The Atlanta Homeschool Expo 2011

Today my whole family and I drove alllll the way up to the Cobb Galleria centre to "spy" on the Homeschool Expo. ;) We've been vendors at the GHEA convention for the past 3 years and wondered if it might be worth our while to try out the homeschool expo too. (we decided we'll probably try somewhere else... possibly the big FPEA convention in Florida).

Originally we were going to visit on Friday and then hit Friday Frisbee on our way back home, but we decided (fortunately, in my opinion) to do Frisbee and the convention on separate days. So we went today, Saturday.

We had great difficulty finding a parking space when we arrived just after noon, but we made it and then traversed a partially underground tunnel (cool!) to get to the convention center itself and the exhibit halls.

While Mama asked about using a wheelchair (her ankle has been bothering her with flare-ups recently with her RA - please keep her in your prayers) my brothers and I gawked shamelessly like country bumpkins at the shiny marble floors and huge, high, circular ceiling in the entryway of the convention center. It was most impressive and living in a small town like we do, we don't see much of the like very often. ;)

I have almost no pictures of our day except for the striking bouquet of artificial flowers in the foyer (see above)

And the stairs & escalators going up to the second floor (see below)

Because once we signed up at the registration booth I heard about this 'scavenger hunt' the convention was doing. My ears perked up when I heard about the prize.

An iPad.

Uh-huh. That's why I decided it might be worth a shot doing the little scavenger hunt thingy. I actually won my first iPod Shuffle (that, sadly, found a watery grave when I left it in the pocket of the hoodie I wore at the gym and it went through the washing machine) - in a contest a few years ago at my orthodontist's to see who could get the most words out of the letters in "I LOVE MY BRACES". My total was over 780 words. (Including things like "Cobra" and "Olive") :D Yeah, it took me 3 days.

So... I sort of had some luck winning Apple products in the past so I have a wild hope that I might win one this time.
But get this - I only had until 3:00 to turn in the scavenger hunt list! So I buzzed around the exhibit hall and, booth-by-booth, asked people if they were on the list. There were clues about each vendor you had to write down, but it was faster to just go down the rows and ask people. Some people were very helpful and just signed their initials and vendor name right away and some made me discover which clue went with their booth.
It would sound like this... I would walk up to a booth and ask "Are you on the scavenger hunt list?" And they would either say yes, or no. If yes, I continued "Great! Do you know which one you are?" Handing them my list of clues. Some people said yes and proceeded to add themselves to the list, and some people replied "Do YOU know which one we are?" And made me figure it out on my own.

What is it about people giving pretty girls a hard time? Especially the young guys running the college booths and various bored old men with odd senses of humor??? :P *sigh*

And then after I'd found about 43 of the people on the list (out of a possible 60 or so, I think?) one vendor helpfully told me that you only needed 30 to submit your list! And lo and behold, I checked the top of my sheet of paper where some stuff was listed in fine print... and it was so. *facepalm*

The end of the story is that I got the scavenger hunt submitted by 2:45 PM, nicely before 3:00! Yay. Now I just have to pray that my sheet gets randomly drawn as the winner. If I win, the iPad will become our family iPad and all will share it equally.

But guess what - I heard from the man running the registration booth that they only had about 15 people turn in scavenger hunt sheets. So the odds are pretty good!

~*~

I'm pretty exhausted from my busy weekend, and glad that we are planning on staying home tomorrow and doing some Bible study on our own (Daddy is teaching to us out of Hebrews, chapter by chapter). Frisbee really tuckered me out this week and although some of the stiffness got worked out in walking around the exhibit hall this morning ... I'm still achey and sore and just. plain. tired.

So this is what I hope the rest of my evening will be - Quiet. Relaxed. Peaceful. Perhaps finishing my Jane Austen novel by the light of a cozy lamp. That's what I'll be doing. :)

How was your weekend? What have you been up to? I'd love to hear about it in the comment section. :)

Have a blessed Sunday!

Flower Photos

Rain is pouring outside my window as I sit here typing at my desk. Thunder rolls, lightning crashes. It's a gloomy day! But I have sunshine in my heart, and I know the storm shall soon pass away.

And so, just for fun, I uploaded a TON of flower and butterfly and garden pictures. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them! :)

These pictures were taken at Callaway Gardens on the first Sunday of April.

Beautiful sun-kissed pansies

Peach blossoms. Oh yes.

Blooming peach trees.

This is either Eidelweiss, or snowdrops. I'm not sure.

