The one thing my brown carpet can’t hide…
Are you familiar with the phrase “Oopsie poopsie.”
Probably not. I think it’s a phrase my sister made up.
Well. Let me show you what an oopsie poopsie looks like. It looks like this:
They come in all shapes and sizes. But tonight I made a major oopsie poopsie. After working on a small project I screwed the lid on my Sherwin Williams sample jar and picked it up to put things away before dinner. Well, the lid was screwed on…crooked. I realized something had gone horribly wrong when I stepped in something cold and wet.
But alas, it was too late. The damage had been done.
Friends tell me that the bright side of brown, splotchy carpet is that it will hide everything. Turns out, the one thing it doesn’t hide so well is aqua paint.
Most of it came out. I’ll call it, well seasoned. Looks like the living room floor project just moved up the to-do cue.
I hope you’ve had an oopsie poopsie free day.
Amy
PS–Free photo elements tomorrow!!
The Most Magical Thing in Goodwill
I had a few simple things I wanted to accomplish today. The biggie was getting my front coat closet cleaned out and organized for the winter. It’s pretty bad in there. Things just strewn about. Coats jammed in. Scarves and hats on the floor…mixing in with wet boots. Yuck.
Anyway. Back to the list.
It got jammed. Who know Veteran’s Day in Practically Canada would be like Black Friday in any other American town? Not this girl.
Roads were icy. Traffic was backed up worse than a middle aged man after a cheese festival. Lines were winding around the Wal-Mart. So a trip for a few simple things {and a few closet organizers} became a nightmare.
After traveling all over town only getting about 50% of my list accomplished I was pretty wiped out. I had yet to find bins to use to store our hats, gloves and scarves {I found some…but thought they were over priced.} So I decided to force myself to make one last stop. At Goodwill. Because when you are looking for something and all else fails…you should always check the thrift store.
So I was totally burnt out. Like ready to lay on the floor and play Words With Friends.
But I didn’t. I pushed on. Then, suddenly I saw something. Something that wouldn’t hold my scarves. Something that wouldn’t prevent my wet, snowy boots from getting my hat all slushy. Something that looks like this:
Yes, folks. Let it soak in. It took my breath away. Like a beam of magical light in a dismal Goodwill on a day of errands that had rendered me totally exhausted. There is was. A Unicorn grandmother clock.
I didn’t buy it. {But I might tomorrow…Christmas is coming and that is the mother of all White Elephant gifts…} Simply knowing that something like that exists was enough to energize me and breath new life into my day. Just knowing that one day, somewhere someone created a plan and a mold for this whimsical gem was treat enough for me.
Seriously…?
Then, in the next aisle…I saw this:
Is Minot
Friday Confessions {from my awkward week}
I’ve only done Friday confessions one other time. But today…after the week I’ve had, I really thought it would be good to get some of these things off my chest. Won’t you join me as I reveal my inner most thoughts?
1. When the stair project was over I had watched two full seasons of Pretty Little Liars. This week I found the other 13 episodes from season 3 and marathoned them over a 4 day period.
2. I was dog sitting and the dog ate 85 pieces of Halloween candy when I went to the gym.
3. Said dog pooped out a log of kit-kat wrappers two days later. Too much info?
4. I’ve basically stopped drinking water and instead drink only hot tea these days.
5. There was that day when I couldn’t button my shirt.
6. I didn’t mail my absentee ballot in time. My vote didn’t count in the swing state of Florida…but I did voice my opinion up here…where we earn a whopping 3 electoral votes.
7. I voted for Heidi Heitkamp on the basis that I so hated the anti-Heitkamp commercials produced from Rick Berg’s camp. {And besides…he’s gone Washington. If you don’t live in Practically Canada, you probably don’t understand.}
8. While we are talking about voting, I might as well mention that I didn’t realize there was a backside to the ballot.
9. I went to a progressive dinner where I volunteered to bring baguettes. I brought day old’s from Jimmy Johns.
10. I put my leftover Halloween candy {that the dog didn’t eat} in a cornucopia and called it a Thanksgiving candy-copia.
11. The man who came by to give me an estimate on furniture repair revealed his real passion is clowning….how do you respond to that?
12. Last night I unpacked {kind of} my necklace collection. For the first time. Since July 2011.
13. I spilled red Kool-Ade down the front of my shirt and jeans at a baby shower. Like a whole cup full.
14. I taught Trim and Tone last night. Today, I’m having a hard time walking. {Who says instructors don’t get sore?}
15. I heard Mariah Carey sing “All I Want For Christmas is You,” when I was at K-Mart. Inside I wanted to hate them for playing it so early…but I sang along under my breath and deep down really liked it.
Geesh I feel better. What do you need to get off your chest?
Sending Warmth
Remember a couple days ago when I told you about Socks for Sandy?
You can look at the post for all the details, but the gist is this: The east coast has gotten cold and there is a dire shortage of cozy socks in the victim shelters. Fellow blogger, Laura has started a drive to collect “Socks for Sandy.”
