Unexpectedly Solid {Rushmore Legacies}
Keeping with the blog theme here, let’s talk about the unexpected. Over Labor Day Derek and I got some tourist action in down in Rapid City, SD. Tonight I’d like to share some photography and thoughts from our time at the monuments.
I don’t think the four men featured in this monument would have ever expected to be immortalized in this over the top fashion. If you had told George or Tom that their face would be larger than life, carved in a mountain…I dare say they would not have believed you. These were men who did their job, who made their lives count. I don’t think any of them “saw it coming.” The impact their lives would have on our nation, the lasting affects their efforts would have on the generations to follow.
So often we can’t tell how our lives will ripple into the generations to follow. We cannot predict the circumstances that will come our way. We can only face the unexpected with a courageous heart, solid values, and a compassionate soul. Hoping to navigate in such a way that we live a life worthy of remembrance…even if we aren’t carved in a mountain.
Call me corny, but I’ve wanted to lay eyes on this rock for the better part of my life. I thought it would be simply breath taking. And it is.
If you’ve never seen it, don’t believe people when they tell you it’s hokey. It’s faces carved into a mountain. In case you didn’t know…hokey is not a synonym for awesome. This is awesome.
During our time in Rapid City we also went to the Crazy Horse Monument. {It’s where that awkward photo moment took place. } Like Rushmore, it’s a memorial sculpture in a mountain. Which is amazing because it is a project totally funded privately. Generations of family members have worked to preserve this land and move forward with the project. It’s been going since the 1940’s. Someday it will {hopefully} look like this scale model. You know how they “carve it”? Dynamite. Seriously, I’m not kidding. They are carving a person in a mountain with explosives. It blew my mind. {I love puns.}
Amy
Fitness Friday {Trim & Tone Circuits}
So…my first ever Fitness Friday did not go as planned.
Some things {mostly computer things…} got in the way.
But technically, it’s still Friday in Minot, ND. So Fitness Friday is still on.
If you have never done a Trim and Tone class, here is the drill. You’ll go through each exercise in the circuit back to back, with no rest between. After you’ve done each exercise in Circuit #1 recover for 1-2 minutes. Go through the circuit three times. Then Do the same with Circuit #2.
**Click any of the how-to images below to bring up a bigger version**
Circuit #1:
- 50 Jumping Jacks
- 1 minute: High Knees
- 30 seconds: Burpees
- 30 seconds: Mountain Climbers
Circuit #2
- 30 seconds: In & Out Squats
- 30 seconds each leg: Tae Bo Knees
- 30 seconds: X Jumps
In & out squats: Step your feet wide apart {wider than hip width}. Lower yourself into a squat, pulse twice…then hop your feet closer together {hip width} and pulse twice. Keep your legs bent throughout the exercise! Don’t come out of the squat position.
Tae Bo Knees: Just like Billy B. would want. Place your body weight on your left foot. Raise your right foot off the ground and bring your knee across your body. Reach your hands over head, then down toward your knee as you raise your knee. {Like you are smashing a pumpkin over your knee.}
Enjoy the workout! I’ll see you tomorrow.
Amy
DIY Custom Paint Pallets
Well…next week I dive into major house project number 2. I’ve been crazy busy this week and it seems like all of it will come to a screeching halt after this weekend. So, I decided that this is the perfect opportunity to do a little painting.
My living room. My dining room. My built in hutches. My front room. The ceilings. Some wood paneling.
The goal is to get all most of it done by the end of the week. Mind you…I’ll still some other obligations as well. Like feeding my husband and Panda Kitty, editing a super cute photo session, teaching fitness classes, maybe contacting a few nonprofits about doing some work…you know…the usual. Nothing super busy.
But here is the dilemma. I’m a color-commitment-a-phobe. I know it’s just paint, but paint is expensive. And I am very cheap. And I make very little money. And I have this complex about making little money and spending buckets of the dollars Derek earns by having a real job. So, while I know if I hate it I can always redo it…I’d rather get it right the first time.
So, I’ve started a Pinterest board of pretty paint colors. You should totally go over there and check it out. Seriously, they are pretty.
