tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57956569085648533892024-03-05T02:19:01.284-08:00Tales from the Trenches.brittney.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08094879326341775386noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5795656908564853389.post-82182858463487471212011-02-24T22:05:00.000-08:002011-02-24T22:05:00.234-08:00.recovery.I debated on whether or not to post this. No. Debated is not the word... agonized. That would be far more correct.<br />
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'<i>Agonized</i>?' you ask. 'Really? Aren't you taking yourself a bit too seriously?' My answer: perhaps, but agonize I did... and do now at this moment, in fact.<br />
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Why all the angst? This week is National Eating Disorders Awareness week and like I said, I have had trouble deciding whether or not to even post on the subject. The subject of eating disorders is a touchy one for me because I had, and sometimes still struggle with, one myself.<br />
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Some of you that know me personally may be surprised to read this. By nature, I tend to play my cards pretty close to the vest; I don't often talk about the serious problems and troubles in my life with anyone. As per usual, I tried my very best to hide my problem while I was a functioning anorexic. Mind you, the height of my eating issues was years ago, but that doesn't mean it doesn't affect me to this day.<br />
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On average, I would eat one very small meal a day... if that. I hid food, lied about being full, even used laxatives. I am 5 feet 8 inches tall and at my thinnest I was 100 lbs. To give you some perspective, a normal weight for my height is between 135 lbs and 155 lbs. According to the American Council of Exercise, a normal body fat percentage for women is 21-24%. A <i>bare minimum</i>,<b> <i>essential</i> </b>body fat percentage for women is 10-12% according to this group. Mine was 2.5% in high school. I was horribly thin, but when I looked in the mirror, I felt disgusted. I felt ugly and unattractive. I felt <i>fat</i>. At a shockingly low weight, with ribs and hips sticking out for all to see, <i>I felt fat</i>.<br />
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I'm guessing that some people reading this post are going to be confused as to why anyone would resort to such dangerous measures to stay thin. I'm sure some of you even think I'm stupid, simply an idiot. And sadly, I know there will be a few of you who know exactly what I'm talking about and how it feels to be in that place... because you've been there yourselves.<br />
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I can't say I blame those of you who think I'm a bit of a nutter; if you've never been there, never had your reality so twisted, it does seem... well, a little daft. Why would anyone deliberately starve themselves? Why would anyone harm their body to purge calories and fat? Why? Why?<br />
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Even I don't know all the reasons I did what I did, but I do know a few things that caused my behavior to become so drastic. Of course, I can't claim to know what everyone who suffers or has suffered from an eating disorder is feeling and thinking, but I can tell you some of what I was feeling and thinking.<br />
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For me, it was many things: a sense of control, a strange natural high, more than a little self-loathing, and, of course, being very, very thin. <br />
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It started as a way to lose weight I had packed on after my parents divorce and ended up being a way to have some permanence in my life. It was the one thing I felt I had control over. I felt great when I knew I'd eaten nothing all day; the hollowness in my stomach fed me and made me feel full. It made me feel powerful and proud, somehow, knowing that my willpower was strong enough to overcome physical pain and hunger. The most primal instinct, to preserve oneself, was something I had conquered. I felt I could do anything.<br />
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Thankfully, I was forced to enter therapy for other issues during my high school years. The therapist was able to see that I was struggling and helped me work through some of my skewed views of food and myself. I began to eat better and take care of myself, but I still had to fight the overwhelming compulsion to refuse food almost daily.<br />
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When I got pregnant just over two years ago, I knew that I had to completely surrender to the pregnancy and my little one; not even being in control was worth the health of my unborn child. Thankfully, I was able to finally give up the last few unhealthy eating practices I had been holding on to.<br />
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Since then I feel I have maintained my status as a "rehabilitated" anrexic quite well. There are times when I still struggle with the impulse to deprive myself again. I try, instead, to use that willpower I was so proud of in a positive way: overcoming the compulsion to slip into old, comforting habits. I will likely struggle with this for the rest of my life, as so many people who suffer with eating disorders do, but I will strive to overcome.<br />
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Why am I sharing all of this? Well, I don't fully know. I hate to talk about this subject with anyone, even my husband. I am humiliated by the destructive behaviors of my past and embarrassed by the challenges those same behaviors present to me now. My embarrassment has prevented me from sharing my story, from reaching out to others who are fighting this same disorder. I believe now that that is what we need to do! We must reach out and we must share. We sweep these things under the rug and hope they will go away. Too many people battle eating disorders and feel so alone. I know I did. I hope that by sharing my story, perhaps someone will feel comforted. If not, at least they will know that someone understands what they deal with day to day. The guilt and the pain and heartache. I understand. Have hope.<br />
<a href="http://liveyourideallife.blogspot.com/">http://liveyourideallife.blogspot.com/</a><br />
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http://www.ishouldbefoldinglaundry.com/2010/02/myperfection.html.brittney.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08094879326341775386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5795656908564853389.post-1478956596076390942010-03-04T13:59:00.000-08:002010-03-04T13:59:00.032-08:00.back to basics.It's official. I'm sick of my blog design... again. I go through this every few weeks. The OCD kicks in and I get sick of the way my blog and/or blogs look and do a complete design overhaul. Honestly, I love rebuilding my blog from the ground up every so often, even though it is <i>soooooo</i> time consuming (HTML code and I are friends, but we don't always get along...).<br />
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So, I'm bringing back a blast from this blogs past... sort of. For any of you who have seen my blog before its current black and white style may recognize the new look; it's an updated version of an old design I made when this blog was first started.<br />
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I'm posting this as I'm still constructing said 'new look,' so please don't be too annoyed if things lose some functionality for a bit. Hopefully, everything will be up and running smoothly by the end of the day. And maybe, just maybe, this design will last for a while... but probably not. ^_^.brittney.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08094879326341775386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5795656908564853389.post-92119369409746419552010-03-01T19:06:00.000-08:002010-03-01T19:06:26.475-08:00.rationalizing harm doesn't make it less harmful.I love that title. Makes sense doesn't it? It's the title of an article on one of my favorite blogs, Woman Uncensored. It was another blog entry on circumcision. Alright, I know I already posted a preachy entry today. I won't go into another rant since you all just endured a soapbox moment earlier, but I would recommend reading it on her site. <a href="http://womanuncensored.blogspot.com/2010/01/rationalizing-harm-doesnt-make-it-less.html">Click here to see her post.</a> That is all....brittney.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08094879326341775386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5795656908564853389.post-52200891844278853802010-03-01T10:26:00.000-08:002010-03-01T11:00:18.642-08:00.the vacuum of self-dissatisfaction.I know I have written a few posts on how I am trying to lose weight. Since this has been on my mind a lot lately (only two more months before our big vacation), I have been pondering why I feel not just adamant about losing the weight, but very emotional about it as well. <br />
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I haven't solved that mystery completely, but I am going to throw out one thing I think is key: society. Yes, I said it. Yes, it's cliched.Yes, I still think there is some truth there. And no, I am not trying to find a scape goat for why I can't stop eating sweets. Ha, ha!<br />
