I am not good at checking my personal email. I take that back...I'm good at it when I am expecting emails. But, when I'm not...I can go 2 weeks + without going to my yahoo account. I don't have access to outside email accounts while at work...so that probably accounts for some of my problem.
Today...while the cuties were napping, I decided to check in on my yahoo account. Thankfully I did. I was pleasantly surprised with this lovely email from my Aunt Mary Lou and Uncle Bobby.
Dawn,
Uncle Bobby and I wanted to thank you for the wonderful dedication on your blog for our 50th Wedding Anniversary and for all of the beautiful comments and memories from everyone.
Our family has something special that other people wish they had. We are a family that is always there for one another in the good times and the bad. We all share in the ups, downs, joys, and sorrows together as Family. We have had the perfect role models, Pop and Nan who were there for us. They taught us how important "FAMILY" is. I always remember how Pop's brothers and sisters always said how lucky George and Viola were to have such a close knit family and they were always there for each other. This family always has the love and support of each other. At one time we were the younger generation and now the roles have changed and I know with Nan and Pop's inspiration our families circle of life will continue with the next generation.
I just want to say that I'm so happy to be part of this family and look forward to spending the weekend with my sisters in Chicago to reminisce, laugh and enjoy all my sister's company.
Uncle Bob and I have always told Mary Lou and Bobby that friends will come and go in your life but your family is always there for you.
Uncle Bob has been so touched by your blog and everyone's comments. I think he has read it everyday at least 3 times a day.
Thank you Dawn again and may God bless our FAMILY today and always. And thank you Nan and Pop for guidance and love for all of us.
All our love always,
Uncle Bobby and Aunt Mary Lou
p.s. Please tell the Hottie and the Cuties that we are so sorry we took up so much of your time with the blog. Thank you and we love you for it!
Seriously....Aunt Mare and Uncle Bob are right. We do have a one of a kind family. One that is so very close, best friends, family, everything. I know the closeness and unity is somewhat odd. We always remind ourselves that we are NOT the norm. But, we love it.
I really have no words. I want to thank you both very much for such a lovely email. It absolutely meant the world.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Why Do I Blog?
So here it goes.
A little over a year ago - my sister, Ashley, had been talking to me about her latest obsession. She was stalking several "moms of multiples" blogs. Hmm...this piqued my interest and I soon began to follow suit. Ashley has this amazing memory and could literally remember each child's name, the family name, and the mom's name, key notes about the blog (pretty much everything)....I on the other hand, seemed to have the memory that just blurred the "multiples" families all together. It made for some interesting conversations between the two of us.
Funny...that was just about 18 months ago. Blogging had been going on for several years...and I was JUST getting introduced to such a phenomenon. I continued my random blog surfing and little by little, became more and more intrigued to start one of my own.
The cool thing was - it seemed tons of people had blogs. You could google people and many times, their blog would pop up. I began browsing blogs on sewing and photography and cooking...they're all out there, you just have to look.
A few months later, I came across this flyer while going through the drive-thru at my local Chick-fil-A. The flyer talked about this family that was fighting and praying for a young couple with four children, Stephanie and Christian Nielson. The couple had recently been involved in a plane crash and were fighting for their lives.
I went home. Googled their names (see how stalkerish I can be??). And, found Nie Nie and CJane. I spent the rest of the night reading and reading and reading through their blogs. Getting to "know" them. I know - sounds absurd.
The outreach to this family was unbelievable. I found it empowering how both of these blogs showed woman that...pretty much...put it all out there for everyone. Beliefs. Parenting. Views. Everything.
Did I agree with them 100%? Absolutely not. But, did I respect their points of view? Definitely.
About a week later - Campbell Cuties was born.
I really didn't know how long this would last. I'm pretty...I guess I would say - open/honest/liberal....and probably most of the times, the Hottie does not agree with me. But - I guess that's who I am. I figure if people don't like what I write...or pictures I post, don't read. I know very well that I have come across waaaaay too many blogs that I could not stand - I just don't return. That's the good part about free will.
After a few months, I had a couple readers...mainly Robin, Ashley, and Aunt Karen. They are what kept me blogging. Their encouragement...that's what kept me going.
So - thank you to:
1) Ashley...for introducing me to this blogging world.
2) Nie Nie for inspiration.
3) And...Aunt Karen and Robin - for the encouragement to keep going.
Oh - and it definitely helps that I now have family members blogging!!
Woot! Woot!
That's the best part! More blogs to read.
And, I don't have to feel like a stalker reading theirs...
I know them!
p.s....just because I didn't get to enter the contest (and I love contests!!) - I'll give all my answers to the questions, too:
1) My favorite posts are definitely my Friendly Face Interviews. I really need to bring those back!! Anyone want to be next? Also, I loved my 30th birthday post (because my birthday rocked!!) And, my other favorite is the Girl's Spa Getaway - I finally got to take a girls' trip with my mom and sisters and it was super fun and special!
2) My name is dawn and I am a blog stalker. The blogs I stalk daily are a)All my family's blogs: Ashley, Robin, April b) Em's c) Krystal's d) Nie Nie and CJane and e) 71toes.blogspot.com.
3) Recipes...lucky I have a lot of family and friends that regularly cook. Several years ago, one of my friends, Janea, gave me a white 3-ring binder with recipes for Christmas. I can say we have used almost all of them. Our favorite (and the Cuties' favorite) is:
Ranch Chicken Pasta
Ingredients:
1 box spiral pasta
1 lb (or 6-7 tenders) of Chicken
1 oz. package of DRY ranch salad dressing mix (I've used Kroger brand and it's perfect!)
