Friday, February 3, 2012

A Sad Goodbye

Goodbye McDonalds...

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I will never forget you and I'm sorry that I stole your sanitary seat covers with my friends back in our rebel years of high school. It says you've been in business for 40 years at this spot. Let's hope it doesn't take that long for the new McDonalds you've been replaced with in the same parking lot to get my orders right. So far they're zero for three.

So long,
Rachael

You Never Know...

You never know when you step into place of business and see your child's picture haning on the wall...

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Donut Spot to be exact. They sponsered Malia's soccer team last year. Totally forgot about it until we did a donut run and there she was, starring straight at us!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

February Photo Project

I changed my rules up a bit because I thought that a story behind the photo might need to be added and if I waited until the end of the month, I might forget the story. I am posting my photos right here each day so keep coming back to view this February project!

DAY ONE: MY VIEW TODAY...

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This is actually my view most days with little changes here and there. It really bugs me, I hate this view, but I love how I made it look in this picture. It's our burn pile which is kind of just sitting there as California has been enjoying spring like weather this winter. Perhaps these items will disappear in the near future *fingers crossed*

DAY TWO: WORDS...

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When I was looking over the list of items to photograph, I was pretty sure that this one would be fairly easy...I was wrong. It took me pretty much all day to try and figure out what I wanted to do. I actually photographed something completely different only to keep coming up with numerous other ideas. I finally settled on this sign that I purchased before Christmas. It's been hanging out on the side of my piano waiting for a new kitchen to put it in. I love everything about this sign. I love the colors, I love the "subway" feel to it and I especially love the word. It took me awhile to get the photo how I wanted it, but WOW!...this is why I'm doing this project folks! I love creating awesomeness!

DAY THREE: HANDS...

What's cuter than pudgy 1 year old hands?

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Pudgy one year old hands playing the piano. This is my cute nephew. I babysat him for a little bit today and whenever he comes over, we always play the piano together. Love that kid!

DAY FOUR: STRANGER...

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I was really worried about this particular challenge. I had visions of what I wanted, but truth is, I am a wimp and was not going to go and ask some stranger if I could take their picture. The family and I went to The California Museum today (which totally helped with this challenge) and with my wide angled lens, I was able to "pretend" to take a picture of the skateboard exhibit. I actually planned how I was going to edit it while I was shooting it. I darkened the stranger up because it kind of fit the whole "stranger" idea. Strangers are dark, until we get to know them, then they can be bright and cheery just like the awesome skateboards.

DAY FIVE: 10AM

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This is me at 10am in all my morning glory. Still wearing my PJ's, you can see me here with my iPod in hand. I had been cleaning up until this point and can't seem to stop listening to an audiobook I purchased a while back. A book that every American should read...Unbroken. I probably should have been getting ready for church, but well, you know...I would get there...eventually.

DAY SIX: DINNER...

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This is what's for dinner! Award winning, straight up awesome, homemade Rachael chili served up in the finest china around. Super yum!

DAY SEVEN: BUTTONS...

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I so badly wanted to take a picture of my favorite button...you know, the one that shuts that annoying sound off in the morning...aka the SNOOZE button, but as hard as I tried, it was BORING. So, I created this piece instead with the help of my neighbor's button stash. I think she's pretty awesome...and my neighbor is too!

DAY EIGHT: SUN...

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So today I cheated and took this picture with my phone. I was worried that there wouldn't be any sun to photograph since yesterday was raining and overcast all day, but today I woke up to beautiful blue skies with no clouds in sight. Originally I had planned to do something at sunset, then I thought I would do something similiar to yesterdays and make a sun out of articles of clothing, but while I was waiting for the kids to get out of school, I stepped out of my car and shot this. The only editing I did here was darken the colors. The eye looking thing is actually lens flare from the sun. I love how it looks like the sun is rising into space. You can interpret the picture anyway you like, but I imagine lives being dark like the top of the picture, but we always know that God is watching us and if we follow Him, the sun will rise in our heart and we will be like a fresh new day. I totally wasn't going for this look when I shot it, but somehow art takes on its own form and this is what I got. Perhaps there's a message in it for me...