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Our culture places so much emphasis on appearance and looks, that sometimes it is hard not to get completely consumed by it. We associate our worth as a person with what we look like. Our physical attributes become enmeshed with, and inseparable from, our own sense of self worth. It's an unfortunate, and costly, mistake to confuse the two as interchangeable.<br />
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By placing so much importance on outward appearance, we sadly overlook the things that truly define a person: intelligence, a caring heart, personality, opinions, talents, beliefs, morals, creativity, and all the other little things that combine to make each of us unique. It is even sadder when we focus on what we<i> think</i> (strong emphasis on <i>think</i>) is wrong with our <i>own</i> physical appearance. We define ourselves by the digits on our bathroom scales, the number on the tag of our jeans, or one feature or another that we don't think is "good enough."<br />
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One example of this is Heidi Montag. Some of you may not really know who she is, and those of you that do are probably tired of hearing about her recent surgical endeavors. Well, too bad. I'm going to say a word about them here anyway. Keep in mind, this girl is 23 years old; she is 6 months <i>younger</i> than I am.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLMAGK_0GM38W4cPQE28QuUc561ZOBB8UPKPw5ZHz8Pqo3C3XnCXfTfMVTxl1cEJWgRC24WIA2lkxJTF84VjlJ1lowv87BDk37lE15_atnngb3nOI5SEuD49DOdVYuBO6FHR48zbF9-FF/s1600-h/Heidi+Montag+Before+and+After+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLMAGK_0GM38W4cPQE28QuUc561ZOBB8UPKPw5ZHz8Pqo3C3XnCXfTfMVTxl1cEJWgRC24WIA2lkxJTF84VjlJ1lowv87BDk37lE15_atnngb3nOI5SEuD49DOdVYuBO6FHR48zbF9-FF/s400/Heidi+Montag+Before+and+After+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Did you catch that? How 'bout one more time?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihR150BVNwnm1QT_qfhpiYRjcedCEAmCwNR_LsumZDh4q1IA6NEji0e-4ht8o_oq9pWoRgd4yk8ytnoDWouBrji17UZynl2PyiJboA8bXEzYPBDR72iniBEw6TvPUrDYIL9kkgKhH9gQyX/s1600-h/Heidi+Montag+Before+and+After+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihR150BVNwnm1QT_qfhpiYRjcedCEAmCwNR_LsumZDh4q1IA6NEji0e-4ht8o_oq9pWoRgd4yk8ytnoDWouBrji17UZynl2PyiJboA8bXEzYPBDR72iniBEw6TvPUrDYIL9kkgKhH9gQyX/s400/Heidi+Montag+Before+and+After+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
According to <a href="http://famousplastic.com/category/heidi-montag/">FamousPlastic.com</a>, here is a list of surgeries she has undergone so far (remember, she is <i>only 23</i>!):<br />
-Nose job<br />
-Breast augmentation<br />
-Lip injections<br />
- Brow lift<br />
- Botox<br />
- Nose job #2<br />
- Fat injections in the face<br />
- Chin reduction<br />
- Liposuction of the neck<br />
- Liposuction on the waist<br />
- Liposuction on the hips<br />
- Liposuction on the thighs<br />
- Ears pinned back<br />
- Breast augmentation #2<br />
- Butt augmentation<br />
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To me, this is sad testament to how we choose assign value ourselves and each other. Heidi Montag was quoted as saying, "I just wanted to feel more confident and look in the mirror and be like, 'Whoa! That's me!' I was an ugly duckling before." Maybe it's just me, but the girl in the before pictures does not look like "an ugly duckling."<br />
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Of course, thanks to free agency, everyone can make their own decisions... and plastic surgery was hers. I just can't help but think how outside influences may have made her feel like what she looked like wasn't good enough. How hard would that be, to not like who you are based on something that matters so little in the long run?<br />
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It may be difficult to separate ourselves from this cultural mindset of physical beauty above all else (I know that I struggle with it), but I would hope that we would all try to see ourselves for who we really are. Not our flesh and bone structure and extra fat, but our hearts and souls and minds that truly define us and give us endless possibilities to succeed and excel!<br />
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Okay. Deep breath. I know that was a lot to read from the soapbox at one time. I am aware that I tend to run on and on with these kinds of posts. I'm not trying to be preachy; I just feel so strongly about some things. If you don't love me for my ramblings, please forgive them; I honestly can't help myself. Ha, ha! <br />
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P.S. On a more positive note, Jessica Simpson has a show coming out of Vh1 about what is beautiful in different countries and cultures. I think it could be really interesting to see what is considered attractive in the world outside our own cultural perspective. <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2010/01/16/2010-01-16_jessica_eyes_facets_of_beauty.html">Check out this article</a> and the video below!<br />
<object height="315" width="500"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/QvbHO1RtT4M&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/QvbHO1RtT4M&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="420" height="235"></embed></object>.brittney.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08094879326341775386noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5795656908564853389.post-22462079203358595102010-02-27T15:24:00.000-08:002010-02-27T15:28:05.093-08:00.ode to chocolate cake day.Yes! That's right! It's the day we've all been waiting for: <b>NATIONAL CHOCOLATE CAKE DAY!!!</b> It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. After all, it's a day devoted to the celebration and enjoyment of one of lifes best guilty pleasures: chocolate cake!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2zZoDYqaiFkdmlXRYdx1xj1XYdLE1FC0WPmeFEqd-jUQ9w2ApwTdEcDr4Zqbqd8UwNqP1k2hWEyZE0TWCNKo1rfT0YRuHlxxdQTTF1iXFFn1gY4uETyUWLhD-H5X5IN6BkYWVU0wQ5wP/s1600-h/522062_melt_chocolate_cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2zZoDYqaiFkdmlXRYdx1xj1XYdLE1FC0WPmeFEqd-jUQ9w2ApwTdEcDr4Zqbqd8UwNqP1k2hWEyZE0TWCNKo1rfT0YRuHlxxdQTTF1iXFFn1gY4uETyUWLhD-H5X5IN6BkYWVU0wQ5wP/s200/522062_melt_chocolate_cake.jpg" width="188" /></a>Since everyone observes this very special holiday in their own way, the way you choose to celebrate may vary: indulging in an entire sheet cake for breakfast... and lunch... and dinner, hanging pieces of cake around the house to help set a festive mood, face painting with chocolate frosting, making chocolate cake baskets and doing a chocolate cake hunt in the yard, filling socks with morsels of chocolate cakey goodness and hanging them by the fire...<br />
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*Sigh* Such wonderful memories... Okay. I'm kidding. We have never celebrated National Chocolate Cake day. In fact, I didn't even know about until two nights ago when I was looking up "food holidays" for funzies. Just because we haven't enjoyed an festivities in the past, however, doesn't mean we won't enjoy this little known (and slightly random) holiday this year. Maybe a chocolate buttermilk sheet cake is in order....brittney.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08094879326341775386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5795656908564853389.post-10793166572870749702010-01-29T22:58:00.000-08:002010-01-29T22:58:33.053-08:00.mario cupcakes.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-ywxuB0si0KuYLu7VjeXt-B3nrLVUiSyGftFL6-WXPGUsmkmPRfrwnwuU23bs-d6iYL_HiP48WS-UuyM7IRuHVQXyDLn8GWEUjo4jBkNFvKYCGKe5Ob0I1rSD60HUFZVX44Lev6F7TvL/s1600-h/Mario+Cupcakes+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-ywxuB0si0KuYLu7VjeXt-B3nrLVUiSyGftFL6-WXPGUsmkmPRfrwnwuU23bs-d6iYL_HiP48WS-UuyM7IRuHVQXyDLn8GWEUjo4jBkNFvKYCGKe5Ob0I1rSD60HUFZVX44Lev6F7TvL/s400/Mario+Cupcakes+001.jpg" width="300" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">Okay. These have got to be <i>the</i> coolest cupcakes ever made... or at least the coolest ones <i>I've</i> ever made! Ha, ha! I have seen this idea done before, and thought I would give it a whirl! I used fondant to create all the designs by hand. It was a long process (3.5 hours!), but I love the end result!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I am quite impressed with my Mario especially. I was worried no one would know who it was supposed to be, but I think he is recognizable</span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> and</i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> delicious! My one regret: using a new recipe for the cupcakes. They turned out tasting more like muffins to me... <sigh> Oh, well. At least they look mah-velous!</sigh></span></div>.brittney.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08094879326341775386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5795656908564853389.post-38898845885079372602010-01-28T23:33:00.000-08:002010-01-30T00:08:46.443-08:00.what do you mean i can't eat during labor.Should I say "I told you so?" <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE52O56K20090325">Here is an article</a> that states that a study in the UK concluded that eating during labor has no ill-effects on mother, baby, C-section rates, chances of vomiting, and so on, and so on.<br />
