tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60494242762554517832024-03-17T01:27:41.694-06:00Fig MilkshakesAmy @ Fig Milkshakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633790597836151314noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049424276255451783.post-63799265861982040702015-06-22T21:19:00.001-06:002015-06-22T21:28:25.919-06:00The Colorado RiverWe live within walking distance of the beautiful Colorado River. <br />
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Take your bug spray, but it is so worth it, and the perfect morning walk. <br />
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Also the backdrop makes for some beautiful pictures. Just snap the photos of the good Lord's work, and people give you the credit for a beautiful picture. Too easy. ;) <br />
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<br />Amy @ Fig Milkshakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633790597836151314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049424276255451783.post-59225870867783479352015-06-12T15:08:00.002-06:002015-06-12T15:10:11.843-06:00Just this.Just this.<br />
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Amy @ Fig Milkshakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633790597836151314noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049424276255451783.post-77390592790324750092014-09-03T20:26:00.001-06:002015-06-10T17:38:23.591-06:00Alba and Julia<br />
I had a friend call me up sort of recently wanting me to take photographs for an auction charity event. <br />
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I think her question to me was somewhere along the lines of, "You know how to take really nice photographs, don't you?" To which I replied, "People seem to think so."<br />
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See here's the thing. I reeeeeallly enjoy taking photographs. I absolutely adore capturing my girls in them, and the privilege to be able to keep that, and reflect on them brings me great joy. But I know very little about my camera. I know how to draw a mean comic in photoshop - but I've never learned to use it for photo editing. I just take decent (but very amateur) pictures. <br />
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So, I haven't participated in the auction event yet. I wanted to practice on somebody before I felt confident I could commit to providing something of value. Our friends, Julia and Alba volunteered to be my subjects. Thus ensued my first "photo shoot". <br />
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No matter what the reason people ask me to take pictures - at least I'm always <i>pleasingly </i>stumped. I'm always down to have an excuse to make time for art - no matter what the art, and if it can provide something for a friend or family that they can cherish (and otherwise would not have, then that's certainly my jam.)<br />
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<br />Amy @ Fig Milkshakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633790597836151314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049424276255451783.post-46767614862732228942014-07-29T10:17:00.001-06:002014-07-29T10:31:06.562-06:00The Shed<br />
So, just kind of a random post. We have this janky OHLD shed in the backyard that I've really grown rather fond of. I've always had a fondness for old things that I can treasure hunt in. As a kid I would go into a dusty old junk shop and imagine the Neverending Story book was hidden in there somewhere. <br />
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I fancy myself a pirate in that way - always searching for the hidden treasure.<br />
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Our landlord gave us free reign of this place! Yay.<br />
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Of course, the thing that pops out to you must be the old window. I haven't done anything with it yet. :/ It's sort of funny, I am very fond of them, but when you live in an old house, there are plenty of old paneled windows like that - and adding one more feels like overkill.<br />
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Found those beauties. Feel free to be jealous.<br />
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Some cool old plates. I'm sure something will come of them one of these days. Right now they just sit in the 112 degree heat out in that shed probably wishing they could die. Or not - cuz, you know...they're hardware.<br />
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I found this crate type thing, and use it on a shelf to display a lot of our printed<a href="http://instagram.com/figmilkshakes" target="_blank"> Instagram </a>photos.<br />
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And then there's just these unexpected blue beams bracing the roof. What is up with that and how cool, eh?<br />
That's my color. How did they know? ;)<br />
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<br />Amy @ Fig Milkshakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633790597836151314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049424276255451783.post-62964007799120163462014-06-29T07:37:00.001-06:002014-06-29T07:43:04.579-06:00'Round the YardScarlett was wearing her pretty pink dress as we were stomping around outside and making chalk art, so I grabbed my camera and snapped a few shots. <br />
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I guess it's what you would call a "Kodak moment".<br />
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A butterfly right next to a Minecraft zombie. She's a girl of many interests.<br />
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This is her move. She loves to practice the robot.<br />
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These are our beautiful pink flowers that grow like a vine up the side of the house. I really love them, but it kind of cracks me up because our neighbors think of them as a weed that grow everywhere and are hard to get rid of.<br />
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Yup, that's a Dalek and the Doctor. <br />
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I hope to always have children's art in our home. Maybe I can convince Robert to space out our kids appropriately so that when the youngest is leaving the nest, our oldest is having a baby. Yes, that'll do.<br />
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<br />Amy @ Fig Milkshakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633790597836151314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049424276255451783.post-49629032689040389062014-06-06T09:58:00.004-06:002014-06-07T11:59:42.179-06:00Van GoghRecently we did a study in the life of Vincent Van Gogh. <br />
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This isn't something that's part of a curriculum, but I add it because I likes it. (Mayhaps I like it too much. Many days I have to resist the urge to throw history and math out the window in favor of doing art projects all day.)<br />
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We kept our study simple. We used our ever important public library. (ours is just down the street from us! Jealous?) I simply picked out a young reader's biography on Van Gogh that was available (we used <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Van-Gogh-Explore-Influences-Eyewitness/dp/0789448785/ref=sr_1_31?ie=UTF8&qid=1402068152&sr=8-31&keywords=Van+Gogh+biography" target="_blank">this one</a>). For my older daughter, this is pretty easy reading, but still a little challenging. For the wee-er one - she will not understand or remember <i>everything</i> we read, but I was certainly surprised by how much she DID pick up. It's really neat to see the different things she holds on to and retains and loves - when i already have a pre-conceived notion that she will only like the paintings of the flowers.<br />
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We read it at a rate of two pages a day. But really pondered the pages, and talked and asked questions about the pictures we saw - so it probably took about 20 minutes of our time.<br />
There was so much we all learned. I kind of want to say SO MUCH right here about his life and how I feel about the tragedy of it - and how I yearn for him to have been recognized and loved in his life. However, I don't want to derail the subject so I'll just say the three of us felt for the guy. So we did our art project, but it was more than that. By the time we finished pondering on him for a couple weeks, we had a remembrance of him - and I really got the sense that we were truly honoring him in our own way, and not <i>just</i> doing a super fun art project. It may be meaningless in practicality, but it had meaning to us.<br />
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Firstly, we went outside. Van Gogh was known for painting outside and using outside colors as his inspiration. He used mainly blues and yellows towards the end of his life where his more well known work was done.<br />
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We put on the bandages. Teehee. Of course, the girls didn't like this too much - but I really feel this was an important aspect of the project. Van Gogh famously cut his ear to give to a (let's say...)lady <strike>of the night.</strike> And he wore a bandage like this one after the (let's say...) <i>incident</i>. This is a harsh reality, true, but also a very prominent part of his life - which is why I chose not to shelter the children from it. Wearing the bandages made us all think just a little more about what it must have been like to be Vincent. When people walked by and looked at us oddly, it was only a small portion of what he must have felt. (Of course, he wasn't two cute girls sitting at a lovely park - he may have endured much more ridicule than an odd look.)<br />
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We painted with small strokes. I told the girls we had to count to 100 strokes (at least). Van Gogh was known to use small strokes.<br />
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And that was pretty much our study of Van Gogh! We also watched a couple YouTube videos (which I can't find now to give you the links? Bummer.) <br />