DAY NINE: FRONT DOOR...

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My front door is...well, not exactly my cup of tea. One day it will be replaced by a nice red one, but since it hasn't been replaced yet, I am forced to do a picture of it. This is a picture of the stained glass window in the front door. It's actually not ugly by any means, but imagine walking down your hallway in a quiet house with only your thoughts accompanying you. Then, out of the corner of your eye, you think you see someone staring in at you through it. Yes, that is a constant "freak out" in my home caused by my front door. So, even though the stained glass window is pretty, it is soooo going away sometime real soon!

DAY TEN: SELF PORTRAIT...

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Of course this day's project was torture. I have "issues" with the dark circles under my eyes and the fact that I could possibly benefit from an eye lift. BUT, it's me and I normally don't care about these things until I see pictures of me. Perhaps that is why I stay on the other side of the camera...

DAY ELEVEN: MAKES ME HAPPY...

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There is four things in this picture that make me happy.
1. Ethan Lewis...such a rad kid!
2. The presence of "art" on his fingers and hand. It makes me happy when he creates.
3. The trampoline. It's been Uh-Mazingingly quiet in the house since we finally put it back up (almost two years later!)
4. The kids are outside. Like I mentioned above, my house is less noisy...the noise just moved outdoors...which makes ME happy...but probably not my neighbors!

DAY TWELVE: INSIDE MY CLOSET...

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First of all, there is NO WAY that I would share with you my side of the closet as it isn't as meticulous as the mister's side. It is fact that I cropped this photo in order to "fool" my viewers into thinking that my entire closet looks this way. Let me assure you that it does not, but I can pretend anyway. Patrick has taken over his laundry duties from me (phew!) and all of a sudden his side of the closet transformed into what I wish my entire house was...organized! Hmmm, maybe I should let him take over the rest of the laundry, the dishes, cleaning the bathrooms...I could go on and on...A girl can dream can't she?

DAY THIRTEEN: BLUE...

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I had a few ideas for today's assignment. "Blue" can be interpreted in so many ways. I ultimately chose to combine my feelings of the word blue with the actual color. So you see above clouds breaking into blue skies. The skies of California have been beautiful lately and I can't seem to stop taking pictures of it. I loved how blue the skies were behind the dark storm clouds which seem to bring hope in dark days. If we could only rise above the blues like the yellow balloon, we can find peace in our stormy lives. Not sure I am accuratly describing my feelings behind this photo, but the photo makes me happy none the less.

DAY FOURTEEN: HEART...

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Oh the possibilities of todays subject! Especially on a day devoted to hearts and love. Ethan's first grade class has been learning how to cut hearts out of paper for the last week. Because of this, I've been finding hearts EVERYWHERE! They have been on the floor, on the fridge, on the table, and on my bed. I've actually gotten three little hearts placed on my pillow this week. One that simply said, "I love you mom". Another colored red, and a sweet hollowed heart he was most proud of. The other day, I was cleaning up around the house and found a heart he had given to Carly. What a loving message he gave to his sister. I love the spelling that he used too. I was impressed with his writing skills. Happy Valentine's Day my friends!

DAY FIFTEEN: PHONE...

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My original thought was to capture a pay phone of sorts so that someday my kids will know what one was and looked like, but I went to my sisters house and in her garage was the phone above. Still old. Phones don't look like that anymore either. Per my sister's request, I got the interesting light fixture above it. They just bought their house and this was left. Kind of cool actually. Someone must have worked out in their garage alot. I decided that I wanted a very vintage look because the phone is kind of vintage. I learned some new techniques editing this picture. Perhaps that is a benefit of this project...now if I can only remember how to do it later...

DAY SIXTEEN: SOMETHING NEW...

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Ok, I cheated again...I took this picture with my phone camera. Truth is, I was too lazy to pull my camera out today. I think it is because I really didn't like today's subject. Boring...anyway, here is my new cup. I purchased it a few days ago and I really do love it. There is something about having your very own cup that no one can use. My new cup has been very helpful in my quest to hydrate my body fully. Because of this, I've seen the toilet a lot more lately...