A frilly Hibiscus flower

The fiery heart of a tulip

A slightly ragged, yet still gorgeous butterfly.

A blue butterfly resting in peace.

A small orange and brown butterfly, brilliantly illuminated by the sun

An owl butterfly reposing in a shady spot of the garden.

Crisp, oh-so-Dutch red and white tulips.

A bright profusion of double daffodils and pink tulips

Soft pink cherry blossoms

One of my most favorite spots in Callaway- petunia baskets float above a bubbling fountain 

Bright pink hyacinths pop against the dark green leafy background in this picture.

Cascading hollyhocks with open, spotted throats.

Pure, lovely, white easter lilies.

Delicate tendrils emerge from the heart of this white orchid.

Creamy yellow orchids glow with a pearlescent sheen

Tangy orange tulips, peach and yellow jonquils, ah! This is life. ;)

Light pink tulips dance in this bright sunshine.

Back at my house, I took a few pictures of these gorgeous irises with butter yellow tops and drooping violet petals.

Think that was pretty? Wait until you see...

The inside.

These peppermint azaleas also look good enough to eat! They're one of my favorite plants in our yard.

I hope you liked the pictures! Leave me a comment letting me know which was your favorite.

The Incredible Shrinking Julia

I got the title of this post from my dad... this morning when I walked out of my room he said "Julia! You look really slim!" This was very encouraging for me, because for the past 23 days I have been cutting back with my diet... eating only 1 carb a day and very few sweets. For example, for breakfast I usually have an apple and scrambled eggs. (We eat scrambled eggs every morning at my house because our chickens lay very tasty ones, and we like them for breakfast) and for lunch, I have a salad with chicken or a hardboiled egg, tomatoes, cheese, pickles, sometimes carrot slices or peels, but no croutons. I happen to really like salads, so this isn't a bad thing for me. You have to be careful though, because some dressings like Ranch and Caesar are PACKED with calories. Dressings like oil & vinegar or Newman's Own Light Balsamic Vinaigrette are a better choice.

Here is a picture of one of my typical lunches...

Anyway, I said "Thanks!" and sat down next to my dad on the couch. He kept looking at me and said "Wow.... my incredible shrinking daughter!" This made me laugh. :) I've lost about 12.8 pounds, going from pushing 160 pounds to 147.2 pounds as of this morning. :) Yay! :)

A picture of me taken in my room today.
I would like to get down to where I only weigh 140 pounds. I think that would be a healthier weight for me... as I'm 5'9", rather on the tall side. :) I've been riding our exercise bike every day (except for when I was sick) burning close to 200 calories every day, which has helped me a lot.

I didn't find this 'diet plan' anywhere... I simply asked my mom what I could do to lose a few pounds and she reccommended eating fewer carbs and more vegetables. So far it's working quite well! :)

I believe that it is a biblical principle to take care of your body, and I'm not doing it in an overly obsessive way - I'm simply taking good care of what God gave me. :)

Love and Hugs,

Currently I'm feeling... Refreshed! :)

How To Make A Blog Button

I am SO sorry about the confusion with the blog buttons! On my original post it malfunctioned when I tried to copy in the html code that you have to copy from that box down there in my post. Some of my dear readers are having trouble with your code underneath your button turning into the actual picture. This will fix that. I've copied the instructions for making the actual button from my other post as well, just in case. :)

• First you have to take a picture and re-size it... I think 200 x 200 pixels is the biggest you can get it and still have it fit on your sidebar. My image is now that size. I used Olympus Master to get mine the exact size that I wanted. If you can't do that you can click 're-size' once the picture is on photobucket. "Small" works. *TIP* A square image works best.


• Next you have to upload your re-sized picture to Photobucket.com, or another picture-hosting site. you have to create a username and password. But it's free.
  


• Copy and paste the HTML of the image to an HTML/javascript gadget in your sidebar. On Photobucket, all you do is wave your mouse over the image and four different codes will pop up beneath... you'll want the third one down.
  


• Now you have to get tricky and change the code. Don't worry, I will tell you exactly what to type where. -if you used photobucket- Your code will say .. something like "a h r e f = http / / : 'your photobucket username' " Right there you erase it and put in your blog address. (right after the address it will have a line / and a question mark ? .
  


