-faCDPdISRXn_FF9gmTdIraFvuMtYhQMUjDRKW4RKLmg7SU0fXbK9o8/s320/20160111_152513.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Submerge the pinched paci in water (you can even run it under the tap)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjti0N-FoIx9ntvAFdmBy8ke7eR9qIYEliYLaTsN1qKizijaDHok1caCFIfoz0JX9aMnSlSj_3Js7pOFRzaRpM5pIl2ew82dPRwSvKUrmM5WyayGWpEpiIsueZ0WIJZJ003IhKswiEOmMY/s1600/20160111_152851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjti0N-FoIx9ntvAFdmBy8ke7eR9qIYEliYLaTsN1qKizijaDHok1caCFIfoz0JX9aMnSlSj_3Js7pOFRzaRpM5pIl2ew82dPRwSvKUrmM5WyayGWpEpiIsueZ0WIJZJ003IhKswiEOmMY/s320/20160111_152851.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Unpinch the paci, slowly, allowing the bulb to fill with water,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-hExs6Vv816mhFQdI60NX5v5N6qu0g0nbWhp_GYOM54yrVRbpDPkyEu4FsnenCNtaHmJHLZKH2Eww3whrYf8J7PSFdDNxQdaS7yk1gnAi1IOAgfkKfbaY4lgyDRK9HGpW_zGIpxQx9U/s1600/20160111_152859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-hExs6Vv816mhFQdI60NX5v5N6qu0g0nbWhp_GYOM54yrVRbpDPkyEu4FsnenCNtaHmJHLZKH2Eww3whrYf8J7PSFdDNxQdaS7yk1gnAi1IOAgfkKfbaY4lgyDRK9HGpW_zGIpxQx9U/s320/20160111_152859.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The nipple will fill with water.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOD37tEqMijBrslaxnaSlJVre7FabKpHm7xPffLvyQ4haAZtc2lrg0hHA3C7X25Gdqe2oe2_aBk2w-xqvEsqrqKtUiK9ssMstl0HZ2mGwKSt4bec5av2HpXn1RyyZZpXbXwLoL_eKl2P4/s1600/20160111_152651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOD37tEqMijBrslaxnaSlJVre7FabKpHm7xPffLvyQ4haAZtc2lrg0hHA3C7X25Gdqe2oe2_aBk2w-xqvEsqrqKtUiK9ssMstl0HZ2mGwKSt4bec5av2HpXn1RyyZZpXbXwLoL_eKl2P4/s320/20160111_152651.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Put the pacifiers in the freezer. Pat yourself on the back and get yourself a bowl of ice cream while you're in there. You deserve it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAgPnvL0Sz4eL3npCjjdt5MLKkat_jd364_PylhjfZR5cbSEmC-LT653CWYRiuXfdzLPsVtIR_XAfp6XQe3tWcJPqlCJaFS31EAFKGNxOzkQ1losXjeZgYyebXZ4iVgYiDhtwH1vTx3hc/s1600/20160111_153032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAgPnvL0Sz4eL3npCjjdt5MLKkat_jd364_PylhjfZR5cbSEmC-LT653CWYRiuXfdzLPsVtIR_XAfp6XQe3tWcJPqlCJaFS31EAFKGNxOzkQ1losXjeZgYyebXZ4iVgYiDhtwH1vTx3hc/s320/20160111_153032.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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Then when your baby wakes up from his nap and is all fussy with sore gums, pop one of these bad boys in his mouth and enjoy the sweet sound of silence.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9Ild6-Yadb15xzZ46JsdTfqTJ6ohgvA1Hv4SA2yblp61p7xbytHyhxOSrZYiM5z_8slpIj-xngXJeSSn7fM9zkaU6gnnyPPsViwukw1uWmlGHIyJzeyNgiulPkWUr8BZ6jeok1fXAZA/s1600/20160111_165724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9Ild6-Yadb15xzZ46JsdTfqTJ6ohgvA1Hv4SA2yblp61p7xbytHyhxOSrZYiM5z_8slpIj-xngXJeSSn7fM9zkaU6gnnyPPsViwukw1uWmlGHIyJzeyNgiulPkWUr8BZ6jeok1fXAZA/s320/20160111_165724.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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PS Put a bib on your kiddo (I recommend <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LazyDuckCrafts/search?search_query=bib&order=date_desc&view_type=gallery&ref=shop_search" target="_blank">THESE</a>), as the ice melts it will dribble out of the binkie and all over his cute clothes.</div>
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<br />Katie Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698422114925466547noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424714289592725798.post-92083197313010954042016-01-04T16:02:00.000-05:002016-01-04T16:13:52.488-05:00Toddler painting keepsake - masked stencil canvas wall art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02EbHTBpkjvJ_6vKEQuofva8KIOO_VsBfbiH6sfHRhnnxZikWBf2fH1xS8GATyusW1I9Caz0ov7BWDhPDh7FoqDbXGwM2ZVxkOzFgXzfe-RsiZh_HAR13b6ZKDrgabncZQ-9bN4_JFw0/s1600/a20151127_095140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02EbHTBpkjvJ_6vKEQuofva8KIOO_VsBfbiH6sfHRhnnxZikWBf2fH1xS8GATyusW1I9Caz0ov7BWDhPDh7FoqDbXGwM2ZVxkOzFgXzfe-RsiZh_HAR13b6ZKDrgabncZQ-9bN4_JFw0/s320/a20151127_095140.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
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My two year old son loves to paint and draw. I end up with stacks of scrap paper covered in scribbles that I don't know what to do with, and they usually end up in the trash. Some of his projects make it to the fridge where they live for a month or two before being filed away in a box in the garage. Every so often I like to do a craft that is a little more of an "heirloom" - something that demonstrates where he is developmentally, but is also nice enough to have on display for the long-term. The kind of project that might become a gift for his loving family and friends.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://innerchildfun.com/2013/02/love-painting-for-kids.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2of_RnVYAeYV-1dBWOWhVFRQAhvzHURMTHJHnjqScsyhB6fmGwD0s86-tb8fzEvoubkb0mROt_EIJU4TbcuTJi7n5SSPSzfBfjfUsO78nc0iwH3noO1WPkAHb17MBuZJoaK6EMjG2wY/s320/lovepainting6.jpg" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <a href="http://innerchildfun.com/2013/02/love-painting-for-kids.html">http://innerchildfun.com/2013/02/love-painting-for-kids.html</a></td></tr>
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About a year ago (when he was still one), I saw on <span id="goog_1714770579"></span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/veggie2001/" target="_blank">pinterest<span id="goog_1714770580"></span> </a>a way to use masking tape to make a painting. In that example, you simply tape out a letter shape with masking tape, allow your child to paint the whole canvas or paper, peel away the masking tape, and voila! Instant art! It acts as a sort ot reverse stencil.<br />
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I made one of those paintings with my kiddo, on a small <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K6IONKE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00K6IONKE&linkCode=as2&tag=tomshomepage00&linkId=XP3RK6CC3MSGUOXO">stretched canvas</a>, of the KLAW's first initial and hung it in his play kitchen.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJTYKDZE8HdUG7L7SmLd3KonnTnxbYK_43QYiwfGp7qJpJ3qDUbD6iTdf-sM0tlbfZmpvOgCF1pmYa-GkgzWsPVhaRusLEcGLMjVAzoR_IL1-JAlq1aQCmgsKrzzWISMGIYmxy6OWt3E/s1600/10697192_10100592291190508_6019283315033380937_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJTYKDZE8HdUG7L7SmLd3KonnTnxbYK_43QYiwfGp7qJpJ3qDUbD6iTdf-sM0tlbfZmpvOgCF1pmYa-GkgzWsPVhaRusLEcGLMjVAzoR_IL1-JAlq1aQCmgsKrzzWISMGIYmxy6OWt3E/s320/10697192_10100592291190508_6019283315033380937_o.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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My pal Darcy, of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Moonladys-Kitchen-1539119872966203/" target="_blank">Moonlady's Kitchen</a>, saw our project and totally cranked it up a notch. Instead of simply using tape as-is to make block letters, she began using sheets of tape to make stencils of different shapes, and from there we took off to all sorts of projects. Here is a tutorial on how to make a variety of cute DIY wall art with your toddler.<br />
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1. Start with a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K6IONKE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00K6IONKE&linkCode=as2&tag=tomshomepage00&linkId=XP3RK6CC3MSGUOXO">stretched canvas</a> or <a href="http://amzn.to/1RcfMVk" target="_blank">flat canvas</a> in the size you want. You can either use regular acrylic <a href="http://amzn.to/1RcgyBx" target="_blank">craft paint</a> (I buy mine at Walmart for 50 cents a bottle - and let the little guy pick out a new color every so often) or <a href="http://amzn.to/1R7MZRf" target="_blank">washable paint</a> and then protect it with a clear coat of <a href="http://amzn.to/1R7N3Rd" target="_blank">spray paint</a> when you're done.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVreufbNsrwUICxRj3vSazIa54CxP3-NeDAO2Km9v1SK8FuvPD75gF0veqvTEzwMooKdag-sO9HS6dCiqoH-waBWI4oceGRnoxZV3skvpAMHj5-uAHSCTO8NY9iJPVJioqlgf8-vn1j_M/s1600/20151123_085832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVreufbNsrwUICxRj3vSazIa54CxP3-NeDAO2Km9v1SK8FuvPD75gF0veqvTEzwMooKdag-sO9HS6dCiqoH-waBWI4oceGRnoxZV3skvpAMHj5-uAHSCTO8NY9iJPVJioqlgf8-vn1j_M/s320/20151123_085832.jpg" width="320" /></a>2. If you want a background color, begin by painting that. For the horse, We did the blue for the sky on half the canvas, let it dry, taped off the area that was blue with a design to make it look like a rolling field, and painted the bottom half green. I've found that putting blobs of different color paint on the canvas and letting the kiddo smoosh it around with a paintbrush is a good way to get full coverage, pretty patterns, and control where the paint goes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgqnWCNqucWadAShfJThvu0lHxb_zChuvCgLyB8weC2ffI2waiMq_8ZbT5nrIFS1Fj_S2JsLfo-Jd0dIlKn7IQ49Ol1TIHwkmEV0b0Zh6Fsa9b4n0KltA7iy1dqr2LncDPpvIswjFeeU/s1600/color-wheel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgqnWCNqucWadAShfJThvu0lHxb_zChuvCgLyB8weC2ffI2waiMq_8ZbT5nrIFS1Fj_S2JsLfo-Jd0dIlKn7IQ49Ol1TIHwkmEV0b0Zh6Fsa9b4n0KltA7iy1dqr2LncDPpvIswjFeeU/s200/color-wheel.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>PRO TIP:</b> Choose colors that are within about 3 to 5 segments of each other on the color wheel for each design. If you glob on orange and blue, or red and green, you'll end up with a muddy brown mess. Stick with all cool colors or all warm colors; add in a little white, or use a variety of intensities (bold to pastel) to get a nice variation of color to create texture.<br />
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3. Download simple line art/clip art of the design you want. Print out the images, scaled to fit on your canvas. Or, if you're super artsy, you can free-hand a design later. But tracing, for me, yields great results. (I suppose if you have a fancy <a href="http://amzn.to/1VCi273" target="_blank">Silhouette Cameo </a>machine, you could probably have something cut out by that, too...)<br />
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4. Apply <a href="http://amzn.to/1VCoydS" target="_blank">masking tape</a> in overlapping rows to a piece of <a href="http://amzn.to/1OHzocT" target="_blank">parchment paper</a>. It will be pretty transparent so you can trace the design you printed out on to the tape or parchment.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegpqEGNhQjw7wkdIvA9aR30EBew3j23ja4ACI6tY7nCKLjXzaO6niCtyb3yBsatxhe5-dRcusRP2Io4swIvwco-tf-sM3NDC25qziSYCcF-O0N2uJ4RS4hPpUtdeYtXeDHy5en0nXVQQ/s1600/20151123_114356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegpqEGNhQjw7wkdIvA9aR30EBew3j23ja4ACI6tY7nCKLjXzaO6niCtyb3yBsatxhe5-dRcusRP2Io4swIvwco-tf-sM3NDC25qziSYCcF-O0N2uJ4RS4hPpUtdeYtXeDHy5en0nXVQQ/s320/20151123_114356.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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5. Once drawn, with the tape still attached to the parchment, cut out the design. I used scissors, being careful that the cuts on the outer portion were tidy, but chopping up the poor tape horse.<br />
