tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37721485000233410862024-03-05T01:32:03.383-08:00Trish's Soapy BlessingsOwner of Soapy Blessings by Trish, I offer handmade soaps and body care products online and locally in Vancouver, WashingtonTrish's Soapy Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06995901160698025675noreply@blogger.comBlogger165125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772148500023341086.post-55308167734934577482011-07-21T06:53:00.000-07:002011-07-21T06:53:07.510-07:00Goin' OfflineFor several years now, I have sold handcrafted soaps and few other handmade items on vendor sites like Etsy and Artfire. At this point, I have emptied my Etsy shop and have made the decision to close out my pro account on Artfire this coming Sunday, July 24th, 2011. Reason? The business of handcrafted soap is much too time-consuming for me. I am being called in other areas.<br />
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I won't stop making soap though; just not as prolific as before. I intend to make enough for my own use and for a few friends and relatives. Perhaps put some in a bazaar fundraiser on occasion? Maybe. The main point is that I will be making soap on MY timeline. That's OK.<br />
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All items in my shop are 50% off until this coming Sunday evening, then the shop is CLOSED. The prices in the shop reflect regular price. All items will be refunded via Paypal after purchase.<br />
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So, stop by and get a great deal on some fun handcrafted items!<br />
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<a href="http://aichihuahua.artfire.com/">Ai Chihuahua! Click here to go to my shop.</a><br />
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<br />Trish's Soapy Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06995901160698025675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772148500023341086.post-58448471652560852282011-06-20T19:25:00.000-07:002011-06-20T19:25:35.225-07:00Art in the Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Every year, the Omak Kiwanis hosts their Art in the Park in Omak, Washington. This year, I was a vendor at Art in the Park. We just came back from Omak a few hours ago and now resting at home, recuperating from this weekend's experience.<br />
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The weather didn't completely cooperate with us though. It rained on and off most of the first day, which is when most of the the people show up. Sunday was a BEAUTIFUL day, but being Sunday, the crowd wasn't quite as a large.<br />
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The economy has made a large impact on Art in the Park too. People are looking for basics and personal gift ideas that are also inexpensive. Many of the usual vendors that attend Art in the Park come from all over the Northwest. This year, many of the vendors didn't show because the expense required to travel.<br />
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Despite all of that, Art in the Park was still a success. I chose to come again this year because I lived in the Okanogan for over 17 years. I still have family and friends that live in the area. We live about 500 miles away though and the gas cost was atrocious. Still, we considered it a success because it allowed us to spend time with our family and we were able to recoup some of our cost of traveling.<br />
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Our customers were looking for good deals, unique gift ideas at affordable prices, and handmade product with quality at reasonable prices.<br />
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It is becoming increasingly difficult to provide quality with affordability in this economy. I had to raise my prices and use some lesser priced oils that still that didn't impact the quality of our soaps and other handcrafted items. I also had to use packaging that didn't cost as much.<br />
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There were a few customers who complained about the "high price" of handcrafted items and were looking for an even better bargain. I simply explained that they were welcome to check out my "bargain section" which I always have at every arts and craft fair I attend. These items are often half price. Many of my soaps are $5 and more. When someone says this is too spendy, I simply state that I won't compromise the quality of the soap. Besides, people frequently purchase a $5 hamburger without blinking an eye, which they enjoy for maybe 20 minutes. For the same price, I can give them a quality soap or other handcrafted product that will last for 2 months or more. <br />
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Handcrafted artists and vendors do not "make a killing" on the price of their handcrafted items. They want to make a quality handcrafted item, they want to be able to afford to do this, and want to attend affairs like Art in the Park and other places to show their wares; which costs $ because they pay to be a part of the arts and crafts fairs, the gas it takes to travel to these affairs, the items they need in order to set up a great display, the business license and insurance, PLUS suffering through all the increased costs of producing their wares...it's a wonder that handcrafted artistry is even alive in our country anymore.<br />
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We hope to attend Art in the Park again next year and hope that all of your enjoy our soaps, handmade and re-loved treasures.<br />
<br />Trish's Soapy Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06995901160698025675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772148500023341086.post-43592702467773976432011-01-04T21:49:00.000-08:002011-01-04T21:49:50.778-08:00The McIntyres and the North Carolina Link<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/AVvXsEhFwYc53JKpA-UXIDUI1dMTu_TmceHhfmG2Pjr0SwaB5YGHd_6Fo6OSP0XCfPJPDmUWCsPhkkcFxpd2eduP0_Fu0TLH4nHLcjXL53X-MadxIBb_iq9m35g2BSLrQBCJagrRH3u6ltFAzSg/s1600/HornetNestSite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwYc53JKpA-UXIDUI1dMTu_TmceHhfmG2Pjr0SwaB5YGHd_6Fo6OSP0XCfPJPDmUWCsPhkkcFxpd2eduP0_Fu0TLH4nHLcjXL53X-MadxIBb_iq9m35g2BSLrQBCJagrRH3u6ltFAzSg/s320/HornetNestSite.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">McIntyre Farm, North Carolina</td></tr>
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Occasionally I write a bit here and there about some of the interesting...or maybe not so interesting, background of my heritage. Most of these items are tidbits that my older brother has actually been researching and was gracious enough to pass down the line.<br />
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Well, here is our North Carolina link in our family. They lived around1760, near Charlotte, North Carolina. They were farmers. According the records we know of, they were active in buying and selling large tracts of farm land.<br />
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The Scotch-Irish were not particularly fond of the English and were irregular soldiers during the Revolutionary War. They were part of defeating Lord Cornwallis' British Army like the <i>Battle of King Mountain</i> and also in minor skirmishes like the ambush at <i>McIntyre's Farm</i>.<br />
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Times were a bit rough after the Revolutionary War though for the next 25 or so years; farms were foreclosing; and our ancestors packed up and headed out west to the fertile, cheap land of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana.<br />
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Our earliest official documented and directly related McIntyre relative that we have been able to find so far is that of John McIntire, who was born in Lincoln County, North Carolina, near Charlotte, 1797. We know that he was at least a third generation Scotch-Irish Colonial, but have no definitive records of siblings or his parents. We DO know that there were several McIntire families living in the area at the time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patoka River, Indiana</td></tr>
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John left North Carolina to Louisville, Kentucky, which was nothing more than a frontier settlement, just across from Indiana. At the age of 25, he married Margaret Day, who was born in Indiana. Their son was William, born in 1824 in Kentucky. Shortly after, they had built a farm near the Pakota River in southern Indiana where three more sons were born: Edward in 1828, Lawson in 1830, and Anthony in 1833. Lawson McIntyre is whom I am descended from.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkp7N1m_CwzXn8QeIFVlDUUsDdeqVXEzHTiiZgphrxGCYnlRe2nANsWhjmbHjIDWpf9cak9zsiJfMEipj88I_0B1lyve2csovUOLfXkBOmy2UFaLAYfhQY9eJacQfZMjzfN0xPSOkpAU8/s1600/McNairy+County%252C+TN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkp7N1m_CwzXn8QeIFVlDUUsDdeqVXEzHTiiZgphrxGCYnlRe2nANsWhjmbHjIDWpf9cak9zsiJfMEipj88I_0B1lyve2csovUOLfXkBOmy2UFaLAYfhQY9eJacQfZMjzfN0xPSOkpAU8/s1600/McNairy+County%252C+TN.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">McNairy County, Tennessee</td></tr>
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They farmed there for about 10 years before relocating to the community of Purdy in McNairy County, Tennessee, near the Mississippi border. Some of their North Carolina relatives were already living in the area and, no doubt, encouraged the relocation.<br />
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Such is the little that we know about our first known McIntyre relatives. These were on the paternal side of my family. My grandmother's maiden name was Vaughn and we can trace her relatives as far back as Jamestown. What little we know about them is that her great great great great (I think that's all the greats) grandparents lived in Jamestown, most likely as indentured servants. <br />
<br />Trish's Soapy Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06995901160698025675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772148500023341086.post-1417889157283524032010-11-09T04:37:00.000-08:002010-11-09T04:37:42.091-08:00Coffee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVl9vKxSfTb6W2Lhhf4QAZpwNPUU8EccXHTLmyzD4kobP4oDHEGaaZQ2UFBopj1oQJlmM6boTqtUt9H1eRagIIEWZN41_WxOrUvg3to4qmrH2qqzJEFxKMPiTWRkkwBE_luTi7d6Zw6c/s1600/coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVl9vKxSfTb6W2Lhhf4QAZpwNPUU8EccXHTLmyzD4kobP4oDHEGaaZQ2UFBopj1oQJlmM6boTqtUt9H1eRagIIEWZN41_WxOrUvg3to4qmrH2qqzJEFxKMPiTWRkkwBE_luTi7d6Zw6c/s320/coffee.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
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This drink and I have always had something of a dubious love/hate relationship over the years. What is it about coffee that inspires zillion dollar businesses like Starbucks to thrive? Even in our slowed economy, I constantly see all manner of folk with $4.00 plus coffee drinks in their hands and not blinking an eye about it.<br />
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Frankly, I'm trying to STOP drinking the stuff, mostly because of the caffeine content. I could switch to decaf, but I would just rather stop. I hate the idea that I depend on caffeine. What if I were suddenly catapulted into a scenario that left me without the ability to drink caffeine? My world would fall apart for a few days as I go through withdrawals! I would be reduced to a blithering idiot begging for her morning cup of joe because the headache and pain of it all is too much!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQ2gjIyikTWnddcqTkHjzCZVUCes5hyphenhyphenPRMD-W_Hhoy9krJ5KaKjamZyAyeA5LBssIBoz4lryIrm8GBolvtB2jcVdNsh6ERVSpxJ8eC2SJxzsNiJofATfsvXzj6JQI-Q8ynweIoJpMWzE/s1600/caffeine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQ2gjIyikTWnddcqTkHjzCZVUCes5hyphenhyphenPRMD-W_Hhoy9krJ5KaKjamZyAyeA5LBssIBoz4lryIrm8GBolvtB2jcVdNsh6ERVSpxJ8eC2SJxzsNiJofATfsvXzj6JQI-Q8ynweIoJpMWzE/s320/caffeine.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The really horrible thing is that I WAS caffeine free for months at one point. MONTHS! I felt FINE without this stuff! I had "unleaded" coffee in the am instead of the leaded version. Caffeine is hard to get away from even throughout the day. I love carbonated drinks and most of them contain caffeine. My most favorite carbonated beverage doesn't come in a caffeine-free version. So, if it isn't coffee in the am calling my name, it is the carbonated beverage later in the day that is. I really must switch to drinking Squirt instead. Only problem is that it isn't as readily available as my preferred nemesis. I could drink 7Up or Sprite, but I am just not all that fond of it. I slowly returned back to caffeine because it was too hard to avoid it!<br />
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You know, I am not all that sure that I really even LIKE the taste of coffee. I like the smell though, and that seems to be enough. I don't drink my coffee with milk or sugar. I drink it black. Always have. Why? Because I didn't want to like it too much. Rather than like it, I just sort've gotten used to it.<br />
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I ran into a rather unpleasant scenario yesterday morning. Since I was busy all weekend with other responsibilities, I was unaware that we had run out of coffee. Monday morning, I get up to get ready for work, stumble my way to the kitchen for my morning cup of coffee and found we had NONE. Desperate, I searched the cupboards for some residual form of coffee, or even tea that was caffeinated. If I didn't have something, I knew I was going to be in for a rough day. My hubby raced to the store and purchased some coffee. I barely had to time to drink a quarter of a cup before racing to work. It wasn't enough. Once I get to work, I'm pretty much stuck there for the next several hours without a break to even get anything else. I looked all over our tiny little kitchenette for something with caffeine in it. I finally found a tea that claimed caffeine and prepared a cup for myself. It wasn't enough. I made another cup. It wasn't enough. NO ONE in the building had time to go for a coffee run. I was beginning to have mid-morning withdrawals. By afternoon, I was the blithering idiot with massive headache. I made it to the end of my work day, but had to drive to the auto repair shop to meet my hubby. I asked him to please take me to someplace where I can get a cup of coffee. Actually, I drank a diet, caffeinated soda instead, which helped; but the damage was done. It had been a horrendous, exhausting day without enough of my coffee fix.<br />
