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Take Time Out For You! 03.17.2011

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOLRn5N_LcQAoFO7jdixPh6TV8dl-AjPcPrEe1FkDhyphenhyphen1oCcxjzdXzEA1Oo_ncfcy3fZiHLKEI4L1ByHtg6hycOPS8sFaClJb316-hUvNI4jvYpRZQkps6Xx9PhB_gSvwTnYRmt0DC9t0/s1600/flickr+redo+7.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585129456563593170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOLRn5N_LcQAoFO7jdixPh6TV8dl-AjPcPrEe1FkDhyphenhyphen1oCcxjzdXzEA1Oo_ncfcy3fZiHLKEI4L1ByHtg6hycOPS8sFaClJb316-hUvNI4jvYpRZQkps6Xx9PhB_gSvwTnYRmt0DC9t0/s400/flickr+redo+7.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <div></div> <img alt="Advertisement" border="0" height="1" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/N5019.federatedmedia/B5123120.15;sz=1x1;pc=[TPAS_ID];ord=[timestamp]?" width="1" /> <p></p><p></p><p><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;234082553;58006817;g;pc=[TPAS_ID]"><img border="0" src="http://static.fmpub.net/banners/20110202/4d49a988dffbdCL-logo.jpg" /></a> <img alt="Advertisement" border="0" height="1" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/N5019.federatedmedia/B5123120.15;sz=1x1;pc=[TPAS_ID];ord=[timestamp]?" width="1" /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p>Thanks to Crystal Light for sponsoring this post. To learn more about how Crystal Light can flavor your day with 30 refreshing flavors, visit <a href="http://r1.fmpub.net/?r=http%3A%2F%2Fad.doubleclick.net%2Fclk%3B234082553%3B58006817%3Bg%3Bpc%3D%5BTPAS_ID%5D&k4=1368&k5={banner_id}">http://www.facebook.com/crystallight</a>.</p><p></p><div><br /></div><p></p><p>If there's something we all struggle with is balancing our time between work, children, family, friends and ... <em>self</em>. Why is it that "self" is always at the very end of our list? Interesting, eh? When, in fact, it should always be at the very top! I mean, how useful are we, really, if we are walking zombies for the rest of our family, friends and obligations? Not very. So! One of the things I purposefuly focus on is taking time out for myself every single day. Now... "how do you manage to do that?" I know, I know. You're wondering. To be honest? I wake up an hour earlier than I need to each and every morning. Trust me, it was torture at first. Ugh! I am not a morning person, at all! Especially not a 4:30 in the morning person. Blech! But, once I got used to doing it, my body and mind are wide awake at 4 am! Involuntarily! I usually beat the alarm clock! My trick? I go to bed an hour earlier. Done! </p><p></p><p>From 4:30-5:30, I read or journal. I don't turn on the TV or radio. I don't talk to anyone. I just sit quietly. It sets the tone for the rest of my day. I used to wake up 15-20 minutes before I had to head out the door and rush like a maniac to get everything done! What did that accomplish? A grumpy Mina for the rest of the day! It's truly amazing what 15-20 minutes or an hour each and every morning can do for your spirit and mind. Don't have much time in the morning? How about during your lunch break? Throughout college (when I was a full time student and a full time employee) I became a master at using every minute of my lunch break to relax. If I had a half hour, I would eat in 15 minutes and sit quietly for the other 15. If I had an hour... I'd eat in 15 and relax for 45. You get the idea! : ) No matter how busy you think you might be, there is always 15-20 minutes of rest and you time available. Call that friend of yours back another time. Shorten the amount of time you spend blabbing away on the cell phone. Limit the time you spend browsing the Net. Put the kids to bed 15 minutes earlier. Whatever it is that you need to do to take time out for you... do it. You are worth it! Good luck my lovelies!</p><p>Happy Decorating!</p><p>Mina<br /><br /></p><p></p><p>Remember, visit <a href="http://r1.fmpub.net/?r=http%3A%2F%2Fad.doubleclick.net%2Fclk%3B234082553%3B58006817%3Bg%3Bpc%3D%5BTPAS_ID%5D&k4=1368&k5={banner_id}">http://www.facebook.com/crystallight</a> to learn more about how Crystal Light can flavor your day with 30 refreshing flavors.  I was selected and paid for this sponsorship by the <a href="http://www.clevergirlscollective.com">Clever Girls Collective</a>, which endorses <a href="http://blogwithintegrity.com">Blog With Integrity</a>, as I do.</p><p></p><br /><p></p>

Take Time Out For You! 03.17.2011

Thanks to Crystal Light for sponsoring this post. To learn more about how Crystal Light can flavor your day with 30 refreshing flavors,...

12:13 PM

On A Different Note... 01.07.2011 - Pics of My Trip...

