by Amy | Mar 2, 2013 | Blog, Crafts, The Art of Adventure, The Art of Projects
I don’t Instagram. Really, I don’t even understand what that means. I thought it was just fancy filters you could add to your phone photos. Now it’s all…”Follow me on Instagram.” “Oh, Amy, you’d love it.”
Guys…I don’t need any more social media in my life right now. Pinterest was a pretty big step. Maybe someday I’ll get on board. It must be pretty awesome because loads of my awesome friends do it. For now, I’ll sit this one out.
However, when I’m out and about I do tend to snap photos on my phone. When I see something that strikes my fancy I take a photo. Especially if it’s something that I think is “over-priced” and I could “…easily whip that up at home,” or “find something like it at an estate sale.” So I looked back through my phone. I really do need to do some deleting. And I put together this little collage of things that have been inspiring me lately.
Enjoy.

#1. We were in South Dakota last weekend. While visiting we went to what I consider the cutest winery ever. Total transparency…I haven’t been to very many wineries. But I really do love Prairie Berry. And their free wine tasting doesn’t hurt. Anyway I was this precious wine caddy. We could make that, don’t you think?
#2. When I was in Dallas for the Strip Church conference I took my lunch break at the Galleria Mall. In the middle of the food court two kids had used their mom’s coats {and their coats} to build an elaborate fort. NBD. Except that is pretty, stinking awesome. What’s even better was how the parents just continued to chat like nothing weird was going on.
#3. In Shreveport, Rhino Coffee uses table paper to write their ever changing menu. I don’t know where, and I don’t know why…but I need this in my house. A very welcome alternative to chalkboards.
#4. At a grocery store in Dover, DE there was an aisle completely dedicated to colored sprinkles. WHAT?!!
#5. Again, at Rhino, the bathroom had this nifty TP holder made out of plumbing. Sturdy, practical, I could totally do that.
#6. My friends’ boxer, Clara Belle incognito. Who’s that cowboy in the living room?
#7. I love this line of quirky-folksy tea cups from Anthropologie. Too bad I can’t afford them. I’m banking these cute patterns for my next paint-your-own-pottery night at Margie’s in Minot.
by Amy | Mar 1, 2013 | Blog, The Art of Projects

I know. You’re thinking, “Who is this adorable girl eating meatloaf so gracefully?” Well, paws off. That’s my sister. She rocks. She rolls. She’s pretty much awesome in every way a person can be awesome. {And believe me, I know awesome.}
Here’s the thing with Sis. {I call her that, you can call her Erin.} She’s a lefty, a borderline ginger…and she was born on Leap Day. So, all in all she has really defied the odds. I doubt that happens very often. Since the 29th of February doesn’t come around every year, that means we celebrate her on the 28th. Which is…today.
Given that today is her birthday, I thought it appropriate to share something amazing that she has come up with. Now, this is classic Erin. Lists, organization…that’s her ball game. {She is a kindergarten teacher after all. No organization=no sanity in that arena.}
Recently she and her husband put their house on the market. {Sidenote…if you are in the Elkhart, IN area, or would like to move to the best town in America and would like a super cute, well kept, sweetly landscaped home–hit me up. I know a good one that just came up on the market.} Now they are hunting for their next place.
If you’ve ever bought a house you know the process can be stressful. One showing after another and another and another. Eventually they all blur together in your mind. You forget what you liked and what you didn’t. Even if you take photos, some of the details fall through the cracks.
Not to mention, the tension that can come up between spouses when house hunting. You’ve got your eye on an old, needy fixer upper with good bones. He’s got his eye on something from the last 20 years with a room big enough for his Call of Duty game nights. Uh-oh.
To take care of this issue Sis created a worksheet that they take with them on each showing.

Pretty genius…am I right? They go to each showing and fill out this score sheet as they tour the house. Then they add it up and keep it with any photos of the property. As time goes by they will have a clear record of every property and how it scored with them.
Love this idea? You can download this template right here. Or make your own. You can do it in Word or Paint or just write things down on a sheet of paper and copy it, or if this really hits home for you…you can use this one.
Happy house hunting!
Amy