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<b>PRO TIP: </b>If you have a <a href="http://amzn.to/1RcmYRk" target="_blank">cutting mat</a> and an <a href="http://amzn.to/1RcneQ7" target="_blank">Xacto</a> or <a href="http://amzn.to/1R7PWBx" target="_blank">rolling cutter</a>, that would work and you would be able to preserve the inside design to use as a reverse stencil on another project. Darcy has even used the tape peeled off from that reverse stencil type project to make an additional craft, such as a greeting card (on the right). (Thanks, Darcy!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjGNdVxY5-b1tqCdpOkeLJ4oxR8cbWfWSoMANN5_MbBdBc1lnCts3Ef2pjbhinszqYgtWxwt8vrIJz0pO1IS9QtHVeggYXwUfSqgruthitEahTG5o5PoSdU5V5hkxzhGxiuL3TYC7oZU/s1600/20160104_132517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjGNdVxY5-b1tqCdpOkeLJ4oxR8cbWfWSoMANN5_MbBdBc1lnCts3Ef2pjbhinszqYgtWxwt8vrIJz0pO1IS9QtHVeggYXwUfSqgruthitEahTG5o5PoSdU5V5hkxzhGxiuL3TYC7oZU/s320/20160104_132517.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkA10mtaLRSyGCv97aWBFZs4D6lJXbkWC5UbP7XfbVU5copB7FIGUH_WiJGqNTPfUc6saWVOBJQBmQ6jS4GQcJUA1JG-wVq52vwnXQ8JaGOEUdi3FT4l43VmC45twt98U4UnPKKNfRVOw/s1600/20160104_132530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkA10mtaLRSyGCv97aWBFZs4D6lJXbkWC5UbP7XfbVU5copB7FIGUH_WiJGqNTPfUc6saWVOBJQBmQ6jS4GQcJUA1JG-wVq52vwnXQ8JaGOEUdi3FT4l43VmC45twt98U4UnPKKNfRVOw/s320/20160104_132530.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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6. Peel the stencil off the parchment and apply to your canvas (once the background paint is dry). Use additional tape to mask of any areas not covered by the stencil. Use your fingernail to press around the edges of the design so they are tight against the canvas to minimize seepage.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QljVMUQJpvyZg3IhyBPpUp8UmbIPiJQPi-ddSMg89uSa8bk31T-C2adVhrfCox6keM_-KYMvQmTOapn-jeHQXYUjGCAcEyxPB9wiYdXS5gtlEqRpkXz3gYXplM8n9Bk_EbebjCYa3yM/s1600/20151123_182721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QljVMUQJpvyZg3IhyBPpUp8UmbIPiJQPi-ddSMg89uSa8bk31T-C2adVhrfCox6keM_-KYMvQmTOapn-jeHQXYUjGCAcEyxPB9wiYdXS5gtlEqRpkXz3gYXplM8n9Bk_EbebjCYa3yM/s320/20151123_182721.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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7. Repeat the painting process used for the background- putting blobs of paint in the design area and allowing the child to paint. Make sure the whole design is filled in.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1O_88puIUbSTy1Koz54JRnbNjPtrg6jLCji5tOrdZnKq4Gt2OLNACTCmHpXl2BkrsOynq56C_IaP4-7jyl_5pN9XGQcSPINKNTMtGlmVOIdm-tdOdTMWcVE_ZCJ-q_9uBxPSzo-A_i2w/s1600/20151127_094558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1O_88puIUbSTy1Koz54JRnbNjPtrg6jLCji5tOrdZnKq4Gt2OLNACTCmHpXl2BkrsOynq56C_IaP4-7jyl_5pN9XGQcSPINKNTMtGlmVOIdm-tdOdTMWcVE_ZCJ-q_9uBxPSzo-A_i2w/s320/20151127_094558.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What my child painted</td></tr>
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8. When the paint is dry, remove the tape to reveal the design.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBx4DWUdRqs5iJ9qIIzPoYgMJGZfpzrrfPy00YTbtiFXYH1TdbcDzOWeVHHvR4EI2lIoG0GOAEjXMNK7iXN_Jp3uNXR_w3DI56vmW1HMwXbxpmp5kzDxwi6gVUhWnsReiwga6I2o_XiBo/s1600/20151127_095129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBx4DWUdRqs5iJ9qIIzPoYgMJGZfpzrrfPy00YTbtiFXYH1TdbcDzOWeVHHvR4EI2lIoG0GOAEjXMNK7iXN_Jp3uNXR_w3DI56vmW1HMwXbxpmp5kzDxwi6gVUhWnsReiwga6I2o_XiBo/s320/20151127_095129.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What the result looks like</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
9. Finish with any details you may want to hand paint, such as the faces I added to these cardinals and the branches on which they are perched.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0zRgytk3xibUzCOUW9g90Ic7kqXoiftgddAuy7uz2L1uy5XkaF9NinlF8sfGGHu2a_QsMEh7249D7_EBdSyTKx_IMLXd2w6FZiGBGm22dbilA1KmD8XdJAJ2BTf_F-SSePTt9ygLbVk/s1600/20151127_095140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0zRgytk3xibUzCOUW9g90Ic7kqXoiftgddAuy7uz2L1uy5XkaF9NinlF8sfGGHu2a_QsMEh7249D7_EBdSyTKx_IMLXd2w6FZiGBGm22dbilA1KmD8XdJAJ2BTf_F-SSePTt9ygLbVk/s320/20151127_095140.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's one more we made, for which the little guy selected a bold color scheme.<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/AVvXsEg90b00jf0D20MYI5uCvFmY_QH6IdV_kQaYSaK56oD7cje4ihps4rrbY9-xcJ4R5_4lu3KYHzViPTDApfoMMd3L0W78-ufD7ME6muZLmIDQ_x-4CPRdAyDOTfJw6oAi1Aly4Dfu0NHjK4c/s1600/20151127_075603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90b00jf0D20MYI5uCvFmY_QH6IdV_kQaYSaK56oD7cje4ihps4rrbY9-xcJ4R5_4lu3KYHzViPTDApfoMMd3L0W78-ufD7ME6muZLmIDQ_x-4CPRdAyDOTfJw6oAi1Aly4Dfu0NHjK4c/s320/20151127_075603.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">masked<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FX-rakJ6l7D2oI0fnuDDxX1cnycChkl4zDqNusZctnYvHyZKolWToJwnz2zWsXNRiYEz9SAmJyUHrCo0g9sVPIJ5GlbNiZNTLUi-Z1LR6zlHO2PCo3wcfoYKa6MRhLoS-2m1X3kWuQM/s1600/20151127_095145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FX-rakJ6l7D2oI0fnuDDxX1cnycChkl4zDqNusZctnYvHyZKolWToJwnz2zWsXNRiYEz9SAmJyUHrCo0g9sVPIJ5GlbNiZNTLUi-Z1LR6zlHO2PCo3wcfoYKa6MRhLoS-2m1X3kWuQM/s320/20151127_095145.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">finished</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
There are so many possibilities with this technique, and it doesn't have to be exclusively for toddler art. This blogger used sheet music (scrap paper) as the background and <a href="http://www.michaels.com/search?q=adhesive%20stencil" target="_blank">adhesive stencils</a> available from Michael's. The beauty of the masking tape method, though, is that it is CHEAP and quick to do with items on hand - which is key when you've got little ones running around.</div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://savedbylovecreations.com/2011/10/plaids-new-easy-to-paint-line-project.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipC7lH5AO9Gk84C7KopoPtKPmjNo8EM71CbCbdjx1j7Nt_jPvS9TcSYNJVDRZx5CHeZqvT7HPW7GJnY8UYPMo38a38N00gKGiIuy-87azRKvhIIxgHhJkQV9z1oFZQnH-3v_JeFNkkOz4/s1600/Plaid9-300x300.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://savedbylovecreations.com/2011/10/plaids-new-easy-to-paint-line-project.html">Sheet music stencil on savedbylovecreations.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Here's another blogger's version that looks very trendy! Cheap and easy update to your decor.</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;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://laurawadsworth.com/2011/11/02/pinterest-challenge-diy-wall-art/"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhjlWz_BAAZriZ0Gbocz9VAwBcV-fXv27wa9uUNPQrzrZv1ZJ-3ilDCTNa9fmh0h7BwgLX113hZtm9879iGFwU0IAwDzQT_XFa-1ByHd3-mUvmE95yMktQX4Xaa6TRp0ZlT7JwfengyA/s320/diy-wall-art.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://laurawadsworth.com/2011/11/02/pinterest-challenge-diy-wall-art/">Chevron art from laurawadsworth.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">This post contains affiliate links.</span></div>
Katie Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698422114925466547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424714289592725798.post-88584979806679693942015-11-24T13:07:00.000-05:002015-11-24T13:07:37.737-05:00The Sisyphean Housewife<div class="MsoNormal">
Two months post-partum and I finally feel like I’m starting
to get back in the swing of things. I think I might actually be getting ahead
of the dirt and clutter that plague this house. For several days in a row, the
house is cleaner or tidier at the end of the day than it was at the beginning. Doesn't sound like a big deal, but to me it kinda is.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCj7NY2jjfFH74vEFvk80o2YEbObrVwGUAAlpYCBszV4wg7xYHPamRThbCg9AapaHpk2YbGmHm_QEsY3bakaJTwQw9z8zuLYzrz3CJJAMDCOX5_mnqlWHlNd2eMrBehSZrpoMRR1Jt5dM/s1600/209a170a1945e27898018b30ad769588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCj7NY2jjfFH74vEFvk80o2YEbObrVwGUAAlpYCBszV4wg7xYHPamRThbCg9AapaHpk2YbGmHm_QEsY3bakaJTwQw9z8zuLYzrz3CJJAMDCOX5_mnqlWHlNd2eMrBehSZrpoMRR1Jt5dM/s320/209a170a1945e27898018b30ad769588.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I am good at many things. Housekeeping is not one of them. I
am rarely motivated to clean, and when I am motivated I don’t really do a very
good job. To me, it's boring, gross, and tedious; and I am amazed that there are people out there who really enjoy it. Most of the time, I frankly don’t care about a little mess (ok, a lot
of mess) so my baseline for acceptable cleanliness is pretty low. I clean out
of a sense of duty and a desire not to live in a house reminiscent of a
Hoarders episode. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgUnbApTNHRRilfrAd87OHDVsFvyAeAfbx2bs1Qf481wOx9YGU83vN02HHoXgAN91gQ4amY2BCO2nwnBzUvB6fuVq2xKD6nUH_vB5tO8ytDUym482cUpPl7WOx6M9CUAhy7-x_mPP3gY/s1600/Housework-is-what-a-woman-does-that-nobody-notices-unless-she-hasnt-done-it..png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgUnbApTNHRRilfrAd87OHDVsFvyAeAfbx2bs1Qf481wOx9YGU83vN02HHoXgAN91gQ4amY2BCO2nwnBzUvB6fuVq2xKD6nUH_vB5tO8ytDUym482cUpPl7WOx6M9CUAhy7-x_mPP3gY/s320/Housework-is-what-a-woman-does-that-nobody-notices-unless-she-hasnt-done-it..png" width="320" /></a></div>
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For the past however many months, this house has been in the
red in terms of cleanliness. Between being extremely pregnant, being laid up
for two weeks after a complicated birth, having houseguests, and getting accustomed
to the schedules of two tiny humans instead of just one, and a toddler tornado
tearing through the house daily, chores just weren’t happening, and messes were
accumulating. Our plan to eat out much less frequently also fell by the
wayside. Fortunately my darling husband does more than his fair share around
the house so things never got too out of control, but even still…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_K4IGfs0u2gxp9GJVd_DYnWz0nNlS5o4xzu_vHeqU9o8G7sXoXwrpkFjVFRQ0OWr771-vdHIIBACIxxArIeyNDqpDJxdOBEFomskabssJUonIwAfpQTbf1LDgzKDkR4o7wibEMcjHVZ0/s1600/l_7d198310-ef7b-11e1-8a85-43eb64e00007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_K4IGfs0u2gxp9GJVd_DYnWz0nNlS5o4xzu_vHeqU9o8G7sXoXwrpkFjVFRQ0OWr771-vdHIIBACIxxArIeyNDqpDJxdOBEFomskabssJUonIwAfpQTbf1LDgzKDkR4o7wibEMcjHVZ0/s320/l_7d198310-ef7b-11e1-8a85-43eb64e00007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
After Kyle was born we had a professional cleaning service
come in and deep clean the whole house. It was pretty much the best thing ever.
