tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79265991699983647162024-03-13T04:45:34.698-07:00RebeCCa's MisCellaNiesRebeCCa's MisCellaNiesRebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725974417373764155noreply@blogger.comBlogger319125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926599169998364716.post-11691089408354453262015-02-06T20:38:00.002-08:002015-02-06T20:41:30.368-08:00Chicken Pot Pie - Free Recipe Card Download<b><span style="font-size: large;">Chicken Pot Pie Recipe</span></b><br />
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This recipe is a compilation of a number of recipes I found online for Chicken Pot Pie, plus one I had in my head. All of them have in common that they are "kind of" homemade... although I find that the more I cook homemade, the more I like it! I generally make my pot pie with just a top crust which saves on a lot of calories, and saves the hassle of making sure the bottom crust doesn't get soggy! The version in my head uses a can of cream soup as the gravy, but now that I've had a homemade gravy version, it's so much more tasty!<br />
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<b><u>INGREDIENTS</u></b><br />
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<li>2-3 cups shredded cooked chicken</li>
<li>1 lb bag frozen mixed veggies (carrots, green beans, peas & lima beans)</li>
<li>1 cup diced potatoes</li>
<li>4 Tbsp. Butter, divided in half</li>
<li>1/2 c. finely chopped onion</li>
<li>1/2 c. finely chopped celery</li>
<li>1/3 c. all-purpose flour</li>
<li>3/4 tsp. salt (plus more to taste)</li>
<li>1/4 tsp. black pepper</li>
<li>1 tsp. crushed garlic (optional)</li>
<li>1 1/2 c. chicken broth</li>
<li>2/3 c. milk</li>
<li>1 9-inch refrigerated pie crust</li>
</ul>
<b><u>DIRECTIONS</u></b><br />
<ul>
<li>Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Defrost vegetables and drain if needed. In a large bowl, combine chicken and vegetables and set aside.</li>
<li>In a large skillet, place the potatoes in water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover an simmer for 8-10 minutes until potatoes are tender. Drain, then add to chicken and vegetables.</li>
<li>Dry the pan, then over medium heat, melt 2 Tbsp of butter and add the garlic, onion and celery. Cook until nicely tender and onions are browned. Add the remaining butter and cook until it melts, then add flour, salt and pepper. Slowly mix in the chicken broth and milk, and stir frequently at a simmer until the mixture thickens. Check the taste to determine if you want to add additional seasoning.</li>
<li>Pour the gravy mixture over the chicken and vegetables and stir until all is mixed together. Pour mixture into 9-inch pie plate and cover with crust. Pinch the crust around the edges, and poke several holes in it to allow pie to vent. </li>
<li>Bake for 30-45 minutes until crust is browned, and mixture is bubbling. If edges of pie are brown before pie is ready, cover the edges with foil. Remove and let cook 5-10 minutes before serving.</li>
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<b><u>TIPS</u></b><br />
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<li>A glass pie plate makes it easy to see if the pie is bubbling.</li>
<li>Pie can be made ahead and frozen. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before baking and cooking time may need to be extended to 1 hour - 75 minutes. (If cooking from refrigerator, a metal pan is recommended.</li>
</ul>
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<b><u>RECIPE CARD DOWNLOAD</u></b></div>
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<li>Save this file to your computer, print at home, or upload to your favorite photo printing service to print as a 4x6.</li>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808475092464887637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926599169998364716.post-75541755635765071122015-02-02T20:13:00.002-08:002015-02-02T20:13:20.569-08:00A Month of Letters Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I joined a challenge for February to write a letter each day for a month. I decided to write my "letters" on postcards, making my notes short and sweet with the bonus of a pretty picture on the card. Also, I have a HUGE stash of postcards thanks to my PostCrossing habit (more on that in another post maybe)!<br /><br />I've decided to write postcards in the evening, so I actually wrote my postcard for February 3rd tonight on the 2nd, so then it's ready to go out in the mail first thing tomorrow. So far, it has actually been so fun that I must restrain myself from writing more than one note per day. However, I don't want to burn out on the writing thing, so I will resist. :)<br /><br />I have an album on my Facebook page where I'm posting photos of each postcard. Click this link to see the album: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10155202526850046.1073741838.512055045&type=1&l=e03cc13b9d" target="_blank">Rebecca's Month of Letters Challenge on Facebook</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808475092464887637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926599169998364716.post-53497296264257289722015-01-23T11:20:00.000-08:002015-01-23T11:20:02.723-08:00Project "Read more in 2015"At the end of December, I received an email from Goodreads congratulating me on reading 14 books in 2014, and all I could think of was, "That's IT?!???" I consider myself a READER and that just seems like a really small list, and I definitely want to start reading more.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCC25QuUYi3ViqlUkYzEDOj0KnwqXyaey0zP9f4pgfoxT7CRvenF2Ey9co_T8bCSBQQ177qIZTZs9jAv3IKWZqMIQsTu4jf09dVpzsVNAOEFsNSdYMeqZC0GxXjve-GiZXBFgd1jYTbQ2/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCC25QuUYi3ViqlUkYzEDOj0KnwqXyaey0zP9f4pgfoxT7CRvenF2Ey9co_T8bCSBQQ177qIZTZs9jAv3IKWZqMIQsTu4jf09dVpzsVNAOEFsNSdYMeqZC0GxXjve-GiZXBFgd1jYTbQ2/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" height="271" width="320" /></a>First of all, I had to figure out why I wasn't reading as much, and I have to say - true confessions - that one of the culprits of stealing my time is playing games on my phone. I'm embarrassed to admit that! So to make more time for reading, I deleted nearly all the games off my phone, keeping just two that I play with others, so they aren't huge suckers of my time.<br />
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With that distraction eliminated, and a decision to actively spend more of my free time reading, I also set a goal for reading this year: at least 2 books per month, or 24 books this year. I also plan to alternate between fiction and nonfiction, so I get a good mix of titles read.<br />
