tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42399328622643181412024-03-13T21:16:31.814-07:00The Next Day is SomedayA journal of my adventures, opinions, and things that feed my soul.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312002159472023357noreply@blogger.comBlogger1123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239932862264318141.post-36155925545162010672013-02-21T09:12:00.001-08:002013-02-21T09:12:38.359-08:00Be Bold<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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It’s time to put it out there, I mean, it’s all about the
people you know, right? And I seem to know mostly married people who also know
married people. So, here it goes… I am SO ready to meet a great guy! I know
there is one out there that would just get me and be totally awesome and we’d
be like peas and carrots or peanut butter and jelly, or… <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>well you get the idea. </div>
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So, I’m putting out an APB of sorts… Give me your tired,
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and thoughtful men. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bring me the ones
who enjoy a good beer, or glass of wine, the ones that want to have a family
and cook food together and laugh and be silly. Bring me the ones who will take
me camping and build me a fire, and the ones who want to take care of this
planet for our children and their children. Bring me the ones who are balanced
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I am so ready for this. 2013 is going to be MY YEAR! I feel
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life, I’m happy and the one thing I feel is missing is a partner… and a dog.
So, if you know any great single guys that meet some or all of the above
mentioned qualities please let me know! Tell your friends, and tell them to
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<b><span class="bqQuoteLink">Stand
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312002159472023357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239932862264318141.post-1765441466251559862012-11-24T11:58:00.000-08:002012-11-24T11:58:31.685-08:00Keepsakes vs. stuff??It's been four years but we are finally cleaning out my grandma and grandpa's house so that my cousin and her husband can live there. My parents have been working hard on getting most things out and sorted and my sister and I spent a day at the house a few weeks ago and almost all day on Thanksgiving going through more stuff. It's caused me to stop and ponder the nostalgic value of things vs. it being just stuff.<br />
I am a collector, but only of stuff that I love, or that makes me feel good, or has a memory attached to it. I love to have "my things" around me, it provides comfort and makes a cozy happy home for me. But going through Grandma's stuff you begin to wonder if there is any point in keeping it, it's just going to sit somewhere where we can look at it and say, hey, that was grandma's! <br />
My mom and dad kept a lot of the furniture and other things that have value, whether just sentimental, historical or monetary. Eventually that stuff (however morbid it is to think about) will be passed to my sister and I, and eventually to our future generations. Will it retain it's value as it's passed down? Will my grandchildren wonder why the heck I kept a blue vase or a ceramic cow that was hers? When does it all cease to be special, when you have a houseful of stuff you can't get rid of because it belonged to someone you care about? Does it really help to keep their memory alive?<br />
I'm somewhat torn about this because I also feel like we (society in general) have too much crap. We buy buy buy and clog up the landfills with a bunch of useless crap. Don't even get me started on black Friday and the sheer volume of shit that people buy just so they can give a gift to someone that has no sentimental value. Wow, that was a bit of a tangent...<br />
I'm not sure what the point of this post is... I'm just thinking outloud really. It really does make me happy to have my grandma's things around me, I just worry that maybe it's too much... Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312002159472023357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239932862264318141.post-52094407047026987702012-10-05T11:30:00.002-07:002012-10-05T11:30:56.130-07:00It's a puzzle.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Getting older has its benefits and its drawbacks. And for
all of you “older” people out there rolling your eyes, I am by no means old but
old enough to feel “older.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the
benefits is that you begin to know yourself better. I can actually look back at
my life and see how much I have changed and grown. With this knowing of oneself
you start to see what works for you and what doesn’t. One thing that I’ve
noticed about myself is that while I crave organization (and all of the cool
gadgets and storage containers that come with it) I am just not good at it. The
weeks that I am organized and have my shiz together are the best weeks! My
house is clean: I have food for real meals and clean laundry that is put away.
Those weeks also tend to be the ones when I make my bed in the mornings. There
really is some psychological benefit to coming home to a made bed. They are
also few and far between. Last week was fabulous! This week: not so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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It’s a combination of factors really, that make for living
an organized life. Part of it is that some people are just made that way. I am
not. When it comes down to it, if I have a choice between spending another hour
sewing or doing something creative over cleaning up the house, chances are I’m
going to choose the former. I’m an artistic creative person, not a neatnick.
One of the other factors is time. When I get busy I don’t have the time to do
laundry, and meal plan and get groceries. Like last weekend, I was out of town
and the day I would normally use to get those things done was unavailable. If I
could have my way I’d always have Sunday’s to stay home and get those sorts of
things done. But seeing as how I’m already battling being a hermit and my
desire to stay home in my cocoon all day it doesn’t really work. I have places
I want to go, and friends I want to see and things I want to do. I don’t know
if it’s the change in season, or just a new phase of me, but I increasingly
find lately that I just want to be at home, by myself. This doesn’t work well
with attempting to meet someone. Unless the husband fairy is going to drop Mr.
Perfect on my doorstep while I’m at home in my comfy pants, sewing. </div>
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So my conundrum is this… how does one balance being
organized and keep on top of things like having food in the house and clean
laundry, doing the things that feed your soul and make you feel alive and creatively
nourished, and maintaining healthy relationships with friends and family? Oh,
and don’t forget getting exercise!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
weeks it works, some weeks it doesn’t. Is this just the way it’s going to be?
And my goodness, I’m just me. What does one do when they have a husband and
children in the mix too? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would really
like to find a way to make it all work more smoothly than it is now. If anyone
has any tips or tricks to suggest for a hopelessly messy unorganized cocoon
loving creative type please do share! </div>
Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312002159472023357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239932862264318141.post-79249091748745085172012-09-30T23:14:00.001-07:002012-09-30T23:14:40.827-07:00A Star Burnt Out to SoonI've been in the car for two and a half hours with plenty of time to think, but no hands to write. This is verbal vomit of my thoughts, not neccesarily in any order or sense.<br />
<br />
Yesterday I attended a celebration of life for a young woman who departed this earth too soon. I knew her, but not well. After attending the memorial service and hearing about her vibrant and full life I've turned inward to look at my own life. Memorial services have a way of forcing you to look at your life from an angle not often experienced, and sometimes you might not like what you see.<br />
She was the younger sister of one of my most favoritesmartguys, and the sister-in-law of one of my known for my whole life sistergirlfriends. This loss was a huge blow to them, unexpected and tragic. When I heard the news I gasped outloud, and though it was mid morning and I'd already been out for a run, I got back in bed because I was so immediately sad nothing else seemed worth doing. Just over a year ago sistergirlfriend lost her dad, they are still learning how to navigate life without him so this feels like the biggest fuckyou possible.<br />
The bright star that burnt out taught me some lessons yesterday, ones I'll continue to think about for days to come. I didn't know her that well, but always thought of her like a rare bird; something rare and unique with beautiful feathers. I was a little intimidated by her honestly. She was a free spirit. She was loud, and tattooed and everyone was drawn to her. She had fabulous hair, and a beautiful smile, and while I could never pull it off I loved her style. She was just 29 years old yet wise beyond her years.<br />
She danced to the beat of her own drum. When her dad asked her why she liked living in Ecuador she answered by saying because the people there are happy with enough. If they have enough food to eat, a roof over their heads, a bed to sleep in and friends and family that love them, it is enough. When she would come back to the States everyone was chasing something bigger and better and nothing was ever enough. So she chose to live where life was more simple. She did what was right for her. What a smart girl. <br />
She lived every day as though it was her last, savoring moments with loved ones and friends. She told her mom "you can sleep when you're dead" as she was dragging her out of the house for an adventure.<br />
