Saturday, March 23, 2013

I’m moving to Bloglovin'….


I recently learned that Google Reader will no longer exist after June 30th. I knew that I didn’t want to wait until the last minute, so I started searching for a new reader this week. The first one I tried seems to be the best. I’ve been using Bloglovin for the past few days and the process of moving things over was so easy and I plan on sticking with it.

If you are interested in giving Bloglovin a try, follow these easy steps:

1. Create a Bloglovin account at http://bloglovin.com
2. Click on the arrow to the right of your profile name and choose “Settings”.
3. Scroll down and click the “Import Blogs” button.
4. Choose “Google Reader” on the next page.
5. Sit back and relax while all of your blogs are imported. If you have a large amount of subscriptions it will take several minutes.
Pretty easy right?

TIPS:
Once you have your blogs imported you can click on “Following” right above your list of feeds and create groups to arrange your blog feeds by category. I love this option so I can look at specific categories without scrolling through all my favorites.



You can also get the code for a nifty button to use in your sidebar or at the end of your blog posts.  The button looks like this … may as well click on it now and add me :)
Follow on Bloglovin
Be sure to click on the HELP page to read how to “Claim your Blog” and answer any other questions you may have.

See you on Bloglovin’
Lori in Atlanta

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Thursday, March 21, 2013

This House is Perfect...

We are moving in the near future and our search for a new home is well underway. I stumbled across a website that featured an amazing craftsman home.  When I saw this listing, I thought they must have been channeling my every wish and vision for a dream home.  It's Perfect!  We want a smaller place, with less stairs (we now have 19 stairs just to get into the house and many more inside), a craftsman style, and intown location. Just one minor detail is keeping me from calling the listing agent...It's in Houston... we need a home in the greater Atlanta area. 


Backyard Renovation

SO, I'm posting some photos of this dream home so my blog lovin' friends and family can see what we are looking for.  Maybe you have a lead on a similar house for sale in or around greater Atlanta. 

Great Curb Appeal

Front Porch Swing

I love a swing on the front porch, four swings on the porch is even better!

Built in Wine Rack

This wine rack is wonderful, my sweetie would love to have this in our house.

Kitchen Renovation in Craftsman Home

Kitchen Renovation in Craftsman Home

This over-sized farm sink is what we dream of having, but this is a small detail that we can compromise on.

Bathroom Renovation in Craftsman Home

A must have will be his and hers closets. We don't like to share.

Craftsman Home Renovation

Hardwoods throughout the home and room for a king size bed would be perfect.

Hoping we can find something similar in Atlanta, chances are slim, but a girl can dream!
Cheers!

If you would like to see the Real Estate Listing and Additional Photos:

This website features similar properties for sale across the country:


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Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Going to Highlands, NC ...need advice...

Highlands, NC

We are planning a trip to Highlands, NC later this month. We've spent many weekends in Highlands, but this time we are taking our 11 year old granddaughter.  I was wondering if anyone has any tips on where to go and what to do with kids. We will be there Friday night through Sunday afternoon.  Thanks!

Lori
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Friday, March 15, 2013

Choosing a new Path....

Lori Dorrington

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always had—and needed—a plan. Over the years, my plans changed, as plans are prone to do, when, for example, I discovered that I didn’t actually have the aggressive competitive personality to become a cutting edge artist (not to mention the fact that my watercolors turned into a brown soggy mess), or that despite the period of my life spent religiously cutting out Bed and Breakfast operational tips and stashing them into cleverly labeled file boxes, my general inability to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to start the project should have indicated early on that I probably wouldn’t make it in the world of small inn keepers.

But still, I’ve always had an idea of where I was headed, and what I would do when I got there. Even after realizing that the bohemian artistic lifestyle I thought I would have after college did not materialize and I took a job in retail, I still maintained the optimistic notion that my life would, one day, return to moving along “according to plan.”

As you can probably guess, that never happened. THIRTY years and a career in retail later, well, let’s just say the slight turn off that original path gave way to a new path that has been challenging and rewarding for many years.  Yet somehow– through a miracle of chance encounters, and having the right people believe in me–I am changing paths again this week. I’ve resigned from my corporate job at The Home Depot. I’ve only had two full time jobs in my life, Home Depot (30 years) and Dairy Queen (during High School and College).

Lori Dorrington

 Yes this change is scary but something my Sweetie said recently made me think about my fears. I realized that I was not living my dream because I was desperately afraid- of financial ruin, of failure, of letting people down, and the possibility of regret. His support is helping me separate the fear from the dream, and in doing so, I realize that I really do want to move forward, in spite of the fear. Do I still worry about those fears? Absolutely. Will I let them rule my choices anymore? No Way! I'm on the threshold of a life change.

Lori Dorrington

The only thing I can say that I’ve truly learned is that sometimes the path you choose (famous bohemian artist living in a cool loft) doesn’t choose you. Doors open and doors close and you climb through windows and wish on stars, and in the end, you have to throw everything you dreamed would happen in a trash can full of ‘should haves’ and ‘could haves.’  I look forward to the new path I’m taking…wish me luck in my new career!

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Cheers!