DAY SEVENTEEN: TIME...

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Time: Something I wish I had more of. This is the clock above our piano. It's pretty but no one likes it because it has the Roman Numerals. It's hard to teach kids to read an analog clock with Roman Numerals too, so sometime soon, we are going to replace it...maybe.

DAY EIGHTEEN: DRINK...

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Diet Pepsi rocks...'nuff said!

DAY NINETEEN: SOMETHING I HATE DOING...

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Laundry would probably be the one thing I should have documented here, but a full sink of dirty dishes comes in a close second.

DAY TWENTY: HANDWRITING

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I've been blessed with the awesomeness that ambidextrous brings. I actually used it to my advantage when I played softball...It messed everyone up when I went to bat left handed but I threw the ball with my right. They thought I was bunting when I got up to bat. It messes with me sometimes though. I use my left hand when I write. I always have, but put a piece of chalk in my hand and ask me to write on a chalkboard, then I have to use my right hand. Perhaps it has something to do with the angle. I really do most things with my right hand. The only things that I do with my left hand is: write, bat, and eat. Not sure how I am wired, but I like to think that I am wired special...

DAY TWENTY ONE: FAVORITE PICTURE OF MYSELF...

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I didn't take this picture today. I took it back in December, but it is a picture that I like of myself and I figured it will do for today because I wasn't going to take a picture of a picture that I already took...say that 3 times real fast...HA!

DAY TWENTY TWO: WHERE I WORK...

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I work everywhere but the past few days I've been working in my garage painting up these bad boys for my brother in law to come and put up trim and case out my openings. He's also making new window sills to accompany the trim. I'm pretty excited!

DAY TWENTY THREE: MY SHOES...

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These are my converse. Truth is, I'm not brave enough to actually draw hearts on my shoes. It's probably because I'm getting older and it is quite possible that I've reached the age of old and I don't want to be that old lady trying to be young...so, I will just photoshop the hearts on instead.

DAY TWENTY FOUR: INSIDE MY MEDICINE CABINET...

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I didn't read the entire instruction for this post and I am not going to change my picture so you get what you get...This is my mirrored medicine cabinet reflecting the wall in the kids bathroom. That wall is about the only part of that bathroom that I like so I will stick with this picture instead. You don't really want to see the mess behind that mirror anyway!

DAY TWENTY FIVE: GREEN...

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This is weed/grass growing in my front yard. It won't be that green for long though as I have sprayed the entire front and back yard with Round Up and it will be yellow and crispy by weeks end. This will hopefully be the last time I have to spray my yard in preperation for sod...hopefully and fingers crossed x3!

DAY TWENTY SIX: NIGHT...

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I had a really cool idea to photograph my house at night with the windows open and lights on the inside. I tried it but didn't like the outcome of that idea...so here you see a lone street lamp on my street...at night.

DAY TWENTY SEVEN: SOMETHING I ATE...

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Green Jello with whipped cream. Yum! And yes, I always use a baby spoon to eat my Jello products...they seem to taste better that way.

DAY TWENTY EIGHT: MONEY...

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One of many coin holders around the house. This one happens to be in a hard to reach spot...perhaps that is why it's empty? Oh, who am I kidding...there just isn't enough of that bling bling in this house.

DAY TWENTY NINE: SOMETHING I'M LISTENING TO...

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RAIN!!! It's finally here! Mother earth needs it badly! Glad it's here, but I think I'll stay inside and drink hot chocolate and take a nap...I deserve it after listening to it pelt my window with its friend wind last night!

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I'm so glad this project is over. It was fun at first but quickly became a chore. I do have to say that looking at every day objects and creating art with it was probably my favorite part about this project, but having to do a photo every day was what got me. I have a few more photo projects in store, but I think I will take a break to get my creative juices flowing again...Oh, and in case you didn't notice...there are 29 days to my post. Leap Year...got to love it!

Monday, January 30, 2012

A Challenge!

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I found this on my cousin in law's blog. I'm so doing this. The rules I'm giving myself are:

1. I need to use my good camera and not my phone camera
2. I need to do it in an "artsy" kind of way
3. I need to do it every day even though I won't be posting them until I'm done

Anyone care to join me?

