tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40710065043039423062024-02-06T21:37:37.588-06:00Alone with my teaA lifestyle and travel blogJulie Arthur // alonewithmytea.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09810046816078845584noreply@blogger.comBlogger695125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071006504303942306.post-14167479758569789342018-05-20T00:01:00.000-05:002018-05-20T00:01:22.911-05:00Maternity LeaveBaby girl was born on April 13th at 11:57pm. She weighed 10 pounds and 5 ounces!!! It was a traumatic birth and we ended up having to have an emergency C-section and a very long and difficult recovery, which is why I haven't posted on here yet! I didn't plan on writing out her "birth story" here, but if anyone is interested, I'll consider it. I don't plan on turning this into a "baby blog" or anything like that. But it is my personal blog, so some family-related posts are bound to happen every once in awhile! <br />
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Baby girl is a very easy baby. She's pretty mellow and relaxed, doesn't really cry very much... we're pretty lucky! She's 5 weeks now and is almost outgrowing 3 month clothes! I had to end my maternity leave at 5 weeks to go back to work. That has been very difficult. But on the bright side, I only have a few weeks until summer break! My in-laws are coming to visit and we hope to take them to see some sights here in the Bay Area, so I'll have a few interesting things to post about soon!<br />
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I'll leave you for now with a pic of my hubby and baby. :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_8QZHW4tfvdUxVo4IK7siTkT97z1QeoauqHclkWOXXbgk4BY9IzpWFvpYuYElDAFvi1pU-WUd-zLGl-AReTQ7_vSp649kk98lAG-OlkLo4bwLcRBcz6iEfVoDS4CtVZo4_kGeFAnuX4/s1600/IMG_5053.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_8QZHW4tfvdUxVo4IK7siTkT97z1QeoauqHclkWOXXbgk4BY9IzpWFvpYuYElDAFvi1pU-WUd-zLGl-AReTQ7_vSp649kk98lAG-OlkLo4bwLcRBcz6iEfVoDS4CtVZo4_kGeFAnuX4/s640/IMG_5053.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
Julie Arthur // alonewithmytea.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09810046816078845584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071006504303942306.post-75309513632366999382018-03-29T16:20:00.000-05:002018-03-29T16:20:09.840-05:00This is not a pregnancy blog...Well, folks, we're about 2 weeks away from my due date. But I'm really hoping that baby girl will be born early. I am soooo sick of being pregnant!<br />
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BUT this is not a pregnancy blog. Or a mommy blog. It's just my personal blog. It used to be a travel blog, but now it has morphed into just me updating about my life and sharing random things I find interesting. I have no plans to use it as a baby or mommy blog. But I do want to share a few things for my own personal memories, so I hope you'll indulge me for at least one more pregnancy post!<br />
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I thought I would write down some common questions I've gotten this pregnancy, some random things I want to make sure I remember for the future, and any other things I want to post on here before going MIA for awhile!<br />
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Ok, let's dive in!~<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmYAN34qRRmoSIbPgmsAqmaQVBky50zYJV0ZHYpo4kgeZG083rDZnRQPPVeKJO17JtfACdswsGobDBNcYcGMEaOuQXzxI4LBhd8ns6xIigBgiI9NYcvsSnXNSmJNt4btdZ4EDybMAYEI/s1600/mon-petit-chou-photography-284495-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmYAN34qRRmoSIbPgmsAqmaQVBky50zYJV0ZHYpo4kgeZG083rDZnRQPPVeKJO17JtfACdswsGobDBNcYcGMEaOuQXzxI4LBhd8ns6xIigBgiI9NYcvsSnXNSmJNt4btdZ4EDybMAYEI/s640/mon-petit-chou-photography-284495-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h3>
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<h3>
Frequently Asked Questions</h3>
<i>When are you due?</i><br />
April 13<br />
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<i>Do you have a name picked out?</i><br />
We kind of do. But we haven't told anyone. We reserve the right to change our minds at any time. In fact, just last night we were talking about another name option that we both like. So even though we "picked" one awhile ago, we might end up changing our minds once we meet the baby...<br />
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<i>What's your birth plan?</i><br />
The plan is to have the baby. Somehow, she will come out of me. <br />
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<i>Have you had any weird cravings?</i><br />
Fruit in general, but especially citrus.<br />
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<i>Have you had any weird food aversions?</i><br />
In the first trimester I had a really hard time eating meat, especially chicken. I basically survived on bean burritos and mac 'n' cheese!<br />
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<i>Any morning sickness?</i><br />
No "morning" sickness. I never threw up (except when I got the flu). But I did have constant nausea all day long for about 4 months. I also felt really dizzy and almost fainted a few times. I also had extreme fatigue. And some migraines. Overall I just felt really icky and tired all the time.<br />
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<i>Any other weird symptoms?</i><br />
Bloody noses. One time I was in class with my 9th grade choir, sitting at the piano teaching them something, and my nose just started dripping blood. It freaked them out!!!<br />
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Pelvic pain. This was the worst. I've had extreme ligament and pelvic pain since about week 16. And it has only gotten worse. It's so bad now that it's painful to just stand or walk.<br />
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Being hot all the time. But I don't think this is unique to me. I think it's definitely a common pregnancy symptom. Sweating a lot. General heat radiating from my body. It's so sexy...<br />
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<h3>
Things I Want To Remember</h3>
<i>Pregnancy is not fun.</i><br />
I don't know who these people are who love being pregnant. Why??? In my experience it has been extremely painful and exhausting and frustrating. I'm lucky that I didn't have too many emotional rollercoasters, but the physical toll it has taken has been extremely frustrating. Maybe my experience is not "normal." Maybe "normal" pregnancies don't come with as much pain. But everyone has said that you forget the pain and you forget everything bad about being pregnant once you have the baby. I don't want to forget. I don't want to do this again! Is that selfish? I think I might like to have more kids, but I'd really love to adopt. To be honest, I've wanted to adopt anyway, and even told my husband I'd be ok with adopting only (before I got pregnant, obviously). So I need to remember that this has been a rough experience and I don't really want to go through it again.<br />
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<i>My husband should win some sort of award.</i><br />
He has been amazing. For the first half of the pregnancy, he worked from home. And that made it very easy for him to take care of things that I couldn't. For the first trimester, I would basically go to work, come home and get in bed and sleep until dinner time, wake up and eat dinner, then go back to sleep. He had to pick up a lot of slack with taking care of our dog, keeping the house tidy, doing laundry, making all our food, etc. And he never once complained! Even after the first trimester, when I started having more energy, and he started working outside the home, he would still bring me oatmeal in bed every morning, clean the house, cook dinner, etc. Very thankful for him!<br />
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<i>Pregnancy brain is so real.</i><br />
I don't know if it comes from lack of sleep, hormonal changes, or sheer exhaustion, but pregnancy brain is so real. I've always been quick-witted and smart. Not anymore! I feel like I can not form one coherent sentence, words elude me, and anything that requires thinking.... doesn't happen. It's very frustrating! My students think it's funny. But it's really annoying to have a complete mind-blank (COMPLETE MIND BLANK) in the middle of a sentence with a classroom full of teenagers!<br />
<h3>
Something Random</h3>
The closer my due date comes, the stronger my urge to travel! Maybe it's because I know I'll be tied down for awhile (although we still plan on traveling as much as possible with our baby), but I can't stop thinking about all the places I want to travel to! I want to go to Hawaii! I want to take Peter to Italy! I want to go back to Brazil! Heck, I'd be happy with just going somewhere local. I just want to get out and do things and see the world! But I can't. Because I'm stuck in my bed with extreme pelvic pain, just waiting for this baby to pop out...<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Will it all be worth it once the baby arrives? I'll let you know!</h2>
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<br />Julie Arthur // alonewithmytea.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09810046816078845584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071006504303942306.post-5593592616044623052018-01-27T18:22:00.000-06:002018-01-27T18:22:44.327-06:00I want to write a book<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIBO3xu6MLv4O9C2SurmMuL8KInIVslTvY3P03UFvDTijX2643SZAdPGEkwkhAd5oylX0migkh7caF9spPNn3X1HVbWICHeDaoyHnR2ZeVF4DQ8SI93WHLC65TLkJGeYIfCAcSstovTw/s1600/florian-klauer-489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1091" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIBO3xu6MLv4O9C2SurmMuL8KInIVslTvY3P03UFvDTijX2643SZAdPGEkwkhAd5oylX0migkh7caF9spPNn3X1HVbWICHeDaoyHnR2ZeVF4DQ8SI93WHLC65TLkJGeYIfCAcSstovTw/s640/florian-klauer-489.jpg" width="436" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Do you have any life-long dreams you've been hoarding in the back of your mind, waiting for the perfect time to bring them out and obsess about them? One of my long-long life-long dreams has been to write a book. Or just write anything that can get published. So, naturally, now that I'm 2.5 months away from giving birth to my first child, working full time as a music teacher (with no plans to stop teaching), and considering starting a PhD in the near future... <i>now</i> would be the <i>perfect</i> time for me to obsess about this book idea...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But, really, I can't get it out of my head. It's an itch that won't go away that I reeeeally need to scratch. <i>Write - a - book! Write - a - book! </i>runs through my head 24/7. Never mind that I have absolutely no idea what I would actually write about... that minor detail is insignificant... No matter that I haven't written anything that's ever been published... </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"It seems easy enough... have an idea, write it, publish it. People are self-publishing all the time these days, right??? </span><span style="font-size: large;">Ok, ok let's give in to my fantasy for a second and really think about this book idea. Where to start? Well, I need a topic. Wait, first I need a genre. Non-fiction? Fiction? Self-Help? Biography? Diary-style? Novel? What do people want to read about? Does that even matter? Who am I writing this for anyway? Who's my 'audience?' Do I need an audience? Can't I just write this for my own personal fulfillment? Then what's the point? Why go to all the trouble if no one is going to read it except for me and my mom? Writing a book is a lot of work... Ok, maybe I shouldn't write a book..."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So I table it for a few days. "I give up. No one will read it anyway, so what's the point? It was a bad idea. I need to just stick with what I'm good at - teaching music, and not get involved with other projects I know nothing about."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A few days go by and suddenly, there's that itch again. <i>Write - a - book! Write - a - book! </i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"</i>I'm good at music... maybe I should write a book about music. I wonder if there is a niche for historical <i>musical</i> fiction? Is that weird? Who would read that? Maybe I should write a textbook. Ugh how boring..." And on and on and on it goes.</span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have a feeling this is not going to go away until I actually <i>do</i> write a book... Or maybe I'll just think about it, obsess about it, and be generally confused about it forever, without ever actually writing anything. Yep, that seems about right...</span><br />
<br />Julie Arthur // alonewithmytea.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09810046816078845584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071006504303942306.post-43386056549005112332018-01-15T20:18:00.000-06:002018-01-15T20:18:34.745-06:0010 Pregnancy symptoms I was *not* prepared for!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgKopIKUVu3yv1ohGjUHnIZQP014lNBFh1EA6YKAaMvlcshr6iXtV4N3ReMwYSuhZWHDQYnYbDZJclqLjMMZXJWGXIBhVWPqaAHwDaPjkfcrDfIU_sRNLCR0An-NKoa51D1N0e9jUbYk/s1600/suhyeon-choi-251615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgKopIKUVu3yv1ohGjUHnIZQP014lNBFh1EA6YKAaMvlcshr6iXtV4N3ReMwYSuhZWHDQYnYbDZJclqLjMMZXJWGXIBhVWPqaAHwDaPjkfcrDfIU_sRNLCR0An-NKoa51D1N0e9jUbYk/s640/suhyeon-choi-251615.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h3>
<br /><br />I thought I knew everything about pregnancy...I've seen movies... I have four sisters and 14 nieces and nephews and heard all their horror stories... I thought I knew everything about pregnancy and its joys and pains. WRONG! Here are some things I did and did not know to expect...</h3>
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I DID know that pregnancy causes hormonal changes which can result in mood swings. Even though I knew about that, I was still unprepared for the surges of emotions and the random urges to cry for no reason.<br />