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It's no secret I have a passion for food in general. I love cooking it. I love eating it. It's necessary to eat good food to make our bodies healthy and allow us to have the energy to do the tasks that face us each day. Therefore, I found it odd to hear that during labor, a woman was not allowed to eat <i>anything</i>. Often, she is not even allowed water and is kept hydrated through an IV.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo95P21_VehmLV3Z755pKhmfhVpL14vK0AGA1yp2SSWLC2ma5fqGTCMpdGUmYJKU1JE0GbzhrMI9nSVx-6obf6Hh5pXP5Cwsos6KOK48Ss8KhAg4bK5DFApAzQZpLjPpCHLH6soqjZqX_O/s1600-h/1187596_happy_pregnant.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/AVvXsEjo95P21_VehmLV3Z755pKhmfhVpL14vK0AGA1yp2SSWLC2ma5fqGTCMpdGUmYJKU1JE0GbzhrMI9nSVx-6obf6Hh5pXP5Cwsos6KOK48Ss8KhAg4bK5DFApAzQZpLjPpCHLH6soqjZqX_O/s200/1187596_happy_pregnant.jpg" width="200" /></a>I had heard several reasons for this rationale: eating increases risk of vomiting, eating can complicate things if a C-section is required, eating will prolong labor, etc. To me, though, it seemed sort of... eh-hem... stupid to deprive your body of nutrients and energy during one of the most grueling physical challenges you are likely to ever face.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that during labor you should have your hubby pick up a quarter-pounder with cheese and a large side of fries for you. As far as eating during labor goes, having been there and done that, I can tell you, a big, heavy meal was the furthest thing from my mind at the time. Some smaller (and easily digested) snacks, however, especially early on in labor, can be a godsend.<br />
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Now, I'm no doctor, but I've heard that complex carbs are a better choice for keeping your energy up than fatty or fried foods. Here are a few things that were suggested to me during my labor (notice a lot of these "foods" provide hydration, too - very critical to stay hydrated!):<br />
<ul><li>applesauce </li>
<li>soups</li>
<li>popsicles</li>
<li>white grape juice</li>
<li>apple juice</li>
<li>Jell-o</li>
<li>a spoonful of honey (gives a quick energy boost)</li>
<li>crackers </li>
<li>graham crackers</li>
<li>bananas</li>
<li>fruit (I loved peaches...) </li>
<li>pasta</li>
<li>toast</li>
<li>warm broth</li>
<li>cereal - hot or cold</li>
<li>rice</li>
<li>scrambled or hard-boiled eggs</li>
<li>yogurt</li>
<li>hard-candies to suck on (tasty and they keep your mouth feeling moist) </li>
</ul>Anyway, I guess the point comes back around to my basic birth philosophy: women should be able to have options and choices in their birth experiences! If you're hungry, you should be allowed to eat a little something! If you are thirsty, you should be able to drink a little water or chew some ice chips (ice chips are a laboring woman's best friend, in my humble opinion).<br />
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Again, I'm not a medical professional. This all just my musings and thoughts, but the research does look like it's starting to back me up. ^_^ If you are preggers and delivering at a hospital or birth center, I would recommend checking to see if the facility you are delivering at allows women to eat/drink during labor. If they do, pack a few things to munch in your hospital bag, just in case. It can make a world of difference!.brittney.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08094879326341775386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5795656908564853389.post-13082249084694984282010-01-25T15:22:00.000-08:002010-01-29T23:36:04.171-08:00.digi-scraping challenges. As often as I scrapbook (which is not often at<i> all</i>), I digi-scrapbook about 10 times less. In fact, I am kind of just experimenting in the world of digi-scrapping. I found a fun site that not only has some free kits to download, but has challenges that you can try... usually with some reward attached for meeting the requirements. The site is called <a href="http://www.craftyscrapschat.com/">Crafty Scraps</a>. All you do is click the challenges link and a whole list of digi-scrapbooking contests. I say contests, but most of them that I've seen do not have a clear "winner."<br />
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It's also a fun place to get ideas. Below I posted the pages I threw together last night for a couple of challenges. As my "prize," the site owner sent me a full digi-scrapping set via email. The pages I made were pretty simple, but it was fun. Plus, it gave me something to do in the late hours of the night last night when I couldn't sleep. :o)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjky4uzjgR2L6gcj9r1jJZ250vxpiQHonxpqvBzGWHbju4bUpYTeJizF-A2KqU5bsQz24MkYVSII3emUUnEPnGcxs_3gA8opLaCEP7nxe9fh1myS_FyfCigqV-ziZtrD_Jr4xwPYf87Tc8o/s1600-h/My+Page+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjky4uzjgR2L6gcj9r1jJZ250vxpiQHonxpqvBzGWHbju4bUpYTeJizF-A2KqU5bsQz24MkYVSII3emUUnEPnGcxs_3gA8opLaCEP7nxe9fh1myS_FyfCigqV-ziZtrD_Jr4xwPYf87Tc8o/s400/My+Page+3.jpg" width="397" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xfDGj1K81ifmCf3x6-LmNsYrmL1RXQXtmMJKvWVIqHq4UDY_UIaAkEYw_eY9C02lqLZJILqhKjqTrC6OYt804jspsKIyNDByc_VhxQPsQxhO-pqsriZzQBv4VetYeNeaz6U7DeEf7w_J/s1600-h/My+Page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xfDGj1K81ifmCf3x6-LmNsYrmL1RXQXtmMJKvWVIqHq4UDY_UIaAkEYw_eY9C02lqLZJILqhKjqTrC6OYt804jspsKIyNDByc_VhxQPsQxhO-pqsriZzQBv4VetYeNeaz6U7DeEf7w_J/s400/My+Page.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>.brittney.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08094879326341775386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5795656908564853389.post-38467824031317580022010-01-22T08:41:00.000-08:002010-03-05T10:46:03.589-08:00.sushi night.Earlier in the day, we were invited to go to sushi with Ben's brother, Brycen, and his wife, Amy (who is my good friend) tonight. We politely declined, due to lack of substantial funds to spend on raw fish yummy-ness. Then, a miracle! I got a call from my work saying that I had a check waiting there and that it had been sitting in the safe for nearly two weeks. Since I don't work often, I had no idea how much the check would be for, but I guessed it would be a whopping $40.00 or less.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLepltLWBfaO6o_WLz53E1MM4kFZ2J10IfV6nwKM4wad3A39IBMCoct2ft5cMrJInBatyLjlUXJIR1kQDxhi0zoakRPpIv2DLCVtYLSL3AtycPZkd0ppFo7GYLQ66o01zCH_1sD5OrDZ4/s1600-h/storefront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLepltLWBfaO6o_WLz53E1MM4kFZ2J10IfV6nwKM4wad3A39IBMCoct2ft5cMrJInBatyLjlUXJIR1kQDxhi0zoakRPpIv2DLCVtYLSL3AtycPZkd0ppFo7GYLQ66o01zCH_1sD5OrDZ4/s320/storefront.jpg" width="320" /></a>To my surprise, and delight, it was nearly $250.00! We decided to find an sitter and go out for a night on the town. Ben called up Brycen and asked if the sushi invite still stood, which it did. My mom was kind enough to babysit on short notice and we headed over to Fuji Sushi.<br />
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Fuji Sushi is a small establishment in Centerville, a stones throw from when I grew up. I had never eaten there, but had heard good things, most especially from my mom and step-dad, who are true sushi lovers.<br />
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We sat down with Amy and Brycen and perused the menu. We opted for a Shrimp Tempura Roll, Spiderman Roll, and, of course, some Miso soup. As soon as we ordered, I started feeling a little uneasy...<br />
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Even though I have eaten sushi many a time, I get a little nervous when trying a new, unfamiliar roll. I think this is because, by strict sushi law, you have to put the whole piece in your mouth at once, which is usually a <i>big </i>mouthful.<br />
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Looking like a squirrel in public with a mouthful of raw fish is bad enough but worse still is that once it's in there, you're pretty much committed to eating it. So, if it turns out to be a nasty tasting mix of dead fish and seaweed, with an unsavory, slimy texture, too bad! You have to man up, chew it as quickly as you can without looking like wuss, and swallow it down past an <i>overwhelming</i> gag reflex.<br />
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The miso soup was predictably delicious and both the rolls we got were, thankfully, quite tasty as well. The only "negative" culinary aspect of the evening would have to be that the Spiderman roll was a <i>tad</i> spicy... like 'eating-liquid-hot-magma' spicy. Ha, ha!<br />