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The alternative name for this reading project is "Project clean off the nightstand" because that is the place I tend to collect books that I want to read or intend to read. My nightstand isn't very big, but it has two lower shelves, and it is literally fully packed with books to read. Alternate project name number two is "Project finish all the books I've started" - my Goodreads "currently reading" list includes 8 books, and I'm actually only currently reading 2 of them! <br />
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This morning, I reorganized the piles on the top of the nightstand, and stacked the books in order that I plan to read them. Here's what's on my nightstand:<br />
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I'm currently reading <i>Hardwiring Happiness</i> by Rick Hanson, Ph.D., which was a gift from my cousin Ashley for Christmas. I just started it, so no opinions to report yet. :)<br />
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The next two books are the selections for my twice-annual girls book weekend. We had actually planned to read these last fall, and then our discussion weekend was postponed to this spring, so I've had plenty of time to postpone putting these on the top of the list, but the time is now! The two titles for book weekend are <i>Till We Have Faces</i> by C.S. Lewis and <i>Life Together</i> by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.<br />
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Next is a classic; I became interested in Hemingway after reading Paula McLain's novel <i>The Paris Wife</i> last year. <i>A Moveable Feast</i> is Hemingway's own writing about his wife Hadley.<br />
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Following that: <i>Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha and Mohammed Cross the Road?</i> by Brian D. McLaren - one of last year's book weekend suggestions that I started but didn't finish.<br />
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<i>Flight Behavior</i> by Barbara Kingsolver<br />
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<i>Our Great Big American God</i> by Matthew Paul Turner<br />
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The non-pictured book I will probably also finish soon, as it's already in-progress, is <i>Cold Tangerines</i> by Shauna Niequest. I saw the play last year in Pasadena, and it's an easy read, I just set it aside and sort of forgot about it!<br />
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I'm also currently listening to the audiobook of <i>Insurgent</i> by Veronica Roth (#2 in the <i>Divergent</i> series.) I'm using audiobooks to bribe myself to exercise, and only listening when I go for a walk. I'm already 25% of the way through it, and find myself wanting to take longer and longer walks so I can keep listening.<br />
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I'd say Project "Read More" is off to a good start!<br />
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(Want to share your book recommendations and see what else is on my "want to read" list? Friend me on Goodreads! <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/ReboReads">https://www.goodreads.com/ReboReads</a>)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808475092464887637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926599169998364716.post-91926527125815812122013-04-02T22:20:00.003-07:002013-04-02T22:21:29.570-07:00England Top 10Since I've been home, people have been asking me about my trip: How was it? What was the best?<br />
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I seem unable to answer the first question with anything but superlatives: amazing, wonderful, spectacular, life-changing.<br />
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The other thing I am unable to do is answer the second question the same way twice. Every day it seems, I remember something different as the best. There are so many great stories from this trip, so I might be blogging a few of them, but I thought I'd start with a top 10 list. I'm working on some projects that will get my fun photos on display in places I can enjoy them every day. One such project requires that I pick my favorite 18 images. Every time I try to narrow it down, I can't do it! So I thought I'd make an attempt at a top 10 list from my trip.<br />
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1. <i><b>Wicked</b></i>. Truly spectacular! I don't go to the theater often, and other than London or New York, I'm not sure it would make my travel wish list. I. Loved. Every. Minute. Note. Costume. Character. I LOVED <i>The Wizard of Oz</i> film when I was a kid, watching it over and over and over, so to see <i>Wicked </i>was something I will remember for a long, long time. And I will never, ever see the original again without seeing it completely differently. Oh, Elphaba! If only I had known. Loved, loved, loved it.<br />
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2. <b>The London Eye</b>. The Eye hadn't been built when I was in London before, so it was a must on my list. Never have 30 minutes gone so quickly! The day I went up, I had already seen snow twice, so I felt especially lucky to go up during an interval in the day with plenty of sun. I loved seeing the London skyline from above, and I was completely fascinated by watching the wheel in action and seeing how it worked.<br />
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3. <b>Evensong at Westminster Abbey</b>. This was pure loveliness, and I loved it so much I went twice. (I also went to Evensong at St. Paul's Cathedral, but I enjoyed it more at Westminster Abbey.) In a building as majestic as this, it is hard to not think of God's greatness; I think this was the point of such giant churches. I loved the beautiful choir, the reading of Psalms, and time to sit in this beautiful place, hearing God's beautiful words and reflecting on my life.<br />
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4. <b>Vincent Van Gogh's <i>Sunflowers </i>at The National Gallery</b>. When The National Gallery went on the list of things I must do, I confess: it was because of Claude Monet's Waterlilies. When I was in London before, the famous Monet was off display for cleaning or on loan or something - I forget! But it was the Sunflowers that captivated me more. Not that I overlooked Canaletto, Renoir, Pissarro or Degas, the temporary exhibit of Frederic Edwin Church, and dozens more amazing paintings.<br />