This time around, we didn’t do that. So here I am digging us out of dirt debt,
slowly but surely. You can actually see the countertops in the kitchen. I
dusted the ledge of my vanity backsplash. Today I plan to even bathe the baby.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGR5HYojdLeKIxKw30uhusvCKLioLVA32O6UWPNXJkx0zfzhWh3aUyTqjrtWRQsods0_dzsej17E4XbiJSeYiqmSM8QDP4tgmwrvJn9Jq_MzTDbHsBjr1AIUvjA-pJ-fXItsFMAckFwY/s1600/large.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGR5HYojdLeKIxKw30uhusvCKLioLVA32O6UWPNXJkx0zfzhWh3aUyTqjrtWRQsods0_dzsej17E4XbiJSeYiqmSM8QDP4tgmwrvJn9Jq_MzTDbHsBjr1AIUvjA-pJ-fXItsFMAckFwY/s320/large.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
But at the end of the day, for each surface cleared of some
project, each pile of mail sorted, each room swept, there is another chore
looming on the horizon. I go to bed at night feeling like Sisyphus, but instead
of a boulder, it is a dog hair tumbleweed that I am forever pushing up a hill.
It gets to be overwhelming and mentally exhausting. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFPz6ujTZb5u76LKfi6hj9cVGNghwgLCUFN1YFd5iFohxT4e9iLdINc98dfeoiGYxAt_9dvwuenk2pY0k35dasxHPSnPXQt5reb9UpzTb6KXQLKpq_IZGHCMj5dBfsm2BqLDWt6LThEE/s1600/9-20-13p-f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFPz6ujTZb5u76LKfi6hj9cVGNghwgLCUFN1YFd5iFohxT4e9iLdINc98dfeoiGYxAt_9dvwuenk2pY0k35dasxHPSnPXQt5reb9UpzTb6KXQLKpq_IZGHCMj5dBfsm2BqLDWt6LThEE/s320/9-20-13p-f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
No matter how many loads of laundry I do in a day (and
laundry for four is exponentially more than laundry for three), at the end of
the day we shed our clothes, meaning the laundry is never finished. No matter
how much of an effort I make to keep dirty dishes out of the sink (which means
keeping the clean dishes out of the dishwasher), there is always that one last
ice cream bowl, bedside water glass or errant sippy cup that remains unwashed each
evening. No matter how many times a day we pick up toddler toys, there is still
shit everywhere (Not actual shit. Usually.). </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis28JhFKSQISxlOGl_TqeZP3lNKWqoptKhv3BZbsLOYu-PWceOd-skNds6th0BGv4URb1xtsLLpVV6S1w323QrY84jRVAWW8nrIV6s2c9CJQNUuU4gBQzKnL-j7YpaxPJVXLYL6IUuXhU/s1600/Cleaning-with-kids-in-the-house-is-like-brushing-your-teeth-while-eating-Oreos.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis28JhFKSQISxlOGl_TqeZP3lNKWqoptKhv3BZbsLOYu-PWceOd-skNds6th0BGv4URb1xtsLLpVV6S1w323QrY84jRVAWW8nrIV6s2c9CJQNUuU4gBQzKnL-j7YpaxPJVXLYL6IUuXhU/s320/Cleaning-with-kids-in-the-house-is-like-brushing-your-teeth-while-eating-Oreos.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Even making the bed becomes an
item on tomorrow’s looming to-do list the moment the covers are pulled back for
the night (which is why I never bother making the bed in the first place.). It
is impossible to go to sleep without undone chores weighing on my mind. Sometimes I spend more time thinking about a task than it would take to just do it. Thanks to that mental list, I can never shake the feeling that this
woman’s work is quite literally never done.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSf-wE2SwEfvcFXndAFzWB95Yc9zVK5-MHtgVAfNZc8ETcafK1AYDhh9OVrQmyP32YsRNJ3ED6U5ia1WZcK50n0jrVymeBP-cAmrm02JG0gnsSut-j4qekHIP3oXN_qyXObLKC3MN5iZs/s1600/MjAxMi1jNTg2MjI1YWI5YjNkOGVm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSf-wE2SwEfvcFXndAFzWB95Yc9zVK5-MHtgVAfNZc8ETcafK1AYDhh9OVrQmyP32YsRNJ3ED6U5ia1WZcK50n0jrVymeBP-cAmrm02JG0gnsSut-j4qekHIP3oXN_qyXObLKC3MN5iZs/s320/MjAxMi1jNTg2MjI1YWI5YjNkOGVm.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know, from the number of memes on the topic, that I am not
alone in this sentiment. And I know it’s a first world problem – a problem of
abundance, an abundance for which I should be grateful this Thanksgiving
holiday. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ry4hj-G5O1ovkC5YCbgjpPQN6u8MKfX-g8rir4dBoI26493lTbzUTJ6czcbnxqirnmBn1OZ9Gm9FFPwo2_HS3hFQWp4rkZeYmQMwL59EtQaQrELQqDMvVVBVhBUTLNX8zg7GNLluqt4/s1600/1348264121312_3411195.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ry4hj-G5O1ovkC5YCbgjpPQN6u8MKfX-g8rir4dBoI26493lTbzUTJ6czcbnxqirnmBn1OZ9Gm9FFPwo2_HS3hFQWp4rkZeYmQMwL59EtQaQrELQqDMvVVBVhBUTLNX8zg7GNLluqt4/s320/1348264121312_3411195.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
So I ask – how do you cope? What simple things have you done to awaken
your inner Martha Stewart? I know this pack rat should purge. I should make a
meal plan. A chore chart. Things I’ve tried that last a week or two. What else
have you got, people of the internet?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Katie Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698422114925466547noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424714289592725798.post-60247172371345280762015-11-19T10:15:00.002-05:002015-11-19T10:15:51.235-05:00Bee Gone!Well it's official. Our bees have flown the coop. Or the hive, as the case may be.<br />
After seeing the bees being attacked by a foreign swarm, we knew it was only a matter of time. And sure enough, when Tom went out to check them late last month, the hive had nothing but bee corpses and the honey they'd worked so hard to accumulate was gone. It was heartbreaking, but we have chalked it up to another hard (and expensive) lesson learned on the farm.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuDf1CiWILyzlgjIBfd6o-mtYdYNsu1uEua420yArbkmFilqhc_7COVEMCgKEXq16IXI3ii3A1keceJkXjLC1btXBwPGmfSIJPyDD_Sg3es15k70xg1AkcSVKno9JeyxjQ4wUt-cdtvI/s1600/DSC_2176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuDf1CiWILyzlgjIBfd6o-mtYdYNsu1uEua420yArbkmFilqhc_7COVEMCgKEXq16IXI3ii3A1keceJkXjLC1btXBwPGmfSIJPyDD_Sg3es15k70xg1AkcSVKno9JeyxjQ4wUt-cdtvI/s320/DSC_2176.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We plan to try again next year, taking the lessons learned from this year, and will hope for greater success. It is not uncommon for beekeepers to lose their hives, so we knew this was a possibility, but we really hoped to succeed.<br />
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In other news, we were bees for Halloween - Daddy was the beekeeper, Mommy was the queen bee, and the kids were two cute honeybees!<br />
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<br />Katie Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698422114925466547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424714289592725798.post-41854518456875894492015-11-09T18:47:00.001-05:002015-11-09T18:47:50.635-05:00Dadurday, or How to Save Your Marriage and Raise Awesome KidsI want to share this idea with all you parents. My friend Satwik frequently posts pictures of himself hanging out with his two kids on what he has termed "Dadurday." Essentially, he takes the kids out to do something on Saturday, just dad and the kids. They go to eat, on bike rides, sightseeing, to farms, etc. This may not seem like a big deal, but I want to explain why it is, and why I think more dads should take the same initiative. Or why more wives should insist upon it.<br />
<br />
Moms (working moms and stay-at-home moms alike) are generally their children's primary caregivers. When both parents are around, the care generally defaults to mom, and unless dad is expressly in charge, mom is on alert. As such, we often find ourselves with little time truly to ourselves, when nobody depends on us, we have no tasks to complete for the good of the household, we don't have to use the "eyes in the back of our heads," etc. Even when dad is watching the kids but mom is still in proximity, she will never be off duty. Physical separation is a critical component of Dadurday.<br />
<br />
What's more, if moms want free time outside of the house, we often have to ask for it. As wonderful as my husband is, I still find us in a strange dynamic in which (for example) he'll tell me he's going for a haircut, then go get one. Or just up and go. Meanwhile, I ask "permission" and then have to make a plan to go out around his schedule. Tom doesn't demand this of me in any way, that's just kinda how it works. This loss of autonomy generally translates to a loss of self for many women, which can be one of the greatest challenges of motherhood.<br />
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There is a certain segment of dads who treat hanging out with their kids as if they are babysitting, like it is a burden, or like they are overwhelmed or confused with what to do with these tiny humans. It makes me so sad to hear from the wives of these men. It makes me think about a piece of advice my friend Kristen mentioned she'd learned about parenting: delight in your children. Ans so the hands-off dads, I say: delight in your children. Get down on their level. Get dirty (and that includes changing diapers). Get involved. Get snuggly. Get creative. Seeing the world through the eyes of a child is one of the greatest joys of parenthood.<br />
<br />
There are other dads who love to hang out with their kids but don't necessarily appreciate their wives' perspectives and needs. Both classes of dad (and mom) can benefit from Dadurday, I think. Spending time with one parent without the other present is a very different experience, and that bonding is so important. I think these everyday encounters and simple conversations with young children set the groundwork for the big conversations that come later.<br />
<br />
Make a plan - be it every Saturday, every other Saturday, or one Saturday a month - for Dad to take the kids somewhere for a substantial portion of the day, ideally including at least one meal. The plan is key so that Mom can anticipate her free time and make a lunch date with her non-parent friend she never sees, make an appointment for a pedicure, or pick up a trashy novel at the library. And Dadurday doesn't have to cost money - Dad can pack a picnic lunch and take the kiddos to the park. Home Depot and Lowe's have free kid's projects one Saturday a month. Go for a hike or to the pool. I suggested this idea to one harried friend recently, and her husband ended up taking their daughter out for donuts, to the farmers' market, and to a trampoline play place. The possibilities are endless.<br />
<br />
I know this doesn't describe everyone's situation, but in talking to moms I know, it's a common theme I hear over and over: "I just want time to myself!" I guarantee you the rewards will come back to you tenfold in your marriage. As my husband espouses: happy wife, happy life!<br />
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#dadurday #teamDDW #daddydoinwork #womenirl #parenting #protip #happywifehappylife<br />
<br />Katie Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698422114925466547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424714289592725798.post-60061472101858762092015-10-15T22:50:00.001-04:002015-10-15T22:51:07.151-04:00Bully BeesIn what appears to be the ongoing demise of our beehive, Tom captured this video of bees fighting. He suspects foreign bees raided our weaker hive.<br />
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A few days later I went to look at the hive and there was more activity around it than I'd ever seen.<br />
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Tom hasn't had a chance to go back out and open the hive to see what's really going on. Stay tuned!Katie Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698422114925466547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424714289592725798.post-5320087928563335842015-10-01T15:19:00.001-04:002015-10-01T21:02:19.869-04:00Baby Nathan's Birth Story<div class="MsoNormal">
Many people have been curious about how a (now-) unconventional
home birth goes down, and some people just like to read birth stories, so I
thought I’d share mine. If you are squeamish about blood, poop, and lady bits, pass
this post on by. Otherwise, read on to hear the tale of how baby Nathan Scott came to be born in a log cabin!</div>
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We decided to use a midwife after my hospital experience
with Kyle’s birth was not what I’d hoped for. When we learned the famous <a href="http://thefarmmidwives.org/" target="_blank">FarmMidwifery Center</a> was only an hour from our new home in Tennessee, the decision was simple.