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I did NOT know that pregnancy can cause major skin issues. For the first trimester my skin got extremely oily (I'm usually super dry) and I had major breakouts. I've never had breakouts or acne before, so that was an unpleasant surprise. For the second trimester my skin got extremely dry and sensitive. Any contact to my skin whatsoever would cause it to be red and irritated. And no amount of lotion could quench the dryness.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD45VfGjTHivFmAyal5R-NyoebO0oQL5RL9cuBOTpRijrOAnqs1NqPeblFb0lwNcJ9iwKkB5vBgrqjWfa0aitB1tAwrbqMxW0eU2MC1QnNYQ1i_1Bjo1KKFJKClBXaTnWkTtYSPnjY1-w/s1600/jennifer-latuperisa-andresen-177806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD45VfGjTHivFmAyal5R-NyoebO0oQL5RL9cuBOTpRijrOAnqs1NqPeblFb0lwNcJ9iwKkB5vBgrqjWfa0aitB1tAwrbqMxW0eU2MC1QnNYQ1i_1Bjo1KKFJKClBXaTnWkTtYSPnjY1-w/s640/jennifer-latuperisa-andresen-177806.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">basically the state of my skin right now</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I DID know about food cravings. I did NOT know about food <i>aversions</i>. I couldn't eat meat for 4 months. Just the thought of chicken made me want to barf.<br />
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I DID know about morning sickness. I DID NOT know about all-day nausea. All. Day. Nausea...<br />
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I DID know that many pregnant women experience breast sensitivity. I did NOT know how painful it would be. Especially during sleeping. Luckily the pain went away after the first trimester!<br />
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I did NOT know about the panic-inducing hunger. I would be completely fine and then within seconds I would be so hungry I would get a panic attack, feeling like I would die if I didn't eat something right that second!<br />
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I did NOT know about nosebleeds! I actually had to ask my doctor about this. She said it's completely normal. I've always been prone to nosebleeds anyway, but apparently when you're pregnant, the changes in estrogen and progesterone can cause your blood vessels to become more sensitive, which can result in more frequent nosebleeds. One day while I was teaching choir, I was sitting at the piano playing for the kids while they were singing, and my nose just started dripping blood. Blood just started dripping down my face. My students were a little traumatized!!!<br />
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I did NOT know about round ligament pain. I started experiencing round ligament pain around week 12 and it has been constant ever since. It feels like a knife is slicing through my groin and pelvic muscles. It's more painful when I first wake up in the morning and at night after a long day of work. It makes it difficult to change position (standing to sitting, laying to standing), and it is extremely painful. My friends were making fun of me because I was waddling so early in my pregnancy. They were joking that I would be in a wheelchair by the third trimester. And honestly, I'm hoping I can be. Because it is so painful!<br />
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I did NOT know about the change in smells. I did know that pregnant women have a more sensitive sense of smell, but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about the smell that I give off... the way I smell to other people. I suppose it makes sense - hormonal changes can affect your body odor. But now I have to be very careful to wash myself both morning and night, always wear clean underwear, always wear a fresh pantyliner, and make sure I don't skip out on the deodorant! (TMI? Sorry!)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEU5p2Dqga9PuqN4yhx_FE-5wCHlbHg7vWOnJKGOTJtTz0u9uQYDO5-a_10S8CWF4W2j4zr4nENtHASR2UCeL_sEjDxLIBn5ROinsklgHhBHusM7WWhvh6ulogD_HRfHUPkEyuQGORcs/s1600/alex-blajan-98972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEU5p2Dqga9PuqN4yhx_FE-5wCHlbHg7vWOnJKGOTJtTz0u9uQYDO5-a_10S8CWF4W2j4zr4nENtHASR2UCeL_sEjDxLIBn5ROinsklgHhBHusM7WWhvh6ulogD_HRfHUPkEyuQGORcs/s640/alex-blajan-98972.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let's just say I do not smell like these roses!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Were any of these a surprise to you? Did you experience any of these with your pregnancies? And if you've never been pregnant before, you have now been warned! :)</h2>
<br />Julie Arthur // alonewithmytea.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09810046816078845584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071006504303942306.post-82326926697812017862018-01-05T15:19:00.001-06:002018-01-05T15:19:53.787-06:002018 Goals<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXlWNJuYbAmMKsLV102pBaYY9XNk473WMmdN6yXm5ItOQdjZQ9FVFni8dPjX_NQYqynso__nyn9AXD-76oAkF5RqTgac3QF66Zd_i5qQZ8aQF4Mq7WL1lQV9p4CoZlZY0irEgalugelQ/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1038" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXlWNJuYbAmMKsLV102pBaYY9XNk473WMmdN6yXm5ItOQdjZQ9FVFni8dPjX_NQYqynso__nyn9AXD-76oAkF5RqTgac3QF66Zd_i5qQZ8aQF4Mq7WL1lQV9p4CoZlZY0irEgalugelQ/s640/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="414" /></a></div>
<br />
As I think back about previous years' goals, I realize how different this year will be. My greatest fear is happening - I'm becoming a mom! I can already see my priorities shifting before my eyes. In previous years I've had goals to travel more, have more adventures, be more creative, do more projects, use my art journal more, etc. <br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>This year</b> I want to purge and organize my house, use more natural/safe products, and overall just <i>survive and thrive</i>. How boring, right?! I guess this is what they call "nesting." I know that this year is going to bring a lot of changes, and I will be exhausted and my life will be verrry different. I'll be adjusting to life with a baby, as well as working full time. So I anticipate not having a whole ton of time for art journals and DIY projects. So here are a few simple and easy "goals" I'm giving myself this year:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3sFrsxSZ-mNO9JLRTGN5uomvYIga25oyEShLWRmBGQ1IkgTf8-aii8nDmbVnWINo7rW1lq4asE73obp5DAGymFuTyj1PQjWAPemIAY1yzx8q9sZsWu_dyhSkn8zptNlmor8q9VrMtSzQ/s1600/niels-steeman-262087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3sFrsxSZ-mNO9JLRTGN5uomvYIga25oyEShLWRmBGQ1IkgTf8-aii8nDmbVnWINo7rW1lq4asE73obp5DAGymFuTyj1PQjWAPemIAY1yzx8q9sZsWu_dyhSkn8zptNlmor8q9VrMtSzQ/s640/niels-steeman-262087.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h2>
SAVE MONEY! </h2>
This one is huge. My husband and I have decided that this whole year we will <b>not buy anything</b>. Well, of course we have to buy some things... food and necessities. But as much as possible, we will not buy anything we don't need. We don't need new clothes or shoes, we don't need electronics, we don't need jewelry or home decor. Our goal is to <i>completely use up</i> everything we currently have before we buy anything new. This includes all the random beauty products, skincare items, light bulbs, picture frames, etc, that we've been hoarding. And if we don't use it, or haven't used it in 6 months - toss or donate!<br />
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- In the interest of saving money, here are some other ideas I've had... make my own cleaning supplies, make my own laundry detergent, make my own deodorant, make my own toothpaste... AND if I can successfully make all these things, I'll be ridding my life of toxic chemicals. I already have most of the ingredients needed, and the other ingredients I have to purchase are cheap and will last a looong time. (Here are some recipes I'm excited to try: <a href="http://www.maplealps.com/blog/diy-toothpaste" target="_blank">Toothpaste</a>, <a href="http://www.dwellinginhappiness.com/chemical-free-liquid-laundry-detergent/" target="_blank">Laundry Detergent</a>, <a href="https://www.thankyourbody.com/homemade-deodorant-stick-recipe-sensitive-skin/" target="_blank">Deodorant</a>.)<br />
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<h2>
PAY OFF DEBT! </h2>
I guess moving overseas, moving back to the US, moving across the country, moving to a house, and moving back across the country again has helped us accumulate a bit of debt. Somehow it got a little out of hand. Actually, I know exactly how it happened! When we moved back to the US, we didn't own a single thing. We had no bed, no couch, no table, no nothing! We <i>should</i> have been more responsible with our purchases, but... well... you know...<br />
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Of course I have a ginormous to-do list before baby comes. I need to purge and organize and clean my house. I need to set up the bedroom to prepare for baby. I need to organize my bills and file a ton of papers... But that will all happen in due time (hopefully!).<br />
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What are your 2018 goals???<br />
<br />
XO,<br />
Julie<br />
<br />
<br />Julie Arthur // alonewithmytea.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09810046816078845584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071006504303942306.post-48895723405516256072017-12-26T14:03:00.001-06:002017-12-26T14:03:25.857-06:00Oh, Baby! UpdateAs you know, we've had an <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2017/10/eventful.html" target="_blank">eventful fall</a>. To be honest, I've been in survival mode. Working full time while pregnant is not easy! I have a few posts planned on pregnancy updates, mostly just because there are some things I don't want to forget (especially if I ever find myself saying, "I want to be pregnant again." Spoiler alert - I don't! It's miserable...)... But in the meantime, we are happy to announce that...<br />
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We were honestly shocked. We seriously thought it was a boy! I'm carrying very low, I've had headaches and other aches and pains... We also had a boy name picked out... and little boy clothes are so much cuter than little girl clothes. So we were very surprised to find out it's a girl! But we are happy nonetheless. I'm excited to share with her all the fun things I did as a little girl with my mom - tea parties, Betsy-Tacy, Anne of Green Gables, lots of crafts, etc. And my husband is excited to have a little daddy's girl to adore! </div>
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Now comes the hard part - picking a name! At least we have a few more months to figure that out!<br />
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XO,<br />
JulieJulie Arthur // alonewithmytea.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09810046816078845584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071006504303942306.post-89894335808897882612017-11-26T14:13:00.001-06:002017-11-26T14:13:35.254-06:00Favorite Literary Quotes Part 2<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKpc6hlnm-asGfaADnS88TfSjj_-jkK4lCRRTdCRdHpXuWZgSavuVtyeMLT_ZgpeYoJcQSDs1mYt3NW-xW1HwdhBalEeeJqmkoiOfAG31jym5hLBnLvilRhb0Y2tgWGX4hsoNzLgsLRo/s1600/aliis-sinisalu-299299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKpc6hlnm-asGfaADnS88TfSjj_-jkK4lCRRTdCRdHpXuWZgSavuVtyeMLT_ZgpeYoJcQSDs1mYt3NW-xW1HwdhBalEeeJqmkoiOfAG31jym5hLBnLvilRhb0Y2tgWGX4hsoNzLgsLRo/s640/aliis-sinisalu-299299.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/@aliissinisalu?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=photographer-credit&utm_content=creditBadge" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: black; border-radius: 3px; color: white; display: inline-block; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2; padding: 4px 6px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Download free do whatever you want high-resolution photos from Aliis Sinisalu"><span style="display: inline-block; padding: 2px 3px;"><svg style="fill: white; height: 12px; position: relative; top: -1px; vertical-align: middle; width: auto;" viewbox="0 0 32 32" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title></title><path d="M20.8 18.1c0 2.7-2.2 4.8-4.8 4.8s-4.8-2.1-4.8-4.8c0-2.7 2.2-4.8 4.8-4.8 2.7.1 4.8 2.2 4.8 4.8zm11.2-7.4v14.9c0 2.3-1.9 4.3-4.3 4.3h-23.4c-2.4 0-4.3-1.9-4.3-4.3v-15c0-2.3 1.9-4.3 4.3-4.3h3.7l.8-2.3c.4-1.1 1.7-2 2.9-2h8.6c1.2 0 2.5.9 2.9 2l.8 2.4h3.7c2.4 0 4.3 1.9 4.3 4.3zm-8.6 7.5c0-4.1-3.3-7.5-7.5-7.5-4.1 0-7.5 3.4-7.5 7.5s3.3 7.5 7.5 7.5c4.2-.1 7.5-3.4 7.5-7.5z"></path></svg></span><span style="display: inline-block; padding: 2px 3px;">Aliis Sinisalu</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My first <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2016/04/my-favorite-literary-quotes.html" target="_blank">"Favorite Literary Quotes"</a> was quite popular. So I thought I'd do a second version!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Here are some of my favorite quotes, from books, poems, essays, and other literary sources. Which one is your favorite?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKVl6DmLIulxCMN49fypzQLAw8_23moySZ2jikthQI8x9mrFSG7Go6JuqP5vPNIwj3pel-TUiLwe0P54Hjf8rN1euiWX-QAVhbsGOYoIAz2mlhQGzddt_HpvhyphenhyphengEjGVukeMJcllKhgFA/s1600/janko-ferlic-174927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1479" data-original-width="1600" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKVl6DmLIulxCMN49fypzQLAw8_23moySZ2jikthQI8x9mrFSG7Go6JuqP5vPNIwj3pel-TUiLwe0P54Hjf8rN1euiWX-QAVhbsGOYoIAz2mlhQGzddt_HpvhyphenhyphengEjGVukeMJcllKhgFA/s640/janko-ferlic-174927.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/@thepootphotographer?