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Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Go ahead, dig in the dirt…

Digging in the Dirt

This weekend I repotted a beautiful hydrangea plant that I had received as a gift from my sweetie. It only took me about 20 minutes, but the therapeutic benefits lasted for hours.  The overall feeling of well-being reminded me of how much I love and need to dig in the dirt.

It is believed that nature has healing powers and that gardening (even container gardening) lets us interact with nature. Various studies have been conducted about the link between gardening and better health. Almost all of the studies came up with positive results. It has been suggested that gardening is good for both physical and mental well-being.

Gardening Therapy

Spending time watching the plants grow, the flowers bloom, and even watching the bees collecting nectar seems therapeutic. Gardening is usually a solitary practice and in many ways repetitive, it can easily serve as a form of meditation.  When I’m going through a difficult time — or have a serious problem to work through — there’s nothing like pulling up weeds or pruning back a wayward shrub to help focus the mind.  Another health benefit is the exposure to sunshine (with sunscreen and a hat of course); the sun delivers a boost of vitamin D which helps the body absorb calcium. 

It’s not at all surprising to me that there are Horticultural Therapists who help people overcome physical, social, emotional, as well as cognitive problems through gardening activities. Gardening is accessible to almost everyone and relatively inexpensive. Even if it’s only containers on the window sill of your apartment, it’s still a tiny garden.

Digging in the dirt

For me, gardening is a labor of love and a show of true artistry. Gardening is a deeply sensory experience, and I think it touches something inherent in my spirit. I suspect it was passed down through many generations – the need for nature.
So what are you waiting for?  Go ahead, dig in the dirt and reap the benefits of what you sow.
Cheers!


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Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Why should the white eggs have all the fun at Easter??


We are big fans of The Country Hen brown eggs. Our favorite meal is breakfast and we love baked goods made with the fresh brown eggs.  After doing some research online, I believe they will also be the perfect Easter Egg choice as well. Their strong, brown shells should be perfect for coloring.

Dying Brown Eggs
Brown Eggs - Photo Credit: One Sunny Acre - Adventures in Micro Farming

If you are not looking for pastel colored Easter eggs, brown eggs will actually dye to a richer, more beautiful tone than white eggs. It does require using a different type of dye than the typical Easter egg coloring kit, but listed below are two very simple methods. One utilizes food coloring and the other is a natural dye method.



Peeling hard boiled farm fresh eggs is a bit more difficult; follow these instructions on how to boil them so they will peel more easily when you’re ready to turn your dyed eggs into egg salad…
   1.   Use the oldest eggs you can, 7-10 days if possible
   2.   Submerge eggs completely in a pot of cold salted water
   3.   Bring water to a boil, turn the heat down to medium low and set timer for 10 minutes    (or adjust according to preferences, this step is not as critical)
   4.   Remove from heat and drain hot water
   5.   Fill the pot with cold water and let sit until eggs are cooled down
   6.   When ready to eat, Peel eggs submerged in cool water
   7.   Random Tip: if you want more centered yolks for deviled eggs, turn your carton of eggs on its side a day or two before hard boiling them.
 
Dye using the Food Coloring Method:
1 cup hot water
2 teaspoons white vinegar
1 teaspoon of food coloring (you can adjust the amount to reach your desired shade)

Mix the 3 ingredients for each food coloring you want (red, blue, green, etc.) Don't forget about using your base colors to create other colors. For example, mix red and yellow for orange, red and blue for purple, or blue and green for teal, etc... Dip cool, hard boiled eggs into the food coloring dyes until the desired color is achieved. Let eggs dry on a rack or in an egg carton.


Dye using Natural Egg Dyes:
Dye Ingredients:
Blue - Red Cabbage Leaves
Orange - Paprika
Red - Lots of Red Onion Skins
Pink - Beets
Purple - Small amount of Red Onion Skins
Yellow - Saffron

Bring 1 cup of water and dye ingredients to a boil and then reduce heat and let simmer for 15 minutes to 1 hour until the desired color is obtained. Strain dye liquid and add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar. Dip cool, hard boiled eggs into hot liquid and let sit until desired color is achieved. Take eggs out of the dye and put on a rack or into an egg carton to dry. (Careful color can easily be removed until the egg is dry.) Eggs colored in this way have a dull finish, but when they are dry, use cooking oil to add a gloss to them.
Have Fun!

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Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Atlanta Artists and Crafters - New Meetup

Clipboards used for Jewelry Display
While chatting with some fellow Etsy sellers, we were discussing how much we all love creating our art, but we all need to focus some of our time on selling it. I found a new Meetup group in Atlanta called "Art Biz in the 'Burbs"; the sponsor will focus on creative ways to advertise and market our creations through digital, social, and traditional media. Additionally, we will discuss galleries, gift shops, shows, art walks, and exhibitions. Together, we hope to expand our visibility and increase our understanding of the ever-changing art market.

If you are in the Atlanta, GA area and would like to join the group, I've included the link to the Meetup site below.  The first meeting is on Monday March 18 in northeast Cobb. 

http://www.meetup.com/Art-Biz-in-the-Burbs/ 

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