A little help? ...

 Hi friends!

Just wondering if anyone out there can help me out with something?

I used to make my collages to share multiple pics for my picture heavy blog posts using picnik.  But as we all know, sadly that is no more.  I am hoping picmonkey will have similar collage options, but since their collages are not up and running yet, I am trying to find other options.

I use photoshop elements 7 and have been googling collage tutorial videos for the last hour and am sick of it!
I think I figured out how to put two pics side by side, but my problem is, I don't know how to edit them into a format that works for my blog so that the picture following the collage will not look like it is several spaces below.  Ya know what I mean?  Anybody?

Any suggestions are appreciated.  I was going to try to get my last Napa post up today but after all this collage research I'm sick of this darn computer.

Argh. 

Help appreciated!!!

Thanks!

Cheers!

what i wore wednesday... & some answers...

Hi again.

It's (almost) Wednesday, and I am linking up with Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy.

Sharing a couple outfits I have worn this last week.

Last Saturday- headed to a birthday party with my girls.

Claire refused to pose with us, but she was wearing the same thing Hannah had on.

On me: grey sweater- Converse @ Target

black long sleeved- Old Navy

skinnies- new! from Windsor Fashion

shoes- Toms

On Hannah: striped tunic- Target

leggings- Target

shoes- twinkle toes by sketcher Nordstrom

Sunday night (bad lighting it was dark)- movie date with Mr. Hass.

Don't know what's up with my grinchy smile and pose there. 

tunic- new! Windsor Fashion

leggings- LC Kohl's

boots- Steve Madden Nordie's

cape coat- Nordstrom Sale last July

Oh how I love my cape coat.

The most comfortable jacket ever.

Go get you one.  ;)

Tuesday- running errands with hubs to Home Depot.

You've probably seen this shirt before.

It's from F21.

Sorry no full length picture.

I did have on my favorite old pair of Hudson jeans.

They have a hole in them.

And I like it.

Bought some aqua paint today at HD.

Stay tuned to find out what's getting painted!

That's all I've got for wiww this week.

But don't go anywhere just yet!

I had lots of Questions in the comments section from my last post.

So instead of answering by individual emails, I decided I'd answer ya right here on my blog.

So here we go...

Jenny and Kerri mentioned that I should share my spaghetti recipe.

Ask and you shall receive.
I made this meal when I got to meet my blog friend Jenny for the first time.  She said they enjoyed it.  I hope she wasn't lying to me. ;)

Click here for step by step info on my Grandma Mac's spaghetti.
Side note, when I saute the onions, usually I will throw in a package of sliced fresh mushrooms.  If you don't like mushrooms, don't do that.  But we love them.

This recipe for weight watchers turkey chili is also a really good one.  I posted step by step pictures for this one and did not get a whole lot of feedback on this post.  But if you try it, I promise, it's good.  And healthy.  And easy.


Now moving on to yoga. 
Heather asked if I went to any yoga classes before starting to do it at home.

I did.  I think I first tried it at the gym.  And then when I was pregnant with Hannah I worked in a salon with a yoga studio a couple doors down, and a friend and I signed up for their prenatal yoga classes.  I think that is when I really fell in love with it.  Since having my girls, it is definitely harder to find time to go to a studio, and I feel guilty doing that because it isn't cheap and I already have a gym membership.  I have gone to the classes at the gym sporadically, my sister and I had a private yoga session on our cruise last May (so funny the instructor totally reminded us of the yoga instructor from the movie Couple's Retreat!), and about a year ago I discovered Jillian's yoga dvd.

This dvd has two different workouts to follow along with.  The first one is just 30 minutes, and the second one is about 35 mins.  It is a really great workout, but it is a bit different than yoga at the gym or in a studio.  Jillian incorporates a lot of body weight training to get your heart rate up, and power poses to hold for several seconds and work on sculpting your muscles.  The girl knows her stuff, because every time I do this dvd I am sore in all the right places.  But it hurts so good I tell you.  It really does!