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=photographer-credit&utm_content=creditBadge" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: black; border-radius: 3px; color: white; display: inline-block; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2; padding: 4px 6px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Download free do whatever you want high-resolution photos from Janko Ferlič"><span style="display: inline-block; padding: 2px 3px;"><svg style="fill: white; height: 12px; position: relative; top: -1px; vertical-align: middle; width: auto;" viewbox="0 0 32 32" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title></title><path d="M20.8 18.1c0 2.7-2.2 4.8-4.8 4.8s-4.8-2.1-4.8-4.8c0-2.7 2.2-4.8 4.8-4.8 2.7.1 4.8 2.2 4.8 4.8zm11.2-7.4v14.9c0 2.3-1.9 4.3-4.3 4.3h-23.4c-2.4 0-4.3-1.9-4.3-4.3v-15c0-2.3 1.9-4.3 4.3-4.3h3.7l.8-2.3c.4-1.1 1.7-2 2.9-2h8.6c1.2 0 2.5.9 2.9 2l.8 2.4h3.7c2.4 0 4.3 1.9 4.3 4.3zm-8.6 7.5c0-4.1-3.3-7.5-7.5-7.5-4.1 0-7.5 3.4-7.5 7.5s3.3 7.5 7.5 7.5c4.2-.1 7.5-3.4 7.5-7.5z"></path></svg></span><span style="display: inline-block; padding: 2px 3px;">Janko Ferlič</span></a></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">“She hoped to be wise and reasonable in time; but alas! Alas! She must confess to herself that she was not wise yet.” </span></h3>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px;">― </span>Jane Austen<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px;">, </span><span id="quote_book_link_2156" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Persuasion</span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<h3>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">“Let us never underestimate the power of a well-written letter.” </span></h3>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px;">― </span>Jane Austen<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px;">, </span><span id="quote_book_link_2156" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Persuasion</span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWOZ4XOGvM0WSjZCSw1WFD3Nmc6ppZ99gk2679h6BjjxhQKJhZUSTt2j3cp7ZTtF98DXasMtWvtbtD4PFtCptIcoGUNWV1Vd_zqR_yVQ5CcV7LpAaMGaHBT-FvO9x5LstQ-dgMiQo7OHQ/s1600/alvaro-serrano-133360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWOZ4XOGvM0WSjZCSw1WFD3Nmc6ppZ99gk2679h6BjjxhQKJhZUSTt2j3cp7ZTtF98DXasMtWvtbtD4PFtCptIcoGUNWV1Vd_zqR_yVQ5CcV7LpAaMGaHBT-FvO9x5LstQ-dgMiQo7OHQ/s640/alvaro-serrano-133360.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/@alvaroserrano?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=photographer-credit&utm_content=creditBadge" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: black; border-radius: 3px; color: white; display: inline-block; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2; padding: 4px 6px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Download free do whatever you want high-resolution photos from Álvaro Serrano"><span style="display: inline-block; padding: 2px 3px;"><svg style="fill: white; height: 12px; position: relative; top: -1px; vertical-align: middle; width: auto;" viewbox="0 0 32 32" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title></title><path d="M20.8 18.1c0 2.7-2.2 4.8-4.8 4.8s-4.8-2.1-4.8-4.8c0-2.7 2.2-4.8 4.8-4.8 2.7.1 4.8 2.2 4.8 4.8zm11.2-7.4v14.9c0 2.3-1.9 4.3-4.3 4.3h-23.4c-2.4 0-4.3-1.9-4.3-4.3v-15c0-2.3 1.9-4.3 4.3-4.3h3.7l.8-2.3c.4-1.1 1.7-2 2.9-2h8.6c1.2 0 2.5.9 2.9 2l.8 2.4h3.7c2.4 0 4.3 1.9 4.3 4.3zm-8.6 7.5c0-4.1-3.3-7.5-7.5-7.5-4.1 0-7.5 3.4-7.5 7.5s3.3 7.5 7.5 7.5c4.2-.1 7.5-3.4 7.5-7.5z"></path></svg></span><span style="display: inline-block; padding: 2px 3px;">Álvaro Serrano</span></a></td></tr>
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<h3>
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<h3>
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<h3>
“The real things haven't changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong.”</h3>
― Laura Ingalls Wilder<br />
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<h3>
“She succumbed to the eternal feminine passion for bargains.”</h3>
― Georgette Heyer, Cotillion<br />
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<h3>
<br /></h3>
<h3>
“She tried to act as though it were nothing to go to the library alone. But her happiness betrayed her. Her smile could not be restrained, and it spread from her tightly pressed mouth, to her round cheeks, almost to the hair ribbons tied in perky bows over her ears.” </h3>
― Maud Hart Lovelace, Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_8gHp5vXDaOyizg1lSTaIC-knLrMUFG2xxtoJdEIa70UhlXyKmks35FlEqjPrAVQeVGZuiOxLuQPQl_mbBRIgZVJEyzgv1rtUcPnXEgvxnbyByj16vZl_ORwduog3r4HCqcqJuLW00c/s1600/alfons-morales-410757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="939" data-original-width="1600" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_8gHp5vXDaOyizg1lSTaIC-knLrMUFG2xxtoJdEIa70UhlXyKmks35FlEqjPrAVQeVGZuiOxLuQPQl_mbBRIgZVJEyzgv1rtUcPnXEgvxnbyByj16vZl_ORwduog3r4HCqcqJuLW00c/s640/alfons-morales-410757.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/@alfonsmc10?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=photographer-credit&utm_content=creditBadge" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: black; border-radius: 3px; color: white; display: inline-block; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2; padding: 4px 6px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Download free do whatever you want high-resolution photos from Alfons Morales"><span style="display: inline-block; padding: 2px 3px;"><svg style="fill: white; height: 12px; position: relative; top: -1px; vertical-align: middle; width: auto;" viewbox="0 0 32 32" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title></title><path d="M20.8 18.1c0 2.7-2.2 4.8-4.8 4.8s-4.8-2.1-4.8-4.8c0-2.7 2.2-4.8 4.8-4.8 2.7.1 4.8 2.2 4.8 4.8zm11.2-7.4v14.9c0 2.3-1.9 4.3-4.3 4.3h-23.4c-2.4 0-4.3-1.9-4.3-4.3v-15c0-2.3 1.9-4.3 4.3-4.3h3.7l.8-2.3c.4-1.1 1.7-2 2.9-2h8.6c1.2 0 2.5.9 2.9 2l.8 2.4h3.7c2.4 0 4.3 1.9 4.3 4.3zm-8.6 7.5c0-4.1-3.3-7.5-7.5-7.5-4.1 0-7.5 3.4-7.5 7.5s3.3 7.5 7.5 7.5c4.2-.1 7.5-3.4 7.5-7.5z"></path></svg></span><span style="display: inline-block; padding: 2px 3px;">Alfons Morales</span></a></td></tr>
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<h3>
“Was life always like that? she wondered. A game of hide and seek in which you only occasionally found the person you wanted to be?” </h3>
― Maud Hart Lovelace, Betsy and the Great World<br />
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<br /><h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">“I can live alone, if self-respect, and circumstances require me so to do. I need not sell my soul to buy bliss. I have an inward treasure born with me, which can keep me alive if all extraneous delights should be withheld, or offered only at a price I cannot afford to give.” </span></h3>
<br />― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfUI9SZt9jxtugVjigTlIUX6lSbEtORIh_wssFF_7G4gVM9fjaYQguXnKo7xVV0gFV7Vc9x6W_Zk7pNbqFPf51Xnr3EuXo8I5D8NX9t6fs15UeQkDI2YBx1pIgYX4G1NLHv039bMPGiU/s1600/john-mark-kuznietsov-266553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfUI9SZt9jxtugVjigTlIUX6lSbEtORIh_wssFF_7G4gVM9fjaYQguXnKo7xVV0gFV7Vc9x6W_Zk7pNbqFPf51Xnr3EuXo8I5D8NX9t6fs15UeQkDI2YBx1pIgYX4G1NLHv039bMPGiU/s640/john-mark-kuznietsov-266553.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/@mrrrk_smith?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=photographer-credit&utm_content=creditBadge" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: black; border-radius: 3px; color: white; display: inline-block; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2; padding: 4px 6px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Download free do whatever you want high-resolution photos from John-Mark Kuznietsov"><span style="display: inline-block; padding: 2px 3px;"><svg style="fill: white; height: 12px; position: relative; top: -1px; vertical-align: middle; width: auto;" viewbox="0 0 32 32" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title></title><path d="M20.8 18.1c0 2.7-2.2 4.8-4.8 4.8s-4.8-2.1-4.8-4.8c0-2.7 2.2-4.8 4.8-4.8 2.7.1 4.8 2.2 4.8 4.8zm11.2-7.4v14.9c0 2.3-1.9 4.3-4.3 4.3h-23.4c-2.4 0-4.3-1.9-4.3-4.3v-15c0-2.3 1.9-4.3 4.3-4.3h3.7l.8-2.3c.4-1.1 1.7-2 2.9-2h8.6c1.2 0 2.5.9 2.9 2l.8 2.4h3.7c2.4 0 4.3 1.9 4.3 4.3zm-8.6 7.5c0-4.1-3.3-7.5-7.5-7.5-4.1 0-7.5 3.4-7.5 7.5s3.3 7.5 7.5 7.5c4.2-.1 7.5-3.4 7.5-7.5z"></path></svg></span><span style="display: inline-block; padding: 2px 3px;">John-Mark Kuznietsov</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h3>
Sea Fever</h3>
By John Masefield</div>
<div>
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<div>
I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,<br />
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;<br />
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,<br />
And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.<br />
<br />
I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide<br />
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied; <br />
<br />
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,<br />
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.<br />
<br />
I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,<br />
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;<br />
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,<br />
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qMlPSVlNMdsoQWwSSlQQY68DAZk3Ss6O_ZDf_tF7ux-5avx1dQLjQg0GdTnmQJvjpNj8hrNjbJYDGvWbxKeaq6ukP37XFNNqo0wZMaMa7RorDxk6pDtQkdloFooS6er7j6IQmKEpMck/s1600/diogo-sousa-457381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qMlPSVlNMdsoQWwSSlQQY68DAZk3Ss6O_ZDf_tF7ux-5avx1dQLjQg0GdTnmQJvjpNj8hrNjbJYDGvWbxKeaq6ukP37XFNNqo0wZMaMa7RorDxk6pDtQkdloFooS6er7j6IQmKEpMck/s640/diogo-sousa-457381.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/@danones?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=photographer-credit&utm_content=creditBadge" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: black; border-radius: 3px; color: white; display: inline-block; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2; padding: 4px 6px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Download free do whatever you want high-resolution photos from Diogo Sousa"><span style="display: inline-block; padding: 2px 3px;"><svg style="fill: white; height: 12px; position: relative; top: -1px; vertical-align: middle; width: auto;" viewbox="0 0 32 32" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title></title><path d="M20.8 18.1c0 2.7-2.2 4.8-4.8 4.8s-4.8-2.1-4.8-4.8c0-2.7 2.2-4.8 4.8-4.8 2.7.1 4.8 2.2 4.8 4.8zm11.2-7.4v14.9c0 2.3-1.9 4.3-4.3 4.3h-23.4c-2.4 0-4.3-1.9-4.3-4.3v-15c0-2.3 1.9-4.3 4.3-4.3h3.7l.8-2.3c.4-1.1 1.7-2 2.9-2h8.6c1.2 0 2.5.9 2.9 2l.8 2.4h3.7c2.4 0 4.3 1.9 4.3 4.3zm-8.6 7.5c0-4.1-3.3-7.5-7.5-7.5-4.1 0-7.5 3.4-7.5 7.5s3.3 7.5 7.5 7.5c4.2-.1 7.5-3.4 7.5-7.5z"></path></svg></span><span style="display: inline-block; padding: 2px 3px;">Diogo Sousa</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
What's your favorite literary quote?</h2>
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</div>
Julie Arthur // alonewithmytea.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09810046816078845584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071006504303942306.post-80396877720360068342017-10-05T21:33:00.000-05:002017-10-05T21:33:12.660-05:00EventfulI can't believe it has been two months since I last posted about <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2017/08/we-moved.html" target="_blank">our move</a>! Soooo much has happened... As soon as we got back from Ukraine in July, we packed up our entire house, sold a bunch of our stuff, and moved back to California. As soon as we got to our apartment we knew we couldn't stay in it - it smelled like cigarettes! We realized that if we wouldn't stay one night in a hotel room that smelled that bad, why would we *live* in a place that smelled so gross? Luckily our apartment complex let us move to a different apartment in the same complex. So we had to pack up all our stuff *again* and move into a new apartment.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, my aunt, who I was very close to, passed away. It was such a sad time for my family. She actually lived very near to where I had moving to, and we had planned to meet up before school started so she could hear all about my new job. She was also a very big supporter of our Ukraine trip, and I was looking forward to telling her all about it. She loves music and loves supporting mission trips, so I knew she would love to hear all about our trip. I still can't believe she is gone and I miss her so much.<br />
<br />
But if the stress of moving across the country, having a close family member pass away, and then having to move again wasn't enough... I started a new job. Don't get me wrong, I was super excited about my new job. It's exactly what I was hoping and praying for! I'm teaching at an all-girls school, and I'm teaching only music! I love it!<br />
<br />
BUT... of course, starting a new job is stressful - learning the ropes, learning a new system, meeting a ton of new people... And then on the second day of new-teacher orientation... I found out that I'm pregnant!<br />
<br />
So... baby is due in April! Wow, that was unexpected! We actually were preparing ourselves for the fact that we might not ever be able to get pregnant. We had been "trying" (not super duper trying, but not preventing) for four years. We actually went to our respective doctors last spring to find out if we had fertility issues. My doctor told me that, with my endometriosis and thyroid problems, it would be difficult to get pregnant. I would need surgery, and even then, it wouldn't be easy. We had decided to wait to do surgery, etc, until after we moved out to California. But I guess we got lucky, because baby is already at 13 weeks!<br />
<br />
Let me tell you - starting a new job is hard. Starting a new job while in your first trimester is extremely hard. I haven't been taking well to pregnancy - been feeling very ill and exhausted. I just hope this baby is cute!!! ;)<br />
<br />
So now you're all caught up! And now you understand why I haven't blogged in awhile! Everyone keeps telling me, and I hope they're right, that I will start to feel better soon and have more energy soon. I can't wait until the day when I can come home from work and not collapse in bed until the next day. But maybe this is just my life now. I'm destined for a life of exhaustion, aka motherhood...<br />
<br />
I hope to blog some more and continue to share about our adventures in California. We plan to see the redwoods soon, and we I also want to take Peter to the Monterey Bay Aquarium (he hasn't been yet). I'll update here as often as I can!<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading!<br />XO,<br />
JulieJulie Arthur // alonewithmytea.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09810046816078845584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071006504303942306.post-37734854727488789492017-08-05T11:21:00.003-05:002017-08-05T11:25:53.495-05:00We Moved!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwJDIr0mntowRFy9d-H2R1P6GlL3aPSurxvx7eJ2n2U85aup-RksG31yvdVr2Cyt3c48VqnO_hQyljYPYhkZSf-Qm5IRhmEhoMi1HzT0LR1dKVTm-rnvjJTb6XJfNoVaxEx7THm0eTK0/s1600/Road_Sign_Welcome_to_California.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="785" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwJDIr0mntowRFy9d-H2R1P6GlL3aPSurxvx7eJ2n2U85aup-RksG31yvdVr2Cyt3c48VqnO_hQyljYPYhkZSf-Qm5IRhmEhoMi1HzT0LR1dKVTm-rnvjJTb6XJfNoVaxEx7THm0eTK0/s640/Road_Sign_Welcome_to_California.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<br />
