by Amy | Oct 26, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Living
{See guys it’s literally a cat burglar!! Don’t you love photos of cute cats in awkward costumes?}
I have a problem. It goes back to elementary school. To the first days of being old enough to stay home alone. When you are old enough to walk home from school by yourself, and chill till mom gets home…you need a key.
A key which I have a tendency to forget. For the longest time I kept my key in the front of my backpack. Safely fastened to a Marvin the Martian keychain. But after I’d unlock the door, my mind would go straight to the urgent matter of making bagel bites…and forget to replace the key. So the next day I’d pay a visit to Laurna Rickart. The lady next door, who had a spare key…but in exchange for the key I had to chat with her {listen to her chat} for a half hour or so.
Now, 15 years later, I’m still forgetting my key. I’ve done it a blue million times. But I’ve always had an out. There was that time my dear friend Alex helped me raise a ladder to crawl through my home’s second story bathroom window in eleventh grade. In Florida I pried open our living room window on many occasions. There was the time I slithered through a nonegress window into our basement in Enid, OK. And who can forget my many break-ins in shreveport through the breezeway window.
But I’ve never been totally, utterly locked out. With no hope of reentry.
Until today.
This afternoon an innocent trip to Menard’s turned into an expensive 2 hours in ice cold North Dakota wind when I walked out without my keys.
It’s funny how when you lock yourself out, you know the moment it’s too late. “Click.” Oh, crap.
So I went to the garage to sort out my options. I’ve got a garage full of tools. A cell phone. No key. We have old windows that are impossible to jimmy. Both doors locked tight.
Then the trouble really started. It’s a mystery of the female body. As soon as you can’t….you just have to pee. Have to. Like, yes, Miss 3rd Grade Teacher…it really is an emergency. That kind of pee. Like my bladder is about to explode. How does it happen so fast?
So I did what any logical girl would do. I googled it.
There are so many links and advice on how to get into a locked door. So I read links. I watched YouTube videos. I braved the snow flurries in my Ball State sweatshirt, sans gloves, sans hat….My fingers were numb and I feel lucky tonight that I’m not sans fingertips.
I crowbarred. I shoulder butted. I used my debit card to try to swipe in {lots of YouTube on this one.} WikiHow made it look super easy with this cute cartoon. I even combined methods. Pry-butt-swipe. No luck.
Derek is working long hours this week. No telling when he’d be home. Our only spare is with a fella who is out of town. I had to get in. I couldn’t live in the 25 degree garage until help arrived. And, let’s not forget that I had to pee.
So I called a locksmith. He was a sweet old man named Jerry. He arrived in 20 minutes. This was an all new kind of exchange. Instead of key for 30 minutes of awkward chatting….it was 30 seconds for $50. This was really a win-lose scenario.
But I got in. And I learned a valuable lesson: I don’t have a future as a burglar, and this house is pretty secure. And I really need a hide-a-key.
I hope tomorrow is a warmer, cozier day…inside my house.
by Amy | Oct 24, 2012 | Blog, Devotional, The Art of Faith
When we were out doing a little visiting on the east coast, Derek and I popped in to visit with his uncle and aunt in Lancaster, PA. I could write a whole post on how amazing the Damon family is…but that would really get us off topic. So I’ll just dive in. The fam work closely with a Christian theater production company called Sight and Sound Theater.
Now, if you are like me…you are thinking, “Um, Amy…last time I checked, you were awesome. Why are you plugging a lame Christian theater company?”
Because, yes…I’ll admit it. Christian entertainment has a history of being a bit…stale. So, I was skeptical when we were offered tickets to see “Jonah.” I mean the book of the Bible is only a few pages long. How can they make a 2.5 hour show about it? And I know that story already…but…it was free. And the family really talked it up. They assured me it wouldn’t be lame.
And it wasn’t. It was anything but lame. The production quality was amazing. Everything about it blew me away. If you get a chance, you should go. Seriously. I’m not kidding. Go.
Now…all that brings me to the point of today’s post. Pulling a Jonah.
I went into the show “knowing” the story of Jonah. But there is something about the events of the Bible…they continually teach and speak to us. Even when we feel like we know the story like the back of our hand. {I don’t really understand that expression.}
What we generally think of when we consider Jonah is a BIG FISH. One big enough to eat him whole and keep him trapped in its belly for three days. What God showed me was something that has nothing to do with fishing at all. Do you remember why Jonah got eaten like a peanut on an airplane? Let me refresh you.