• Please click on THIS LINK and copy and paste the code from the box on that post. I fought long and hard with my computer to put that code on this post, but I'm sorry to say that the computer won. (Arrrrgh.) So I'm going to have to direct you to my friend Laney's blog. How she got the code on her post I have no idea. :D

put that code in a "Text" gadget in your sidebar. I put mine just underneath the button. Erase the 'your text here' and copy and paste the code from your button image into that exact spot where the 'your text here' was. And you have a button!

In my mad post scrambling my pretty signature got deleted, (argh) so for today It's just plain...

Julia

Off To The Land That WARM Forgot...

Well... today my Mom, Dad, Brother, Other Brother, and I are bustling about, packing and organizing and packing and packing stuff for our trip to Michigan. We're leaving tomorrow! :D

I'm not opening my suitcase until we get there... it's about to burst! (I seriously hope it doesn't!!)

I'm packing books to take along to read on the way. My mom also made audiobooks for us to listen to.

Now, faithful readers, I have 2 questions for you. Don't let me down on the first one!!

1. What are some games and/or activities that you and your family do while on long car trips?

2. What favorite, special vacation has your family taken - that you remember?

So the next post will probably be written from Michigan! :D

Ta-Ta-For-Now!

Julia

I'm: Working!

Hola, Amigas! :)

Fall is in the air!! It's so lovely outside, with the leaves just starting to change colors and a little cool breeze blowing around. I love Autumn! :)

(The Movie Quiz is still going! Leave your guesses!)

Love,
Julia

P.S.
HAPPY AUTUMN!!!

Well? What do you Think?

I'm looking for a new background for my blog. This purple-bluey striped and swirled one is called 'Sugar Shoppe, Plum" and I can't decide if I want to keep it or not! I like it, but...is there a better option?? Did you like the old one better?? I'm also considering a few other options...



1.



2.



3.



4.

So...which do you like the best? I couldn't really find one that was just perfect...although there are a LOT of cute backgrounds at the site I found... Anyway, please let me know what you think!

Blessings,

Julia

Update:

I think I'll stay with the one I have now for a while... and keep looking in the meantime. They're continually adding new ones over at "The Cutest Blog On The Block!" Check it out...it's so easy to use! Just copy and paste!

Exposing Narnia

Now hold on, before you get all riled up and mad at me I want to say that I do not want to offend anyone or start a long involved conversation on C.S. Lewis's background and religious beliefs. :) But there is information out there that I believe needs to be considered. I have just found a good source of info at this blog, Exposing Narnia, and it has some very important information about certain aspects of the Chronicles of Narnia that are quite disturbing...and true.

Please, if you have read the Chronicles of Narnia or watched any of the movies or are in any way interested about knowing more about the things behind it, please click here and read this blog thoroughly, especially some of the links.

I'm praying that all of you who read the blog will be enlightened as you peruse the information. Form your own conclusions...I've formed mine.

Blessings to all of you, my dear readers.

Julia

I Got An E-mail The Other Day...

...And it was quite a shock. It was a quiz of sorts, of how "Girly" you were. I am really out of touch with our culture if this is the typical "Girly" there is out there.

Many of the items (The majority, I'd say...) on the list were decidedly worldly, immoral, and most UN-Biblical. These I mentally labeled as fitting with the "Worldly Girl" stereotype.

Some of the items on the list were neutral, and what I consider completely a personal preference, i.e. if you love horses or if you just don't care for them too much.

Lastly, a very few items on the list squeezed into fitting with my idea of a Biblically feminine young woman.

Here is the original list:

How Girly Are You~
Check what applies to you:


[ ]my fingernails/toenails are almost always painted

[ ] during the summer the only shoes I wear are flip flops

[ ] my favorite toys as a child were Barbie

[ ] my favorite color is PINK or PURPLE

[ ] I did/do gymnastics

[ ] I love skirts

[ ]Hollister is one of my favorite places to shop

[ ] I love tight jeans

[ ] I love chocolate

[ ]I've never had a real job

[ ]my hair is almost always straightened

[ ] I have a myspace

[ ]I would love to hang out at the mall with friends

[ ]I have a real diamond ring

[ ] I've gone to a tanning salon

[ ]I've gone to the beach to tan

[ ]I have more than 10 pairs of shoes not including slippers

[ ] I wear a shower cap

[ ]my cell phone might as well be part of me

[ ]I wear mascara everyday

[ ]I've been or am on a diet

[ ] bathing suits are cute

[ ] I don't know the difference between a sheep and a goat

[ ]big sunglasses are really cute!