Their founder, Ina May Gaskin, literally wrote <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553381156/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0553381156&linkCode=as2&tag=tomshomepage00&linkId=4EZENRXSR63PDS4Z%22%3EIna%20May%27s%20Guide%20to%20Childbirth%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=tomshomepage00&l=as2&o=1&a=0553381156" target="_blank">the book on natural childbirth</a>. Their practice, around since <a href="http://www.thefarmcommunity.com/" target="_blank">The Farm commune</a> was founded in the ‘60s, is
regarded as one of the best, if not THE best, in the world. People travel from
around the country and world to rent cabins on the idyllic property for weeks
on end to wait out the time until their babies arrive. I was referred by Kyle’s
pediatrician to contact <a href="http://wholewomanwellnesscenter.com/about-2/" target="_blank">Stacie Hunt</a>, one of <a href="http://www.thefarm.org/" target="_blank">The Farm</a> midwives. During our first
meeting with her, she pointed out it was silly for us to rent a cabin by the
week when we have a perfectly good home just an hour away. So a home birth it
was! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Prenatal care was pretty much the same as at an
obstetrician’s office. I had regular checkups, with all the same blood tests,
ultrasounds, fetal heartbeat monitoring via Doppler, etc. that you would get in
a doctor’s office, though some tests were outsourced to the local hospital or
other clinics and there was no pressure to do any unnecessary testing. The Farm
services the large local Amish community, and their patients forgo most testing,
and often times much of the prenatal care, with generally positive outcomes.
The midwives are thoroughly trained in the areas of medicine pertinent to
childbirth and are certified by a national board. In fact, I’d wager that
Stacie, who has delivered 1,800+ babies and been present at more than 4,000
births, probably has more experience than the doctor who caught Kyle. And we
knew that if something went really wrong, we could be at a hospital in ten
minutes under the care of surgeons. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Overall, I felt as safe, if not safer, with our choice this
time around. The somewhat intangible
pros and cons of my experience were: PRO – Prenatal visits lasted about an
hour, with great personal attention paid to us. About 15 minutes was spent
doing the actual tests and checkup, and about 45 minutes chatting about the
pregnancy, gardening, parenting, gossip, etc. It is rare that you get to bond
with a medical professional in this way. This is the person helping welcome your most precious possession into the world, and it's nice to know them on a first name basis (and even as facebook friends!). CON: Because I was working with one midwife (and
her team) rather than a practice of several interchangeable doctors, my
appointments would frequently be cancelled or rescheduled when Stacie was
called out on a birth. But, I just rolled with it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I also decided to hire a doula, which is basically a birth
coach. With Kyle’s birth I felt I caved and asked for an epidural when I didn’t
want one. I felt ill-equipped to manage the painful contractions, and my loving
husband was no better equipped than I. I hoped to have someone on-hand who
could offer me support and encouragement, as well as various ways to cope with
the pain and struggles of labor. I told Stacie I wasn’t always good at taking
direction so I needed someone who could be a bit of a bitch if necessary. She
referred me to <a href="http://www.gaiabirthandbodywork.com/about/kari-jenkins/" target="_blank">Kari Jenkins</a>. We met several times before the birth to get to
know each other and discuss what I envisioned for Nathan’s birth.<o:p></o:p></div>
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OK, so on to the birth. Nathan was due on September 24<sup>th</sup>.
Because Kyle was a few days early, we all kinda thought Nathan would be, too. I
felt in my gut, however, that he was a bit of a late bloomer simply because he
did not hiccup nearly as much as Kyle did. Hiccupping strengthens a baby’s
lungs, and I recently read that <a href="http://www.medicaldaily.com/proteins-fetus-lungs-may-trigger-their-moms-labor-could-lead-treatment-premature-340028" target="_blank">a protein in fully developed fetal lungstriggers labor</a>. So my hunch was he’d likely not be THAT early. However, from a
week or two before his due date, I began having mild contractions. With Kyle,
the day I started feeling that way was the day I went in to labor. So for weeks
I was on pins and needles. The contractions would come every couple days, for
hours on end. Not painful, but semi regular or constant pressure. At my weekly
checkups, I found that the baby was very low, I was dilated to 1 or 2 cm, and
my cervix was softened, which meant I could really go at any time (those were
the same conditions I had at my checkup the day before Kyle was born). I was
texting the midwife and doula so often saying, “This might be it!” that I was
afraid they’d think I was “the girl who called baby.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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As the due date approached, I tried every method I could to
bring on labor. Some were old wives’ tales, and some were more scientific. But
they were all primarily ways to prepare my body for labor and move things along
from the false labor to real labor if my body was ready. I tried them all, to
no avail – physical, herbal, dietary, etc. Tom’s parents arrived from Hawaii
for a week-long visit on the 23<sup>rd</sup>. They hoped to meet the baby, and
offer help during the birth or afterwards, as needed. As the due date came and
went, and none of the labor-inducing tricks worked, I began to wonder if their
visit (although really wonderful in its own right) would be in vain. So, with
Tom’s prodding, on the last day it made sense to try, I inquired about the one
method I swore I’d never use: castor oil. Stacie said to give it a go! So
around noon on the 28<sup>th</sup> I dumped two ounces of the stuff into a
chocolate milkshake and tossed it back. It tasted like some brownie batter I’d
made a while back using stale vegetable oil. Castor oil is a powerful laxative,
but it works to contract the muscles of your bowels and in turn the muscles
associated with childbirth. The laxative took effect (and for me it was not
accompanied with any pain or nausea), and the contractions, similar to the ones
I’d been having for weeks, also began. In the evening Stacie and her assistant
Laura came by the house to check on me. They found I’d progressed since our
previous checkup but that labor was not in progress. They headed out, saying to
call if anything changed, and we went to bed, disappointed and tired, at 9:30. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Around 12:30 I woke up, as had become standard for me in the
third trimester, and rose to pee, get some ice water, pee again. A little over
an hour later I climbed back in bed, still wide awake. As I tried to fall back
asleep, I noticed new contractions picking up. These were different- rather
than in my abdomen, these were in my pelvis, and were slightly painful. I
decided to start recording their frequency on an app I have on my phone
starting at 2:15. At 2:50 I felt the unmistakable gush of my water breaking,
and waddled to the toilet before the floodgates opened. As I sat, I felt fluid
pass, but also many clots. I peered in the bowl, horrified to see a huge amount
of blood. I called Stacie even while the amniotic fluid and blood still gushed out
of me. She asked me to send her a photo (ah, technology!) of the carnage. I’ll
spare you all that image. Luckily our rag bin was in arms reach so I grabbed an
old towel, curled up on the bathroom floor, and called for Tom. I was very
light-headed, I assume from the combination of blood loss and squeamishness/shock
from seeing all that blood. I rested my head on Tom’s lap until I was able to
return to bed. Stacie told me to monitor the baby’s movements and I could feel
him some – he was never a wiggly fetus to begin with. I know that if the
placenta is damaged, it can be very dangerous to mother and baby. So I was
hoping that was not the case. At some point I also called Kari, the doula.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Within an hour Stacie and Laura (Stacie’s
apprentice/assistant) arrived, with rolling cases full of supplies. They immediately
checked the baby’s heart rate with the Doppler (which was strong and healthy)
and began an IV of lactated ringer’s to try to help me following the blood
loss. Stacie assessed the blood, fishing about two cups of clots out of the
toilet (it’s a glamorous job sometimes). The whispering from the bathroom made
me a little concerned but the news upon her return to the bedroom was positive.
She determined it was not placental, but likely a cervical bleed from a varicose
vein that ruptured once the pressures of labor began (a rare condition called <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/uog.8946/full" target="_blank">cervical varix</a>). The blood likely began to pool and clot as I was timing my contractions,
resulting in the deluge when I got up. I found out after the fact that this was
not something she had seen more than a few times, and she told me she’s never
seen that amount of blood in all her experience. She told me later that when
she arrived and saw all the blood that she thought I might have to go to the
hospital, but when the baby sounded good and the blood stopped, she decided we
could carry on at home. Her level-headedness in the situation kept me (and Tom)
calm. I appreciate that her experience prevented her from having a knee-jerk
reaction, but that she would have taken further measures if necessary. As she
checked me, I also learned that there are two layers of the amniotic sac, and
only my outer one had broken. There was some fluid between the layers, but I
guess most of what I felt as my water breaking was actually the blood.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifF1kJIipSF1AlhdaORUzj1uzUr_VFae9WKaGcqV1jTsmkyVFFR27q3CIx8dQo4zzb6R2RnGdCZb_6cMqzYF2Bt-81ZYSCpyFmPUkmdkmCsKKIqkzoG_hLCCcQsLyvKYGTiaJa3JS3K7w/s1600/DSC_1681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifF1kJIipSF1AlhdaORUzj1uzUr_VFae9WKaGcqV1jTsmkyVFFR27q3CIx8dQo4zzb6R2RnGdCZb_6cMqzYF2Bt-81ZYSCpyFmPUkmdkmCsKKIqkzoG_hLCCcQsLyvKYGTiaJa3JS3K7w/s320/DSC_1681.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nathan was born in a log cabin!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While I was being assessed and monitored, Kari arrived. We
also woke Tom’s parents around 4:45 am, who were sleeping in the small log cabin on
our property, so that we could move our crew out there. The plan was for them
to entertain Kyle during the birth so he wasn’t scarred by the sights and
sounds of labor. He could remain in the house, in his element, while we did our
thing out in the cabin. Tom and the midwives brought all the supplies out to
the cabin and prepared the room (old sheets on the bed, turned on my <a href="https://open.spotify.com/user/veggie2001/playlist/7iiikBd7h6QQJASOYAVjQG" target="_blank">labor playlist</a>, etc.). Once we got to
the cabin, I was still very light-headed, so I spent the next bit of time on my
side in bed. The contractions were painful, but manageable. Between
contractions we chatted and laughed. I think I dozed off a few times between
contractions. Every few contractions the baby was monitored with the Doppler,
and his heart rate stayed steady in the normal 130-150 range. This continued
throughout the labor. Laura had gone off to get the fancy baby monitor from
Stacie’s house, like they have in a hospital, just in case it was needed.