<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQij4OlMzVcSXv-hOZnYKxlUngRMrkrwvIAFZO_Y57C6s8ge9HyhCjgS0TfakCBS5E_3xG_D1jmz5tZwJzWiOkHLpMBxZNNtO7MYS-SjTQoSm3tjLar2RyJFHYbwP_yHIxnOrCfD7jpaA/s1600/collage.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558537993666950290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQij4OlMzVcSXv-hOZnYKxlUngRMrkrwvIAFZO_Y57C6s8ge9HyhCjgS0TfakCBS5E_3xG_D1jmz5tZwJzWiOkHLpMBxZNNtO7MYS-SjTQoSm3tjLar2RyJFHYbwP_yHIxnOrCfD7jpaA/s400/collage.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> I thought I'd leave you for the weekend with some pictures from my recent trip to Chicago... That's me (above) vowing to hear no evil, see no evil and speak no evil. : )<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEEr02KzinYrMfaIZ8G1oVBZa7niDOyZtabSP_tAxeLW_CPGK_CVJqWuq3otcX_9iLkPnqR9oKZbHTwbh92dtSn8YSO6vW0_CKEdQxRzOaZJgUA_n_Rzi2MUEoFe2JSkFnX9WH2MnFD0/s1600/167019_1790949132345_1198135003_32079384_3264248_n.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558537989291162834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEEr02KzinYrMfaIZ8G1oVBZa7niDOyZtabSP_tAxeLW_CPGK_CVJqWuq3otcX_9iLkPnqR9oKZbHTwbh92dtSn8YSO6vW0_CKEdQxRzOaZJgUA_n_Rzi2MUEoFe2JSkFnX9WH2MnFD0/s400/167019_1790949132345_1198135003_32079384_3264248_n.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Laying down on the sky deck at the Willis Tower (Former "Sears" Tower). And... yes... it is alllll glass!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyR3HItgyUeuMluwd5-zrioDPDunOPKPk3Og2EkZEMdgQcdyM1wWHaWUDUhRhqBP0_4xijBI5V9Pwp-hrl_tBQ8OnsBEzJJDq2bQZY9nlLOHTIsBt4K2g7DBN3OdM4h3pP3mbO3tGa8s/s1600/165730_1790981053143_1198135003_32079514_175379_n.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558537983374833218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyR3HItgyUeuMluwd5-zrioDPDunOPKPk3Og2EkZEMdgQcdyM1wWHaWUDUhRhqBP0_4xijBI5V9Pwp-hrl_tBQ8OnsBEzJJDq2bQZY9nlLOHTIsBt4K2g7DBN3OdM4h3pP3mbO3tGa8s/s400/165730_1790981053143_1198135003_32079514_175379_n.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 224px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> My sister snapped this picture of me in action as I snapped pictures of the city...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAVAKZAhLcaNT4SQ2PydNlkIo68N89U07zNVZCr3nKof20ahrzIiDUPemWxS-Npnb3PhP-lbtIlQ8EgExQWXkAVndJNt7yUkz3em9TSOKmwQWD2KfOyAVas1JH58yzJNKZrdm-htmAmQ/s1600/165773_1790956692534_1198135003_32079418_7559135_n.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558537608840899090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAVAKZAhLcaNT4SQ2PydNlkIo68N89U07zNVZCr3nKof20ahrzIiDUPemWxS-Npnb3PhP-lbtIlQ8EgExQWXkAVndJNt7yUkz3em9TSOKmwQWD2KfOyAVas1JH58yzJNKZrdm-htmAmQ/s400/165773_1790956692534_1198135003_32079418_7559135_n.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Moi! On Michigan Ave.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXpjNl2NmU9Rdc4mzCnbdeN2MM-USyfv2b8O48DtyhKl4HivUly7N0CEisYGK8eb9pucEfOoiNdFfXhKSlagWKpBV84bgYZQ_kD5WrFkss8emC3uXFtz7s9QZsycenbjXOd5u-LUzIbQ/s1600/163867_1790957092544_1198135003_32079419_6763360_n.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558537604404310594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXpjNl2NmU9Rdc4mzCnbdeN2MM-USyfv2b8O48DtyhKl4HivUly7N0CEisYGK8eb9pucEfOoiNdFfXhKSlagWKpBV84bgYZQ_kD5WrFkss8emC3uXFtz7s9QZsycenbjXOd5u-LUzIbQ/s400/163867_1790957092544_1198135003_32079419_6763360_n.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 224px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Me again! I feel so 1920s in this photograph!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEizAXRo9YCh3XXni9kNlrDW4E4idBXf1LswRB0kbQitCvw0ah-AOgPOIwCIWytdI6GE2AwX0BLNgEppy1688aRDdczS9cvWbg99M5xJtz52gPGiEHrz5JzNuMPciL7TJlhWq1xzGSWk/s1600/163400_1790947132295_1198135003_32079375_2103567_n.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558537606587340658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEizAXRo9YCh3XXni9kNlrDW4E4idBXf1LswRB0kbQitCvw0ah-AOgPOIwCIWytdI6GE2AwX0BLNgEppy1688aRDdczS9cvWbg99M5xJtz52gPGiEHrz5JzNuMPciL7TJlhWq1xzGSWk/s400/163400_1790947132295_1198135003_32079375_2103567_n.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Chicago, IL... isn't it pretty? : )<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmoGfGum-uvbprv6A6ylibh4w11aOtOFizr_pSGYTJNty-FCMrXQdx7mup520ATwjlb9SrNTkzxE83v-MKvVN6qP5BMWIiqMrww-RYV6f8gc2Z28IoshXMtiKRHKgwyZ2P9w_tulDcz4o/s1600/532.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558537602553814722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmoGfGum-uvbprv6A6ylibh4w11aOtOFizr_pSGYTJNty-FCMrXQdx7mup520ATwjlb9SrNTkzxE83v-MKvVN6qP5BMWIiqMrww-RYV6f8gc2Z28IoshXMtiKRHKgwyZ2P9w_tulDcz4o/s400/532.