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And by the way? This is my FAVORITE Van Gogh, right up there. Look at this guy with his happy, curly beard! I guess it's Van Gogh's mail guy. Why are there flowers around him? Get in my closet, navy blue pea coat. I dunno - I just love it!Amy @ Fig Milkshakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633790597836151314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049424276255451783.post-38365903319834345592014-05-23T12:52:00.004-06:002014-05-23T15:31:12.062-06:00t.h.i.n.k.<br />
So I made this thing. Help yourself if you are so inclined!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Click on the image to print. Please <a href="http://figmilkshakes.blogspot.com/p/about.html">contact me</a> if you have any trouble with it.)</td></tr>
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Boy howdy, my gals sure bicker more now that they spend about 4 or 5 hours in the same room together as they get grouchy multiplying fractions. I wanted to add some classroom art to our wall to make it feel a little bit more like a classroom. My<i> theory </i>is that if it feels more like a classroom, they are more apt to behave like they would have in a public class room with a teacher. I have no evidence to support this theory, but it comforts me all the same.<br />
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I like this saying - although I feel compelled to tell you that I don't make it a requirement for ALL the things on the list to be checked off. I don't think something said has to be <i>necessary </i>if it is kind (I mean - is it really necessary to compliment another person? It's not, but it's lovely all the same). I don't think something necessarily has to be <i>inspiring</i>, as long as it is helpful, etc. I think if we all <i>truly </i>had to mark off these requirements before we spoke - much of worth would not be said. So that's the way I try to apply it to our daily lives.<br />
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There was no printable that I found to be soothing on the eyes, so I pulled this one together. Hope you like it. Hope you use it. Hope your kids use it. <br />
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Catch ya on the flip side.<br />
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<i><span style="color: red;">"Gracious words are like honeycomb, sweetness to the soul, and health to the body."</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: red;">Proverbs 16:24</span></i></div>
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Amy @ Fig Milkshakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633790597836151314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049424276255451783.post-56175567520546718072014-05-22T17:14:00.000-06:002014-05-23T17:03:28.152-06:00vintage recipe box organizer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So I can confidently and without hesitation say we are really enjoying our homeschooling experience. You must have heard, and it is true - that it is very trying. You must have heard, and it is true - that it is also very rewarding.<br />
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I really never thought I would be a homeschooling mom. I really never had much of a desire to homeschool. The kid's charter school was pretty swanky - the kids were growing in their education and also making good friends. I can not express the gratitude I have for the teachers and staff at the schools who have helped to lay a foundation for my kids. Goodness knows - they needed it, because <b>I ain't no teacher. </b> :)<br />
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But I <i>am</i> a DIY-er to.my.core. ;)<br />
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And when we were called to move across the state, it was apparent that it was right for us to tackle the homeschooling thing than to move the children in the middle of the school year.<br />
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We're figuring it out piece by piece. And figuring out, piece by piece, that we like it!<br />
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I'm also finding that I <i>have </i>to be organized. If I start out the day unorganized, then we end the day having watched five hours of "Mythbusters" and calling it "Science Day". <br />
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So here is what we did to get better organized:<br />
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Started with these great vintage recipe boxes from Etsy.<br />
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MAY I continue to show you? (Okay, I'll stop.) I cut out card stock to fit for dividers and added a second colorful tab to the top for the month.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Look, Laura - I'm practicing my F-stop!)</td></tr>
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This is what I used to stamp on the months. I wanna say...2 dollars at Target? I use them for everything. But they're crazy expensive at craft stores and stuff (upwards of $10) - so I was excited to find them for so cheap in the dollar bin area.<br />
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But look - they're not just a pretty face! Just like a recipe box, there are index cards in there. Each index card represents a school day. Each day, as you can see - has the date, name, and their agenda on it for the day. I even will write chores they need to do on the back of it, so it helps organize out their whole day.<br />
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Let me tell you. This ONE thing alone has neutralized so much homeschooling chaos. Kid's didn't know what hit 'em.<br />
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<i>'But a planner would do the trick and be cheaper and easier to find'</i>, you say? You are wise indeed. Just so you know, here are the things I was thinking when I chose these over a planner. 1. The card stock/index cards are just a little bit sturdier to hold up to sticky and careless kid fingers. 2. Ink won't bleed through to the other side of the paper, sometimes making it hard for kids to read the backs of the paper. 3. They're just nicer to look at - I don't know about you, but that's always sound logic to me. Especially when you're going to be looking at it every day doing something you don't <i>particularly </i>want to do. (Little bit of sugar and all that...)<br />
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And (as if I didn't already have enough fun) - I'm linking this idea up <a href="http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/2014/05/22/thrifty-thursday-week-61/" target="_blank">here at Thrifty Thursday</a>, and also at the places below!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sunscholars.com/2014/05/for-kids-friday-166.html" target="_blank">For the Kids Friday</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://amamasstory.com/our-days-homeschool-blogroll" target="_blank">"Our Days" Homeschool Blogroll</a></td></tr>
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<br />Amy @ Fig Milkshakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633790597836151314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049424276255451783.post-23270985652640651252014-05-12T17:09:00.000-06:002014-05-13T09:46:13.794-06:00it is unexpectedly, beautifully white and begs for no colorWe do still have a lot of stuff, that's for sure. It's hard to be a crafter and a DIY-er without it. Once you throw away that spool of vintage mustard colored thread it is a sure bet that it is<i> exactly</i> the color that matches the mustard corduroy pants you're trying to patch.<br />
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It doesn't really bother me - I've never found a comfortable seat on the <i>extreme </i>minimalist's bandwagon.<br />
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I know that "<i>stuff</i>" doesn't make us happy, but I just don't buy that it makes us unhappy either. <br />
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But boy, you sure are forced to look at your <i>stuff </i>when you have to pack every little paper clip, playing card and shishkabob stick to move across the state. We had to give away a lot of stuff. Some of it stung. Some of it made us just laugh and gaffaw at the idea that we even owned it in the first place. And all of it probably needed to be gone.<br />
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But this new house loves it. I don't know what it is about this house - and I have to wonder if I just have a mother's eyes for it but this simple home loves the simple decor. <br />
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It's the professional model that you see featured in a magazine without her makeup and realize she is more beautiful natural. It is the bare chocolate cake that you're hesitant to taste because it lacks frosting and sprinkles - yet ends up being the best cake you've ever tasted. It is the small bundle of daisies picked from a wildflower field when you thought you liked red roses.<br />
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It is unexpectedly, beautifully white and begs for no color. It is mostly stone and wood and wears natural ivy around its neck. It is simple, and natural, and close. Most importantly, it feels like ours (for now), and I am very grateful for it.<br />
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<br />Amy @ Fig Milkshakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633790597836151314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049424276255451783.post-36084592063430045312014-05-08T15:46:00.001-06:002015-06-22T21:29:37.975-06:00nature trail and a dslr!!!<div>
<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/8834287/?claim=7ahb2fc6nnx">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a><br />
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So, my sister was kind enough to sell me her dslr! (...at about 40% of the price...and make installment payments on it....and pay whenever I can.) :)</div>
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Needless to say, I love her. </div>
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I've been wanting one for a crAzY long time - like ever since my oldest was a baby - and you know the drill, bills pile up and cavities need to be filled, and car engines need repaired - and the next thing you know that baby that you wanted to take baby pictures of is 12 years old, and you have the shocking realization that she's not cute anymore. </div>