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This morning, while I write this, I am having a cup of coffee. I hate it. I hate being dependent on it, but will drink it because I don't want another day like yesterday. Oh and did I mention that coffee is stimulant? That's why most folks drink it. Raises your heart rate, raises your blood pressure, constricts the blood vessels, and not healthy for folks with heart problems, blood pressure problems or circulation problems. Worried about getting stroke? DON'T drink coffee, or coke, or pepsi, or Dr. Pepper, or Mountain Dew.....<br />
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Tomorrow, I will have another cup of coffee. Going to try to limit myself to ONE cup, just ONE! <br />
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<br />Trish's Soapy Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06995901160698025675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772148500023341086.post-22867367761806745272010-11-07T20:13:00.000-08:002010-11-07T20:13:52.306-08:00Do I Look Like a North African Berber?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiV__XzJKm3UUJf87Uiva14qwdl5ulJ92FU8pqtCrhyfhTk9W_8RVWTGkhLr6f5HHbZLR55TDZlX6y3T1D_n8R5MkFDq3KS8GVbxee3iHabdMudQGwF2A1ia406xo7fZykJFMHdpPG2m0/s1600/moroccan-moors1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiV__XzJKm3UUJf87Uiva14qwdl5ulJ92FU8pqtCrhyfhTk9W_8RVWTGkhLr6f5HHbZLR55TDZlX6y3T1D_n8R5MkFDq3KS8GVbxee3iHabdMudQGwF2A1ia406xo7fZykJFMHdpPG2m0/s320/moroccan-moors1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Why do I ask this question to begin with?<br />
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The reason is because my oldest brother recently had a DNA test done to determine, once and for all, if there was North American Indian blood in our family. For several generations, there has been an ongoing belief that our family had Cherokee blood. My oldest brother, who has worked hard to research our genealogy, never found any physical evidence of this. He chose to take a DNA test to prove once and for all that we had Indian blood...or not.<br />
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The answer was...NOT.<br />
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The the DNA test showed something he wasn't prepared for. It showed that our genetic markers most closely resemble NORTH AFRICAN BERBERS?<br />
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He thought it was a silly mistake. Not so.<br />
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Now, I'm something of a history buff, so found this piece of information interesting. Mostly because I already knew that I had a significant amount of Celtic heritage. I already knew that my genealogy contained at least a significant amount of Scottish/Irish background. I already had researched the general history of my Celtic heritage and found that these people migrated from Spain. I also knew that North Africans had come into Spain and settled there. So, it was no surprise that I had <i>some </i>North African Berber in blood. The part that surprised me immensely was that my genetic markers was closer to this race of people more than anything else!<br />
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So close that I could be living in North Africa and it wouldn't be much different than them? Wow!<br />
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The picture below the first one shows me with my oldest son. My hair is an obvious colored blonde. It is actually a light brown, green eyes and skin that tans fairly easily but can sunburn if I'm not careful.<br />
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If my hair wasn't colored and I was dressed like those folks in the picture above, would you be able to differentiate me from those people in the pictures above? Probably not!<br />
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Tell me what YOU think!Trish's Soapy Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06995901160698025675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772148500023341086.post-72262879039742931592010-09-25T12:03:00.000-07:002010-09-25T12:03:35.418-07:00New Shop, New Ideas, New Fundraiser<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://static.artfire.com/banner/thumbs/83009_avatar_thumb_large.jpg?1284981715" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="42" src="http://static.artfire.com/banner/thumbs/83009_avatar_thumb_large.jpg?1284981715" width="320" /></a></div>
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Times are tough and fundraising for a great cause is even harder! Just ask any high school student wanting to attend Spring Tour on 2011 all the way across our U.S. continent to New York City. <br />
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I have two...yes TWO students who have the grand opportunity to attend this great tour and experience the art and creativity that NYC has to offer...if only they can raise the money to get there.<br />
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Our school does not provide the funds. Yes, we have a fundraiser booster, but it will take much more than what they are offering to get these guys on the trip.<br />
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<a href="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/--90000--83009_product_1575831381_thumb_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/--90000--83009_product_1575831381_thumb_large.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Solution? Well, one is that I have opened a new shop on <a href="http://www.artfire.com/users/aichihuahua" style="color: yellow;">Artfire</a>
and with this shop, I plan to list some great items that my teens have
created to help raise the funds needed to attend. They will be making a
variety of items. Currently, we have dog treats up and going. These are
without preservatives and monitored by mom to ensure quality and
cleanliness. 100% of the proceeds will go toward the Spring Choir Tour
to New York City for Evergreen High School Choir Students. More items
will be showing later since this is a new shop site.<br />
One more thing: ALL items on <a href="http://www.artfire.com/users/aichihuahua" style="color: yellow;">Ai Chihuahua</a>
will be dedicated to this Spring Choir Tour until May 2011! Fifty
percent of all proceeds of all other items on this site will help
defray the costs.<br />
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<a href="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/--90000--83009_product_40822791_thumb_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" src="http://static.artfire.com/admin/product_images/thumbs/--90000--83009_product_40822791_thumb_large.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Are you ready to help a student with a once in a lifetime experience? Want to show your support for music in the public schools? <a href="http://www.artfire.com/users/aichihuahua" style="color: yellow;">Stop by</a><br />
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I just thought I would add a video of our District Honor Choir from last year, which my teens were participants. Don't they sound great? Sorry for the picture quality. I am truly an amateur at videos! Please click the music off my blog site to hear this fantastic choir. Many of these same students will also be going to New York this Spring...if they can raise the funds needed.<br />
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<br />Trish's Soapy Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06995901160698025675noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772148500023341086.post-82281722485141335552010-09-07T12:52:00.000-07:002010-09-07T12:52:32.233-07:00Lovely Slippers by Shelly<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/AVvXsEjeq0XexcMjGBRoRlTPApdIntMWQlVjsfva9F4WbOA2earkAoC1FALI_sdhsKBUXsIRySgjV6ad7Ft4VS2LPV6fBCZN9osqeWoNzdgeBgByzcaLWYQpKL2UVXrwS_WlzDOQGyb8T4dou9c/s1600/Slippers+by+Shelly1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeq0XexcMjGBRoRlTPApdIntMWQlVjsfva9F4WbOA2earkAoC1FALI_sdhsKBUXsIRySgjV6ad7Ft4VS2LPV6fBCZN9osqeWoNzdgeBgByzcaLWYQpKL2UVXrwS_WlzDOQGyb8T4dou9c/s320/Slippers+by+Shelly1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://shelly6262.etsy.com/">Lovely Slippers by Shelly on Etsy</a><br /><br />I loved opening up my mailbox today to find that my order from <a href="http://shelly-needles.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Shelly</span></a> came today. These slippers are so soft! The colors are bright and beautiful!<br />Shelly makes awesome <a href="http://shelly6262.etsy.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">knitted and crocheted items!</span></a> Not only does she have knitted and crocheted bottle cozies to slippers and ponchos, but she also has ceramic coffee mugs with personalized saying and water bottles! Very versatile! <br />If you are looking for knitted, crocheted items or personalized mug and water bottles, I highly recommend <a href="http://shelly6262.etsy.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Shelly's etsy shop</span></a>!</td></tr>
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<br />Trish's Soapy Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06995901160698025675noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772148500023341086.post-7245601488573884612010-09-06T06:49:00.000-07:002010-09-12T19:46:17.139-07:00A Personal History of Crafting and ArtsMost of you know me as the lady that makes soap.<br />
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Soaping is a fairly recent endeavor that I dearly love to take part in for the past 5 years. For me, handcrafted soaps was the beginning of a crafting "breakout" in my life after years of doing NOTHING related to arts and crafts. Instead, I was too busy working, raising kids and being a married woman. Other life endeavors had me going in other directions. I don't regret them, but I wished that I had taken more time to allow some creative fulfillment in the mix.<br />
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Even as a small child, I was a crafty, creative sort with something of an entrepreneural spirit. At the tender age of 4, I was picking OTHER neighbor's flowers (we didn't have many of our own) and knocking on doors to re-distribute them. Around the same time, I recall creating some sort of rope contraption to help steer my tricycle that had broken handles.<br />
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At age 7 or 8 I learned the joys of styrofoam and made all kinds of wacky projects from the stuff. THEN I discovered artificially colored feathers you could buy in large packages to make various crafting projects. I concluded that styrofoam and feathers were a good combination and created Christmas wreaths and tree ornaments from them. I actually sold a fair amount of them too, probably because I was a cute kid with an eclectic crafting vision. Around the same time, I learned the joys of writing and wrote, illustrated and "published" my own book. I showed it to my teacher who was so impressed, she decided it would be a great class project. All the kids hated me for that. Nevertheless, I continued illustrating and writing as a regular pasttime throughout my childhood.<br />
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In the meantime, I discovered my mom had some material that she made curtains out of several years before. The rest of the material lay in closet, un-used in a dusty little corner. I got some of the stuff out and began creating an odd version of a toga/robe/lounge around the house dress from it. God forbid that it should EVER be worn outside in public. I asked my mom if I could make her one too. She tactfully declined.<br />
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Around age 12, I discovered a new medium...LEATHER. In particular, SUEDE LEATHER. I was into all things leather and poured through books on how to work with it. I made purses, moccasins, vests, hairpieces, bracelets. This time, they weren't half bad and I sold quite a few items. Also, my grandmother showed me how to do embroidery. I made quite a few embroidery projects. I also learned some interesting arts in beading.<br />
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Then, I took a class in sewing at my school and discovered the joys of sewing and latched onto it. We sewed a basic dress in the class which was quite wearable and was one of my favorite summer dresses. After school was out, I was bored, so dug out my mom's cantakerous, old sewing machine she never used because, well, it was cantankerous. She also had never really learned how to use it, which was another reason why it was a tad cantankerous. It also needed a little oiling and some care. I got the machine to working with some scrap pieces of cloth I had found in the same closet I found the other material a few years back. Then I found the bonanza! Material that had been tucked away for over 10 years. My mom had made some curtains for my brother's room with it. It was beige/brown with all sorts of old-time automobiles on it. I LOVED it and dug it out, pinned my favorite (and my only) dress pattern on it, cut it out and began to sew. Now, I had TWO dresses I made myself. Only one problem though; the second dress had all the old-time autos upside down!!! It was a lesson learned in making sure the pattern is pinned on the material correctly, especially when dealing with one-way designs. Still, the dress fit, so I wore the thing around the house.<br />