Let me just tell you, these last 6-7 months have been a roller coaster. So many big, life-decisions have been made. So much stress and worry and anticipation. But we made it through, and now we're starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. So many things have happened since <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2017/06/exciting-news.html" target="_blank">I last blogged </a>that I'm getting a little overwhelmed with how to share it all. I think I will start with the biggest life-change - we moved!<br />
<br />
After three years in Alabama, we decided it was time to move back to California (my home-state). Our jobs had transitioned to positions that we weren't excited about. We both had epiphanies about where we see our careers heading, so we decided to take some risks and hope they work out. And so far, they have! I was offered a full-time music-teacher position at a private, all girls high school. And I'm really looking forward to it! I enjoyed learning about theater and finding my way as a drama teacher these past three years, but I'm looking forward to being back in my element and expertise. Peter decided to branch out and do web-design as a freelancer, and he already has clients! So far, so good. I also have big plans for my music blog, so look for updates regarding that!<br />
<br />
So now we're back in California. We had a long, long, long cross-country drive to get here. Our poor dog was confused and a little stressed, but overall he did great. Alabama has a much lower cost of living, so we had to downsize from a 3-bedroom house in Alabama to a small, 2-bedroom apartment in California. We had to move sight-unseen, which posed a huge problem when we got here. The apartment we had reserved smelled like a cheap motel - cigarette smoke-infested the walls, cupboards, carpet, everything. We requested to transfer to a different apartment, and luckily they allowed it! But that just delayed us from settling in, and now we're still sorting and unpacking... and work starts on Monday! But now we're here and that's what matters most!<br />
<br />
We plan to explore California (there is so much that Peter hasn't seen yet! We need to go to the Redwoods, Yosemite, Big Bear, Lake Tahoe, the Northern Coast, Napa, and so much more!). I plan on continuing to post on here, whether or not people actually read it. I've been back and forth about whether or not to even keep my blog, but in the end Peter convinced me to keep it. We are going to treat it more as a scrapbook of our lives, so we can look back at our memories. I have a lot more to share from this summer - we spent two weeks in Ukraine! I have so many stories to share from that trip (for example, did you know that Ukrainians are obsessed with dill? They put it on/in EVERYTHING...)!<br />
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Thanks for reading!<br />
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<h3>
P.S. If you need a web or graphic designer, contact Peter! He is an expert on design, layout, and user experience. (He designed and built this entire site from scratch: <a href="http://www.houstonacademy.com/">www.houstonacademy.com</a>). If you or anyone you know is in need of a web or graphic designer (front-end developer), contact Peter Arthur at peterdarthur (at) gmail (dot) com!</h3>
<br />Julie Arthur // alonewithmytea.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09810046816078845584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071006504303942306.post-56335019140744982022017-06-01T13:14:00.000-05:002017-06-01T13:14:08.261-05:00Exciting News!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ou1I6NNfJFxo0rdEElUSAN6Vv0r3UyDujD_EMA594wbSia30d2NOLwMc4CZJXwoGpFpQ9CnMoyjQ4ca3pSvQqWxKgUNjWIKRcbYtST6G6AVwkMKqw7ArIHg-lKXm2W095MYrnKE7ykE/s1600/jon-tyson-195064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1153" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ou1I6NNfJFxo0rdEElUSAN6Vv0r3UyDujD_EMA594wbSia30d2NOLwMc4CZJXwoGpFpQ9CnMoyjQ4ca3pSvQqWxKgUNjWIKRcbYtST6G6AVwkMKqw7ArIHg-lKXm2W095MYrnKE7ykE/s640/jon-tyson-195064.jpg" width="460" /></a></div>
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<br />
This is what I posted on Facebook: "The last 3 years in Alabama have been good to us! We've enjoyed our jobs, made some wonderful friends, AND we got Little Bit (what more could we want?!). However, we have missed family and friends (and the weather) back home. So we are happy to announce that, when we get back from Ukraine this summer, we will be moving back to California! Julie was offered a job at a school in San Jose, and Peter is excited to move to a location that has plentiful options for his career."<br />
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<h2>
But you guys know the truth. </h2>
The last 3 years have been <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2016/02/life-lately.html" target="_blank">HARD</a>. I've had ups and downs with my job. We've missed family. We've stressed about weather (TORNADOES ARE THE WORST). Overall, it wasn't quite what we were expecting. But that's ok. We've also learned a lot. We've grown as a couple. We've actually made some really incredible friendships. And, of course, we got our fur-baby. So it's a bittersweet time. <br />
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We are super excited to move closer to friends, and I'm thrilled about my new job. I think I'm going to love it! (More job-details to come soon... Don't worry, I'm still teaching music!) We think Peter will have some great opportunities for his career in Silicon Valley. We are a little stressed about the crazy cost of living in San Jose, but overall we're looking forward to returning to a city we already know and love. (And also looking forward to Whole Foods and Trader Joe's!).<br />
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<br />Julie Arthur // alonewithmytea.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09810046816078845584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071006504303942306.post-39163729554584003842017-05-01T13:47:00.000-05:002017-05-01T13:47:06.434-05:00Current Favorite Pens || April Favorites<i>This post contains affiliate links. Affiliate links allow me to receive a small commission off of any products you buy using these links. You are not charged extra if you use these links! Thank you for supporting my blog!</i><br />
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I had started doing a <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2017/02/february-favorites.html" target="_blank">monthly-favorites</a> post series, but as you <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2017/02/my-lipstick-addiction.html" target="_blank">probably know</a>, we are currently raising money for our trip to Ukraine this summer. So we put ourself on a spending freeze. Which means I didn't have any new products to share with you last month! But we recently purchased some much-needed office supplies, and I fell in love with these pens. So I thought this post could double as a monthly favorites post!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIBqsy-vlQhSjsuuXxGF80gN0Qj_4h1WgmADI7jlhHIj-JEZxQQmgl7vvauMiEHnIM1lKSlABZvWX4giRcUn8-z6QBHIDjIhcHY_osgqbbw_5GAWIBsie217JdcxvrvH_OOhqBugErl0/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIBqsy-vlQhSjsuuXxGF80gN0Qj_4h1WgmADI7jlhHIj-JEZxQQmgl7vvauMiEHnIM1lKSlABZvWX4giRcUn8-z6QBHIDjIhcHY_osgqbbw_5GAWIBsie217JdcxvrvH_OOhqBugErl0/s640/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I, like many people in this world, am addicted to office supplies. And more specifically, pens. I'm always on the hunt for The World's Greatest Pen. I have built up quite a stash, yet there a few I keep coming back to. So I thought I'd share with you my current favorite pens!<br />
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My husband recently bought a pack of the <a href="http://amzn.to/2pow9W1" target="_blank">Pentel EnerGel </a>Liquid Gel Ink pens, and I might have stolen one from him! They write super smoothly. I love that they are completely opaque and that the ink dries quickly. It is a unique hybrid of gel and ink, with a tiny needle-point tip that I find very easy to use.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzmB08PqvFOCoFmrBmRKPwqqQ_QiveEsE4bJgzxpcC2Go6cVTLFMDfAIC3SXUt1A8vnuVcmmc94aacTi7pmKA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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The <a href="http://amzn.to/2pomFu0" target="_blank">Sharpee Pen</a> has also been a long-time fave of mine, but recently they came out with a stainless steel body that you can refill. It has a heavier weight than the regular Sharpee Pens, and it looks so much cooler!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxqCyln68Tu3ybPpvPbdBJQkpuHKbkJNAho19g5hJZ9t0eCPUxcmhW-ukzkqFy5UTKvMyzQfFguLuSMjgu1uw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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The <a href="http://amzn.to/2pB4vW4" target="_blank">Faber Castell</a> pens are widely used by artists. I'm not an artist, but I do dabble sometimes. I got the <a href="http://amzn.to/2pPHkbM" target="_blank">XS pen</a>, and I love it. It is great for when you need to write something very small or fill in tiny details!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxFScYcFV3Z59_jr9C4pLLytRSSlFA5L3ZOFO2uAf9HP22kEUhvAIqgJTTnbQAByq9wRx9KU36OH0kd-P9iyg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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The <a href="http://amzn.to/2qwSeiY" target="_blank">Uniball Jetstream</a> has always been a long-time favorite of mine ever since undergrad, which has been over 10 years ago (eek, I'm getting old!)... It writes smoothly and is great for taking quick notes. Note: I took ALL of my notes in college by hand using the Uniball Jetstream pens. I needed something that could write FAST to keep up with my professors' lectures!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwqQL619JfZzEk-Bq0NXtguY1x9EGqrbu0NIFyiSFiwlA7o67vFrYJjl2axtIUz7EO9TKZmr6YKUaZFonQoGg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
So, what's your current favorite pen? Have you found The World's Greatest Pen, yet? If so, please tell me! Have any other pens or office supplies you'd like me to review? Leave a comment below!</h2>
Julie Arthur // alonewithmytea.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09810046816078845584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071006504303942306.post-67162234800654791972017-04-20T09:11:00.002-05:002017-04-20T09:11:26.951-05:00Southernisms that were new to meBefore I moved to the South I thought I had a fairly good grasp of Southern culture. I'd traveled a lot with my family, eaten at plenty of Cracker Barrels, and had seen many movies and TV shows that took place in the South. Much of my family tree can trace its roots back to the South, even Alabama, and I considered myself a well-traveled and well-educated person. I knew about "Bless your heart," (an insult), and, "Y'all," and, "Ain't." I had eaten grits and fried okra, so obviously I knew everything about the south...<div>
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So I wasn't expecting too much of a culture shock. Obviously I knew things would be different. I just didn't realize how much there was that I didn't know about the South! Here are a few "Southernisms" that took me by surprise.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_6xkAbV9nQ9kXdATEpq7ha9A6Mz2mDQ6HnU6p8C-cm1GYX2hk-La64UWnInSi_40c6KzF08T-_AnIL0elPGntN3FoJj8x3z0pkprCQF3RnJ9AV0ulor6oxG9G7kxtRdihhD4bA73gOI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-04-20+at+9.09.30+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_6xkAbV9nQ9kXdATEpq7ha9A6Mz2mDQ6HnU6p8C-cm1GYX2hk-La64UWnInSi_40c6KzF08T-_AnIL0elPGntN3FoJj8x3z0pkprCQF3RnJ9AV0ulor6oxG9G7kxtRdihhD4bA73gOI/s400/Screen+Shot+2017-04-20+at+9.09.30+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Using "done" and "seen" incorrectly, even by well-educated people!</h2>
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Example: "I done it already," or, "I seen that show last week!"</div>
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"Whatchu got ta say?" actually means, "How are you doing?"</h2>
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This one freaked me out the most. Some random man who maintains our coffee machines at work looked at me and said, "Whatchu got ta say?" I had no idea how to respond! I just looked at him and said, "I have no idea what that means." Then HE thought I was crazy.</div>
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"I bled more'n a stuck hawg." </h2>
I think you can figure out what that one means. </div>
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"Like putting lipstick on a pig."</h2>
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Meaning trying to make something that is inherently ugly, beautiful.</div>
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"Make" for any random thing. </h2>
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"Get your picture made," or, "The class didn't make - not enough people signed up."</div>
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What do you think about these phrases? Did any of them surprise or confuse you, too?</h3>
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<br />In other news, after 3 years in Alabama, we will be moving this summer! I can't give any more details at this time, but once our plans are fully set, I'll be updating here! We're also going to Ukraine and Europe this summer, so I will definitely blogging about those trips.<br />Thanks for reading!<br />XO,<br />Julie</h3>
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Julie Arthur // alonewithmytea.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09810046816078845584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071006504303942306.post-59666923822191839622017-03-24T21:24:00.004-05:002017-03-24T21:24:54.477-05:00Links and Loves<i>This post does not contain affiliate links. </i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXGc2QTXpAqc6tMRZBHqBIGCyzXEFCOv-6z4ffSNCPg-VetmMsB9m-ugxL4l7Z3Tbt3Ce8u_5rKT0YUgMTokeSDffUEHs3xtJXCzw0Tj1W9-w3oTNU59lNsSkafbWRJ2kUCMJcyTKs6w/s1600/IMG_2161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXGc2QTXpAqc6tMRZBHqBIGCyzXEFCOv-6z4ffSNCPg-VetmMsB9m-ugxL4l7Z3Tbt3Ce8u_5rKT0YUgMTokeSDffUEHs3xtJXCzw0Tj1W9-w3oTNU59lNsSkafbWRJ2kUCMJcyTKs6w/s640/IMG_2161.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sniff Sniff, looks like Spring!</td></tr>