I’m lucky enough to be surrounded with a wonderful group of gals who meet for a bi-weekly Bible study. We met last night and got some socks together. We also made some good creative notes to send with our socks. Just to let the folks who get them that we are praying for them…and that we know all too well about cold toes up here in Practically Canada!
So, what I’m telling you on this fine Waffle Cone Wednesday…Is…Send some socks.
They’ll be appreciated.
And thank you to my girls who helped get these in the mail. You are the best.
Oh, and one more thing. My Bible study is reading Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman. It’s wonderful and you should read it. Kyle is a lovely writer. His words are so easy to read. He makes faith relevant and interesting…and his asides are hilarious. So not only is it moving and a great book to strengthen your walk, it’s also an engrossing and interesting read. Go to the site here to learn what it’s all about.
Remember…get those socks. Target has cute ones for only $1. I bought these from K-Mart for $2-$3 for each pair of slipper socks.
Go here for the shipping address…and remember, they need to be mailed by Friday!
Amy
The Day I Couldn’t Button a Shirt.
Yes, I know it’s election day. If you stopped by today hoping to find out who I voted for and why or why not…you’ll be disappointed. If I told you…well–you’d still be disappointed. I’m not very good at expressing myself politically. So instead, I’ll just a story that really relates to nothing. You are welcome to just laugh at my expense and be glad you are cooler and more capable than me.
Let me elaborate.
Today started like any other morning. Get up, pet the cat, start the tea pot. I did some things around the house before hopping in the shower. I had a phone conference set up late morning and the phone rang a bit earlier than expected…just as I was toweling off. I was excited to take the call so as we started chatting I pulled on jeans and threw on a button down shirt {one of my signature looks.} Easy enough. Not rocket science.
The meeting ends. I get up from the desk {aka dining room table} to go for another cup of tea. Look down…my shirt is buttoned wrong.
Okay, no big deal. I was distracted when I got dressed. We’ve all done it. The buttons aren’t lined up and I’ve got extra fabric at the bottom. Shake it off. Unbutton–rebutton.
Go about my business. Send a few emails, do a little research, write a few workouts. Lunch time. I’ll go get the mail first.
What the heck. My shirt is buttoned wrong again. Two buttons off this time. So much for effortless style {American Eagle makes it look so easy…} Unbutton–rebutton.
After lunch I do some other random work. At 1:30 I get ready to leave to go vote. I wrap a scarf around my neck, pull my purse across my body. Open the flap on top to get my keys when I notice…
MY SHIRT IS BUTTONED WRONG.
What. The. Heck.
How is this happening? It’s like I’ve never worn a shirt before. This is something you learn in pre-school. Just line them up. Pull it together Allender.
Unbutton–rebutton.
At the polling place I get out of the car. Excited to do my patriotic duty. I’m looking pretty good. It’s a cute shirt after all. I’m sporting my vintage cowboy boots, my favorite scarf and my most comfy jeans. But as I get out of the car I feel a breeze on my stomach.
SERIOUSLY?
MY SHIRT IS BUTTONED WRONG. No, I’m not kidding. I can’t make this stuff up. What kind of person attempts getting dressed four times with failure? They let a person like that vote? They let a person like that have a say in American democracy. The only person who can get away with a shirt buttoned wrong this many times is an old man in the Jerry home. Then it’s cute and endearing. I don’t think my grandpa ever had his buttons in line. Is this what I am? Nothing more than a 25-year-old-80-year-old-man? That literally doesn’t even make sense.
Embarrassed, I slipped down the hall to the restroom before anyone could possibly notice. Unbutton–rebutton. Is it right? Triple check. Okay….and…vote.
I hope your trip to the polls was pleasant. And I hope you only put your shirt on once today. Tomorrow at the water cooler, you’ll have something way cooler than a new president/reelected president to chat about…you can tell your friends about that girl you know who couldn’t button her own shirt.
Okay. Stick to chatting about the election.
Amy
Socks for Sandy
Hi all.
I hope your week is off to a good start. Lately I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and praying about how I can do more. More to help, more to spread the Kingdom, more to bring joy. So I started thinking…what if I did more “yessing.”
Now, this is a heart thing. Just because this is how my heart is feeling doesn’t mean that this is how your heart is feeling. I’m not saying any of this to make you feel guilty. Or like you aren’t doing enough. Or like I’m some kind of super philanthropist.
Because I’m not.
And you are awesome.
It’s just something that my heart has been saying to me, and I want to share it with you. Right now God is tugging on my heart to say “yes” as opportunities arise. When someone needs or I see a need I try to say “yes.” Keeping in mind that I can’t do everything…because that’s how mental breakdowns start…So I’ve been dog sitting, and making dinner, and buying for Operation Christmas Child {more on that later}, and teaching Sunday school. Little things that I totally have time for when I’m not marathon-ing episodes of teen dramas.
This morning I found another way to say “yes.” It’s called Socks for Sandy. And it’s really simple. A woman who lives on the east coast has started a sock drive for displaced victims of the hurricane. Socks…weird, right? Here’s the backstory.
Laura‘s neighborhood was spared by the storm. But loads of families were not so lucky. Some only escaped with their lives and the clothes on their back. Those folks are now being housed in shelters while they sort out what to do next. Laura became aware of a need at the shelter: Socks. It seems simple, but socks are in high demand. Temperatures on the coast have dropped and lots of people living at the shelter are barefoot.