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5. <b>The Underground</b>. I'm pretty sure it was living in London before when I fell in love with public transportation, and I've been enamored of it every since. It's a crazy thing for a girl to love, but that colorful map is so cool, and this idea that you can just hop on and hop off and get anywhere you need to go without a car. On this trip, I also traveled by train and bus quite often, and enjoyed them all, along with the all-important advice to "Mind the Gap!"<br />
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6. <b>Windsor Castle</b>. What's not to love about wandering around a real castle, especially one where the Queen herself lives sometimes? As a added bonus, I got my picture taken with a royal guard.<br />
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7. <b>The Tower of London</b>. So much history like "this is where Anne Boleyn was beheaded!" and interesting fun facts, like learning the reason a pound is called a pound. The Crown Jewels were spectacular. I went to the Tower before when I was in London, and I confess, it was the Crown Jewels that lured me back! But as we walked around the Tower of London, we just kept saying "this is SO cool!" The icing on the cake was that although it was rainy when we got there (of COURSE it was!), the sun came out later, and we enjoyed brilliant views of Tower Bridge.<br />
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8. <b>The Making of <i>Harry Potter</i> Studio Tour</b>. I know, I know. Go to England with all it's culture and history, and visit the <i>Harry Potter</i> tour? Absolutely! As a fan of the series, it was so much fun to see how the stories were brought to life in the movies through sets, costumes, art, design, and more. Like so many of my favorite things about this trip, it was a chance to see beautiful things. I spent hours soaking up the details. On the other hand, I spent mere minutes enjoying my Butterbeer as it was literally freezing outside!<br />
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9. <b>The Three Horseshoes</b>. One Sunday, the biggest adventure of the day was a walk to the local pub, a favorite of my friends, for dinner and a pint. I'm 1000% positive that beer tastes better after a long walk on a brisk day, because I have not enjoyed a beer that much in a long, long time. I also enjoyed the very tasty fish and chips, the lovely walk home along the local canal, and the fact that the pub has been around since <b><i>1535</i></b>.<br />
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10. <b>Days of Rest</b>. I knew when I planned this trip that most of all, it was rest I most needed. Yes, I wanted to revisit London for the first time after living there. Yes, I wanted to see amazing sights, and have new experiences. Yes, I wanted to take a bazillion pictures. But mostly, I wanted a VACATION. I wanted to do all those other things, and not come home needing a vacation from my vacation. There was plenty of down time on this trip. I read a book. I printed pictures of my vacation before I got home. I watched movies. I wrote in a journal about my trip. I enjoyed time with friends. It was soooooo good.<br />
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Speaking of friends, I can't say enough good things about my hosts <b>Nathaniel & Dean</b>. I met Nathaniel almost two years ago when I started a new job, and started working with him. He moved to England exactly 3 days after we met, but we work together a lot and over time have become really good friends. Not only did he invite me over to England to visit, but he and Dean took such good care of me while I was there, making me feel welcome well before I arrived, and at home the minute I arrived. Friends, thank you - again and again and again - for your hospitality, because that made everything on this list possible. I'm so glad we're friends, and your kindness and hospitality will never be forgotten.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725974417373764155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926599169998364716.post-53233013997672687932013-03-28T07:00:00.000-07:002013-03-28T07:00:09.853-07:00Thankful Thursday: Joy Dare Week 12Ah, home sweet home. As much as I did NOT want to leave London, I reluctantly boarded a plane for home last Wednesday. Re-entry to normal life has not been terrible. I have one last London photo to share from my last day in the city. Like my first day in the city, it rained. A lot. On my list had been to revisit a couple locations to snap photos, including Piccadilly Circus. If one can only get a picture in the rain, may as well make the most of it!<div>
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233. Piccadilly Circus (technically from last week)</div>
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247. My beloved California Poppies. Love these, and it thrilled my heart to find that they were blooming when I arrived home.</div>
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242. When jet lag means you wake up at 3:00 am... you can get a LOT done before going in to the office. I fell asleep before 8 pm more than once after arriving home, but on the upside, I woke up in the middle of the night with plenty of energy to do the unpacking and laundry.</div>
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It's Tuesday night now, and I'm mostly back on California time, although I've still been waking up around 5:00 am. I look forward to sleeping late again one of these mornings!</div>
Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725974417373764155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926599169998364716.post-88770384687572803082013-03-20T02:33:00.000-07:002013-03-26T21:00:35.378-07:00Thankful Thursday London Edition: Joy Dare Week 12It's my last day in London, and since I think the next few days are going to be a little nutty while I change time zones and readjust to "normal life".... here is the last London edition of Thankful Thursday.<br />
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222. Twice I went to Evensong at Westminster Abbey. This prayer is engraved on the outside of the building near the Great West Door (the main entrance):</div>
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<i>May God grant to the living: grace;</i></div>
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<i>to the departed: rest;</i></div>
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<i>to the church & the world: peace and concord;</i></div>
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<i>and to us sinners: eternal life.</i></div>