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I stayed with sewing throughout my high school years, making most of my own clothing, designing many of them myself, fitting the design to fit my buxom figure since most of the current fashions were made for girls without boobs.<br />
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Creative writing continued to make an impact with pages upon pages of poetry and short stories. I seriously considered a career in writing. It was about that time that I discovered I could sing. Actually, I ALWAYS sang all the time when I was a kid ( I still do). But, I took a choir class on a whim and found that I actually had a talent for it. It never really went much further than just enjoying the fact that I could carry a tune though. I wanted to take voice lessons, but our family didn't have the $$$ for such whimsy. Kind of like piano lessons...wanted that too, but never had the opportunity. Nowadays, I just play by ear even though I can read music up to a point.<br />
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But back to the crafting. A friend of my mom's was an artist and when I was around 18, I took lessons from her, mostly oil painting, although I dabbled in a few other mediums. LOVED it! I still have a painting in my living room that I made back then. I also have a painting my teacher did that was a gift when I moved to Alaska.<br />
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As a young adult in Alaska, I continued painting and sewing. Sewing became a mainstay as I perfected my skills at designing, alterations and working with clothing designed for warmth. I made winter coats, ski outfits and such. I also learned some tailoring techniques and made some men's suits and designed wedding dresses for friends. THEN, one fine, frozen 50 below zero night, a friend of mine showed me how to crochet. I made a potholder. But the next project I made was a ripple afghan. From there, it was granny squares and so on. I created out of my head patterns for hand and finger puppets for local kids to help prevent the boredom of cold Alaskan winters. I made hairpieces, pins etc. And of course, slippers were always a hot item there (no pun intended). <br />
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On a trip back to the lower 48 states, my friends introduced me to belly dancing. I loved the dancing, but I REALLY love the costuming. All that draped and gathered material and the intricate top and belt designs. I was HOOKED! I created numerous embellished designs via embroidery, beading, pleating, draping. All of my sewing skills and many other of my skills were used to create these funky/beautiful costumed designs.<br />
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Moved back the lower 48 eventually, got married, had kids, had a full time job with everything else and I found I didn't have room in my life for crafting, writing or much else. It all geared down to a screeching halt for over 10 years. The artist inside me was still there, screaming to get out, but I had to keep stuffing her back inside. I finally couldn't take it anymore. I wrote a book...a novel. Not a great novel, but my first. From that, I discovered soap-making and slowly, the artist in me began creeping back out again. I began drawing again, sewing, and trying new things. I'm still a busy mom, wife and hold a full time job, but I'm not longer the frustrated artist screaming inside; well, except for wanting more time to create.<br />
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Now, I have 2 etsy shops that contain some of that creativity...not all of it, but some. One I have specifically for <a href="http://soapyblessings.etsy.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">soap</span> </a>. The other is for a variety of crafting mediums that I am just beginning, from tote/grocery bags to furoshiki cloths and <a href="http://aichihuahua.etsy.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">more to come</span></a>.<br />
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What I've learned from my experience is that no matter how busy you become, if you don't satisfy that creativity you have inside of you, it will come back to bite you in the butt. If you are a creative sort, don't stuff it. No matter how busy you are, make time for your creative side. God made me the creative person I am for a purpose. Who am I to stuff that away? <br />
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<br />Trish's Soapy Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06995901160698025675noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772148500023341086.post-17625596043151481662010-09-04T12:03:00.000-07:002010-09-04T12:03:55.133-07:00My Summer Secret Pal Gift<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/AVvXsEhKEQdXCmlqTn0jHR_hSRUIQHsJiIzavP9C5lfE2qGLJZsZzFsr0Ucbr6Hbe7JVD8UQp6QscqngTuzWxesNn6P4XN2zN1mK3ywAUG-yyISai-AHa18w-dAXpMAE4DEqX0jMeo8tNKWb6o0/s1600/elektrajewelry+secret+pal+gift!+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKEQdXCmlqTn0jHR_hSRUIQHsJiIzavP9C5lfE2qGLJZsZzFsr0Ucbr6Hbe7JVD8UQp6QscqngTuzWxesNn6P4XN2zN1mK3ywAUG-yyISai-AHa18w-dAXpMAE4DEqX0jMeo8tNKWb6o0/s320/elektrajewelry+secret+pal+gift!+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.elektrajewelry.etsy.com/">Summer Secret Pal Gift by Elektrajewelry</a></td></tr>
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I just received my Secret Pal Summer gift from Dina at <a href="http://elektrajewelry.etsy.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">elektrajewelry</span></a> on etsy.<br />
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She is a fellow collaborators in cahoots team member and amazing at her jewelry making skills.<br />
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The bracelet shown is in lovely iridescent peacock colors...truly my favorite! If I had a choice of colors and design, this would have been it! Understated yet a lovely accessory.<br />
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I'm a bracelet freak. I wear bracelets more than any other type of jewelry. For me, bracelets are an extension of your natural movements when you express yourself with your hands. Bracelets become a show-stopper when used this way. They are an active expression piece vs. necklaces, which tend to be more stationary. I think of necklaces as "lovely divas" vs. bracelets which earn their place by active participation as they enhance your natural movement and become an extension of your expressions.<br />
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Stop by <a href="http://www.blogger.com/elektrajewelry.etsy.com"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">elektrajewelry</span></a> for some lovely "extensions" of your own personality and expression.Trish's Soapy Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06995901160698025675noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772148500023341086.post-16377623377170231642010-09-04T07:02:00.000-07:002010-09-08T08:41:10.499-07:00In the Land of Simplicity<a href="http://aichihuahua.etsy.com/" style="color: #f1c232;">In the Land of Simplicity</a><span style="color: #f1c232;"> </span> there is also the unique, eclectic and practical. There are the recycled...things that gained new purpose in new ways to make them something loved in their "old age".<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://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.165686457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.165686457.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/53700844/plain-n-simple-grocery-bag-large-size">Plain n' Simple Large size Grocery or Tote Bag</a></td></tr>
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There are things that boggles your mind and things that make perfect sense.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.167039121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.167039121.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/54048015/floral-design-grocery-or-tote-bag">Floral Design Grocery or Tote Bag</a></td></tr>
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They are simple things, usable things, practical things, and all are beautiful in their simplicity.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.166467761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="249" src="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.166467761.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/53933204/plain-and-simple-medium-sized-grocery-or">Plain n' Simple Medium Sized Tote Bag</a></td></tr>
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With an extra touch, a simple twist, or a careful tuck, these simple things become amazing and delightful.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.170484206.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/55131702/furoshiki-tote-bag">Furoshiki Tote Bag</a></td></tr>
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They carry things...all those things we need when we are out and about. No need for the checker to ask if want paper or plastic...you have your own, thank you.<br />
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Re-usable, responsible, practical.<br />
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Ever wanted to be where things were simple again? You can. Find your <a href="http://aichihuahua.etsy.com/" style="color: #f1c232;">simplicity</a>Trish's Soapy Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06995901160698025675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772148500023341086.post-78421555942620443602010-09-04T06:31:00.000-07:002010-09-04T06:32:34.962-07:00It is the (purple) evening of the day...<h3 class="post-title entry-title">
This blog post is copied with permission from <a href="http://www.linda-considerations.blogspot.com/">Linda</a></h3>
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This Kaboodle Styleboard features handmade and vintage items from some of my Collaborators team members.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.kelsilove.etsy.com/">vintage necklace</a> is in Kelsi's Etsy shop. Kelsi organises our monthly challenge.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.soapyblessings.etsy.com/">Blackberry soap</a> is from Patricia's Etsy shop.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.elektrajewelry.etsy.com/">handmade necklace</a> is in Dina's Etsy shop.<br />
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The lovely <a href="http://www.susanneedlehands.etsy.com/">hand knitted scarf </a>is in Susan's Etsy shop <br />
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<a href="http://www.lindacaterpillar.etsy.com/">The 5"x7" painting, "Evening" </a>is found in my art shop and the <a href="http://www.lindabutterfly.etsy.com/">sunset greetings card</a> is in my card shop.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gK3IKtLAFzs/TH9C7ro3BzI/AAAAAAAAB_4/EpvPFfuo2Vc/s1600/2010+September+-+Styleboard+-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gK3IKtLAFzs/TH9C7ro3BzI/AAAAAAAAB_4/EpvPFfuo2Vc/s400/2010+September+-+Styleboard+-.jpg" width="316" /></a></div>
To leave a comment on this Styleboard, click <a href="http://www.kaboodle.com/member/lindabutterfly/styleboards/it-is-the-purple-evening-of-the-day?showPublished=true&bt=1">here.</a><br />
Once there you can promote it on Twitter and Facebook.Trish's Soapy Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06995901160698025675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772148500023341086.post-42916479437087167432010-09-04T06:17:00.000-07:002010-09-04T06:17:13.724-07:00Some Great Etsy Sellers You WIll LoveI would like to feature three great Etsy sellers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0a_is-E0FT7b6jc2jUB1EsCOupAnbEYjzaRMNhjcqmG_BqpxmnE_czTDCEV8G1R-enWBGMjUx8__XtWsM7p8cTJbLtomZQjNLcQgwhAuB-AXCyIP0pR6vp7Vnr0-soRsaKfM32MFydw/s1600/hamnahamid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0a_is-E0FT7b6jc2jUB1EsCOupAnbEYjzaRMNhjcqmG_BqpxmnE_czTDCEV8G1R-enWBGMjUx8__XtWsM7p8cTJbLtomZQjNLcQgwhAuB-AXCyIP0pR6vp7Vnr0-soRsaKfM32MFydw/s320/hamnahamid.jpg" /></a></div>
First is <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/hamnahamid">hamnahamid</a> who makes custom clothing and costumes for you. Featuring children's clothing, her style is simply adorable! <br />
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The second is <a href="http://susanneedlehands.etsy.com/">susanneedlehands</a> who makes handmade knitwear, home decor and crafts all with knitting and crochet! <br />
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Third is <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/elektrajewelry">elektrajewelry</a> who makes one of a kind artisan jewelry<br />