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Am I the only person in the world who hates springtime? The pollen! The allergies! It's miserable! And don't get me started on Daylight Savings Time. I feel jet lagged for a week after we "spring forward." Maybe I'd feel different if I lived somewhere truly cold, where spring brings a welcome relief of temperatures...</div>
<br />Anyway...<br />
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I've been horrible about blogging this month. So much has been going on. I've actually had tons of ideas for posts but just not enough time to sit down and make them happen. But we're coming up on Spring Break next week, so maybe I can get a few scheduled soon! In the meantime I thought I'd pop on and share a few links I've been loving lately!<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-FriXion-Knock-Retractable-LFBK-230F-10C/dp/B005ZP8QX8/ref=sr_1_3?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1490407756&sr=1-3&keywords=frixion+pens" target="_blank">These erasable pens</a> have changed my life. I'm actually doing a full review of them soon! (You can find them at Target for much cheaper than Amazon, just saying!)<br />
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I'd love to order one of<a href="http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2016/11/colorful-everyday-scenes-illustrated-on-vintage-sheet-music-by-people-too/?utm_source=bloglovin.com&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+colossal+%28Colossal%29" target="_blank"> these prints</a>!<br />
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I find myself frequenting these types of <a href="http://www.careercontessa.com/advice/job-sites-for-writers/" target="_blank">blog posts</a> a lot when my chronic illness creeps up and getting out of my pajamas to go to work is physically painful! (P.S. I've gotten a few more answers to my <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2017/01/health-update.html" target="_blank">health problems</a>, and I'll be sharing about it soon.)<br />
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I plan on doing some "spring cleaning" next week, so I'll be consulting this <a href="http://www.thelawofattraction.com/150-things-throw-away-today-clear-mind-soul/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=condis-loa&utm_content=150-things-throw-away-today-clear-mind-soul&postedon=26-07-16" target="_blank">handy checklist</a> to keep me on track!<br />
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This is still one of my <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2016/04/my-favorite-literary-quotes.html" target="_blank">favorite posts</a> I've ever written. Should I do a Part 2?<br />
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I could listen to <a href="http://www.we-teach-music.org/home/my-new-favorite-song" target="_blank">this song</a> over and over again. Plus the lyrics just speak to my soul.<br />
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What have you guys been loving lately?Julie Arthur // alonewithmytea.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09810046816078845584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071006504303942306.post-44199817502815750942017-02-28T07:00:00.000-06:002017-02-28T08:05:43.150-06:00February Favorites<div style="text-align: center;">
My January Favorites post was a big hit, so I decided to try to do one each month! What have you been enjoying lately?</div>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Jade roller</h2>
I use this for nightly and morning facial massages. It is supposed to help reduce puffiness. I don't know if it's really working; I've only had it a short time. It feels really lovely, though, especially when it's a bit cold. Feels very soothing. And if nothing else, just rolling it around my face reminds me to relax my facial muscles, which has to help with something, right? I got it from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Acupress-Jade-Roller-Massager-Rejuvenates/dp/B00TUYH8B6/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1488162671&sr=8-7&keywords=jade+roller" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixja2pQJE-1NfKWmrUyWM0YcafKmrbnEMXuUUqxEXMUCiEdSAc7t3jX6HQOGpbMYcOeRXnbjEg5H8snQkILUu5kR-OUy7wthEj0Bw5Qj7hP-iAfMmgO2ulf2husiYdaePLzWlJNRCdaGI/s1600/jade+roller.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixja2pQJE-1NfKWmrUyWM0YcafKmrbnEMXuUUqxEXMUCiEdSAc7t3jX6HQOGpbMYcOeRXnbjEg5H8snQkILUu5kR-OUy7wthEj0Bw5Qj7hP-iAfMmgO2ulf2husiYdaePLzWlJNRCdaGI/s640/jade+roller.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Lipsense - Napa</h2>
As you know from <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2017/02/my-lipstick-addiction.html" target="_blank">this post</a>, I am now a distributor for Lipsense. I recently got this color, Napa, and it is my new all-time favorite lip color! It makes my eyes look green and my teeth look white. Win-win!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJu8YSdxl5wzErJ86S0CPlaw6FPdzB72IxxIAEAnzA00joQ_heCYJucAE0vnyhcMA4GdyAZZM_SudnfNoULwScY0jk-oQQ6mKq3cnxjdFNrQ7rcLn51oQcqd2On7-IdAsY6vmn9e9OhHg/s1600/napa2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJu8YSdxl5wzErJ86S0CPlaw6FPdzB72IxxIAEAnzA00joQ_heCYJucAE0vnyhcMA4GdyAZZM_SudnfNoULwScY0jk-oQQ6mKq3cnxjdFNrQ7rcLn51oQcqd2On7-IdAsY6vmn9e9OhHg/s640/napa2.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFWM69-12FsQGP52c0Fn-sMUbCBmRuaXdTaq80UhIsSA_O2shHUrJkpJ45CUGvrm1t1_mbA9awZHNtkJ3MKNc9dWLL-GrNNnSce4qKo_A5tjPOdaYkZW-TsHfl6VNrvpwikwq6_vjNmA/s1600/napa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFWM69-12FsQGP52c0Fn-sMUbCBmRuaXdTaq80UhIsSA_O2shHUrJkpJ45CUGvrm1t1_mbA9awZHNtkJ3MKNc9dWLL-GrNNnSce4qKo_A5tjPOdaYkZW-TsHfl6VNrvpwikwq6_vjNmA/s640/napa.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Handmade thank you notes</h2>
I used some old water color pages from my art journal and wrote a simple thank you message on them. I was thinking about sending these with my Lipsense orders. I'm inspired to make some more little notecards with all my art journal pages and painting scraps.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOajIYuxX4vX06Rlbwed3ECgKbwVZdhI7BvuDeDJUmlkYPX8NCK70H19xAQ5GkFNBABazknrUUvDQ1nPUE_Fz_M4hf2P6d84Kmhxf3Xp7w9UlZ4vqqPHE085-akl9e38rPP1uEUymrlc/s1600/thank+you.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOajIYuxX4vX06Rlbwed3ECgKbwVZdhI7BvuDeDJUmlkYPX8NCK70H19xAQ5GkFNBABazknrUUvDQ1nPUE_Fz_M4hf2P6d84Kmhxf3Xp7w9UlZ4vqqPHE085-akl9e38rPP1uEUymrlc/s640/thank+you.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Using a men's razor</h2>
I picked up a pack of Gillette Fusion razors from Sam's club because they were cheaper than the Venus ones. And guess what - they work so much better! They give a smoother shave and don't cause as much irritation on my sensitive skin. (I'm talking about my legs, by the way...) Also, I don't have a picture of the razor because I thought that would be kinda weird...<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks so much for reading. What are your favorites from February?</span></div>
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<br />Julie Arthur // alonewithmytea.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09810046816078845584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071006504303942306.post-60610865658947374592017-02-26T15:02:00.000-06:002017-02-26T15:02:26.429-06:00My Lipstick AddictionHello friends! Sorry it's been so long since I've posted. I've been soooo busy. I thought I'd pop on here and give you a little life update.<br />
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HEALTH UPDATE</h2>
The month of February brought some good health, but still no answers, yet. I've had many tests done and am just waiting for the next step. I've tried to eliminate some stress, and that has helped a LOT. I have a lot more energy.<br />
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WORK UPDATE</h2>
My job has been going great. In January I had a bunch of work-related trips and it was a bit stressful. But February has been smooth sailing.<br />
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LIFE UPDATE</h2>
We are going on a service trip to Ukraine this summer! I will be teaching in some music camps and Peter will be helping with the athletic portion of the camps, as well as documenting the trip with photos and videos.<br />
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MY LIPSTICK ADDICTION</h2>
I signed up as a distributor of Lipsense... have you heard of it? IT'S SO FREAKING AWESOME. Basically it's lipstick that doesn't come off or smudge all day. <b>All of my profits from this business will go toward our Ukraine trip! </b> If you're interested in learning more, please check out my facebook group: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/412237472448005/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/groups/412237472448005/</a><br />
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I promise this blog will NOT be overrun with Lipsense posts! I may post occasionally on here, but it will not turn into a Lipsense website, trust me! I just wanted to mention it at least once so you would have the chance to learn more!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxMrif2-OHkh_7KCrwjwSUrzW9WmYc4N5Q1P8CGU2Mza2CH9ncCi84QiOqkDeiS71_9J9eVP3QhXdyR9uU-jA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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So what have you been up to lately?</div>
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XO,</div>
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Julie</div>
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<br />Julie Arthur // alonewithmytea.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09810046816078845584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071006504303942306.post-65550286899599528852017-02-07T18:04:00.000-06:002017-02-07T18:07:21.577-06:00Intentional Living<i>Note: Since writing this post we actually did buy a TV. We initially only got it to watch the olympics. And you know what? We hardly ever watch it now. Peter uses it for video games, sometimes we'll watch Netflix... but usually... it's off. So I think this post still applies.</i><br />
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There's usually a mix of reactions when people hear (or see) that we don't have a TV. Surprise, disbelief, scorn, and sometimes envy. We invariably get asked a <i>lot</i> of questions about why we don't have one. How do we survive??? What do we <i>doooo</i>??? I usually just shrug my shoulders and reply something along the lines of, "Well at least we're saving a lot of money..."<br />
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But when I really stop to think about it, there are many reasons why I don't want a TV, and only a few of them have to do with money. I hate background noise, I hate commercials, I get bored easily, we don't have to pay for cable. But mostly it has to do with intentional living. TV is a distraction. For many people, it's an escape... from reality, from their thoughts, from their lives. I'm sure a lot of people could benefit from unplugging the TV and just living intentionally.</div>
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What does that even mean, living intentionally? How do you do it? Why should you do it?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbcj-O7Hv7me1bBaXMTDxgUhJPwMcS0srfqytQR5Eb7DQ9TeTmrSMCa4kSqwxpwOsWivvlQFKRGrVvwG1e5CI2-_iFzrHIZtpqLD_Gwv14MsvITEFDtpV4pwd9tyLNjBVvOxaFrPclkY/s1600/intentional+living.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbcj-O7Hv7me1bBaXMTDxgUhJPwMcS0srfqytQR5Eb7DQ9TeTmrSMCa4kSqwxpwOsWivvlQFKRGrVvwG1e5CI2-_iFzrHIZtpqLD_Gwv14MsvITEFDtpV4pwd9tyLNjBVvOxaFrPclkY/s640/intentional+living.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
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Be intentional with your words</h2>
Say what you mean and mean what you say. Don't be a flake. Don't be superficial or "fake nice." <b>Pay attention</b> to how people are receiving your words. Don't barrel through conversations. Pay attention to how people respond during conversations and adjust your tone if needed. <br />
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Be intentional with your time</h2>
TV is a big time waster. What could you be doing instead? Exercising? Reading a book? Starting a hobby? Spending time with family or friends? Make time to be with the people you care about. And when you are with them, really <i>be</i> with them. Don't keep checking your phone. Don't let your mind wander. Pay attention to them. Do you know someone who's in the hospital? Go visit them. Don't always be daydreaming about the future. <b>Be present in the moment. </b><br />
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Be intentional with your actions</h2>
Pay attention to your body language, your quirks, your habits. Are you trying to emulate someone? Are your actions contrived? <b>Just be yourself. </b><br />
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I think the main thing to remember about intentional living is to pay attention to your surroundings and the people you're interacting with. Don't waste your time on trivial things. Live in the moment and don't take things for granted. And be yourself. Don't try to look or act like someone else. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What do you think? Do you try to live intentionally? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #fafafb; color: #838383; font-family: Consolas, monospace; font-size: 11px; text-align: start;"><script async="" data-pin-hover="true" data-pin-save="true" data-pin-tall="true" defer="" src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script></span></span></div>