We all know that uncomfortable my-feet-are-freezing feeling. But most of us can walk to the sock drawer and slip on something cozy. Say “yes” today and help Sandy’s victims slip on some warmth and comfort by joining Socks for Sandy. It’s really easy. Just buy a pair of socks…or several…gloves, hats and mittens are also being collected… and send them to:
Dear Snow…xoxo Amy
Dear Snow,
It’s barely November. I really wasn’t expecting you for another month or so. It’s not that I don’t like you. We’ve had lots of good times together, skivvy sledding, tubing, snow-fort-building. It’s just that…well, I wasn’t prepared for your visit. You haven’t been to my house since I lived in Indiana. It’s been nice seeing you when I go home for Christmas, and I was excited to hear you’d be visiting me personally this year. But I really think you’ll be much happier if you go back to the North Pole and come back for Christmas.
I know Sandy got your panties in a twist and you just had to drop your baggage on us up here. But that’s really not polite. Today you made Practically Canada feel more like “Practically Christmas.” And, honestly…I’m not ready to listen to Bing Crosby croon “White Christmas” before I’ve had a chance to eat turkey and obscene amounts of pie.
You really inconvenienced me today at work. I went to teach my Jerry Class {senior fitness} this morning, and only one of my ladies showed up. We only worked for 30 minutes before you came barging in and sent her home too. I need you to respect my need to see other people. I’m not okay with you trapping me inside with only the cat for company. But you wouldn’t stop by forcing me to come home early from work and promise not to go out. You just had to go and cause the city to call for a travel emergency. Now I’m really stuck here.
The least you could have done was not be so slippery. I snapped a photo of an accident I saw on my one mile journey home from the gym. Look at the fuss you are causing. It’s just not safe for you to be here yet.
I took another photo looking out my window. I know you like to see the houses you cover. But just know that that stop sign in the photo is not an accident or happy coincidence. It’s a message. Please stop. Stop falling. {Preferably now.} Stop causing people to freak out and drive like they’ve never seen a wheel before. Come back around Christmas. You can stay through the end of January if you really want. I don’t mean to be rude, but I think it’s for the best.
XOXO
Amy
Shake it–shake–shake it.
It’s November! You know what that means…time to trade spooky for turkey. November 1st is the gateway to all things holiday and hospitality. It’s the time when we begin thinking about hosting gatherings, welcoming guests and overeating. {Just being honest.}
I’m excited to get my home guest ready and my table turkey-worthy. In the coming days we’ll be talking about all of that. But today I want to get us all ready to be guests…by showing you what is shaping up to be the best hostess gift of the year.
Salt & Pepper Shakers!!
Good guest etiquette holds that it’s polite to bring a gift to your hostess when coming over for a holiday dinner or party. {Except if it’s your mom…then it’s okay just to bring yourself.}
Here’s what I’m proposing. This year…instead of showing up with a bottle of wine or flowers…show up with something better that your hostess will adore. Come bearing the gift of novelty shakers. They are trending now and covering shelves from Pottery Barn to Target. You’ll be able to nab a cute pair no matter what your gift budget.
1. Acorn shakers from Stonewall Kitchen. {These are on the pricy side…}
2. Orange Owl shakers from Target. Precious for only $8.99!
3. Turkeys, perfect for Thanksgiving, from Williams Sonoma. Mid price at $19.99.
4. I love this little squirrel-nutkin from Pottery Barn. These will cost a pretty penny…$39.95
Now friends, don’t be intimidated by the price tags. Nab these sweet hostess gifts on sale when you see them. Check Hobby Lobby, Wal-Mart’s Better Homes & Gardens line, and K-Mart’s Martha Stewart/Paula Dean lines.
Happy November!
Amy
A Statement Stair Makeover {How I Did It}
So, yesterday I showed you the finished product of my weekend of hard work on the stairs. I just couldn’t resist putting together one more B&A photo. Today I’ll give you the skinny on how I did it.
The first thing you need to know is that I’m not especially skilled. If I can do it, you can do it.
All it takes is some elementary school craft skills, painter’s tape and a little patience. read more…
My Very Own Statement Stairs
Are you ready?? Some of you may know that I was remaking my stair case while Derek was out of town over the weekend. This project started a month ago when I ripped up the nasty brown carpet covering the stairs. And it is now complete…ready to be crossed off the list.
So, yes. Between being locked out of the house and locked into the garage…I made my staircase look like one fit for a dollhouse. I’m impressed with myself. I knew I wanted them white with dark treads. Then I took it a step further {after spending some time drooling over this statement staircase} by making a statement. Hospitality is deeply important to Derek and me, so I painted “welcome” on the risers in different languages. {The top riser is braille! Fun, right?}
Want to know how I took the gross brown steps circa 1975 and turned them around? Look no farther…just click here!
And now I’ve got candy to make. {Another something you’ll be seeing in the coming days.}
Amy
Linked up at Home Stories, Savvy Southern Style and these other awesome parties!