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Okay - <i>beautiful, yes.</i> But, I didn't have a dslr during the CUUUUTE phase! All I have is blurry pictures from a disposable camera that my family members were kind enough to give me. And now the other one is JUST about to step outside of the cute phase - so the next thing I know I'm panickingly calling my sister from the Sam's Club parking lot and asking her if I can borrow her camera (that she rarely uses) indefinitely. That sweetheart wanted to GIVE it to me, but I insisted on paying for it...you know...eventually. (*sheepish grin*) </div>
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So, we took the day off school and went for a "nature hike" (which is really homeschooling mommy code for I don't want to work today but I DO want to use my sweet new camera and get some sun. Shhhhh.)</div>
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Let me just say this: It's hard, yo. I'm still fiddling with all the little buttons and doodads and flux capacitors, and I'm sure I'll get the hang of it eventually but in the meantime I just rely on taking 500 shots and hoping I get 20 good ones. Other than the fact that it's time consuming - I'm pretty happy with that method. I don't have any aspirations of being a professional photographer - I just want these sweet memories embalmed and safely buried on the internet to exhume anytime I'm feeling sentimental. (All right, the death metaphor got away from me, I see it, but I'm not changing it because I can't think of anything else.) </div>
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Oh yeah - the pictures. Here they are:</div>
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We went around and took pictures of the different plants we saw with the intention of procuring a field guide and looking them up later. I may blog a little about this in the future. {I'm learning so much about homeschooling - but I'm not <i>finding </i>much online. Pallet furniture is what I find online. Pallet furniture and C.S. Lewis quotes artistically displayed - but not many lesson plans.) I'd really like to contribute a little bit about what I've learned so far.} <br />
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Hey cutie.<br />
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Hey beautiful.<br />
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So apparently I like to take a lot of pictures with my subject matter on the right side of the picture. I'm okay with it.</div>
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I did edit these rather quickly with <a href="http://www.picmonkey.com/" target="_blank">PicMonkey</a>, using <a href="http://www.jilllevenhagenphotography.com/2013/10/01/lightroom-tone-curve-tutorial-free-matte-preset/" target="_blank">this</a> method.</div>
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I'm definitely looking forward to taking more in the future! I'm also definitely looking forward to blogging more!</div>
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Peace out everybody. Sincerely - Peace. Out.</div>
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Amy @ Fig Milkshakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633790597836151314noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049424276255451783.post-10130153218904677332014-02-21T11:54:00.003-07:002014-02-24T17:46:49.363-07:00the small stuffHi guys!!<br />
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I'm not sure if anyone comes over here to this little corner anymore. Not that I would dream of blaming you, I know this space has been pretty.darn.neglected.<br />
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I'd love to say I'd like to come over here and blog more often, but I'm really not sure if I can hold to that. I really struggle with the duality of blogging - how much I enjoy it, and want to keep a log of memories weighed against how much of a time gobbler it is; and how much blogging is saturated and often self serving, ...how I don't really have anything to offer that you can't find anywhere else.<br />
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I would like a better camera. I think I would post more pictures here that I couldn't easily post on <a href="http://instagram.com/figmilkshakes" target="_blank">instagram</a>. Anybody want to buy me a DSLR? *crickets chirp* Anybody??<br />
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Fine.<br />
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But I'm posting for a REASON! I just wanted to spew out some of those thoughts before I got around to this reason. Our sliding barn door thingy has been featured <a href="http://www.houselogic.com/photos/windows-doors/interior-doors/slide/the-hideaway-door/#space-saving-barn-door" target="_blank">here on House Logic</a>. <br />
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It's pretty legit. I had to sign legal terms and every-thang. ;)<br />
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It's funny the things that the internet community draws on to that you wouldn't otherwise think would be popular, but this red barn door is responsible for most of the traffic into this little blog, and one day I traced my traffic back to about 1000 pins of this thing on Pinterest. <br />
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I have to say, I hope people out there are doing this. It seems like a small thing, but without this and similar projects I just know I would have never been able to help make our home to what, (I feel), is beautiful. For some reason it is one of the most important things to me as a mom and wife. I know some of us express themselves in the home through cooking, others take special interest in being immersed in homeschooling, for others, it's gardening (and on and on) - all admirably so. For me, it has been fixing up a home. Even as a child, if kids were picking on me at school - I would cheer myself up by coming home, make new art and clip out pictures I liked from magazines - specifically for hanging on the walls. As a teenager, I would do a more grown-up version of that - and rearrange my room. But then, as an adult, somehow I convinced myself that we needed a lot of money to make a home we could cherish - let me tell you if you don't already know: it's a very defeating frame of mind for those of us who do not have a lot of money. And it snowballs. It's a big, ugly, defeating snowball thingy that'll run you over and stuff.<br />
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But, when I started seeing all these little DIY projects on the internet, I came back to understanding (as I did when I was a child) that all we really needed was a little creativity and work to make a home beautiful. I can honestly say our home and our lives would not have been the same without it, and as desperately silly as it is - I am indebted to bloggers and DIY-ers everywhere for it. <br />
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I just don't think these things are so little. Fleeting? Yes. Material? Ultimately, yes. In the end, every stone must be thrown down and, as it is said - we can't take it with us when we die. But as long as we keep that in perspective, is it really small? No, I don't think so.<br />
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And just to kind of make light of things, here's a little Dwight to usher us out.<br />
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<br />Amy @ Fig Milkshakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633790597836151314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049424276255451783.post-53461569495481111392013-11-25T16:13:00.002-07:002013-11-25T17:15:22.840-07:00little corners<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here's a peek at a couple little corners of the new place. <br />
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I really like the little corners here - filled with open brick, chippy paint, and architectural features. The one on the right is a door that leads out from our kitchen to a beautiful little side walkway. I love it. I love opening the door up when my cooking gets too smoky, and I love cooking and talking to my husband while he smokes. (That poor door wasn't ready for us.)<br />
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We are really sinking into this new place. Need it be said that there will always be some small part of our hearts left out of that puddle and firmly placed hundreds of miles away at a little cottage-y place with a red roof? And isn't that a wonderful thought? That our time under said red roof had not been wasted, that we are actually blessed enough to <i>choose</i> to leave what is good in hopes of searching and finding something even better.<br />
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The people we have met are precious. (And precious few.) I have been calling the clerk at Circle K who likes my hair "my friend" (although I don't think she knows it yet), and I have a feeling I will always remember her as the first "friend" I made here. Ashley - that poor girl, I was so excited she talked to me that if she touched my shoulder, I would have probably sniffed at her hand.<br />
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This house is pretty posh, but the alleyway is scary. Robert will take out the trash from now on. Little exception. ;)<br />
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Having Sam's Club around the corner is so money I can't even tell you. And Barnes and Noble? We must have looked like total rubes walking into that bookstore all wide-eyed - gasping, and oohing, aaahing and "look what's over here"ing.<br />
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In my mind, this place is beautiful. It has all the features I love of the desert, but turn just the right corner, and you find yourself surrounded by crops. I'm told everything grows here, and I saw it firsthand when our washer leaked and sprouts came up from the carpet. Even the carpet grows. I may or may not have entertained the idea of watering it and mowing what came up. Grass carpet on the inside of the house - it's gonna be a thing.<br />
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I'm so grateful our girls are flexible. Our first night was showered with precious tears and groomed by a cold, echoey house, and back aches from sleeping on the hard floor - but the next morning two little exploring eyes cried out, "Okay. This place isn't so bad." and their mouths soon followed. <br />