1 tbsp. butter
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 - 3/4 cup green onions
1/2 - 3/4 cup red pepper
1 cup sour cream
2 tbsp. milk
Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Cook pasta, drain, and keep warm. Place chicken and 2 tbsp. of dry ranch dressing mix in a Ziploc bag and shake to coat. (I use about 1 1/2 tbsp.) In a skillet, melt butter until sizzling and add chicken and garlic. Cook over med-high heat, stirring occasionally, until chicken is no longer pink. Reduce heat to medium. Stir in green onions and red peppers - cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through (about 5 minutes). In a medium bowl, stir together sour cream, milk, and remaining salad dressing mix. Stir in hot cooked pasta. Spoon pasta onto serving plate and top with chicken mixture (I normally just mix it all together) Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese...and Voila!
4) No need to comment with my name - just try out the recipe - it's DEEE-LICIOUS!
5) Read above to find out why I started a blog AND why I've continued.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Fun Times with Family Visitors
Well...the in-laws have come and gone.
What a weekend. We sure fit a lot into their visit.
And, boy oh boy, did we ever have fun.
Especially the cuties.
We went to Jerome, Sedona, a Canyon Lake boat tour, a lake picnic....
and lots and lots of eating.
Yum!
The cuties are missing "Ganpa" and "Rie"
Thanks guys!!
We really had the most fun!
Friday, October 9, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Who's Underwear are Those??
The other night the Hottie asked me, "Were you the first to fall asleep at the slumber party??"
Confused I turned around to find him laughing. with the freezer open. and this what was inside:
Oh, Lilbugs....
The Winner Is....
First off - I would like to thank everyone for entering my contest. I truly got such a kick out of reading all the comments and "trash talk" over the last week. I was literally laughing to tears many times.
Secondly...I love the recipes. I have already added them to my recipe box. THANKS!!!
And, thirdly...I am totally a bad contest directions writer. I had hoped everyone would write a separate comment for each of the tasks. Reading over my directions - that is so NOT how I explained it. No problem...I just had to separate out each entry on my own.
Because everyone that entered (well, maybe not everyone) was very concerned on how I was going to pick the winner - I will do my best in explaining the process I took:
- I went through every entry and separated out each individual "entry." For example, in comment #1 (Ashley) wrote about 2 of the "chances" - 1) why she blogs, and 2) her favorite post. So - that is entry #1 and #2 and they both go to Ashley. In comment #2 (Heidi) she wrote about 4 of the chances - 1) shout out to Ashley (Ash got the entry), 2) why she blogs, 3) blogs she stalks, 4) her favorite post, and 5) a recipe. So - Ashley got entry #3 and Heidi got entries #4-7. Lastly, since the 3rd comment was Ashley giving a shout out to Heidi...Heidi also got entry #8.
- Made a list of each individual entry, in order from the comments.
- Went to Random.org.
- Entered the numbers of entries - minimum and maximum (1-45).
- Random.org picked the winning entry.
Here are the list of entries:
1. Ashley
2. Ashley
3. Ashley
4. Heidi
5. Heidi
6. Heidi
7. Heidi
8. Heidi
9. Robin
10. Robin
11. Robin
12. Ashley
13. Robin
14. Robin
15. Ashley
16. Aunt Karen
17. Aunt Karen
18. Ashley
19. Aunt Karen
20. Ashley
21. Ashley
22. Robin
23. Aunt Karen
24. Aunt Karen
25. Ashley
26. Ashley
27. Aunt Karen (she got one for asking to win)
28. Ashley
29. Ashley (she got one since she was the first to comment)
30. Aunt Karen
31. Krystal
32. Krystal
33. Ashley
34. Heidi
35. Krystal
36. Krystal
37. Krystal
38. April
39. April
40. April
41. Ashley
42. April
43. Ashley
44. Ashley
45. Ashley
Whew....that was exhausting. If I missed one - or am off by one...I sincerely apologize. But...I'll blame it on fate.
Now...what you've been waiting for...
The Winner
of the Campbell Cutie
First Birthday Blog Contest
IS
None other than.....
Whoop Whoop!!
Congratulations Ashley!!!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Happy Birthday Blog!!
It's official. My blog is 1 year old today. I cannot believe it. I still remember sitting here at this very same computer 1 year ago trying to figure out just what I needed to do to start a blog. So many things I worried about -
These are all things I still periodically think about. I truly have found that my blog is my journal. My free thoughts, wants, and desires. I write about a lot...probably a lot more than I should. But, I'm pretty much an open book - take it or leave it. I have been able to voice my thoughts about everything...the cuties, the hottie, our daily activities, politics, my liberalisms, celebrations....you name it - I've probably talked about it.what to name it?
blogspot or wordpress?
ugh...how do i get those pictures to center properly?
is that all the font choices?
html...please come back to me...the little that i know.
how can my blog be cute?
and funny?
and me?
what should i write about?
does anyone even care what i write?
Wow. One year. Being that I do seem to jump in with both feet in everything I do - I knew that I would love it. But...I really never thought I'd keep going. And now...I can't imagine stopping.
One year down...
Happy Birthday campbellcuties.blogspot.com - you have literally been a very therapeutic venting ground. Thank you!
you only have until midnight tonight.
GOOD LUCK!
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