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All in all, it was a fantastic evening out. Good food, good company, and lots of raw seafood; what more could you ask for?.brittney.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08094879326341775386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5795656908564853389.post-50489366342576323652010-01-15T13:25:00.000-08:002010-01-15T13:50:31.541-08:00.sunflowers in january.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4acIR1c7hEerqf5003WLP6hDiD8TNizSaa7J-9EYVR2TAtQaPoTQfng6fs4K1HQgK331EnR_QvIjjfFEiz1UHq_MjwoXglylNbJtWIMeuLsHU2O7Znn6y2DkLyy459UbvXZ_nftySsri/s1600-h/Sunflower+Cupcakes+-+01-07-10+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4acIR1c7hEerqf5003WLP6hDiD8TNizSaa7J-9EYVR2TAtQaPoTQfng6fs4K1HQgK331EnR_QvIjjfFEiz1UHq_MjwoXglylNbJtWIMeuLsHU2O7Znn6y2DkLyy459UbvXZ_nftySsri/s320/Sunflower+Cupcakes+-+01-07-10+013.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>I made these cupcakes for a girl who works with my sister-in-law, Jenny. It was her birthday and Jenny wanted to take a cake or cupcakes to work for her. I had been dying to try these little sunflower cupcakes out, so I jumped at the opportunity! I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I think they turned out rather well, don't you? ^_^<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH80zyt-d_xxQkYW_OZt2oxUjHxAbbDvW5C7teGYrgNIjIJuPeo_lgHohVmVe-IvXrWMyFtYERlXEh69H70o_182V9p57o9HWzcT3_dnBE7EQ3iB3OP4Rk4jX8255HzUlsSFHhI5vZXmOf/s1600-h/Sunflower+Cupcakes+-+01-07-10+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH80zyt-d_xxQkYW_OZt2oxUjHxAbbDvW5C7teGYrgNIjIJuPeo_lgHohVmVe-IvXrWMyFtYERlXEh69H70o_182V9p57o9HWzcT3_dnBE7EQ3iB3OP4Rk4jX8255HzUlsSFHhI5vZXmOf/s320/Sunflower+Cupcakes+-+01-07-10+020.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>.brittney.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08094879326341775386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5795656908564853389.post-47127399336713423522010-01-14T11:08:00.000-08:002010-01-14T11:08:43.193-08:00.the all-knowing safety pin.So apparently, I'm out of the loop. Tonight, my sister-in-law, Jenny, asked if I had ever done "the paperclip trick" to determine how many kids I would have and what their genders would be. I answered her question with another question: "Uh... what is the paperclip trick?" Jenny looked slightly shocked and told me to find a paperclip and a string... post-haste.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9g5y62VKIit_-KtG_CGqGkGMw4aNk09C1VX8Wcjqb7jfRn-FD4K0EdiZi0parqMnh6ajtumks7WRxgie8o774vPmsEgcJBkMKtusTH7S5PBm4ZOlN6l0j-Sj-IsyCjl4hbQUxHs43nqaf/s1600-h/1386-classic-paperclip-money-clip-image-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9g5y62VKIit_-KtG_CGqGkGMw4aNk09C1VX8Wcjqb7jfRn-FD4K0EdiZi0parqMnh6ajtumks7WRxgie8o774vPmsEgcJBkMKtusTH7S5PBm4ZOlN6l0j-Sj-IsyCjl4hbQUxHs43nqaf/s200/1386-classic-paperclip-money-clip-image-1.jpg" /></a>Evidently, if you tie a paperclip to the end of a piece of string and then have someone hold it perfectly still over your hand, it will magically begin to spin in circles. After "thinking" for a moment or two, it will either swing from right to left across your hand (meaning "girl") or back and forth (meaning "boy"). It will then begin to spin in circles again. Supposedly, it will repeat this cycle of circling and then "predicting" all the children in your future. When all your future offspring have been predicted, it will come to a stop.<br />
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It sounded a bit odd to me, but Jenny assured me that it was surprisingly accurate in her experience. She and her co-workers had spent time that day performing this "test" on each other and it seemed to spooky how well it worked. They had even done the test on several women who are done having children and it indicated correctly the children they already have. She also tested my other sister-in-law, who has a daughter already, but doesn't want more kids. The paperclip indicated a girl and then stopped abruptly.<br />
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Jenny said that she had two different people at work use this magical device to determine her procreative future and that both times the results were: girl, boy, girl. Seeing as she already has a little girl, the paperclip is already roughly 33% correct.<br />
I was eager to see what the paperclip had to say on my behalf, but unfortunately... we had no paperclips or string in the house. I know, I know. Who doesn't have paperclips or, more shockingly, string in their house. Well, we don't, I guess. Ha, ha! I did, however, find a safety pin and some dental floss. "Make it work!" as Tim Gunn would say (yes, I have been known to watch the occasional episode of Project Runway, much to my husbands dismay).<br />
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After putting the makeshift divination contraption together, Jenny held the string so the safety pin dangled perfectly still over my hand. Suddenly, it began to spin. After a couple minutes, it started to swing from side-to-side, meaning I would have a girl first... which, of course, is true (my sweet Livi). The safety pin began to circle again and then started to swing gently back and forth: a boy. It resumed its circling movements once more and then the safety pin began to swing back and forth with a surprising amount of energy. Apparently, the safety pin was quite sure about this one: another boy. Then, the safety pin just stopped, coming to a standstill over my palm. <br />
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As a control, we tested Jenny again and she got the same result as she had with her co-workers: a girl, a boy, and then another girl. <br />
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We laughed about how weird it was, and then my hubby asked if it worked for guys, too. Jenny wasn't sure, but we decided to give it a shot. I told him jokingly, but emphatically, that his result had <i>better </i>be the same as mine. <br />
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What did the safety pin predict for Ben? A girl, a boy, and another boy! The funniest thing was that the first two results were with a gentle swaying motion, but when it came to the second "boy" result, that safety pin began swinging again with tremendous zeal, just like it had for me.<br />
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Granted, our results may not be entirely accurate seeing as there was a lack of proper construction, but it was an interesting experiment nonetheless. Even though I'm not sure if I put much stock into this old wives tale, I figured I should document the predictions of the all-knowing safety pin. It will be interesting to look back and see if the safety pin had it right all along....brittney.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08094879326341775386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5795656908564853389.post-9794487606891316042010-01-05T14:40:00.000-08:002010-01-05T14:48:59.940-08:00.a small success.Huzzah! Today, I do my happy dance. "Why?" you ask? I'll tell you. I just finished getting ready for my brother-in-laws wedding tonight and opted to wear a dress I bought for a friends wedding in November.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIdYvBvO-6NN_aQ22oQnuqpYwDMCXogl6kzPzINIpJLxs-7oQAzN1VN_YiZs91EuQ4RS3rt6UMCajTfI-JI8MboI1SmjRaQlxvFIutzHvhJb4D_C9M398Ej1y6w7z-IYzVz9aMVzVCs2e/s1600-h/Diet+Time+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIdYvBvO-6NN_aQ22oQnuqpYwDMCXogl6kzPzINIpJLxs-7oQAzN1VN_YiZs91EuQ4RS3rt6UMCajTfI-JI8MboI1SmjRaQlxvFIutzHvhJb4D_C9M398Ej1y6w7z-IYzVz9aMVzVCs2e/s320/Diet+Time+3.jpg" /></a>When I purchased said dress, it was quite form-fitting. Its pencil skirt hugged my hips tightly and the sleeves sqeezed my arms a little too much for my liking. It was almost to the point of being too small (*groan*), but I made it work... mostly because I couldn't bear to go up another size.<br />
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Today, however, I put the dress on and... it is almost <i>too</i><b> </b><i>big</i>!<br />
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Hallelujah! My faith has been restored! Cutting calories and being a Nazi about everything that enters my mouth has had an effect! Granted, it's a relatively small effect, but it's something.<br />
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This is the boost I needed to continue on my diet plan. There is a light at the end of the tunnel! Now all I have to worry about is wearing a baggy dress to the wedding....brittney.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08094879326341775386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5795656908564853389.post-25563886335608441992010-01-04T10:17:00.000-08:002010-01-04T10:20:38.787-08:00.circumcision.<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I remember, when I was pregnant, finding out our little "bean" was a little "she." I was so excited. There were so many things I started looking forward to: dressing her up in frilly clothes, doing her hair up in cute bows and pigtails, and not having to make the decision of whether or not to circumcise.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_K5aRaXLjGiQ/S0IwmQFWOkI/AAAAAAAAA0U/3_Zm41UYyXk/s1600-h/Gift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_K5aRaXLjGiQ/S0IwmQFWOkI/AAAAAAAAA0U/3_Zm41UYyXk/s320/Gift.jpg" /></a>Honestly, before I got pregnant, I never really gave the issue much thought. If you had a baby boy, it was the "normal" thing to do, right? I didn't really have any strong feelings one way or the other.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Being "preggo" and anticipating being a mother definitely brought out the "mother bear" in me in <i>every</i> sense of the phrase. I was super protective of my little unborn baby and would have done anything to make life for her as wonderful and perfect as it could be.