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It took this move for me to realize I have rarely heard a siren stop. My mind has just been accustomed to hearing the crescendo and diminuendo of a siren. The first time I heard it just stop dead, I thought it the driver accidentally leant on whatever button turns it off. It was a good 30 seconds before I realized it was just around the corner. True story. Also? The yelling. There's a lot of yelling here. Children screaming and crying, and parents yelling to quiet them, quite unsuccessfully. I can't quite explain it - there's just yelling.<br />
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It takes some getting used to - being in a bigger city - one filled with not quite so many retired old folks as our previous hometown. But I'm ready. I'm ready to grab this town with both hands and pull it in for a hug if need be (lean into it, Yuma.). I'm ready to bask in both the pleasantness of the Target, and the unpleasantness of the heavy, old woman walking around my corner wearing only a nude colored bra and mom jeans (not. a. metaphor).<br />
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I'm ready for empty walls to be my canvas and churches filled with strangers to be my party - and isn't that just God's grace? <b>Me?!</b> I complained to the convenience store clerk when they renovated, that "I<i> liked it the way it was when I could find everything</i>." <b> Me</b>?! When it sprinkles at night, I rush home because '<i>I don't need the trouble of a car accident and I just should have stayed home anyway.' </i>Me?! If they invented water tomorrow that could give you lifetime health for 99 cents I would tell them, "<i>I already have a brand of water I like.</i>" <br />
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I am set in my ways<i>, </i>to say the least - but this Thanksgiving, the gift God's grace has given me is a heart of gratitude. Because here's the deal: time goes by fast, yo. And it's not always a general warning for our time on this earth or the time we have left with our elderly loved ones , but sometimes it can just be time in a certain place surrounded by certain people, or the time it takes to have a nice dinner with a friend, or the time the neighborhood child comes over to visit. It's all fleeting.<br />
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And the shameful truth of it is I have spent too much time with goals about what would be next. Standing on my tiptoes over what was present right in front of me and trying to peek over at the future of how I could make it better - always trying to bottle the smell of those flowers and put a pretty package on the bottle. And that's not to say that goals aren't good or don't have their place, but I just want to be grateful <i>presently.</i><br />
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I have always been a champion at thanking God for our family's health, and a beautiful home. It's easy to be grateful for the beautiful and perfect things. But this Thanksgiving I want to be grateful for more. For the leak in the plumbing, the extra fat on my arms, and that thing my husband and I just don't agree on. I want to be grateful for the aunt that said horrible things about us and the warning light on the dashboard of the car.<br />
<i><br /></i>I could insert a thought here about how these things teach us or ground us or challenge us. But I don't even care about that right now. I just want to be grateful for the way life is, for the good and the bad - without rhyme or reason. Without a beautiful bow to tie it all up as I am so accustomed to striving for.<br />
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Presently...simply...<b>wholly</b>: <i>thankful</i>.Amy @ Fig Milkshakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633790597836151314noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049424276255451783.post-4557197446425676232013-11-18T15:09:00.005-07:002014-05-16T14:04:32.048-06:00girl's room tourHey every buddy,<br />
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I know there are few of you out there ready to see pictures posted of the NEW place.<br />
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Well too darn bad. I still haven't finished the "old" house tour!<br />
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Let me tell you what. The first few days we settled in, the work went quickly - and the house came along nicely. Things got put away with relative ease, and whatever didn't, we have an extra room to stick the boxes of books and craft supplies - to get to on our own time. And, the house started to feel like ours almost immediately. There is open space here, old windows, lots of sun coming in - all the things we associate with "home".<br />
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And then I went for a second trip back and grabbed the rest of what was left behind... Oh you know - the stuff we either didn't truly NEED or care about enough to want to take on the first trip? And now it's a mess again. -_- And my feet hurt. And I feel like it's started back where we were last week.<br />
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So it's a process, but hopefully - this time next week, I will feel again where I felt this time last week. And in this way we will move forward by moving backward. See?<br />
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It's clear I'm delirious from hurt feet and heavy lifting and the first-day-homeschooling-jitters. So let's get to the girl's room tour, because I have pretty pictures! (And I truly hope to write more about moving in the near future, because I do have so much to write about).<br />
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Such a girl's Room. Just about my favorite room in that house, even though it was the smallest. It's oh so easy to fill a little girl's room with birdies and flowers, and lights, and sweet stuff. So I did just what was easy.<br />
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Okay, so there's a door there behind that bed. In my defense, if you'll scroll down, you will see that there are three doorways to this room. (one doorway being this one, in which the picture is being taken FROM - I'm standing in it, but you don't really see a picture of it.) We felt the room looked best with the beds facing this direction, and the kids wanted more room, so we just covered that doorway right up. </div>
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The bed on the left was mine when I was a little girl, and my mum handed it down when I had a little girl of my own. We purchased the bed on the right to match but not match. I think it matches but not matches quite well, don't you?<br />
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The art is something I've been working on a while, and it's neeeeearly done, but we moved so I didn't get a chance to finish it for the girl's room tour photos - (which was, of course, the original plan). I'll finish it one of these days. I remember thinking and thinking about what I would want to paint for them. What words would I want to convey to them that they would wake up in the morning and see, and read right before they went to bed at night. Could it be "You are my sunshine"? Would it be a Bible verse? But, it was the phrase "You are loved" that just seemed to keep popping back up in my mind. As important as Bible verses are, this really is the whole message, isn't it? So it just seemed to encompass it all. <br />
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This beautiful art of the girl looking up at the sky with the shield and the sword with the dragon silhouette in the clouds is from E<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/theaterclouds?ref=pr_shop_more" target="_blank">lly McKay</a> on Etsy. I absolutely fell head over heels in love with her shop when coming across it months ago, and sat at my computer and "ooh"ed and "aah"ed at all the imagination and whimsy put into these prints. She uses a unique method of creating her art, which you can find information about on her shop profile. <br />
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Can you see that the floors are purple? This is actually a purple tinted stain, rather than a paint, and we just love it. They, (and also the dragonfly clips clipped to the bed you see two photos up on the right) were actually inspired by Coraline's room in the movie, "Coraline". Do you see the similarities? The clothespin dragonflies are on the left, the purple stained floor on the right.<br />
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I know parents everywhere have differing opinions about the macabre aspects of this movie, but I've loved and respected the artistry of this movie and the attention to detail since the first popcorn inhaling, toe curling time watching it. For me, it is breathtaking, and my all time favorite children's movie. Yes, it's a little darker than most of the things I allow the girls to watch. Other parents are probably right about this movie, but I just simply love it and love to share it with them, and sometimes that's all the excuse I need to bend the rules a little. Suffice it to say, I have never offered myself to others as a parenting mentor. :)<br />
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And here's this one again, just because it's my fave. :)<br />
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All right. I work for comments people. Pay up.Amy @ Fig Milkshakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633790597836151314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049424276255451783.post-2893426486644908772013-10-29T10:31:00.001-06:002013-10-29T17:24:17.671-06:00oh yes i didOur little gal this weekend was invited to go to a Fall festival with her best friend so we had to come up with a last minute-y costume.<br />
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All our craft stuff is packed right now, except the paint supplies - which seemed to be staring right at us as we were pondering ideas. So this is what came out of that stare down.<br />
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I know, I know. I've thought it, too. It's a little bit obnoxious when the parent's dress their kid up in the costume THEY would want to wear, rather than what the kid wants to wear. But let me explain - I have a four part argument to justify myself:<br />