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229. Going to see <i>Wicked </i>was an indulgence for me, but oh, how I LOVED it! Many times on this trip I had the opportunity to take in art of various forms, including this. I think what I did not expect was how deep the storyline was and how much it made me think. <i>The Wizard of Oz</i> was one of my favorite childhood movies, so it was pure delight to see <i>Wicked </i>- I will never think of Elphaba in the same way again.</div>
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226. Other than Big Ben, is anything more a London icon than Tower Bridge? And on this day, the sun came out, the sky was blue and there were perfect white clouds in the sky; truly a picture-perfect moment!</div>
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<br />Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725974417373764155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926599169998364716.post-1692462959299983232013-03-15T08:24:00.000-07:002013-03-26T20:57:34.125-07:00Thankful Thursday London Edition: Joy Dare Week 11It's been an amazing week of vacation in London. Without further ado, a week of thanksgivings in pictures, and one quote from a book after that.<br />
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202. On a day "in", I gave my other blog a "makeover" which was long overdue, and created the fun title with the scissors as the "a".<br />
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203. Windsor Castle. What's not to love about visiting a castle? :)<br />
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207. A lovely Sunday afternoon walk to a local pub, The Three Horseshoes, which has been around since 1535.</div>
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217. A ride to the top of the London skyline in the London Eye</div>
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215. And this, a prayer of St. Teresa of Avila:<br />
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<i>Let nothing upset you,<br />Let nothing startle you.<br />All things pass;<br />God does not change.<br />Patience wins all it seeks.<br />Whoever has God lacks nothing.<br />God alone is enough.</i></blockquote>
For this, and for every gift from above this week: Thanks be to God. Amen.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725974417373764155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926599169998364716.post-11520979643660078132013-03-07T13:53:00.002-08:002013-03-26T20:54:08.996-07:00Thankful Thursday London Edition: Joy Dare Week 10Wow, so here I am typing this blog post from London England, where I arrived yesterday for two weeks of vacation. To be honest, it's a little surreal! Yesterday, I had made no plans since I expected to be pretty tired. With only about 2 hours of sleep on the flight, that turned out to be a good decision.<br />
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I brought this month's pages from my gift-counting journal with me for my trip, and I expect the next few weeks will involve numerous photos. While I brought the March pages with me, I forgot to note the number of the last gift I counted in February, so I have no idea what number I'm on. Ooops! I'll have to update this later, but for now, here are this week's gifts I wanted to share.<br />
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Update: Now with numbers!<br />
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182. Celebrating the birthday of a wonderful sister-in-law with a fabulous night out.<br />
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190. Safe trip to the airport and easy check in.<br />
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192. An in-flight personal entertainment system! I watched 3 movies on the flight.<br />
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194. First views of England from the plane as we descended through the cloud layer approaching Heathrow airport.<br />
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Also, this wasn't officially on my list, but if you've ever seen the movie <i>Love Actually</i>, there is a scene at the end of the movie where lots of travelers are arriving at Heathrow airport. Can I just tell you it felt awesome to walk through the doors and have a friend waiting to welcome me with a giant smile?Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725974417373764155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926599169998364716.post-68564855449271210202013-02-28T08:00:00.000-08:002013-03-03T22:04:12.267-08:00Thankful Thursday: Joy Dare Week 9I'd confessed a couple weeks ago that I was falling behind on counting. As I write this, it's already a few days after the scheduled date for the post. I think I'm still a little behind, but I'm not going to look at the numbers. I'm just going to "Keep Calm and Count On" (graphic from the free Complete Joy Collection printable at the <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/the-gift-book/" target="_blank">A Holy Experience blog</a>):<br />
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Gifts for this week:<br />
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153-160. At my job at church, we had our staff party this week, so I counted each staff person as a gift this week. I work with a GREAT group of people!<br />
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162. A beautiful truth in Sunday's sermon.<br />
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170. A new computer mouse at work. (Yep, counting the little things. Isn't it cute???)<br />
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174. I didn't run out of gas in the car today. Despite not paying attention to the gas gauge until it was already well beyond "light going on" low....!<br />
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Lastly, a pic from a couple weeks ago, I finally just saved this from the memory card on my old phone.<br />
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119. Playing "Ticket to Ride" with my cousins from Alberta.<br />
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<br />Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725974417373764155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926599169998364716.post-11739300541893828462013-02-21T07:00:00.000-08:002013-03-03T21:17:41.468-08:00Thankful Thursday: Joy Dare Week 8Another week with lots of photos. I'm having a little fun with this photo thing, can you tell?<br />
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135. Finding this fortune-cookie fortune in my wallet. About a week after the date on it, I bought a ticket to go to London in March, in part because the friend I'd shared Chinese food with helped talk me into it.<br />