Circling back to myself for a minute... I got home from the service last night and sat and cried. Am I living my life to the fullest? If I die tomorrow will I regret not having lived every day like it was my last? Should I be out and about and experiencing everything I can as often as I can? Am I living my life the right way? I was perplexed. I fell asleep last night with many questions in my head. I woke up this morning with those same questions, and remembered something else her family had said. She lived the life that was right for her. Not the life someone else thought she should have, not the life society thought she should have, but the one she thought she should have. That provided some solace and direction. So I'm trying to figure out the right balance of living life to the fullest but in the way that is right for me. Her way of life was different than mine, but I learned from her to think about how I want to live and be remembered. I might just go out and get that new tattoo I've been thinking about... and paint my nails red. <br />
She was a bright fiery star that brought light and warmth to everyone around her. I know her family and friends will miss her immensely. <br />
There was much more I wanted to say, but the deep thoughts generated by driving through the night alone with Ray LaMontagne and James Taylor are now eluding me. <br />
To sistergirlfriend and favoritesmartguy... I love you guys dearly. My heart hurts for you and I wish I could absorb some of the pain for you. I know you know... but you are always in my thoughts and only a phone call, a text or a shortish car ride away. If all else fails, try some chicken and mac&cheese. XOXOXOXO.<br />
<br />
Please, hug the ones you love. Call those too far away to hug. Tell the people you love that you love them. <br />
<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312002159472023357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239932862264318141.post-48658255178642668552012-09-12T10:21:00.003-07:002012-09-12T10:21:35.493-07:00Do you ever feel like something is missing... you are going along with your daily routine, but it's a little empty? That's how I feel right now. What's incredibly annoying is not being able to put my finger on what it is. I do have a few guesses as to what it could be... or it could be a combination of things. Hopefully I'll get it figured out soon.<br />
In the meantime... <br />
It's beginning to cool down, it's getting darker earlier and the light is changing. These are the first things I start to notice about the fall months. I've decided this year that rather than try to put it off I'm just going to let the obsession with my favorite time of year overtake me and dive right in. I saw mini pumpkins at the grocery store the other day and already bought some, and I'm ready to make my first batch of pumpkin bread, I just have to buy some pumpkin. I also decided that I needed a fall quilt. It's funny, because I usually have to think and over think making a quilt, and wonder if I have the right fabrics and what kind of blocks should I do... this time I just knew what pattern I wanted, and I went to the fabric store and came home and started cutting fabric the next day. I'm moving much faster on getting the blocks put together than with past quilts, probably because I've been able to dedicate larger chunks of time to getting it done. I love quiet weekends at home spent sipping hot tea and sewing with football on in the background. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found this fabric and fell in love and used it as the base to work with...</td></tr>
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And this is a super cute fabric that I could not resist... </div>
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So, happy autumn! Hopefully I'll have more sewing to share after this weekend!</div>
Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312002159472023357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239932862264318141.post-84951776737315504172012-08-26T16:06:00.001-07:002012-08-26T16:06:36.499-07:00It's a faux fall day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi all! Today I'm pretending that it's fall and not the dog days of summer. It's lovely outside and pretty cool for an August day. It's only in the low 70's. As much as I've tried to put off the yearnings for the season things like the weather and preseason football have brought it to my front door. In years past I've been in full craft fair prep mode by this time and I miss out on my favorite time of year. Not this year, no craft fairs for me! Instead I'm working on a few things for myself. I've been so busy with other things that I've not done any quilting for a long time and I've got the bug. I think I need a fall quilt to replace the bright happy spring one I have right now. I've bought a pattern and I think next week I'll head over the hill to Hart's to get started on picking out fabrics for it! I'm so excited! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My faux fall day started with a muffin and some Halloween fabrics I've had for two years. Can't wait to make something out of them!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Every faux fall day needs tomato soup!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And preseason football!</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312002159472023357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239932862264318141.post-57550071971234486612012-07-12T20:46:00.002-07:002012-07-12T20:46:59.205-07:00Playing catch up!<div style="text-align: center;">
I went so long without blogging I need to play catch up! A couple months ago I got to go to Disneyland with my best girlfriends! I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to go! I didn't take my regular camera, kicked myself in the butt for that, but I did have my iPhone! Seeing as how it's my first one and I love Instagram I took a lot of pictures using it. Here is a smattering of my favorite ones. We did California Adventure too but I didn't take as many pictures. I'm dying to go back already!</div>
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In no particular order... </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't notice the guy behind us until now! Ha!</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K84pN8v8Z2k/T_-VgR69u3I/AAAAAAAAH3M/nCU-nDvA3jM/s1600/night+sky.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K84pN8v8Z2k/T_-VgR69u3I/AAAAAAAAH3M/nCU-nDvA3jM/s400/night+sky.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lWmzblnKMyo/T_-Vhm05P_I/AAAAAAAAH3U/tBmNjWeAWis/s1600/yoho.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lWmzblnKMyo/T_-Vhm05P_I/AAAAAAAAH3U/tBmNjWeAWis/s400/yoho.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312002159472023357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239932862264318141.post-76212282609400231082012-07-09T21:19:00.001-07:002012-07-09T21:19:17.407-07:00Blog crack... Pacing the Panic Room<div style="text-align: center;">
I recently found a new blog and I love it. My only criticism is that he doesn't blog enough. I check it every day and am sad when there isn't something new and insightful for me to read. The author is Ryan and he writes about his beautiful family, and his work and his talented wife. His writing is raw and truthful and real. I do love a blog where people put themselves out there. It helps the rest of us to keep it in perspective and be thankful for what we have. His writing is inspiring and honest. I follow both of them on Pinterest and Instagram. I'm obsessed. Here are a few of Ryan's pictures...</div>
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You definitely need to add this to your reader... <a href="http://pacingthepanicroom.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pacing the Panic Room</a></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312002159472023357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239932862264318141.post-15246876436658724182012-07-08T17:24:00.002-07:002012-07-08T17:25:06.293-07:00We all have our own journey<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello everybody! Silly me didn't think about just downloading Firefox so I could once again blog from home. It worked, so here I am! Hopefully I'll be around more often as I seem to have more to say and share lately and it's all been bottled up waiting to be able to blog about it. I am pretty darn active on Instagram and Pinterest and that is on a daily basis so if you can't get enough of me (which is highly unlikely) head on over there.</div>
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My first post is a bit heavier a subject but it's been on my mind for a while now. Life seems to be a series of phases, and being a person who takes a while to adjust to change I am always thrown off by new phases in my life. Not too long ago I stopped working at Paper Source. My full time job keeps me afloat and seeing as how it's 40 hours a week I was having trouble finding time to do the things I needed to do to stay organized and fulfilled. I miss the people I work with but I don't miss the retail part of it. I am a contemplative enough person to be able to look back and see how much I grew and changed while working there. Being surrounded by so many wonderful nurturing women was such a good thing for me. </div>
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While I am enjoying having real weekends I have been so busy lately I've not had much time to stay home and catch up on life. Today I get the afternoon to work on a few projects and do a little blogging! I'm simultaneously working on my first real crochet project, painting some pots and planting some succulents and some handmade fabric bunting for a friend of mine. It's a nice afternoon but I have to remember to stop at some point and clean up my room and go to the grocery store. </div>
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The last several years have been simultaneously awful and wonderful for me. Through struggle and adversity comes great strength and growth and I am one of the lucky ones that has come out of big nasty life changing events in a better place. BH and DH (before husband and during husband) I was a clingy, annoying dependant person. After getting divorced and laid off I began a new journey to this person I am today. I sort of see it like a curving graph that was just going up and up for a long time. I spent the last almost four years discovering this new person I am. I've become independent and more self assured. I know, love and respect myself more than I ever have in my life. I am more able to accept who I am, and in return accept others for who they are. This, I feel is one of the great unexpected accomplishments of this journey. I approach life as organically as I can, things will happen when they happen and this new phase seems to have happened without much warning, it has hit me like a Mac truck.</div>