[ ]I have gotten my nails done before

[ ]I own over 10 purses

[ ]MTV is one of my favorite channels

[ ]all I want to do at sleepovers is talk about boys

[ ] I love to have people do my hair

[ ] I give and receive hugs from all my friends

[ ] I hate bugs.

[ ]carnivals are so fun!

[ ]Summer is the BEST!

[ ]I'm waiting for my knight in shining armor

[ ] some musicians are hot

[ ] I am self-conscious

[ ]I cry often.

[ ]my car smells like vanilla or cherry

[ ]my dishes get washed more than once a week

[ ]I don't do sports

[ ]I don't like to run!!!

[ ]I squeal when I'm surprised.

[ ]I eat dried fruit as snack

[ ]I love romance novels

[ ]I dance around the house

[ ]I usually spend an hour or over to get ready to leave my house

[ ] I only have like 5 billion hair products

[ ]I love to get dressed up.

[ ]every part of my outfit needs to match

[ ] I talk on the phone at least once a day.

[ ]I apply lip stuff 50 times a day

[ ]I wish I looked like a model

[ ] hip hop is the best music

[ ] I pop my collar

[ ]I like to be the center of attention

[ ] guys with mohawks are weird

[ ] horses are beautiful

[ ] I'd rather not pay attention in school

[ ]kittens are adorable

[ ] I write my own music

[ ]I'd love to visit Hawaii

[ ] Valentines day is cute!

[ ] white is better than black.

[ ]my closet is CHOCK FULL of clothes. (I don't wear half of them though)

[ ]I love to read magazines.

[ ] I love to talk

[ ] I had Lisa Frank folders/posters/notebooks as a kid

[ ] my bubble baths are 1-2 hrs long

[ ] I have or still do plan ahead for my wedding

[ ]my friends and I are in a tight group

[ ] I like little kids(sometimes)

[ ]diet drinks are the best

[ ] I'm all about being vegetarian

[ ] I try my hardest not to eat McDonalds

[ ]I check my myspace/bebo/email daily

[ ] I love life, every second of it.

[ ] I have a lot of jewelry

[ ] my screen name(s) have x's in them

[ ] I have a friend named Ashley

[ ] anything can be cute.

[ ] it rocks to be a chick

[ ]it's not what they said it's the way they said it.

[ ]it's not what we should do it's what we shouldn't do.

[ ]pillows are soft and fluffy, I have more than 3 pillows on my bed

[ ]you love to play card games

[ ]you'd rather go shopping than on a hike.

[ ]something is fuzzy or soft...you gotta have it!

[ ]you love roses

[ ] you've cried in a movie.

[ ] boys are either jerks or really nice.

[ ] it's bad when something happens and it's still bad the next day.

Some of these things shocked me. (Can you guess which?) Some I was okay with...I happen to love roses...and some were iffy. I could say SO much more about these topics but for now I'm just asking for your opinion. What do you think about the items on this list? Does any of it mirror you? What did you dislike the most on this list?

Please let me know.

Julia

Cute Blingee I Made

Make custom Glitter Graphics

I took the picture of those pretty Hydrangeas and Petunias and then added a glowing frame, a butterfly, and labeled it "Just Perfect." :)
What do you think?
Julia

Here's The Secret Activity I've Been Up To...

Crocheting!! And no, it is not pronounced "Crow-chet-ing" It is said like "Crow - SHAY - ing"
What you see here are Granny Squares. I am making a queen-size afghan out of them. I have just about half of them done. When I finish crocheting all the squares, then comes the job of doing another row around each one in white, and then sewing the squares together with more white yarn.
As you can see, I am doing the blanket in a multi-colored pastel scheme.
The (center) square below is my favorite:

I had a little yarn left that has sparkly iridescent thread running through it.
I got a wonderful idea and crocheted with two strands of yarn at once, producing this effect:
The rainbow squares and blue-and-green squares are also double-stranded.
These are the two squares I'll be doing next. I'm kind of designing the blanket as I go along, so I'm experimenting with what colors look the best together...
I have been crocheting with almost every spare minute I have, so that has taken a little time away from my blogging.

INTERESTING NOTE: The blanket is designed following a pattern my Great-Grandmother used for a twin-sized afghan that is now residing in a cedar chest in my bedroom.

I hope you won't be shy, please tell me if you like to crochet or knit too!

Julia

So - Who's Reading?

Dear Readers,

I love comments! If you happen to come across my blog please drop me a note of your opinion of it...I'm trying to get an idea of how many visitors my blog is getting. Thank you so much,

:)

Julia