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138. February blossoms. (It's California, spring comes early!)<br />
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139. from writer <a href="http://jenniferdukeslee.com/you-are-gods-good-idea/" target="_blank">Jennifer Dukes Lee</a>:<br />
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<i>"You. Matter. You are God's Masterpiece.</i></div>
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<i>You were created anew in Christ Jesus,</i></div>
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<i>so you can do the good things</i></div>
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<i>he planned for you, long ago."</i></div>
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147. from the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/WhiteStone-Publishing/223830174298285" target="_blank">WhiteStone Publishing Facebook</a> page, a song and melody I have often enjoyed:</div>
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SIMPLE GIFTS<br /><i>'Tis the gift to be simple,</i><i>'tis the gift to be free,</i><i>'tis the gift to come down</i><i>where we ought to be,</i><i>and when we find ourselves in the place just right,</i><i>'twill be in the valley of love and delight.</i><i>When true simplicity is gained</i><i>to bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed,</i><i>to turn, turn, will be our delight</i><i>till by turning, turning we come round right.</i>~ EIGHTEENTH CENTURY SHAKER HYMN</blockquote>
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<br />Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725974417373764155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926599169998364716.post-56869079765551266002013-02-14T10:09:00.000-08:002013-02-16T22:18:36.702-08:00Thankful Thursday: Joy Dare Week 7Unlike the 1st week of February, this week has a lot of pictures! (I guess I was making up for lost time?!??)<br />
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119. Playing Ticket to Ride with cousins from far, far, away. (I have a pic for this, and I hope I can still extract it from an old phone.)<br />
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127. Pretty, sparkly things - a belated Christmas gift from a far-away friend!</div>
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127. A sweet and unexpected Valentine's Surprise that arrived in the mail.</div>
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As I write this post, it's February 16 and I've counted 138 gifts, so I'm still 3 behind schedule. Here's to counting some extra gifts this week!</div>
Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725974417373764155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926599169998364716.post-83942089019539986182013-02-07T10:02:00.000-08:002013-02-16T22:09:07.454-08:00Thankful Thursday: Joy Dare Week 6I'm behind on my blogging, but still counting away! Here's some notes of thanks from the first week of February:<br />
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100. Reaching a count of 100 gifts, and appreciating the gift of a milestone reached.<br />
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103. Life Groups starting up again at church.<br />
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104. A date with my sweet nephew Charlie, and hearing his adorable voice from the backseat: "Thank you, Auntie Rebo."<br />
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Oh, how my heart melts at that!<br />
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No pics this week, that definitely fell through the cracks. I've also been missing a few days now and then; I've lost some momentum. I'm trying to keep up with the count, catching up with extra gifts some days, but need to remind myself that this is important and not turn out the light by the bed before I write in my gifts journal.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725974417373764155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926599169998364716.post-25904500692043903962013-01-31T07:00:00.000-08:002013-01-31T07:00:08.010-08:00Thankful Thursday: Joy Dare Week 5This week has been much better. I've been busier, experiencing a dramatically productive week at work (unheard of!) and well, what can I say? God is good.<br />
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This week:<br />
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79. Worship without work (I work part-time at a church, and it's not a foregone conclusion that I can worship on Sundays without having my day of rest interrupted with work.)<br />
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80. and 87. Time to create and be creative (different days/different ways.)<br />
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88. Affirmation from a coworker of something done well.<br />
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This week's "photo" is a little digi-paper-scraps image I threw together, it's a representation of a friend's house. I helped my friend move this week, and I stopped by her house the night before the big move. We reminisced together about the memories in that house, and for me, I remember the first time I hung out at her house, near the beginning of our friendship. This friendship has been a great blessing in my life these last two years, and I am so very, very grateful.<br />
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<br />Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725974417373764155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926599169998364716.post-5668860031492221282013-01-24T07:00:00.000-08:002013-01-24T07:08:11.460-08:00Thankful Thursday: Joy Dare Week 4This week has not been so awesome. I knew those days, those moments, would come, but I'm not enjoying the icky feelings that have been sticking with me much of this week, and these are certainly moments where I DON'T FEEL LIKE GIVING THANKS, thank you very much. Yet I trudge on, 3 little things every day. One thing, one day, I simply wrote after "it", the thing that was not awesome that day, "can I be thankful for <i>this</i>?" I'm not sure I succeeded at gratitude. But I wrote it down. I tried. Maybe in a day or 100 days I will learn what to be thankful for because of it. One hopes.<br />
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Sunday's sermon was about prayer and my pastor relayed an idea from C.S. Lewis (as he tends to do, being as he is a big fan of Lewis) that prayer is about relationships, and when the relationship between us and God is not 100%, we should engage in practicing the discipline of prayer anyway. Lewis said (something like) a practice of prayer is the cast around what is broken that helps us along until what is broken is healed and healthy and strong.<br />