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Julie Arthur // alonewithmytea.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09810046816078845584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071006504303942306.post-70322320962428188282017-01-31T17:53:00.003-06:002017-01-31T17:58:04.827-06:00January Favorites 2017 || Natural beauty, home decor, monthly bill organizer ||<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm going to *try* to publish my favorites every month. This month has a range of items, from beauty products to home decor. Hope you enjoy! (This is not a sponsored post and these are not affiliated links. I only share products I truly love.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lucas Paw Paw ointment is a cult-classic out of Australia. But when I did some research I realized that it contains a lot of harmful ingredients, including petrolatum. I try to avoid anything with petrolatum in it (yes, including vaseline!). So I came across this alternative. It is still made with paw-paw extract, but it is a more natural version of the Lucas ointment. It is certified organic and contains other ingredients such as honey, beeswax, and coconut oil. I LOVE this balm. You can use it anywhere on your skin (as a lip balm, for cuticles, rough skin patches, etc). My lips always feel super smooth after I slather them with this stuff. You can order it <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Certified-Organic-Honey-Suvana-Beauty/dp/B008PWPSYI/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1485905695&sr=8-2&keywords=suvana+paw+paw+balm" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I wanted a better way to organize my monthly bills. I found this awesome binder on Etsy. It has space to write down your bills and when you pay them each month. It also has convenient pockets to organize each month's paid and unpaid bills. You can buy it on Etsy <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/84699022/2017-dated-bills-calendar?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=2017%20bills%20calendar&ref=sr_gallery_2" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I picked up these cotton rounds completely by accident. I was in a hurry and just grabbed the first thing I saw (that happened to be on sale). I'm so glad I did. I love these organic cotton rounds. They really are the smoothest cotton rounds I've ever used. They don't tug at your eyelids when you are removing your eye makeup. They are so soft. And it just so happens they are organic. I will definitely be repurchasing, on purpose this time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I finally found a natural deodorant that actually works! This one is aluminum free and is made with organic beeswax and organic cornstarch. It's scented with peppermint essential oil. It works really well at keeping me odor-free all day. The only cons are that if I use it every day in a row it can sometimes make my armpits itchy. It also makes my armpits feel cold (that's the peppermint oil in it). You can buy it <a href="http://www.beachorganicsskincare.com/organic-deodorant/" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My Christmas gift to myself was a 3-month Birchbox subscription. I had always wanted to try it but never had. My first box came with a lot of things I enjoyed, but this Hey Honey Take It Off Exfoliating Honey peel-off mask was my favorite. I don't know much about the brand or the product itself, only that I really love it! It doesn't make my skin feel dry or tight after I use it, and yet my skin feels super smooth and nice after. I might use my Birchbox points to buy a full size of this! If you'd like to try Birchbox, you can get 50% off your first box if you use this link: <a href="https://www.birchbox.com/invite/alonewithmytea">https://www.birchbox.com/invite/alonewithmytea</a> (This is referring link and I will receive points if anyone uses my link to join Birchbox.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My last January favorite is another Christmas present. This one was from my dad. He made this vase! Isn't that awesome! That isn't painted - He actually used two different colors of clay to get the marbled look. I think it's totally cool and I'm trying to convince him to sell his ceramics and pottery items online! Comment below if you think he should open up an online shop!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ok that's all for now. What did you enjoy this month? Also do you think I should make "favorites" a monthly thing?<br /><br />XO,<br />Julie</span></div>
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Other posts you might like:</div>
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<a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2017/01/what-dog-breed-are-you.html" target="_blank">What dog breed are you?</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2017/01/how-to-have-perfect-house-in-6-steps.html" target="_blank">How to have the perfect house...</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2016/10/easy-curly-hair-updo.html" target="_blank">Easy curly hair updo</a></div>
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<br />Julie Arthur // alonewithmytea.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09810046816078845584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071006504303942306.post-69045275112631880672017-01-30T09:09:00.000-06:002017-01-30T10:24:55.010-06:00What dog breed are you?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I was originally supposed to include this with my January Favorites that I was planning on posting today, but I was having some issues with the pictures I took, so that will have to be rescheduled. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's no surprise to anyone who reads my blog that I'm obsessed with my dog. Just look at him! He's so cute! </span><span style="font-size: large;">Recently the people over at <a href="http://puppyspot.com/">Puppyspot.com</a> created a flowchart called "Find Your Perfect Dog Breed." I thought this was super cute and wanted to share it. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">*This is not a sponsored post.*</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Take a look at this flowchart and let me know what dog breed you are!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My dog is actually a mutt, but I think he has part dachshund in him. He is definitely a little cuddle bug and a Loyal Companion. Just what we wanted!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for reading and stay tuned for January Favorites coming soon. And thank you to everyone who expressed concern after my <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2017/01/health-update.html" target="_blank">last post</a>. I will post a health update after my next appointment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">XO,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Julie</span></div>
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<br />Julie Arthur // alonewithmytea.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09810046816078845584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071006504303942306.post-14879104945068983962017-01-14T22:15:00.000-06:002017-01-14T22:15:15.245-06:00Health Update<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">The other day I put out a prayer request on Facebook because I was going to the doctor and I was desperate for them to find an answer. Many people were concerned and I wanted to update everyone but felt like this was too much to put on Facebook. So here it is.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I've been going to the doctors for several years suspecting either a thyroid disorder or an autoimmune disorder and they keep telling me I'm "fine." But lately my symptoms have gotten worse and worse. I wake up after 8 - 9 hours of sleep still feeling exhausted. I work a normal day and feel relatively ok during the day. Sometimes I feel tired in the afternoons, but I'm able to work 8 - 9 hours a day. But as soon as I get home I "crash." I can't do anything. My head will ache, my body will ache, and I can barely get up the energy to eat dinner and take my dog on a short walk. All I can do is lie in bed. (This is not every day. But it is the majority of days.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The doctors always an excuse. "You're just stressed," or "You're just paranoid..."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I don't think this is normal. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I'm not stressed or depressed. All my blood work is "normal," yet something is not right. I can just tell. I think people can tell when their body is not quite right. I was put on a 30-day hear monitor after my most recent appointment (I've been having tachycardia and palpitations, but again my stress test and ecco all came back as "normal..."), and I've been referred to a rheumatologist due to possible irregular ANA results. I always thought I had low thyroid, but now I'm suspecting it might be high. My TSH levels were on the low side and my T3 levels were on the high side (of "normal...")... and those are indicative of hyperthyroid. I also have EVERY SINGLE SYMPTOM of hyperthyroid (except for weight loss... I'd be in the 10% of people who actually gain weight with hyperthyroid...).</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm thinking I might have to travel several hours to find an endocrinologist that will see me without a referral, since my general practitioner seems to think my thyroid is "normal" and won't refer me. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyway long story short is that I'm finally at my wits end about this. I'm emotionally exhausted and anyone who knows me knows that I don't cry easily and I very rarely let myself cry. I can tell you the exact last time I cried, and it was in May of 2015... So the fact that I'm sitting in bed about to cry my eyes out is a big deal... The fact that I'm posting it on Facebook is a big deal...</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">(I have to say that my husband has been amazing throughout this. He has been so helpful and empathetic. I am very grateful.)</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">So that's the update. Thanks for reading and thanks for caring. And if you're the praying type, I'd really appreciate if you'd remember me in your prayers.</span></span>Julie Arthur // alonewithmytea.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09810046816078845584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071006504303942306.post-51487573230409935152017-01-06T20:48:00.000-06:002017-01-06T20:48:18.662-06:00How to have a perfect house in 6 steps || Nailed it<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Step 1<br />A gorgeous kitchen sink</h2>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJF-Xyo5064tghxESUtefm1NWimlMRE_B6Y-TDmOgYobKFMU4BTJ4IEFQKFdwN3XTMR20R713tC-chInXnUX-16mz0lWCXrY6XYQNVZVhq4GQbR6nrVPpgmWylyGEnyL_BWIDiVtM3Aym/s1600/kitchen+sink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJF-Xyo5064tghxESUtefm1NWimlMRE_B6Y-TDmOgYobKFMU4BTJ4IEFQKFdwN3XTMR20R713tC-chInXnUX-16mz0lWCXrY6XYQNVZVhq4GQbR6nrVPpgmWylyGEnyL_BWIDiVtM3Aym/s640/kitchen+sink.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Via <a href="http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2016/12/at-home-with-kelly-christine-sutton-in-golden-texas.html">http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2016/12/at-home-with-kelly-christine-sutton-in-golden-texas.html</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://imgflip.com/i/1h7xsh"><img src="https://i.imgflip.com/1h7xsh.jpg" title="made at imgflip.com" /></a></div>
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</h2>
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Step 2<br />A "dreamy" dining room</h2>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpQK2kMAIPYdo7H8FKi2fre0s6W_XNsqQQiMj12fC13RPpSak_6_QYilzQ3NLPBsw2peWi1aYVJHGDUuOJiPABvY9Nahtl9mPIrO2pQevSxvNlNrhJ47Eup-v1eaM37CeXC5AktzLInQb/s1600/Dining+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpQK2kMAIPYdo7H8FKi2fre0s6W_XNsqQQiMj12fC13RPpSak_6_QYilzQ3NLPBsw2peWi1aYVJHGDUuOJiPABvY9Nahtl9mPIrO2pQevSxvNlNrhJ47Eup-v1eaM37CeXC5AktzLInQb/s640/Dining+room.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Via http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/6-stylish-steps-to-a-your-dreamiest-dining-room-yet-214574?preview=true&crlt.pid=camp.moe1GOVq6P6T</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://imgflip.com/i/1h7xxu"><img src="https://i.imgflip.com/1h7xxu.jpg" title="made at imgflip.com" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<br /></h2>
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Step 3<br />A classy, curated bookshelf</h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsLMr5NKY0ckUs_ymsyIXovRdAqWKZI7m5ElalJ74oUYzDqETc1Sb8hvLU_SHBAcNskrLYxSd8qPG-14QN6PNEidPd74CxlCHvfAgU1JWSvOnu1C1SVUEveDiemllE1O3bk5ZcmpgyiLr/s1600/Bookshelf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsLMr5NKY0ckUs_ymsyIXovRdAqWKZI7m5ElalJ74oUYzDqETc1Sb8hvLU_SHBAcNskrLYxSd8qPG-14QN6PNEidPd74CxlCHvfAgU1JWSvOnu1C1SVUEveDiemllE1O3bk5ZcmpgyiLr/s640/Bookshelf.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Via http://www.refinery29.com/homepolish-upper-east-side-apartment?crlt.pid=camp.5xwC6rFT9KoO&amp&crlt.pid=camp.5rs3cDqvqWsg&crlt.pid=camp.hu9uAYh1jKzv&crlt.pid=camp.HofFU8QDgR0C#slide-11</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://imgflip.com/i/1h7xzs"><img src="https://i.imgflip.com/1h7xzs.jpg" title="made at imgflip.com" /></a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<br /></h2>
Step 4<br />A functional, organized home office space<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivwc4cETfDteKqBtegxnrfMCdZHoQf5Y79D_pRoVZ95JaMWZNxHE_nxbJpRQ6a3-Qg2vUL0yVE-SytEtQUwTsBBYT4YIGCvFwkb02uWp_QrDEPDZym8l9EMI5qsPZhgAxyu0ecBQbSzEm/s1600/Craft+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivwc4cETfDteKqBtegxnrfMCdZHoQf5Y79D_pRoVZ95JaMWZNxHE_nxbJpRQ6a3-Qg2vUL0yVE-SytEtQUwTsBBYT4YIGCvFwkb02uWp_QrDEPDZym8l9EMI5qsPZhgAxyu0ecBQbSzEm/s640/Craft+room.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Via https://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/?m=image&id=5554645&type=scraproom&start=40</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://imgflip.com/i/1h7y1e"><img src="https://i.imgflip.com/1h7y1e.jpg" title="made at imgflip.com" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<br /></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Step 5<br />A cozy, welcoming guest room</h2>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tMhI9Z9tvOS_kMXGnk5tE0D6pwgH7bNa2PepHi3ZBeCAs-03WB_PVpK27GQc4pIPR6UPBaK9FySxnLgb19Io6Kgrynolb1xqtjc7V5hWjOJy1c2RQrYyoYL2pxkDTQkZe5AcoHiTyZf0/s1600/guest+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tMhI9Z9tvOS_kMXGnk5tE0D6pwgH7bNa2PepHi3ZBeCAs-03WB_PVpK27GQc4pIPR6UPBaK9FySxnLgb19Io6Kgrynolb1xqtjc7V5hWjOJy1c2RQrYyoYL2pxkDTQkZe5AcoHiTyZf0/s640/guest+room.jpg" width="454" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Via http://www.zdesignathome.com/cozy-chic-guest-room-retreat-update/</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://imgflip.com/i/1h7y2b"><img src="https://i.imgflip.com/1h7y2b.jpg" title="made at imgflip.com" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<br /></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Step 6<br />A sparkling fresh bathroom counter</h2>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGW2DcyJ6LH0Pg7B51aq5FsYdrKjfa0v646ZLbNYMU2Ndly7sKONoBkIL7yioQf4UTsocxxTa5I3b916QlYcS89nV4l38DW3hLHcNjVcbSEbWvDZx8RiVFyGYVQIaj7HzS9noFWSo0Wiq9/s1600/bathroom+counter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGW2DcyJ6LH0Pg7B51aq5FsYdrKjfa0v646ZLbNYMU2Ndly7sKONoBkIL7yioQf4UTsocxxTa5I3b916QlYcS89nV4l38DW3hLHcNjVcbSEbWvDZx8RiVFyGYVQIaj7HzS9noFWSo0Wiq9/s640/bathroom+counter.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Via https://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=127378</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://imgflip.com/i/1h7y36"><img src="https://i.imgflip.com/1h7y36.jpg" title="made at imgflip.com" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<h2>