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Stop and visit these shops. They are all highly recommended.Trish's Soapy Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06995901160698025675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772148500023341086.post-4812256352466058702010-08-28T19:59:00.000-07:002010-08-31T06:12:32.100-07:00The Personal Survey...It is Kelsi's Fault<div style="background-color: #0c343d; color: #9fc5e8;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">I don't normally do these things, but for some reason, it seemed fitting today (???) <br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">2. What are the 3 most important things everyone should know about you? Actually ONE person said all three of these things in one sentence about 5 years ago. I questioned his prophetic ability at the time ha said it though: </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">1)" You are a woman of wisdom, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">2) and understanding, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">3) VISIONS, VISIONS, VISIONS." <br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">3. When you aren't filling out question surveys like this one what are you doing? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Working except when I finally decide to take a vacation.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">4. List your classes in school from the ones you like the most to the ones you like the least (or if you are out of school, think of the classes you did like and didn't like at the time). </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Creative writing, English, Spanish, P.E., history, science, current events, government, math</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">5. What is your biggest goal for this year? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Win the lottery</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">6. Where do you want to be in 5 years? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Retired.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">7. What stage of life are you in right now? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Ready to retire</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">8. Are you more child-like or childish? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">child-like</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">9. What is the last thing you said out loud? "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">I don't know."</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">10. What song comes closest to how you feel about your life right now? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Smother Me by The Used</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">11. Have you ever taken martial arts classes? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Yup!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">12. Does your life tend to get better or worse or does it just stay the same? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">It has it's ups and downs</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">13. Does time really heal all wounds? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">No. You have to work at it.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">14. How do you handle a rainy day? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Carry an umbrella</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">15. Which is worse...losing your luggage or having to sort out tangled holiday lights? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">losing luggage</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">16. How is your relationship with your parents? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">I visit their graves at least once a year since I live 500 miles away from them.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Will you miss them when they are gone? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Every day</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">17. Do you tend to be aware of what is going on around you? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Very aware</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">18. What is the truest thing that you know? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Jesus was more than a man, he is the Christ, died on the cross for my sins, was resurrected and rules over all despite what we see around us in this physical realm. He did this because he loves me more than I can imagine.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">19. What did you want to be when you grew up? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Retired.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">20. Have you ever been given a second chance? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Yes</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">21. Are you more of a giver or a taker? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">I used to be more a taker, but now I am more of a giver. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">22. Do you make your decisions with an open heart/mind? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.1667px; line-height: 26px;">Yep! <br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">23. What is the most physically painful thing that has ever happened to you? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Having a baby...but it was worth it!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">24. What is the most emotionally painful thing that has ever happened to you? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">You readers couldn't handle it.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">25. Who have you hugged today? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">My hubby, my daughter and my son</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">26. Who has done something today to show they care about you? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">My hubby made me lunch, poured me a glass of wine and gave me a backrub...and well, I'll just stop there.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">27. Do you have a lot to learn? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">A never ending process</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">28. If you could learn how to do three things just by wishing and not by working what would they be?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Memorize the entire Bible</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Remember everybody's name</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Keep a clean house <br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">29. Which do you remember the longest: what other people say, what other people do or how other people make you feel? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Feel</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">30. What are the key ingredients to having a good relationship? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Focus on what they love, communication, sharing</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">31. What 3 things do you want to do before you die? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Travel overseas, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.1667px; line-height: 26px;">win the lottery, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.1667px; line-height: 26px;">Help the hurting <br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">32. What three things would you want to die to avoid doing? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Those secrets are mine and mine alone.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">33. Is there a cause you believe in more than any other cause? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Jesus</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">34. What does each decade make you think of:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">The 20's: flappers, vaudeville, stock market crash</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">30's: great depression, prohibition, gangsters</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">40's: WWII, pearl harbor </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">50's: Korea, cars, the American dream, my birthday</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">60's: Vietnam, flower children, The Beatles</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">70's: graduation, tree huggers, John Denver</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">80's: birth of my first son</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">90's: a new start, birth of my other children</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">2000: moving</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">2010's Hopeful</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">35. Which decade do you feel the most special connection to and why? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">60s</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">36. What is your favorite oldie/classic rock song? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">37. What country do you live in and who is the leader of that country?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">USA - President B. O bama </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">If you could say any sentence to the current leader of your country what would it be? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Jesus gonna get you.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">38. What's your favorite TV channel to watch in the middle of the night? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Netflix</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">39. What Disney villain are you the most like and why? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Me? A villan?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">40. Have you ever been a girl scout/boy scout? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">For a few months only. Hated it!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">41. If you were traveling to another continent would you rather fly or take a boat? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Boat if I have the time...fly if I don't</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">42. Why is the sky blue during the day and black at night? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Light filtering through the atmosphere creates the color blue. Where there is no light, (at night) it is black</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">43. What does your name mean? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Of nobility, welll-born</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">44. Would you rather explore the deeps of the ocean or outer space? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">I'll let someone else do that.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">45. Word association </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">What is the first word that comes to mind when you see the word:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Pink: girly</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">White: pure</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Elvis: swivel</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Magic: evil</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Heart: pump</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Clash: attack</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Pulp: grunge</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">46. If you could meet any person in the world who is dead who would you want it to be? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Mary, the mother of Jesus</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">47. What if you could meet anyone who is alive? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">The guy handing me my lottery winnings</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">48. Is there a movie that you love so much you could watch it everyday? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Waking Ned Devine</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">49. You are going to be stuck alone in an elevator for a week. What do you bring to do? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">I would bring a person...MacGyver, so he can get me the heck out of there because I'm claustrophobic!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">50. Have you ever saved someone's life or had your life saved? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Yep! To both.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">51. Make up a definition for the following silly words.. <br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: #0c343d; color: #9fc5e8;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Fruitgoogle: Candy for techys</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Ambytime: Wake up call</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Asscactus: an ex-boyfriend/husband who is a real jerk</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">52. What was the last thing you made with your own hands? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">grocery tote bag (this morning)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">53. What was your favorite toy as a child? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">animal shaped erasers</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">54. How many TV’s are in your house? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">5</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">55. What is your favorite thing to do outside? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Watch the wind blow</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">56. How do you feel when you see a rainbow? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Loved</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">57. Have you ever dreamt a dream that came true? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">No</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">58. Have you ever been to a psychic/tarot reader? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Nope!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">59. What is your idea of paradise? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Heaven</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">60. Do you believe in god and if so what is he/she/it like? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Yep! Loving, awesome, caring, giving, fair and perfect.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">61. Do you believe in Hell? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Definitely</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">62. What one thing have you done that most people haven't? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Belly danced professionally, teach martial arts, work in a jail, throw hot water outside my door just to see it freeze in mid-air because it was so cotton pickin' cold outside.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">63. What is the kindest thing you have ever done? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Not really sure</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">. Saved a kid from drowning once. <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">64. Are you a patient person? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Usually</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">65. What holiday should exist but doesn't? </span><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Everyday should be a holiday!!! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">66. What holiday shouldn't exist but does? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">New Year's Day</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">, or April Fools Day (but I like April Fools Day) <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">67. What's the best joke you ever heard? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Not really into jokes but I like hearing them sometimes. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">68. Where is the most fun place you have EVER been? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">SIX FLAGS, definitely!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">69. Is your hair natural or dyed? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">dyed</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">...mostly <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">70. Do you have any deep dark secrets or are you pretty much up front? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Basically an up front person, but there are a few things in my life that aren't for public knowledge</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">71. What is under your bed right now? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Dust and the floor</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">72. If you were in the Land of Oz would you want to live there or go home? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Oz is a bit too weird for me!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">73. If you drive do you frequently speed? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Hardly ever.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">74. What is the world's best song to dance to? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Oye, como va</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">. by Santana <br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: #0c343d; color: #9fc5e8;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">What song was on the last time you danced with someone? Some sort of salsa in El Salvador</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">76. Do you prefer Disney or Warner Brothers? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Disney</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">77. What is the first animal you would run to see if you went to the zoo? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Monkeys stand for honesty, giraffes are insincere, and the elephants are kindly but their dumb; orangutans are skeptical of changes in their cages and the zookeeper is very fond of rum. Zebras are reactionaries, antelopes are missionaries, pigeons plot in secrecy and hamsters turn on frequently....what a choice.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> OK, I admit I borrowed this from Simon and Garfunkle. <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">78. Would you consider yourself to be romantic? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">yep</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">79. If the earth stopped rotating would we all fly off? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Yep</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">80. What is the one thing that you love to do so much that you would make sacrifices to be able to do it? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Swim</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">81. If you (and everyone) had to lose one right or freedom, but you could pick which one everyone had to lose, what would you pick? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">No one can force me to choose to lose a freedom.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">82. If you had to choose would you live on the equator or at the North Pole? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">I already lived in North Pole (the town, that is. It's in Alaska). I think I prefer the warm weather the older I get.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">83. Would you rather give up listening to music or watching television? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">TV, definitely!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">84. What do you think makes someone a hero? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Doing the right thing even though they are more frightened than they have ever been in their life.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">85. What cartoon would you like to be a character in? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Sponge Bob</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">86. Name one thing that turns your stomach: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Seeing someone with an open wound that is covered with maggots! (I've seen it before) <br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">87. What was the last thing you paid for? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Sewing thread</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">88. Are you a coupon clipper? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Nope</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">89. Get anything good in the mail recently? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Something I ordered from an Etsy seller.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">90. Which would you rather take as a gym class...dancing, sailing, karate, or bowling? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">I've already done dancing, karate and bowling. Would LOVE to learn how to sail.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">91. In Star Trek people 'beam' back and forth between different places. What this means is they stand in a little tube and their molecules are deconstructed and sent to another tube somewhere else where they are reassembled. Only problem is when the molecules are deconstructed the person is dead. When they are put back together it is only a clone that has all the dead person's memories. So...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14.1667px;">Who came up with this weird question anyway??????? So what if my molecules are scrambled for a few seconds, they are still MY molecules, so it is still me getting reconstructed at the end of the transport. <br /> </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">92. What insects are you afraid of? Mostly arachnids <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">93. If you could print any phrase on a T-shirt, what would it say? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14.1667px; line-height: 26px;">??? You figure it out... <br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">94. What's the most eccentric thing you have ever worn? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Green (lime) stretch pants with a pink puffy sleeved blouse print blouse, furry snow boots and purple floral hankerchief in the hair. (Don't ask why)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">95. If you could pick one food that you could eat all you wanted but it would have no effect on how much you weigh, what food would it be? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Reeses peanut butter cups with chocolate ice cream</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">96. What are your parents interested in? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">They are not alive.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">97. Have you ever caught an insect and kept it as a pet? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">NO</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /> My brother had a pet tarantula once though....eeeewwwwww!!!!!!! <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Have you ever caught and tamed a wild animal? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Horny toads</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">98. What is more helpful to you, wishes or plans? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Plans from the wishes</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">99. When do you feel your life energy the strongest? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">???</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"> <br /><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">100. You are spending the night alone in the woods and may bring only 3 items with you. What do you bring?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 20px; line-height: 31px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><span style="background-color: #0c343d;"> Tent, sleeping bag, matches </span></span></div>Trish's Soapy Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06995901160698025675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772148500023341086.post-53430256499767946372010-08-19T22:29:00.000-07:002010-08-19T23:10:05.638-07:00Vaudeville and the Family Connection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkjSwO2ugXF6O6xxIJxJQZOO8T2J4s4qX24v9vojY6HimbbXFghR_00PzGcd3WP7RyjQq8OrMGw0bSxqrXQcgtT2eKk0b998ohAc9dLVAtUKXn4rKkiHk4xgsgx4KgxPfpCaf_UnDy_0/s1600/vaudeville+mom+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkjSwO2ugXF6O6xxIJxJQZOO8T2J4s4qX24v9vojY6HimbbXFghR_00PzGcd3WP7RyjQq8OrMGw0bSxqrXQcgtT2eKk0b998ohAc9dLVAtUKXn4rKkiHk4xgsgx4KgxPfpCaf_UnDy_0/s320/vaudeville+mom+001.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Ever since I was a young child, I would hear my mom talk about something called <i>Vaudeville</i>. Her stories included performances as a young child in this phenomena all over the United States. Apparently, at one point, she had a partner in the act, but parents got into an argument and broke up the act. The argument went so far as to having the pictures taken of the two of them performing cut in half and partner side tossed away.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">The only thing I really knew about vaudeville is that it seemed that it was a varied bunch of performances done by folks young and old all over the U.S. and that many early film actors came originally from vaudeville acts.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Interestingly, since my mother lived in the hub of early movie films and in Los Angeles, she had heard of the opportunity to try out for "The Little Rascals" in the film media. Her mother, hearing of the same, scoffed at the idea, saying that "such things like that will never become popular", and refused to let mom audition. Boy, was she ever wrong!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">But, I digress. I wanted to tell a little history of what was vaudeville, so here is what I know.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Vaudeville was a form of variety entertainment that became popular from around the 1880s until the early 1930s. Performances were like a variety show of more modern television. Acts included musicians, dancers, comedians, magicians, animal trainers male and female impersonators, acrobats, singers, jugglers, short plays, athletes; almost anything that could be performed on a stage setting. It was one of the most popular forms of entertainment in North America for many decades.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Before the American Civil War, entertainment existed a bit differently. There were different types of variety type performances, such as Shakespeare play, circuses, dime museums, wild west shows and medicine shows. Saloons, music halls and burlesque houses catered to a form of entertainment that was a bit more risque. In the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">1840s, minstrel shows became popular.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"> Vaudeville incorporated all of these various forms of entertainment into a stable, institutionalized format.</span></span><br />