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Day 20something and I'm not keen on thinking of 3 things. But I'm going to do it anyway. There are still good things and this practice, as crazy-hard as it is some days, is healing. Because I do this, I am reminded of other, good, wonderful, beautiful things - and for that I am thankful.<br />
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Things on my gifts list this week:<br />
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54. A gift from God's word:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"My flesh and my heart may fail,<br />but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever"<br />- Ps 73:26</blockquote>
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57. helping one friend pack up for a move (which, thankfully, is a local move, or I would have a much harder time being thankful...)<br />
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59. hours spent with a friend, relaxing and chatting over some coffee. Mmmmm.<br />
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And a photo. My jobs give me reason to be creative in problem-solving, organization, etc., but not to be artistically creative. In my free time, I try to make time to create pretty things.<br />
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<span id="goog_2092098161"></span><span id="goog_2092098162"></span><br />Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725974417373764155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926599169998364716.post-7092799682694124852013-01-17T07:00:00.000-08:002013-01-17T07:00:06.938-08:00Thankful Thursday: Joy Dare Week 3<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Things I'm thankful for this week:</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">28. "You don't <i>have</i> a soul. You <i>are</i> a soul. You <i>have</i> a body." - C.S. Lewis (emphasis mine) </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">36. Warm blankets and fluffy pillows.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">42. Hope still. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Two photos this week... I got flowers not once, but twice. In one week! The hydrangea arrangement was the centerpiece from the women's retreat at church last weekend. I was the lucky one at our table whose birthday was closest to the date of the event, so I got to take home the flowers. Then, Tuesday, someone brought me flowers as a thank you gift, so that's makes twice in a week - wow! I love flowers, so I am enjoying these gifts.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span id="goog_1731700360"></span><span id="goog_1731700361"></span><br /></span>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725974417373764155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926599169998364716.post-2905931119489963502013-01-10T20:00:00.000-08:002013-01-13T10:18:21.382-08:00Thankful Thursday: Joy Dare Week 2Things I'm thankful for this week:<br />
<br />
10. A day at Disneyland :)<br />
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16. Shared with me on Facebook by a dear cousin/friend/sister: <i>"Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease."</i> - Lamentations 3:21-22<br />
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25. A zero minute commute (I started working from home 1 day per week, something I'd been trying to get approved for at least 6 months.)<br />
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A photo for the week, related to #10, but actually #12 all on it's own<br />
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<br />Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725974417373764155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926599169998364716.post-80083156683675431732013-01-03T20:00:00.000-08:002013-01-13T10:18:30.859-08:00Thankful Thursday: Joy Dare Week 1It's a new year, and I find myself taking on a new challenge. Last year, I started reading the book <i>One Thousand Gifts</i> by Ann Voskamp. Since I work part-time for a Christian book publisher/online retailer, it was impossible not to be aware of this book; it landed on the bestseller list month after month. I was intrigued by the idea of counting 1000 gifts, 1000 things to be thankful for in a year.<br />
<br />
Over the holidays I had some extra days off, some time to think, and I decided to jump in and <strike>try this</strike> DO THIS for 2013. ("Do or do not. There is no try." - Yoda (right?!?)) 1000 is a lot. It's a really big number, the kind that makes me want to say, "No way I can do that...." On the other hand, noting 3 things every day sounds very manageable. I can definitely do that. (Don't tell, but I feel like even if I miss a day, thinking of 6 things once in a while to "catch up" is reasonable. Not that I'm planning to make a habit of that.)<br />
<br />
And then I remembered that once I thought I'd post every week for Thankful Thursday. Right before I neglected my blog for months on end. Last year's decision to blog more also fell apart. New year, new resolution, new blog schedule. Yes, a schedule. I'm optimistic that by committing not to the vague "I will blog more" but to the specific, "I will blog on Thursdays", I might be able to stick to it.<br />
<br />
The plan is that each week, I'll post on Thursday and share some of the things I've been thankful for in the week. I will be mostly focusing on writing these down, but I hope to photograph some of them. The photographs in this post is are actually from #13 on day 5, but I wanted to share the mini-journal book I put together for my year-long project right here at the beginning. Without further ado....<br />
<br />
Things I'm thankful for:<br />
<br />
1. watching the Rose Parade with the smell of the Christmas tree still in the air<br />
<br />
4. lunch with a friend (a 2.5 hour lunch, but who's counting?)<br />
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8. hugs from my nephew Charlie<br />
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Photos for the week:<br />
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<br />Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725974417373764155noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926599169998364716.post-51215222209633559022012-04-28T15:19:00.001-07:002013-01-12T21:18:24.654-08:00My new nephew RyanThis little guy is already 4 weeks old, so I'm long overdue for a blog introduction. Here's sweet Ryan John. Born March 31, photos from April 14.<br />