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ONE - I think if I have to put together ONE more princess costume, I will cry. Not even in a dignified, I look so sweet and fragile you feel sympathy for me kind of way - but a full on, unabashed, openly weeping - <i>cry</i>. <br />
TWO - She loved this. She really did. In fact, we had another costume idea for Thursday night, and she liked this so much that she just said she wanted to just wear this another time. Which means I have one less project to do during packing time, so done and DUN.<br />
THREE - The apron you see here was cut out of a $2.00 dish towel, and everything else we had lying around. She WON a $5.00 gift card to Wal-Mart for a costume contest, which means we actually MADE 3.00 off this costume. And that just makes me feel smart.<br />
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AND FINALLY - It kind of reminds me of ye costumes of olde - you know? The ones where kids dressed up with whatever was lying around. Time was we had little hobos, toilet paper mummies, and sheet ghosts all slinging pillowcases to gather their candy (instead of the $15 blingy bucket from Target). It seems there was a day when there was no buycostumes.com, and the parents half the time didn't even know what the kids were going to dress up as until the kids<i> themselves</i> used their imaginations and started pulling a red and white striped shirt out of the bottom of their closet and drawing mustaches on their face with marker to transform a pirate. <br />
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I do long for a charming, simpler time that those traditions were more common (Of course I would say that. I just dressed my kid up like a free spirited artist - I'm clearly a hipster.) - but, this feels like we touched a little bit of what it might have been like to be a part of that. I just like it.<br />
<br />Amy @ Fig Milkshakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633790597836151314noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049424276255451783.post-21212750360879346902013-10-23T11:37:00.002-06:002014-05-16T14:05:15.740-06:00KitchenHi guys!<br />
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Thanks for coming back for the kitchen portion of the home tour. Our kitchen is right in the "heart" of the home (right smack dab in the middle). <br />
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I like it being right in the middle of the house. If you're going to have one room at the heart of the house, it's gotta be the kitchen, right? Or should it be in the stomach of the house? Anyway...it's not at the gross stomach so stop saying that. It's at the heart, and it's passed through every time we have to potty or go on the computer or tell the dog to stop barking at people walking in the alley way...it gets a lot of traffic (and I painted the floor white - I'm a genius.)<br />
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But alas, I am very pleased and blessed with the way it turned out...you know...3 years later! :) Here's a before and after for ya:<br />
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This print above came from the very talented <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/dazeychic?ref=pr_shop_more" target="_blank">Shelli Dorf </a>on Etsy. Check her out. She has such sweet, whimsical prints. I also have to say I was very pleased not only with the print itself, but the service. It arrived on a rainy day, and the mailman had left it sticking out of the mailbox. I panicked a little as I opened it, and I was sure it was ruined. What I found when I opened the envelope was a very tightly sealed second plastic envelope. Not a drop on the print. I was so thankful for the extra effort.<br />
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The frame above was a quick, cheap yard sale find that I wrote about<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/dazeychic?ref=pr_shop_more" target="_blank"> here</a>, and the writing inside it says, "Making soup is fun." It's one of the first thing our wee-est one made in kindergarten, and it resonated with me. I mean, who can argue with that?<br />
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Phooey! We forgot to get one from the very same angle (above), but you get the idea. I did write about <a href="http://figmilkshakes.blogspot.com/2013/03/diy-sliding-barn-door.html" target="_blank">the red sliding barn door</a>, and it's been so handy. It's pin on pinterest is also my main source of traffic into the blog. I love people - they all love a good, cheap, easy DIY just like me!<br />
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The above light is from <a href="http://www.rejuvenation.com/" target="_blank">Rejuvenation</a> lighting, and I highly HIGHLY recommend them. They have so many period piece lighting for older homes, and even a feature on the website where you can find the lighting that specifically matches the lighting that would have been common for the year that your home had been made - which is what we did here. Our home was made in approximately 1920, and this is the type of light they would have used at the time. Except I got it in red - which is sassier than for a light than the 1920 lights. And what should a light be, if not sassy?<br />
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This kitchen "island" is made from my childhood dresser. It is the dresser that matches the mirror in our living room I wrote about <a href="http://figmilkshakes.blogspot.com/2013/10/home-tour_22.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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I would like to go off on a tangent about this dresser, but I think I can milk a whole other post out of it, so that's what I'm going to do down the line. <br />
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I just recently added this little addition of the instagram prints to the refrigerator. I kind of want to chuckle a a little and say, "Welcome to my Pinterest kitchen". This is definitely an idea I stold directly from pinterest - no holds barred. <strike>But, can I be a hipster jerk right now and just say I had a chalkboard and a dresser in here before Pinterest did?</strike> <strike>(No? That's not classy, right? Okay, I didn't say that then.)</strike><br />
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And that's, as they say, that - for the kitchen. (Why do I always want to say, "See you next time" at the end of my posts like I'm hosting a monster movie of the week on television?) I need a catchy tag line to end every post without having to think about it so hard.<br />
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"See you next time for some new tasty fig milkshakes?"<br />
"I think we've had our FILL of fig milkshakes for now. Let's throw out our empty paper cups and..." No that's no good.<br />
"Sa la vie and farewell and parting is such sweet sorrow, but alas we will meet again...when the....moon...." Erm...that doesn't work either.<br />
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Any ideas? Anybody? <br />
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Smell ya later.Amy @ Fig Milkshakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633790597836151314noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049424276255451783.post-48597947268114709372013-10-22T12:45:00.001-06:002013-10-22T13:26:50.208-06:00Home TourHello every buddy!<br />
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Recently<a href="http://laughinlalo.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> Laura</a> came over and did something I've been wanting to do for a very long time - took pictures of our home!<br />
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In the past I've shied away from this. Even taking the "before" pictures so I could have "after" pictures just felt so pretentious to me. Why? I don't know - I'm overly cautious and sensitive at times. I thought if I did this, it might act as some sort of shrine and testament to our work... It might seem like I'm trying to boast in any "decorating skill" I have... I didn't want to give people the wrong idea that I fancied myself some sort of <i>house artist </i>that was keeping a portfolio...<br />
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And then it came to me: I needed to seriously take some sticks out of <i>somewhere</i> and<i> lighten up</i>. It's just a silly house and some stupid pictures. <br />
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<i>So here they are guys! </i>We'll start out with the living room.<br />
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Come on in - you can crank the old doorbell for fun, but it doesn't work anymore.<br />
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You saw that top picture yesterday. (And to see before and after pictures, visit yesterday's post) That is the view looking in from the window. The color of this paint is "Pale Honey" - I have joked many times before that it is easy to remember because it reminds me of my husband - he is my pale honey.<br />
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If you can see it well enough in the picture, that hook below the mirror is a hand coming out of the wall. I have been asked many times before where we got it - and it's from Urban Outfitters.<br />
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This mirror (above) was taken from my childhood dresser. You do not want to know what kind of massacre is behind that mirror to get it up there. It is very heavy, and thus, harder to mount. <br />
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I was teasing Laura that the collage up there is a shrine to her photography. Every picture up there is one she took. The painting is also from a dear DEAR friend, Holly. The plaque that hangs from the shelf sat in my grandparents house for many years. Needless to say, this is a very special and cherished collection to us.<br />
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If you're wondering, I'm not a huge fan of ALL the turquoise anymore. The shelves used to be an olive green, and they really are worlds better than they used to be, but if we were staying in this house, I think I would have painted them white eventually. I am always trying to strike that balance between having color and character but also class/minimalism. I think if our walls were white, this turquoise would not have been an overkill, but so much yellow and so much turquoise together, I'm just not sure of. For me, the white would have given it that more "classy/simple" look I am really searching for. Minimalism is truly an art - one that I have yet to master. For our new home, I have goals of making it a tad less romantic and girly, and a little more simple and classy.</div>