Heather also asked if I notice a difference in my stress level after yoga.
Like I said before, I do feel very loose and stretched out afterwards, but as far as my stress level...
I don't know because 30 minutes after I finish the dvd I could be yelling at my kids for any number of reasons and so um yeah, stress is usually still there.  At least right now in my life.  ;)

Abby asked where I got my yoga outfit.

That top and bottoms were both from Old Navy last year.
I get most of my workout wear from Old Navy, Kohl's, and Target.

Although I do lust over some of the lulu lemon pieces.  But for now, I have to keep it pretty affordable.

And last but not least, several of you asked me about where I get my blog books printed.

I have printed four books.  One for 2008, one for 2008, and 2010 I split up into two different books.
My 2008 and 2009 books were both printed from www.blurb.com

Blurb is nice because you can edit every single page of your book, adjusting the layout of each post to the way you prefer it.  The quality of the pictures turned out really good.

The only thing is, it is not cheap.  And, it takes FOREVER to edit your entire year's worth of posts.  I mean months people.  For months and months I would have to sit down and work on it a little at a time.  How I managed two books like that I don't know. 

In 2009, I seemed to have even more posts for the year, so I looked into other websites and discovered www.blog2print.  I had a couple other blog friends use this site and they were happy so I gave it a whirl. 

It is much simpler to use blog2print.  You just type in the url of your blog, select the dates you want in the book, and boom it shoots it over into a book.  I had to break my year up into two books because they only allow a certain number of pages per book.  You can still personalize it (I chose hardback books but you can also select other options), add pictures to the front and back, and each posts appears as it does on your blog.
I will probably use www.blog2print again this year for my 2011 books.  And although it isn't cheap to have them printed, I figure the memories in these books are absolutely priceless to me and worth every penny. 

I have my books displayed in the living room, and it is fun to sit down and flip through them from time to time. 

I think  that about covers the questions I received.
Did I miss anything?
Do you have any other questions for me????????????????????

So full of Shuu-gah!

What a fun weekend...
Friday night I had a movie and dinner date with a friend.

Saturday night my family went over to my parents house and anxiously awaited the arrival of our blog buddies Holly and Tammy.

 It was a beautiful fall afternoon.
Perfect for sitting outside and chatting with blog friends who instantly became real friends.

 This is Holly...

... and if you have never stopped by her blog before, you will be in for quite the treat when you do.  She is probably the funniest blogger I know.  I always laugh out loud when I visit Holly's blog.  Her personality is so fun and you can really get an idea of who she is when you read her blog.  Holly drove all the way from Phoenix to attend Blog Sugar.

This is my sister and I with Tammy, Holly's niece.  Tammy also blogs and has quite a lot in common with my sister and I, as we are all young (yes? young?) mothers trying to raise our families and balance this crazy thing called life.  Tammy lives in Bakersfield and she also made the trek to attend Blog Sugar.

 Holly gave all of us girls a package of vintage coasters with hilarious sayings on them, and a darling handmade notepad with our blog names on the front.  So darn sweet.  I tell you this weekend was filled with sweet-ness.

 We dined outside and chatted the night away as if we were all old friends who had known each other for years.

 After dinner we made our way inside to sing Happy Birthday to Holly!

 Who knew blogging could be this much fun?  :)

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The next day us gals got together again for the best (and only) blog conference I've ever been to.

My Mom picked me up and then we took off to the hotel to get Holly and Tammy.

Birthdays look good on you Holly!!

We lunched at The Islands with a couple other blogging gals and then we arrived to our final destination...

 Blog Sugar!

 I had no idea what to expect and I was so impressed with the entire event.
It was very well organized.
180 women (and I believe 1 man).
So personal and such friendly greetings upon arriving.
Rachel (who organized the event) is just so sweet and friendly.  We hugged and I felt like I was seeing an old friend.
Outside there was tea, water, sodas, cotton candy, and even a photo booth.

 Inside there were beautifully decorated tables, sweet treats everywhere, doughnuts with pretty pink sprinkles at each seat,

 and even a beautiful and detailed itinerary.
You know I love some good organization.  :)

When I first started my blog I had no idea that there was even such a thing as the blogworld.
I had no idea that I would make connections with so many amazing women.