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> From the 104th floor of the Willis Tower<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesMj0MFE0-Mqf1qqFfNWTj1BrBlGQSmo8SzJ4SK0B4y7ZSvFhUWnTZBGtQeZCIWprBCAD1G4OWIiKs5VHCu1dJeODe1pUWe_VpB7idurZCDUj_3IwLrfj8Yp1IgqPfk0g6WbE5sx5CII/s1600/484.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558537595857200274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesMj0MFE0-Mqf1qqFfNWTj1BrBlGQSmo8SzJ4SK0B4y7ZSvFhUWnTZBGtQeZCIWprBCAD1G4OWIiKs5VHCu1dJeODe1pUWe_VpB7idurZCDUj_3IwLrfj8Yp1IgqPfk0g6WbE5sx5CII/s400/484.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> I just loved these fixtures... they're so boho. Just had to snap a pic of them!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvRqT8ZtsFU818qEEcLlExmmk7Iojgi2oxsp2Pvm98V2zvHjiYayyrwGWNzVX16X_b_NLK8Z16xLHhmPyXKhbuoPCCoa76xsaXxbhBYilegoH1ymC64DkA_RsBgy018Wrnfhz86_Igzk/s1600/517.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558537105343415634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvRqT8ZtsFU818qEEcLlExmmk7Iojgi2oxsp2Pvm98V2zvHjiYayyrwGWNzVX16X_b_NLK8Z16xLHhmPyXKhbuoPCCoa76xsaXxbhBYilegoH1ymC64DkA_RsBgy018Wrnfhz86_Igzk/s400/517.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Me! This is in the Willis Tower on the queue up to the Sky Deck.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL73cYl2WXLfeIERtRRQGKH55Idmow2OR9AuzvzpoeFQb7lX5ipK-6FK3uty8zr5G1KHFb230-yOe7iJzj4HrmIlatLjijbOT6UULfI_oDSGTETho3foMiliXzo6rRGuZQiIywmtjzgLQ/s1600/501.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558537098353648546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL73cYl2WXLfeIERtRRQGKH55Idmow2OR9AuzvzpoeFQb7lX5ipK-6FK3uty8zr5G1KHFb230-yOe7iJzj4HrmIlatLjijbOT6UULfI_oDSGTETho3foMiliXzo6rRGuZQiIywmtjzgLQ/s400/501.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Sorry, but I usually make my coffee run wherever I am!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUK71njhqF338ilojk5Y9aX94DKpB2Dqp1lCXGBVJ1EZ8CH-3rQnTOyYYZ87pXerLkSAIuJtCrmxNuBXcUJRCR-f3yyQQ8-M09bCfPLRYeN2j0XYhBavJ6JWUbvmCDltss42IcREuMf1Q/s1600/502.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558537094021964082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUK71njhqF338ilojk5Y9aX94DKpB2Dqp1lCXGBVJ1EZ8CH-3rQnTOyYYZ87pXerLkSAIuJtCrmxNuBXcUJRCR-f3yyQQ8-M09bCfPLRYeN2j0XYhBavJ6JWUbvmCDltss42IcREuMf1Q/s400/502.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Snowman family! Being from Florida, I'm always mesmerized by snow!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Bu3wniJ5Og5z-fm_9bDUy8Gw__Su9U5H8zeIS8j2ps8bUkklFHr_fd_-06gEEFFIWukazwkvVk7qU8_rSBBZuHye7PPm9IqLCsUDGvgU2kis76ZzqITHfQo0-nb27eXnBdfD-eDHnbE/s1600/479.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558537089359689010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Bu3wniJ5Og5z-fm_9bDUy8Gw__Su9U5H8zeIS8j2ps8bUkklFHr_fd_-06gEEFFIWukazwkvVk7qU8_rSBBZuHye7PPm9IqLCsUDGvgU2kis76ZzqITHfQo0-nb27eXnBdfD-eDHnbE/s400/479.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> How can I <em>not </em>visit my favorite store? Come on now! Anthro in Highland Park. I scored some pretty sweeeeet deals!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVP1Lh4mpUA2aWgdpB8ao1GVfz0PpAgAMvAksLlJUvu35f_mvKYLOnhJXYQppt_AydvGHWLYm1j4O2QyvLJQldWlTcLfJWgU5ScpF3M3-FXc2uUWl8u6Q37-EWXJ4ITHtIJLpVlS_gqKA/s1600/393.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558537083156445522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVP1Lh4mpUA2aWgdpB8ao1GVfz0PpAgAMvAksLlJUvu35f_mvKYLOnhJXYQppt_AydvGHWLYm1j4O2QyvLJQldWlTcLfJWgU5ScpF3M3-FXc2uUWl8u6Q37-EWXJ4ITHtIJLpVlS_gqKA/s400/393.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>See???<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMfKbrwVZQkNqUegjI2BwbFXCUGuCBQW7sPxIIRSXIyUscqy83sLygaQwQiHq8f60-GaGxWK_CQw0TTUe5TnnN08KQJ6trhBmqeI_b8l-yo6zWXvCWag0UMD5PEs60gmT416yPAuhw0I/s1600/371.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558536494886345378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMfKbrwVZQkNqUegjI2BwbFXCUGuCBQW7sPxIIRSXIyUscqy83sLygaQwQiHq8f60-GaGxWK_CQw0TTUe5TnnN08KQJ6trhBmqeI_b8l-yo6zWXvCWag0UMD5PEs60gmT416yPAuhw0I/s400/371.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Michigan Ave.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCdzWjRV08cMEHsSBAGUbYWAH-QjLFxxMwxkJLl9VT48_Ak_vkSzwlVLP-Pst5GKvSWtfSD1aA3uIab2oo98BHt_Nh6VoFzJPFadcDscfImg0zJkLXQPsDLuyDAfF4MyYiOlmz2gljTQ/s1600/347.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558536488037533074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCdzWjRV08cMEHsSBAGUbYWAH-QjLFxxMwxkJLl9VT48_Ak_vkSzwlVLP-Pst5GKvSWtfSD1aA3uIab2oo98BHt_Nh6VoFzJPFadcDscfImg0zJkLXQPsDLuyDAfF4MyYiOlmz2gljTQ/s400/347.