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<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">In the early 1880s, a circus ringmaster, Tony Pastor who turned theatre manager, capitalized on the spending power of the growing American middle class by featuring "polite" variety programs in several of his New York City theatres. The birth of vaudeville was born. He hoped to draw a potential audience from female and family-based shopping traffic in uptown New York City by barring the sale of liquor and bawdy material from his shows. He also offered gifts of coal and hams to those attending. Pastor's experiment proved successful, and other managers soon followed suit.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">By the late 1890s, vaudeville had large circuits in almost every sizable location in the U.S and Canada, standardized booking, broad pools of skilled acts, and a loyal national following. One of the biggest circuits was Martin Beck's </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Orpheum</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"> Circuit that brought together 45 vaudeville theatres in 36 cities by 1919. Another major circuit was run by Alexander </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Pantages</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">, who owned more than 30 vaudeville theaters and controlled, through management contracts, perhaps 60 more in both the United States and Canada.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">As performers established national followings, they worked their way from often arduous working conditions to better pay and "the Big Time". The capitol of the big time was New York City's Palace Theatre, built by Martin Beck in 1913. The Palace provided what many vaudevillians considered the climax of their vaudevillian career.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">A number events occurred that caused the decline of Vaudeville. Many vaudeville performers began to transfer from the vaudeville circuit to the movie business. In an effort to keep vaudeville alive, Alexander </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Pantages</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"> quickly incorporated motion pictures in his shows around 1902 and later went into a partnership with Famous Players, a subsidiary of Paramount Pictures. There was no official end to vaudeville, but it was obvious that it was going through death throes by the late 1920s.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Lesser priced cinema in the early 1910s dealt the heaviest blow to vaudeville. Many performers such as W.C. Fields, Buster Keaton, the Marx Brothers, and Jimmy Durante were lured away from vaudeville to the cinema by better salaries and working conditions. Other performers, who entered in vaudeville's later years, including Jack Benny, Kate Smith, Bob Hope, Milton Berle, Judy Garland, Rose Marie, Sammy Davis Jr., Red </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Skelton</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">, Burns and Allen and the Three Stooges used vaudeville only as a launching pad for later careers.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em;"></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Vaudeville suffered further with the rise of broadcast radio and then the wide availability of inexpensive receiver sets later in the decade. Standardized film distribution and talking pictures of the 1930s confirmed the end of vaudeville.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em;"></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Perhaps the concept of vaudeville never really ended due to its strong influence on the film, radio and television. Television variety shows were inspired by the old vaudeville acts, one of the most famous being the Ed Sullivan Show.</span><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">By the way, you are probably wondering about the picture at the beginning of this writing. That was my mom at the height of her own vaudeville career. Wasn't she cute?</span></div><br />
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</span>Trish's Soapy Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06995901160698025675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772148500023341086.post-71585586785986503962010-07-28T20:44:00.000-07:002010-07-29T12:03:39.863-07:00Apparently Mexican Bugs HATE Wild Things Lotion Stick<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmQMPwll8Wyio6TtV2XLBC_y0frqoJG1fKEt_1YOsGx83XuM6Cjj7WgZtAW71MKcmNwjfctAd-WwBpr3qJLN_uGs84hFUSe3xC-m4YGTTyNhyphenhyphenmWz27DuTAyuL890FPl5Jk7lak9x5tto/s1600/Wild+Things+lotion+stick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmQMPwll8Wyio6TtV2XLBC_y0frqoJG1fKEt_1YOsGx83XuM6Cjj7WgZtAW71MKcmNwjfctAd-WwBpr3qJLN_uGs84hFUSe3xC-m4YGTTyNhyphenhyphenmWz27DuTAyuL890FPl5Jk7lak9x5tto/s320/Wild+Things+lotion+stick.jpg" /></a></div><br />
A co-worker (DeAnn) of mine recently purchased Wild Things Lotion Stick, but before I could get to her, she took off and went to Mexico. Prior to leaving, another co-worker (Cathy) who bought several of my sticks gave her one of her own and insisted that she take it with her to ward of mosquitos and other biting bugs while there. <br />
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While down there, they visited a site in the jungle that was filled with mosquitos and other bugs. She and her hubby used the lotion stick. Others were getting bit right and left, but "the bugs hardly bothered us at all when we put the lotion stick on. If this stuff works down in the Mexican jungle, it will work anywhere!"<br />
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Cathy (the other co-worker), also stated that she put her lotion stick on and it "worked wonders" on preventing mosquitos from landing and biting. They still flew around, but would not land.<br />
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These are just a few of many testimonies I've received regarding this cute little 1 oz lotion stick that smells fresh and is made using all natural products. It is small enough to fit in your purse, pocket or backpack. It comes in a solid oil format but soft enough to glide on your skin with ease.<br />
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Looking for a simple, easy, fresh and natural option to artificial chemicals?<br />
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Wild Things Lotion Stick just may be your answer.<br />
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You can find it at <a href="http://soapyblessings.etsy.com/">Soapy Blessings</a>Trish's Soapy Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06995901160698025675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772148500023341086.post-48841188724671825042010-07-22T07:07:00.000-07:002010-07-22T07:07:58.455-07:00Tea Tree Oil<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/AVvXsEguopuMc6Lg9oa4FnALn1lIUTboHR0kL-yPL3BY4nywWiFspdZIGcYURzeupFKMcxcvhMHA0Pgosc44uigaszb_J9DSIjDJ8y0unBu3uLaYTSylrb8XhUhIr2GzWGMOdzXW07blpmnl9_0/s1600/tea+tree+oil.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguopuMc6Lg9oa4FnALn1lIUTboHR0kL-yPL3BY4nywWiFspdZIGcYURzeupFKMcxcvhMHA0Pgosc44uigaszb_J9DSIjDJ8y0unBu3uLaYTSylrb8XhUhIr2GzWGMOdzXW07blpmnl9_0/s320/tea+tree+oil.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
<div>Tea tree oil is a popular additive to many health and beauty products because of the properties it contains. I thought you might wish to know a little more about tea tree oil.</div><div> </div><div>It is obtained by steam distillation of the leaves of <i> Melaleuca alternifolia </i>and is purported to have antiseptic properties and used traditionally to prevent and treat infections. There have been many small scale laboratory studies done that demonstrate that this oil truly does some antimicrobial properties; human studies have focused mostly on fungal infections, such as that of the nails, athelete's foot, acne and vaginal infections. </div><div><br />
</div><div>On the down side, tea tree oil should not be ingested, so extra care should be taken if used inside or near the mouth due to reports of toxicity. It can also cause some mild skin irritation if used in high concentration directly on the skin.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Here are what some scientific studies have shown that tea tree oil can do:</div><div><br />
</div><b>Acne:</b> Tea tree oil may reduce the number of inflamed and non-inflamed lesions.<br />
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<b>Allergic Skin Reactions:</b> Tea tree oil applied to the skin may reduce histamine-induced inflammation. Although it may, as mentioned before, can CAUSE skin irritation if used in too high concentration or on people who have a sensitivity to tea tree oil.<br />
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<b>Athelete's Foot:</b> Tea tree oil may have activity against several fungal species.<br />
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<b>Bad Breath:</b> Tea tree oil is used in mouthwash for dental and oral health. However, tea tree oil can be toxic when taken by mouth and therefore should not be swallowed.<br />
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<b>Dandruff:</b> The use of 5% tea tree oil shampoo on mild-to-moderate dandruff may be effective and well tolerated. Further research is needed to confirm these results.<br />
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<b>Fungal nail infections:</b> Tea tree oil is thought to have activity against several fungus species.<br />
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<b>Herpes:</b> Tea tree oil has activity against some viruses, and it has been suggested that a tea tree gel may be useful as a treatment on the skin for genital herpes.<br />
<b>Lice:</b> Early studies have found that tea tree alone or in combination with other agents may be effective against lice.<br />
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<strong style="color: #0082c8;"></strong> <b>Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) chronic infection:</b> Laboratory studies report that tea tree oil has activity against methicillin-resistant <i> Staphylococcus aureus </i>(MRSA). Using a tea tree oil ointment in the nose and a tea tree wash on the body may treat colonization by these bacteria. However, this treatment should never take the place of recommended treatments by your MD.<br />
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<b>Thrush (candida albicans in the mouth):</b> In laboratory studies, tea tree oil has been shown to kill fungus and yeast such as <i> Candida albicans. </i> Tea tree oil can be toxic when taken by mouth and therefore should not be swallowed.<br />
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<b>Vaginal infections (bacteria and yeast):</b> Tea tree oil has been shown to kill yeast and certain bacteria<i> . </i> Although tea tree oil may reduce itching caused by yeast or bacteria, it may also cause itching from dry skin or allergy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Ec9Dm9XZZEtVq6QjXQLITGMexRC9F_4dXy74UJwpYKjIB4RGG1FYQFRvaWqKnXj0DHv00RN6q6F1p-Wfw5nt0kwsl2dw3Mo8FPerTcpYqP2CLWfrdKzsMOOGbzAxQE6dkiSh6gLh9vE/s1600/teatree2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Ec9Dm9XZZEtVq6QjXQLITGMexRC9F_4dXy74UJwpYKjIB4RGG1FYQFRvaWqKnXj0DHv00RN6q6F1p-Wfw5nt0kwsl2dw3Mo8FPerTcpYqP2CLWfrdKzsMOOGbzAxQE6dkiSh6gLh9vE/s320/teatree2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Here is a list of some treatments tea tree oil is used for, based on traditional and theoretical ideologies:<br />
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Abscesses, anti-inflammatory, antihistamine, antioxidant, antiseptic, body odor, boils, bone diseases (osteomyelitis), bronchial congestion, bruises, burns, canker sores, colds, chronic venous insufficiency, contraction cessation, corns, cough, dermatitis, eczema, gangrene, immune system deficiencies, impetigo, insect bites/stings, leg ulcers, lung inflammation, melanoma, mouth sores, muscle and joint pain, nose and throat irritation, pressure ulcers, psoriasis, ringworm, root canal treatment, rosacea, scabies, sinus infections, skin ailments/infections, sore throat, swelling, tonsillitis, vulvovaginitis, warts, wound healing.<br />
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How should tea tree oil be used?<br />
There is no proven effective dose, but a common dose is 5-10% tea tree oil can be applied on the skin daily for up to four weeks. Even though 100% tea tree oil is sometimes used for fungal nail infections, it is often diluted with inactive ingredients. It is strongly recommended that tea tree oil not be taken by mouth due to reports of severe side effects after tea tree oil ingestion, . Tea tree oil solution has been used as a mouthwash, but it should not be swallowed.<br />
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<b>Allergies to tea tree oil:</b><br />
Skin reactions can occur, from mild contact dermatitis to severe blistering rashes. People with a history of allergy to tea tree oil (<i> Melaleuca alternifolia </i>), or to plants that are members of the myrtle (Myrtaceae) family, balsam of Peru, or benzoin, should not use tea tree oil. It should also be used cautiously if someone has a known allergy to eucalyptol. Many tea tree preparations often contain this ingredient as well.<br />
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This information has been collected from a variety of different sources and not meant to take the place of your own research. Always consult with your MD before using tea tree oil as replacement therapy for conditions where othere treatment has already been recommended.<br />
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Now, given all of this information, you may ask if I use tea tree oil in any of my soap and bath and body products? The answer is Yes. Do I recommend the use of my products as a replacement therapy for certain conditions? No. If you happen to receive benefits by using products containing tea tree oil, wonderful! If you experience side effects, stop using the product containing tea tree oil, as you may have a sensitivity to it.<br />
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<div> </div>Trish's Soapy Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06995901160698025675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772148500023341086.post-72416070038534130472010-07-17T08:43:00.000-07:002010-07-17T08:43:50.323-07:00Camas Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sFdIVndiE1kzTir2EtFoRoEttG17_DT1tpg_aeDJb_MSX3ydaGa5Y1xh3a6MjJsssLy51lGUj1i602Jc08M_j50uPaA4rwykj-xGQ28jcSB0tGsRmN2OrlXyb7UG6LyCwZfeEQpYRD0/s1600/Ad+for+Camas+Days+2010+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sFdIVndiE1kzTir2EtFoRoEttG17_DT1tpg_aeDJb_MSX3ydaGa5Y1xh3a6MjJsssLy51lGUj1i602Jc08M_j50uPaA4rwykj-xGQ28jcSB0tGsRmN2OrlXyb7UG6LyCwZfeEQpYRD0/s320/Ad+for+Camas+Days+2010+small.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Camas Days is coming up next week. In case you don't know where Camas is, it is a delightful town in southwestern Washington, just east of Vancouver, and across the Columbia river from Portland, Oregon.<br />
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Camas knows how to do their celebration right. All kinds of fun things to do AND a chance to win a trip to Hawaii too? Wow!<br />
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This will be my first year as a vendor at Camas Days, selling my handcrafted soaps and other related body and bath care products. I am hoping that the weather will be cooperative, warm and sunny.<br />
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Yesterday, I had a nice little surprise when I received a phone call from the newspaper in Camas, WA. A phone interview on new vendors at Camas Days. The article comes out this coming Tuesday. How fun is that?<br />