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I don't really know what to call this phase, but that graph I mentioned earlier, it looks as though it's leveling out and maybe even slightly declining. I've become unsatisfied with part of my life. I always thought it was a cliche or just silly talk when people talk about resisting getting older. But now I understand the fear. I'm terrified of what my next birthday brings. It's one year closer to the dreaded age of 35. I never in my life, not even in the last four years thought I would get there and be single and even childless. Out of the blue, I am ready for love. I'm ready to find that someone special and now that I'm ready I just want it now! It's the most daunting thing to figure out how in the hell to meet someone. </div>
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Being the age that I am most of my friends (all but one) are married and the majority of them have kiddos. I'm finding it increasingly difficult to relate to almost every one of my friends because it seems we have less and less in common these days. I envy the ones that are happily married or happily in long term relationships, it hurts to see the special looks and sweet kisses between them. I feel like I'm losing touch with them and growing apart, which is very tough for me. </div>
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This journey that I've been on has been so great, but I feel like it's taking a turn. I've become so good at being on my own I'm scared I've buried myself and become a loner. I mentioned earlier that I've gotten to know myself and my needs. It turns out I need time alone, just to stay home and be myself and dawdle around the house doing laundry, or crafting or whatever. If I don't have this I'll go crazy. But then that puts my relationships at risk of falling apart. How do I balance seeing my friends, not feeling like the fifth wheel and taking care of myself? It ends up being a vicious circle; I avoid events because I feel very much on the outside, but by doing that they create memories without me. I don't know how to fix this, it's a great conundrum. </div>
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That was very long, and quite disjointed. If you were able to get through it and read it all I applaud you! I guess what I really could have said is that my journey seems to be so much different than the people around me, and figuring out how to move forward is a challenge. </div>
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I leave you with a few pictures of my recent activity on Instagram... </div>
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I painted some pots with neon paint and planted succulents today.</div>
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Yesterday my mom, sister and her boyfriend went to Heath Ceramics and to the Marin Headlands, it was such a nice day! <span class="img" style="background-image: url("http://distilleryimage10.instagram.com/def1534ec86911e1b10e123138105d6b_7.jpg");"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="img" style="background-image: url("http://distilleryimage9.s3.amazonaws.com/de0aec60bf0411e1aebc1231381b647a_7.jpg");">I'm learning how to crochet and loving this first project! It's farther along than this now but I have this pic to share... </span></div>
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<span class="img" style="background-image: url("http://distilleryimage9.s3.amazonaws.com/de0aec60bf0411e1aebc1231381b647a_7.jpg");">XOXO</span></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312002159472023357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239932862264318141.post-43879878201621581872012-05-17T17:39:00.002-07:002012-05-17T17:39:51.172-07:00New shower decor<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello all! I haven't blogged in a long time because every time I try I seem to have difficulty with Blogger. I just figured out that my computer at work seems to be fine with it, but not my computer at home. Not sure why. So I'm just dashing off a quick post because I need your opinion! I've been wanting to redo my bathroom decor for years and am finally able to think about it. I have a picture I keep going back to in my mind but I don't have access to it at work so we'll have to make due. </div>
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I know I want to get a wall decal that says "get naked" to put on the wall. Something sort of like this.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQNHtT9ZxbU/T7WWg8d_zHI/AAAAAAAAH0w/8Ny1DuQrty0/s1600/il_570xN_175910737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQNHtT9ZxbU/T7WWg8d_zHI/AAAAAAAAH0w/8Ny1DuQrty0/s320/il_570xN_175910737.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I also know I want to get these wall vases, I've been wanting them forever!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1MzduKJ2bSQ/T7WW1kPFkeI/AAAAAAAAH04/oE-HAAHbvTE/s1600/UnHommeUneFemmeVasesF10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1MzduKJ2bSQ/T7WW1kPFkeI/AAAAAAAAH04/oE-HAAHbvTE/s320/UnHommeUneFemmeVasesF10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I will not be painting any of the walls in the bathroom so the color will need to come from the shower curtain, art, towels and floor rugs. When I decided I wanted to redo my bathroom for some reason the color scheme of coral and brown came to mind, not really sure why, but I can't find any shower curtains that have those colors without being ugly old lady shower curtains. The old lady isn't ugly... just the shower curtains. So after scouring the Internet these are a few I like and could build a new bathroom around. I'm going for fun and fresh. </div>
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This was a scheme put together by <a href="http://makingitlovely.com/" target="_blank">Making it Lovely</a> and she even had my vases in there! I like that this one has a matching rug. The odd thing is that my current bathroom scheme has orange as a pretty major part of it and all of these curtains have orange in them! The current scheme is multi colored with orange and bright blue towels. The shower curtain is a bunch of circles in different colors. I could get pink and navy towels, that would be a departure from what I have now... </div>
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I don't know that any of them really speak to me. I'm just not finding something that screams "me me me!" Any suggestions for other places to look?</div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312002159472023357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239932862264318141.post-10902454189182567002012-04-06T20:19:00.000-07:002012-04-06T20:19:13.281-07:00Hello there...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just popping in to say hello and give you a little peek into what I've been up to recently. I seem to be documenting my life with Instagram these days so all of these pics were taken with my phone. I've been keeping pretty busy and am pretty happy for the most part! I'm just doin my thing and learning how to settle in to this new life I've built for myself. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've really been enjoying just staying home when I can so I can do some of the things I've always wanted but never had time to do. I'm happy as a clam at home by myself tonight, it's Friday, does that make me a little loserish? I am mildly worried that I enjoy my time at home by myself a little too much, like I'm going to become a lonely hermit and one day realize that I'm fifty years old and I'm surrounded by the things I love but with no mans and no family of my own. I'm sort of operating on the premise that it'll happen when it's supposed to and in the meantime I'm going to enjoy myself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I spent a fair bit of time in the kitchen today. I got it into my head that I was going to make <a href="http://iowagirleats.com/2012/03/20/homemade-chewy-granola-bars/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+IowaGirlEats+%28Iowa+Girl+Eats%29">this</a> homemade granola bar recipe. I haven't gotten to taste any yet, they are in the fridge hardening up right now. They have to be good though, I mean the ingredients list seems yummy. I'd never heard of using coconut oil before, there's a first time for everything!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage0.instagram.com/09131a18804e11e1be6a12313820455d_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" nda="true" src="http://distilleryimage0.instagram.com/09131a18804e11e1be6a12313820455d_7.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My family will be in town this weekend for Easter. My sister is hosting Easter Sunday and I'm having them over for dinner tomorrow night. I don't often have the opportunity to cook a nice meal for people other than myself so I got out the Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics cookbook and picked a few of the recipes in it I've been wanting to try. I decided on a pork tenderloin with this amazing marinade. It smelled so very good! It's in the fridge overnight so hopefully it'll turn out super yummy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage3.instagram.com/598ee682804111e1ab011231381052c0_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" nda="true" src="http://distilleryimage3.instagram.com/598ee682804111e1ab011231381052c0_7.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The library where I live never ceases to amaze me. I don't take advantage of it as much as I should. I went a liiiitle overboard the other day with the cookbooks, and there are so many more I want to look through!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage6.instagram.com/8a848bc47f8911e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" nda="true" src="http://distilleryimage6.instagram.com/8a848bc47f8911e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of my recent projects was a gift for one of the most awesome families I know. My friend has knitted me the most beautiful scarf and the most awesome legwarmers and I've been wanting to make something in return. This is their adorable little family with the two sweetest most adorable kiddos ever! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage5.s3.amazonaws.com/2d9225e67b6211e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" nda="true" src="http://distilleryimage5.s3.amazonaws.com/2d9225e67b6211e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Went to Santa Cruz with my mommy last week. Love this photo of the deserted boardwalk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage6.s3.amazonaws.com/d53903047ad711e1a9f71231382044a1_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" nda="true" src="http://distilleryimage6.s3.amazonaws.com/d53903047ad711e1a9f71231382044a1_7.