God told Jonah to go preach in Ninevah. Ninevah was a town full of awful people. They were barbaric, idol worshipers, and cruelly violent. Not only was Jonah afraid to go there, he didn’t think that they deserved God’s Word and Grace. So he ran away. He jumped on a ship with what I picture to me a motley crew and set sail in the opposite direction.
While on board God caused an awful storm to come and threaten to tear the ship apart. Everyone on board would die. But Jonah saw through this. He knew what was happening was his fault. God had found him and was showing His wrath. So J-man tells the crew to throw him overboard. After some convincing…they do…and the storm stops immediately.
And until I went to the show, I hadn’t really noticed what happened next.
All those men on board acknowledged the Lord. Previously they had worshiped pagan gods. But when they saw the storm that God had caused and how He caused it to cease…they knew that Jonah’s God was the real deal.
The New Living Translation puts it this way: The sailors were awestruck by the Lord’s great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him. {Jonah 1:16}
That’s the part of the story that has really stuck with me since leaving the theater. So often I make mistakes. I know what God would want me to do, but I run away…I pursue my own path. Sometimes it is crazy difficult to walk in the direction we feel God leading us. Sometimes it feels like we are walking blindly. And that’s scary {just try closing your eyes as you strut down the street sometime.} So we run away. And sometimes we feel like failures. That’s “pulling a Jonah.”
But this is the message that God has laid on my heart to share with you. Take comfort…because we serve a God who works miracles, even through our failures and fears. God used Jonah’s disobedience, fear and failure to comply to show his might to the ship’s crew. Through Jonah’s mistakes, God created an opportunity to reveal himself. This is the God we serve. The one and only God. The One who can take all our weakness, mistakes, and misgivings and create something lovely and powerful for His Kingdom’s name.
Amy
by Amy | Oct 22, 2012 | Blog, Crafts, The Art of Projects
A while back {see the cabinets are still brown??} I did a little fall DIY crafting. I got together with a girlfriend and we made these super cute burlap pumpkins. Her neighbor had one. They are all over the Internets. {Yes, sometimes I call it the Internets. With an “s.”} They are retailing on Etsy for around $35.
Well…you know me. $35 for something made of burlap?? Maybe if the burlap also came with a gift card for some fro-yo and breadsticks at Olive Garden. Maybe…
So anyway. We made our own and I think they came out pretty darn cute. And now is the perfect time to whip one up as you swap your scary-spooky for harvest-happy. The best part? Ours cost $6. For both. What up? The second best part? It’s an awesome way to upcycle your plastic grocery bags! {Remember what we did with paper bags?}
Here’s what you’ll need: Burlap 1/2 yard per pumpkin {Hobby Lobby carries it in orange} | scraps of tan burlap | white & green paint | paint brush {bonus points if it’s one of those nifty circle sponges} | scraps of felt or other awesome fabric | hot glue | plastic grocery bags {unexpected…I know}
1. Cut out your pumpkin. Double your fabric up so you have two identical shapes. Mine is about 22″ wide and 16″ tall.
2. Cut a stem out of tan burlap. I cut leaves out of some scraps from the fabric bin. Wool, felt, and flannel from an old shirt are great choices. Use a few other scraps to make some burlap roses. Tutorial here at the old blog.
3. Start gluing your small pieces together. Lay them flat and run a bead of hot glue around the outside, leaving a little raw edge exposed. Be sure that both right sides are out!! When you’ve almost got the whole shape sealed up stuff it with some plastic baggies. For the small pieces you may need to tear the bag into smaller bits.
4. Almost done. Lay a paper bag between layers of orange burlap and paint. These look best when they are kept simple. I went with big polka dots…but you don’t even have to include the dots. Swirls, stripes, whatever…it’s your project. Add a few curly-q vines to the top. Follow your heart. Then repeat the gluing process. Leave the top open and stuff it with plastic bags. Glue your stem in place {sandwiched between orange layers} then glue the top shut.
Add your leaves and roses with a bit more hot glue.
I used a pen to open up a whole in the weave of the burlap, then I threaded a piece of craft twine through to create a hanger.
Why plastic bags? It’s simple. First of all…they are free, and we all have way too many on hand. Second, if you are planning to hang this gem out for all to see…plastic is an ideal choice. It won’t rot or get nasty. The rain won’t hurt it. I’ve seen other tutorials use brown craft paper…which is dandy…if you aren’t putting it outside.