Fortunately, it never was. Another midwife apprentice, Angela, also arrived. <o:p></o:p></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/AVvXsEihER8jMkN8ggjh8OWqNa4LQzeKtpc0JMqMMkbiCli0YFrqNCcSPSoYLkwG6RpT3FtV3eeZtKykr4QLjTqUUGoC4UbqQJRXOzLBI3QWwF9o-mkg2-6VhErn33Vk_Nyy7yuGEPVzzfYpz_U/s1600/DSC_1684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihER8jMkN8ggjh8OWqNa4LQzeKtpc0JMqMMkbiCli0YFrqNCcSPSoYLkwG6RpT3FtV3eeZtKykr4QLjTqUUGoC4UbqQJRXOzLBI3QWwF9o-mkg2-6VhErn33Vk_Nyy7yuGEPVzzfYpz_U/s320/DSC_1684.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom helping me through a painful contraction while on the birthing chair</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/AVvXsEirSUeiMNwrgTBmd3n6975IymrL0zH5LRlAFe4eEpM1XSVxABLUyTAGBblFwbGEV_EhFH5vl2ygaY0V4ZDvu-Wy_y5_jcZQ8tr95azBAXwKKtidbN5dyhRean1OgUMdjx0FrAsqcdrKWwE/s1600/DSC_1676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirSUeiMNwrgTBmd3n6975IymrL0zH5LRlAFe4eEpM1XSVxABLUyTAGBblFwbGEV_EhFH5vl2ygaY0V4ZDvu-Wy_y5_jcZQ8tr95azBAXwKKtidbN5dyhRean1OgUMdjx0FrAsqcdrKWwE/s320/DSC_1676.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thumbs up to a home birth!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a while, a change in position was recommended so I
moved to a birthing chair. It was a collapsible, Amish-made chair with a
U-shaped seat. I stayed there for a while, and the contractions began to
intensify. Tom held my hand during them and I shushed the room so I could
concentrate. At one point I looked out the French doors of the cabin, saw one
of our geese looking back at me. Everyone laughed when I exclaimed, “Oh, a
goose!” But I was weak, dizzy and tired, and wanted to put my head down. During
a few contractions I even felt difficulty breathing. So I moved to straddling a
yoga ball and leaned forward with my head on a stack of pillows on the bed. Angela
and Kari helped with massaging my back. The contractions intensified, and at a
certain point I felt like the baby was catching on my hip bones or something,
because I was leaning forward. Stacie and Kari were going to try out a rebozo,
a scarf-like cloth that they could use to help comfort me and position my body
to ease the baby into place. But as I stood up from the yoga ball, another
contraction hit, and I suddenly felt the urge to push.</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/AVvXsEiiRU6zbyKcQDaSN1X6b-kbF-Su9rH6Zj-KT91xyI9acp_DX_XaXRIZB9Njpf63VR5f94Zxt8aJRV9DGAxZWOe2u6EAixrXfy_JytvBMZg5yV-9Ub58aaMipFgmA7Uk1lrxuDBaBY9SSA0/s1600/DSC_1691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRU6zbyKcQDaSN1X6b-kbF-Su9rH6Zj-KT91xyI9acp_DX_XaXRIZB9Njpf63VR5f94Zxt8aJRV9DGAxZWOe2u6EAixrXfy_JytvBMZg5yV-9Ub58aaMipFgmA7Uk1lrxuDBaBY9SSA0/s320/DSC_1691.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HE DID THIS TO ME</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because I was still weak, I decided to do my pushing in the
bed, as I’d done with Kyle. In theory I understand that positions like
squatting or using the birthing chair are optimal to allow gravity to assist,
but I was not up for that. So in to bed I went and began to push. The cervix
was not fully cleared, so Stacie helped make way for the baby’s head. As I
pushed, the inner amniotic fluid sac still wouldn’t break, and she commented
that it was super tough. As I was pushing everyone was saying, “Get behind it!”
I don’t know what that means, but in the moment I understood. Every time I
pushed, Stacy leaned out of the way in anticipation of being sprayed when the
fluid sac popped, but it never did. Stacy kept saying the head was right behind
the fluid sac, and I just needed to keep pushing. After about 10 minutes, Tom
asked if manually breaking it would help, and she agreed and went ahead and did
it. The pushing phase took about thirty minutes, contraction after contraction
with breaks in between where I could catch my breath. Finally, out slithered
Nathan at 10:46 am, almost exactly 8 hours after my water broke (the same as
with Kyle!). Surprise number two: He was sunny side up. That’s the layman’s term
for <a href="http://www.babycenter.com/0_posterior-position_1454005.bc" target="_blank">posterior birth</a>. Babies are typically born facing down (facing the mother’s
back). Nathan came out completely face up- a “textbook” posterior presentation,
according to Stacie. In retrospect, I wish we’d videoed it because I was told
he came out looking around at everyone! I was surprised because he spent much
of his time in the womb in the correct position. Stacie also told me the cord
was wrapped around his leg.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66KPLBLijUGLxQ2IVtVyj0D-4scofAMJgwJoXKRf62GSES1yxMzXgU_tULagr42nWwjCk-UjxxFaARG4lG8fmOfb76suZI__ecqoMakJ9YNT7NZbE_szcN2uBBUlRIY-r3jT88t_Kgx4/s1600/DSC_1711a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66KPLBLijUGLxQ2IVtVyj0D-4scofAMJgwJoXKRf62GSES1yxMzXgU_tULagr42nWwjCk-UjxxFaARG4lG8fmOfb76suZI__ecqoMakJ9YNT7NZbE_szcN2uBBUlRIY-r3jT88t_Kgx4/s320/DSC_1711a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nathan was brought up to my chest and we were instantly
smitten, of course. Tom cried, which surprised him. His love for his son was
instantaneous. The baby was covered in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernix_caseosa" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">vernix</a>, the waxy coating that develops
during the third trimester. He was a nice pink color and crying. Laura cleared
his airways while we cooed over him. After the umbilical cord stopped
pulsating, Tom cut the cord.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stacie began talking about delivering the placenta, so I
handed Nathan off to daddy for some skin-to-skin. Stacie was working on the placenta, which was
caught behind my pubic bone. I knew from the ultrasounds that it was an
anterior placenta, which means it was located towards my belly rather than my
back. It was the main reason I couldn’t feel Nathan move very well until well
into the second trimester. Stacie had to pry it loose so it could be delivered.
When it flopped out, Stacie’s eyes widened. She held up the placenta and showed
me how large it was – easily 50% bigger than the normal size she outlined on my
massive placenta. She placed it in a Tupperware to be inspected and sent off to
be encapsulated. (I’d won free encapsulation in a raffle at a breastfeeding
event. It turns out that will be a blessing in helping to replenish my blood supply
and iron levels following the blood loss during labor.) The midwives confirmed
that the placenta was fully intact and that the blood loss definitely did not
come from there. Fun fact: The placenta looks like a stingray. I’ll also save
you from that image.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFJrwOqGrIflAPdymhqcdtMXbxSfoOcyyOQN32FUwCHSb6D-PmOrk1HDZLqINjTdoynfxMIZTZygRY_enUx-wEX0ArykLo3JRDi0Y0Y30ccGv1qu7DOxbuv31Qt-8phEUFf_i-yGBhbA/s1600/DSC_1775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFJrwOqGrIflAPdymhqcdtMXbxSfoOcyyOQN32FUwCHSb6D-PmOrk1HDZLqINjTdoynfxMIZTZygRY_enUx-wEX0ArykLo3JRDi0Y0Y30ccGv1qu7DOxbuv31Qt-8phEUFf_i-yGBhbA/s320/DSC_1775.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was stitched up and cleaned up, then given some medicines
to help my uterus contract and to stop the (normal) bleeding. Nathan was
checked over, and everything was great. He weighed 8 pounds 9 ounces, was 20
1/4” long, with 36 centimeter diameter head. Slightly larger than Kyle, all
around. At his 2 day pediatrician visit he had lost some weight, which was to
be expected, and was in the 50<sup>th</sup>, 75<sup>th</sup>, and 60<sup>th</sup>
percentiles, respectively. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<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/AVvXsEh6OL0yjiVQZP9Fl9A34B8B_tVMXeafcTWVjFqCvgJIuINtX7hIDlc9Sc8risp1ZlBZgdeQ-WTIvzDEv7g_qGJMuVibwQQIxrigaVJRdi8FWYSifEdKLvt6YDCb4AWz0YHORQdprHhVfNs/s1600/DSC_1741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OL0yjiVQZP9Fl9A34B8B_tVMXeafcTWVjFqCvgJIuINtX7hIDlc9Sc8risp1ZlBZgdeQ-WTIvzDEv7g_qGJMuVibwQQIxrigaVJRdi8FWYSifEdKLvt6YDCb4AWz0YHORQdprHhVfNs/s320/DSC_1741.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mmm milkies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nathan took to the breast quickly and easily. His latch was
perfect. He’s continued to nurse well over the first two days of his life,
cluster feeding just as I’m ready to go to sleep for the night (of course), and
nursing throughout the day, every few hours. We’ve been negligent about
tracking the details of his input and output, but it’s been good. I weighed him
before and after nursing at the pediatricians, and he took in an ounce, which
is the stomach capacity of a 2 or 3 day old baby. <o:p></o:p></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/AVvXsEhHqyVn96Ozvv8CMkUQFKz8lmHvieexEQ3M5g7K0aenQZozHIkqCOpTS1ksWpvScYhG7XAY6Lx4lxEKNe0U-h7mbCL-1vWxbUiUuygR9l26yMgmyVitYcZzlnqNVjVCF62FAbRjuFzCCiY/s1600/DSC_1802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqyVn96Ozvv8CMkUQFKz8lmHvieexEQ3M5g7K0aenQZozHIkqCOpTS1ksWpvScYhG7XAY6Lx4lxEKNe0U-h7mbCL-1vWxbUiUuygR9l26yMgmyVitYcZzlnqNVjVCF62FAbRjuFzCCiY/s320/DSC_1802.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And now we are four</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After Nathan had nursed, we brought Kyle in to meet his baby
brother. Kyle received a gift from his brother, a story book (which was actually
sent by the boys’ Great Gram). We read the story, and then Daddy brought the baby
over to Kyle. Kyle was (and is) fascinated with the baby. It was interesting,
while I was pregnant we referenced the baby in Mommy’s tummy, pointed out babies
when we saw them out, and gave Kyle a baby doll. We told Kyle he was going to
be a big brother and that his little brother would be called Nathan. Kyle would
say baby, pointing to my tummy, but he would never refer to the baby as Nathan
or brother. After seeing the baby in the flesh, he began using both terms. He
enjoys pointing out the baby’s facial features. Interestingly, Kyle and Nathan
look almost exactly identical to each other at birth. Putting pictures of the
two of them side by side, you would think they were twins.<o:p></o:p></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/AVvXsEjqgATH6Cl2ali8fWt66IwmbgeqQaj65KFEcQo1gmpbs2B9EDTAddejRzWWnq-05t3va7HjO08XyM25N-XKwLLqo7GDUtzkqcAbyLK4-qBfA3azIGRl75cGPZti_9QQ07fgacTs857whc0/s1600/12045239_10100689311805418_663584994773513502_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgATH6Cl2ali8fWt66IwmbgeqQaj65KFEcQo1gmpbs2B9EDTAddejRzWWnq-05t3va7HjO08XyM25N-XKwLLqo7GDUtzkqcAbyLK4-qBfA3azIGRl75cGPZti_9QQ07fgacTs857whc0/s320/12045239_10100689311805418_663584994773513502_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">twins?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am recuperating slowly. My uterus is still contracting
back to its normal size, and the cramps are painful. They come on
spontaneously, but are also triggered by the oxytocin release when I nurse
Nathan or hear him cry (or even sometimes while just gazing upon him). I
started out very light headed on the day Nathan was born (I even fainted trying
to go from the bathroom to bed, but fortunately Tom was supporting me as I wilted), but my
endurance is improving. I am working on increasing my iron levels and blood
volume through diet and supplements. <o:p></o:p></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/AVvXsEj1glmLRdLPFAlkiegt0cUKNkw2D7TaKxDrQoUx4Xikw6rkl7N__TrgLkXHus3XAhfSqCs4A1zZgM8FSo48VOBaQGc84ZgZmfSY9jD3ZSIuMqSBAQwxzUW2WSHwgwQh57Je6-070s-qN4w/s1600/DSC_1823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1glmLRdLPFAlkiegt0cUKNkw2D7TaKxDrQoUx4Xikw6rkl7N__TrgLkXHus3XAhfSqCs4A1zZgM8FSo48VOBaQGc84ZgZmfSY9jD3ZSIuMqSBAQwxzUW2WSHwgwQh57Je6-070s-qN4w/s320/DSC_1823.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The awesome birth team!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All-in-all, despite the peculiarities of the birth itself, I
