by Amy | Oct 12, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Fitness
Let’s start Fitness Friday with a quick fairy tale.
Once upon a time there was a princess. The princess lived in a castle in a kingdom called Practically Canada. She and her prince went on a long journey to a far away place called Dover. While they were there they feasted day and night on the most delectable foods this new kingdom had to offer. The princess knew that eating late at night was a bad habit. She knew that eating ice cream every day was also a bad idea. She knew that staying away from the gym would make her very weak…but she didn’t care. She was too distracted by the awesome fun and friendship to be had.
Then…after seven days the prince and princess returned to Practically Canada. Then an evil queen called Reality made the princess teach Trim and Tone twice in one day…less than 24 hours after she arrived back home. She was sore and she regretted her bad choices…but the real bummer came when she had to teach again the next day…Trim and Tone–again.
The end. {Or the Beginning of a very stiff weekend.}
Okay. Total transparency. The princess is me. I went on vacation. I ate a lot. The most exercise I got was walking. No one is perfect.
Let’s all get back to it. If you’ve never used my circuits before check out the instructions here. Get fit this weekend. Click through to see the circuits. (more…)
by Amy | Oct 11, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Projects, the house
You all saw the B&A of my dining room/living room project, right? Well, that took several good days of painting. Over the years, I’ve become pretty savvy with a brush and roller. Here are a couple tricks I use every time…and a big awesome tip I just learned.
Trick #1
Yes, I know paint tray liners are only a couple bucks. But I always seem to be out right before I start a project. And the last thing I want to do when I’m rearing to slap the paint on the walls is make ANOTHER run to the hardware store. So I don’t. Instead, line your tray with foil you already have in your kitchen. It works great and crumples up really small…so it saves space in the trash can too.
Trick #2
I used to wash my brush out every time I stepped away. Dried paint in a brush or roller is a sure fire way to wreck it. But the problem I ran into was…when I was ready to paint again the brush would still be wet. Now, instead of washing them between coats or if a job gets interrupted {usually for a fro-yo run…} I wrap my roller in cling wrap and my brush in a sandwich baggie. It works great and saves you a washing. This will keep your brush moist even over night.
Who can spot the difference here?
Well, besides being two totally different images, it’s pretty obvious that the difference is that there is paint slopped all over the glass on the left. I made this mistake while painting my built in hutches. Don’t be like me. Do this instead:
Trick #3
After applying your tape, run an old debit card down the edge to seal the bond. I taped off the glass panes of my hutches…but as you can see from the photo above, taping alone can still leave a messy edge. On my windows I sealed the tape {photo above right}. I couldn’t even believe how crisp the line was. And this tip isn’t just for glass…it works with any surface.
Overall this is the trick that saved me the most time. Going back and gently scraping the messy edge of the hutches took an hour of meticulous work. Boo for that!
I hope this tricks come in handy for you. What tricks to you use when you paint? I’d love to hear them!
This thrifty list is partying at Home Stories, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Savvy Southern Style, and these other great parties.
Amy
by Amy | Oct 8, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Adventure
Fifer’s produce near Dover, DE
Lots of fun had this weekend during a trip to Fifer’s Orchard near Dover, DE. Lucky us for showing up during a Fall Festival weekend! Even though there were lots of activities geared toward little ones, we were still entertained for hours.
Fifer’s produce and corn maze near Dover, DE
Fifer’s offers loads of jolly times. Including a corn maze. This year’s theme: Tractor to Table. Check out the map of the maze below! Crazy, right? How the heck do they do that??
Tractor to Table corn maze Fifer’s Orchard
I loved looking at the cool pumpkins. This is the type of thing that Martha loves. If I hadn’t flown in…you better believe I would be going home with some of these squatty green guys and warty lovelies. Yes, that’s right, I have no idea what they are actually called.
And when we weren’t playing outside, we were hanging in the fruit stand. Sipping apple cider slushies {crazy delicious} and filling mix and match bags with the prettiest apples I’ve seen this season.
Fun and games at the fall festival
And what is it about orchards, corn mazes and tricycle races? I don’t know why they go hand in hand, but they do.
Zip lining at Fifer’s Orchard
Oh, yeah. The best part? Well…besides spending an afternoon with some of my BFF’s?
The zip line.
Obviously. Weight limit cuts off at 150 lbs…so that meant I had all the fun while the boys stood on the sidelines crazy jelly. Did the children see my underoos? There’s a good chance. But come, on. It’s a zip line through bales of hay.
All in all…it’s one of the best days I’ve had this fall. Thanks Fifer’s. You rock.
Amy
PS…What did we do with all the produce we lugged home? Caramel apples, apple pie, pumpkin carving, pumpkin seeds, apples and peanut butter, and hot apple cider. I’m pretty sure I’ve gained 20 lbs this weekend. So worth it.
by Amy | Oct 6, 2012 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
Hey all! Amy Allender Productions is thrilled to have the opportunity to offer mini sessions at Angelic Gardens in Minot, ND. I’ll be on hand during their Halloween at the Gardens celebration. It’s going to be so much fun!