As always, I love to see your creations. Feel free to send me a photo of your version of this craft {or any craft}. I love new ideas! AND…if there is a project you are drooling over, but can’t figure out how to make it happen…email me. I’d love to find a way.
Amy
This thrifty project is partying at Home Stories, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Savvy Southern Style, and these other great parties.
by Amy | Oct 21, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Projects, the house
Hi all. I hope this weekend finds you well. Derek and I have been super productive around the house….which is always a good thing. Unfortunately, that means I haven’t been so productive in the kitchen and we will be ordering a pizza to eat while we watch our Sunday night line up {Once Upon a Time, Football, and Revenge!!}
Anyway, I’m simply stoked to show off our new light fixture. I saw it a few months back at Menard’s and fell in l-o-v-e. Seriously. Love. Like Valentine’s Day love. The price, however…I did not love. So, I snapped a photo of it on my phone to remember it by and went on my way.
As fate would have it, I just happened to look up my precious lighting fixture online…only to discover…it had gone on sale!! Now it is mine. All mine. {And a little bit Derek’s and Panda’s too.} Here’s a link to the product…in case you love it so much you have to have it too!
Gorgeous, right? I’m seeing the almost-finished-dining room in a whole new light. {I love a good pun.}
Besides hanging the new chandy I finished patching some dry way I severely damaged while removing an awkward piece of faux wood panelling. It looks good. Sanded…painted…no giant cracks or gouges in sight.
Meanwhile, upstairs…Derek is hard at work whipping up a built in cabinet for our towels and sheets. The current system is a hot mess. But that’s a tale for another day. So I’ll leave you with this. And a promise to show it off when it’s all done.
I strive to be a project finisher. And boy does it feel good when things come together.
Amy
by Amy | Oct 19, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Gathering, The Art of Projects
It’s that time of year again. Time to hit the Goodwill at the last possible second to throw together a costume for a last minute Halloween party. If you are like me…which I think a lot of you are…you like the costume, but you don’t like the work and you don’t like spending the dough. So don’t worry. As usual, I’ve got your back. Here is a collection of costumes you can make in one afternoon with things from the local thrift shop. Some I’ve done, some I’ve laid out how they can be done…take a peek, I know you’ll be inspired.
Now, without further ado…enjoy 13 unique DIY costumes that will be the hit of the party!
My favorite costume of all time. In 2010 Derek and I dressed as the Spartan Cheerleaders. Make it yourself. Here’s what you need: Two black tank tops | a white skirt | White headband | Red athletic pants | Two old white t-shirts | Red felt.
Cut up the white shirts into sashes, then outline them with red felt. Outline the sashes with red felt. Cut out letters in felt and hot glue, glue, glue! (more…)
by Amy | Oct 17, 2012 | Blog
Well, now I had done it. If I’d just manned up this I wouldn’t have made such a scene. Great, now the slow clap is starting. My knees are shaking…but you can’t just deny a slow clap.
We were at Hippie Hole in Rapid City, SD. This was last month and I still can’t stop thinking about it. It was terrifying and awesome all in one. Our sweet friend Megan took us to Hippie Hole {South Dakota’s favorite swimming hole} while we were visiting over Labor Day Weekend. It’s well off the beaten trail. A 20-minute off road drive off the trail to be exact. Then a 1/2 mile hike down into a canyon. But finally you arrive.
The day we went was perfect. Hot, sunny…the type of September day you take advantage of before summer runs out completely. Apparently we weren’t the only ones that thought a dip in the hole would feel good.
When we arrived there were about 30 others. Later I found out it was a group of the local college football players…no wonder they were all so beefy. Oh, and let’s not forget their pretty, college girlfriends. Whatever. I was there to swim.
But as I walked boldly up to the edge to take a peek before stripping down to my swim suit…I realized something. This is a hole. I felt like I was looking into some kind of abyss. “What the heck am I doing here?” I asked myself. I’d been psyched for this for days. But suddenly it didn’t seem like such a good idea. In fact, it seemed like a death trap.
My mind flashed back to last summer when Derek and I were at a water park. There was a deep pool with a “Cannon Ball” ledge 6 feet up. Fun, right? I got up there and froze. Little boys {and even a little girl} were complaining in line behind me. Finally a boy, probably 8, said, “Umm…can I go around you? I’ll be really fast.” Awkward. And it was happening all over again.
So I took my clothes off. One step closer to death.