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This "mother bear" was the thing that pushed me to research, and ultimately opt for, a natural birth. This "mother bear" made it easy to change my less-than-healthy lifestyle to one of health and good nutrition. This "mother bear" forced me to take a step back and examine things I had never delved into before, including the issue of circumcision.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I dreaded having to make the decision for quite a while until we started taking Bradley classes. Our teacher was wonderful (<a href="http://www.bradleybirth.com/ndweb.asp?ID=O088">Adrianna Costello-Martin</a>, for anyone in the Salt Lake City area - she is fantastic!) and her lessons not only were informative, but thought-provoking as well. One class was on the things to expect after the hard work of labor and delivery were over. We discussed immunizations. We discussed breastfeeding. We discussed circumcision.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Adrianna's stance on the subject was that it should not be done routinely. She went into detail about why that was, siting dangers and ill-effects. We debated for awhile and afterward, Adrianna simply said that most parents aren't even with their babies when a circumcision is performed because it was too "upsetting" for them (imagine how "upsetting" it is for the <i>baby</i>). She emphatically drove the point home saying that every parent had to make the choice for themselves, but that if the decision was made to circumcise, the parents should be there during the operation, not just for the baby's sake, but to actually <i>see</i> what goes on. After hearing her impassioned speech, I determined to do some research.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Over the next few days, I read many articles and personal stories online. Finally, I made up my mind: If our baby was a boy, I would fight having him "snipped" tooth and nail. It just didn't feel right to me. It sounds to me to be a painful and unnecessary procedure that is <i>cosmetic</i> in most cases ("I want him to look like his dad" or "I don't want him to be teased in the locker room"). True, there are probably medical reasons a "circ" should be done, but routinely cutting off a babies foreskin is a bit barbaric in my mind.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Plus, shouldn't that choice be left up to the individual who will have to live with its effects? The surgery can be done later in life if a person chooses to have it done. As for a child "not looking like" Dad/brothers/kids in the locker room, I offer up what a wise woman in our class said she would tell her sons (who are uncircumcised) when they asked. To paraphrase, she said, "I have no problem telling my boys that the reason they don't look like their dad down there is that we chose <i>not</i> to cut off part of their penis. I have no problem with that."<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://womanuncensored.blogspot.com/2009/12/would-you-circumcise-your-daughter.html">Click here to read an eye-opening article</a> on the subject from an excellent blog called 'Woman, Uncensored.' Be sure to read the comments at the bottom of this entry; there are some interesting opinions from both sides of the arguement.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Here is an enlightening excerpt from one of my favorite birth-oriented sites, BirthingNaturally.org (<a href="http://www.birthnaturally.org/ConsumerInfo/circumcision.htm">click here</a> to their fantastic full page of circumcision information):<br />
</div><h3 style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Things to Consider</b></span></h3><ol style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li> <a href="http://www.nocirc.org/position/" target="_blank"> No medical organization in the world</a> recommends routine infant circumcision.</li>
<li> <a href="http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/figures/85-Figure-2.gif" target="_blank"> Rates</a> are dropping. "Everyone" is <i>not</i> doing it. In 2003 approximately 56% of newborn boys were circumcised and 44% were left intact. The rate has dropped quite a lot since you and your partner were born. Still concerned about the locker room? Read <a href="http://www.noharmm.org/outyouth.htm" target="_blank"> this</a>.</li>
<li>Circumcision is not necessary for <a href="http://www.circumstitions.com/Clean.html" target="_blank"> hygienic reasons</a>. Circumcised males have to wash, too! It is easier to care for an intact infant rather than a circumcised one because the foreskin is attached at birth and all you need to do is wipe the outside. Once the foreskin is retractable a quick 3-second rinse in the shower is sufficient. It takes a lot more time and effort to clean an intact female. Circumcised boys have a wound that has to heal inside a diaper. After it heals, you must be vigilant about preventing <a href="http://parenting.ivillage.com/newborn/ncare/0,,3qhh,00.html" target="_blank"> adhesions</a> (where the remaining foreskin tries to heal by reattaching to the glans).</li>
<li>The foreskin is not a birth defect. It has a purpose. It has <a href="http://www.boystoo.com/medical/conversion.htm" target="_blank"> sexual</a> as well as <a href="http://www.noharmm.org/advantage.htm" target="_blank"> health benefits</a>. It is not a simple "flap of skin". For one it doesn't flap at all (it is attached during infancy much like a fingernail to the nail bed). For another it is densely innervated, highly erogenous tissue.</li>
<li>Your son won't care if his <a href="http://www.circumcision.org/others.htm" target="_blank"> penis matches</a> his dad's or not. Many intact American boys have circumcised fathers. It is not an issue that you need worry about. Many intact American boys have circumcised older brothers as well. Again, it's not something that should prevent you from letting your newborn son keep his foreskin. Each child is an individual. He will have unique physical and personality characteristics. There is a good argument that we should accept and love our babies as they are. <b>If you don't want to circumcise, but your partner does please check out these <a href="http://www.birthnaturally.org/ConsumerInfo/circumcision.htm#Disagreeing"> articles</a>.</b></li>
<li>Circumcision is not a simple snip. Circumcision removes what amounts in an adult to 15 square inches of erogenous tissue (the size of a 3 x 5 notecard), that's approximately 50% of the penile shaft skin. Here's a link to overviews of the various <a href="http://www.circumcisionquotes.com/methods.html" target="_blank"> methods</a>. Here is a <a href="http://www.intact.ca/video.html" target="_blank"> video</a> of the procedure.</li>
<li>Circumcision is <a href="http://www.circumcision.org/response.htm" target="_blank"> painful</a> and most babies do not receive any anesthesia. There is no pain relief that is 100% effective that is safe enough to use on fragile newborns. If you have studied pre- and peri-natal psychology you know that babies <i>remember</i>. You cannot brush off pain and trauma with a "he won't remember it, so it's ok". Your baby's experience of pain during circumcision is real and should not be treated lightly. <b>Babies do not sleep through circumcisions.</b> Some babies may appear to be asleep because they withdraw as a coping mechanism. When the baby is monitored for signs of stress and pain, medicated and "sleeping" babies have elevated levels, indicating that they do feel what is happening.</li>
<li>Circumcision has <a href="http://www.cirp.org/library/complications/williams-kapila/" target="_blank"> risks</a>. Most of them are minor, but some are quite serious (including amputation or even death). One risk that is not commonly included is the risk that your son may not agree with your decision regarding circumcision. If you choose to circumcise and your son later decides that he would rather have his foreskin, there's nothing he can do. If you choose not to circumcise and your son later decides that he would rather be circumcised, he can have that done (with fully effective pain relief and fewer risks regarding too much/too little skin being removed).</li>
<li>Christians have no religious requirement to circumcise. If we did, we would have a religious ceremony attending it. During the Council at Jerusalem Peter, Paul, and the other leaders of the Church had to decide whether or not new gentile converts must first convert to Judaism prior to being baptized as followers of Christ. The Jews who became Christian wanted to continue following the Law of Moses, including circumcision, and wanted new converts to do the same. The Council at Jerusalem determined that Christ fulfilled the Law of Moses and circumcision no longer had any religious significance. Here is a well-written article on the <a href="http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/1995.htm/ensign%20october%201995.htm/a%20crisis%20a%20council%20and%20inspired%20leadership.htm" target="_blank"> Council at Jerusalem</a>. Scriptural references against religious circumcision for Christians can be found in <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/acts/15/1-35#1" target="_blank"> Acts 15:1 - 35</a>, <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/1_cor/7/19#19" target="_blank"> 1 Corinthians 7:19</a>, <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/gal/5/6#6" target="_blank"> Galatians 5:6</a>, and <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/gal/6/15#15" target="_blank"> Galatians 6:15</a>. If you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), read <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moro/8/8#8" target="_blank"> Moroni 8:8</a> and <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/74" target="_blank"> D&C 74</a>.</li>