In addition to being a great outing for the family…it’s a great opportunity to get a few last snap shots of the kiddos or the fam before the cold weather sets in up here in Practically Canada.
It’s a pretty sweet deal…$65 for a 15 minute session. You’ll get 5 photos, fully processed in color and black and white. They are yours to print and share as you please!
Or…you can chose to have a single portrait taken for $15. I’ll process it in color and black and white. You’ll get it and be able to print it as you like.
But really, it should be a great time. I hope to see lots of you out at the Garden at the end of the month!
And for those of you who don’t live in Practically Canada…Here are a few tips for creating your own mini session. {I’ll be bringing you more tips after the session date!}
1. Go outside. Natural light always looks better than a flash.
2. Bring something outside with you. I have an old trunk I use sometimes to have families sit on. I’ve pulled my white rocker into a corn field…or in this case, I sat sweet baby Zoe in a potato crate.
3. Think color and texture. Add variety to your photos by adding pops of color around and on your subject. Zoe’s bow and the pumpkins pop in these images. Color is great…but try to keep the background fairly neutral. You want to notice the person first, not the electric green stripped background sheet. Using several different textures in your photos will add interest.
4. What to wear? Call me old fashioned…but I’m a fan of solids. You don’t need to deck your whole family in white shirts and jeans…or a uniform of any kind. But the cold truth is, simple, solid shirts and cozy sweaters will look timeless. Your colored jeans and lace tank {while adorable}–will not. My mom endured a good amount of fashion harassment from me as I looked back at photos of her. I try to avoid this in portraits by wearing something that will be harder to target by my kids 20 years from now.
5. Overtake. We aren’t using film these days. Take way more photos than you think you need. Then weed them out later. After you think you get the “perfect” shot…take a few more just in case.
Hope this helps. And I hope to see all my Practically Canada readers at the end of the month!
Amy
by Amy | Oct 4, 2012 | Blog, Context, The Art of Faith
I’m a fan of daily Bible study. Now…before you go judging me for being some kind of prude, let me assure you that I’m not perfect by any means. Just because I ready the Word daily, doesn’t mean I know it by heart or that my Walk is without struggles.
I’ve talked to lots of people who have said that they wished they could have a routine like me. They wished they read their Bible every day. They try, but somehow, the next thing they know…it’s been a week or two and the ol’ NIV has just been collecting dust.
Well, I’ve got a secret for you. I’m no super hero. I don’t have any special Bible-reading powers. I just have a routine. A habit. And I’d like to share a few things that I’ve learned along the way, that just might help you get in to the habit as well.
First…let me make a quick case for why you should make the Word a habitual part of your day.
1. The Bible is a living word. It is the perfect word, God-breathed, inspiring, truthful, and living. Now, you may be getting ready to look away and come back when I’ve got a craft up…and stopped trying to convince you of “living” books. No, it’s not going to get up and walk down to Taco Bell for a Crunchwrap…but the Word will speak to you in a way no other book can.
2. You’ll be changed. Even if you are great the way you are {you are obviously awesome…you are here at amyallender{dot}com} Bible study will improve you. Your attitude will change. You’ll start to understand where morals come from…why abstaining from using curse words is more than just showing off your wide vocal. You’ll start to think about things differently. Even if you are already a practicing Christian.
Don’t believe me? Just try it. Give it 3 weeks. And, yes, I know there are loads more reasons to read the Word…but I’m not writing a book here. Just a little light reading. So let’s move on to some easy ways to put it in your routine.
1. Pick a time. I hate the morning. I’m lucky to get up and get pants on by the time I need to be at the gym to teach at 8:30 a.m. And I don’t think God cares that my study time isn’t first thing. I know lots of people who feel like they are Christian failures because they fail to pull their butts out of bed early enough to study the word before the day begins. If you love the morning…go for it…get up early. For those of us that aren’t that perky…know that God doesn’t care when you do it…He just wants to be close to you. So pick a time that works for you and stick to it.
2. Think about bed time. My study time is always before I go to sleep. Even after the longest day, I make myself stay away long enough to read a little bit. Even if it’s only one chapter…or one Psalm…or a couple Proverbs. Which brings me to my next tip.
3. Start small. The Bible is full of long names, genealogies, and wisdom. Don’t feel like you have to take on the whole book in one sitting. I’d even be bold enough to tell you to steer clear of those “Read the Bible in One Year” plans. To me…those are simply things that set you up to fail. You miss a day, a week…and next thing you know, you feel overwhelmed. This isn’t a contest. Read a little at a time.
4. Blessed are the children. Confused on where to start? Yep…I was. I recommend looking at a children’s Bible “Story Index.” Here is a pretty good online list. This is a good place because you might be familiar with some…and they are interesting. And you’ll avoid getting trapped in lists of laws and long lists of weird names.
