Summer Days

It was a hectic summer - and my camera has been on perpetual back log but I did manage over the last few evening to process some photos of the girls from summer. Bean is getting harder and harder to wrestle down for pictures - she wants nothing to do with me and my camera anymore - I count myself lucky to have snagged the few that I did. Now if I can only get them together.... 

Hello, Maureen's Sister! (or Blog Fail)

I admit it - I have been terribly remiss in maintaining my blog. I have been incredibly busy with learning the new job (which I love) and balancing family life (which I also love) - so something had to slide by the wayside. My camera's CF card is also on perpetual backlog, so I suppose that makes two slides.

What I have been doing - is spending time on the sofa cruising Pinterest for things I will (most likely never) make and clothes I drool over. This requires no more energy than a slight swipe of my finger on the iPad and I do this in a "my-mind-is-numb-because-I-have-been-working-and-caring-for-small-children-who-are-hiding-their-mission-to-drive-me-insane-behind-their-adorably-cute-faces" kinda way at the end of the day. Many of us are guilty of this exact crime - admit it.

 Which brings me to this oldie of a gem text message between my beloved husband and myself.

I mean thank goodness for mobile technology or these moments would have been lost forever. Sadly  (or happily depending on your viewpoint) I have more than one of these literary masterpieces saved.

last day

{click} I took this photo walking in this morning - my last Friday here. I started here in July of 2007 and have had the great fortune of working with some of the warmest, kindest, hardworking folks I have known. I start my new job on March 4th and I couldn't be more excited - and a tad bit nervous. While I am looking forward to the new adventures that lie ahead, it's always sad to leave behind the comfortable known. I remind myself, that it is the leaps that make the adventure that much more exhilarating.

Sophie Says...

Sophie: Mom, where can I get some brainwashing pills?

Me: Some what? Why???

Sophie (shrugs): Oh, just curious. (as she exits the room skipping)

Me: (silence)

I still don't know why. I'm not sure whether to be amused, or nervous. If I post something to the effect we bought a horse...

Love is a journey

Dear Eric,
Today is Valentine's Day - our fourth together. I know that for the most part, we don't elaborately celebrate this holiday, but this year I wanted to take a moment to let you know how much I love and appreciate you. There are not enough words for me to adequately express to you how happy I am to wake up to you and our little family everyday. Sure, some days are hectic, chaotic, exhausting and grumpy - but I wouldn't trade one moment of the craziest day for anything else in the world. There are moments, when we are all sitting together, that I just pause to give myself a reality check that this is all mine. I look at the life and family we have built together and smile at how lucky we are - how blessed we have been - even through the roughest of times.

I smile every time I think about the first moment I met you - or more correctly - the first time I saw you, since it would be a couple of months until we had an actual conversation. You were just a head popping over the shoulder of an old high school friend at a bar. I remember thinking to myself "Who is that really cute guy?". It took me a few weeks to slyly find out your name.

I will never forget our first real conversation. You nonchalantly came up to me a few months later and asked me how many commandments I had broken. It was one of the most original conversation starters I have ever heard. I don't believe most romances start off with the battle ground topic of religion and the Old Testament - but looking back, and I may not have known it then, but I fell a little bit in love you that night.

You brought me Milk Duds at a barbeque because you knew I adored them and then asked me out for dinner. I was incredibly nervous about our first date; I bought two new outfits and considered canceling about six times. I liked you, not only in a crush-kinda-way, but in a I-really-like-being-around-this- person-and-I-would-hate-a-failed-attempt-at-romance-to-ruin-that-way. I'm so happy I didn't.

Our first date was perfect. We just fell into comfortable conversation, as though we were two separated old souls that had finally found each other once again. After that first dinner, walking down the sidewalk, you put your arm around my shoulders as though I was already yours and you, mine. I love how nervous you were to kiss me goodnight. I love that goodnight kiss. I love that you called me the next day and most every day after that.