<li>Another item to consider regarding religious circumcision is that the form done in Biblical times is <a href="http://www.cirp.org/library/history/peron2/" target="_blank"> not as severe as what is done today</a> during modern hospital circumcisions.</li>
<li>Medicaid in Utah does not cover routine infant circumcision.</li>
</ol><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Here are some more resources:<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Loads of good general info:<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.circumcision.org/">www.Circumcision.org</a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">More good general info:<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.birthnaturally.org/ConsumerInfo/circumcision.htm">www.BirthNaturally.org/ConsumerInfo/Circumcision</a><br />
<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Infants feel and remember pain from circumcision (research study):<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/1f21e.htm"></a><a href="http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/1f21e.htm">http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/1f21e.htm</a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/1f21e.htm"></a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Doctors opposing circumcision: <br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/">www.DoctorsOpposingCircumcision.org</a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">More mamas who feel how I do:<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.mothersagainstcirc.org/">www.MothersAgainstCirc.org</a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Another article from 'Woman, Uncensored' (this one is heart-wrenching, I have to warn you): <br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://womanuncensored.blogspot.com/2010/01/what-have-i-done-voices-of-circumcision.html">www.WomanUncensored.blogspot.com/what-have-i-done-voices-of-circumcision</a><br />
</div>.brittney.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08094879326341775386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5795656908564853389.post-49801223991551134132009-12-30T11:35:00.000-08:002010-01-29T14:04:52.740-08:00.alivias first year.<object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/785YVvRrp-o&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/785YVvRrp-o&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>.brittney.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08094879326341775386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5795656908564853389.post-55996410444707112232009-12-26T21:41:00.000-08:002010-01-15T13:13:13.372-08:00.spiced hot chocolate.<div class="" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">This is a very... unusual twist on a winter classic. It is kind of reminiscent of eggnog to me, only it tastes good. Ha, ha! Not a fan of eggnog, obviously. ^_^ This really does make your insides feel nice and toasty!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-NVTEwem7eZPfy8We_EbTIp93khZixt208C-s8gJTtsbAYhzZoe-NVIi5LFEG5Vj_T04cFcN1Hi9ffSUXQYtSMgvif99QxCDb1VTw5OYUNlMl-2PaX8gn_KXyyymWYs288l9QXE5Bamj/s1600-h/1094517_hot_chocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-NVTEwem7eZPfy8We_EbTIp93khZixt208C-s8gJTtsbAYhzZoe-NVIi5LFEG5Vj_T04cFcN1Hi9ffSUXQYtSMgvif99QxCDb1VTw5OYUNlMl-2PaX8gn_KXyyymWYs288l9QXE5Bamj/s320/1094517_hot_chocolate.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
</div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>4 cups of hot chocolate, prepared; preferably made with milk (I used 1%).</li>
<li>1/2 teaspoon cinnamon</li>
<li>1/2 teaspoon nutmeg</li>
<li>1/2 teaspoon chili powder</li>
<li>Whipped cream or marshmallows (optional)</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">1. Stir spices into hot chocolate.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">2. Let stand for a minute for flavors to "marry."<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">3. Preferably, you would want to strain the spices out using a couple of paper towels lining a colander (be sure to put a large bowl underneath colander to catch your yummy chocolate beverage). If you aren't able to strain out the spice "bits" in the bottom, just be sure you don't serve the last little bit of cocoa so no one ends up with a mouthful of gritty spices. Not so yummy... trust me.<br />
</div>.brittney.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08094879326341775386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5795656908564853389.post-18565252525685311592009-12-24T21:16:00.000-08:002010-01-04T21:16:58.013-08:00.christmas eve at the firestation.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8tyVI5u9SuFF01X-hk1naXGY39AKkwm-PwXcsONNq4cwxxT7idBSjJRRn0TOpoUCzjsGN4uVBGIanUe3HHLaqoNG6TUnvzS0yk4RQXJ4KZh72Uqgdr7nUHY2TFwF3TswTgCGHRUrH8Q_/s1600-h/Picture+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8tyVI5u9SuFF01X-hk1naXGY39AKkwm-PwXcsONNq4cwxxT7idBSjJRRn0TOpoUCzjsGN4uVBGIanUe3HHLaqoNG6TUnvzS0yk4RQXJ4KZh72Uqgdr7nUHY2TFwF3TswTgCGHRUrH8Q_/s320/Picture+005.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>This year on Christmas eve, my dad had to work. He is a firefighter for the great city of Salt Lake and this year his shift fell on Christmas eve. He wasn't too concerned about missing out since my brother, sister, and I are older now. When the day came, however, most of the other firefighters had family visiting them and he started to feel a little lonesome.<br />
<br />
My step-mom, Kristin, called us and asked if we would want to make a surprise visit to the station and we jumped at the chance. I made a batch of Chocolate Crinkle cookies and hopped in the car.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUiBUp2ifZj_5fk1aHNN7wIH55FNAY3oSrfrGcKjUxo3LL6QbeekfFEiCfWOJZp-WtFrIdPYKAum7vKrP6fFlsevDaZsm-Z4vRJnR7c_OuVZWigt5s2gIkjoljzLfWlYHLsnv3vBjf4l_/s1600-h/Picture+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUiBUp2ifZj_5fk1aHNN7wIH55FNAY3oSrfrGcKjUxo3LL6QbeekfFEiCfWOJZp-WtFrIdPYKAum7vKrP6fFlsevDaZsm-Z4vRJnR7c_OuVZWigt5s2gIkjoljzLfWlYHLsnv3vBjf4l_/s320/Picture+012.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
We got to the firehouse just in time to eat some delicious turkey chili and a "mahvelous" fruit tart. After filling up on chili and sweets, we got to take a tour of the firestation. We saw their dorms, the engines and trucks, the entertainment room, the weight room, and even the famous pole.<br />
<br />
We got to sit in the in engine my dad drives and see all the fire-fightin' gear. Ben even got to slide down the pole (I declined to take a turn... too high up for me).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgT0alyY60wk_7fjYFMvL5xTiowmHg65hnGN5jAG5EGTI1cgVfXbR1B-JeOJyH2c15iuRkhV_k7gK0a-mgNhzYnG2kSUohTYBR2q0vi2kD2wZwyYa7gmYfpz-DNjggw3vneKAG_bObbk1t/s1600-h/Picture+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgT0alyY60wk_7fjYFMvL5xTiowmHg65hnGN5jAG5EGTI1cgVfXbR1B-JeOJyH2c15iuRkhV_k7gK0a-mgNhzYnG2kSUohTYBR2q0vi2kD2wZwyYa7gmYfpz-DNjggw3vneKAG_bObbk1t/s320/Picture+014.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bW-_H50a-_LwJtdtK23m2qSL1AO2_Bq29uHnqHBJtkkJpAOYQYOoeF1mc__wmjY7Ccg4fnbgJY6txvMUzMFv6aQoNGwMwSc-QY9B_dhI_ehKspQKjsjgNQvm6_xDdpglkWn-WozdQbg0/s1600-h/Picture+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bW-_H50a-_LwJtdtK23m2qSL1AO2_Bq29uHnqHBJtkkJpAOYQYOoeF1mc__wmjY7Ccg4fnbgJY6txvMUzMFv6aQoNGwMwSc-QY9B_dhI_ehKspQKjsjgNQvm6_xDdpglkWn-WozdQbg0/s320/Picture+007.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Surprisingly, Livi was interested in every thing my dad showed us. She wasn't bored or restless for a second. Of course, we took lots of pictures. It was a great way to spend Christmas eve!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pAEiiJxWDePAWcYFghnN1kYmWqkc9qjSRSq8usPnNuLRmncoB0W8tE6KDxz9GRxouLfeN1myQuAfst9oamq9SNTkd549w542MJc2kbYc6eJEQIo5yUucqZYeI0OtRAVLic107U3QkQhk/s1600-h/Picture+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pAEiiJxWDePAWcYFghnN1kYmWqkc9qjSRSq8usPnNuLRmncoB0W8tE6KDxz9GRxouLfeN1myQuAfst9oamq9SNTkd549w542MJc2kbYc6eJEQIo5yUucqZYeI0OtRAVLic107U3QkQhk/s320/Picture+009.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>.brittney.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08094879326341775386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5795656908564853389.post-88691568968231511632009-12-22T10:20:00.000-08:002010-01-04T21:54:38.279-08:00.holiday dieting: bah humbug.