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>This is actually a still shot of a video I shot for my hubby who was back home. : )<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrsPX1CWnf_bqmTmEcw5T5FGyxKtd3H0_Oe1krZBSCUjjbNdsal25tl_zQvrKdUccDOM3Y6YzQz2445k42oAGtXeobtm4bSbg3Wjluo0YALKF132UQrr_iKoW4TH2EYcwQaHdzJAsGJg/s1600/329.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558536481177475938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrsPX1CWnf_bqmTmEcw5T5FGyxKtd3H0_Oe1krZBSCUjjbNdsal25tl_zQvrKdUccDOM3Y6YzQz2445k42oAGtXeobtm4bSbg3Wjluo0YALKF132UQrr_iKoW4TH2EYcwQaHdzJAsGJg/s400/329.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Laying on the Sky Deck. Pretty surreal experience. A tad scary. Just a tad. You know, being that it's 104 floors above ground and all! </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZjv9d7X7Lud0pYd3PqIvm5EFcR0ndE3dvVfnV93jlOhsI9gBSiOQKMq7qDT-xSNiCTjr2BMCbaAgezhLb4U9jCEGF1a5383YJx3k0raHPaA4aj2f8CZg_NQhUYSqcel6sgnW_Uv3iLs/s1600/317.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558536474313028226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZjv9d7X7Lud0pYd3PqIvm5EFcR0ndE3dvVfnV93jlOhsI9gBSiOQKMq7qDT-xSNiCTjr2BMCbaAgezhLb4U9jCEGF1a5383YJx3k0raHPaA4aj2f8CZg_NQhUYSqcel6sgnW_Uv3iLs/s400/317.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Picture taken with my cell phone. Pretty nifty, eh?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qtmfFZqIfWYCZ8g6Dx0IXY7vbzMNz58zj-WVVPEkuabl3QZzf19dtvM5QSWnf1K66N63H0mcAAaEbfFWXiOvAIq5iTG9oUVLp4qiISTPM2j3K91Zo1J-qSE6EAzVrQMKmu0U8kYgdPo/s1600/345.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558536470361656690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qtmfFZqIfWYCZ8g6Dx0IXY7vbzMNz58zj-WVVPEkuabl3QZzf19dtvM5QSWnf1K66N63H0mcAAaEbfFWXiOvAIq5iTG9oUVLp4qiISTPM2j3K91Zo1J-qSE6EAzVrQMKmu0U8kYgdPo/s400/345.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Black and White photo of the city...</div><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEN0ZkEicppgoqex_xXGZR9mgn-hF1_eSi8Wjk1T17526gZHM-IUREShnK5otd2dFAIOyb4rnJgzfX1Z1UD80_a2w59sUY_9dac7vJBKakUDXhE9vb4ffBI_TTYZ8oayGKZCgOysLmOao/s1600/167801_1790955612507_1198135003_32079415_5087978_n.jpg"></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguljLHSosNaDsA5VSYHVcB0EKNSKq0CAXFtOWZmGk8tCWyvcLYxVIazKZCXinuhW3FzqLkittAh8te-PLst7spTpjWitwTlpme4hYwjonBaAjmJdwrk2YuHk2W-LoHPUJ_SU_qkNGbo5Y/s1600/167765_1790954812487_1198135003_32079412_808825_n.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558541447112583810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguljLHSosNaDsA5VSYHVcB0EKNSKq0CAXFtOWZmGk8tCWyvcLYxVIazKZCXinuhW3FzqLkittAh8te-PLst7spTpjWitwTlpme4hYwjonBaAjmJdwrk2YuHk2W-LoHPUJ_SU_qkNGbo5Y/s400/167765_1790954812487_1198135003_32079412_808825_n.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 224px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Downtown Chicago... retro style. : )</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwiTkLamQue01BnHS2VXc-byeMPAsnvNh-6e5a-YgiSZpys-Ttc9kvfhYZDzj3KYYAftVGFraEBx1ReF1Lm9iz0EEntV4Y4KUxB3T9rSqHzFwMb2jSVqZyjx_gVgft-PeJ4fzuRXwqzg/s1600/167170_1790967172796_1198135003_32079444_4891670_n.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558541440242022834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwiTkLamQue01BnHS2VXc-byeMPAsnvNh-6e5a-YgiSZpys-Ttc9kvfhYZDzj3KYYAftVGFraEBx1ReF1Lm9iz0EEntV4Y4KUxB3T9rSqHzFwMb2jSVqZyjx_gVgft-PeJ4fzuRXwqzg/s400/167170_1790967172796_1198135003_32079444_4891670_n.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 224px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Striking a pose apparently... : -/<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qp46rbkBghhTB3TGbufh-jhZMNdCeWGbd4De07eG3nzr4akSo-pQSGVfywIqLaTBqoSBIGySk82QmJ3UVK2JEmZ9nEABozHAtfQcgJLBunAKpAq74oLaXgHDu9K0BUI5Vw2BpuqRbPQ/s1600/167416_1790953772461_1198135003_32079407_1766602_n.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558541438995468850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qp46rbkBghhTB3TGbufh-jhZMNdCeWGbd4De07eG3nzr4akSo-pQSGVfywIqLaTBqoSBIGySk82QmJ3UVK2JEmZ9nEABozHAtfQcgJLBunAKpAq74oLaXgHDu9K0BUI5Vw2BpuqRbPQ/s400/167416_1790953772461_1198135003_32079407_1766602_n.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 224px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> I hope you enjoyed the pics!<br /><br /><div align="left">And so... I leave you with a glimpse of my holiday trip to Chi-Town, USA. : ) Beautiful city. Lots of fun. Very inspiring. Loved it. Have a beautiful weekend everyone! See ya Monday!<br /></div><div align="left">Happy Decorating!</div><div align="left">Mina</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>