I love so many things about you. I love the way you make me laugh after I have had a rough day. I love that you encourage me to challenge myself and to take leaps. I love that you embrace the ridiculous and help find and create humor in our every day. I love that every night you have a "bedtime snack"of cookies or a whoopie pie, even while you claim to not have a sweet tooth. I love your sense of adventure in trying new things - whether they be new foods or a desire to explore new corners of our neighborhood, country or foreign land. I love your appreciation of art and music.

I love the way you are not afraid to be silly with Sophie and Violet - wearing pink feather boas and princess tiaras. I love watching you snuggle with Violet while reading her bedtime stories. I love the way you help Sophie with her homework or run outside with her in the cold to so she can watch a space station pass overhead. I love the way you love both our girls. I love the way you love me.

I was looking through our "old fashioned" photo album the other day. It is sadly (and ironically) lacking in actual photos, but I have saved little pieces of our collected history in the pockets. Old ticket stubs from movies, football games, concerts, Parisian business cards from cafés we ate at on our honeymoon... you know me, I hate clutter and holding on to things, but these "things" I could not bear to part with. There are too many now to fit in the pockets of that album - the glued seams have started to spilt. I will have to find a pretty little box to store them in. One day, I will find that box has become so full of memories, that we will need yet another box. I look forward to endless adventures with you - what ever they may be - and filling lots and lots of memory boxes with you. Some may be more exciting than others, but they will all be with you. I look forward to watching our children grow up and in turn, growing old with you. These thoughts are bliss.

There is an invisible thread that binds us together - not only our hearts, but our souls.

Happy Valentine's Day, my husband.

I love you.

~Amber


{Original artwork by Susannah Tucker}

Sophie Says...

Eric: Hey Sophie, it's getting close to bedtime.

Sophie: (watching tv) *sigh*

Me: Might want to think about jammies.

Sophie: (watching tv) *double sigh* (lifts butt up off floor) Talk to the booty 'cause the face is off duty.

Me: (trying to not laugh out loud while using my stern mom voice) Now.

Sophie: (double sigh) Fine, fine.

Where in the world does she come up with this stuff?!?!

Snow-tacular 2013

That lump with the antennae - that's one of our cars. It was fun to dig it out after the storm passed.

Like many New Englanders, we endured (and survived) the Blizzard of February 2013. Eric and I found ourselves - separately - at the grocery store stocking up on essentials: beer, wine, 8lbs of tator tots, ice cream sandwiches, toilet paper, donuts and baby formula. (I will let you guess who bought what, but you will probably choose wrong.) If we were going to die of snow, we were going to so Charmin style - comfortable.

When I was in line, the woman in front of me had 2 dozen eggs, 2 loaves of bread and 15 gallons of spring water. She looked at my register offerings and I am pretty sure she was judging me and that I came up wanting in her eyes. I started to feel that maybe I wasn't taking this thing seriously enough. But no way was I stepping out of line and fighting with blue haired old ladies over the last of the bread and water. I set my course. We have municipal water - it was highly unlikely I was going to be out of water. Perhaps, if I lived outside the city and had a well, stocking up on water would make more sense. But if city water goes - it's pretty catastrophic outside and a few bottles of Poland Spring is probably going to be the least of my worries.

Someone shared that while they were at the store, they were next to a woman who had over $500 of groceries already rung up with another cart to go. When it hit $500, she asked if she could put some stuff back. Don't you wish you were behind her in line? What was she expecting? And what if the power went out? Most those groceries would spoil! Argh!!!!

I was, however, held responsible for failing to find the Redbox thingie (official name for it) - so we were SOL on the new movie front. My husband was speechless... I handed him a beer. He seemed appeased.

For the most part, we basically spent 36 hours in jammies, eating junk food and peeking periodically out the windows to make sure the world was still there.

What does one do for 36 snowbound hours?  So glad you asked. Here's the Snowmagedan photo wrap up of a lazy New England Woman and her iphone.