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But you know what? It IS really easy for me to obsess over the details and the "should be"s and "coulda beens". It IS really easy for me to look at Pinterest pins of houses and think about all the things other people thought of that I didn't, or want to emulate them precisely. But this is us - these are the things that were given to us lovingly from other people, or the $1 finds I just happened on at the yard sales. I've always loved French design, and that means to have curves in things and scrolls and chunky frames - and if that changes on Pinterest tomorrow, it will still remain true in this house. And those are just a few of the things that scratch the surface of what makes a house a home. It's taken me a while, but I have peace with that now, and though things will almost always be in rotation, and I will continue to be inspired by other homes and Pinterest pins - some things will still remain with that special Wilson family seal on it that we have come to be comforted by. "And that's"...(best Stuart Smalley voice) "O-kay."</div>
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Just be cool and pretend like that white slipcover doesn't have chocolate fingers all over it. Thanks guys.<br />
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Do you see that green dragon above the large turquoise shelves? It's one of my favorite things. I saw it in a guy's yard as he was closing up his yard sale the day after. I slammed on my brakes like a mad woman and shouted out my window if he would take a couple bucks for it. He did and I've never regretted the way he backed away from me and his hands shook with fear as I ran up with money waving wildy and frothed at the mouth as I took his dragon and handed him the cash.<br />
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My precioussss....<br />
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Well, that's the living room area. As I said before, tomorrow it's on to the kitchen!<br />
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<br />Amy @ Fig Milkshakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633790597836151314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049424276255451783.post-52065445130864917862013-10-21T10:20:00.000-06:002014-05-16T14:05:54.614-06:00Adventure is Out ThereSo we're moving!<br />
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And it's wild.<br />
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And it's terribly frightening but also frightfully exciting, and even the tiniest bit necessary - and all those wonderful things.<br />
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And even in the stages <i>before</i> the move, I've been learning so many precious lessons about flexibility and desperation. I think a lot about the adventure of being flexible and stepping outside of our comfort zone. I think a lot about desperation - the kind of desperation when the pros and cons of a decision balance out the scales, and we have no clear way to feel confident in our own understanding- but are just desperate for God's guidance. To open the doors where we must go and close them where we should not.<br />
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The thing is...my husband and I often thought and discussed about how we would die here. Now that I have written it down and am reading it back to myself, it seems silly - (I mean, we thought we'd live here the rest of our lives, which really boils down to the first thing.) My grandma has already once told me, "Amy Jo, it is not wise to plan where you die". I didn't <i>really </i>listen but just assumed we had no reason to move. Family and friends surrounding us, and a home that has been a labor of love since we set eyes on it - we sure have been livin' the dream, in my mind. One thing about me - I will never disturb the peace if things are indeed, peaceful.<br />
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But I feel SO blessed and privileged to have lived in this home (and may possibly again some day...) It truly, up until now, has been our <i>adventure</i>. It has kind of become the 5th member of our family - the cameo of our play, - and as I walk through it, I just think about how it has represented so many things to us over the years. Not <i>just</i> a home, but the freedom of <i>owning </i>our first home. Not just walls, but blank canvases. Not just a roof, but an umbrella for loved ones to come and build up on friendships.<br />
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At times a sanctuary...<br />
At times a schoolhouse...<br />
At times a theatre, or a hospital. A home is many things other than a house. I believe this to my core.<br />
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<b>And look at what an adventure it has been!</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bottom photo credit: <a href="http://loupeylalo.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Loupey Lalo Photography</a></td></tr>
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But it seems there are other plans waiting about 400 miles away, and it turns out we have to be there to find out what they are. Should be quite the new adventure. With homeschooling, and moving, Farmer's Markets and living close to the coast of Mexico - this ole' blog just may get a tad more interesting... : D<br />
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<a href="http://laughinlalo.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Laura</a> took a ton of beautiful pictures of this place. Soon, I hope to have a "home tour" feature - so keep on checkin' in, guys! Amy @ Fig Milkshakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633790597836151314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049424276255451783.post-33273817353966048982013-10-11T11:35:00.002-06:002013-10-11T11:36:14.058-06:00featured on "simple moments stick"<br />
Hey guys!<br />
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Just checkin' in once more to let you guys know<a href="http://figmilkshakes.blogspot.com/2012/11/hope-you-had-great-night.html" target="_blank"> our little cheetah</a> was featured over here on <a href="http://www.simplemomentsstick.com/2013/10/amazing-kid-and-dog-costumes.html?showComment=1381436859572#c8603256265347961819" target="_blank">Simple Moments Stick.</a> Thanks for featuring the blog, Susannah! You've been a great blog friend! <br />
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On a side note, we should come up with some lingo for a friend you meet through blogging. How about a "frog"? You know...friend from a blog? Thanks, Susannah for being a great FROG! :) (Yep, it's gonna be a thing.)<br />
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<br />Amy @ Fig Milkshakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633790597836151314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049424276255451783.post-84084064768556657922013-10-10T18:58:00.002-06:002013-10-10T19:01:43.302-06:00new blog design and a post 'n stuffHi every buddy!<br />
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I know it's been an embarrassingly long time since my last post - I'm not even sure if those of you out there who get notifications are still getting them or if the whole nature of the internet has<i> completely</i> changed since I last <i>really </i>used it - and this blog post will be met with chirping crickets and the sound of a throat clearing and then echoing in the far off distance.<br />
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I guess I'm really just checking in to write a post about posting. What I'm really trying to say is this: post this post, I would like to do more posts. <br />
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...Ideally, I'd like a few people to read those posts (you?).<br />
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I even created a new blog header - see? Now, would I do that if I had not intended on writing more?<br />
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I'll write more later on stuff that's been going on, and stuff that will be going on, but for now, I actually <i>truly</i> have girls singing in barber shop quartet style for dinner. Truly.<br />
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For now, here are some of the more recent instagram pictures that I like. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeI6EUSWeYHZ_hGEj_EGIviZmUxfnjElTMWjoDiFMvfN67UDCH1PjvASbtQYcCS6NacHcJHN2uJ7kn2uEiAGFptbWfeY0dgjhMD1wyHEx0UEIeDlSJDI3WsgTQKJITHm_3y-nhWGvl-Ts/s1600/IMG_20131007_035652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeI6EUSWeYHZ_hGEj_EGIviZmUxfnjElTMWjoDiFMvfN67UDCH1PjvASbtQYcCS6NacHcJHN2uJ7kn2uEiAGFptbWfeY0dgjhMD1wyHEx0UEIeDlSJDI3WsgTQKJITHm_3y-nhWGvl-Ts/s640/IMG_20131007_035652.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
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Laura brought over these totally rad shadow puppets. The puppets are definitely cool. Our skill and finesse in executing an entertaining puppet show could use some work. I believe this one was about a zombie and a guy with a machine gun disguised as a ladder?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDOecmBqRM_-41UeAg4hQhj9iS8lEjynu34VCA-16juYhWP791otdVC5SONui4eAnRniwTuiRR7HETwM_Vi_upWIn2rDwt1ZxVKP2wEpogVuKXVli8MTDxcOHCjfO87L2LyO7GRojiI0/s1600/IMG_20130927_085028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDOecmBqRM_-41UeAg4hQhj9iS8lEjynu34VCA-16juYhWP791otdVC5SONui4eAnRniwTuiRR7HETwM_Vi_upWIn2rDwt1ZxVKP2wEpogVuKXVli8MTDxcOHCjfO87L2LyO7GRojiI0/s640/IMG_20130927_085028.jpg" width="482" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">That's my gal. This picture happened rather organically. She had the bandana in her hair because I was cleaning some fun time make-up off her face and needed her hair out of the way. She is wearing the plaid shirt because she was allowed to dress up as a cowgirl for school that day for our town's rodeo days. I caught her looking out the window like this right before I headed out to the store. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnX3nG8j8MgKOUBt5kTpNXBQ0nPZ8Zb3996lrsd-UzOUV16oh6C49YDn_tVAQe_hR7kZtTKRrlf5kkRuGC9yk7-mQAWuaMr8lEGO8Jtzt_QaaBu_IrBxqIsDRIspcDUTFgnzEp3hkfHtM/s1600/IMG_20130930_073757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnX3nG8j8MgKOUBt5kTpNXBQ0nPZ8Zb3996lrsd-UzOUV16oh6C49YDn_tVAQe_hR7kZtTKRrlf5kkRuGC9yk7-mQAWuaMr8lEGO8Jtzt_QaaBu_IrBxqIsDRIspcDUTFgnzEp3hkfHtM/s640/IMG_20130930_073757.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">You do not know what this picture means. This bathtub has had a baby highchair, an area rug, and a Christmas tree in it for TWO years, people. We have never bathed in this bathtub until two weeks ago. </span><br />