 It was so much fun to meet these ladies and give them all a hug.

Rachel, me, Mel, Nancy, Kristy, and Janna

Such fun I tell you.

 I got to sit next to this pretty lady and chat a bit.

 I was happy to sit with Janna at our last conference of the night.

 Mel was just as sweet and bubbly as I figured she would be.

 Keri could not have been cuter and I was so excited to meet her.  She was the very first blog I signed up to actually "follow" without having known her in real life.  I think I was even nervous to "follow" a stranger for the first time.  But we are strangers no more!

 I was also so happy to meet this lovely lady.

 I tell you what,
there was something really special about all of these bloggers together in one room, out from behind the computers, meeting and greeting one another, hugging and smiling like old friends.

 I felt really lucky to be a part of it.
I really did.

At the end of the night Meg spoke.
I couldn't believe I was at Blog Sugar with all of these lovely ladies, and with Meg.
I remember the first time I stumbled upon her blog.
I couldn't get over her beautiful photography, the fun colors all over the place, how happy it was, the fantastic pictures of her home, and now here I was listening to her at a blog conference.
So surreal.

And now I love her even more.

I loved listening to her humbling story.

I love that Rachel had the idea to plan an event such as this.

I love how sweet Blog Sugar really was.

I love that I have met such wonderful women through blogging.

I love that I have a renewed passion for blogging.

I love that every blogger is unique.

I loved being reminded that He created me to be exactly the way I am.

I love that we are all so different and should embrace that.

And now I am singing

 "you're beautiful in the way that God makes no mistakes,

you're on the right track, baby you were born this way hey."  -Gaga

I love that my blog is a place to use my voice.

I love the pink swag bags full of goodies,
but more than that,
I loved being able to be a part of Blog Sugar 2011.
I walked away with so much more than swag.



I linked up to share my blog sugar post with a lot of other lovely ladies today.  Check out their stories here!

So here's the thing...

I don't want to make my blog private. 

I really don't. 

Well, I do, but I don't.

I'm actually kind of nervous to write this post, for fear of it sounding  wrong.    So here goes...

I love that my blog is not private because I have been able to meet, and reconnect with a lot of friends and really great women that I otherwise wouldn't have if my blog was private. 

Although, there are times when I get all crazy and freaked out thinking about who is looking at my blog that I don't know.  Strangers.  Harmless strangers most likely.  Possibly not.  But strangers all the same.  Strangers looking at pictures of my kids and my friends and family.  Strangers reading my stories, my thoughts, and my feelings.  Strangers and others, having themselves a peek at what is going on in my life.

Now I know that if I do not like this I can do one of two things...

Make my blog private, allowing only those I choose to read it.

Or, not blog at all.

Not blog at all... don't make me laugh.

I can't not blog.

Too late for that.

I love being able to document the happenings of our lives.

I love knowing each year when I bind our family blog that I did this.

That I took the time to write about it, to take pictures of it, to remember our life.  In the Hass House. 

So besides the whole "strangers" issue I have with blogging, here is my other problem...

Lurkers.

You know what I mean.  Lurkers.  Looking at blogs often, but NEVER leaving comments.  Okay, here's the part where I'm not sure how to write this without coming off like I am a total you  know what.  I'm not.  Ya'll know that right? 

I have a traffic feed on my blog.

I can usually tell which blog you came from to get to mine, and what city your internet connection is from.

That said, I can't always tell who's who.

There's a few obvious ones like Portland Oregon- gotta be my brother in law and his wife, Yorba Linda- usually any one of my family members in Yorba Linda, etc.

But lately I've been noticing a lot of new locations.

New countries even, like Vancouver Canada and Zagreb (I don't even know where the heck Zagreb is).

SO here's what I want to say to those who read my blog...

To those of you I know, and to those I do not know...

Whether you read it all the time or just stop by occasionally...

Please leave me a comment from time to time to let me know you are looking.  To ease my crazy mind that the hits coming from my traffic feed are nice people like yourselves and not crazy pyscho children kidnappers or stalkers or whatever.