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Hope to see you at Camas Days this coming week on Friday and Saturday, July 23-24th 2010.Trish's Soapy Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06995901160698025675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772148500023341086.post-53371656754321397402010-07-15T09:07:00.000-07:002010-09-07T07:05:35.622-07:00Plain n' Simple Goat's Milk Soap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgncyqBnnwb_aJ1HrLHuBlyuaxLjgb61S-WqGue8el-ZqN_B3RbKbbp8szqm5UYagAfi5rAUpxVB_n92UhRqscNI6aDJ4c49tOOBdZClBucVLe0clcQOcI2U4s6dSP2JGIYolxVl7fe540/s1600/plain+n+simple+goats+milk+soap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgncyqBnnwb_aJ1HrLHuBlyuaxLjgb61S-WqGue8el-ZqN_B3RbKbbp8szqm5UYagAfi5rAUpxVB_n92UhRqscNI6aDJ4c49tOOBdZClBucVLe0clcQOcI2U4s6dSP2JGIYolxVl7fe540/s320/plain+n+simple+goats+milk+soap.jpg" /></a></div>
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Goat's milk has some wonderful qualities suited for soap. Leaves skin soft, and feeling pampered. There are bunches of soapers out there that make goat's milk soap. Many have their own farms and use their own product to make soaps and lotions from their farm-produced goat's milk.<br />
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There others who have goats and a surplus of goat's milk on occasion and look for folks like me who want to purchase their goat's milk, since I don't own a farm that produces goats milk.<br />
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Now, that I have some goat's milk, I must make soap and support our local farmers, right? My contribution to the support of local goat farmers is to make a simplistic goat's milk soap, like this one you see pictured above.<br />
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Lots of folks have problems with artificial fragrances and colors; some even have issues with certain essential oils that create a fragrance. This is the reason for Plain n' Simple Goat's Milk soap.<br />
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This soap is gentle on the skin, without artificial scents, no artificial colors. Perfect for sensitive skin, and perfect for children and infants.<br />
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Stay tuned, one goat's milk soap coming up in guest size that contains just a little lemongrass oil in it.<br />
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Check out Plain n' Simple on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/50935259/plain-n-simple-goatsmilk-soap">Soapy Blessings</a>Trish's Soapy Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06995901160698025675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772148500023341086.post-72791473801835038112010-07-11T14:12:00.000-07:002010-07-11T14:12:10.397-07:00July 11th Today Only Special<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTaatpTNsbKc71-mc3n4YASJscSHSBy79jRhj5i5vWESqV6k0pGmjm8XRYSkpIDePMj4G-hytLBgw3_LoI1HTrMZ46IZwWWUG01iKnXPKVLBeTc1bzFTvXe7o3qEi8kGgtdjgRNL00aw/s1600/Sea+turtle+soap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTaatpTNsbKc71-mc3n4YASJscSHSBy79jRhj5i5vWESqV6k0pGmjm8XRYSkpIDePMj4G-hytLBgw3_LoI1HTrMZ46IZwWWUG01iKnXPKVLBeTc1bzFTvXe7o3qEi8kGgtdjgRNL00aw/s320/Sea+turtle+soap.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Gorgeous Sea Turtle Soap! $1.00 off regular price...that's TODAY ONLY! There are only a few left. This offer will end by either the end of this day (my time Pacific Standard) or when they are all sold.<br />
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Lovely handcrafted soap in shape of sea turtles in shades of blues and greens. Awapuhi Seaberry fragrance added to make this a perfect gift soap or a decorative soap for you bathroom.<br />
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This isn't just a fancy soap though. This is made from oils that won't dry out your skin and oodles of lather to make this a perfect bathtime experience. Each soap is over 3 oz each.<br />
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Available at <a href="http://soapyblessings.etsy.com/">Soapy Blessings</a>Trish's Soapy Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06995901160698025675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772148500023341086.post-31522126932660016782010-07-10T05:48:00.000-07:002010-07-10T05:48:59.041-07:00Jasmine Sugar Cube Scrubs...a TODAY ONLY Special<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/47983238/sugar-scrub-cubes-jasmine-fragrance"> </a><br />
<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/AVvXsEgMFtagtxsIOgAooQl7fx3VwxYxXVDQ5RnSHMNTXUnVt-0XucjXIP6bcIy37f02ZARikEYYaiH4AxHa5VQeh-FjEXdk2iSi3jqitASu7N51STpu5UVtdBiMoBGQ1fJ1idHqmFVBtyrO1Os/s1600/jasmine+sugar+scrub+cubes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFtagtxsIOgAooQl7fx3VwxYxXVDQ5RnSHMNTXUnVt-0XucjXIP6bcIy37f02ZARikEYYaiH4AxHa5VQeh-FjEXdk2iSi3jqitASu7N51STpu5UVtdBiMoBGQ1fJ1idHqmFVBtyrO1Os/s320/jasmine+sugar+scrub+cubes.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Just what is a sugar scrub cube?<br />
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Sugar scrub cubes pamper your skin by gently removing dead skin cells.<br />
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Each cube is about the size of a regular sugar cube. Just pick one or two out of the jar and mix with a little water in your hand and start polishing. Keep cube jar tightly closed and avoid getting water in the jar and store in a cool, dry place. Sultry jasmine fragrance too!<br />
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You receive approximately 5oz of sugar scrub cubes, usually 28 to 29 cubes per jar. The small size of the cubes allows you to use on one area of your skin only without waste. If you want a total body scrub experience, use two or more.<br />
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/47983238/sugar-scrub-cubes-jasmine-fragrance">Jasmine Sugar Scrub Cubes</a>Click above to see this delightful product<br />
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This is a TODAY ONLY SPECIAL!<br />
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$1.00 off listed price.<br />
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*****All you need to do is purchase this item at the regular price and your invoice will be adjusted via Paypal refund.*****Trish's Soapy Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06995901160698025675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772148500023341086.post-41505363150773497472010-07-08T05:02:00.000-07:002010-07-08T19:18:55.155-07:00Plants that Contain Natural Insect Repellent Qualities<b> <b>Summer has definitely arrived and with it has come all of the </b>biting bugs that can ruin your hike, summer BBQ, camping and other outdoor activities.</b><br />
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<b>So, what are your options? Most folks apply insect repellent with all of the odd, unpronounceable chemical names it includes on their skin, or wear one of those clip on thingys that have recently come out on the market.</b><br />
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<b>There are a few other options, like knowing about plants that contain ingredients that naturally repel bugs. You can use these plants in your yard, around your garden or patio area to deter those pesky critters without using wacky sounding chemicals. </b><br />
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<b>Here are a few of those plants you can use around your garden, entryway, patio area etc.</b><br />
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<b>CATNIP: Mosquitoes HATE catnip! It's also a pretty plant with pretty flowers. Cats love it too.</b><br />
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<b>ROSEMARY: Now, you can grow it to repel bugs and eat it too!!! Delish on roasted chicken (my favorite use for rosemary besides natural bug repellent.)</b><br />
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<b>MARIGOLDS: Gorgeous flower and it has been used for years in gardens to keep away veggie-eating bugs. Your yard will look beautiful too!</b><br />
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<b>CITRONELLA GRASS: Yes, grow some of this stuff in a planter around your patio. GREAT bug repellent!</b><br />
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<b>LEMONGRASS: Another lovely grass that bugs abhor, is good for flavoring foods and for tea!!!</b><br />
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<b>LAVENDER: Beautiful plant with tons of uses, including keeping bugs away. I have one growing near the entryway of my home. </b><br />
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<b>MINT: YES, use for tea, flavoring and bug repellent too! It grows quite easily!</b><br />
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<b>Now that you have a nice little list of bug repellent plants and have covered your yard with them, you can have bug free yard and enjoy the great outdoors, right? Not so fast! What if you want to leave your yard? Take some of those plants with you? Not always feasible. Or is it?</b><br />
<b>There are lots of ways to take it with you. Use products containing these same ingredients in a plant oil form, dried sachet form or other handy means. So you CAN take it with you when you go.</b><br />
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<b>Try a candle made from some of these plants, or that include eucalyptus, cedar or juniper oil. Not the fragrance oil that is chemically produced to smell like them, but the REAL essential oil. The fragrance oil doesn't work the same way. Bugs know the difference.</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEx1CD5hkv6oiTH4242dhwd7TqlcQJB5RsbZp6EU2QLGkbaokDwCWQ-i5CjZkq8O_8SyHnWkMjp3KhJFDFtPDECMpI03iA39KLH3ovRFH4u-JAC52eBPlVdt4uWjZUezNi5RVR4a5nxVM/s1600/Bug+Be+Gone23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEx1CD5hkv6oiTH4242dhwd7TqlcQJB5RsbZp6EU2QLGkbaokDwCWQ-i5CjZkq8O_8SyHnWkMjp3KhJFDFtPDECMpI03iA39KLH3ovRFH4u-JAC52eBPlVdt4uWjZUezNi5RVR4a5nxVM/s320/Bug+Be+Gone23.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<b>Use a soap daily that contains these natural essential oils. You'll smell better too!</b><br />
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<b>Used a lotion, oil, or solid oil stick that contains these essential oils. Re-apply every 2 to 4 hours. You don't need a lot. Just apply them at your pulse points: your temples and neck, inside of wrists and arms, back of knees, inside ankle bone, top of your foot...those are the most common areas.</b><br />
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<b>You'll smell better than everyone else around you too!</b><br />
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<b>We were out one Fourth of July, watching the fireworks display. Several folks were slapping at biting bugs while we were able to enjoy the sight using our lotion stick containing many of these oils. I happened to have a lotion stick in my pocket and offered to let a few of my neighbors try it. The next day, I sold out all of my lotion sticks and had to make more! </b><br />
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<b>Do we claim that our soap and lotion sticks are bug repellents? NO! I just make them because they contain natural plant oils that are already well known to keep bugs away. I don't like bugs biting me, so I use what I know works for me. AND, they smell good!</b><br />
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<b>What a concept...</b><br />
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<b>And YES. There are soaps and lotion sticks in shop that contain some of these items. Click on my shop site icon if you like what you hear. </b>Trish's Soapy Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06995901160698025675noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772148500023341086.post-32495192825985954032010-07-03T04:29:00.000-07:002010-07-03T04:29:43.805-07:00Is it in the Name, the Appearance or the Fragrance?Several weeks back, we were busy making several different types of spa soaps. These soaps contained lots of special ingredients like sea salt, clays and summer fragrances. Three different types were made, pictured below. Each were packaged in a similar manner, just different colors.<br />
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<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;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KZJB3C3a9uAK2jCJ1g4a1tiPndwEf19P0n4ZLFKPEX6uHTUyNEI1c1KwR4ja9e4LlLrNvGTdnuc6LqK4Jk2KtmYl_LHxA53QzCNYFiawLs0dIcVE6H2PecllOcupw46Duod60Jp8RyU/s1600/SoapyBlessings+153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KZJB3C3a9uAK2jCJ1g4a1tiPndwEf19P0n4ZLFKPEX6uHTUyNEI1c1KwR4ja9e4LlLrNvGTdnuc6LqK4Jk2KtmYl_LHxA53QzCNYFiawLs0dIcVE6H2PecllOcupw46Duod60Jp8RyU/s320/SoapyBlessings+153.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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The one listed above is called Lime Margarita and is listed on etsy <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/47120344/lime-margarita-salt-spa-soap?ref=v1_other_1" style="color: #6fa8dc;">here</a><br />
This soap has a distinctive lime fragrance and is a great summertime soap. Probably my favorite fragrance among the three kinds we made. It is also the most popular of the three online and a great seller at arts and crafts fairs.<br />
Since it sells faster than the other two, the amount of views and hearts appear on this etsy listing is less than the others, only because it doesn't stay listed as long.<br />
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The next spa soap is this one, called Summer Fling, pictured below.<br />