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For quite a while now I've been wanting to eat at this little place called the Picnic Basket. It was amazing. It's right across the street from the volleyball courts and the pier in Santa Cruz. I had a beet panini, I forget what kind of cheese it had but it had this walnut spread on it that made it so good!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage0.s3.amazonaws.com/0f6a80767acd11e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" nda="true" src="http://distilleryimage0.s3.amazonaws.com/0f6a80767acd11e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My most recent accomplishment was my first quilt just for me. I always make things for other people and this time I made something for myself. I love it. It was a lot of work but it came out so well! I plan on taking better pics of it but I haven't had the time to find the right location. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage7.s3.amazonaws.com/6a3b7204761711e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" nda="true" src="http://distilleryimage7.s3.amazonaws.com/6a3b7204761711e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm really looking forward to this weekend, the weather should be great! I think I'm going to get up tomorrow and go for a nice long walk or a bike ride. I've got a lot of spring cleaning to do and more cooking before the fam gets here. That's the news from Lake Wobegon!</div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312002159472023357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239932862264318141.post-1826017814546601272012-02-25T12:13:00.001-08:002012-02-25T12:14:51.257-08:00You can't know what it feels like until you've been there.<div style="text-align: center;">I got some fabulous news yesterday. It's been a long time coming, but I will finally have a full time job with benefits after several years without either. The design office I've been working at since September is finally able to have me full time rather than part, which means I'm eligible for benefits. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I can't even begin to tell you what this feels like for me. It's amazing. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I said to my sister the other day, that I finally feel like an adult. Not sure what changed, maybe the fact that I have successfully made it through a very tough period in my life, made it through and become a better, happier, more well adjusted person too. </div><div style="text-align: center;">After a period of various levels of unemployment you can't know the elation I'm feeling unless you've been there. To lose your career job and for such a long time... can rob you of your feeling of worth. You can no longer support yourself, you need help. I made it through and am doing valued work and earning a living for it, all on my own. I don't know that I can ever truthfully complain about having to go to work again. I may grumble about wanting to stay in bed, or stay home and sew, but inside I'm so grateful for having a job to go to. Never take your job for granted, there are plenty of people out there who would love to have it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The end of 2008 was a terrible time. My husband left, my grandmother died, and I lost my job. The combination of those things was horrible to deal with. It changed me forever. After he left I was forced to start living my life on my own for the first time ever really. But then the job loss happened and I was in a new even worse reality. I was alone and couldn't support myself. I've spent the time since growing and getting to know myself while slowly getting myself on more solid ground with work. It's been my own journey, and it's happened just the way it should, for me. I'm happy to say that today I feel like I'm back, and so much better! </div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm sending gratitude and thanks to God, the universe and to my friends and family for all of the support over the years. Time to bring on the next great adventure! Goodness knows I deserve it!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">XOXO,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Amy</div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312002159472023357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239932862264318141.post-33062432951345800952012-02-23T21:59:00.001-08:002012-02-23T22:02:56.137-08:00In my head and in my hands, what I'm working on.<div style="text-align: center;">Hello friends.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's my Friday night and I'm sitting here surrounded by my projects. I have a quilt in progress, a small piece of embroidery, and today I decided to start learning how to crochet. Oh, and I have a watercolor project in mind that I have yet to start. and two pieces of furniture I want to refinish. I've been telling myself for years now that I'm not aloud to start knitting or crocheting because I already have too many hobbies that I don't have enough time for, and yarn is expeeeensive! I thought fabric was bad! Buuuut, I want a granny square afghan so darned if I'm going to wait for someone to make me one! I'll learn and make it myself! Plus I keep telling myself it's ok because I need more portable projects. It's really quite hard to bring your sewing machine on a car ride, or a plane... So, I'm sitting here after having made my first very uneven chain thinking... well, maybe I won't pick this up as quickly as I'd hoped I would! I think I thought I'd be busting out my first square tonight! Haha! </div><div style="text-align: center;">I have a quilt in progress that is actually for me! I've started the quilting and hope to make a pretty good dent in more of it this weekend. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage8.s3.amazonaws.com/c39549785bec11e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" lda="true" src="http://distilleryimage8.s3.amazonaws.com/c39549785bec11e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Last weekend I went to my most favorite fabric store and bought (unplanned) quite a few fabrics to contribute to the next quilt I plan to make. This one will be for my bed, and I'll be redoing the whole room around it. These are just some of the fabrics... it's gonna be pretty wild! I really love the fifth one in from the left; the one with the purple and orange poppy-like flowers. And I love the one on the far right. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage9.s3.amazonaws.com/a5e214de59b611e18bb812313804a181_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" lda="true" src="http://distilleryimage9.s3.amazonaws.com/a5e214de59b611e18bb812313804a181_7.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm contemplating a strips and bricks pattern, but I don't know, it's such a hard decision to make! This is a strips and bricks quilt I love... it's by <a href="http://www.redpepperquilts.com/">Red Pepper Quilts</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/253609022735785611_hMjiAbVA_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" lda="true" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/253609022735785611_hMjiAbVA_c.jpg" width="300px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Quilting is as much about the craft of it as it is about the quilter. I love pattern and color but at the same time I'm anal and like to be regimented. I'm thinking this would work. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So the rest of the room is being loosely planned out in Pinterest. I know I want a slate/blue wall behind my bed, and I know I want to make a headboard out of reclaimed wood. I've been saving links to tutorials on how to create whole walls with reclaimed wood, but I don't think I'll do that. My original inspiration came from an Anthropologie catalogue from over a year ago. There was a lot of weathered wood, and rich colors like; rusty orange, orangey reds, cobalt blues and rich greens. It might have had a tinge of Moroccan or bohemian edge to it which I hope to maintain in my room design. You can check out my Pinterest board <a href="http://pinterest.com/wabadee1/my-future-bedroom/">here</a>. </div><div style="text-align: center;">These first three images are from the <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/index.jsp">Anthropologie</a> catalog.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VHiyUb5Rgfo/TWg6zHRWiCI/AAAAAAAACUU/W0vNtXf3ILs/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-25+at+5.22.56+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" lda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VHiyUb5Rgfo/TWg6zHRWiCI/AAAAAAAACUU/W0vNtXf3ILs/s400/Screen+shot+2011-02-25+at+5.22.56+PM.png" width="313px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.urbannestblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/anthro_catalog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" lda="true" src="http://www.urbannestblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/anthro_catalog.jpg" width="301px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-efv9cMPvDpg/TXEL9S1jIhI/AAAAAAAACKQ/pBC_PzoUixA/Anthropologie+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" lda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-efv9cMPvDpg/TXEL9S1jIhI/AAAAAAAACKQ/pBC_PzoUixA/Anthropologie+1.jpg" width="325px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The following images I've saved in my Pinterest file</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/215680269624473933_XMKT6Fng_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" lda="true" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/215680269624473933_XMKT6Fng_c.jpg" width="279px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I love the richness of this blue</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/97320041917518827_IF4Q4KCs_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" lda="true" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/97320041917518827_IF4Q4KCs_c.jpg" width="275px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fantastic rich colors!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/215680269624348810_GpQ5gk6D_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" lda="true" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/215680269624348810_GpQ5gk6D_c.jpg" width="266px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I died when I saw this lampshade at Anthropologie. Too bad it's $78 for just the shade... no lamp included.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/215680269624485865_72VIG1mg_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" lda="true" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/215680269624485865_72VIG1mg_c.jpg" width="266px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/215680269624039425_HHFpx8rN_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266px" lda="true" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/215680269624039425_HHFpx8rN_c.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Picture this as just a headboard.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Can you see it all like I can?!? I'm super excited to make this happen, but it's gonna be a while before it's all realized. </div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312002159472023357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239932862264318141.post-89712208142248771992012-02-18T09:02:00.000-08:002012-02-18T09:02:16.549-08:00<span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: x-large;">"To believe in something and not to live it, is dishonest."</span><br />