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Well, that's just about it for now, folks. If these words fall on your saintly eyes, bless you for reading after this long time!<br />
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SO much is going on, and I want to blog about it all! I hope to have more posts in the future. Til' next time, friends!<br />
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<br />Amy @ Fig Milkshakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633790597836151314noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049424276255451783.post-81365643008399812642013-05-26T21:41:00.000-06:002013-10-10T17:16:56.393-06:00how about that?<br />
Hi guys!<br />
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Long time, no see - I know. If you haven't already seen it - I did just do a post a couple days ago just <a href="http://www.figmilkshakes.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-new-job-and-some-instagram.html" target="_blank">updating you guys on some of my instagram posts.</a><br />
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Well, today, I looked at my stats for the first time in AGES and noticed some traffic coming from the <a href="http://www.copycatcrafts.com/urban-trend-inspired-owls" target="_blank">Copycat Crafts website.</a> It appears they were kind enough to feature my <a href="http://figmilkshakes.blogspot.com/2012/09/dollar-store-owls.html" target="_blank">copycat owls. </a><br />
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Do you guys remember these? Here's a refresher:<br />
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They went from these Dollar Store owls:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_wI9tcF6zsLr4osBBiPBgTc4GqByyqB3TVkyKOV_4pB7_pX7pmdTdin9XhKtJrCME3O40T31-RhTYgWvaQrtGhSedg8eVDulTx7R6ls98xjyibcVqfTevOlXHsBm_yvzPIWSRIitETw/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_wI9tcF6zsLr4osBBiPBgTc4GqByyqB3TVkyKOV_4pB7_pX7pmdTdin9XhKtJrCME3O40T31-RhTYgWvaQrtGhSedg8eVDulTx7R6ls98xjyibcVqfTevOlXHsBm_yvzPIWSRIitETw/s640/002.JPG" width="494" /></a></div>
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To this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEwO7k2PIuMC-6TWdi4ZGgNCFLMZBh2u4HM9ptlnAHK1aHoUCoTR4NH3v3Z8eviKc9yYlT9ZlruLFj8nyIvHP7t96n_FziPyEl0AOAnbwptI8UOxwAMA_DMnDWObyEYJwkZyAWkjI9eA/s1600/DSCN4969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEwO7k2PIuMC-6TWdi4ZGgNCFLMZBh2u4HM9ptlnAHK1aHoUCoTR4NH3v3Z8eviKc9yYlT9ZlruLFj8nyIvHP7t96n_FziPyEl0AOAnbwptI8UOxwAMA_DMnDWObyEYJwkZyAWkjI9eA/s640/DSCN4969.JPG" width="474" /></a></div>
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And these are the West Elm owls priced at $50 that they were inspired by:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtE6h_TNkBbr7iWzOmi9aTj4oHyIHBKq4iHUiAJ_fwvidT5BW5mESdY2UMSqR3dIBxr2zF-vq2ogymbfvf9MPinPD8XjvfxSVvVIwpwx2GhzAWuJrBeYXGSmWxwlqFQT2sQZ8fW_jINY/s1600/37970465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtE6h_TNkBbr7iWzOmi9aTj4oHyIHBKq4iHUiAJ_fwvidT5BW5mESdY2UMSqR3dIBxr2zF-vq2ogymbfvf9MPinPD8XjvfxSVvVIwpwx2GhzAWuJrBeYXGSmWxwlqFQT2sQZ8fW_jINY/s640/37970465.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Kind of fun!Amy @ Fig Milkshakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633790597836151314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049424276255451783.post-32349411549186777112013-05-25T08:29:00.001-06:002013-05-25T08:33:52.415-06:00A New Job and Some InstagramHi everybody! Miss me?<br />
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Most of you know that I have recently started a new full time job.<br />
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...It's good. Truly. I truly enjoy getting to know my co-workers. I truly enjoy the customer service part of my job. The other morning I got to start out the day with a man named Malcolm who had a thick English accent and worked at the Historical Society - and I don't know what it is about it, but it is just fun to start out the day talking to a man named Malcolm that works at the Historical Society.<br />
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Of course, with being a working mom comes the hamster wheel of going to work, coming home, eating dinner, doing homework, taking baths, going to bed - rinse and repeat. The days go by much faster that way, and the weekends take on a new, much more precious nature. <br />
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I would be lying if I said I didn't miss being home. Although it was and remains hard to leave being a homemaker - this job is truly the best way to serve my family for the time being in our particular situation, and I am confident in the end, it will ultimately be a blessing.<br />
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What they told me is that this job is a work at home job, but I'm starting to have my suspicions. I'm in a training period that seems to be the training period that never ends. For now, I'm weary...I miss my friends and family...and I am so ready to come home.<br />
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Instagram, right now, is one of the few precious creative outlets I have. I even invested in a fancy shmancy smart phone recently - and I broke it already, but that's another story. Who knew dropping a smart phone on the corner of a concrete curb would completely break it in pieces. Good thing I got the insurance. <br />
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Here's some of the pictures, for those of you who don't follow my instagram, of our precious few moments together lately.<br />
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Yes, I've traded in paintbrushes and fabric scraps for post it notes and a headset - but, as you can see - life is still full of beauty.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidH_W0__kG5qh53X1XIeVXfrw6tVaAZqogD9DqeiccxKjFHc92wGjT85a7okRkcRD_5AdbkPpI863_y6ny5uiFpQYCpuc_Qb0XrUS9Pxbppto-pWfoF1y94ChF4-DM7-3jsYJv8KY3M04/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidH_W0__kG5qh53X1XIeVXfrw6tVaAZqogD9DqeiccxKjFHc92wGjT85a7okRkcRD_5AdbkPpI863_y6ny5uiFpQYCpuc_Qb0XrUS9Pxbppto-pWfoF1y94ChF4-DM7-3jsYJv8KY3M04/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" /></a></div>
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To explain some of the pictures...the 1st picture, second row is our little herb garden. It's flourishing now - except for the parsley looking stuff (which I don't really think is parsley - I have to read the tags to know...). Anyways, the rabbits around here keep munching on it.<br />
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2nd row - third picture over was taken when we had a power outage (I'm told a transformer was down - which turns out to be less cool than what I had imagined it to be...) The power outage was wonderful. The weather outside was beautiful, so all our neighbors rubbed their eyes as if seeing the outside for the first time and sat in their front porches, and walked their dogs. We were all out at once, and it was a reunion of neighbors in the calmest of ways.<br />
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The first picture, third row down is my friend from church, Sally in our coffee shop. For those of you who don't already know - behind her is the door to the on air room where I do any volunteer radio work they volunteer me for.<br />
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Well, I'm off for now to seize those aforementioned precious few moments I have with the fam. Catch you on the flip side!<br />
<br />Amy @ Fig Milkshakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633790597836151314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049424276255451783.post-14820055837877965422013-03-18T10:16:00.000-06:002013-03-18T10:16:23.852-06:00SCRAP FABRIC BANNER ALL THE THINGS!<br />
I haven't done too much in the way of bringing a creative project to completion recently. I have been doing<i> little</i> creative things in the way of doing art with the girls, and working on little projects for my brother's wedding, but nothing completed except this sooper quick, sooper simple fabric banner. I made this craft when I didn't want to spend extra time or money to fill up the wall space. :D Ta da!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGebIPQyInDEx9BIkPWwrhtN8YqgCOSRlUMVfAvaey0QFLaOsfZnH4dWDzeJNtsm1LnkdQLnmo0XtqgAbH1Nne_Nc8qTYScxI3jW9cnljRCwwpw7ATIpLOfrj-d-DwCzfp2aelWTgICI/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGebIPQyInDEx9BIkPWwrhtN8YqgCOSRlUMVfAvaey0QFLaOsfZnH4dWDzeJNtsm1LnkdQLnmo0XtqgAbH1Nne_Nc8qTYScxI3jW9cnljRCwwpw7ATIpLOfrj-d-DwCzfp2aelWTgICI/s640/019.JPG" width="462" /> </a></div>
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Check it out:</div>
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1. Pick out fabric and ribbon. </div>
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2. Cut fabric into strips (possibly change ribbon choice from black to yellow)</div>
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3. Tie them on. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ30RzcIq-6vUurC5t8hrk3fLHMUji3iNDn4BC85QpzkAfwwVic2sfHM1TfIvQ2Jda0GZQv-ZJ2RqTrm7W3DDzFZ4CsXE3SQzewmlA2008AUjadRZ6DD9H_-0F1CZy1vpYVRvjc2pYekc/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ30RzcIq-6vUurC5t8hrk3fLHMUji3iNDn4BC85QpzkAfwwVic2sfHM1TfIvQ2Jda0GZQv-ZJ2RqTrm7W3DDzFZ4CsXE3SQzewmlA2008AUjadRZ6DD9H_-0F1CZy1vpYVRvjc2pYekc/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" /></a></div>
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And below I posted some eye candy for ya. You can really see from these photos how you can play with the way you would tie them on. You could tie them
right at the end so just a little sticks up at the top (in picture 2 below)?