On A Different Note... 01.07.2011 - Pics of My Trip...

I thought I'd leave you for the weekend with some pictures from my recent trip to Chicago... That's me (above) vowing to hear no ev...

7:17 AM

My Childhood Bedroom Was... 12.20.2010

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjOTQUpQuUv4kOziNpze07_qHo59N4KO2_7i3N9HvsxFFjjSRFTIsQs43Mkrkl2tq5BNH4z3yv9d7jgjMtSErt50Z_2JkL3eaXYEu07Ong8ZjZSX0kVHKd9O6VwAhFNLaJK6Io9ENI68/s1600/Picture+13.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552749624789774674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjOTQUpQuUv4kOziNpze07_qHo59N4KO2_7i3N9HvsxFFjjSRFTIsQs43Mkrkl2tq5BNH4z3yv9d7jgjMtSErt50Z_2JkL3eaXYEu07Ong8ZjZSX0kVHKd9O6VwAhFNLaJK6Io9ENI68/s400/Picture+13.png" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 271px; height: 400px;" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks to <a href="http://www.stonehouselove.com/">StonehouseLove</a> blogger, Claudia Clobes...</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMbivvPbPbu84G5JbLFTVQCrRICEPqLhNgPa6eI2IENBsdDmEbJYJO9xs3Y2P00tbUcOXSqn5HfP9c5GetkA6tPoQJ8g7Vr_kOS0lRyJqhQe4PlvJ0ogQriGiWaxwEi3UhiNaiApai7g/s1600/Dwell-Final1-300x131.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552749625575748066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMbivvPbPbu84G5JbLFTVQCrRICEPqLhNgPa6eI2IENBsdDmEbJYJO9xs3Y2P00tbUcOXSqn5HfP9c5GetkA6tPoQJ8g7Vr_kOS0lRyJqhQe4PlvJ0ogQriGiWaxwEi3UhiNaiApai7g/s400/Dwell-Final1-300x131.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 131px;" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">and the fantastic charity... <a href="http://www.dwellwithdignity.org/">Dwell with Dignity...</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I bring you... My childhood bedroom was... blog post.  In an effort to raise money for a worthy cause, Dwell with Dignity and Claudia Clobes have partnered up and are bringing dozens of stories your way of bloggers' childhood bedrooms for your reading enjoyment! You can check out the blogger post schedule <a href="http://www.stonehouselove.com/">here</a>. As you read, please remember to visit the Dwell with Dignity site <a href="http://www.dwellwithdignity.org/">here </a>to make a donation to the many needy families being helped by this fabulous organization...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6J0Dk3e_cFOP5RF6mJeO2A5ENh83l0TYySzH9lNVi4Xp5daK9eO8nPbej-BNjgxYXpg64Jio-kQBbZx_vUOLH_rEhIk8Uf59ihE3J64Aqzkz-Dksg6PwmpQjLh56FD1R3W_IOzH6q2zU/s1600/mom+and+I.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552709249164283474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6J0Dk3e_cFOP5RF6mJeO2A5ENh83l0TYySzH9lNVi4Xp5daK9eO8nPbej-BNjgxYXpg64Jio-kQBbZx_vUOLH_rEhIk8Uf59ihE3J64Aqzkz-Dksg6PwmpQjLh56FD1R3W_IOzH6q2zU/s400/mom+and+I.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 273px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">That's me... with my Mom.<br /></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtTkANKp-o8Fz4ow52bQkYacG_Og5DLMQ2dbKLcUitlXhb8vYoR5TCL2eKAW4cSyPWuELDXOlJxgAuIiA_YzymenKpR3TSXxbtQCKwduXGUSTwgJTRivgYwpcLyYnCr2n5HhaAN3VKW4/s1600/mina+with+stuffed+animals.bmp"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552709147911008194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtTkANKp-o8Fz4ow52bQkYacG_Og5DLMQ2dbKLcUitlXhb8vYoR5TCL2eKAW4cSyPWuELDXOlJxgAuIiA_YzymenKpR3TSXxbtQCKwduXGUSTwgJTRivgYwpcLyYnCr2n5HhaAN3VKW4/s400/mina+with+stuffed+animals.bmp" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I fear that I didn't really have a childhood bedroom to call my very own...</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNam0CfdF9T7bDNTNExjwkDc4lOw5DdtN2a4durUjAm6w0HSQG5Lb9OTznKMqx3AAoq3OGd9k-AQmDf0Jj8AZhX6HgueKSXuhmqF7cuH9pDdVkTCg-mEPACFPUaM046qAKh0dKeKu7Pdc/s1600/Mina+as+a+little+girl.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552709145503737698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNam0CfdF9T7bDNTNExjwkDc4lOw5DdtN2a4durUjAm6w0HSQG5Lb9OTznKMqx3AAoq3OGd9k-AQmDf0Jj8AZhX6HgueKSXuhmqF7cuH9pDdVkTCg-mEPACFPUaM046qAKh0dKeKu7Pdc/s400/Mina+as+a+little+girl.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 280px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> We moved... A LOT! I went to 14 different schools from Kindergarden through High School... my Mom was a tad bit of a gypsy... and she used to just get "bored"</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7T_DDoHb4b4Kv-Zd2p8KK31HdjNiZVXuGWDOG3Pm-I02uZXYmNxaKDRnWzxJGJT3zU-v1XiTG0wqFtxyC4B3Un7fd060JH7s-9H5iVFftxyReYbhDc4o4gIrdtbylKQ79GQtFCX_mvR0/s1600/Family11.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552709139299102562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7T_DDoHb4b4Kv-Zd2p8KK31HdjNiZVXuGWDOG3Pm-I02uZXYmNxaKDRnWzxJGJT3zU-v1XiTG0wqFtxyC4B3Un7fd060JH7s-9H5iVFftxyReYbhDc4o4gIrdtbylKQ79GQtFCX_mvR0/s400/Family11.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 308px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I did go to school... many of them...</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLH0qUMQ8k8eUfneSLTgPyp-nsNLzpZWzh9BS-2cLgZttO7L3-cPkqY2QjpsC2-0kJlihRQNcrROqBU92_BwMFhv9DcTL2bNNUO8Pb1jhbVu97_fFkB84vQ9DV1wVd1k8FYsI4sZFGsI/s1600/Christmas.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552709135809540898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLH0qUMQ8k8eUfneSLTgPyp-nsNLzpZWzh9BS-2cLgZttO7L3-cPkqY2QjpsC2-0kJlihRQNcrROqBU92_BwMFhv9DcTL2bNNUO8Pb1jhbVu97_fFkB84vQ9DV1wVd1k8FYsI4sZFGsI/s400/Christmas.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 375px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> And I <em>loooved</em> Christmas...  I always wished for my <em>very own bedroom. But...</em> I had to SHARE!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQw2_h5LlwT3aEq96UYLEqyv4DqxLwuMSIoL8ypQCdNGgx7U17MKRKRykr1xMe9RUBzMkiTbIZXqmQ3augsZt65YYRxGBQxHaoKsq_uMJx6YlzO8aNa8rQh5VB08uFe4wlAZJXfqdRTU8/s1600/Kids.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552709136446550706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQw2_h5LlwT3aEq96UYLEqyv4DqxLwuMSIoL8ypQCdNGgx7U17MKRKRykr1xMe9RUBzMkiTbIZXqmQ3augsZt65YYRxGBQxHaoKsq_uMJx6YlzO8aNa8rQh5VB08uFe4wlAZJXfqdRTU8/s400/Kids.