So that about sums it up! Have a great weekend and don't forget to nail it!</h2>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Julie Arthur // alonewithmytea.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09810046816078845584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071006504303942306.post-55407147631978906082017-01-02T16:50:00.003-06:002017-01-02T16:50:54.588-06:00Things I want to do in 2017<a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2017/01/2016-goal-recap.html" target="_blank">Yesterday I published a recap of my 2016 goals and how I did/didn't do at completing them...</a><br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Here are all the things I want to do in 2017!</h2>
<br />
I would like to <span style="font-size: large;">write and publish an ebook or emagazine.</span> I have absolutely no idea what to write about... so if you have any suggestions on what you would be interested in reading, please leave a comment!<br />
<br />
Another cross-over goal from last year is to <span style="font-size: large;">get a handle on my health issues.</span> Find a doctor who will actually <i>do something</i> about my crazy symptoms, even though my blood work is "normal."<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Be more active - make healthier choices.</span> Do more yoga and pilates, eat more fruits and vegetables.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Seriously look into a PhD program, and maybe apply.</span> This is something I've wanted to do for soooo long but just haven't taken seriously. Mostly because I have been back and forth on what I actually want to study. I think I've made up my mind that I would like to study musicology (instead of conducting, which is what my Master's is in)... but the thought of "giving up" conducting is very scary, so I'm not convinced yet...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Blog more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Organize my office/art supplies.</span> Well we're 2 days into the new year and I've already made some good progress on this goal! High five!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Purge and have a yard sale. </span>We seem to collect so much junk around my house. I need to just get rid of it! I'm going to donate what I can and have a yard sale for the rest.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Decorate my bedroom. </span> It's half-way there. Just need a few more finishing touches.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sell at least one thing, either on Etsy or Society6.</span> I have so many designs that I want to create into notebooks or notecards or art prints... I just need to do it! <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Downgrade" to part-time work, or at least find a job where I can work from home. </span>We haven't been in a place, financially, to be able to do this. But after this school year I would like to make this happen. I think a lot of my health issues stem from the fact that I'm so exhausted and stressed out from my job. I want to seriously make this happen.<br />
<br />
And, finally, <span style="font-size: large;">find balance. </span> 2016 was a rollercoaster of ups and downs, emotional highs and lows, for various reasons, but mostly related to my job. I really need to find a way to find balance in my life and be able to "shut off" work when I'm at home and just be able to relax and enjoy life.<br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
WOW that's a lot of goals! I hope I can follow through on all of them!<br />What are your goals for 2017?</h2>
Julie Arthur // alonewithmytea.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09810046816078845584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071006504303942306.post-65596781532076431302017-01-01T15:10:00.001-06:002017-01-01T15:10:11.226-06:002016 Goal RECAP<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Last year I gave myself some resolutions, or "<a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2016/01/2016-goals.html" target="_blank">goals</a>," as I called them. Let's see how I did.</h2>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzewgngBMbDh1eYMJiRAtBduoy3vtYa6o-lu_15FlhWv9DsPWhfAe4BCLqWbKd8GOBt9H6nf9TGwF3tXn3piy9LlaDisd5g61Qm-BfMF9BXYb7_mYgWbxLa-2PqQ-TXYEvtXQei3fmRP5U/s1600/goals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzewgngBMbDh1eYMJiRAtBduoy3vtYa6o-lu_15FlhWv9DsPWhfAe4BCLqWbKd8GOBt9H6nf9TGwF3tXn3piy9LlaDisd5g61Qm-BfMF9BXYb7_mYgWbxLa-2PqQ-TXYEvtXQei3fmRP5U/s1600/goals.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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1. Get my health in order.<br />
I tried. I really tried. I saw many doctors, had many appointments, had much blood drawn, peed in cups, all that fun stuff. But nothing was resolved. And now I have a few more issues that are creeping up. Argh. <br />
<br />
2. Create a capsule wardrobe.<br />
Didn't happen. I wanted to wait until my weight fluctuations were manageable, which I thought would happen once I got my health issues figured out. But as you know from #1, that hasn't been resolved yet...<br />
<br />
3. Do more yoga.<br />
I did this! I also did Pilates quite regularly for awhile. Then my schedule got so busy that I had to drop it. But I still kept doing yoga. I want to do even more this year!<br />
<br />
4. More local tourism.<br />
I think I did this. Well, I don't know if it's "local" but we did a road trip and got to see several different states... does that count? (Summer Vacation <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2016/08/summer-vacation-vlog-1.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a> and <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2016/08/summer-vacation-vlog-pt-2.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a>)<br />
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5. Pay off some debt.<br />
Accomplished. Still have a bit more to pay off, but I was happy to check off a few items from our list!<br />
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6. Make time for things that make me happy.<br />
Done. I spent the summer finding beauty in <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2016/07/self-discovery-beauty-and-bread.html" target="_blank">different art forms</a>, and it was very therapeutic! I spent some time in my art journal, and I allowed myself to rest. I bought a piano! It has been so wonderful to be able to play whenever I want!<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
What else did I get up to in 2016?</h2>
<br />
I had another<a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2016/02/life-lately.html" target="_blank"> career breakdown</a>. Ugh. Not fun. <br />
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I wrote down some "<a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2016/03/life-hacks.html" target="_blank">life hacks</a>" that I love.<br />
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I found <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2016/04/snapshots-of-life.html" target="_blank">beauty</a> all <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2016/04/spring-around-here.html" target="_blank">around</a> me.<br />
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I wrote down my <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2016/04/my-favorite-literary-quotes.html" target="_blank">favorite literary quotes,</a> which turned out to be quite a popular post on my little blog!<br />
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I discovered <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2016/04/micellar-cleansing-water-do-or-dont.html" target="_blank">a new way to remove makeup.</a><br />
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I got very <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2016/05/big-fish-little-pond-little-fish-big.html" target="_blank">philosophical</a> after my <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2016/05/just-julie.html" target="_blank">New York trip</a>.<br />
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I offered some <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2016/06/free-stock-photos.html" target="_blank">free stock photos</a>.<br />
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I made a <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2016/06/making-tea-asmr.html" target="_blank">video of making tea.</a><br />
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I finally got to visit <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2016/07/whole-foods-haul-health-and-beauty.html" target="_blank">Whole Foods</a> again. Man, I miss that store!<br />
<br />
I also got to stock up at<a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2016/07/trader-joes-health-and-beauty-haul.html" target="_blank"> Trader Joe's.</a> Miss that store even more!<br />
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I redesigned and relaunched <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2016/08/we-teach-music.html" target="_blank">my other blog</a>.<br />
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I discovered my <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2016/09/whole-foods-haul-update-my-new-favorite.html" target="_blank">new favorite product.</a><br />
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I shared an <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2016/10/easy-curly-hair-updo.html" target="_blank">easy curly-hair updo</a>.<br />
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I learned a little bit more about myself, <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2016/11/quiz-your-husband.html" target="_blank">from my husband</a>!<br />
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And, finally, I reassessed my version of <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2016/12/culture-shock-3-years-later.html" target="_blank">"culture shock"</a> of living in The Deep South.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<br />All in all, 2016 had some major ups and downs, many of which I did not share on here. I'm grateful for a new year and a fresh start. 2017 Goals coming at ya tomorrow!</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<br />Thanks for reading!<br />Julie</h3>
Julie Arthur // alonewithmytea.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09810046816078845584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071006504303942306.post-34969331265732459542016-12-15T08:26:00.002-06:002016-12-15T08:26:26.933-06:00Culture Shock: 3 years later<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Alright, so I'm in the middle of my 3rd year of living in Alabama. Honestly I didn't think we'd be here this long! The first year felt like survival mode. I didn't have a whole lot of culture shock - I was just trying to do my job and get through the year. The second year was when it all "went down." <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2015/12/2015-in-review_31.html" target="_blank">I had some horrible experiences last year,</a> <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2015/08/conflicting-dreams.html" target="_blank">I hated my job</a>, and I wanted to be anywhere but here! This year has been a bit more relaxed. <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2016/07/self-discovery-beauty-and-bread.html" target="_blank">I spent the summer finding inspiration</a> and motivation to continue in my career, and I've been much happier this school year.</div>
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It's true that I felt much more culture shock moving to Alabama than<a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2014/06/a-year-of-rio-de-janeiro.html" target="_blank"> when I moved to Brazil</a>. I've always been drawn to and felt comfortable with the Latin cultures. Alabama is the epitome of "The Deep South," and it was a struggle to adjust to living here. I've slowly gotten used to the way of life here, but there are still a few things that I still find a bit "shocking."<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The accents</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm still not used to hearing Southern accents all the time and I'm still not used to hearing "y'all" all the time. I hear it all day, every day, but I'm still not used to it!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The formality</span></div>
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People are just a bit more formal here than I'm used to. It's not a bad thing. I'm just not used to it. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bad drivers</span></div>
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Seriously... there are no words...</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The low cost of living</span></div>
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This is one main reason why we moved here. And it's what's kept us here for several years. I'm still amazed at how inexpensive our rent is and how nice our house is for the low price we pay!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Weather</span></div>