Then I started thinking about creating my own pallets from things that naturally appeal to me. Like my favorite photographs. Here’s what I came up with.
There are two bonus pallets over on the Facebook page. You should check those out too. And while you’re there…go ahead and like the page. *Insert corny smiley face here____*
After I had made my own pallets…I thought maybe you would like to make some of your own. So here’s the skinny on how I made it happen. read more…
Easy Awesome Breadsticks
I’m not one to brag about things I do. When I do, it’s mostly just making a cocky joke. Really, deep down, I think I’m pretty plain. But I am good a few things. Making bread sticks is one of those things.
And because I believe everyone should be entitled to a good bread stick and bowl of soup, I’m relaying my recipe to you.
It’s easy. You don’t have to be a whiz bread maker like Peeta Mellark. All you need is a little time and an electric mixer.
Here’s the full list of ingredients.
Flour | Yeast | Salt | Oregano | Garlic Powder | Olive Oil | Pepper | Water | Butter!!
1. Mix up your dough. | 2. If you wear rings…take them off before you knead!! | 3. Coat your ball of dough with oil and let it rest. | 4. To speed up rising time, set your covered bowl over a baking rack on a skillet of simmering water | 5. Roll your sticks and let them rise again. {cover them with a towel}. | Read on for details!
Here’s what you do.
In a medium mixing bowl mix these ingredients together:
- 1 1/4 C flour
- 1 packet of yeast
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 Tbsp oregano
- 1/2 Tbsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp olive oil
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 1 C warm water
Use your electric mixer to combine all these things for about 30 seconds. Then crank the speed up to high and let it mix for 3 minute. The consistency will be sticky and gluey.
Take your beaters out, grab a sturdy spatula or wooden spoon and gradually mix in 1 1/2 C more flour. {I do 1/2 C at a time.}
Now it’s time to knead. I leave the dough in the bowl, but you can turn it out onto a clean floured surface if that’s what you prefer. Knead the dough, folding it over itself and adding a bit more flour as you go for about 7 minutes. By the end of that amount of time your dough should be soft {but not sticky} and stretchy.
Sprinkle a little olive oil on your hands then pat your dough into a ball. Cover it in the bowl with a clean towel and “let it rest.” I just learned a cool tip for expediting the rising time….Simmer a pan of water on the stove, place a baking rack over the pan then place your covered bowl on top of that.
If you are doing the water technique let it rise for 15 minutes. If you are just letting it rise on the counter let it sit for 25 minutes.
Once you dough has had a nice rest divide it into pieces just a bit bigger than a golf ball. Roll the small dough balls into skinny ropes. I just roll them between my hands. Place those on a greased baking sheet. Once they are all rolled, let the sticks rise again {covered with a clean towel.}
You can place the pan over steaming water for 15 minutes…or let them rest on the counter for 25 minutes.
While your bread is resting for a second time melt 1/2 stick of butter. And preheat your oven to 400 degrees. When time is up, gently brush the raw dough with butter. Sprinkle lightly with garlic powder. Put directly into the oven.
Bake for 6 minutes.
Remove them from the oven. Brush more butter over them and return to the oven for 5 more minutes.
When they are done baking…coat them again with butter and sprinkle some Parmesan cheese over them if you like. {I like…} And you’re done.
Megan…I know this is your favorite. I miss our days at Olive Garden together, so just know that this post is dedicated to you!
Amy
Alternate Realities
Today reality hit me in the face. Back from vacation and a “do-list” a mile long. {I’m a big list maker in case you didn’t know.}
Reality.
Lists. Work. Editing. Emails. Phone calls.
Then I sat for a minute and saw this photo. I snapped this at Sylvan Lake at Custer State Park over the weekend. And suddenly, unexpectedly, I remembered that this is reality too. Both are real and wonderful in their own way.
I need to embrace both of them and appreciate the fact that both of these realities have been hand-crafted by God. My loving heavenly Father.
What reality has He crafted for you?
Amy
Oh, sorry, was I in the picture? {awkward vacation moment.}
You know when you are on vacation and you ask a stranger to take your photo?