Derek jumped in. I braced myself to be a widow at 25.
He was fine.
Now it was my turn. Megan took my camera and told me she’d snap a photo. I know Derek made it safe, I know all these other people had survived…but I was sure I would die. This seemed terrible. Heights are bad. There is a reason we have an instinct to fear heights. Heights kill people. This was high. And the only thing to break my fall was a pool of icy water.
Cold. Freezing cold water. Everyone admitted it was numbing cold. I hate the cold. {I hate it so much today when I came home from the gym I drank my brunch smoothie in the shower just to stay warm.} I wanted to stay put on those nice, warm, solid rocks.
But it was too late. Just like the Cannon Ball Ledge…I’d made a scene by hesitating. Now the football players and pretty girls were looking. It’s bad enough to cause a scene in front of lots of pretty people. It’s especially bad to do it practically naked. My abs and uteroll {that’s the pooch right under your belly button…a roll over your uterus…} can’t compete with Miss Hippie Hole USA with her Jillian Michael’s torso.
“Okay, on three.” Yeah, that’ll buy me time. Three seconds. Why do we do that? Give ourselves three seconds. I’m an idiot.
Needless to say, “three” came and went a couple times before the things escalated to the slow clap. And, as I said at the beginning…you can’t deny the slow clap.
While the clap was getting started Abercrombie Model #14 said, “You’re just psyching yourself out. Just do it. Jump to the left…you’ll miss the rocks.”
Miss the rocks?! The clap was getting faster. I had to make a move. So I did. I jumped. It was cold. So cold, it would have numbed any injuries I obtained on contact. But upon inspection underwater, as I pulled out my wedgie and triple checked to make sure my top was in place before surfacing…I found myself to be just fine.
And I’d do it all over again. But here’s what God showed me through this awesome and terribly awkward/scary experience:
- Sometimes the moments leading up to the unknown are uncomfortable…but if you power through you’ll find something exciting.
- Lots of people have faced the unexpected and survived. I will too. Even though it feels like I’ll die trying some days.
- Sometimes God will open up a path from here to there that is quicker than hiking all the way around. It may be scary to jump but you’ll end up in the right spot.
- Never underestimate the power of a cheering section. When you see someone frozen in fear in the face of the unknown…start a slow clap.
Amy
PS–you can see Derek in the photo above. He’s in the water on the left. The encouraging Abercrombie Model #14 is laying on the rock on the right.
by Amy | Oct 16, 2012 | Blog
Aren’t boys ridiculous? For pretty much as long as I can remember, I’ve loved boys. Not in a boy crazy love sick kind of way… but in a they-are-super-fun-and-entertaining kind of way.
Over the past few years I’ve become very entertained by bromances. I love watching guys together. Especially besties. Especially the one between Derek and his BFF Nick Clark. It’s adorable, really. And by adorable I mean ridiculous. I mean, isn’t it funny how totally acceptable things for two girl besties do together seem laughable when two bros do it?
Like the two guys I saw grocery shopping together. They had a cart piled up to the Wal-Mart warehouse-like ceiling with frozen meat, beer and frozen pizza. Oh yeah, and two cans of baked beans. Just to bros getting groceries.
So, I’ve decided to take it to a new level. As I see these priceless moments, I’ll snap a photo…and share the joy with you.
Let’s start here. With a classic Nick and Derek moment. I call it:
Just to bros sharing some fro-yo.
Aw man. I’m totally in the mood for something light, fruity and somewhat healthy.
Yeah dude me too. But I’m not that hungry.
Okay, bro. Let’s split.
Because four legs are more manly than two.
Have you seen a bro moment lately? Be on the lookout. I’ll be bringing you more soon!
Amy
by Amy | Oct 13, 2012 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
I had an absolute blast shooting these fall family photos in Oak Park a few weeks ago. Besides the fact that the Pride family are near, dear friends…they are always a hoot to work with. During this session we played a game called: How many adults does it take to make a baby smile? The answer…the world may never know. After all our running, jumping and silly faces she was just a bit over stimulated. Turns out she’s happiest when you make her feel like she’s flying.
It was a lovely day. It’s been far too long since I lived in a place with colorful leaves…and these are just about the prettiest I’ve ever seen. After getting some super cute family moments on camera, corralling Scott {he kept wanting to go play with Derek in the park…who was supposed to be carrying gear}, and leaving with a camera bag/diaper bag/purse full of leaves…I think it’s safe to say we all had a fun afternoon.