enjoyed my home birth experience. I suspect that had I been under a doctor’s
care, I would have ended up with a C-section from the get-go. Instead, I am
enjoying the first days of my baby’s life in the comfort of my own bed, taken
care of by a doting baby daddy. I confirmed with Stacie at her follow-up visit
that none of the oddities of this birth should repeat in subsequent pregnancies
(Tom would like me to get a second opinion on that- seeing his wife crumpled on
the floor next to a toilet bowl full of blood has that effect on a person), so
I would definitely want to do the same thing next time if we have that chance.<o:p></o:p></div>
Katie Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698422114925466547noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424714289592725798.post-30340723023092012232015-08-12T18:01:00.000-04:002015-08-13T14:07:58.349-04:00A quiet month for the bees<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiC-FlNOojK3B2OVvjsLnEbMB0g9Ifu_3ngCV-byRNi3Yi50repFCfaiU6MujyOR7QVb3-89v-YaYarcUxzBZjmd75a53WAHpTo30RITcR1572BxhnTxfBzSaxyrlajSPutHSNlHwJdQ/s1600/DSC_0476a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiC-FlNOojK3B2OVvjsLnEbMB0g9Ifu_3ngCV-byRNi3Yi50repFCfaiU6MujyOR7QVb3-89v-YaYarcUxzBZjmd75a53WAHpTo30RITcR1572BxhnTxfBzSaxyrlajSPutHSNlHwJdQ/s320/DSC_0476a.jpg" width="320" /></a>Not much to report in terms of bee activity. They are not producing comb and honey quite as rapidly as we'd hope. An established hive would have surplus honey to harvest next month, with enough remaining to last the colony though the winter. Our hive currently does not have anywhere near enough to last the winter, let alone harvest. Last month Tom added a second box to the hive, hoping they'd start expanding their comb-building activities, but so far they've not expanded much, and in fact have been consuming some of the comb they built.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnE7qfGQvPSvhhemQ-o_dxWcjWugJlNBI5kqHaN26wfUxGHnX6NspfMrfE9tfOG6dNeNj3PukOCXZD8gOemtfnK7cBNK91XhYavrgPRZZDxvgMHvBFkqwK-ormEOIZRXavwKcuUDBb7c/s1600/DSC_0447A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnE7qfGQvPSvhhemQ-o_dxWcjWugJlNBI5kqHaN26wfUxGHnX6NspfMrfE9tfOG6dNeNj3PukOCXZD8gOemtfnK7cBNK91XhYavrgPRZZDxvgMHvBFkqwK-ormEOIZRXavwKcuUDBb7c/s320/DSC_0447A.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4KGT-a9vJFNTp8AMoxXL4-75BBwIJuUFv21UVdLtujvSgAvZWm1zjBpWqcLHm35X2t7NS-LjU3voDukjqUvhHgFRT1Qhc2RHLH9biizXMo-jTcH2G6yRkYYtEaHywdzWkQEH-Krzfpc/s1600/DSC_0464a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4KGT-a9vJFNTp8AMoxXL4-75BBwIJuUFv21UVdLtujvSgAvZWm1zjBpWqcLHm35X2t7NS-LjU3voDukjqUvhHgFRT1Qhc2RHLH9biizXMo-jTcH2G6yRkYYtEaHywdzWkQEH-Krzfpc/s320/DSC_0464a.jpg" width="318" /></a>We are supplementing their nectar gathering activities with sugar water to help them build honeycomb more quickly. The mixture is a 1:1 combination of sugar and water, heated just enough to dissolve the sugar, but not to boiling as that would crystallize the sugar and make it inedible for the bees. It seems that keeping that sugar water full will be critical going forward.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUvavpNcNfZ4ydFgEj3lTFxWhI_gtrFzZq5MNcNyW0FCZngh7I4TJFvYH0FMlAFK1Fjl2dS2MdnFzCWMSFg6g9BS4_cQNGoU8c980LRRVFCtFd4Ilknrg_EYgtN3Ej_Jruf_8VDAE-MQ/s1600/DSC_0493A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUvavpNcNfZ4ydFgEj3lTFxWhI_gtrFzZq5MNcNyW0FCZngh7I4TJFvYH0FMlAFK1Fjl2dS2MdnFzCWMSFg6g9BS4_cQNGoU8c980LRRVFCtFd4Ilknrg_EYgtN3Ej_Jruf_8VDAE-MQ/s320/DSC_0493A.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrvHjWISu97JV3kbkjBkCgY46TrG4eTKdS_RLhGAzDlYiG7Al4cOMSk-OKnLlcYWocauglq8IruwhqSAKPgO2TlKzk-tjqBJhPIwAdYrN-Js7OxxoB-5lbkC5pUFIShv5sMCW4ri7B6I/s1600/DSC_0487B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrvHjWISu97JV3kbkjBkCgY46TrG4eTKdS_RLhGAzDlYiG7Al4cOMSk-OKnLlcYWocauglq8IruwhqSAKPgO2TlKzk-tjqBJhPIwAdYrN-Js7OxxoB-5lbkC5pUFIShv5sMCW4ri7B6I/s320/DSC_0487B.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
When inspecting the hive today, Tom found the queen (good), a few hive beetles (no good - but the bees were attacking them so that's a good thing), and plenty of larvae, which means the queen is actively laying. So now we wait. Tom is attending a day-long bee seminar next weekend and should get some good information about sustaining and growing our hive. He'll treat for the beetles and hope we don't have any other infestations.Katie Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698422114925466547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424714289592725798.post-321597545193325232015-07-15T19:54:00.004-04:002015-07-15T19:57:46.226-04:00The Flight of the Honeybees<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">The excitement of receiving the new package bees quickly turned to disappointment at the Lazy Duck. After only two days, the new package bees were gone. "Absconded" is the term used in beekeeping when bees abandon their hive. To us, it was a big blow. One afternoon they were there, the next morning, they had absolutely vanished. If not for a few dead bees remaining in the box, and some slightly established comb, you wouldn't have even known they were there. It was heartbreaking.</span></div>
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Nobody really knows why bees abandon their hive, but we learned the following things (after the fact) related to successfully installing package bees in a new hive:</div>
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Always install the package in the evening. Bees don’t leave their hive at night and this allows them to become familiar with the hive and begin installing their scent before they begin scouting out the area.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">When installing a new package, if at all possible put them in a hive with at least one frame of established comb. This gives them a bit of a head start in having a place to put new pollen when they begin working before the queen is released from her cage. If there is hive with pollen and comb when she is released, it encourages the queen to begin laying eggs. When eggs are laid, the bees are more likely to stay as they will not abandon brood.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">If possible, transfer a frame of brood from another hive to the new hive. This goes along with #2, in that bees will not abandon brood.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Put in something known as a queen keeper under the bottom frames for 1-2 weeks after installing the package, which allows the workers to come and go, but has openings too small for the larger queen to pass through. Since the bees in a hive follow the queen, if the queen can’t leave the hive, the bees won’t, either. This encourages the queen to stay and begin laying eggs and, as we know from #2, the bees won’t abandon their brood.</span></li>
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This has been an expensive lesson for us, as the package bees cost $150. Now our second hive boxes sit empty until we can either catch a swarm from our first hive or until we purchase another package or swarm next spring. </div>
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Our established hive is working away. We are pretty certain the hive swarmed. This means they grew a new queen and kicked out their old one. When she left, she took half the worker bees with her. We were not able to recover that swarm. The new queen began laying after about a week. The honey that was built up was cleared out some, we suspect to make room for new brood. As summer progresses, they are left to do their work. They've visited the many blooms that have sprung up around the property, pollinating and doing all the normal honeybee activities. They have a few more months to build up their stores for winter, and in the meantime we simply monitor their progress.</div>
Katie Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698422114925466547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424714289592725798.post-54120984610446526132015-05-26T10:08:00.001-04:002015-05-26T10:14:27.001-04:00I Picked a Peck of Pickled... Radishes?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPW_tLoYRPm715HajowPYJ2GdZai_Ekbn610BBwT443T2uEBnDz-UCfU31VQblEVpaYV5mSnkXDboh2tzf2JxrD5r5ig1RciDb69SjLNOjbKRUZq40j6Z8zNnaJbhU25TI5x7P9Pg9ec/s1600/20150525_175628a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPW_tLoYRPm715HajowPYJ2GdZai_Ekbn610BBwT443T2uEBnDz-UCfU31VQblEVpaYV5mSnkXDboh2tzf2JxrD5r5ig1RciDb69SjLNOjbKRUZq40j6Z8zNnaJbhU25TI5x7P9Pg9ec/s320/20150525_175628a.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
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With my radish crop becoming ripe, I found myself with more radishes than I could possibly consume on my own. The best way I could think of to extend the life of my produce was to pickle them. Last night I did just that.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9VAOw_JU_TzIuHS2sa9N_GhvWkIVAUcB8oTJTwevQx3xF_3wrZrGVz6vtymxOy_OwtINipw1uMqE1rwrDXhctk8K_AdRBBQpgpSjquFQTrU1cXGrYlQU0HI_xXKgvEBP7JAx0L2N_d4/s1600/20150525_173049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9VAOw_JU_TzIuHS2sa9N_GhvWkIVAUcB8oTJTwevQx3xF_3wrZrGVz6vtymxOy_OwtINipw1uMqE1rwrDXhctk8K_AdRBBQpgpSjquFQTrU1cXGrYlQU0HI_xXKgvEBP7JAx0L2N_d4/s320/20150525_173049.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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I first harvested all the radishes. There were a handful that were still too small, and may never full develop, but the yield from my twelve square feet of garden (after having already picked enough for a snack and a side dish) was well over 100 radishes. And I still have time to replant in that same square footage, if I wanted (and I probably will). Those hundred radishes resulted in 7 jars of pickles, with three of those having carrots mixed in. It would have been six 16 oz. jars of all-radish pickles.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclyIgQ1SDsBZYwKxnqkHx1cVaKWIaTOoTAr1RSEGT4YrBVxJj_4eqL1cTS4D-anC6KkxVhHy_MCKXypjNoK5vztgwS0OWl3mAmzmNKfN9lBMz4J_DYT6bkg9oInnYwmAddsLI3QNBigM/s1600/20150525_171832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclyIgQ1SDsBZYwKxnqkHx1cVaKWIaTOoTAr1RSEGT4YrBVxJj_4eqL1cTS4D-anC6KkxVhHy_MCKXypjNoK5vztgwS0OWl3mAmzmNKfN9lBMz4J_DYT6bkg9oInnYwmAddsLI3QNBigM/s320/20150525_171832.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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I decided to try a couple different recipes, since I have no clue what the result would be. Naturally, I turned to pinterest and found two promising variations. One was a basic pickle, using apple cider vinegar and honey. The other was a more Asian style using rice vinegar and sugar.<br />
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<a href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/vietnamese-quick-pickled-vegetables" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBhINXsydsL5HkH-Y-cnHD5KyLpXA6nxgUCvMY9xUWboEeEOdwGTJQ7rfv9_yTo_uf9xXTm6G0sVBtM-nM-u6podx2JRaV4h7xHr58qepP14ikgl4gxnSy_gUD-pJ4ScF7YT61rZOSNw/s320/2306.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://gardentherapy.ca/pickled-radishes/"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQh5OcrYY9AkMTo3k9Z0gLmDtudBBHoU8pLQeuU_-gOo-vrFJQ17K2UCRfBvZN1HIR2JDPxDOzabLzQe6Gl03cyhl101n8svXUx88D-McV6FmMkwM3UOUI5PhUEK8RqdLI0a8hy-tcMc/s320/super-simple-radishes.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