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Originally posted at: http://rebeccasmiscellanies.blogspot.com/Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725974417373764155noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926599169998364716.post-72423955825704930732012-01-31T22:23:00.000-08:002012-01-31T22:23:11.090-08:00The good kind of oopsToday, I was leaving a voicemail for my sister-in-law when it happened. I oopsed a little. It was one of those dumb long voicemails, where I was rambling along with things like "I wonder if, or maybe this, or well, maybe that, but do you know if she [third party] meant this or that or... well, can you just call me?"<br /><br />
Don't pretend you haven't left those kind of voicemails.<br />
<br />
So I was leaving along this rambling message and referred to my sister-in-law's sister as her "other sister" which means only one thing: that I think of myself not as her sister-<i>in-law</i>, but just as my... sister. We joked about it when we finally connected, and it was kind of a cool moment. I think we both enjoyed the sweetness of the it, knowing and savoring that we have that kind of relationship. It was an oops that really wasn't because it brought me joy and warmed my heart.<br />
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G, I'm so glad that God brought you into our family. You're an awesome sister, and I'm blessed to know you.<br />
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<span style="color: white;">--
Originally posted at: http://rebeccasmiscellanies.blogspot.com/</span>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725974417373764155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926599169998364716.post-8065300236860020042012-01-07T08:20:00.000-08:002012-01-07T08:20:56.919-08:00300 is a perfect score in bowlingOnce upon a time, I learned how to keep score in bowling. I think maybe it was to earn a Pioneer Girls badge or something. It wasn't long after that when bowling alleys adopted electronic scorekeeping and average players no longer needed this skill. Nevertheless, it is one of those things I still know how to do, and which I'm sure is using up the brain space I could otherwise be using to solve world hunger or something. Hahaaa.<br />
<br />
I admit this knowledge came in useful when I was babysitting a couple months ago and was able to impress the youngsters by accurately predicting that if one of us scored three consecutive strikes in Wii bowling, it would be called a "Turkey".<br />
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Other than my recent experience with the Wii, I don't actually go bowling anymore. A bad case of "tennis" elbow that resulted from incorrectly using a computer mouse in excess seems to have forever ruled out my chances of winning Wimbledon or starting a weekend career as a bowling hobbyist. Most of all, it's super awesome to tell people that I've had tennis elbow and how I got it. It's basically the same as wearing a tshirt that says "Geek." Thankfully, some coaching by the doctor who prescribed my malady meant that I was able to improve my computer posture, otherwise I would have never been able to discover digital scrapbooking.<br />
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And in other news, this is my 300th blog post on Rebecca's Miscellanies. Thanks for reading!<br />
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Originally posted at: http://rebeccasmiscellanies.blogspot.com/</span>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725974417373764155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926599169998364716.post-1492829423964396132012-01-02T22:03:00.000-08:002012-01-07T07:54:32.215-08:002012Yesterday, I resolved to not set an alarm, and watch the Rose Parade in my pajamas. Check! 2012 is off to a great start, I've already kept two resolutions.<br />
<br />
I hate New Year's resolutions. I'm terrible at keeping them, and then when I don't keep them, I feel terrible about myself. However, I recently had been thinking I'd like to pick up blogging again. I'm not going to resolve to blog more, but if I did say something like "I resolve to blog more in 2012 than I did in 2011," it would be a pretty darn easy resolution to keep. 2011's post total here on Rebecca's Miscellanies? A whopping 18. On the other hand, one of my blogging friends mentioned a while ago that my blogging had once inspired her, and that's probably what started my thinking about getting back to blogging. That was around Thanksgiving, and it's taken me this long just to blog about thinking about blogging.<br />
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The other thing I'm "not" resolving to do is memorize scripture this year. As in, on a schedule, with a strategy and accountability and everything. After I signed up with the disclaimer that I am usually really bad at follow through, I was hugely relieved when someone else signed up and not only made the same disclaimer, but used nearly the <i>exact same words:</i> "notorious for quitting." I know. Try not to be bowled over by my confidence, OK? But if you are interested in checking it out, the details are over <a href="http://scripturememory2012.blogspot.com/">on a blog my friend Megan set up</a>. Actually, the best part about this is that you get to pick your own verses, and they can be short, and it's only 2 verses a month. My first choice is Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV). I "kind of" know this passage, but decided to make a point of committing it to memory.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.</i></blockquote>
So, here we are 2012. What will this year bring? If nothing else, the three of you still subscribed to my blog might have a little more to read, and hopefully I'll have strengthened my scripture muscle a bit. It's starting to sound like I've made myself some resolutions.<br />
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(And for the record, I'm already 5.3% of the way to meeting my goal of blogging more in 2012.)<br />
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<span style="color: white;">--
Originally posted at: http://rebeccasmiscellanies.blogspot.com/</span>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725974417373764155noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926599169998364716.post-74777583742321989562011-08-03T07:59:00.000-07:002011-08-03T07:59:00.330-07:0030 days of blogging, day 11: Favorite RecipeRecipes. Yummy! For this one, I'm going to share my favorite summer recipe, because in the summer, I make this at least 2-3 times per week. I often have this for breakfast, I just blend it up and drink it in the car on the way to work.<br />
