tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28105373426262717332024-02-19T01:12:33.160-06:00Girlnamedblake.[My life and thoughts. And whatnot.]Blake Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04447185292976305428noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2810537342626271733.post-59287607392068303672012-06-08T12:24:00.000-05:002012-06-08T12:27:24.299-05:00The Garden of your Mind.I can't help sharing. I just love this! It feels like a bit of my past got auto-tuned, remixed, and immortalized on YouTube. I loved the Mister Rogers days... <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/OFzXaFbxDcM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Blake Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04447185292976305428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2810537342626271733.post-31789882804616412372012-03-28T11:41:00.002-05:002012-03-28T14:32:46.999-05:0052 Reasons.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">March has just been a great big, wonderful month! I've been <i>attempting</i> to document each day with the #marchphotoaday challenge... which has been surprisingly harder to stay on top of than I thought! I'm also way behind on getting wedding/honeymoon/life pictures online. I suppose someday I'll get it together, but life is so full and beautiful and I'm just not too worried about those details. :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the meantime (and because I'm secretly proud of myself), I wanted to share a little project that was totally not my idea. At all. In fact, when I googled "52 Reasons," several pages of these little books popped up, ranging in all sorts of style and creativity. I first found this idea on pinterest months ago, and tucked it away in my mental to-do list for Jack's birthday in March.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The project: create a "booklet" out of a deck of cards with all the reasons you love someone... 52 reasons.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdN0GL3zilHZlgZv642loIZ5YsA7MVyUKeH-u6dh9HnA8ZmyJZmO_ckJoRMmHb0zpCJxn-tRFSWjOPRc2Ah9hGOG-lKJeAFTgqJTxwqdy1cIVJIocpjOZm2NtF1uvcU83TZaN_utnTMc2Y/s1600/52reasons.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdN0GL3zilHZlgZv642loIZ5YsA7MVyUKeH-u6dh9HnA8ZmyJZmO_ckJoRMmHb0zpCJxn-tRFSWjOPRc2Ah9hGOG-lKJeAFTgqJTxwqdy1cIVJIocpjOZm2NtF1uvcU83TZaN_utnTMc2Y/s320/52reasons.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I started with a word doc. of a handful of reasons I love my husband, then added to it until I reached 52. I came up with all sorts of reasons, ranging from from his laugh, to the fact that we eyeroll at all the same things together, to his patience, to his love of the Lord. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At that point, I went shopping for supplies: a deck of cards, kraft paper, adhesive, and book rings. Simple enough! </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hole punched each playing card, then measured the size of the "reason" cards and chopped them up with my paper trimmer. I corner rounded the edges, then began writing. Lots of examples I saw online used labels or were printed through photoshop, but I opted for the handwritten look. Once they were finished, I stuck all the reasons to the deck of cards. Due to the thickness of the kraft paper I purchased, it caused the booklet to have a sort of "bursting at the seams" look which I kind of dig. :) Finally, I clamped the cards together with some book rings. And <i>voila</i>! A cute little heartfelt book. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And he loved it!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRTBHnjTsMKnDsq0whRXZsC3v2GIU0hD7CDzXK_RCdotoQ1uEgsY9tTWZU4MOYMl51BK51BhG4XVMBoCjk28AbcurBY2nGPochTf2JJ6TczJMADfrbJo-CzcT9Thl3XOSCX6tBa_QLMIH/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRTBHnjTsMKnDsq0whRXZsC3v2GIU0hD7CDzXK_RCdotoQ1uEgsY9tTWZU4MOYMl51BK51BhG4XVMBoCjk28AbcurBY2nGPochTf2JJ6TczJMADfrbJo-CzcT9Thl3XOSCX6tBa_QLMIH/s320/photo+(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</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/AVvXsEhjkLhg40fA7TaGlGXoqgE4fDl8VEZ4EyGXOwB9Wrfu376UxLwRX0tXAKmRhESUYQzsx36IctIRzv8gjx0H5y8PEeTQ08yvh6S-3EB7yDhckUGgAfRn0Tlc9et861ZhxnXDb4RHRJe5mL6i/s1600/photo+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkLhg40fA7TaGlGXoqgE4fDl8VEZ4EyGXOwB9Wrfu376UxLwRX0tXAKmRhESUYQzsx36IctIRzv8gjx0H5y8PEeTQ08yvh6S-3EB7yDhckUGgAfRn0Tlc9et861ZhxnXDb4RHRJe5mL6i/s320/photo+(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></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><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Blake Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04447185292976305428noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2810537342626271733.post-36251742707017989142012-03-03T22:06:00.002-06:002012-03-06T10:00:01.384-06:00Thank You Notes.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>One weeknight last week, we decided it was time... to order our wedding thank you notes.<br />
<br />
I figured this would be a long, arduous project. But... this has not exactly been the case. They arrived in our mailbox on Tuesday. And already, we've written and mailed <i>102</i>! Ha. I've written a bunch, but truth be told, Jack has been <i>all over</i> the thank you writing, for which I am very grateful.<br />
<br />
Our new custom return address stamp (<i>awesome </i>wedding gift) has expedited the process a bit, but in general, postcards seem to be the way. to. go. So fast and easy! Just 30-something more to write and we're done... What a nice surprise. :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykf_h1wP6aFfdJ9CJb1XZiA9eS8cuR0c6NqFP5KryGrEiui8UT29lqegFNpd3cRoTL19XiycDBmGDW81xow9CnBk3LNGfJ01jRg7ROAFBpMSX0Rxkxh9J7k3bbk1-5ZknKqQdAhn6H3sx/s1600/photo%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykf_h1wP6aFfdJ9CJb1XZiA9eS8cuR0c6NqFP5KryGrEiui8UT29lqegFNpd3cRoTL19XiycDBmGDW81xow9CnBk3LNGfJ01jRg7ROAFBpMSX0Rxkxh9J7k3bbk1-5ZknKqQdAhn6H3sx/s320/photo%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Blake Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04447185292976305428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2810537342626271733.post-2524308432502734592012-03-01T11:39:00.001-06:002012-03-02T11:02:57.285-06:00#marchphotoadayI need a simple project to infuse daily, consistent creativity into my life. Enter: <i>The March Photo a Day Challenge. </i> I've never done one of these before, so I think it's high time I give it a whirl. :) Stay tuned...