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I began by prepping all my radishes, removing the greens and roots. The chickens and goats seemed to enjoy those, so there is no waste! Then I sliced all the radishes to about 1/8" thickness using my mandolin, which made them nice and consistently sized, and saved me a bunch of time, I'm sure. Radishes are so small that it was a little difficult to use the hand guard thing, but I've watched enough food network to know you should never use a mandolin with your bare hands.<br />
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For the first <a href="http://gardentherapy.ca/pickled-radishes/" target="_blank">recipe</a>, courtesy of <a href="http://gardentherapy.ca/pickled-radishes/">gardentherapy.ca</a>, I stayed pretty true to the recipe except I used pickling salt instead of sea salt. I'm hoping the amounts required to get a good brine are pretty consistent between those two.<br />
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For the more <a href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/vietnamese-quick-pickled-vegetables">Asian version</a>, I modified slightly a recipe I found on the <a href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/vietnamese-quick-pickled-vegetables">Whole Foods</a> website to use ingredients I had on hand. Those jars contain a mixture of 2/3 radishes and 1/3 carrots. I omitted the cucumber, chilies, ginger, and onion - all of which would make them way more delicious but I didn't have the foresight to pick them up at the store. Next time! I also played with the pickling juice a bit and tested three variations:<br />
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<li>Rice vinegar and pickling salt</li>
<li>Seasoned rice vinegar and pickling salt</li>
<li>Seasoned rice vinegar and pink Hawaiian salt</li>
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They are in the fridge now, since both recipes are considered "quick pickles" and are not meant for long term storage. They should be ready to try by tomorrow! I'll report back with the results. fingers crossed!</div>
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<br />Katie Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698422114925466547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424714289592725798.post-59988319289938910142015-05-23T00:09:00.000-04:002015-05-23T00:11:03.951-04:00Everything's Coming up Radishes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Establishing a new farm takes a lot of patience. Waiting for the seasons to change, baby animals to grow, and gardens to start producing a bountiful harvest all require a huge investment of time and energy before there is any tangible reward. At the advice of our local Ag Extension office, I planned to get the seeds in the ground for our garden on or around April 15th. Well, mother nature had a different plan and dumped two weeks of rain on us right when I'd hoped to plant. Once the rain cleared and I was able to till the garden patch, the seeds finally went in the ground, right at the end of April. And then I waited. With no previous experience with the local soil, and never having planted a garden this big or varied, I have no idea what to expect.<br />
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Our garden has somewhere around 70 varieties of produce planted, the bulk of which are seeds from a kit we purchased a while ago that was intended as something you could keep stored in the event of societal collapse ... or if you just wanted a crap ton of seeds that were heirloom varieties. Because the kit came pre-assembled, it included many items I would have probably passed over when browsing the seed racks at the local shop, such as Swiss chard or radishes. Radishes have never held much of an appeal to me. I have never scooped a single radish on to my plate at the salad bar. I'm not sure why, perhaps just ignorance. But into the ground radish seeds went, figuring what the heck, if nothing else I'd find a radish-loving neighbor.</div>
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Lo and behold, the first green sprouts to show their leafy faces, were the radishes. They grew quickly and plentifully. I checked my notes, and realized the radish takes only 21-28 days to mature. Which means, a month into my garden I've already had my first harvest! I sampled some of the young radishes, which were so surprisingly tender and moist. I ate those sliced with some salt, and when I shared photos of my small bounty, my friends asked what recipe I would be preparing. Recipe? You mean radishes can be used for something other than salad garnish? A quick scan of pinterest revealed a slew of options for these mysterious quick-growing root vegetables.</div>
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Tonight I pulled a huge bunch of radishes fresh from the garden. Tom wanted to grill, and I didn't have time to run to the store to pick up corn or potatoes, or another staple grilling accompaniment. I know that anything you roast you can just ass easily do in a foil packet on the grill, Radishes aren't all that different from potatoes, right? </div>
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I washed the bunch of radishes, removed the roots and greens, and quartered them. I tossed the radishes in the foil packet with a drizzle of olive oil, some salt and pepper, and a sprinkling of garlic powder for good measure. I decided to keep it simple since I had no clue what a cooked radish tasted like. It turns out it's reminiscent of a beet crossed with a Brussels sprout. The cooking cuts the inherent spiciness of the radish but imparts a certain... earthiness? Anyhow, I recommend this recipe if you want to try a little something different. I feel a little silly writing out the actual recipe since it's so ridiculously easy, but here ya go:</div>
<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WiETDbaA_eq2XDEp07e7GTxOr-vZtw5BEIuaOB8HrnUGcVnsC-sOYC906Fs4igCnQ87U1Il4nw_icePhs5YoOlz7-1FZT0z_51yuvabOE0k2NTlOGXJ1KPKbzsHyQpKhE1ykDARQgIY/s1600/DSC_8524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WiETDbaA_eq2XDEp07e7GTxOr-vZtw5BEIuaOB8HrnUGcVnsC-sOYC906Fs4igCnQ87U1Il4nw_icePhs5YoOlz7-1FZT0z_51yuvabOE0k2NTlOGXJ1KPKbzsHyQpKhE1ykDARQgIY/s320/DSC_8524.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
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<div>
Grilled Radish Packets</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
1 bunch radishes (about 14)</div>
<div>
Olive oil</div>
<div>
Salt & Pepper to taste</div>
<div>
Garlic powder or other seasonings</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Remove roots and greens from radishes and quarter. Place on a large sheet of heavy duty foil. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with spices. Close foil packet up securely. Place on the upper rack of a hot grill and cook for 15-20 minutes until tender.</div>
<div>
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<div>
Enjoy!</div>
Katie Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698422114925466547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424714289592725798.post-62480473462458386092015-05-12T00:07:00.001-04:002015-05-12T00:08:31.712-04:00Today we had a package at the post office - A Package of Bees!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYOZYMKTw3HguTziQo2bjZIFocoRp4clVlvHYE3diVtYMH3gZObgoY-rX2BhhL6IJKJJCtMLdop5t2oMRNfpXvXHsHF02sixMBaliTYKPDSqHGjtwjKlvv6ltByI0DVxaBpe2W9NEfsU/s1600/DSC_8424d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYOZYMKTw3HguTziQo2bjZIFocoRp4clVlvHYE3diVtYMH3gZObgoY-rX2BhhL6IJKJJCtMLdop5t2oMRNfpXvXHsHF02sixMBaliTYKPDSqHGjtwjKlvv6ltByI0DVxaBpe2W9NEfsU/s320/DSC_8424d.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
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Today our second colony of bees arrived! Back in February we
reserved our bees from <a href="https://www.kelleybees.com/Shop/19/Queens-Bees/Package-Bees-Queens/?page=1&perpage=12&cat=19&orderby=featured+desc&search=&brand=&sale=0&new=0&featured=0&all=0" target="_blank">Kelley Beekeeping</a> – with May 9<sup>th</sup> being the
earliest ship data available. (We learned too late that December or January is the
best time to order to secure an early spring delivery.) The bees arrive via
USPS and must be picked up at the local post office. Early his morning Tom
received a call that our new friends had arrived. Living in the country, our
post office is not alarmed by the arrival of the small, screened wooden crate
that the bees are shipped in. We went to collect our bees and brought them home
to be installed straight away.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">knock knock!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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It was a bit of a blessing that our first hive, well established,
arrived at the lazy duck ranch weeks ago. This gave Tom a chance to grow
comfortable with handling the bees before having to undertake what had seemed
like the daunting task of transferring bees from the shipping box to the hive. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_MrkLEhaWvWc7jDOGeoLel4QJwTVq6UGfHHRN8E7EVmmy4e4_vzVIHia3VuubGBsNGHo_3_XpBYYZK3HXvKxIr9wlXWHeg7x2hetUM0tRZLqBNKhdXA9Rs_7yTPe5rlNKmhHBporYfQ/s1600/DSC_8307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_MrkLEhaWvWc7jDOGeoLel4QJwTVq6UGfHHRN8E7EVmmy4e4_vzVIHia3VuubGBsNGHo_3_XpBYYZK3HXvKxIr9wlXWHeg7x2hetUM0tRZLqBNKhdXA9Rs_7yTPe5rlNKmhHBporYfQ/s320/DSC_8307.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Tom began by “smacking the package smartly against the ground” to knock the bees to the bottom of the box (per the instructions on the youtube video he watched to refresh himself before undertaking the installation.) He then removed the cover and extracted the feeder that kept the bees nourished in transit. He located the small box that contains the queen and set it aside. The package with the bulk of the bees was upended into the hive, from which several of the honeycomb frames had been removed.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxcaL3yyARUK-2BRexSxMtUCO0NNhItHZis-sDCnV0kxuLXRVnaHMaFD7Qy5CoQFb7_g4hTSfHggXntjUuRUkPskNVrdSXntmjJncq_ZyRlobOovJgavg0Tyr_XY4JWOmgcwmC1uJypg/s1600/DSC_8344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxcaL3yyARUK-2BRexSxMtUCO0NNhItHZis-sDCnV0kxuLXRVnaHMaFD7Qy5CoQFb7_g4hTSfHggXntjUuRUkPskNVrdSXntmjJncq_ZyRlobOovJgavg0Tyr_XY4JWOmgcwmC1uJypg/s320/DSC_8344.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGxrksQm7mIRvPSMKsHRScfbwNOfCfELsDpps0O_vMKDomaC3O_AdbNT1atJzRznSkgZdznG2lcsUyHxcSuWf9DkaYUzEeCqs7by43dYrwMQ-q8PmI7bFE8ztmjAMktn60uBtP0a8EGY/s1600/DSC_8355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGxrksQm7mIRvPSMKsHRScfbwNOfCfELsDpps0O_vMKDomaC3O_AdbNT1atJzRznSkgZdznG2lcsUyHxcSuWf9DkaYUzEeCqs7by43dYrwMQ-q8PmI7bFE8ztmjAMktn60uBtP0a8EGY/s320/DSC_8355.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">smack smartly on the ground</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5VyGYD4gaIMZuZmHITVn_Okz-907U762DNcQlY3qxNjTPCAXGrrzVALYjPwAvv5hT4fFcBq8zIintsZeJxlXf-QTixeNd_gmEOHagA5cpK2W3SoLbUugiHCrfkyCKfc8Ex_UNvqqYdc/s1600/DSC_8348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5VyGYD4gaIMZuZmHITVn_Okz-907U762DNcQlY3qxNjTPCAXGrrzVALYjPwAvv5hT4fFcBq8zIintsZeJxlXf-QTixeNd_gmEOHagA5cpK2W3SoLbUugiHCrfkyCKfc8Ex_UNvqqYdc/s320/DSC_8348.JPG" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">safety first</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
The small box containing the queen was next to be introduced
– she was held in place with a cork and a candy plug. Her hivemates will eat
away the plug until she is released from the box and into her new home. Keeping
her contained in the hive is important to helping them accept their new home.