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>I shared a bedroom with my sister (far left), my brother (2nd from left) and my older cousin who lived with us for a time (far right). I'm the goof in the center with the black and white dress and hideous red knee highs...</div><br /><div> </div><br /><div align="left">So... <em>what </em>did a typical bedroom of ours contain? I will attempt to re-create it for you... Here goes nothin...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi582JzHhcVuS0_I2d8zeibdvY_xBabMWq0XJwiM_fP90g6YY1Au0wELV_kIFg6Q0mOGs06-FjhuqqrvFROQdd_ZGtE_RTgqhX3vNvGYynjHQ2xEXug_wVOJiYZ9KjH4LhKA8Kojr-aGI0/s1600/posters+on+wall.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552748170130510082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi582JzHhcVuS0_I2d8zeibdvY_xBabMWq0XJwiM_fP90g6YY1Au0wELV_kIFg6Q0mOGs06-FjhuqqrvFROQdd_ZGtE_RTgqhX3vNvGYynjHQ2xEXug_wVOJiYZ9KjH4LhKA8Kojr-aGI0/s400/posters+on+wall.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">A lot of teen idol posters and rock band posters on the wall. Yes... I kissed Bon Jovi and Poison goodnight every night... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrd0_SVStJvpeeVFy6apegfzC8fTyeU8rLq1iQWb8n_ckQdPgozGH6wBysKAxK_9gdSnsWHVOUEAt9dTlyE06dY2IxaehxMe7rIHE1tDQZ_a3_aiMIxRkwq_jtiivi8vUGjYCFvMLuiA/s1600/glow+in+the+dark+stars.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552748166545727858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrd0_SVStJvpeeVFy6apegfzC8fTyeU8rLq1iQWb8n_ckQdPgozGH6wBysKAxK_9gdSnsWHVOUEAt9dTlyE06dY2IxaehxMe7rIHE1tDQZ_a3_aiMIxRkwq_jtiivi8vUGjYCFvMLuiA/s400/glow+in+the+dark+stars.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My decor? Glow in the dark stars on the ceiling. I thought I was the coolest kid since sliced bread with these!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEVymRy-8FNLOKQlYeeD1n9Vs2uBB_w5PP_vfksVuER6Pu6UMIG1WnXPuST70AaJWvBJI5cfnZwErptKTA5om4X_xHl5HllNGfU-LO6-9tK8p_kCDX3df0MCoWxWG1Wli-j5W30Vhce0/s1600/bunk+bed.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552748160024268386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEVymRy-8FNLOKQlYeeD1n9Vs2uBB_w5PP_vfksVuER6Pu6UMIG1WnXPuST70AaJWvBJI5cfnZwErptKTA5om4X_xHl5HllNGfU-LO6-9tK8p_kCDX3df0MCoWxWG1Wli-j5W30Vhce0/s400/bunk+bed.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 266px;" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My bro and sis slept on the bunk beds. I had my own bed. When my cousin stayed over, she slept on the bunk bed and my brother in a sleeping bag on the floor.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ejDnJiLFBVgnENK5Oa-B_tMgD2Cf5zJGVrwjbc849H2ZjKZMsGo10vFMe_NTHHDymbgYIieKjIklId9utQixPjtC-zZAdqbegL9LxuiYX8DJpxsc2a0_7pWtmI3SslDpnHq2eI9NjzY/s1600/Woodbridge-twin-bed_lg.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552748481770190994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ejDnJiLFBVgnENK5Oa-B_tMgD2Cf5zJGVrwjbc849H2ZjKZMsGo10vFMe_NTHHDymbgYIieKjIklId9utQixPjtC-zZAdqbegL9LxuiYX8DJpxsc2a0_7pWtmI3SslDpnHq2eI9NjzY/s400/Woodbridge-twin-bed_lg.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 263px;" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Kind of what <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">my</span> bed looked like. I did have a mattress, of course. We weren't <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">that</span> deprived...</div><div style="text-align: center;">So... it wouldn't be incorrect to say we did not grow up rich... I would day dream of having my own bedroom alllll the time!</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is what my dreams looked like...</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vhbzDA23TTzovwtYOTnrMDiApgoFXw3lvD4XSaNrCvdpnaeXfrXYL6NiNkraPV-rqE2g0cy_3J2Gwx32nDXPtjEtpzW7ezaCtukJ2J9Ox9PvpLlmJXv9S-51QmZSPyTkdCTrfOHj2UY/s1600/twin+beds+dream+room.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552748477479794082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vhbzDA23TTzovwtYOTnrMDiApgoFXw3lvD4XSaNrCvdpnaeXfrXYL6NiNkraPV-rqE2g0cy_3J2Gwx32nDXPtjEtpzW7ezaCtukJ2J9Ox9PvpLlmJXv9S-51QmZSPyTkdCTrfOHj2UY/s400/twin+beds+dream+room.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">via www.tktdw.com</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">If I <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">had</span> to share in my dream... it would've looked like the picture above. Wow!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552748473702739890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPcRv6jYbqng_-z8ijpDVhUWPWe9KHhOsYw4S8zyVwOW6T4MN8X88i8X1lNoizqQCR0DXQBJLuA2lzVVK_5P6cmhsVHbAln-gs2NrvSMXUhsIvojwRRQd0pWeNywQhTncUZBMLhrEu44/s400/play+nook.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 400px;" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">via www.hopskipjump.com</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">I always dreamed of having a play room. It would've had lots of natural light, wood floors and a bed to take a nap in...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552748475260419426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwmsX5BnSA3CARQmI-cH6idk5zN26cRrEKsc0TuuyhMjjvZM329Un4ZryLhU1lkE8bEaKIBS2TITrsQOEYlLRWHq40KVsCjzKRKpTxvWTIhewxsWsYVaxMfQnZw50IAnRBvDaMoOUp-k/s400/little+girl+dream+room.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">via www.designsnitch.blogspot.com</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The ultimate dream though?? My OWN bedroom! It would've looked something like this!! Comfy bed... plenty of natural light... and a reading nook by the window. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I hope you enjoyed my look back in time!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Now... make sure you check out <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://adiaryoflovely.blogspot.com/2010/12/blog-for-digs.html">A Diary of Lovely's</a></span> post and the next one on the schedule <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.chicmodernvintage.blogspot.com/">Chic Modern Vintage</a>... </span>scheduled for tomorrow.  Have a wonderful Monday and stay tuned for Mid-Century Monday later on today. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy Decorating!</div><div style="text-align: left;">Mina</div></div></div></div></div></div>