In case you were wondering what 8lbs of tator tots look like, I will provide a "scale photo" for your viewing pleasure:

Of course, one can only eat so many tator tots. Add that to one's boredom and one ends up trying to build a tator tot house for tiny outdoor critters. But the problem with tator tot construction is this; when you thaw them out enough to stick toothpicks in them, they start to fall apart and fail inspections. Also, one runs the risk of being caught by one's husband playing with prized tots and hearing, "Amber! Tator tots are not toys!" Followed by a loud sigh.

Collapsed Tator Tot Construction

I moved on from the tots and over to the laptop. We didn't lose internet. Not good. Online shopping is an acceptable snowed-in activity. I bought another ceramic pig to join Spider Pig (I may have developed a ceramic pig problem. If the husband brings this up, I shall remind him of his tator tot hoarding issue. It's always wise to remember one's leverage): 

Of course, it wasn't all fun and no work. Bean has a science fair project due in a few weeks. We decided it would be fun to experiment with yeast and it's effects in bread making. We made three loaves - one with the correct amount of yeast, one with no yeast and one with twice as much. I think we will have to make a forth loaf and put even more yeast in. I am at odds with myself over the results. I was oddly disappointed the third loaf with double the yeast didn't explode, while also equally glad it didn't so I didn't have to clean the oven. Not only did we not run out of water, we had plenty of bread. Bonus: The house did smell warm and lovely. (Also, we did not run out of tator tots)

So, there it is. Our survival story. Gripping. Moving. Powerful. Hollywood Insider gave it 5 stars. 

Sophie says...

{WARNING BORROWED IDEA TO FOLLOW!} So as I have mentioned, I love the blog written by Melissa at  "Dear Baby". She has little sections where she write snippets of humorous conversation with her young children.  I always thought I should be writing down the things that Sophie has said over the years so I don't forget. Well, I have forgotten most of them over the last 10 1/2 years - so I am borrowing this idea from her in an effort to start keeping track of both the girls and their funny little sayings.


Sophie: Mom, did you invent dirt?

Me: What?

Sophie: Did you invent dirt? You know... seeing that your older than it.

Eric: (from the kitchen 2 rooms away): snort chuckle

Stitch Fix #3

P

My third "fix" arrived from Stitch Fix the other day. They knocked it out of the park this time around. I loved every single piece in the box.  Every piece is fantastic and I can really feel the quality. Thank you, Miranda! (my stylist for this fix.)

In case you missed my previous post containing Fix #2, Stitch Fix is like having a personal stylist at your finger tips. 

To recap, you pay them a $20 styling fee and they send you five glorious items of fashion forward garments specifically picked based on your style profile. The $20 is applied to the purchase of one or all of the items they send. If nothing suits your fancy, simply mail back the clothing in the pre-paid mailer and your only out 20 bucks. (It covers their styling fee and the shipping back and forth) I LOVE this concept and so far, I have yet to lose my styling fee. 

Fist thing I noticed - snazzy new packaging! I'm a design geek and these things impress me. 

Ok, - so here it is (but once again, I would like to note that I am not, nor do I believe I am, a model) Forgive the pale New England complexion and funny faces):

Item #1: 

First out of the box and TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH is Kensie Bay Polka Dot Cropped Skinny Jeans.  I love the subtle polka dots on the denim - they are surprisingly fun. I paired them with my striped 3/4 length tee and a bold orange necklace. I love the way the two patterns contrast each other, but again the subtle polka dots are not at all overwhelming. I want to keep these. I want to live in these. But they are one size too small. I mentally tried to talk myself into thinking they fit, but I have to remind myself of one of my fashion rules: "Just because they zip, doesn't mean they fit". I will request them in my next fix a size larger. These will be mine.

Item #2: 
Natural Life Chaimbers Knit Cowlneck Top. It's blue. It's soft. It's flattering. I think I could happily live in this simple little top. I think it works well with jeans for a casual look, but I am still trying to figure out how to make it business-y. I thought maybe with my white pencil skirt, but I realized I didn't have great shoes to go with it.  I may need to remedy this. What do you think? A keeper?