<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCxa1wBKLwNFEuYibxq0hqGnQAEQohx3Y7eXDB5eUIY4el2ryZRwvuw5yTARtXqW6qFRmg31WpwBINS0aAjuf_SnlNkIrYmPTRXtONSkjcMCNTag5X2kBxYMDj_HiQeaCiF4RS7dBt_pi/s1600-h/Diet+Time+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCxa1wBKLwNFEuYibxq0hqGnQAEQohx3Y7eXDB5eUIY4el2ryZRwvuw5yTARtXqW6qFRmg31WpwBINS0aAjuf_SnlNkIrYmPTRXtONSkjcMCNTag5X2kBxYMDj_HiQeaCiF4RS7dBt_pi/s320/Diet+Time+2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Okay. It's official. I picked the <i>worst</i> time to start a diet. It seems like everywhere I look, there is some tasty treat just begging to be sampled. Cookies, pie, candies, molten chocolate cake (mmmm...), fudge... I could go on, but I'm starting to feel some ominous hunger pangs. <br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I think all in all, I have done pretty well so far. Granted, I have still "sampled" almost every Christmas treat that has wandered my way, but to my credit, I have not overindulged as is my typical tendency.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For some reason, I have become a bit of a two year old when it comes to food in the past couple of years. An odd metaphor, I know, but it's an appropriate one. I have always had some odd little... compulsions... but lately I feel like I absolutely <i>have</i> to scarf down enormous amounts of food when presented with anything delicious. I am like a selfish little kid who wants to eat all the candies in the candy jar to make sure no one eats them before she can get her fill... even if she is feeling a little queasy.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's like my mind thinks it may be my very last chance to taste mashed potatoes or pink frosted sugar cookies or cheese pizza. So, better eat 'til I'm beyond full and slightly sick.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have only just started to really notice it because now I am trying to watch what I put in this gob of mine. I often reach for food when I'm not hungry. I may be bored or stressed or "munchy," but not hungry.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, I take pride in the fact that now I can have one piece of fudge, instead of rationalizing reasons to eat my second, third, and tenth piece, and not feel deprived.</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I can't guarantee, however, that come Christmas day I won't let the diet slip a </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">little</i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">. 'Tis the season, after all!</span>.brittney.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08094879326341775386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5795656908564853389.post-69261434644681900552009-12-21T22:01:00.000-08:002009-12-21T22:27:56.424-08:00.video tidbit: silent monks.<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In the spirit of Christmas, I thought I would share this video with ya'll. It's pretty clever <i>and</i> it's Christmas-y! <br />
</div><br />
<object height="285" width="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/ZCFCeJTEzNU&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/ZCFCeJTEzNU&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="420" height="365"></embed></object>.brittney.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08094879326341775386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5795656908564853389.post-91786378400895994402009-12-19T14:09:00.000-08:002009-12-22T14:12:38.580-08:00.christmas parties: round four.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_GPR-H5eCNiRTGkDO7Qb4BpPlEgqrwSs2tbodV220073gkO3nzmBDrCLbf5FXjDWiAgnQ_eBQs3MRuhag8sTvnktjlvJdvTb3BONS4yhlBpsQtLMUZfK2l_8K2xCY4yh6Z-tXHNnpcjw/s1600-h/Copy+of+Christmas+2009+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_GPR-H5eCNiRTGkDO7Qb4BpPlEgqrwSs2tbodV220073gkO3nzmBDrCLbf5FXjDWiAgnQ_eBQs3MRuhag8sTvnktjlvJdvTb3BONS4yhlBpsQtLMUZfK2l_8K2xCY4yh6Z-tXHNnpcjw/s320/Copy+of+Christmas+2009+021.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Yes. Round four. I told you we have a huge family and a huge family means lots of Christmas get-togethers. You won't hear me complaining, though. I love it!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOAbM4Yv6RXt60MUG6UUWs4vRyVYnusX8BL9Bl9gHsOW-THLQyaxoA2ThaVS0DFJrPx1FO2OKaE6AA_Xg4zjXrVEU28isQN0fK8_K6XCV4JP00LiyP31YCFdF8WWoCIZ-f63s0T9AUOu2/s1600-h/Copy+of+Christmas+2009+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOAbM4Yv6RXt60MUG6UUWs4vRyVYnusX8BL9Bl9gHsOW-THLQyaxoA2ThaVS0DFJrPx1FO2OKaE6AA_Xg4zjXrVEU28isQN0fK8_K6XCV4JP00LiyP31YCFdF8WWoCIZ-f63s0T9AUOu2/s320/Copy+of+Christmas+2009+012.jpg" /></a>Anyway, on to the party. Tonight we had Ben's family Christmas party. We all gathered at Ben's parents house for a delicious dinner and some family time. This year, all the siblings were assigned another sibling to get a gift for and, of course, all the grandkids got gifts from the grandparents.<br />
<br />
Livi got a doll that blinks and sucks on its bottle, and Elmo that sings the ABCs, a play Elmo cellphone, and a stroller for her doll. She was so excited and kept saying, "Ehmo, ehmo!"<br />
<br />
Ben got a game (Uncharted 2) from his brother, Nick, and I got a gift card from my sister-in-law, Jaige. We also got a very nice, framed family picture from our trip to the Tillotson cabin in Oakley this summer and a framed picture of Ben's mom and step-dad from... Ben's mom and step-dad. ^_^<br />
<br />
After presents were opened, Ben's mom served molten chocolate cakes. So yummy (don't they look delicious?)!<br />
<br />
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</div>To finish up the night, we all headed to Rogers Memorial Theater, a small community theater, to see the musical Scrooge. Our group was so big we took up almost an entire side of the theater. The play was great! The singing and acting was quite good, and though it may have been a little campy at parts, it was so fun!.brittney.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08094879326341775386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5795656908564853389.post-3837773900336997012009-12-16T13:03:00.000-08:002009-12-22T13:06:06.730-08:00.christmas parties: round three.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AleN24ujadTxF3miozMSKQ7oV4mwHh7quLmUSH9kALukxNW3jH8KmZ8UVRLxFG6G3tGGBWrA5pCfbIefX-mOZFddXLWtnJQab0kXwlbTPNwq0XwbYIIZ79ga6RSfprab7ZkdSf1HurKA/s1600-h/Riddle+Christmas+Party+2009+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AleN24ujadTxF3miozMSKQ7oV4mwHh7quLmUSH9kALukxNW3jH8KmZ8UVRLxFG6G3tGGBWrA5pCfbIefX-mOZFddXLWtnJQab0kXwlbTPNwq0XwbYIIZ79ga6RSfprab7ZkdSf1HurKA/s320/Riddle+Christmas+Party+2009+003.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One of my fondest Christmas memories as a child is the Riddle family Christmas party. It was held in the basement of a small drugstore and the whole family would come, prepared for food, fun, family time, and a visit from Santa himself. We sang Christmas songs and opened our presents from old Saint Nick.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We haven't had a Riddle family Christmas party in years, at least not one with more than a handful of family members in attendance. This year, 'the Grandmootie' (my cute grandma) took it upon herself to organize a Christmas party. <br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikwy5PFRXhAwoaxlRpniCO1rHbpn74xlECpycT-u8PE7Z4Z6uZVcEa7RpVMO9YqpJRMi0ZWozws2XUGoV8aaEgWA-h3QoFtKf_ERp5js8sTBSYUbvpgehKiGeXebl1vvRrr5n8SMHQxJ8a/s1600-h/Riddle+Christmas+Party+2009+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikwy5PFRXhAwoaxlRpniCO1rHbpn74xlECpycT-u8PE7Z4Z6uZVcEa7RpVMO9YqpJRMi0ZWozws2XUGoV8aaEgWA-h3QoFtKf_ERp5js8sTBSYUbvpgehKiGeXebl1vvRrr5n8SMHQxJ8a/s320/Riddle+Christmas+Party+2009+002.jpg" /></a>She and my grandpa arranged to have a chili buffet at the clubhouse in their condo community and <i>everyone</i> was there! All the aunts and uncles, all the cousins, all the grandbabies. We had such a great time catching up with each other.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Santa didn't make a physical appearance, but my grandparents got a gift for each of the great-grandchildren and did a white elephant game for the adults. My takeaway from the gift distribution? A large quantity of onion soup mix, of course!<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One of the highlights of the night was family pictures. Since everyone was present (forgive my holiday pun), we did our first family pictures in as long as I can remember. More than one of us got a little misty eyed over all the holiday family togetherness.<br />
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</div>This party could not have gone better, in my opinion. It is a party I will remember fondly for many years to come.<br />
</div>.brittney.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08094879326341775386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5795656908564853389.post-37091122846786936142009-12-14T23:59:00.000-08:002010-01-03T20:21:35.113-08:00.christmas parties: round two.On days like today, I realize we are lucky to have such wonderful friends and family. Tonight, our good friends, Zach and Dawni, threw a Christmas party and were kind enough to invite us. Also, my fabulous sister-in-law, Jenny, was kind enough to watch our little Livi while Ben and I enjoyed a night out.<br />
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</div>We had a such a great time at the Haugen's Christmas shindig! They provided pizza, homemade cookies (soooo delicious), games, and good company. Ben and I didn't know anyone at the party except our fabulous hosts and had a great time getting to know everyone.<br />