My Childhood Bedroom Was... 12.20.2010

Thanks to StonehouseLove blogger, Claudia Clobes... and the fantastic charity... Dwell with Dignity... I bring you... My childhood bedroom ...

2:25 AM

TGIF! 12.17.2010

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqIiJ5VqeeLJROV3xKJDjgjHzV7jbP-4eE9vmA3cwfAvV1R-3YZlOpm22UdI2dbpBIRsr_3sTGj76q58QC5SVe-dpOZVllGL21ecT4AneB9IYYZM6vOBvzrvI2W8P2sTwoc_06mC-jMY/s1600/5266965103_ecf7c9e664_b.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551662193144285490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqIiJ5VqeeLJROV3xKJDjgjHzV7jbP-4eE9vmA3cwfAvV1R-3YZlOpm22UdI2dbpBIRsr_3sTGj76q58QC5SVe-dpOZVllGL21ecT4AneB9IYYZM6vOBvzrvI2W8P2sTwoc_06mC-jMY/s400/5266965103_ecf7c9e664_b.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:'courier new';">photo by: Mina Brinkey</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhf8ObfHP9gJktGmxVerYLLaaqFimKQsrQZkC_0wZZCqEz7rAnCHQH5cdDmyfxrzNARTrfjgablr66dvM2KdGclRYWtDEPeKueR2ziHAI7Yu3BEzNntW5SkxSUZCc6mu4jK1PqYoOtuw/s1600/Mari_Eriksson+skrivbord.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551662189361629170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhf8ObfHP9gJktGmxVerYLLaaqFimKQsrQZkC_0wZZCqEz7rAnCHQH5cdDmyfxrzNARTrfjgablr66dvM2KdGclRYWtDEPeKueR2ziHAI7Yu3BEzNntW5SkxSUZCc6mu4jK1PqYoOtuw/s400/Mari_Eriksson+skrivbord.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:'courier new';">photo by: Mari Eriksson via <a href="http://angelattable.blogspot.com/">An Angel At My Table</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:'courier new';"><img align="left" alt="I" src="http://jhische.com/dailydropcap/I-11-cap.png" title="Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische" /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">am beaming with joy and excitement today! Why? It's Friday! Yippee! I heart Fridays because it means 2 things. 1) I can take a looooong nap when I get home without feeling guilty and 2) I can sleep in on Saturday morning. : ) So, it pretty much involves a lot of sleeping. Speaking of sleeping... I overslept this morning by an hour and a half!!! Hour and a half people!! I nearly had a heart attack. I brushed by teeth, got fully dressed, brushed my hair <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">and</span> grabbed everything I needed in 4 minutes! Yes... FOUR MINUTES! I was in my car and zooming to work FOUR minutes after I woke up! I made it to work a minute before we're supposed to be here. Thank GOD I usually leave the house with enough time to be at work about 30 minutes early. Whheeew! It was a close one, but I made it! I'm okay. I got to work safely and it's a great day! So... I leave you with some sunny pictures today. The first pic above is our Christmas card from our family to yours. I got this marvelous chalkboard at one of my favorite boutiques in Tampa - Rosa Linda. Stay tuned for an upcoming blog post on Rosa Linda and its lovely owner - Staci Rosende. : ) Have a fantastic weekend everyone. Get your last minute shopping done. I still have a couple of things here and there and then I need to wrap them! Many hugs!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy Decorating!</div><div style="text-align: left;">Mina</div>

TGIF! 12.17.2010

photo by: Mina Brinkey photo by: Mari Eriksson via An Angel At My Table am beaming with joy and excitement today! Why? It's Friday! Yipp...