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So here in the South we don't really get all 4 seasons. But we get much more "weather" than I'm used to. I grew up in Southern California where the seasons are "hot" and "dry" and "hot and dry." Alabama does get cold in the winter (it freezes occasionally) and it gets hot and humid in the summer. Personally, I love humidity. But we also get really bad thunderstorms and <i>tornadoes.</i> OMG just the word "tornadoes" freaks me out. I get borderline panic attacks when I hear a tornado siren. Coupled with the fact that we don't have basements or shelters here... it's a bit scary. I have nightmares about tornadoes now. </div>
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Overall, living here has been a positive experience. We have grown as a couple, we have grown in our careers, and we have met some really great people. We have also met some really not-great people, but I'm choosing to focus on the positives. Here is where we got our first "baby," and for that I will be forever grateful! While we don't plan on staying here forever, I am thankful for the times we have had here so far!<br />
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<br />Julie Arthur // alonewithmytea.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09810046816078845584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071006504303942306.post-28509575567774128472016-11-21T19:14:00.000-06:002016-11-21T19:14:12.870-06:00Quiz your husbandI saw this "quiz" floating around Facebook and I thought it would be fun to share my answers on here. You're supposed to ask your husband these questions, without prompting, and write down exactly what he replies. Here's how mine did...<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>What is something I always say?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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“Sheesh mageesh”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>This is pretty accurate</i>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>What makes me happy?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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“A cup of tea and a good book”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>This is also very accurate.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>What makes me sad?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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“Parents of your students”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Sometimes this is true.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>How tall am I?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Him: “5’8”?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Me: “No”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Him: “5’6”?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Me: “No!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How tall are
you?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Him: “6 foot!” <o:p></o:p></div>
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Me: “I’m a LOT shorter than you!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Him: “I don’t know! Then how tall are you?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Me: “5’2.5”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Him: “Oh… shorter than 5’10” I can’t figure it out…”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>What’s my favorite thing to do?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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“Be on your phone.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>What?! (Actually that's probably accurate, but in my defense all of my books are on my phone! I specifically got the 6plus because it's a bigger screen on which to read my ibooks!)</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>What do I do when you’re not around?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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“Be on your phone.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“What?! Really?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“No, you like to watch the beauty blogs on the tv”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><i>This made me lol</i> </o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<b>If I become famous, what will it be for?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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“It will be multiple things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The first thing is standing up to the person that no one else will stand
up to, and some people will love you and some people will hate you for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then another thing… you would be famous
for being the founder of “Alone with my tea,” which will be called something
else and then people will complain and then you’ll turn it back to “Alone with
my tea.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will also be famous for um
hehehehe for starting a foundation for rescue dogs named “Little Bit of Love.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><i>This is so sweet. For those of you who don't know, our dog is named <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2015/11/lets-get-to-know-each-other.html" target="_blank">Little Bit</a> and he was a rescue dog! He's the love of our lives.</i> </o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<b>What makes you proud of me?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Him: “I’m really proud that you taught theater without having
taught theater before and never gave up.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: “I wanted to.” (give up)<br />Him: “I know.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A pause…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Him: “You’ll also be famous for your speed typing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll work for a newspaper and speed type
everything everyone says.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><i>It's true that I am a very speedy typer... and was typing everything he said as he was saying it...</i></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<b>What is my favorite food?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Him: “Umm ohhh let’s see… popcorn.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Me: “You just said ‘popcorn because that’s laying right there.”<br />Him: “hahahahaaha”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>In his defense, I DO eat popcorn a lot. But my favorite food, which he really should know, is fresh guacamole!</i></div>
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<b>What is my favorite restaurant?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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“You really like Rodeo, but you like the place in San Jose
with the salads better.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><i>Actually the place with the salads was the University's food court... and apparently I talk about it a lot. I just really miss having a fresh salad every day for lunch! </i> <i>Rodeo is a local Mexican restaurant and I like it because it's very authentic, and Mexican food is my comfort food.</i></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<b>Where is my favorite place to visit?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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“Italy”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>I would have been more generic and said, "The beach," but Italy is also cool.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>If I could go anywhere, where would it be?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">“The rental that we stayed at with
the Coopers in Paraty.”</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><i>I don't have any posts of that house in particular, but I do have a <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2013/12/paraty-part-5-colorful-accents.html" target="_blank">lot of posts</a> about <a href="http://www.alonewithmytea.com/2013/12/paraty-part-1.html" target="_blank">Paraty</a>!</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -24px;">
<i>I</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Do you think you could live without me?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Technically yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
only for a few hours.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>How do I annoy you?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Him: “Whoa! Getting real!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By publishing my life on your blog. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hehehe… Umm… uh… by insisting on answers.”<br />Me: “No, for reals though.”<br />Him: “Well sometimes you do!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it’s things
that you know what the answer is…”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>What is my favorite movie?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Always always always forget them… Ok, uhhh… I’m sick I
can’t think…" (I prompted him a little bit...by mentioning the show that my students just did this past week, "Singin' in the Rain," which is also my favorite movie...)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"I thought there were a few others that you liked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like, um White Christmas.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Who is my celebrity crush?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Morgan Freeman… who could resist that voice?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Ummmmm.... actually I was thinking more along the lines of Tom Hiddleston or Chris Hemsworth...</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<b>You get a phone call that I’m in trouble… who am I with?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Him: “I don’t answer phone calls that I don’t know the number
to... but if you’re in trouble you’d be in trouble with the law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, that’s not a good one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’d be with Rosana doing something… getting
in trouble with Rosana.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Me: “Doing what?”<br />Him: “Doing what isn’t part of the question.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>This is probably accurate. Rosana wouldn't do anything illegal, but she'd find plenty of ways for us to have some fun! </i></div>
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Well there you have it, folks. I guess he does know me pretty well! ;)</div>
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And here we are trying to get a cute picture...</div>
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xoxo,</div>
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Julie</div>
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Julie Arthur // alonewithmytea.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09810046816078845584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071006504303942306.post-12460311738895355312016-10-20T08:46:00.001-05:002016-10-20T08:46:31.445-05:00Easy Curly Hair Updo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I did this hairstyle a few days ago, and I got sooo many compliments on it...which I thought was strange because it took literally 3 minutes, and I felt like I just threw it up. But everyone at work told me it looked so fancy and asked why I was so dressed up.</div>
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It's a super easy hairstyle, and I'm sure you can figure out how I did it just by looking at these pictures...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEntHc3dIp6dhKjj9IJjV9XI-aUU5WcA_xREd2ndGyaTDeB28VEOIv9Q_YtuHKo8SANDGNeBDbPmYGwxR7T97i9wll5OS5kXR9HPviEOf5PlYBCghxvswKjAobTws2wn7VKGl5DB_fNEfF/s1600/IMG_1254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEntHc3dIp6dhKjj9IJjV9XI-aUU5WcA_xREd2ndGyaTDeB28VEOIv9Q_YtuHKo8SANDGNeBDbPmYGwxR7T97i9wll5OS5kXR9HPviEOf5PlYBCghxvswKjAobTws2wn7VKGl5DB_fNEfF/s640/IMG_1254.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWHHqvyqrZJnh6ofPlssnyUKIQJ5Ng4LxsuhTxHlO7_X0Z_fCg6kzldkJmBNpvAf3VBGLrC9k4nz7ZBSmj6Kfgr2jD09tvcavV8dX5xYFP66z9oo1hyphenhyphenMng7V6LWiLHvmyk0QYCEaK88n3/s1600/IMG_1257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWHHqvyqrZJnh6ofPlssnyUKIQJ5Ng4LxsuhTxHlO7_X0Z_fCg6kzldkJmBNpvAf3VBGLrC9k4nz7ZBSmj6Kfgr2jD09tvcavV8dX5xYFP66z9oo1hyphenhyphenMng7V6LWiLHvmyk0QYCEaK88n3/s640/IMG_1257.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSm6LNcdKdp1rCIssux6OdYwBahILhELB3LN7h4D6J6joOUIldlTitwpujNtg9IfDihJmEzyLhz9gteaoRRHhPOYCOWbsyys_CiUoA3Y5FPZzCRwpn7CFYdFgZiNAWJ3RTlNn2pDAokdY/s1600/IMG_1258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSm6LNcdKdp1rCIssux6OdYwBahILhELB3LN7h4D6J6joOUIldlTitwpujNtg9IfDihJmEzyLhz9gteaoRRHhPOYCOWbsyys_CiUoA3Y5FPZzCRwpn7CFYdFgZiNAWJ3RTlNn2pDAokdY/s640/IMG_1258.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Did you guess???</div>
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Here's how I did it:</div>
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I had 2-day old hair, so I simply spritzed it with a little water and added a little bit of mousse to tame the frizz... (curly girls know what I'm talkin' about!)</div>
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Then I grabbed a bit from the top section and twisted it into a bun and secured it with a couple of bobbi pins.</div>
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<br />Then I grabbed a bit from the middle and twisted it into a bun and secured it with a couple of bobbi pins.</div>
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<br />Then I grabbed the rest of the hair and twisted it into a bun and secured it with a couple of bobbi pins...</div>
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It's literally just 3 buns on top of each other. I added a flower because I was feeling flowery that day. But this would look elegant with some sort of sparkly headband, or even some sparkly pins in the buns.</div>
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Tag me if you try it out!</div>
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Instagram: @juliesmitharthur</div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/alonewithmytea">Pinterest.com/alonewithmytea</a></div>
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Julie Arthur // alonewithmytea.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09810046816078845584noreply@blogger.com0