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We played a game of Scene It (which our team won, by the way) and did a white elephant gift exchange. Some coveted white elephant items? A sombrero, some kind of foreign candy, a fuzzy Christmas blanket, and perhaps the best white elephant of them all: a dozen or more Red Dwarf VHS tapes wrapped in a duffel bag. ^_^<br />
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By the end of the night, both of us had made some new friends and plans for another get together were put in motion. A big thanks to Zach and Dawni (and Jenny, too)! We really had a great time..brittney.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08094879326341775386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5795656908564853389.post-13593202677769396272009-12-12T10:25:00.000-08:002009-12-18T16:03:47.731-08:00.family christmas card.<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I had to share a personal holiday triumph. I have an account on <a href="http://seehere.com/">SeeHere.com</a>, which for those of you who don't know, is a fabulous free photo sharing/storage site. It's free to upload your photos and store them there, but you can also order prints, photobooks, photo mugs, a stalker pillowcase with a photo of your very favorite person on it...<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyaluh6BhBXF79ggS-i2agT_Y2Fy9SQT-o_a11Noohq77Vk3wgSD7injnYMZgRu2vNOmqPkfBX7BZoij1WlbifRKJ-QxzXpp8EA6GPiELFJ8ACVHUbSZ67gKrMaSyEgDfeMOq2hQmXmL9H/s1600-h/Christmas+Card.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyaluh6BhBXF79ggS-i2agT_Y2Fy9SQT-o_a11Noohq77Vk3wgSD7injnYMZgRu2vNOmqPkfBX7BZoij1WlbifRKJ-QxzXpp8EA6GPiELFJ8ACVHUbSZ67gKrMaSyEgDfeMOq2hQmXmL9H/s400/Christmas+Card.png" /></a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Anyway, a friend on Facebook posted one of their promotional codes on her profile a couple of weeks ago: order 50 holiday cards and pay only the shipping. It was the last day to use the promo code for this <i>outrageous </i>deal, so I hopped on, created a card, and ordered fifty.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">On the site they have oodles of free templates you can use, but of course I had to do thinks the hard way and designed my very own from scratch (perfectionism can be such a curse... good thing I love doing stuff like this).<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now, the moment you have been waiting for! The total for 50 Christmas cards and envelopes to send them in? Over $35.00. The price I paid with said promo code? $3.19. Not bad if I do say so myself. Not bad at all!<br />
</div>.brittney.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08094879326341775386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5795656908564853389.post-43201703455281099152009-12-08T22:44:00.000-08:002009-12-18T16:03:47.731-08:00.maker of silly christmas shopping mistakes, thy name is brittney.<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Tonight, I set out about the arduous task of finishing up my Christmas shopping for my sweetie. This year, we have set a strict limit on what we can spend for each other since money is tighter right now. I had no problem at facing the challenge of sticking to the budget, even though I tend to get a bit carried away with Christmas shopping (I get the biggest rush from giving gifts).<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ben had specifically requested a certain video game for our PS3. Perhaps you've heard of it? Modern Warfare II? It only sold 4.7 million copies in the first 24 hours after it came out. Ha, ha! <i>Only</i>...<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well, at most stores, the video games are locked away, seeing as they are pretty expensive to buy and have a pretty powerful draw with potential shoplifters. I went to the electronics department to get the aforementioned game. Of course, I had to pay for the game there as I am a shifty character and would likely smuggle it out the first chance I got.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That task done, I wandered about the store, selecting various items that would surprise and delight come Christmas morning. I kept a careful mental tally of my spending. Remember the budget!<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Before heading to the check out line, I grabbed some household items we were in need of: diaper wipes, bananas, etc. <br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When it came time to check out, I was about $15 dollars over our spending limit. I sent Ben a quick text asking if it was okay if I was over budget a little bit. He said it was fine and I celebrated quietly in my head. <br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It wasn't until I was in the car, when I began another mental checklist of my purchases, that I realized my mistake. To my horror, I had not included the cost of the game in my total as I shopped. I was almost $100 over budget!<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ack! So, come tomorrow, I have to return something(s) to make up for the extra money I spent. I just get so carried away at Christmastime!<br />
</div>.brittney.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08094879326341775386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5795656908564853389.post-22984592415035860302009-12-06T13:41:00.000-08:002009-12-18T16:03:47.732-08:00.christmas parties: round one.<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One of my very favorite aspects of the Christmas season is spending time with family. Both Ben and I come from large families; he is one of eleven (yes, you read that right, <i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">eleven</i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">) kids and I am the oldest of six. Thankfully, most of our family members live within a short driving distance, so we get to see lots of those we love.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">With all this family, of course, comes lots of parties this time of year. Yesterday, we had the first of several parties to attend. My family was getting together for dinner, cookie decorating, and some renditions of Christmas carols done entirely with colored bells.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thought I would share pictures of the creative cookie process in action and the... uh... unconventional Christmas treats that resulted (I'll apologize in advance for some of the poor quality... these were taken with my phone's camera, which, obviously, doesn't always take the best pictures).<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This was Lucy's "Bloody Face Angel:"<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">These are the cookies Ben and I made. Going clockwise we have: a bloody spearhead (bet you can't guess who did that one), a yellow smiling star, a pink smiling star, some kind of scary evil angel thing in what Ben called "a disco dress" made of spinkles, two Christmas trees made by yours truly, and in the center, a zombie angel with blue hair, also made by me. On the separate plate is a Rudolph I made from an angel shaped cookie. <br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Here are a few of the cookies decorated by the kiddies:<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7rPGVYqjTpccCglpQiLYqf6mah83xDdvK2wTMa13HFMAzV4DbtyBz2rHKfJm8OFqtDn_eZyKVnYDA0z_BFQNTSJxb6BPwbsg4MyXUXBhOryiC1bE32n1q4nCjA1CM-u_B0XUUTfwqglv/s1600-h/1205092003a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7rPGVYqjTpccCglpQiLYqf6mah83xDdvK2wTMa13HFMAzV4DbtyBz2rHKfJm8OFqtDn_eZyKVnYDA0z_BFQNTSJxb6BPwbsg4MyXUXBhOryiC1bE32n1q4nCjA1CM-u_B0XUUTfwqglv/s320/1205092003a.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>.brittney.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08094879326341775386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5795656908564853389.post-73844579079346985452009-12-05T13:53:00.000-08:002009-12-18T16:04:30.896-08:00.the replacements.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWiwqwM1wi1PT75GgsvoJexZw5GHYtr50h6c0jeD9a033dhP7xWRqIZtlThpdYSvB4ArBifBcHOf8_fHB9YECW8bghRN7YJqOyAfszNJUniIEc6QABz7uh1pPLZU0ZVLioynidpwfWx89/s1600-h/The+Replacements.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWiwqwM1wi1PT75GgsvoJexZw5GHYtr50h6c0jeD9a033dhP7xWRqIZtlThpdYSvB4ArBifBcHOf8_fHB9YECW8bghRN7YJqOyAfszNJUniIEc6QABz7uh1pPLZU0ZVLioynidpwfWx89/s320/The+Replacements.jpeg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Since the <a href="http://truetalesfromthetrenches.blogspot.com/2009/12/poor-tut-we-hardly-knew-ye.html">passing of Tut</a> earlier this week, his tank has stood empty and lonely. That is, until today, when Ben surprised Livi (and me) with four little goldfish from Walmart. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Each cost a whopping 28 cents and, though not as frilly as Tut, who was a fan tail goldfish, Livi thinks they are wonderful. She even pretends to feed them, something that is made cuter by the fact that she picked it up all on her own from watching us feed the fish.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You make be thinking that it is too soon to get replacement fish, but I think Tut would want us to move on and be happy with these little fish... as long as 28 cent fish will last.</span>.brittney.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08094879326341775386noreply@blogger.com0