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-GhandiAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312002159472023357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239932862264318141.post-86550131725602185672012-02-18T08:55:00.000-08:002012-02-18T08:55:39.152-08:00Be a duck.<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/193162271487180191_jbtVZLhz_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133px" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/193162271487180191_jbtVZLhz_c.jpg" width="200px" yda="true" /></a>Just a quick little nugget...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Yesterday we had our annual retreat at my office. We discussed many things including how our profession's value is underrated and how easy it is to get angry about it. My boss (whom I greatly admire) said at one point, "Life is hard. Life is hard, get over it." She wasn't being cruel, she was making a point that we all have external influences in our lives that we have no control over. It's very easy to let those things drag us down and make us feel all woe is me about everything. But you know what? Life is hard, it's hard for everyone and in their own way. We can't change other people, or maybe we can but it's very difficult and time consuming to do so. What we can change is ourselves. We can change our perceptions. So, life is hard. Get over it and move on. Get on with doing the things you love and enjoy. To quote her warmly and accurately she said, "be a duck." </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So I'm going to try to be more of a duck when things get hard. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312002159472023357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239932862264318141.post-11796908738270043452012-02-14T10:46:00.000-08:002012-02-14T16:38:38.925-08:00It's a yellow Valentine's Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some parts of Valentine’s Day make me want to barf but I do my best to ignore those parts. Let’s just say if I ever get a big white stuffed teddy bear holding a heart box of candy it’s likely that man won’t be around for another Valentine’s Day. Some people ignore it altogether; saying it’s just a Hallmark holiday. This year I’ve decided to celebrate the love I have for my friends and family and what better way to do so than with a yellow Valentine’s Day! Yellow is the color of friendship so that is what my theme was this year. Plus I am really into it lately and it’s such a sunny happy color, perfect for these winter months! </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">I’ll just start by saying that while the color choices, execution and cuteness of these cards is all me, I did sort of borrow the idea from a card I saw featured on <a href="http://www.designsponge.com/2012/01/est-1986-valentines-day-cards.html">Design Sponge</a>, which was linked to this <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/est1986">shop</a> on Etsy. There, I said it, the original idea was not mine. I just liked it so much I decided to use it! I carved my own stamp and used Paper Source cards and envelopes. I will say that I did come up with the sentiment inside, that’s all me. I’m super happy with how they came out!<br />
I also decided to make heart shaped sugar cookies that kept with my yellow V-day theme! I packaged them in little craft paper bags with two of my favorite colors; yellow and aqua blue! Sadly, the bags turned out better than the cookies, I’ll never use Martha’s sugar cookie recipe again, the dough is just too wet and the cookies didn’t hold their shape well. So some of them turned out more like heartish shaped blobs, They still taste good though! I’m obsessed with wanting to buy every color and pattern of washi tape I see lately; they have an excellent selection of them at Mai Do in Santana Row. I had to limit myself to this super lovely aqua and white barber pole design. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Through all the changes in my life, the ups and the downs, my friends and family have been there for me. So to all of you, I LOVE YOU! Thanks for being you! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8xESdD0ENZU/Tzqn4Vr-lEI/AAAAAAAAH0A/4k24XO9LaeQ/s1600/v-day+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8xESdD0ENZU/Tzqn4Vr-lEI/AAAAAAAAH0A/4k24XO9LaeQ/s400/v-day+2.jpg" width="400px" yda="true" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FDQ2kgZtYTo/Tzqn6pIKuBI/AAAAAAAAH0I/PLfjcGjA5tU/s1600/v-day+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FDQ2kgZtYTo/Tzqn6pIKuBI/AAAAAAAAH0I/PLfjcGjA5tU/s400/v-day+1.jpg" width="400px" yda="true" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xRa3-W7rNTk/Tzqn8aKF2HI/AAAAAAAAH0Q/e821O4gjuY0/s1600/v-day+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xRa3-W7rNTk/Tzqn8aKF2HI/AAAAAAAAH0Q/e821O4gjuY0/s400/v-day+3.jpg" width="400px" yda="true" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9BCp8qjYyKU/TzqoAjKnlrI/AAAAAAAAH0g/E21GLT8HxCE/s1600/v-day+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9BCp8qjYyKU/TzqoAjKnlrI/AAAAAAAAH0g/E21GLT8HxCE/s400/v-day+4.jpg" width="400px" yda="true" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7PzQeLcjWxE/TzqoB1wV5sI/AAAAAAAAH0o/CBYJbwDB_WU/s1600/v-day+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7PzQeLcjWxE/TzqoB1wV5sI/AAAAAAAAH0o/CBYJbwDB_WU/s400/v-day+5.jpg" width="400px" yda="true" /></a></div><div align="center">These pics were taken with my phone using the Instagram ap. </div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312002159472023357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239932862264318141.post-81453407879428354862012-02-10T12:28:00.000-08:002012-02-10T12:28:20.768-08:00Quilt making 101 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sKtqPJ8k3dM/TzV6H58oK3I/AAAAAAAAHzI/sOZ7uL9ck_U/s1600/Char's+quilt+and+pool+party+8.14.10+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150px" sda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sKtqPJ8k3dM/TzV6H58oK3I/AAAAAAAAHzI/sOZ7uL9ck_U/s200/Char's+quilt+and+pool+party+8.14.10+018.JPG" width="200px" /></a>Hello all,</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I would just like to speak for a moment about what goes into a handmade quilt. Most of you know I'm a quilter and if you are lucky you've been the recipient of one of my quilts. I'm not bragging here, I'm no expert, my binding is often crooked, my quilting stitches are uneven and I'm not winning any quilt contests any time soon but there is a whole lotta work, time and love that does go into them. Not to mention money. I seem to pick up hobbies that are not friendly to my wallet, maybe it's a good thing that I don't have as much time as I'd like to craft...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">my quilts tend to be more simple in design, my tops are not all that complicated but the love that goes into one starts with me picking out the fabrics. This could be one of my favorite parts about quilting, I love putting together the colors and patterns in a quilt. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Perhaps I should back up a bit, and give you a little lesson in the anatomy of a quilt. It is comprised of a top, a middle, the backing, and the binding. The top is usually pieced together with any number of fabrics and the design can range from very complicated to very simple. The more pieces you see the tougher it gets to have everything come together equally and with all corners matching and things lining up. Once your top is all "pieced" together it is finished. Up to this point you have been "piecing" not "quilting." Piecing together a quilt is a process that involved a crap load of work. It can be very time consuming, and repetitive. all of your pieces have to be cut straight and accurately, sewn together and pressed with an iron every time. I'll tell you working with an iron is not fun in the middle of summer.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Once your top is done you create a sandwich with the top, middle and backing. The backing can also be pieced but I prefer to do solid pieces of fabric. Creating the sandwich requires a large, flat surface that is preferably hard rather than something like carpet. All three components are pinned together, insuring as you go that it remains smooth and with no puckering. The more pins you use the more smoothly the quilting process will go. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Once this is done the quilting can begin. Quilting is the act of sewing all three layers together. This can be a bitch. By this point your quilt is heavy and has to be manhandled through your sewing machine all while trying to keep the stitches equal. I have somehow managed to quilt an almost king size quilt using my little Kenmore machine. Not sure how I managed that really. At this point comes the appeal of working on mini quilts... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PSMMfGFN0QE/TzV6czUyESI/AAAAAAAAHzY/GllbLWzUNvI/s1600/Supermassive+Black+Hole+02.28.10+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150px" sda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PSMMfGFN0QE/TzV6czUyESI/AAAAAAAAHzY/GllbLWzUNvI/s200/Supermassive+Black+Hole+02.28.10+004.JPG" width="200px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My least favorite part of working on a quilt is tying off loose thread ends, which only has to happen if a line of quilting stops before the edge of the quilt. Sometimes a quilting design calls for it, but I usually try to quilt right off the edge so I don't have to do it. I'm lazy, what can I say. </div><br />