Comprende?

I just want to know.

I need to know.

Or else my mind will go crazy and I will be forced to make my blog private for only my friends and family.

And I don't want to do that.

I just want to know who is reading my blog.

So let me know.

Please.

I also have one more favor to ask of you...

if you do read my blog, and are not already signed up to be my follower, would ya please do so?  It's on the right side of my blog and you just sign in.  That way I will have a little better idea of who's out there. 

There.  I said it.

Did that all come out okay? 

Thank you for reading all that. 

And thanks for your understanding.

Hannah wearing the lip gloss she applied all by herself one morning.

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Okay, now let's get on with it.
What you're all dying to know about.
What's new in the Hass House.
Let me tell ya.

• Little girls scream.  A lot.
• Little girl screams are shrill and painfully loud.


They don't look all that loud, but trust me.  They are.

• I have a headache. Ha.
• Hannah finished up swimming lessons for the summer.  She improved a lot this year and we are very proud of her.
• We celebrated Mr. Hass' 32nd birthday on the 28th.  Lucky for me he just keeps getting better. I will post pictures from his birthday soon.
• The new couch we ordered came in.  It's purple.  Purple leather.  Well, technically it is a cranberry, and I hate it.  We thought it would match the leather loveseat that we already have and it does not.  It goes back this week, and the hopefully much better color will arrive in it's place.  The good news is it is super comfy.

Sorry, you don't get a picture of the purple/cranberry couch.  I'll post pictures of the new and improved couch soon.

• 
  
  After re-arranging furniture to accomodate the new and much larger couch I have a major decorating itch.
• 
  
  I bought new pillows for the couch, and did a few new things around the house, but that did not scratch my itch. 
• 
  
  Next up is to re-paint and redecorate the girls' bathroom.  The walls are green and the theme is frogs and I am sick of it. 

• 
  
  On Saturday Mr. Hass worked but the girls and I went to a very fun birthday party for Nicole's son.  Hudson turned one and he turned one in style.  I met Nicole through my bff Kelly and she is so sweet.  I have some cute pics to share from the party so I'll try to get to those soon too.
• 
  
  On Sunday I am going with Kelly to celebrate Nicole's 30th birthday at The Montage in Laguna Beach.  I am so looking forward to it.
• 
  
  The day after The Montage, our family is leaving for vacation.  We are going to Oxnard at an Embassey Suites that we have stayed at before and loved.  Hannah just knows it is the beach, and since Phineas and Ferb went to Hawaii for vacation, she thinks we are going to Hawaii.  She keep asking, how many more days til Hawaii?  Are we gonna bring that to Hawaii?
• 
  
  The week after vacation, Hannah starts preschool again.  Three days a week in the afternoons this year.
• 
  
  We are looking forward to our visit with Diane (the mr.'s mama) when she flies in on the 19th.
• 
  
  35 days until BSU's first football game.  You knew that right?  A certain someone I know isn't counting or anything.  He just bought a new 26' LCD tv today with some birthday money for the garage.  Just in time for football season.  He even took the day off for BSU's first game.  He's hardcore like that.
• 
  
  Glee.  We are netflixing the first season right now and we love it.  Love it.  I did not really know what to expect and didn't think I would be this into it, but we are really enjoying it.
• 
  
  Claire is getting her two year molars and she's been cuh-ranky.  I hope they break through soon.  I can't take much more of the screaming. 

Since she's so darn cute, I'll deal with it.

• 
  
  One more thing-  can you believe it is August?  Wow.  Summer flew.  I have already noticed the nights getting darker earlier.  I can feel Fall in the air.  Tonight at bedtime, Hannah picked out Twas the Night Before Christmas to read.  So we did. 

I'm off to edit pictures to fill you in on more Hass House news.

Thank you to those of you who left me such nice comments on my last post. I appreciate them and it means a lot to me.

PS- Sorry for the bullet points not matching up with the writing.  I tried over and over to fix it and blogger won't let me. Bleh.