Day 364

One more day!  Can you believe it!  I know I'm more surprised that I stuck with this!

I got this book in the mail yesterday and it's awesome!  I don't know if you are like me but sometimes I feel really overwhelmed.  I realize I'm a stay-at-home mom and there shouldn't be a ton that stressed me out but sometimes things do.  This book is helping me realize how to live a more "intentional" life and keep things simple.  I have already read the first 3 chapters and Ian and I starting to put some of these things into practice.  I can't wait to focus on what's important!!

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Day 357

The botanical gardens had an a great light display.  Some girls and I devised a wonderful plan, we would go at 5:15pm without the kids.  Sun would set at 5:30pm.  We would take pictures for 20 minutes or so just us.  Then the guys would bring the kids and we could just enjoy their joy of seeing the lights without worrying about photographing the lights.  Turns out, the people who are in charge of turning the lights on did not get my memo.  They didn't end up turning the lights on until 6pm which is when the guys and the kids showed up.  Therefore, we tried to enjoy the kids and take pictures.  It was a bit more hectic then we wanted but oh well.  The girls had fun seeing all the lights!

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Day 351

Ian turns 30 this year!! So, I threw him a surprise birthday party!  I was lucky enough that the awesome people he works with helped me pull it off.  They even got his boss involved.  He was definitely surprised since his birthday isn't until Wednesday!  We had a great night with a few friends and a TON of kids!  I think there were more kids then adults :O)

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Day 343 - Click it Up a Notch

I learned that while I was trying to take this photo, Kate really wanted to be in the picture. How do you explain to a 3 yr old that your shutter speed is at 0.6 of a second and she would not be able to sit still?? I let her sit and hold the book as I took several pictures of her and kept saying "sit still" and "hold still". She had a BLAST! I was shocked!! Of course, only one of the pictures is almost usable and that is because I only focused on the book and not her face. It was still fun though :O) I also learned, maybe not learned but was more reminded that I love Christmas traditions. My dad has read this book to me and my siblings since I can remember and has done so every year even before we had kids. My mom blogged about it here if you want to check it out. Even now that I have children and live in Japan, we still Skype with my Dad so he can continue this tradition with my children.

Check out with others learned and join in over at my blog Click It Up a Notch

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Day 339

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Day 336

I have the most delicious recipe for pulled pork and a homemade BBQ sauce. The best part is it is for the crockpot. So after slaving all day on this meal :O) Ian called and said he wasn't going to make it home for dinner. Looks like I'm enjoying this bad boy all by myself (and with the girls). It was so stinkin' good!

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Day 330

Black Friday is a bust here! The BX didn't even open until 8am and they didn't have any sales that we worth fighting the crowds for. I did hit up two gift shops and I was home in an hour. I did snag up a few nice things, none of which were on sale ha ha! I did get this little beauty :O) Not sure why it looks like it has gold on the edges but it is all silver. I'm not a bracelet kind of girl but I'm going to give it a try :O)

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Day 326

Can you believe it is already time to think about Christmas presents?? I'm basically done with my shopping. The hard part about living overseas is you have to get all your presents out in the mail by about the first week in December so they get there in time! So stressful!! This has definitely turned me into a planner :O)

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Day 319

I guess since we don't have a Target the BX has turned into my Target. I went to pick up a "few" things and I was AMAZED when this little bag full of stuff cost me $98. What!!! Shouldn't there be more stuff if I spent that much!

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Day 317

We had a good laugh this morning when we woke up and found this on our door step! Ha ha!!

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Day 313

I know, not the best picture. I was actually walking around the house at 8:30pm wondering, "What am I going to a picture of today?" So you guys are stuck with a not so great or interesting photo :O) I guess that is one of the joys of a Project 365 - you get the good with the bad :O)

I bought this vase type thing a few weeks ago and found these fake flowers. When I brought it home I told Ian we were "officially" adults because now we had a big vase with fake flowers :O) It's the little things ha ha!

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Day 311

Today was Emma's baptism! Yay!!! I'm so happy we were finally able to get her baptism (long and boring story as to why it took us so long :O) She did great during the baptism, expect almost pulling my dress off when she was getting the water poured on her head. ha ha During mass though, she was crazy! Oh well! This is the baptismal gown that she wore.

I LOVE this gown because it means so much to me. My mom made this and we have all worn it. First my sister, myself, my brother, Kate, Jackson, and now Emma. My mom is going to embroider the initials of everyone who has worn the dress in a very light color eventually. I hope that I am able to pass this on to all of our grandkids. Thanks, Mom for creating such a priceless heirloom!!

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Day 308

While Kate was at school today, my sister and I headed to a new fabric store that just opened up by an American! Whoo hoo!! This means American fabrics like Michael Miller and Amy Butler. This makes the quilter in me very excited :O)

This food truck was parked out front. I think it sells traditional Japanese food. I just don't think I would want to buy anything from a truck that has "boogie" on it :O)

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Day 304

I did it! I made my first quiche! I know it isn't the best picture but I was just so stinkin' proud of myself :O)

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Day 298

Nothing spectacular :O) Just some beautiful flowers I picked up at the farmers market today for $5!!!

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Day 296

Good news! I finished my first official 5K!! I ran more then I walked which was my goal and not to be last :O) Unfortunately, they did not have any free t-shirts :O( Looks like I will have to order our own. My camera battery is dead so I can't upload my picture but it is a picture of the ocean that I captured on our way to dinner tonight. Also, tomorrow I am second shooting for a Japanese wedding so I won't have a picture to post because I will be giving the main photographer my memory card. I will post pictures though as soon as I get it back :O)

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Day 295

I have to say I'm a little jealous of everyone's fall pictures. Living on an island is not the best for fall pictures. Thought I would share our "pumpkin patch" with y'all :O)

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Day 294

Ian left me this sweet message :O) I love when he does little things like this for me. Notice we have lost the "i" and "e" and the dogs got a hold of the "u". Such is life :O)

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Day 293

I am not someone who loves to cook from scratch. I'm trying to get better after watching Food Inc and reading Food Rules. Plus, I'm surrounded by some very "hippie" friends who are slowly rubbing off on me :O) he he Tonight, I tried to make a pulled pork recipe with homemade bbq sauce and homemade french fries. Argh!! The pork didn't shred like I had hoped and as I was fuming about the pork my fries burned. Then the bbq sauce was too tangy for our taste. Oh well!! I will definitely try it again with a different bbq sauce. The pork was super yummy and I definitely recommend it...just let that puppy cook for a long time!!

http://www.lifesambrosia.com/2009/08/slow-cooker-pulled-pork-recipe.html

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Day 291

One of Kate's cousins sent her a Flat Stanley doll, Hailey, to take around Japan and take pictures with. Unfortunately, I keep forgetting to take her out with us, so I found a special place in my purse for her to stay. Hopefully, I remember to pull her out!!

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