Once your quilting is done you create a binding strip, machine stitch that on to the edge of the quilt, then trim all of the excess fabric and binding off. The rest of the binding is hand stitched to the back side of the quilt. <br />
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Last but not least every quilt should have a label. My quilting teacher taught me this and said it's so that when a quilt you made is on Antiques Roadshow in a hundred years they'll know who made it, what it was called, where it was made and who it was for among other things. I name all of my quilts and add as much information to the label as I can. Sometimes the labels are written with fabric pens but lately I've started embroidering the labels, I like the look better and feel like it'll last longer. Again, a lot more work but it's worth it. <br />
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So, if you've ever wondered, each quilt can take many many hours of work and sometimes a pretty hefty chunk of change. A baby quilt might take up to 40 hours, and the quilt I made for my sister a year ago probably took between 100-200 hours, I have no idea. I was delirious by the end of that thing. <br />
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All hours and money aside, my quilts are always made with a whole lotta love. They might not be perfect, but the love makes up for it. :) <br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q74s-vqGy-0/TzV6P1fIGRI/AAAAAAAAHzQ/ICHi1TPG2g4/s1600/Em%2527s+quilt+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" sda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q74s-vqGy-0/TzV6P1fIGRI/AAAAAAAAHzQ/ICHi1TPG2g4/s400/Em%2527s+quilt+006.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">My sisters quilt on the wall being laid out.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E1I6qUHE-is/TzV9TVMoCBI/AAAAAAAAHzw/lYxoAW8qn0g/s1600/Ems+quilt+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" sda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E1I6qUHE-is/TzV9TVMoCBI/AAAAAAAAHzw/lYxoAW8qn0g/s400/Ems+quilt+5.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> All finished and posing at the beach</div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312002159472023357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239932862264318141.post-27670453141809424582012-01-13T11:04:00.000-08:002012-01-13T11:04:01.647-08:00Hello there<div style="text-align: center;">Boy oh boy, it sure has been a long time since I've blogged about anything! I've been a very busy bee and haven't felt all that inspired to share too much, or really I just haven't had much time! I haven't gotten any crafting done since before Christmas, and really only two small projects since before November. I did spend part of a day last week cleaning up my crafting corner so I'll hopefully be inspired to work on something soon. I started just laying out a quilt on paper a few nights ago so that will be up next. I also have another one I've been working on for a while that needs to be finished. </div><div style="text-align: center;">So what's up with me? This last week and a half or so I've had a cold which just doesn't seem to want to hit the road. While my mind is nice and sharp and ready to go, my body is telling me otherwise. I have exercising to do, and crafting to do and I'm just not up to it yet. Sooo, I'm sitting here on my couch, writing to you. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The last several months have been very reflective ones for me. I have some big news that I haven't shared here yet, and it's a little bit stale at this point because it's about four months old but nonetheless, I share it now. Well, after a bit of background first... If you have been reading my blog for a while now, or know me personally you know that I've gone through some, shall we say... less than pleasant stuff. One of the biggies being getting laid off. It happened in December of 2008 and it really changed my life. In a huge way. I spent several years being fully or partially unemployed and it became my new normal. The dream and wish of having a real "grownup" job seemed so so far away and so impossible. A couple years ago I had an informational interview at an architectural and design firm and absolutely fell in love. I held on to that and kept in touch with the owner, and low and behold after all the heartache of losing a job I found one in the field I'm trained in and with the company I really wanted to work for. I've been there since early September and am really enjoying it. Right now I'm part time and I wear lots of hats and have many responsibilities and I love it! I'm working on a residential design project right now and I'm learning so much each day. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The day I got word that they wanted to hire me was unreal. It all happened very fast and as I drove home after the interview I had this overwhelming feeling and couldn't help but cry. Unless you've been unemployed you can't even begin to understand the feeling. I'd be willing to say that of the disastrous things that have happened to me the loss of gainful employment caused longer lasting pain than the end of my marriage. I thought to myself, "I made it, I got through all the crap and made it out the other end!" I just really couldn't believe it was finally happening! </div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm still hesitant to tell the world about it because I'm afraid it'll go away. I actually didn't even want to tell people about it after I got word but eventually I had to spill my news. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It's been an eventful several months. I continue to work at Paper Source, because I love the people I work with and the company, I'm there just a few days a week.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've been pretty conservative with things even with the new job but just about two weeks before Christmas I finally bought myself something that I had been absolutely dying for. I replaced my really old piece of crap flip phone with a brand spankin new iPhone. It took me a long while to finally be ok with getting one. Now that I have it I absolutely love it. I knew it would change my life and make things so much more convenient and boy has it. It's amazing, and I'm sure I haven't even used it to half of it's potential yet.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Two of my favorite aps are Words with Friends and Instagram. If you're not familiar with Instagram it's a photo ap that can take and alter your images to look different. Here are just a few that I've taken...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage7.s3.amazonaws.com/815598903a2e11e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" kba="true" src="http://distilleryimage7.s3.amazonaws.com/815598903a2e11e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage10.instagram.com/d1b8f1483e0111e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" kba="true" src="http://distilleryimage10.instagram.com/d1b8f1483e0111e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage9.s3.amazonaws.com/e3063a3638a311e19896123138142014_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" kba="true" src="http://distilleryimage9.s3.amazonaws.com/e3063a3638a311e19896123138142014_7.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage11.s3.amazonaws.com/5e4c97683a2e11e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" kba="true" src="http://distilleryimage11.s3.amazonaws.com/5e4c97683a2e11e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage2.s3.amazonaws.com/ce44cc603a3911e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" kba="true" src="http://distilleryimage2.s3.amazonaws.com/ce44cc603a3911e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage7.s3.amazonaws.com/cc931a3c38d311e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" kba="true" src="http://distilleryimage7.s3.amazonaws.com/cc931a3c38d311e180c9123138016265_7.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now that my life just might have some regularity as far as my schedule goes I hope to get back to blogging more regularly! I have big plans for the blog and for my creative business, I just need to get it started! I think though, that today I will just do some cleaning and maybe even work on a quilt! Happy Friday!</div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312002159472023357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239932862264318141.post-30384736216641122462011-11-19T16:45:00.000-08:002011-11-19T16:45:07.653-08:00What are you thankful for?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UkKJpXQCNS8/TshHJCoWzDI/AAAAAAAAHzA/gyb2IO7_hCk/s1600/give+thanks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="400px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UkKJpXQCNS8/TshHJCoWzDI/AAAAAAAAHzA/gyb2IO7_hCk/s400/give+thanks.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hello all! Long time no talk!</div><div style="text-align: center;">I just wanted to pop in and ruminate for a minute about the upcoming holidays. As we all know, Thanksgiving is coming up next week. I've been inspired by all of my friends on Facebook, they are doing 30 Days of Being Thankful, and while I'm trying to keep up I haven't posted something every day this month. Doesn't mean I don't think about it though. </div><div style="text-align: center;">So what am I thankful for? Life can throw some serious stuff at us and being able to come out of it in one piece and for the better is just such a blessing. I am so blessed to have friends and family that love me and accept me for who I am. I am blessed to have two jobs that I really like which help me to support myself. I am so thankful for who I have become despite the challenges I have faced. I am thankful that I am able to put food on my table and a roof over my head! Sometimes it's so easy to get caught up in the wants and desires of our society we forget about what we really have! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Last year I took a moment to think about what I wanted the holidays to be for me, what was it about? I'm getting to that point again this year. What do I want my Thanksgiving and Christmas to be all about<em> this year</em>? I want to bake, in my house with a cup of something steaming to sip on, and wonderful music playing. I want to handmake as many presents as I can and stay out of the mall. I want to spend time with the people I love, and when I am with people that I find challenging to feel good about I want to stay positive and true to my holiday spirit! I want to see Christmas lights and I want to do something good for others! I want to see Straight No Chaser again this year and I want to go to the Nutcracker in San Francisco!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Before the madness begins you should take a moment to decide how you want your holidays to be this year! Get ahead of the stress and crazy schedule and commit to it being what you want it to be! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Love to all and Happy early Thanksgiving!</div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312002159472023357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239932862264318141.post-58360328324444599212011-10-14T15:16:00.000-07:002011-10-14T15:16:29.458-07:00Craft fair!<div style="text-align: center;">My next craft fair is coming up soon! This will be my fourth year doing this one in particular. I don't feel as well prepared as I'd like, and I'm doing much less sewn stuff this year because I just plainly haven't had time. It'll still be a blast and I am excited for it! Hope to see you there!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K6iHDzpsCMw/Tpi0OCKs_uI/AAAAAAAAHxs/ogKdp8ZzKB0/s1600/2011_Excavating+Treasures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="335px" oda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K6iHDzpsCMw/Tpi0OCKs_uI/AAAAAAAAHxs/ogKdp8ZzKB0/s400/2011_Excavating+Treasures.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312002159472023357noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239932862264318141.post-64893940257872977232011-10-14T15:12:00.000-07:002011-10-14T15:12:14.597-07:00Creamy broccoli white bean soup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hello all! Last week I made a super yummy dinner that I wanted to share with you! I found the recipe on Pinterest and on a whim decided to try it. It's very easy to make and it was quick. This the picture from Whole Living, my picture wasn't nearly as appetizing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.smallfriendly.com/.a/6a0133ec490e97970b0148c82c7a76970c-800wi" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" oda="true" src="http://www.smallfriendly.com/.a/6a0133ec490e97970b0148c82c7a76970c-800wi" width="320px" /></a></div><div align="center">Find the recipe<a href="http://www.wholeliving.com/recipe/creamy-broccoli-white-bean-soup?backto=true"> here</a>.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><u>Ingredients</u></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 head broccoli (1 pound), cut into florets, stems thinly sliced</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 yellow onion, diced</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">One 15-ounce can cannellini beans, drained</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 1/2 cups chicken stock </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tablespoon pine nuts, toasted</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 ounce shaved Parmesan, for serving</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Directions</u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">1.Steam broccoli florets and stems until tender and bright green, about 3 minutes. Let cool slightly. Reserve 1/2 cup florets for garnish.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">2.Heat oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Saute onion and garlic until translucent, about 6 minutes. Add beans and stock and bring mixture to a simmer. Remove from heat and add broccoli; puree in batches in a blender until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish each bowl with broccoli florets, toasted pine nuts, and shaved Parmesan.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Some of the changes I made...</div><div style="text-align: center;">I used a bag of frozen broccoli florets. I added butter. I threw in the whole can of beans, liquid and all. It could easily be adapted for a vegetarian!</div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312002159472023357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239932862264318141.post-49231520295288002172011-10-02T09:05:00.000-07:002011-10-02T09:05:23.682-07:00Two fun days!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">This weekend I got to do a couple things I've had planned for months, the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park and a trip to the Napa Valley for a fall release party at a winery one of my besties is a member at in Yountville. And we finally got to eat at Ad Hoc! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Having never been to the festival before I didn't know what to expect but I really enjoyed myself! It was a beautiful day in the city and I had such a nice time. The two acts I wanted to see were M. Ward and Robert Plant and the Band of Joy. The rest of the day we just checked out some of the other acts.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hkjeQAaXrLs/ToiEbPn_FRI/AAAAAAAAHwk/pdsKcK9BsOU/s1600/hardly+strictly+weekend+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hkjeQAaXrLs/ToiEbPn_FRI/AAAAAAAAHwk/pdsKcK9BsOU/s400/hardly+strictly+weekend+005.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n40IbtJq6OE/ToiEjKRODjI/AAAAAAAAHwo/F9fVe1h6Xp8/s1600/hardly+strictly+weekend+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" kca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n40IbtJq6OE/ToiEjKRODjI/AAAAAAAAHwo/F9fVe1h6Xp8/s200/hardly+strictly+weekend+007.JPG" width="150px" /></a>I thought this little guy was so cute. He made friends with us and stole our sunblock out of my bag and tried to eat some of my banana. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sWrGNFHZpAo/ToiE3kmklyI/AAAAAAAAHws/1i5jAMAmPog/s1600/hardly+strictly+weekend+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" kca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sWrGNFHZpAo/ToiE3kmklyI/AAAAAAAAHws/1i5jAMAmPog/s400/hardly+strictly+weekend+014.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">That is Robert Plant...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JyWLDbCXnGk/ToiE_u_UseI/AAAAAAAAHww/ds8rH56pK1U/s1600/hardly+strictly+weekend+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JyWLDbCXnGk/ToiE_u_UseI/AAAAAAAAHww/ds8rH56pK1U/s400/hardly+strictly+weekend+009.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x0Jg9hEBZgY/ToiFGeXMPPI/AAAAAAAAHw0/V9MEliMy4No/s1600/hardly+strictly+weekend+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x0Jg9hEBZgY/ToiFGeXMPPI/AAAAAAAAHw0/V9MEliMy4No/s400/hardly+strictly+weekend+024.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">When we go to Napa we tend to taste at the same places because we've found good ones that we like. My friends took me to one they've been to that is excellent that I had never visited. I love when they take you out into the vineyard and you can taste the grapes right off of the vines. This place is called <a href="http://www.paradigmwinery.com/">Paradigm</a>, you need to go there. </div><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v2do7XYXZq0/ToiFNSJ04BI/AAAAAAAAHw4/Dx15lpunZOI/s1600/hardly+strictly+weekend+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" kca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v2do7XYXZq0/ToiFNSJ04BI/AAAAAAAAHw4/Dx15lpunZOI/s400/hardly+strictly+weekend+030.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e1dw2C2tD2w/ToiFTfQOgJI/AAAAAAAAHw8/KJxKi3lzhYI/s1600/hardly+strictly+weekend+033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e1dw2C2tD2w/ToiFTfQOgJI/AAAAAAAAHw8/KJxKi3lzhYI/s400/hardly+strictly+weekend+033.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of our favorites... Grgich</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vNWz6PpccDs/ToiFZY-r-KI/AAAAAAAAHxA/to4q2KEsma4/s1600/hardly+strictly+weekend+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vNWz6PpccDs/ToiFZY-r-KI/AAAAAAAAHxA/to4q2KEsma4/s400/hardly+strictly+weekend+038.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At the fall release party. We ate super yummy food here... brick oven pizzas, fruit, cheese and some rocking cupcakes!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fvBToMGpdiI/ToiFfrfRerI/AAAAAAAAHxE/qapyf4Z-rVI/s1600/hardly+strictly+weekend+045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fvBToMGpdiI/ToiFfrfRerI/AAAAAAAAHxE/qapyf4Z-rVI/s400/hardly+strictly+weekend+045.JPG" width="300px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ok, so this might have been the most awesome part of the day. We at at Ad Hoc. You have to make reservations at this place way in advance, like months. It is one of Thomas Keller's restaurants in Yountville. I've now eaten at two of his restaurants there, the other being Bouchon. Both excellent and so different from each other. The last one I'll need to eat at is French Laundry. Not likely to happen any time soon...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A7m8g1TZObQ/ToiFlTES0KI/AAAAAAAAHxI/dvon5qeqewc/s1600/hardly+strictly+weekend+047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" kca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A7m8g1TZObQ/ToiFlTES0KI/AAAAAAAAHxI/dvon5qeqewc/s400/hardly+strictly+weekend+047.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See those big fat pieces of bacon?!? </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-THmoOtGGWk4/ToiFrzIgt2I/AAAAAAAAHxM/ukT2XkjB6xM/s1600/hardly+strictly+weekend+049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150px" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-THmoOtGGWk4/ToiFrzIgt2I/AAAAAAAAHxM/ukT2XkjB6xM/s200/hardly+strictly+weekend+049.JPG" width="200px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We did the wine pairing as well, this was a wonderful rose from Germany. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2sZkp4sGEs4/ToiFx-sI4DI/AAAAAAAAHxQ/Cj4GGx4GqRw/s1600/hardly+strictly+weekend+050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" kca="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2sZkp4sGEs4/ToiFx-sI4DI/AAAAAAAAHxQ/Cj4GGx4GqRw/s400/hardly+strictly+weekend+050.JPG" width="300px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fig stuffed pork loin...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K9zfk-o7wJU/ToiF3w8kzZI/AAAAAAAAHxU/qbzRHoKMcoA/s1600/hardly+strictly+weekend+054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K9zfk-o7wJU/ToiF3w8kzZI/AAAAAAAAHxU/qbzRHoKMcoA/s400/hardly+strictly+weekend+054.