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FW4mUwQWmfWqMfcyTVDt4KSkYFMqWYSswxQ2S5A-xX_Eth9aNm53I3X8-irgnKaY1Wy1h798zq8FRgZe6WJHX3miTrTsGifITrVLJQ17sP2uMNI7egjr7P1JfCft-29JvqlO8EqY47mR/s1600/marchphotoaday-final-600x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FW4mUwQWmfWqMfcyTVDt4KSkYFMqWYSswxQ2S5A-xX_Eth9aNm53I3X8-irgnKaY1Wy1h798zq8FRgZe6WJHX3miTrTsGifITrVLJQ17sP2uMNI7egjr7P1JfCft-29JvqlO8EqY47mR/s320/marchphotoaday-final-600x600.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Blake Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04447185292976305428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2810537342626271733.post-51241874885662917482012-02-22T14:14:00.002-06:002012-02-22T14:45:07.698-06:00December 17.In the midst of making wedding decisions a few months back, the topic of videography came up. Should we have someone tape our wedding or is that something we could do without? We went back and forth, but as the day grew closer, we decided it was important and asked a friend to videotape.<br />
<br />
...SO glad we did.<br />
<div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">We got the "highlight reel" back today and <b>love </b>it! Our friend, <a href="http://hoovdan.com/about.html">Daniel</a>, did a beautiful job of capturing little moments, details, laughs, and joy. I'm so glad we have this tangible reminder of our wedding day!</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/36220575?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe></div>Blake Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04447185292976305428noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2810537342626271733.post-67684015046242423712012-02-01T15:52:00.004-06:002012-02-01T16:02:20.092-06:00Welp...A lot of major "life events" have taken place in the last 1.5 months! So, um... <b><i>We got married</i>. </b> We went on our awesome honeymoon to Europe. While in London, I had a birthday and turned 25 (eek!). We came back. We merged our bank accounts. I changed my name. And now, we're settling into our home and "married life."<br />
<br />
And it... is... awesome. <br />
<br />
:)<br />
<br />
Jack moved into the house back in 2009, but I still feel like I'm "moving in" and trying to find spaces and homes for things. But... it's <i>really </i>fun. I love having a space to call our own. I love figuring out life together!<br />
<br />
I'll share some wedding/honeymoon pics soon, but for now... here's one of my fav's from Ireland!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPaoGmZHutO_x53xJ3nQqDnLQquB1wc6YbOXosCbpOYstWPsPgwamVkgz5PEsQG8qJHaPNxpXblt4vyzDv3oRL_s00gs1CxKbYua4b2k3bqkPstnAAa0TtyrDfP7f3y8aX61HSMCI1zDW/s1600/ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPaoGmZHutO_x53xJ3nQqDnLQquB1wc6YbOXosCbpOYstWPsPgwamVkgz5PEsQG8qJHaPNxpXblt4vyzDv3oRL_s00gs1CxKbYua4b2k3bqkPstnAAa0TtyrDfP7f3y8aX61HSMCI1zDW/s320/ireland.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Blake Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04447185292976305428noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2810537342626271733.post-38960340433048506462011-12-14T10:02:00.001-06:002012-01-31T14:53:07.606-06:00Countdown.1... More day of work this week.<br />
<div>2... Days until the Rehearsal Din.</div><div>3... Days until I get to marry Jack.</div><div>12... Days until our honeymoon in Ireland.</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">... I'M FREAKING GETTING MARRIED. REALLY SOON. AHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</span></div><div><br />
</div><div>Deep breath.</div><div><br />
</div><div>So, so, so, so, so, so, so, so stinking excited.</div><div><br />
Can't handle my life right now. :)</div>Blake Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04447185292976305428noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2810537342626271733.post-66696437067483164382011-11-22T15:15:00.001-06:002011-11-22T15:15:14.897-06:00Life lately.Life has been zany lately. Not in a bad way. Just... reallyreallyreally busy. And tiring. And crazy. And a little bit stressful. And exciting. I have so much joy and anticipation in my bones. 25 days till I get to marry my best friend. I can hardly stand it!<br />
<br />
I'll blog more... someday. But for now... enjoy this fantastic light show from the 6th Annual Castlegiving celebration. You're welcome. :)<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Zi-T-yAebZo" width="420"></iframe>Blake Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04447185292976305428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2810537342626271733.post-40852912077366009662011-10-24T13:41:00.000-05:002011-10-24T13:41:07.165-05:00October baseball.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sorry for being MIA lately. It's because of this: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WTdJEE6j2Gz37psXkh9XCuJ49BSqjTX-LCql_QOVWg25K5Q3c70RqT-Wxl3EreiywtfAm2SnCb0AmtFnr-MdOkAkWstyITkbpZ6wPSZks_KIyzWQQL_bF92OngPYFAhLw2TQ61u1VeKk/s1600/250px-2011_World_Series.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WTdJEE6j2Gz37psXkh9XCuJ49BSqjTX-LCql_QOVWg25K5Q3c70RqT-Wxl3EreiywtfAm2SnCb0AmtFnr-MdOkAkWstyITkbpZ6wPSZks_KIyzWQQL_bF92OngPYFAhLw2TQ61u1VeKk/s1600/250px-2011_World_Series.jpg" /></a></div>Blake Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04447185292976305428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2810537342626271733.post-4567025472340303502011-09-26T10:34:00.007-05:002012-02-01T12:11:13.452-06:00Rats in the Cellar.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545454; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We begin to notice, besides our particular sinful acts, our sinfulness; begin to be alarmed not only about what we do, but about what we are. This may sound rather difficult, so I will try to make it clear from my own case. When I come to my evening prayers and try to reckon up the sins of the day, nine times out of ten the most obvious one is some sin against charity; I have sulked or snapped or sneered or snubbed or stormed. And the excuse that immediately springs to my mind is that the provocation was so sudden and unexpected: I was caught off my guard, I had not time to collect myself. Now that may be an extenuating circumstance as regards those particular acts: they would obviously be worse if they had been deliberate and premeditated. On the other hand, surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of a man he is? Surely what pops out before the man has time to put on a disguise is the truth? If there are rats in a cellar you are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly. <b>But the suddenness does not create the rats: it only prevents them from hiding.