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~~~<br />
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INGREDIENTS<br />
16 oz Crystal Light peach tea<br />
7 1/2 oz frozen tropical fruit (I use the mix from Costco with strawberries, pineapple, mango and papaya.)<br />
6 oz fat free yogurt<br />
Optional:<br />
1/4 c Fiber One cereal<br />
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<br />
<br />
DIRECTIONS<br />
Add everything to a blender and blend until smooth, about 1-2 minutes.<br />
Add extra peach tea if needed!<br />
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MAKES one giant 32-oz smoothie.<br />
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~~~<br />
<br />
This also works with just the peach tea and frozen fruit. I also like a fruit smoothie with lemonade and frozen mixed berries. It's a great no-guilt summer treat!<br />
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Just for fun, I made this into a recipe card (click on the recipe card to grab the full-size image.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f35Fl8YQ9b8/TizeAePOOeI/AAAAAAAAC5A/NuTcAO7B0qM/s1600/fruitsmoothierecipePRINT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f35Fl8YQ9b8/TizeAePOOeI/AAAAAAAAC5A/NuTcAO7B0qM/s320/fruitsmoothierecipePRINT.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">-- Originally posted at: http://rebeccasmiscellanies.blogspot.com/</span>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725974417373764155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926599169998364716.post-28409235913700868392011-07-27T07:15:00.000-07:002011-07-27T07:15:00.869-07:0030 days of blogging, day 10: Bible VerseLike so many things on any "favorites" list, this one seems to change a lot for me. In fact, when I started this project, I included Psalm 23:4 on the list of 15 things about me, because it was important to me at the time. More recently, I've been thinking about this verse a lot, Ephesians 2:10 -<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>For we are God’s handiwork,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>created in Christ Jesus to do good works,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>which God prepared in advance for us to do.</i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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I've been doing some reading about spiritual gifts because of my work at church, and this verse is in the curriculum for the class I led a couple weeks ago. What this verse says, I can't truly comprehend. The first part is the easy part: "we are God's handiwork, created... to do good works." It's the second part that is beyond my understanding: "which God prepared in advance for us to do."<br />
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Why is this so unbelievable? Because it says that the God of the universe has such a detailed plan that He has prepared in advance specific tasks for His children to accomplish. Sometimes I find it hard to think that God, who surely must have many, many important things demanding his attention, has a plan specifically for me. Me?? Really?? Slowly, He's been teaching me this lesson (or perhaps more accurately, it's been slowly sinking in) - and for that, I am thankful.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">-- Originally posted at: http://rebeccasmiscellanies.blogspot.com/</span>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725974417373764155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926599169998364716.post-17294488203889852332011-07-24T12:46:00.000-07:002011-07-24T12:46:03.306-07:00The Costco GenerationLast week, as I was sitting at a Costco food court enjoying berry sundaes with a friend, I remembered this story about Costco from when I was a kid. I tell this story a lot - as I did again last week - and so I decided to share it here. It's kind of interesting how something like a retailer or a restaurant can prompt a strong memory from childhood.<br />
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Costco has been around nearly as long as I can remember. They opened a location in Martinez, California (near where I grew up) when I was pretty young. I was maybe 8 or 10, I'm not exactly sure. I remember going there with my parents the day the decided to become members. But the really important memory has everything to do with the famous $1.50 Costco hot dog.<br />
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In the 80's, Costco didn't have food courts, but they did have a hot dog cart. What could be better for a price-conscious family than shopping in bulk to save a few bucks AND feeding the whole family dinner for $6? As a kid, I couldn't have cared less that this was a bargain price for dinner. What I cared about was that my hot dog came with a can a soda. Whatever kind I wanted. And I got to have the WHOLE can. This, my friends, was a rare treat. Soda made rare appearances at our house although I remember it regularly showing up on vacation and always being available in Grandma's refrigerator. I know, I know, kids sometimes can't finish a whole can, but seriously, you can't put a price on not having to share when you're a kid.<br />
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I'm now a Costco member because when you grow up as a Costco kid, it gets into you. My brother is even more of a Costco <strike>addict</strike> fan than I am. We tease him sometimes that if Costco doesn't sell it he must not need it. (Don't tell him I said that!) I still stop at the Costco food court now and then, and sometimes I still get a hot dog. How is it possible that something like 25 years later, Costco can still sell a hot dog and soda for $1.50?<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">-- Originally posted at: http://rebeccasmiscellanies.blogspot.com/</span>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725974417373764155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7926599169998364716.post-14551762353635066792011-05-31T18:07:00.000-07:002011-05-31T18:07:00.111-07:0030 days of blogging, day 9: What's in my makeup bagWell, this won't take long! My must-have essentials include lip gloss, chapstick, mascara, eyeliner and bobby pins. Yeah, I know bobby pins aren't makeup, but it's a convenient place to keep a few extras just in case. And I use them more often than just about anything else in there, except maybe the chapstick. :)<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">-- Originally posted at: http://rebeccasmiscellanies.blogspot.com/</span>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725974417373764155noreply@blogger.com0