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yummers... the polenta cake with a sliver of that garlic clove and a slice of that tomato... so good...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vXHQyxqYMXU/ToiF-Eao23I/AAAAAAAAHxY/Xwa5Pf_hr0U/s1600/hardly+strictly+weekend+055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vXHQyxqYMXU/ToiF-Eao23I/AAAAAAAAHxY/Xwa5Pf_hr0U/s400/hardly+strictly+weekend+055.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My mouth was in heaven... goat cheese spiked with just a little truffle and then drizzled with honey</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SXGP71nIxpg/ToiGERFezEI/AAAAAAAAHxc/Qy_fkVl-fcI/s1600/hardly+strictly+weekend+058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SXGP71nIxpg/ToiGERFezEI/AAAAAAAAHxc/Qy_fkVl-fcI/s400/hardly+strictly+weekend+058.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OPz9zie_74w/ToiGK4Sro6I/AAAAAAAAHxg/KWRNhE8WdQU/s1600/hardly+strictly+weekend+060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OPz9zie_74w/ToiGK4Sro6I/AAAAAAAAHxg/KWRNhE8WdQU/s400/hardly+strictly+weekend+060.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lMXYyiyJl1Y/ToiGQ0RVXpI/AAAAAAAAHxk/eb-i2bpyXe0/s1600/hardly+strictly+weekend+063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" kca="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lMXYyiyJl1Y/ToiGQ0RVXpI/AAAAAAAAHxk/eb-i2bpyXe0/s400/hardly+strictly+weekend+063.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Carrot cake cupcakes...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zU5s_2Lo92s/ToiGXGH8fMI/AAAAAAAAHxo/1W8hobPyMZU/s1600/hardly+strictly+weekend+044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" kca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zU5s_2Lo92s/ToiGXGH8fMI/AAAAAAAAHxo/1W8hobPyMZU/s400/hardly+strictly+weekend+044.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Um, that's a lot of wine. See that little tiny yellow box in the middle, yah, that one is mine. </div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312002159472023357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239932862264318141.post-43420270254702229632011-09-25T13:59:00.000-07:002011-09-25T13:59:55.987-07:00I'm still here!<div style="text-align: center;">I am alive! I've just been so busy I've had no time to blog or come up with anything inspiring. Life has just been crazy lately. Today I'm supposed to be at the Petaluma Antiques Fair but I'm just so worn out I'm hanging out at my parents house on the couch with a blanket and my computer while watching football. The weather feels like autumn today. It's 72 degrees outside and it's sprinkling and it's grey and cozy. I seem to have come down with a little cold in the last week so I guess this is what my body needs.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yesterday I attended one of my best friends' dad's memorial service. It was beautiful and powerful and it was impossible not to feel the love and admiration everyone in the church felt for him. He was a great man. I got to see some people I haven't seen in a really long time, it's unfortunate though that it was for the occasion that it was. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm not feeling very eloquent or succinct today so I think I'll just share some of my latest Pinterest photos...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/236897029/" target="_blank"><img 554?="" border="0" height="400px" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/236897029_oEen9fpf_c.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is a calendar we carry at Paper Source. It's fantastic! It's letterpressed and the photos don't do it justice. It really has the air of being handmade. I love how vintage the images are. They're so homey.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/236786882_HARrBXk6_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="300px" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/236786882_HARrBXk6_c.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a super cool paint by numbers on a wall! I love vintage paint by numbers paintings, I always look for them at antique sales. This one is via Making It Lovely.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/236782130_5JXHseBY_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="300px" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/236782130_5JXHseBY_c.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/236429229_W0OtYT88_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="640px" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/236429229_W0OtYT88_c.jpg" width="416px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">FAB-U-LOUS! Tory Burch boots at Nordstroms</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/236296994_YKDaEyZP_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="295px" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/236296994_YKDaEyZP_c.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cozy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/211551047_gUv1pC58_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="400px" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/211551047_gUv1pC58_c.jpg" width="291px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Beautiful color and texture</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/203154451_uFtrEPlF_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="400px" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/203154451_uFtrEPlF_c.jpg" width="263px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love The Goonies. Always have. And it's a fall movie for me, mostly because of one of the shots at the beginning of the drizzly day with leaves falling. I need this poster for my wall!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/161491156_0YBPWlAD_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="400px" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/161491156_0YBPWlAD_c.jpg" width="265px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/196839950_376FYvTi_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="400px" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/196839950_376FYvTi_c.jpg" width="300px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lifeofstyle-lifestyle.blogspot.com/search/label/Scot%20Meacham%20Wood"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">link</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/160507192_Z3gHrSKY_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="200px" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/160507192_Z3gHrSKY_c.jpg" width="133px" /></a><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/160507831_BNsSrQV0_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="133px" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/160507831_BNsSrQV0_c.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Someday I will have a granny squares blanket!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/212739538_DbG8Ij8N_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="400px" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/212739538_DbG8Ij8N_c.jpg" width="266px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My favorite girl... lookin good at the Emmys!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/171344896_LP21icuh_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="298px" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/171344896_LP21icuh_c.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I like to dye my hard boiled eggs even when it's not Easter... it keeps them seperate from the regular eggs and it makes me smile!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/202424249_TDrDM4rC_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="400px" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/202424249_TDrDM4rC_c.jpg" width="265px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/197522796_KBd7GOST_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="400px" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/197522796_KBd7GOST_c.jpg" width="298px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.freepeople.com/shoes-all-shoe-styles/mick-boot/?cm_mmc=GAN-_-Affiliates-_-Skimlinks-_-Primary"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Free People</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hope you have a great week!</div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312002159472023357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239932862264318141.post-63186190707550375702011-09-11T21:39:00.000-07:002011-09-11T21:39:25.663-07:00We remember...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://freedomslighthouse.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/firemen_flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" nba="true" src="http://freedomslighthouse.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/firemen_flag.jpg" width="308px" /></a></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312002159472023357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4239932862264318141.post-74306745063295204172011-09-05T12:12:00.000-07:002011-09-05T12:12:15.361-07:00Today<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Sketch Block'; font-size: 26pt;">Such a great morning...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'DENNE MILK TEA'; font-size: 20pt;">Cool breeze</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'DENNE MILK TEA'; font-size: 20pt;">overcast</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'DENNE MILK TEA'; font-size: 20pt;">cozy couch</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'DENNE MILK TEA'; font-size: 20pt;">lap blanket</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'DENNE MILK TEA'; font-size: 20pt;">good book</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'DENNE MILK TEA'; font-size: 20pt;">hot apple chai</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'DENNE MILK TEA'; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">trees outside the window</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'DENNE MILK TEA'; font-size: 20pt;">quiet</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/157997554_InnywdTb_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" nba="true" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/157997554_InnywdTb_c.jpg" width="266px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sundayinbed.tumblr.com/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sunday in Bed</span></a></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312002159472023357noreply@blogger.com0