</b> In the same way the suddenness of the provocation does not make me an ill-tempered man: it only shows me what an ill-tempered man I am. The rats are always there in the cellar, but if you go in shouting and noisily they will have taken cover before you switch on the light.” </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Humbling/challenging thoughts this morning. Thanks, C.S. Lewis. :)</span>Blake Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04447185292976305428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2810537342626271733.post-15714958490902259612011-09-19T12:02:00.002-05:002011-09-19T12:04:29.235-05:00City girl?This past weekend, Jack & I attended an ever-so-lovely wedding out in St. Albans. Very fun and fancy. Lots of new friends, hilarious memories, and a whole lot of dancing. We decided it's one of the most fun weddings we've been to yet!<br />
<br />
I guess technically, St. Albans/Wildwood area is considered St. Louis County, but my goodness... it's quite a drive! More than I remembered it being.<br />
<br />
On the way back, we stopped at the Chesterfield Mall to drop off Jack's suit, and then the Chesterfield Chipotle for a hefty burrito lunch. While there, I mentioned to Jack that it was just "so crazy" there were so many Cardinal fans! (I briefly forgot we were only 40 minutes from STL city. Ha. It seemed so foreign!) <br />
<br />
He laughed.<br />
<br />
"Well," he said, "It's good you think that way. Just means you feel at home in the city." :)<br />
<br />
Just 89 days left until I get to finally LIVE in the city! So. Stinking. Excited.Blake Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04447185292976305428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2810537342626271733.post-83632251419697955722011-09-15T09:48:00.001-05:002011-09-15T09:50:55.629-05:00New favorite youtube vid:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/FcN08Tg3PWw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">:)</div>Blake Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04447185292976305428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2810537342626271733.post-17171024453323174582011-09-07T13:38:00.002-05:002011-09-07T13:51:18.748-05:00Thoughts on blogging.I've blogged since the spring of 2005. 2005!!! I cannot believe that. I recently looked up my old xanga to reminisce. (Yeah, remember xanga?) :) Hilarious. <br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Throughout my blogging "life," I've blogged multiple times a week and I've gone months with not a word. I was better back then, with the ritual of sitting down, most likely a mug of coffee in hand, soft tunes playing over my macbook speakers, inspired to put my thoughts on the screen. These days, I'm sporadic at best.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I want to change that.</div><div><br />
</div><div>To save money for the wedding, I moved home a few months ago. Consequently, I've been sleeping in my old bedroom, filled with old pictures and magazine clippings, old notes and journals and memories. I used to be so good at capturing my day-to-day life on paper. In high school and college, I wrote <i>constantly</i>. About everything. Pages and pages! I don't really have time to do that these days, but what I do have time to do is this:</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6c22lJ57e5Vuq0OCutzZIEaACilvpPCkR_cXSmzL63Z3aW28DB9J5r7SCEyp2MwoasppAR_HsyJVPl7pmtR7mUCxKcvuOv0IrLeppLnfV0uSGXsqw_jBxUqyY8CnAbl7DgnkQRQsGGaF/s1600/journal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6c22lJ57e5Vuq0OCutzZIEaACilvpPCkR_cXSmzL63Z3aW28DB9J5r7SCEyp2MwoasppAR_HsyJVPl7pmtR7mUCxKcvuOv0IrLeppLnfV0uSGXsqw_jBxUqyY8CnAbl7DgnkQRQsGGaF/s320/journal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>I found this on my new favorite website, <a href="http://pinterest.com/">pinterest.com</a>. Go there, and you will be hooked, I promise you. It's a treasure trove of DIY project ideas, style & food inspiration, and lots of dreamy things that make you go ooh and ahh. ANYWAYS! This is "week at a time journaling." My Grandma actually does this. She records what she does all day: if she had a meaningful conversation, what the weather was like, what's going on in the world. I am seriously considering this. How fun to look back on! I like it.</div><div><br />
</div><div>In addition... I am going to make a bit of a blog comeback, here. I miss it. And there's much going on these days to write about. :) More later!</div>Blake Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04447185292976305428noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2810537342626271733.post-32012441125040935762011-04-12T21:38:00.008-05:002011-04-13T10:54:52.553-05:00Best Day of My Life.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On an unseasonably gorgeous March 17, Jack and I marched alongside an Irish dancing float in the Dogtown St. Patrick's Day parade. He has asked me a few days earlier if I'd march with him. I didn't ever really understand why we were marching, but I didn't ask questions... I thought it would be fun, so I went along with it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4IXpp9nkPv2H5-4FOzv76HiZKPXnGj2wZMDf0PTmTZLlqQyRuFMULVmKWIv_EZhU7u6BAYbrZLl4PlILoky9dhlP3Evp92c5FllslFL7E5WVwV9wWlTAW46rSfKAsflAE2GvjpnNguKp9/s1600/IMG_5084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4IXpp9nkPv2H5-4FOzv76HiZKPXnGj2wZMDf0PTmTZLlqQyRuFMULVmKWIv_EZhU7u6BAYbrZLl4PlILoky9dhlP3Evp92c5FllslFL7E5WVwV9wWlTAW46rSfKAsflAE2GvjpnNguKp9/s320/IMG_5084.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>After about 15 minutes of bead throwing and waving, Jack grabbed my hand. "Hey, let's go see our families!" he said. "You know where they are?!" I asked. He knew the exact intersection. Weird... He began taking huge Jack strides, while I ran to catch up. (Confused, but still oblivious.) Upon finally spotting our families, what did I notice first? The huge "<b>Blake, will you MARRY ME?</b>" banner??? Nope. In the excitement of the moment, I immediately spotted my brother in the crowd, in town from college. I freaked out. "PAUL, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" Ha. :) ...Upon taking a step back, I read the banner. And well. You should probably just take a look at the pics and video. All captured for your viewing pleasure. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OkxDwkWdE2JnDZytcoMUVaTNSbU_4xjfaAajzQY0pR5qjpe9NQG_9PjBCAgptPcbk93LwuC8Uu3hsmvVKdSmKosFb9QzC4UVVdGy71U8d5108cDUD6UibBTovsLWFXAVP1xHnOaAbTpr/s1600/188723_552345834153_179200066_32096570_4341895_n+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OkxDwkWdE2JnDZytcoMUVaTNSbU_4xjfaAajzQY0pR5qjpe9NQG_9PjBCAgptPcbk93LwuC8Uu3hsmvVKdSmKosFb9QzC4UVVdGy71U8d5108cDUD6UibBTovsLWFXAVP1xHnOaAbTpr/s320/188723_552345834153_179200066_32096570_4341895_n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUxzBphA74VyrgdujaPo2xYbmp30y46PL-TzFTEFidsaEBvEIJKK74FAPSWla2eMwgJGC1UEi_FBNcgfzu_RPkEqSFn1qDBeQSLHF5i-JOIPaRApSITwh4ENrYf4aJKsKpb-zQ_6AAAvY/s1600/172680_552345759303_179200066_32096568_7995591_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUxzBphA74VyrgdujaPo2xYbmp30y46PL-TzFTEFidsaEBvEIJKK74FAPSWla2eMwgJGC1UEi_FBNcgfzu_RPkEqSFn1qDBeQSLHF5i-JOIPaRApSITwh4ENrYf4aJKsKpb-zQ_6AAAvY/s320/172680_552345759303_179200066_32096568_7995591_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Oo8LKj6ege3xP2cx8HaGqYv8zcYbn5Rvz6cPUwtA_uwzVvz4QeHmGEAFbiZxW1hAyB1JJQfgXcFUKz3GBRFT882-jySV1XvPwJz3pDQjm56dWOsKaXVOEO8tsA6i6ahyAgGQT_rg3lMd/s1600/IMG_5097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Oo8LKj6ege3xP2cx8HaGqYv8zcYbn5Rvz6cPUwtA_uwzVvz4QeHmGEAFbiZxW1hAyB1JJQfgXcFUKz3GBRFT882-jySV1XvPwJz3pDQjm56dWOsKaXVOEO8tsA6i6ahyAgGQT_rg3lMd/s320/IMG_5097.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFh7aptGxUYTda7TOwCG6bsPkSH1vdBJFXjOmtxiHWAk6LSwTa_8JiApBADrn6gz4vc6iTse2kSNW1rjq5oLXA7x4RG90Jmh54gfFVBjLN7oTB5XzGgylfO026TbNlGovI6rDa5_GdfAO/s1600/IMG_5144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFh7aptGxUYTda7TOwCG6bsPkSH1vdBJFXjOmtxiHWAk6LSwTa_8JiApBADrn6gz4vc6iTse2kSNW1rjq5oLXA7x4RG90Jmh54gfFVBjLN7oTB5XzGgylfO026TbNlGovI6rDa5_GdfAO/s320/IMG_5144.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3BMxZodkfIM" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
TOTAL SHOCK. He got me goooooood! And now we're freakin' ENGAGED!!! I get to marry my best friend on December 17, 2011!!! Christmas wedding!! And then guess where we're honeymooning? Yep, Ireland. SO excited. :)Blake Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04447185292976305428noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2810537342626271733.post-411822638426532502011-02-22T21:36:00.002-06:002011-02-22T21:40:40.433-06:00When I'm old...I want to be this lady.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nvuRN-mfM4g" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe><br />
<br />
(Shoutout to my sis! Thanks for sharing this, El.) :)Blake Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04447185292976305428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2810537342626271733.post-37251162577827469952011-02-14T22:46:00.001-06:002011-02-15T09:10:07.533-06:00Lately.Per usual, I have fallen into a blog drought. ... Aaaand, no one is surprised at this. Ha. I keep getting nudges to write from my sister and a couple other friends who may or may not even read/check this blog anymore. I don't blame you! However sporadically, I promise I'll keep writing. So, feel free to check back from time to time. :)<br />
<br />
Life lately... It's been good. I've been so deeply encouraged and challenged by <span id="goog_744471937"></span><a href="http://journeyon.net/">my churc<span id="goog_744471938"></span>h</a> and Bible Study group these past few weeks. I'm in a really good place. In Bible Study, we've been discussing and dealing with our own personal roadblocks that are in the way of total freedom in Jesus. I've wrestled with some things. But I've also experienced total peace and freedom... the kind that just <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">washes</span> over you. Know what I'm talking about?! So beautiful. OH! And I'm about to start membership classes at church. Exciting things.<br />
<br />
This past weekend was unbelievably beautiful. 70 degrees and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">sunny</span> in mid-Feb? I'll take it! I know it's inevitably going to get cold again, but I'm hopeful that at least the ice and snow are over. I doooon't really know how much more of that I can take. Once <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">March </span>hits, it really better be over. Too many fun things happening! In addition to all the usual St. Pat's parades, parties, and festivities, Jack and I are going to see the "trifecta" of Irish bands. Flogging Molly, Gaelic Storm, AND Dropkick Murphy's! All in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">March</span>. All in St. Louis. Sorry we're awesome. I can't even tell you how excited I am for <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">March</span>. 15 days till it alllllll starts. (Oh, and did I mention that all of this is tucked in between <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">Mardi Gras</span> on <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">March </span>5 and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Opening Day</span> on <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">March </span>31st?!) Geeze Louise. <b> Slowly exhale.</b><br />
<br />
<b></b>Ok. It's this working woman's bedtime, but before I sign off... a few pics from the past few months to catch you up on my life. :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_WdgveGH9IcQFqbnrYTgDtrsFU6DRCzQqPEPdtGofWoR7d-eO4FtcdGoFSP8ZcYRekcxxEc1t_2LSXi2PlY4Ij7GdlGTNftZ7Fa0tyE78SWvi5V3-hIYF8bdVbcA2JY3ciOTuTPVGXEt/s1600/IMG_4770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_WdgveGH9IcQFqbnrYTgDtrsFU6DRCzQqPEPdtGofWoR7d-eO4FtcdGoFSP8ZcYRekcxxEc1t_2LSXi2PlY4Ij7GdlGTNftZ7Fa0tyE78SWvi5V3-hIYF8bdVbcA2JY3ciOTuTPVGXEt/s320/IMG_4770.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> TBOX in Chicago: Ethnic Santas. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxL5O7VXCgR-tiyfNUZRAeIYQ7KyYohcdliT8dE3iCiL2u3EyzLr2_Uv4Az2oyamJ7N-Ydxx2RQt4hpmwH5sdVu0afOKp5Quj_N0I75FsgBrIRCQaMm4Bdfyg_QqCBn_E41Ow66-RRP7_/s1600/IMG_4973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxL5O7VXCgR-tiyfNUZRAeIYQ7KyYohcdliT8dE3iCiL2u3EyzLr2_Uv4Az2oyamJ7N-Ydxx2RQt4hpmwH5sdVu0afOKp5Quj_N0I75FsgBrIRCQaMm4Bdfyg_QqCBn_E41Ow66-RRP7_/s320/IMG_4973.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Christmas Day in the Dominican Republic!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYoVZk5Azy1Ugpqb7Rpp01U6gXjFJhIBMp7fu78oxtPE_EUshSqqI6Bg1ojF_-aDQjJ4UJ_Z3hGZ2JvtZziMuwcksHuVSV3aXqc7ohSa-_V1Otyy1dqJem3aqbBkdyOC0Rg4tEZGcuaU3/s1600/IMG_5020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYoVZk5Azy1Ugpqb7Rpp01U6gXjFJhIBMp7fu78oxtPE_EUshSqqI6Bg1ojF_-aDQjJ4UJ_Z3hGZ2JvtZziMuwcksHuVSV3aXqc7ohSa-_V1Otyy1dqJem3aqbBkdyOC0Rg4tEZGcuaU3/s320/IMG_5020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> My 24th Birthday! Celebrated at McGurks, of course.