Say What?

I am someone who gets bored with stuff, but often find that I have very little or no time at all to change things around. My blog is one of those things. After much contemplation, I have decided to "re-do" my blog and am unfortunetly going to be getting rid of "the kid quote of the week" section of it. This doesn't mean that I won't be posting the funny things that my kids say, I just won't be obligated to change them around every once in a while in a sidebar.

I have a running log of the funny things the kids say but at the rate that I actually change the quotes on my blog, they could be and some are outdated. So, I am going to add all the ones I've gathered here and will add others as they are freshly said out of the mouths of my babes. The ages of the kids when these were said were: Raya, 12 - Malia 9 - Ethan 6/7 - Carly 3/4. Get ready to laugh...

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Carly: "Mom, what color are hiccups?"

Me: "hiccups don't have a color. What color would you want them to be if they had a color?"

Carly: "Uh, lellow."

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While holding a piece of Halloween candy…

Ethan: "Mom, I am going to practice unwrapping stuff."

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Ethan: "Let me hear your heart with this doctor thing"

Me: "Can you hear it?"

Ethan: "You don't have a heart"

Patrick yelling from the other room: "I knew it!"

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Ethan: "How come I can't have a sleepover with Carly?"

Me: "Because it's a school night."

Ethan: "School is ruining my life!"

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Ethan: "Do we have church tomorrow?"

Me: "Yes."

Ethan: "But it's summer vacation, I thought we didn't have to go to church during summer vacation."

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Carly: "I was a baby in your tummy"

Me: "Yes, you were. Do you remember being in my tummy?"

Carly: "Uh hah"

Me: "You do? What did it feel like?"

Carly: "It was comfortable when I was sleeping."

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Ethan: "Did you know that chameleons change colors when the weather changes?"

Me: "they do?"

Ethan: "ya, they camouflage themselves...it would be really hard playing hide and go seek with a chameleon."

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Me: "Hey Ethan, come and give me some loves"

Ethan: "Are you lonely"

Me: "Not really, but I love Loves!"

Ethan: "I sure do you love you mom"

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Me: "Ethan, you had a hard day today. You weren't using your good ears."

Ethan: My good ears?, What's that mean?"

Me: "You weren't listening and doing today"

Ethan: " Oh, I didn't hear you, I guess my good ears weren't turned on"

Me: (chuckling because he was serious) "Well, tomorrow is a new day and you can do better tomorrow."

Ethan: "I guess I'll turn my good ears on tomorrow."

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Ethan: "I need to wash these up" as he heads to the bathroom

Me: "The batteries?"

Ethan: "Ya, it will make them feel better"

Me: "Maybe they are just dead"

Ethan: "They were dead but now they are alive"

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Raya: "What would you do if I accidently dropped this out of the car window? How would we get it?"

Ethan as serious as can be: "Using the Force."

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Wearing my hair in a ponytail for the first time in a long time

Ethan: "Mom, did you get a makeover?"

Me: "No, is it because my hair is in a ponytail?"

Ethan: "Ya, you look like a rockstar."

Me: "Awesome!"

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Ethan giving me a high five

Me:" Ouch! I think you broke my hand"

Ethan: "Hehe...Is that awesome?"

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Carly: "Shut the door so no one will take me. Because then you'll have to get another Carly."

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Ethan: "What happens when Aunts grow old? Oh, I know, they turn into grandmas"

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Me: "You can't go with me. You get to stay with daddy. Don't you want to stay with daddy? You hardly ever see him."

Carly: "But mommy, I came out of your tummy."

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Ethan: "Mommy, can you email the mailman and ask him to bring me the Star Wars 3 movie?"

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Raya: "Wow mom, this is like real dinner."

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Carly: I'm too busy to work mom, just like you.

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Carly: Pokee Nokee Oh (This is how she pronounces Pinocchio)

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Carly: "how did I get on earth as a baby?"

Me: "I gave birth to you."

Ethan: "How did she come out?"