I think we’ve all been there. Over the weekend {possibly the best Labor Day Weekend I’ve ever had} we were at the Crazy Horse monument in South Dakota. I’ll tell you all about the trip in the coming days….but for tonight I just wanted to fill you in on this little awkward moment.
So. Back to the original statement. We are at Crazy Horse. I was setting up my camera on self-timer when a kind gentleman asked if I wanted him to snap the photo for us.
“What a sweet offer. Of course. ..Yes we were trying to get both the scale model and the monument in the photo. Thanks so much….It’s the big button in front there.”
As we crowd together. He starts waving his hand as if asking us to scoot to the right a bit. So we shuffle. While scooting over he clicks the photo. Then he says to his wife, “Not them. You honey. Move over a bit.”
A large woman in a highlighter yellow t-shirt gives a light laugh and says, “Oh, haha, was I in the picture?”
Her husband replies, “No, I think it was okay.”
We review the photo. The subject of the photo is supposed to be Derek, our dear friend Megan and me. But, as you can see…someone else stole the show. Yeah…I think she made it out of the photo in time. No, not really. You are definitely in the photo. In hindsight, you are the subject of the photo. Classically awkward. Love it.
So let’s raise a glass to all awkward vacation photos. Right here, right now. I bet you have a few of your own.
Amy
It’s Back! {Trim & Tone…hooray!!}
I think very few of you have really been reading since “the start.” And if you have, then you know I began writing as a way to broadcast my Trim and Tone fitness classes.
Well, here in Minot I’ve been teaching again. But mostly just senior fitness and some muscle pump. In September, however…I will resume a once per week trim and tone class. So to get you pumped I thought I’d leave you with this workout from long ago. You’ll see more of these in the coming weeks.
I’m headed out of town. And per usual, I haven’t written my posts out in advance. So I’ll see you Monday night. Have a great weekend!
Focus on your form, not how many reps you complete of each exercise. Remember to keep your abs nice an tight as you do these moves. Go through each circuit three times with no rest between moves. Limit yourself to no more than 1 minute of recovery before repeating the circuit. Take a longer recovery between circuits.
Circuit #1
Shuffle Squat–30 sec
X Jumps–30 sec
Mountain Climber–30 sec
Plank Cross Knees–30 sec
Circuit #2
Reverse Lunge Twist (right)–30 sec
Reverse Lunge Twist (left)–30 sec
Peak Lifts–60 sec
High Knees–30 sec
Life Unexpected.
This is a small blog. I don’t get too many comments and I have no need for a FAQ page. It’s a hobby really. I’ve always like to write and journal. As I’ve been pulled away from my home town and my family…I find writing here very therapeutic.
I’ve been writing here consistently for over a year. Originally it was a place that I could slap up workouts for my fitness class participants. If they missed a class they could still get a great workout. Then I added some recipes. And updates. And photos. And a little TMI…
Then a month ago I merged my small photo/video business with my blog so all my online presence was merged. That was a good move.
And finally it all left me wondering what I’m really doing. How can I put into words what it is that I spend time writing about? Why should you read? Why should you tell your friends this is a pretty cool place to hang out?
I honestly felt like it was time to put my finger on what I’m doing…and add a little focus to these musings.
After lots of praying God opened my eyes to what every single thing I post is about. It’s something most of us have in common: We are all living a life unexpected. So there you have it. The theme of my writing, my projects, my business, my crafting. It is all about being unexpected, using unexpected materials, finding inspiration in unexpected places, and discovering unexpected solutions.
When I boiled it all down, my whole life has been an unexpected adventure. Especially my adult life. I’m not living where I expected, or working the job I thought, or even keeping the company I assumed. Life has been one unexpected journey. And that’s a good thing.
The greatest people in the world lived unexpected lives. The Bible is fully of people whose lives went in directions they never dreamed. I’m sure Mary expected to grow up an impoverished girl in a ghetto neighborhood. Jonah didn’t expect to chill in a whale for a few days. Noah {a man of the desert} never expected to be the captain of the history’s most famous ship. And the orphan Esther never thought she’d be a queen.