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaNm5l60jaRjl3bDN0QmkajWrJmUWY0XoYygCib4uHELNpEttyThGrAF-DpM0CnRuIcikLEIVgeujlORKH_JQMTPmiHXupICZd47Da9ZpokeBfChdcQkuSJWZZ77ztMSX091E0Q9jknGq/s1600/IMG_5027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaNm5l60jaRjl3bDN0QmkajWrJmUWY0XoYygCib4uHELNpEttyThGrAF-DpM0CnRuIcikLEIVgeujlORKH_JQMTPmiHXupICZd47Da9ZpokeBfChdcQkuSJWZZ77ztMSX091E0Q9jknGq/s320/IMG_5027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Indy with the girls.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgw00EYOIjG_asd13HxvrgteGd2ek1ylpLeLuPDPmR9JYDWrVs-8GpdK8R9lap5gs8bv5hRO-yEXtWnJ9EWJcOSw9NdHVmIQOSsvSejyrKcQ9WQ6uYoiLJP2OlyJFq3YxdhIljSQUgSHB/s1600/IMG_5046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgw00EYOIjG_asd13HxvrgteGd2ek1ylpLeLuPDPmR9JYDWrVs-8GpdK8R9lap5gs8bv5hRO-yEXtWnJ9EWJcOSw9NdHVmIQOSsvSejyrKcQ9WQ6uYoiLJP2OlyJFq3YxdhIljSQUgSHB/s320/IMG_5046.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Aaaand these last two are random... but I just finally hung things on the walls last week. (Yep. Been here since Sept!) Anyway, this is my cute little room.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYIq4eDx50vMH4v9bl3WVa0hW6BCU_OGuEed61t5QyGnxFqyfpUrr6OJZd9i6ieF18Qfo-R0j4D5F7S478blGs9Lt_76hWgGBAzpJIwTdLenSXEym-jVYhwJiKzBcTOAQgzuBUdsG9gVi/s1600/IMG_5051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYIq4eDx50vMH4v9bl3WVa0hW6BCU_OGuEed61t5QyGnxFqyfpUrr6OJZd9i6ieF18Qfo-R0j4D5F7S478blGs9Lt_76hWgGBAzpJIwTdLenSXEym-jVYhwJiKzBcTOAQgzuBUdsG9gVi/s320/IMG_5051.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't you love that retro flower chair?! Courtesy of the g-ma. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Alright. Now, goodnight!</div>Blake Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04447185292976305428noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2810537342626271733.post-44582232806749862392010-11-16T20:24:00.004-06:002010-11-16T20:28:02.516-06:00Little Women.Lately, I've been sick. (Hence, the absence from the blog that I so convincingly promised I'd be better about writing in!) Anyway... sick. Real sick. And when you're sick, what better way to spend your time than on the couch, watching movies? Like <i>Little Women</i>. LOVE!!!! Seriously. I have loved this movie since the first time I saw it, when it came out in 1994. Little 7-year-old Blake! Haha. I vividly remember unwrapping the VHS at Grandma's house on Christmas Eve. And then, of course, watching the movie until it literally wore out. (No joke.) <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKKL7ni8yzvOMlUIpkDFCE2n_r0ynYKOSjqfKpn8UYow7wiL9j9S-IQHHFcZr8cK_sKGL8az5XP11OsPpjq6QHc8dov-gGL-0-YzOlqcpT22vyn4KrmmJ6iwwmyp4S71eN_YPtis_JPRZ/s1600/little-women-DVDcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKKL7ni8yzvOMlUIpkDFCE2n_r0ynYKOSjqfKpn8UYow7wiL9j9S-IQHHFcZr8cK_sKGL8az5XP11OsPpjq6QHc8dov-gGL-0-YzOlqcpT22vyn4KrmmJ6iwwmyp4S71eN_YPtis_JPRZ/s320/little-women-DVDcover.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>All these years later, it remains my favorite. And I don't forsee that <i>ever</i> changing! It's just too good. I watch it a couple times a year... sometimes when it's raining out... or I'm sick... or I'm sad... or need to be inspired. It's the perfect cure. I highly recommend. And can also quote the whole thing. Ha. But really...<br />
<br />
An update of more substance to come later. :)Blake Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04447185292976305428noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2810537342626271733.post-18766991291919922422010-10-24T19:25:00.000-05:002010-10-24T19:25:26.543-05:00Pic update.I promised some pictures of life over the past several months... Sooo, here's a small smattering of the favs. :) <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41xJLBGXnehmQXj3WwjwvpBkXc5ymuJY2DvsHRHFyZQKGLFL_9iSFwTy_X8-qoG2OvWXh9WpwTOMrhfsxcdmjyuogSNLxI-L4l_dNEzhLNIBYjRWobLQbVtsO5diHd54S_2vAcVKjGnno/s1600/IMG_4154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41xJLBGXnehmQXj3WwjwvpBkXc5ymuJY2DvsHRHFyZQKGLFL_9iSFwTy_X8-qoG2OvWXh9WpwTOMrhfsxcdmjyuogSNLxI-L4l_dNEzhLNIBYjRWobLQbVtsO5diHd54S_2vAcVKjGnno/s320/IMG_4154.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Niagara Falls!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtbPhQTjsocurI26b-Og2NLfDivvMoZHHhMoFE3uX4BRvHp6yhx1CoQyebvYua27PJhEHGkQYey5MYau4t5IZvxbTM_wm3RWHIQHy2XmOKfphZ2UnSuA-GknW5KTQi4Y7vgIpilAkBtar/s1600/IMG_4184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtbPhQTjsocurI26b-Og2NLfDivvMoZHHhMoFE3uX4BRvHp6yhx1CoQyebvYua27PJhEHGkQYey5MYau4t5IZvxbTM_wm3RWHIQHy2XmOKfphZ2UnSuA-GknW5KTQi4Y7vgIpilAkBtar/s320/IMG_4184.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A trip to Toronto to see the Cards play the Blue Jays!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCXQ75HoeLBfmzcVswqbXjA4ZrYLds6CE7kk0ruozALqpnIoW7Huqy_d2Js9lHjstkz8Ri0jnagzPfzT6UujIkBLu6pHyJ7v0NhBy4UujF0MDnm2SzQfRgW3YyzjXHXOAZNItMPDvy7eV/s1600/IMG_4272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCXQ75HoeLBfmzcVswqbXjA4ZrYLds6CE7kk0ruozALqpnIoW7Huqy_d2Js9lHjstkz8Ri0jnagzPfzT6UujIkBLu6pHyJ7v0NhBy4UujF0MDnm2SzQfRgW3YyzjXHXOAZNItMPDvy7eV/s320/IMG_4272.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Summer vaca in Myrtle Beach.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXSqT1XQGzpWi3-KqKjdn7WFz__e7inKWxZNAWdbvMkjcOgjPzeMRSUQp0_mKAR_VdRhPKLz6EkE4dyXuEtWgS_sl2TQwUyGkJbpiqpps2L1aGCHP89FDmtDOZDH18cKB_YsRpGEsYJpi/s1600/IMG_4298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXSqT1XQGzpWi3-KqKjdn7WFz__e7inKWxZNAWdbvMkjcOgjPzeMRSUQp0_mKAR_VdRhPKLz6EkE4dyXuEtWgS_sl2TQwUyGkJbpiqpps2L1aGCHP89FDmtDOZDH18cKB_YsRpGEsYJpi/s320/IMG_4298.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Beach cheers!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLxd90QP_lRdJVixXRbJN9mIAEafaXHm4Xxk2WEE15QWJ9mkfhosaeAgsLq7k3gIK2nIwRUfBcoMPnPAG7GTGjxK0reV6vhS_zNvdAXOLV4WhpkVYIkk_ElCmv2tboYPU0-BkgpQGFJdI/s1600/IMG_4360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLxd90QP_lRdJVixXRbJN9mIAEafaXHm4Xxk2WEE15QWJ9mkfhosaeAgsLq7k3gIK2nIwRUfBcoMPnPAG7GTGjxK0reV6vhS_zNvdAXOLV4WhpkVYIkk_ElCmv2tboYPU0-BkgpQGFJdI/s320/IMG_4360.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The whole fam!