Me: "I pushed her out"

Malia: "Kind of like going poop"

Ethan: "I'm so glad I'm a boy."
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Me: "When you turn four, you have to stop sucking your fingers."

Carly: "I don't want to grow up."

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Carly: "I don't suck my fingers anymore.

Me: "Why?

Carly: "Because I am a big girl. You are not a big girl, you are just big."
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5th Sunday Sermon

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Let's face it, most people would be more relieved to find an alligator on their doorstep rather than Jehovah Witnesses. Perhaps this is why the photo is so funny...because it's true.

I just came from my dad's house down the street. As I was leaving, some Jehovah Witnesses were heading in. We always had an open door policy when it came to the Jehovah Witnesses. They were always welcomed and invited in. I don't remember much of the conversations that were held as a child, but they were always eager to share scripture and pamphlets. We obviously never converted and even though the faces change, they still manage to keep coming by.

I never served a full time mission with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons). I had a lot of non-member friends growing up and when I was in high school, I watched many of my dear friends get baptized into my faith. I never really experienced the "real world" when it came to share the gospel, until yesterday.

Every once in a while, the month gives us a "5th Sunday". Because the lesson plans that come from Salt Lake, don't have 5th Sunday lessons, the bishopric (Priesthood leaders of our ward), plan a combined lesson that includes the youth as well. Yesterday was a "5th Sunday" Sunday...

It seems to be that most 5th Sunday lessons have a common theme. Not all of them, but most seem to be about missionary work. Yesterday was no different. The bishop began his lesson and sure enough, it was about missionary work, but then the lesson went from "sermon" to action. Before I knew it, we were given a name of someone that lives in our ward (congregation) boundaries who has been inactive (hasn't been to church in a LONG time). We were split up (all done beforehand)into companions, and were told to go and visit our person right then and there and to invite them back to church. Let me just say that I have NEVER heard of this being done EVER. Leaving church to go and do some missionary work!?!? We have always been encouraged to put ourselves out there, but now, we had no excuse. So under my mumbling breath, I got into the car with Patrick, Raya and another man and we headed over to someone's house none of us even knew.

I was nervous, but I thought for sure that we had this going in as Patrick actually served a mission and did this full time at one point in his life, and the other guy I'm pretty sure had done the same. I am not sure how I ended up with the items we were giving to the family, but I did and we set out to do some missionary work. The daughter answered the door and after Patrick apologized for getting the dogs outside the fence riled up, I decided to speak up and let her know who we were. Before I could finish, she blurted out "We don't like churches." I was a little caught off guard, but managed to give her the ward directory and a card that had our ward's service times on it and then we left. I am still not sure how I felt about it as I have never experienced that before, but thought that it would be a good teaching moment for Raya. I let her know that when you try to share the gospel with others, not everyone is going to be open to hearing what you have to say, but that doesn't mean that we should stop sharing it. The other guy that was with us also made a point that even that brief contact could make an impression or plant a seed. After returning to the church, I was sharing our experience with a friend of mine who had served a full time mission. She had the perfect response to our not so good experience. She said "The good experience's that you do have make all those not so good ones worth it". I think that was the perfect thing that could have been said at that time.

I've never been rude to any other churches who have knocked on my door because I've known many of my own friends and family members who have done the same, but after my experience yesterday, I have a whole new respect to all the religions out spreading the word through missionaries. It's definitely not sissy la la work and let's face it, if everyone listened to the main message of those missionaries, and lived a Christ like life, our world would be a much better place to live regardless of what religion we are.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Blast From the Past!

I was shopping at TJ Maxx today and among many other items, I found something that brought be back to my childhood. One of my favorite TV shows was...

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I still remember a few episode themes but in reality I don't remember much about it. I was constantly told that I looked like Punky Brewster. Perhaps that is why I loved the show so much. Regardless of the reason why I watched or thought I loved the show, it has always held a special place in my childhood heart. So while I was shopping, I was going through their clearance DVD's and games and found a DVD with 10episodes of Punky Brewster. So I bought it. I can hardly wait to bust it out and force share the Punky love with my kids. And as for the fact that I was constantly told I looked like my favorite star...well, you be the judge of that:

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