Item #3: 
Hello, I am in serious love with this Daniel Rainn Bilson Pleated Tab Sleeved Blouse. It's so flowy and feminine. The pleated detailing on the front and the tabbed sleeves are just a combination made in perfection. I love that I can wear it with black leggings or jeans and boots or tuck it into trousers or a pencil skirt and transform it into work wear. This is a keeper.

Item #4: 
I figured while I was wearing this top, I should go for a double whammy Stitch Fix Combo. Here is the Aryn K Flora Chiffon Trim Blazer. I love this blazer. It's a straight cut, slightly short and trimmed with delicate chiffon. I threw it on with the blouse and pencil skirt to make a "suit" and for the most part it worked. I then moved onto a more casual, fun look with jeans. I like it a lot - I just can't figure out if the sleeves are too short or suppose to be that length. Thoughts? Are the sleeves suppose to be that length? Should I keep it?

Item #5: 

Last but not least, is this most awesome Westgate Shirt Dress from Costa Blanca. I like when I can winterize a dress and pairing this one with leggings, boots and a comfy cashmere scarf is a look I can live in. I think the bare legs version needs some work - different shoes for sure. Maybe black heels or flats? Even some colored tights would make it fun. Regardless of the accessories kinks to be worked out, this is a definite keeper!

Fix #3 has been the best by far. They aren't joking when they tell you that the feedback you provide makes for better fixes in the future. That's why it's really important to give good, precise feedback. I'm basically scheduling Fix #4 immediately. I really want to get those Kensi Polka Dot jeans in my size. I had asked about exchanging, but they were either sold out or the jeans were all out. I was planning to keep the whole fix - this is the first time in 15 pieces that something has not fit - and I wanted to use the 25% discount they offer when you buy the whole fix. They generously offered to allow me to use the credit as a one time service and still send the jeans back. I am tempted to do just that. They seriously have the best customer service. I can not say anything bad about them

If you haven't already signed up, you can do so through this link. I do not work for, nor am I paid to post this blog, but if you use that link, I do get a $25 referral credit. Isn't that just nice!

have you seen this pig?

I love this pig. I have been drooling over this quirky little planter for almost 2 years now. I have felt the lack of it's presence like a void. Why haven't I purchased it, you ask? Good question. I'm glad you asked.

Exhibit A

I have tried many, many, many times to keep plants alive. Bean, knowing my propensity for mass plant massacre, decided to get me a cactus for Mother's Day. I killed it. I killed a cactus. See "Exhibit A". (You can't really tell from that photo - but it "deflated" like a soufflé.) A friend of mine, not believing I was as awful as I claimed, once gifted me with the most adorable baby spider plant. It, too, joins it's brethren in eternal slumber. Whenever I have been tempted to purchase a plant, I have had flashes of all the killings I have committed and I place the plant gently back on the shelf in hopes it will find a better home.

I have denied myself the pleasure of this pig's company as a punishment to my brown thumb and a promise to plants everywhere that I will not slay thee.

But something has changed.

My dear, wonderful husband can not only keep plants alive... they thrive!!! And like the bright sunshine-y yellow of this plaster masterpiece, I see a ray of light that it can rest happily on my side table. This pig will be mine. It is me. It says a happy, slightly weird and completely unique woman with questionable style should own it. That woman is me. The plant that rests in here will be happy.

A few months I ago, I begged my husband to bring home another spider plant. He isn't much of a fan of them, but I felt the need to redeem myself in the eyes of horticulturalists everywhere. Or, more accurately, I felt the need for Eric to redeem me. He surprised me one evening with the fattest, happiest specimen of Chlorophytum comosum - or to you layman folk - a spider plant. (I admit, I googled that. Shocked?) I immediately named him "Peter Parker".

After a rough start, Peter is having babies. I think a pig is a fitting home for one of them a la Simpson Spider Pig. (FYI if you live in a municipal that adds fluoride to your water, it may be browning your plants. You may have to indulge them in fresh spring or distilled water as we Eric has done.)