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwh5Sy68JxpomYZMZ5DocJsONVv_AdF5xIJiOK5hOF4k-O_-3I20oESf5oiMiqve-1VZT5iL5hQG_d_hra_XAqbaNMYzXf91GywU9lYeNQ-BEBpN9nlxS0NGotYz6irsitF0_VoqLKLJBA/s1600/IMG_4385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwh5Sy68JxpomYZMZ5DocJsONVv_AdF5xIJiOK5hOF4k-O_-3I20oESf5oiMiqve-1VZT5iL5hQG_d_hra_XAqbaNMYzXf91GywU9lYeNQ-BEBpN9nlxS0NGotYz6irsitF0_VoqLKLJBA/s320/IMG_4385.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Kristen and me on Uncle Tom's boat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7dtD_uWpC7m5YAWgiDANZ_0lNkUQB9SDdGZtHBMmF5ImGvzWF35iAi_E0k2h7R__dHAokAv_1j4BMK9woHp_gvAeo8NGRgZEIrXoP4UF3UcSQ_aYJVAYcO2Vjt5cPjbRVytykAosYdgJ/s1600/IMG_4499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7dtD_uWpC7m5YAWgiDANZ_0lNkUQB9SDdGZtHBMmF5ImGvzWF35iAi_E0k2h7R__dHAokAv_1j4BMK9woHp_gvAeo8NGRgZEIrXoP4UF3UcSQ_aYJVAYcO2Vjt5cPjbRVytykAosYdgJ/s320/IMG_4499.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">At the Forest Park Balloon Glow!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WuTwpU1psE2o3J_POeWmJI7phlKr4R3u3OqoPYq6xMWm_VigIyN6uWkhoHcgWir6YLFpeuTSim4Hsw8CE31s8kvYN_Zx2JFVwYP5tmiNHZiVrBqNrhyIYwigAC345G8iGEoUOssULsVN/s1600/IMG_4512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WuTwpU1psE2o3J_POeWmJI7phlKr4R3u3OqoPYq6xMWm_VigIyN6uWkhoHcgWir6YLFpeuTSim4Hsw8CE31s8kvYN_Zx2JFVwYP5tmiNHZiVrBqNrhyIYwigAC345G8iGEoUOssULsVN/s320/IMG_4512.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Schlafly's Hop in the City.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPKhEu2NgWcXC6Kmw9PilKr4foLupBJoe75eGzbU3pAiWBt43vVTRl2xPuh4hl1_jhwJ3_-aDKyof4mczovVWARDtTh7f8pZVpOq5vTG5CCZl2FSwOUQqST3zKE7__h7tH2kc-mEsCHXF/s1600/IMG_4530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPKhEu2NgWcXC6Kmw9PilKr4foLupBJoe75eGzbU3pAiWBt43vVTRl2xPuh4hl1_jhwJ3_-aDKyof4mczovVWARDtTh7f8pZVpOq5vTG5CCZl2FSwOUQqST3zKE7__h7tH2kc-mEsCHXF/s320/IMG_4530.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Friends, cousins, and fam, tailgating before the MIZZOU game!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wHYEq4zRK7tVx-5gU7moG-0BWibQ0lqVazjRcSR4fhk80qiOzwSovD2itcbO7rEQgGTT5LwZdsJuU6SPKgfhfkQ3pAs-ZXzmz0HpftxaYE-0SKI__EzgXr2J1q-rmJvs-uWNwIzyhcNh/s1600/IMG_4622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wHYEq4zRK7tVx-5gU7moG-0BWibQ0lqVazjRcSR4fhk80qiOzwSovD2itcbO7rEQgGTT5LwZdsJuU6SPKgfhfkQ3pAs-ZXzmz0HpftxaYE-0SKI__EzgXr2J1q-rmJvs-uWNwIzyhcNh/s320/IMG_4622.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Wedding in Kansas City.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutARmDIT3S9N6DvyEmKGjrG7PBggM53dAo9940cSvR6WYeLvthOV_meS8ezFJLYrKvOCj4e-uHhHUEJYYGfJbB5G4_UJlvAsD_HDthpbR5g21u6lwe3DCtKI3a5pHSPpLCwkRF5d8vNxZ/s1600/IMG_4696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutARmDIT3S9N6DvyEmKGjrG7PBggM53dAo9940cSvR6WYeLvthOV_meS8ezFJLYrKvOCj4e-uHhHUEJYYGfJbB5G4_UJlvAsD_HDthpbR5g21u6lwe3DCtKI3a5pHSPpLCwkRF5d8vNxZ/s320/IMG_4696.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">In front of the Wheel of Fortune bus after the tryouts! Yeeeah!</div>Blake Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04447185292976305428noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2810537342626271733.post-32042770709327835792010-10-05T12:17:00.001-05:002010-10-05T12:18:58.534-05:00My bad.Geeze Louise! 7 months, missing in action! A new record? Probs. I know you all have been <i>dying </i>to know what is new in my life. All.... 2 of you?! Ha. <i> My bad.</i> I don't know if anyone still reads this, but here goes! In the spirit of new beginnings and a fresh update, I redesigned the blog a little. I mean, who <i>doesn't</i> like a hearty, solid background of... wood?! That's what I'd like to know!<br />
<br />
Ok. Well. Since my last bloggage, a <i>few </i>things have happened. A lot of traveling and even a move to a new address! Recap. Let's start with... March. Going off of memory, so just the highlights!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;"><b>March</b></span>... A month full of Irish/St. Pat's festivities and general merriment. <span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">April</span></b></span>... Cardinals Opening Day... my first ever, which included beautiful weather and some tailgating! (Went to many more great Cards games in April.... before they started sucking it up. Ugh!) <span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: #b4a7d6;">May</b></span>... Ellie graduated! (I think?? Or maybe it was June... oops?) She's at Mizzou now, by the way... and joined a sorority - Theta! All grown up! Sheesh. <span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">June</b></span>... Weddings, A trip to Canada to see the Cards play the Blue Jays (SO MUCH FUN) and Niagara Falls (one of my dreams - check!). <span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;"><b>July</b></span>... Work conference in D.C. and family vacation in Myrtle Beach! <span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"><b>August</b></span>... Irish Fest in Milwaukee! <span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><b>September</b></span>... Moved into a cute new house in Webster Groves! Pics to come soon! Joined a new community group/Bible study at my church. Annnd also a visit to Mizzou for fam weekend! (Which means tailgating like pro's and some great Tiger football with fam, cousins, and friends!) <b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">October</span></span></b>... ANOTHER fam weekend at Taylor (haha...). And as of yesterday, Jack and I have been dating officially for 1 year! Time flies when you're having fun, eh?!<br />
<br />
Once I get my pics organized, I promise I'll post a few from the past few months. <br />
<br />
Welp. Guess that's it for now! More to come... and more frequently, I promise! Well... at <i>least </i>something new before another 7 months pass. ;)Blake Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04447185292976305428noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2810537342626271733.post-64050325348043028402010-03-03T23:01:00.006-06:002010-03-03T23:22:32.640-06:00Oh well.So many things have happened in the past month...ish. Dumb things... where I wish there was an "undo" button for my stupidity or that I could just go back 3 seconds and make a different decision.<br /><br />Case in point: tonight. Because I didn't want to wait for a train, I sped through the railroad crossing as the lights were flashing (right before the bars started coming down). Aaaaand I'm about 99% sure I got a TICKET. I saw a bright, white flash. Really, Webster Groves??! I've never even heard of that before. But the matter been googled. I'm screwed.