The colony of bees follows its queen. Our purchased queen bee has been marked
with a dot so she may be easily located when she is in the hive. After three
days, Tom will reopen the hive to verify that the queen has settled in to her
new home and the colony has begun producing comb in the now vacant frames.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_b96AdQcED0Iy3GIOfwR-HyeceUYMnKF59qKcdj5tpJt-ACSA8HjSITMS8TaE0gWcqcr38GZC-mbYa0fUYP_YlKE9hb_M2gSN7ejnxZa2dFB_JdHif1YjTQcJa6HrCVxDuyOqYMxRgug/s1600/DSC_8364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_b96AdQcED0Iy3GIOfwR-HyeceUYMnKF59qKcdj5tpJt-ACSA8HjSITMS8TaE0gWcqcr38GZC-mbYa0fUYP_YlKE9hb_M2gSN7ejnxZa2dFB_JdHif1YjTQcJa6HrCVxDuyOqYMxRgug/s320/DSC_8364.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the queen has a white dot painted on her.</td></tr>
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This new colony of bees has its work cut out for it to
establish a store of honey to sustain them through the winter. For now, they
will be supplemented with a feeder of sugar water to ensure they have are
maximizing their production. Fortunately, the farm is also in full bloom with
plants the bees appear to love. We've seen the bees on the blossoms on our rose,
mock orange and blackberry bushes, the American holly tree, and countless other
plants around the property. Their buffet also includes clover, dandelions,
peonies, and soon, honeysuckle and the extensive bounty of our garden. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXozPDRzJI1Nhu2DXu2eTy05Ey9oP-N7FEocm5ePzNNJp9MAAOxrJL6vPhpSjSShCVdgeJUltfvzVXxgvDsGes2o4Xf4vrPtkq6qykJvu1QEvcs6LucwXu0VXbmxAB_a5sntqD3rPGWUU/s1600/DSC_8438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXozPDRzJI1Nhu2DXu2eTy05Ey9oP-N7FEocm5ePzNNJp9MAAOxrJL6vPhpSjSShCVdgeJUltfvzVXxgvDsGes2o4Xf4vrPtkq6qykJvu1QEvcs6LucwXu0VXbmxAB_a5sntqD3rPGWUU/s320/DSC_8438.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuDKqclQkRzAfAZZ46ukhDYvfnXgKuwS9f480d2zRpnkEWwcxjPU6NkxV5XDg9vunyTGlSU551BU2bTpql7YWtTp8PaEACn8tL9BGeJ9KeJQmAj1aC_YImOV500boRWmMzFe48LINHjo/s1600/DSC_8439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuDKqclQkRzAfAZZ46ukhDYvfnXgKuwS9f480d2zRpnkEWwcxjPU6NkxV5XDg9vunyTGlSU551BU2bTpql7YWtTp8PaEACn8tL9BGeJ9KeJQmAj1aC_YImOV500boRWmMzFe48LINHjo/s320/DSC_8439.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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While our package bees are just starting out, the
established colony we received has already begun to fill up the few empty
honeycomb frames in the first brood box we set out. Tom added a second deep
super on top of the first to allow them to expand their empire. The colony
requires two deeps to last the winter, anything from additional supers on top
are what we will harvest. All that jargon! Here’s a diagram to help explain.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBB9JX42JvrQR4T-DC5T5ov9Q_NqhMUoJE_DHhSVKCkMz1VWElptIkavc_IIiyJSb6hOOfBIIBlOyNWH8E-VMJvMseJrg5UX4fKpBqKrTJJFkh9LdURxImvoxlboHn6AgHS4sTspnePE/s1600/DSC_8385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBB9JX42JvrQR4T-DC5T5ov9Q_NqhMUoJE_DHhSVKCkMz1VWElptIkavc_IIiyJSb6hOOfBIIBlOyNWH8E-VMJvMseJrg5UX4fKpBqKrTJJFkh9LdURxImvoxlboHn6AgHS4sTspnePE/s320/DSC_8385.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">two hives in action!</td></tr>
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<a href="http://westernbee.com/img/beehive_components.gif" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFDDUEEUuIkLbN-dUze8RAIcnI8ZkcRcZe1zixioWYaIj7g-N-qMxUix4moc8l83vLNszBicaQJNi22BxIAqrQoH1e_xsPCdNxBMquHPqu2EgrzhKs_S15UKlyxLgsMwk1CM3gGFdrNU/s320/beehive_components.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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Katie Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698422114925466547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1424714289592725798.post-7064157196458230012015-04-24T00:19:00.003-04:002015-04-24T00:46:44.538-04:00The bees are here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Bl3gslQS6yTUv8hNprJjjwjoqkZ4esMDnRFfbRFBsXOi0s6FYF0a3mvhuHntvE-O5PX81VqNqBEqWYDwQdZtZtwePn8194fLFJFNCVSM0MaURBt4UpZNiwpYICP8h3XG2jENAhcDyU8/s1600/20150423_121954c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Bl3gslQS6yTUv8hNprJjjwjoqkZ4esMDnRFfbRFBsXOi0s6FYF0a3mvhuHntvE-O5PX81VqNqBEqWYDwQdZtZtwePn8194fLFJFNCVSM0MaURBt4UpZNiwpYICP8h3XG2jENAhcDyU8/s1600/20150423_121954c.jpg" height="320" width="318" /></a></div>
Our first colony of bees has arrived at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LazyDuckRanch?fref=ts" target="_blank">Lazy Duck Ranch</a>, and they are already working on pollinating around our place! We spotted some of our bees enjoying a patch of yellow blooms in our yard today. Tom was very excited to see the bees out doing their thing, as it indicates a healthy hive.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrSsfeGDu6IQA-UQYkb1DpuYaqN0Frlbs_xTA-YC0WMtuWeVd9Nb7i4r8wqrRFPaztzV2fEL-wkMyjWgLKjCIdCPFJm74VHx5ATV49pVtiCzQttL2HWTAtgtS8kWc1yeh8T4EqIIjHM0/s1600/DSC_7782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrSsfeGDu6IQA-UQYkb1DpuYaqN0Frlbs_xTA-YC0WMtuWeVd9Nb7i4r8wqrRFPaztzV2fEL-wkMyjWgLKjCIdCPFJm74VHx5ATV49pVtiCzQttL2HWTAtgtS8kWc1yeh8T4EqIIjHM0/s1600/DSC_7782.JPG" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
The gentleman who provided us with the swarm that came as part of our bee club raffle prize package let us know our hive was inhabited and ready for pickup on April 12th. He provided us with an established hive rather than a swarm. This meant that 70% of the frames that make up the first level of the hive were already full of honey comb. This is good news because that means they already have a good start on building their stores for next winter and chances are better that we might have a little surplus honey to enjoy ourselves this fall.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg417fMd0ka-c0Hs_SoRJ0Z1lPNY6ET1txbkUNxhG28-uATZq0n5le_X_pR2pPt8MBxzd_x22yD-WDkBSpZGnAR4eR4ykchbmK9Nur0NNBcIgIyi3lwnBg531bQN7jSUwol1HoU7_sGwjg/s1600/DSC_7763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg417fMd0ka-c0Hs_SoRJ0Z1lPNY6ET1txbkUNxhG28-uATZq0n5le_X_pR2pPt8MBxzd_x22yD-WDkBSpZGnAR4eR4ykchbmK9Nur0NNBcIgIyi3lwnBg531bQN7jSUwol1HoU7_sGwjg/s1600/DSC_7763.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
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Tom is getting used to suiting up to check on the hive, and is working to overcome that innate fear of being surrounded by creatures who could, if they so desired, inflict great pain. A bee inside his veil didn't help ease the transition.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCPFXEgmW2mnnicuD4Zn3eDA_9q_69C2Omhy5u77BUZY8pLFFNreFaq39jueFEHTSYiwUkxdd9PfcKKVn-EWRUTDZcjHbA_5DFcLJQzJKFVTxwKfzwVyY5asoNMNlQOMAIx_viS9yQ3Y/s1600/DSC_7775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCPFXEgmW2mnnicuD4Zn3eDA_9q_69C2Omhy5u77BUZY8pLFFNreFaq39jueFEHTSYiwUkxdd9PfcKKVn-EWRUTDZcjHbA_5DFcLJQzJKFVTxwKfzwVyY5asoNMNlQOMAIx_viS9yQ3Y/s1600/DSC_7775.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
Within a few days of the hive's arrival, it was overrun by ants in search of the sweet honey. Tom did his research and employed a combination of methods to deter the ants, including lifting the whole setup onto cinder blocks and putting cinnamon sticks, which break up the ant's scent trails, between the stand and the hive..<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnL577H-QE_wqN59nuCIhtDWzjlkG7klp8-QdIFZwgLKVxB1G_ScTmjok4j4HmQM8Sgv2uRipAZNraFo9jlMimA-QJ6H_u8sr9g0Mh2clovwLr6px0W6v1E9h_leDDmT_enGcg8QrSQQ/s1600/DSC_7795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnL577H-QE_wqN59nuCIhtDWzjlkG7klp8-QdIFZwgLKVxB1G_ScTmjok4j4HmQM8Sgv2uRipAZNraFo9jlMimA-QJ6H_u8sr9g0Mh2clovwLr6px0W6v1E9h_leDDmT_enGcg8QrSQQ/s1600/DSC_7795.JPG" height="320" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom proudly wears his RightStar shirt, the perfect attire for beekeeping.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our second bee colony arrives in a couple weeks. Time to get the second hive ready for them, and get prepared to install the queen in her new home, all on our own!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGV3fMLQ2UxchfBubfxo7K70vzPNDYw1fVKyT2XdyhS6LiwzzSsnAwiGEASv0a7lrQtJbseav9kcsvj3dg7euU6P3biEW3JnmOQ7rjiOhMNEUsDV1cGNagCXob8c9MAMYFVzbnQKbOxIc/s1600/DSC_7796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGV3fMLQ2UxchfBubfxo7K70vzPNDYw1fVKyT2XdyhS6LiwzzSsnAwiGEASv0a7lrQtJbseav9kcsvj3dg7euU6P3biEW3JnmOQ7rjiOhMNEUsDV1cGNagCXob8c9MAMYFVzbnQKbOxIc/s1600/DSC_7796.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
Katie Whitfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05698422114925466547noreply@blogger.com1