That pig is mine. He is en route from this wonderful Etsy seller - Fruit Fly Pie. Check them out. They have a great collection of ceramics sure to fun-ify you home!

In case you were curious about other things peek my interest - you can follow my faves on Etsy here or follow me on Pinterest! Shoot me a line and I would love to follow you back!

tweet spot

Did you know I tweet? It is true. From time to time you can experience the spur of the moment brilliance (and madness) of my mind. Plus, who doesn't want to see the moment to moment nuances of all the businesses and friends I stalk...errr... follow.

Follow me here...

print {love}

I am obsessed with printing. It's a consequence of occupation. I'm also obsessed with paper. Really nice, heavy cold press paper is my favorite. Every time I have received a business card or letter on Crane paper, I have gone into fits of delight. It is one of my (smaller) goals to one day have custom letterhead or calling cards letterpress printed to Crane paper. There is an old world artistry that has to be appreciated about letterpress printing.

If my husband is reading this, he may want to jot it down for future reference. This would far exceed any gift of flowers or jewelry and possibly get him out of cleaning the bathroom for an indefinite amount of time. But I digress. 

Back to printing and paper and letterpress... oh yes! I am also obsessed with collecting little pieces of original art. I'm basically a self dubbed "Etsy Power Shopper". Which leads me to this:

Tag Team Tompkins on Etsy

It's enroute from Etsy shop Tag Team Tompkins as I type. I love their bold black and white letterpress prints as well as their lettering and style. You should check them out - they have a fun assortment of prints featuring various quotes, but this particular print really resonated with me. 

"I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning to sail my ship." ~ Lousia May Alcott

It's calming, while at the same time strong, saying "Don't be scared to steer your own course". It quietly screams "Be confident". This is something I not only want to remember for myself, but also something I want to instill in my daughters. 

Now I just have to decide where it will live once it arrives. 

Finding my art again

I've been feeling a lot of 'meh' lately. As a certified adult, I have found it harder and harder to find the inspiration and motivation to continue to create art. This is very hard for me, because to create art is akin to breathing. Which would explain the suffocating feeling I get from time to time. Not to mention, the area I live in does not necessarily foster the creative community. It's my own fault. I can't blame the state I live in or anything else. The truth is, I've let life turn on the cruise control and I'm just riding along. I need to wrestle it back. Ninja style - because everything in life is more fun ninja style.

I'm fortunate to have a handful of genuinely creative people in my life. In recent conversations with them, I have learned that they have similar feelings about our community and about their own struggles to keep inspiration alive. While I firmly believe that it one's own individual responsibility to seek out inspiration and motivation, a group or community of like minded artists help "feed the brain" and in turn nurtures creativity.  That's why I am so excited that a small group of us are getting together on a regular basis for informal meet ups. Conversations, sharing of artwork or art we have found that inspire us - in hopes that it leads to more and more inspiration and keeps the momentum going.

I feel for my poor husband. As the years we are together start to add up, I think so do the pieces of the puzzle that is me. He never knows which direction I will be running in. Sometimes it's USSR era gas masks. Sometimes it's repainting furniture or sewing or photography or mixed media... or me inviting a gaggle of artists over on a Saturday night. He goes with it. I'm pretty sure he actually enjoys it.  I'm also sure he's expecting to come home one day to me building a circus tent in our living room with dogs, monkeys and retired astronauts. He probably wouldn't blink at this point. Every time I tell him that I NEED to do this - he's right on board. I love that (among a million other things) about him.

Fortunately for him, I'm currently working on a large piece that was inspired in part by a project I did back in college and not a circus... yet. I'm exploring mediums I have never used and using mediums I am happily familiar with. Canvas. Mod Podge. Acrylic Paint. Charcoal. Soft Pastels. A map. (I am almost as obsessed with maps as I am with masks) Elmer's glue. Books.

When I was choosing a canvas size, I had the large one picked out. But I got scared and I picked up a 9"x12".

Christina was with me.  I asked her, "Do I start small or is this a go-big-or-go-home kinda moment?"