<br /><br />I was SO annoyed at myself for not just waiting. I beat myself up about it for about 15 minutes... And then? I realized that there was <span style="font-style: italic;">nothing</span> I could do about it. <span style="font-style: italic;">Nothing! </span> I mean, I'll never go through a railroad crossing again when the lights are flashing. And when my ticket comes, it sucks, but I have to pay it. <span style="font-style: italic;">And... <span style="font-weight: bold;">oh well. </span> It happens.</span><br /><br />So, I'm learning that when you view life this way, it's freeing. This isn't to say you don't learn from your mistakes... just that you don't dwell in the past and the "what if's" or "I wish's." There's great freedom in that. Some things just don't matter as much as I think they do.Blake Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04447185292976305428noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2810537342626271733.post-31010671032866694712010-02-25T22:21:00.011-06:002010-02-25T23:31:21.560-06:00Life lately.Life has been flying for me. Has it for you?? It's almost March! Are you kidding?! Don't get me wrong. I am <span style="font-style: italic;">beyond</span> thrilled for <span style="font-weight: bold;">March</span> (St. Paddy's Day celebrations, friends' Birthdays...), <span style="font-weight: bold;">April</span> (Easter, CARDS OPENING DAY...), <span style="font-weight: bold;">May</span> (warmer weather (!!!), parties and BBQs...), <span style="font-weight: bold;">June</span> (weddings, a week-long trip to see the Cards in TORONTO!)... Aaaand so the excitement goes... month after month. Man. So many things to look forward to! It's just hard to believe the second month of 2010 is almost over!<br /><br />So, let's see. What's new? Last Wednesday-Saturday, I was in D.C. for work. My first work trip, haaaay! I went to a conference with over 10,000 people. Since I'm the "Collegians Director" of our organization, I was in charge of promoting our collegians conference this summer... which turned into literally hundreds of mini conversations... over 3 days. <span style="font-style: italic;"> Seriously.Exhausting. </span> This job is stretching me. I meannn... in a good way. Today, I used some basic html to format an e-mail. ...And I never thought I'd use ANY coding knowledge from that old "Interactive Media I" class! Haa... I'm sure my teachers would all get a good kick out of how much knowledge I'm actually using from their classes. "I told you so." Yeah yeah... haha.<br /><br />Despite how life is flying... and I have so much to look forward to... I'll be honest. I'm kinda tired. Just in general. Of the routine. As a freshman in the "real world," I'm beginning to really miss those trusty breaks we always had as students. I've really only had off Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Day so far... Just those 4 days since I started working 8 months ago. Not to whine or anything. I'm just getting antsy for my trips coming up. They're a ways off, in June and July, but still... it will be so nice to have several days off in a row. It's fine. Part of being an "adult," right? Riiiiight.<br /><br />Ok. It's 11 pm and I am exhausted. Another sign that I am no longer the stay-up-till-2am-every-night girl I used to be! (The weekends are a different story... ha.) But really... I'm learning that it pays to take care of yourself. You know... eat healthy, workout, actually get 8 hours of sleep a night. Brilliant, huh? It only took me 23 years!<br /><br />Ok. Gooooodnight.Blake Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04447185292976305428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2810537342626271733.post-90217200228418616302010-02-11T13:12:00.016-06:002012-02-01T12:26:10.412-06:00Resurrection of the blog.Kiiiiinda hard to believe I haven't written in this thing since last year! Apparently, people still read this? I'm shocked. Thanks. :) Not making any promises... But I'll try to be better about updating!<br />
<br />
So, life! I guess I should give a brief rundown... starting with where I left off?<br />
<br />
Bachman January Birthdays! First came mine and my Dad's - Jan. 8! Jack and I went out to dinner at this place called Boogaloo, where we sat on actual SWINGS at the bar. I'm serious. SO awesome. Then Jack was like, "So heeey, let's go to McGurks now!" (McGurks is one of my favorite places in STL! A wooonderful Irish pub in Soulard.) Naturally, I was all about this. And a little bit oblivious. When we walked in the front door of McGurks, I looked up to see my roommate's mom. Weird coincidence, right? And then, there was my little brother, James. And then... my whole family? And like ALL of my/Jack's St. Louis friends?? Surprise party at an Irish Pub! Best Birthday ever!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqSEsXuwPkQ76CO8m-Z0laOmQ6dEz_L5CT0gaUru59sBqwdqwv_5NGob4888vkMy2ik512Hi3aBtySSOd_GyGrpkU-c7kVjDbz1rpxMAui1kRDplXY4NoRENjYj2vijeFChm0n2VyfBMg/s1600-h/IMG_3659_2.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437072105369976386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqSEsXuwPkQ76CO8m-Z0laOmQ6dEz_L5CT0gaUru59sBqwdqwv_5NGob4888vkMy2ik512Hi3aBtySSOd_GyGrpkU-c7kVjDbz1rpxMAui1kRDplXY4NoRENjYj2vijeFChm0n2VyfBMg/s400/IMG_3659_2.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 356px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Then, the following weekend, my dear Taylor/Ireland friends met up in STL for a little reunion. All sorts of fun. :) It's a blessing to have friends in so many different parts of the country who still love each other and keep in touch. LOVE these girls.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuPQPHS7xCsIpCSxYHWr0m17r314DTlywreXDoyZ_yo3Iic7EPG8axqxN7q2hyphenhyphenbQW8_KbSjeHNCLaGzYVtMNwZfIaVpwlWrOSRY5GFtGT9vMzcsF0PfNGuQnhjrAmcAKcTPKv6TCjyUR2/s1600-h/16947_533438220163_179200066_31564970_5229344_n.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437073368539356994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuPQPHS7xCsIpCSxYHWr0m17r314DTlywreXDoyZ_yo3Iic7EPG8axqxN7q2hyphenhyphenbQW8_KbSjeHNCLaGzYVtMNwZfIaVpwlWrOSRY5GFtGT9vMzcsF0PfNGuQnhjrAmcAKcTPKv6TCjyUR2/s400/16947_533438220163_179200066_31564970_5229344_n.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 295px;" /></a>And now? Sheesh, it's ALREADY mid-February! Time flies when you're having fun, huh?Blake Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04447185292976305428noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2810537342626271733.post-27995976053017809942009-12-31T10:18:00.008-06:002010-01-04T14:12:52.426-06:00A Farewell note.Dear 2009,<br /><br />What a year you've been! Perhaps, the fullest year of my life... ever. Up's and down's, but I expected nothing less!