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<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/AVvXsEgJWwdm0OpuiT-RUdjmoxPjHrsMTaeE336p50JrxOm2RQYM_leo21aikv1qEcNpIrHkSU8MAkSXvympoipsmUHyhKqcA50HyrgqMX4eukGrillKEu5DokxTWPQ9OUY9pOKPM7rdHdJz4VM/s1600/Summer+Fling+Spa+Soap+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWwdm0OpuiT-RUdjmoxPjHrsMTaeE336p50JrxOm2RQYM_leo21aikv1qEcNpIrHkSU8MAkSXvympoipsmUHyhKqcA50HyrgqMX4eukGrillKEu5DokxTWPQ9OUY9pOKPM7rdHdJz4VM/s320/Summer+Fling+Spa+Soap+5.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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I love the swirls of blue and greens in this soap and I think it is the lovliest of the three. The fragrance is also fantastic, also a favorite of mine. The fragrance is a combination of tropical florals and citrus, my two favorite fragrance types. Combined together, it is an awesome fragrance. It is listed<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"> </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/47087171/summer-fling-salt-spa-soap?ref=v1_other_2" style="color: #6fa8dc;">here</a> on etsy. It does not have as many views or hearts as the other two, and is my lowest seller of the three both online and in arts and craft fairs. That boggles my mind because of the three we made, this one is my favorite over all in appearance and fragrance and presentation.<br />
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The last spa soap we made is pictured below.<br />
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This one is called Butt Naked and it originally was a darker blue color than Summer Fling. However, because of the nature of the fragrance I used (called Butt Naked, by the way), it slowly turned a dark gray color over the course of a week while it was curing. By the time it was fully cured, it was totally gray. I worried over that, thinking that everyone would hate the color and not buy, but I packaged it up, using a funkier look. I figured with a name like Butt Naked, it would probably hold its own anyway. It is listed on etsy <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/47036767/butt-naked-salt-spa-soap?ref=v1_other_2" style="color: #6fa8dc;">here</a> and is my second best seller of the three I've mentioned. With a fun name, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised. It has been my best seller of the three in arts and crafts fairs so far, surpassing Lime Margarita. The fragrance is fresh with just a hint of spice in the background. I love the fragrance, hate the color, love the name of this soap. What makes this a great soap is that it is quite unisex in look and fragrance compared to the other two.<br />
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All three of these have their own unique style, fragrance, and look. My personal favorite is my slowest mover by far for reasons that leave me scratching my head. OK, so maybe I'm just different than everyone else, but I thought I might ask my reading audience what YOU think. Which one of these seems the most appealing? Which is least appealing? Why?<br />
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I would love to hear your feedback.Trish's Soapy Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06995901160698025675noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772148500023341086.post-23223273751511423252010-05-08T18:20:00.000-07:002010-05-09T17:19:11.397-07:00The Joy of Music in our FamilyWhere would we be without music? Pretty miserable I suspect. Music is such an emotional expression of what lies deep inside each of us.<br />
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Some of us are musically inclined;we have an ability to create music that is pleasing to the ear. We can hold a tune while singing, we play a musical instrument. Or maybe we just appreciate listening to those talents instead. <br />
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While growing up, there wasn't one person in my family that I knew of that either sang or played a musical instrument, yet one of the biggest desires of my heart at the tender age of six was to create the most beautiful song ever created. I was drawn to musical instruments of every sort and constantly sang.<br />
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The closest thing to musical related talent in my family that I knew of was my mom, who danced in Vaudeville. She was a tapper. She loved to dance, loved music and she was constantly humming or singing a song under her breath while working. She gave up tapping on a regular basis after she got married and didn't really pick it up again until after she retired. You could often find her in nursing homes entertaining the residents with her tapping skills. She was older than some of the residents living there, but it didn't stop her.<br />
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We must have some musical talent in our gene pool, even if it is a recessive gene because I wound being able to sing quite well when no one else in my family could. I could pick up an instrument of just about any kind and perform a simple song with in a matter of minutes. No one else in my family could really do that until I had kids.<br />
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My two youngest kids have musical talent oozing out of their pores. My daughter is an amazing singer and she can play music on the keyboard (without lessons) that never ceases to amaze me.<br />
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My son is also a great singer. But he really shines at playing guitar. We let him have our old Fender acoustic guitar to learn with and gave him a months worth of lessons. His musical life exploded from there. He is an amazing guitarist, can pick up just about any style he sees and start playing.<br />
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Where did it all come from? A product of a recessive gene? Did we allow that creative talent to shine through in the enviornment in which we raised them? <br />
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All I can say is that it must be a God-given talent.<br />
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I don't have a current video of my son playing something, but I would love to share with you a video of my daughter singing at a jazz band competition with her high school jazz band. She doesn't think she did all that great. Good enough, according to her, but she says it wasn't her best performance. <br />
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No matter. I will share with you her "good enough" video anyway.<br />
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Before you click this movie on, please turn off the blog music at the top of the blog, otherwise you will get conflicting songs!<br />
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The picture quality is simply awful. I apologize for that, but it shows what a great high school jazz band we have and my daughter's voice. Now, I'm starting to sound like a bragging parent!!! <br />
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We are a musical family. One of us starts singing and the other starts harmonzing, and pretty soon we are in our own little musical world. It is just who we are and I'm happy that we have not tried to limit that talent or to squelch it.Trish's Soapy Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06995901160698025675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772148500023341086.post-17551367890899367082010-05-04T15:17:00.000-07:002010-09-07T07:04:08.081-07:00Handcrafted Soap with Salt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEspgw_dSHeqWRsvkqiuzH3O8jhmJdprtYq6fSBQW9rY20EYc7Y5zETcAU83FikwdxUUcHgj72lVL4J8kVVuOZUsQ1_VeTb5fUzDDoIAuQbv8IDkF_5DSu5PH9I929XqxYGT8fNAwYk_U/s1600/Margarita+Lime+Spa+Soap+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEspgw_dSHeqWRsvkqiuzH3O8jhmJdprtYq6fSBQW9rY20EYc7Y5zETcAU83FikwdxUUcHgj72lVL4J8kVVuOZUsQ1_VeTb5fUzDDoIAuQbv8IDkF_5DSu5PH9I929XqxYGT8fNAwYk_U/s320/Margarita+Lime+Spa+Soap+3.jpg" tt="true" width="298" /></a></div>
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You have heard about them, read about them, seen advertisements about them.</div>
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SPA SOAPS</div>
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Just what is a "spa soap" anyway?</div>
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Spa soap can be a variety of different items that make it a "spa experience" when you use it.</div>
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Most spa soaps contain ingredients that exfoliate the skin, or contain clays that cleanse the pores, or certain types of oils that claim increased benefits to the skin. Usually, it is a soap that contains just a "little extra" to make you feel pampered.</div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNXODAnVg_coubnuul2PW-z-amtw49kl9w9XpV4FWhpYs_Uzcjw29Up4xbwlXq2gyy-OTU6M90gCbFnPSFcud0wQXur7FlpYIrvpRDdHDokrS_938tdDi4dKGOoBiZU8qVZme1SQMmeA/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNXODAnVg_coubnuul2PW-z-amtw49kl9w9XpV4FWhpYs_Uzcjw29Up4xbwlXq2gyy-OTU6M90gCbFnPSFcud0wQXur7FlpYIrvpRDdHDokrS_938tdDi4dKGOoBiZU8qVZme1SQMmeA/s320/016.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div>
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Recently, I've created my own version of the SPA SOAP. One of them is pictured above. Margarita Lime at the top and Summer Fling just above this sentence. It contains a delightful lime citrus fragrance along with sea salt and some <span style="background-color: white;">bentonite</span> clay. The soap texture is a bit different than other soaps. Because of the amount of salt, it is a hard bar of soap. It also has a grainy texture which may be a bit harsh for your face but wonderful for your body. The clay can firm and tighten the skin but also gives the soap a unique textural quality as well. Clays give the soap a "slip" to it that folks love when they are shaving. The lather tends to be a bit more sudsy/creamy rather than overly bubbly.</div>
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And as for the salt on top...well, it is just there for the looks. After all, what's a Margarita without the salt around the rim?</div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">All my spa soaps have been made use a cold process method. The soap barely gets above room temperature during the entire process, which allows for it to cure more slowly and retain better fragrance properties.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHwd4zcxQ4zTTIIJsO2M7JXUlFC2hDYxXKo0wWo2zWfJ2okN9P1VnZqgilAgfXGAH6t9WCnwHBoGFlIgVF3ooqa_EbVIgKsUscNBjb1YX_ObIyhjtuDW6ZYcZUMaJf4RstX5-t7La6hg/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHwd4zcxQ4zTTIIJsO2M7JXUlFC2hDYxXKo0wWo2zWfJ2okN9P1VnZqgilAgfXGAH6t9WCnwHBoGFlIgVF3ooqa_EbVIgKsUscNBjb1YX_ObIyhjtuDW6ZYcZUMaJf4RstX5-t7La6hg/s320/009.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div>
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(pictured above is Butt Naked Spa Soap)</div>
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You will not find this soap available on my website until the end of May, 2010. So, get ready for a real "SPA EXPERIENCE"!</div>
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<br /></div>Trish's Soapy Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06995901160698025675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3772148500023341086.post-57918174573263874942010-04-15T15:11:00.000-07:002010-04-15T15:11:17.211-07:00Coconut Milk Soap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKd6wnyK9TKJdI7cv4Xhqxv1tqlV5MDqka7QMku49IyoV-RGuEr6DOOk_9YsyAdasLerzOXFNalezoqXJYxHdjCnZZRdWVA12obHPBDhT8cWp1NWQgCTjfRsnnBgVlO_Qv7sR7HLcHnc/s1600/coconut+soap+with+mango+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKd6wnyK9TKJdI7cv4Xhqxv1tqlV5MDqka7QMku49IyoV-RGuEr6DOOk_9YsyAdasLerzOXFNalezoqXJYxHdjCnZZRdWVA12obHPBDhT8cWp1NWQgCTjfRsnnBgVlO_Qv7sR7HLcHnc/s320/coconut+soap+with+mango+006.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138;">The picture above is a simplistic looking soap. No additional color was added. There are no swirls, no funky soap chunks or anything else to enhance the looks of it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Instead of water, coconut milk was added as the sole water based liquid. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138;">The process in which I made this soap is a bit different than what I normally do also. Most soap processing requires the soap to go through a chemical stage that causes the soap to "gel". In this process, I attempted to prevent the soap to go through that particular phase by keeping it chilled and preventing it from heating up. There are several reasons for this: by keeping the soap cooled down and preventing gel stage, the soap slows down in its chemical reaction, causing it to cure much more slowly. If any fragrance or essential oils were added to the soap, it will help to maintain the original fragrance of the oil. Furthermore, the soap's texture is somewhat different too. It has a translucent quality to the soap which may add to some interesting effects in how the soap appears.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138;">The fact that I used coconut milk instead of water in my soap, I suspect I won't achieve that translucency with this batch. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Mango fragrance was added to this batch of coconut milk soap. The mango fragrance is still very evident and hasn't changed or "morphed" since I made this soap three weeks ago. Even though it has been three weeks, this soap is still curing and won't be ready for another 2-3 weeks I suspect.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138;">I sliced a small amount for soap samples this morning and it is still quite soft with slicing. The samples are placed in a bag with a hole cut in it to allow circulation and for the customer to smell the item. I attach one of my business cards and label the name of the soap on the card, then use these little slivers of soap for samples when I send off orders in the mail and when I am a vendor at arts & crafts fairs and Saturday markets. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Although this soap doesn't have some of the bling that other handcrafted soaps have, this one has a subtle beauty, elegance and the fragrance is delightful, the lather is perfect and will be the perfect accompaniment to any bathroom and body care experience.</span></div>Trish's Soapy Blessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06995901160698025675noreply@blogger.com2