"Sister, go big or go home."

20" x 30" Almost square... but not. Almost standard... but not.

I have no idea how it will turn out - hopefully well enough for me to share, but one thing is for certain. It is going to be fun. And probably messy. So, I suppose that is two things for certain.

Nightstand Makeover

A few weeks ago, my husband (helpfully) mentioned that I should make some time to work on my "to do" list in terms of decorating our home. With work, family and the holiday, most of our nesting had taken a back burner. Too many times I have jumped right into redecorating projects soon after moving and ended up regretting them. I believe, for me, I have to really settle into a space, absorb it and find out how we really use it.

For example, in our last home, we rarely ate in our dining room. These days, we rarely eat anywhere else. Our TV room is not set up for comfortable plopping in front of the tube and vegging out while we mindlessly shovel food into our mouths. I love this.

We also "cut the cord" with the cable company - so except for basic channels - we don't have "cable". This has made a drastic reduction in losing hours flipping for something to watch. I love this, too.

As a result, however, the wall behind out sofa is completely bare. We aren't really in that room all that often. But we have collected vintage maps and atlas pages of all the places we have traveled together. I have been hunting down old frames to give them more character and plan to collage them. But so far, only two have been framed and none have been hung. It's on the list.

Another item on the list was repainting our nightstands. I got a pair of RAST 3 drawer dresser at IKEA a while ago. I basically just slapped white primer on them with the intention of dressing them up. But they remained white for about 5 years. They didn't look bad - they just didn't have any real style. Before Eric and I got married and I was living on my own,  I was going to paint them something sweet and feminine - a buttery yellow with glass knobs.

 Our bedroom is mostly white - a white pintucked comforter, white lightly designed curtains, white walls - and pale, birch dressers. Because of my afore mentioned experiences with diving right in decorating, and because and I have grown and changed in my style, I've developed a taste for clean, crisp white or neutrals and adding bold color through fabrics and accent pieces.

I opted for a bright lime green color. I mean BRIGHT. I was nervous - it's bolder than any color I've ever painted. I also wanted to change the knobs. I am not a fan of painted wooden knobs. They look to "country" for me. Bright lime green is anything but country so I felt they would look out of place. I poked around the hardware store and found some really simple brushed stainless pulls for $2.99 each that I felt would work.

After lightly sanding and washing them down with mild soap and water, I started painting. Since the dressers were already "primed", I opted to not get the primer/paint in one. Big mistake. I found this color to act a lot like red in terms it was a thin color that needed many coats. I think I did 4 or five coats to get a really good finish. I also got a semi-gloss finish - which I am most pleased about. If it wasn't for the noticeable wood grain, they would almost look like metal.

To help hide the brush strokes, I also used Flood Floetrol as an additive to the paint. You can find it near the paint sprayers in Home Depot and runs about $6.99 for a small bottle. I only used a little bit for my quart of paint, so I have plenty left over for future projects. (Instructions are on the bottle depending on how much paint you have.) It was the first time I used it and overall I am happy with the results. Again, the wood grain makes it a tad more difficult to tell, but I don't see a brush stroke at all. (The real test will be when I paint my desk which has no visible grain what-so-ever)

So TAAA DAAAA... the result! I like it! It's amazing what a little color can do to change up a room. I apologize about the messy bed. I hate when the sheet sneaks out the bottom of the comforter. I will have to take a better after photo - maybe a couple of the whole room. What you can't see is all the crap I have collected in those drawers over the last few years. I believe when we moved them, the drawers stayed in, so I didn't even go through them while packing or unpacking.

Where in the world?

I've been MIA for a bit... but with the holiday rush, followed by a series of colds and ear infections running through our home, I haven't had time to blog. I have a pile up of photos that I planned on blogging with, but that all went out the door... along with piles of wrapping paper and Kleenex.

Stay tuned for blog updates on home projects coming to completion, new adventures, photo projects...until then I will just leave you with this photo of some yummy homemade (with love) chicken noodle soup I made the husband when he was down and out.