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Off-the-cuff recap.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">January:</span> Dad diagnosed with lymphoma. Spent my last J-term in the arctic tundra that is Upland, Indiana.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">February:</span> Can't remember anything significant. Nooope... not one thing.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">March: </span>Spring Break in Ireland.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">April:</span> Passed my Senior portfolio! Aaaand Dad is cancer-free!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">May: </span>Graduate college! Move back to STL.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">June: </span>Weddings, working at a kid's day camp, Job-hunting, grad-school-applying and acceptance, general confusion about the direction of my life.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">July: </span>Fam vacation. Ditched the grad-school idea, and within a week, started my first real-life job with a salary and benefits and other such grown-up things.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">August:</span> Met Jack. Haaaay.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">September:</span> Fulfilled lifelong dream of seeing U2 in concert. Dad got laid-off.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">October:</span> Moved into new house and started dating "officially." (All in the same weekend, haaaay.) Also, TU Homecoming.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">November:</span> Peeper Denver weekend trip.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">December:</span> Christmas festivities. General month of merriment.<br /><br />2009 was good to me. Clearly, I love being back in STL and am OH so thankful that when I had no clue what I was doing this summer (like ZERO), God did. Such a sweet lesson in trust. God is good. I have much to be thankful for.<br /><br />2010, lookin forward to ya!<br /><br />Love,<br />BBlake Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04447185292976305428noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2810537342626271733.post-67385621684083793552009-11-29T23:33:00.008-06:002009-11-30T11:55:13.517-06:00Aaand now it's Christmastime!So, Thanksgiving came and went! Already! I meannn... <span style="font-style: italic;">Obviously</span>, I love Turkey Day, but it doesn't even compare to Christmas. No way. I literally get giddy with excitement when I think of all that December holds. This time of year is absolutely the BEST! Don't get me started!<br /><br />At church this morning, we sang <span style="font-style: italic;">O Come, O Come Emmanuel</span>. Our worship leader challenged us to really think through the words as we sang them. I didn't get much past the word "Emmanuel." I remembered from some vague, distant memory - probably from an old Sunday School lesson or song lyric - that the word means "God with us." We throw that thought around a lot, but as I was focusing on it this morning, it really hit me. Emmanuel... God <span style="font-style: italic;">with me</span>... present... here for me... always. How revolutionary and encouraging and comforting is that?! You're probably thinking, yeahhh, oook, Blake... That's like <span style="font-style: italic;">the</span> most basic truth. And it is. But you can't help when things hit you in a new way!<br /><br />Praise God he's with us always. Seriously. And praise God for Christmastime!Blake Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04447185292976305428noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2810537342626271733.post-48258266188135795172009-11-17T19:49:00.014-06:002009-11-17T20:28:33.547-06:00Colorado in Pics!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj408BSauCNFnLSZECisCuAKNsuK8woZLwE_YxGntzr33X2npq3UFZ4sw_IXPPoUFWgBHA9Nzx0dvwIU8FrJZnAk1i1fZuHP4ZsJv31AFnf3BlOrcA3SR1GBbNIHdwKsX3Xck7Q6aa3EH_x/s1600/IMG_3135.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj408BSauCNFnLSZECisCuAKNsuK8woZLwE_YxGntzr33X2npq3UFZ4sw_IXPPoUFWgBHA9Nzx0dvwIU8FrJZnAk1i1fZuHP4ZsJv31AFnf3BlOrcA3SR1GBbNIHdwKsX3Xck7Q6aa3EH_x/s400/IMG_3135.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405256871413730178" border="0" /></a>Thumbs up for the mountains! Love them!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH75h4ZBmYmso-nWeVyjH3EvYIR2EyY-4QsYGjOwDn-6p-eWrt_bQR9khWQvWT9EK_VE4tlyQiKEn6Uc4ujHevSHgZzSp2oyeaBZSVCJz14LMZ4xVGwJT-tAvSuqcxH1jqj3wQD8-qk3v5/s1600/IMG_3240.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH75h4ZBmYmso-nWeVyjH3EvYIR2EyY-4QsYGjOwDn-6p-eWrt_bQR9khWQvWT9EK_VE4tlyQiKEn6Uc4ujHevSHgZzSp2oyeaBZSVCJz14LMZ4xVGwJT-tAvSuqcxH1jqj3wQD8-qk3v5/s400/IMG_3240.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405258692171592642" border="0" /></a>Unexpected beauty.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHV5AcWFaZQWuM_R7QrEFyRDav0WGtQrV3lIQ6PgzB_-ZiDXEDKVFjfJjTS5iCvJps-Fx-k5mjqPa_xpIRZUa0pBUvHKtRdje1XyzvVDCFgTQEkL0Jr1WwhVt7GTRdW0IKieXFzu-dvLIY/s1600/IMG_3225.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHV5AcWFaZQWuM_R7QrEFyRDav0WGtQrV3lIQ6PgzB_-ZiDXEDKVFjfJjTS5iCvJps-Fx-k5mjqPa_xpIRZUa0pBUvHKtRdje1XyzvVDCFgTQEkL0Jr1WwhVt7GTRdW0IKieXFzu-dvLIY/s400/IMG_3225.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405257604315177202" border="0" /></a>Lonely Pine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7r0bufpxIAKNzdyR1zv9QAxGtnA39wadx5eTKL3ItGW0GsRETF0IaHSIzKlJJBgUYfO7QagrSWFSKxYla9LmTrgv1IeHEB-bDkgLU7r_X7DbqQzhNcCIJEZ7cUAM0qLwqnatglhh4bz9/s1600/IMG_3254.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7r0bufpxIAKNzdyR1zv9QAxGtnA39wadx5eTKL3ItGW0GsRETF0IaHSIzKlJJBgUYfO7QagrSWFSKxYla9LmTrgv1IeHEB-bDkgLU7r_X7DbqQzhNcCIJEZ7cUAM0qLwqnatglhh4bz9/s400/IMG_3254.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405262484434188994" border="0" /></a>Jules.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_uyJvYtUkPUsKJ_txDgwwkNo9-hU1EBGbICp3CBd0v-rmPy09CmbTb2gnwCBDII1BIMQRi2tRkRqOIZF57nm2Z0MGxqvr0B0DTyHDwN6QNfTU8dRqMn7v2E7onLWKnlA4O5upiK2o02eH/s1600/IMG_2578.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_uyJvYtUkPUsKJ_txDgwwkNo9-hU1EBGbICp3CBd0v-rmPy09CmbTb2gnwCBDII1BIMQRi2tRkRqOIZF57nm2Z0MGxqvr0B0DTyHDwN6QNfTU8dRqMn7v2E7onLWKnlA4O5upiK2o02eH/s400/IMG_2578.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405256260174781186" border="0" /></a>Dace.<br /></div>Blake Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04447185292976305428noreply@blogger.com3