If we hope for the life we expected, we are turning our backs on the boundless possibilities God sees for us. Because only He knows our true, deep-down potential.
As far as the content goes…you’ll see the same stuff. It’s just that now I’ve got a reason behind it. I’ve got a little more focus. You’ll see me working on crafts made out of unexpected things {like the time I made a hair clip from an old t-shirt, or that wreath out of paper bags.} I’ll try to surprise myself with my handiwork around the house. I’ll continue to do as much as I can for as many as I can for as long as I can…through unexpected acts of kindness.
Let’s all start embracing our life unexpected.
Amy
PS–You should go read the new “About” page. It puts this unexpected theme in a nutshell.
A Great Man 60 Years in the Making {Dad’s Birthday}
I know we all have dads. Really there is nothing special or profound about having one. But what is profound is that some men go above and beyond to answer the call of fatherhood. I am lucky enough to have a dad like that.
And today is his 60th birthday.
Most of you probably don’t want to hear me drone on about my awesome father. So I’ll try to keep it reasonably short…and hopefully it will spur you on to call up your own dad. {Whether it’s his birthday or not.}
My daddy’s name is Warren Allender. To start with…that’s an awesome name. He’s rough and tumble, he has a built in sense of adventure, he is nearly fearless, hilarious, and has an unsatisfiable sweet tooth. If there is one man on this earth that I admire {and I recommend you do too}, it’s Warren.
Dad has lived his life doing what is right, even in the face of nay-sayers. Even in the hardest of situations. Even when everyone around him was getting ahead by keeping low morals, making shady decisions and being a bit corrupt. The decision to pursue a path on higher ground may not have always been easy, but it’s a path he always chose.
There was a long period of time when he was publicly slandered for holding his ground. For making tough choices. For defending what he believed in. I know those days were not easy, but those days shaped our family. How he handled the toughest of days shaped who we became. Those moments taught me that life would present terrible days, as well as good days. I learned that sacrificing what you believe in is never worth it. I learned that standing up for your values takes courage.
I learned that my daddy is the bravest man I’ve ever known.
Dad worked as a police officer for most of his working life. I adore his stories about his time serving at the Sheriff’s Department. Sometimes the stories are funny. Mostly because of the way he tells them…”Then this yay-hoo turned around and he was holding a machete…”
Sometimes the stories are tragic.
But his tales always convey his great love of people. And his belief that “people are people.” Each of us trying to find our way. No one person is better than another. We’ve just made a series of decisions that have brought us to where we are.
Warrie {as we lovingly call him} has the biggest heart of any one I know. He can’t watch television programs that show “…people being bad to each other…” {So that rules out most TV these days. But he does get a kick out of The Office and anything on the Discovery Channel.}
He’s the hardest working man I know. And he just might be the world’s best brainstormer. You simply cannot cause him to run out of “plan B’s.” He is talented with his hands. A craftsman and literally a master gardener.
I see Christ in his attitude, his humility, and his vast love of children. Like Jesus, children are never a bother to him. He simply draws them near and gives them the love, attention and guidance they need. I’ve watched him be a father to many others besides Sis and me.
My daddy is a fabulous man. And I can’t believe he is 60. If I’m left wondering where the time went, I’m sure he is too. I’m bummed that I’ve only known him for 25 years. {Only about 22 that I can recall.} I look forward to continually celebrating the life of this amazing man for many, many more years to come.
If you didn’t catch on…my dad rocks. I hope yours does too. Why don’t you take a sec and think about all the great ways your pop has shaped your life. Then open your contact list and give him a call. Dad’s don’t hear how great they are nearly as often as they should.
Amy
5 Tips for the Best Garage Sale of Your Life.
So. The garage sale was a huge success. Since I have no other garage sales to compare it to…I guess that doesn’t mean too much. But we got a lot of traffic, we sold a lot of stuff, and we made some money.
I owe the success mostly to the great articles I read and the great guest post from Kuzak’s closet.