6:55 AM

Chloe.. the cat. - 12.09.10

<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMVCDqBQCeOOjENx_K0nuzpxVtO0CJwnM_nEGeWyjCjReWHj3f-lgJdBn639YicnpghzKAbniDiKcjW20v5He_ntCEQOvTtb4wZi06Nfn8Ko9oKGCh3o_BHy-zTIVJqibHX1tjUQRtFQ/s1600/036.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548829383679118786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMVCDqBQCeOOjENx_K0nuzpxVtO0CJwnM_nEGeWyjCjReWHj3f-lgJdBn639YicnpghzKAbniDiKcjW20v5He_ntCEQOvTtb4wZi06Nfn8Ko9oKGCh3o_BHy-zTIVJqibHX1tjUQRtFQ/s400/036.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> I'm testing out my new digi cam and decided that my 1st victim would be my Chlo. : ) Chloe... the <em>male</em> cat. Yes, I know he has a girl name. So sue me. Here he is eyeing his nemesis... the tree. It taunts him day in and day out with shiny and jingly objects he can't reach...</div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Ksm3suNhXeaKSOjXxZ_2_qYb962Bleo3X8Avy_mArchC1GlEXBXVVZ0Rw_C7xg6urVVX0MGaDoF_z2gWYblU2IzI8IiGUzX0FSna6lovyCW_fvRfXBlrF_rWhf8MHiFcHPxNqm4W8Jk/s1600/033.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548829379136293298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Ksm3suNhXeaKSOjXxZ_2_qYb962Bleo3X8Avy_mArchC1GlEXBXVVZ0Rw_C7xg6urVVX0MGaDoF_z2gWYblU2IzI8IiGUzX0FSna6lovyCW_fvRfXBlrF_rWhf8MHiFcHPxNqm4W8Jk/s400/033.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Isn't he handsome? And suuuper sweet too. : ) This is his "I'm gangsta" look.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPpbQvITOCUrMQXrhp06pjY0tDvei2RHYwfqKE-VKhT-_XsUp81shNWFvXKmASNfkW8Kqa3p5YunZPa2V1Ud8ETQwDCYKEOADEhATngsQCeHanZp_h9-1x-YQOBcWZuyL5WMIAmJuLMs/s1600/031.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548829369530033538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPpbQvITOCUrMQXrhp06pjY0tDvei2RHYwfqKE-VKhT-_XsUp81shNWFvXKmASNfkW8Kqa3p5YunZPa2V1Ud8ETQwDCYKEOADEhATngsQCeHanZp_h9-1x-YQOBcWZuyL5WMIAmJuLMs/s400/031.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>This is his "I'm classic and elegant" look. Notice the subtle difference? Such a professional that cat!  <div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5pN1DZOssruHRouX0ijUnPVhiKGS6IgToLnWCsZtkyNcx3kA2OuwL8I8wMhL4bsXj_Zupr2rfSn3A4IUf9gyX7FKg4QYdMFZO2ZaXC0y0LExw0RhFj7D1a9_-XpQ9i0As-RoKvOHj5k/s1600/025.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548829360369535250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5pN1DZOssruHRouX0ijUnPVhiKGS6IgToLnWCsZtkyNcx3kA2OuwL8I8wMhL4bsXj_Zupr2rfSn3A4IUf9gyX7FKg4QYdMFZO2ZaXC0y0LExw0RhFj7D1a9_-XpQ9i0As-RoKvOHj5k/s400/025.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> The back pose...</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2PdkXpeoMEb95QqGguY74VN5Pf0E_hvAZBiIHS5nxTNoL7Tf527x_2aJMcEZbe-ZDmWPG0ji6qXclEv10r0TAfneLz24cLnNmpocOppTXTPM4d971rqNfPlqwtrQM4sqrJR-aB_lxGE/s1600/022.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548828892471866818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2PdkXpeoMEb95QqGguY74VN5Pf0E_hvAZBiIHS5nxTNoL7Tf527x_2aJMcEZbe-ZDmWPG0ji6qXclEv10r0TAfneLz24cLnNmpocOppTXTPM4d971rqNfPlqwtrQM4sqrJR-aB_lxGE/s400/022.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Yes... he sits like a person sometimes. It's his "thing."</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGfmolmVcbX5GL_42D-nFpll0GCft9zI4OB4ASoLuiqfwQMLt90YyJiRS6B6AyeVgLh2_8pSuSMqWyQpvGol-DGPGNf7Ts89Ui-iGS-cKjngd1WV6LY13Zvpk69ckpAM-ja-kAPVZgv0/s1600/015.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548828887864280962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGfmolmVcbX5GL_42D-nFpll0GCft9zI4OB4ASoLuiqfwQMLt90YyJiRS6B6AyeVgLh2_8pSuSMqWyQpvGol-DGPGNf7Ts89Ui-iGS-cKjngd1WV6LY13Zvpk69ckpAM-ja-kAPVZgv0/s400/015.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> He stands like a person too. But he only does it for Mr. Bird outside... his buddy whom he wishes he could finally meet in person.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8JHLNk4mi3BddzXLqdVOmIwTQaFMZpYbh07V7rik5P2OnVnTlLUu1YUYfQaWsNKVHwwuAT92djeo55rKDWmwmJa1VUnyBPM80Xn0yP3q0PH_YEqSnvCvTKMx4q5QPqHDoxN1xgzXSIM/s1600/013.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548828882447382850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8JHLNk4mi3BddzXLqdVOmIwTQaFMZpYbh07V7rik5P2OnVnTlLUu1YUYfQaWsNKVHwwuAT92djeo55rKDWmwmJa1VUnyBPM80Xn0yP3q0PH_YEqSnvCvTKMx4q5QPqHDoxN1xgzXSIM/s400/013.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> He moves the blinds out of his way... : )</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWWqplUSYqtU-ofiiGC8p_VUNh1QyEbNWnLGYbzXEJdsA6mdW7v1eh_9JqkOuE1u3v2d1iiiSsxThdq3fSt57t1jy-ERSchyEOg8ZV5mm8-qVp3JTCM7e0c8lmJIAqY8NXepRevGPYzU/s1600/014.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548828878878753650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWWqplUSYqtU-ofiiGC8p_VUNh1QyEbNWnLGYbzXEJdsA6mdW7v1eh_9JqkOuE1u3v2d1iiiSsxThdq3fSt57t1jy-ERSchyEOg8ZV5mm8-qVp3JTCM7e0c8lmJIAqY8NXepRevGPYzU/s400/014.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Very intent... but apparently Mr. Bird is flying away. See that "Wheeeere are you going???" look on his face??</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbemd9dZZsV4xeIXSx3xzTNAvuqmA0U975LeH_CIXFxCxRR21yofu6lPgLsIYRgG0cvioX1wqAZ9fUaA2VHyKfxr0WdAsHnyFlRZaCSE0jOihDjjeCEONg7sy0AuQYKKcRhXt9CZuQ6s/s1600/005.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548828874835617922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbemd9dZZsV4xeIXSx3xzTNAvuqmA0U975LeH_CIXFxCxRR21yofu6lPgLsIYRgG0cvioX1wqAZ9fUaA2VHyKfxr0WdAsHnyFlRZaCSE0jOihDjjeCEONg7sy0AuQYKKcRhXt9CZuQ6s/s400/005.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Oh well... Mr. Bird is gone and Chlo's day is over. He's going to bed. What a long day full of excitement!!</div><div> </div><div align="left">Happy Thursday everyone! I had a pretty good day. I'm reeeally looking forward to tomorrow night! Nothing exciting. Just happy to come home and take a loooong nap. After that, there's an open studio night at the West Tampa Arts Center, where artists of all types open up their creative spaces to the public. I may go. If so, I will surely share some pics with you here!! Until Monday ladies and lads!</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Happy Decorating!</div><div align="left">Mina</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">P.S. I do plan on starting Thursday's new blog post "10Corners" next week or the following week. Either way, I shall keep you posted. : )</div></div></div></div><br /></div>

Chloe.. the cat. - 12.09.10

I'm testing out my new digi cam and decided that my 1st victim would be my Chlo. : ) Chloe... the male cat. Yes, I know he has a girl ...

3:08 PM