5. Reread. My lovely friend Krissy just laid this little nugget on me while I was in California. She said, sometimes it’s most beneficial for her to read a passage night after night. Don’t feel pressure to read something new every day. Spend a few days with a chapter or passage. Let it sink in. Memorize part of it. Write in on your heart. It’s a living Word, remember? If we spend time to look deep into the word, it will faithfully look back at us. The word will speak to us. Without fail.
Give it a try. Set a time. Set a goal…an easy goal like: I’ll read at least one sentence of the Bible every night for a week. Accomplish the goal and move from their.
My life has changed since I committed myself to daily study. I’d love for your life to change too. Do you read every day? What helps you stay in a routine? What helped you start and establish your routine?
Amy
by Amy | Oct 2, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Projects, the house
I’m thrilled to show off the {somewhat} finished product of our dining room/living room makeover. I love the way it turned out. Last night while Derek watched the Bears-Cowboys game I even got out the Halloween decor. That always makes me happy.
We used Dutch Boy washable paint from Menard’s for the cabinets and trim. It’s in White Lullaby. And it was okay…but no where near as awesome as the Emerald Brand paint we bought from Sherwin Williams. It was a bit more pricy, but when purchased on sale for a whopping 40% off…it only cost as much as the Dutch Boy. And let me tell you, it was worth it. I’ve never painted with really nice paint.
There is a difference.
That’s the biggest thing I learned during this project. Quality counts. The Emerald paint was thick and bold, it only took one coat to get the job done. The living room and dining room walls are in Sherwin William’s Filmy Green. The stairway is painted Gateway Grey.
Now, let’s check out those B&A’s.
Now the brown carpet looks even more out of place. Well…we’ll get to it eventually. Isn’t it nice when a project turns out well? There is no better feeling.
Amy
by Amy | Oct 1, 2012 | Blog, The Art of Faith
I’ve been cranky lately. Full disclosure. I never feel like I need to hide from you. And maybe that’s a bit awkward…I really do keep my dirtiest laundry to myself. But I’m all about being open and honest, because I fully believe that we can learn from each other. I believe that it’s okay to be fussy sometimes and that if even one of you relate and feel understood after reading my ramblings…well then…it’s been worth it.
So. Yes. Me. Cranky.
It’s been compounding for a while now. Loads of things that haven’t got the way I expected or wanted. The unexpected life has crept up and sucker punched me. {What a jerk, right?} None of it was a big deal, really. It was a poor turnout to a photo shoot I thought would be a hit. Panda has been sick. A curt email that hurt my feelings. A missed opportunity. The wrong laptop ordered. A broken sugar bowl. A box of chocolates dropped on the world’s dirtiest carpet.
But isn’t that how it goes sometimes. Little things can stand on top of one another and before I know it…I’m looking at Andre the Giant instead of simply an ant. And so I write about it. Because when I put things into words, I feel pressure to find some kind of positive spin. And that’s what I need right now. Maybe even more than a spin. I need a merry-go-round, a carousel, a whir wind, a tornado.
And here it is. When things stack up {and the are bound to every once in a while} we cannot lose hope. At the end of the day, if everything is in a mess and we have our panties in a twist…it’s okay. It’s okay to take a moment, a breath, to get our fuss out. Then we must look down at our feet and remember that they are for walking. For running. We must continue to move one in front of the other and go forward. Put your rain boots on if the mess is deep, heck drag out your waders. But take a step out. Move toward that stack of nasty compounded, unexpected things and give it a good shove. Knock it over and see everything for what it is: A sugar bowl, an email, a reason to get more creative.
Then walk away. And move forward.
If we continue to stand in a muck of cranky it will eventually turn to quick sand. It will eat me up. It will eat you up. And this means our Enemy has won. Satan delights when the unexpected and worldly woes get us to lose sight of Hope. But we are smarter than he is. We see his plan and we know the meaning of life: To glorify God through every thing we do and every skill we have.
Whatever may be keeping you down…try to move forward today. I know I will. And if everything is going great…just remember this in your heart.
See you tomorrow…with a big dining room/living room B&A. I can’t wait.
Amy
by Amy | Sep 29, 2012 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
It’s nearly midnight here in good old Practically Canada. Derek and I are watching “We Were Soldiers.” Wait. Let me rephrase…Derek is watching. I’m zoning in and out, making a comment every so often to show that I’m still paying attention. I was under the impression it would be more like Stripes, starring Bill Murray. I’ve been sorely mistaken.
But that’s all beside the point. Tonight I’m thrilled to share a very special sneak peek with you. A few weeks ago I was blessed with the incredible opportunity to capture the first moments of a new life on camera. Please welcome Sheridan Hope.
When you see a new life in it’s first hours, the existence of God is so obvious. From the look on mom and dad’s faces, to the sweet curiousity of brand new big sisters, the moments are sweet and infinitely precious. She is perfection, she was sewn together in the image of a God who loves her and has great plans for her life.
Amy