1. And you wanna know what the biggest, best piece of advice I received was? Make your sale stand out. As people came up to our garage a lot had seen the craigslist ad. They said they came to check us out because they just had to see who the loon was behind those ads. Look here to see the graphics that I ran. Here is what my ads said:
Ad #1
I’m not officially a hoarder…but if things continue at this rate I will be. I’m 25 and I’ve got enough stuff to fill an estate sale. I inherited lots of awesome stuff from grandparents…and I love vintage finds. But alas, my house is not large enough to accommodate all my treasures. So I’m selling them.
Come by Saturday August 25 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. or Sunday the 26th 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Please don’t be an early bird. I can assure you, you won’t be getting the worm that is my awesome stuff. It’ll just be awkward for both of us. I’ll be getting my stuff out into the drive way {feeling like I need to make small talk with you} and you’ll just be watching me. Creepily. So please. Remove this awkward moment for both of us and just don’t show up before 8 a.m. If you are early…wait in your car.
I’ll have home made muffins and lemonade…to keep you energized through your shopping adventures. Oh and I should mention that prices are NOT FIRM. Yes, you read that right. I love a good bargain as much as you do. I’ll price to sell, but I love a good haggle.
Some of the highlight items are: Vintage linens, a retro office chair, a big media cabinet, vintage poker table, glass ware, 2 digital cameras, curtains…oh my…just listing it all makes me feel like an old woman who is planning a sale before she moves to a retirement home.
Come by. It won’t be lame.
Ad #2
Tomorrow is the day. My sign on Burdick and 3rd got nabbed tonight…but the show must go on. In case you missed my first post, here’s the skinny.
I’m too young to have so much stuff. My trove of treasures is over flowing, so in order to maintain my sanity, I must get rid of some things. That’s where you come in. Come tomorrow {Saturday 8/25} or Sunday {8/26} and buy some awesome stuff from me. I promise, my sale is full of wondrous treasures. Not lame things.
We open Saturday 8/25 at 8 a.m. and run until 3 p.m. Please don’t come early. It’ll just be awkward for you and me. But mostly me. And I don’t do well with awkward moments. So please, if you are here early, just wait in your car.
Sunday 8/26 we’ll be open from 1-5 p.m. I have to go to church. And you should too. Don’t waste the Sabbath morning on shopping second hand goods. My trinkets will be readily available after praising our Maker.
I was going to have muffins for you to munch while you shop, but I messed up the recipe. So you’ll just have to settle for a glass of lemonade instead.
See you there. Remember, it won’t be lame.
Oh yeah, and I want these things gone. So no prices are firm. Yes that is right. Prices are like Jello.
2. Now, those that didn’t see the ads had seen my street signs. I used a GIANT paint marker to create signs on old boxes. Then I staked them into high traffic corners. And I made sure that the address was the biggest and most prominent.
3. Once we got people to stroll up to our sale, I enticed them to buy with even more quirky signs. As the day went on, I continued to make more signs throughout the day to highlight items that we really wanted gone.
a. “This is a head scarf from Iraq. Seriously? Sweet!” Yeah…that was a gift from an ex-boyfriend/soldier. Sweet…but never used.
b. Nearly every vase and votive sold.
c. I gave all my shoppers a coupon for my photography services. Hey, it’s shameless self promotion.
d. The sale.
4. We constantly shifted prices. If several people walked away from an item after considering it I dropped the price a bit.
5. As things sold we rearranged and scooted things closer to the curb. No one likes a picked over sale…so I tried really hard to make it look full, even as our “inventory” thinned out. Even when the sale was over, I thought it looked full…but really, we just had one box to haul to the donation box.
a. “Sweet Frames. $1 $0.50″
b. Some work benches left in the garage. They all sold.
c. Those garden statues I was telling you about…
I’ve got just one more thing to add. We marked some things free…mostly because we wanted them gone. One was a set of 3 Care Bears place mats circa 1991 {they were left in the house when we moved in.} Those got taken after some coaxing. But we had a set of 2 Christmas teddy bear place mats that were seriously ugly. No amount of coaxing, no free sticker could make those puppies move.
On the flipside, we did sell some wildly hideous garden statues {also left behind} and a handicap parking sign {also left behind.}
Just proof that what they say about “One man’s trash…” still holds true.
Amy