Do you want to tie them in a simple knot so they're wild and stick out
(picture 6). If you want a neater look, (like picture 4), you would
bring the middle over the top of the ribbon, making a sort of loop, and
then stick the bottom ends through the loophole - kind of like a
tie...but not...but kind of. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNuuHCBHIWBndlPXI_iA3hlCdAyyMjsswcXlJhdAfeIFgsFkMonoKwLoseis-Nq2lx4ASO25H5lJdObjc5Za8AWx_8IYtTc0miyWCznjL9Si1Pnd7I2HdYpUiUCHWqGjjqiWRvnLDRnc/s1600/5975355300_e114a07a08_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNuuHCBHIWBndlPXI_iA3hlCdAyyMjsswcXlJhdAfeIFgsFkMonoKwLoseis-Nq2lx4ASO25H5lJdObjc5Za8AWx_8IYtTc0miyWCznjL9Si1Pnd7I2HdYpUiUCHWqGjjqiWRvnLDRnc/s640/5975355300_e114a07a08_o.jpg" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ashleyannphotography.com/blog/" target="_blank">via</a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yL284pp_z5BCkAdfJ998v9eUsSTnxgtyXP2XaUlgGqXRK3XoMOZwOUBK-Yvbzys1C9EBLIcjShJNLcyeLFxRq6reUuk3OxP-0njrUTH6IEQMWatWyE5zJ-n9cR4uJPLB7DQBTUc71Z0/s1600/9697d75c703f72fb2cb6021ddf795113.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yL284pp_z5BCkAdfJ998v9eUsSTnxgtyXP2XaUlgGqXRK3XoMOZwOUBK-Yvbzys1C9EBLIcjShJNLcyeLFxRq6reUuk3OxP-0njrUTH6IEQMWatWyE5zJ-n9cR4uJPLB7DQBTUc71Z0/s640/9697d75c703f72fb2cb6021ddf795113.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcBv3Enr8NHqV_sVX91rIQqZzDD9789sFY_665HgTGjRlQ4DVxcDgySctkxihE61u1Us367RWrT6XDeWAeb3Wq2GAkvNs1IUfUOIkUuONoEXTl6Fra38ZXNZeM7xl5VV-efJ9hPY_1GQ/s1600/little-peanut-elephant-baby-shower-birthday-party-modern-vintage-cake-banner-fabric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcBv3Enr8NHqV_sVX91rIQqZzDD9789sFY_665HgTGjRlQ4DVxcDgySctkxihE61u1Us367RWrT6XDeWAeb3Wq2GAkvNs1IUfUOIkUuONoEXTl6Fra38ZXNZeM7xl5VV-efJ9hPY_1GQ/s640/little-peanut-elephant-baby-shower-birthday-party-modern-vintage-cake-banner-fabric.jpg" width="544" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karaspartyideas.com/2011/08/little-peanut-baby-shower.html?utm_source=feedburner" target="_blank">via</a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0d5DyfN_TDtZhbnB6SXKmFkzqeXq2TE7mv-0WmsGZVJ6jEPJcRMldjnnfjDBaLuWPx0TNkLCHc4ZLbqTd8JT1DQCIWR34kWgR7B5UZN49UpZ9yBwJZI8ZaWRGcBncEl5cqoUMcl1Oq0/s1600/2b34a3b2c72beff4c84b64887f0d3fba.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0d5DyfN_TDtZhbnB6SXKmFkzqeXq2TE7mv-0WmsGZVJ6jEPJcRMldjnnfjDBaLuWPx0TNkLCHc4ZLbqTd8JT1DQCIWR34kWgR7B5UZN49UpZ9yBwJZI8ZaWRGcBncEl5cqoUMcl1Oq0/s640/2b34a3b2c72beff4c84b64887f0d3fba.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYkIOheDAbhxF8rH8QVSsN2tsxQD3DCHvgmhDshswt5TzqhLpIzXEivOt_YVyYFKi7kUMvO4FFjE_zrNplAZnbrRJvkaG14BEwzqjncUZVicm-avTAZ8gCriAnCuGLa88sTJoGPNSRvM/s1600/Studio+Windows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYkIOheDAbhxF8rH8QVSsN2tsxQD3DCHvgmhDshswt5TzqhLpIzXEivOt_YVyYFKi7kUMvO4FFjE_zrNplAZnbrRJvkaG14BEwzqjncUZVicm-avTAZ8gCriAnCuGLa88sTJoGPNSRvM/s640/Studio+Windows.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.caroselloblog.com/2011/06/studio-tour-vlog.html" target="_blank">via</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dhBKimzy0A7jDsvUC0D61Cgyw_EYA5o33riXRoz3saMIKCBo__8p4j-5tVz19FNIafhub7WprySU92K6bSMeLdqXymoiuV4_ej64W02SYIxX0SzYXe9m6C1VElPdt1aRI5eVxbaWOLI/s1600/scrap-fabric-banner_wtrmk-650x433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dhBKimzy0A7jDsvUC0D61Cgyw_EYA5o33riXRoz3saMIKCBo__8p4j-5tVz19FNIafhub7WprySU92K6bSMeLdqXymoiuV4_ej64W02SYIxX0SzYXe9m6C1VElPdt1aRI5eVxbaWOLI/s640/scrap-fabric-banner_wtrmk-650x433.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.livelaughrowe.com/?b2w=http://www.livelaughrowe.blogspot.com/2012/02/diy-vintage-scrap-fabric-and-twine.html" target="_blank">via</a></td></tr>
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Very versatile project: long banners, short banners, fat fabric strips, skinny fabric strips,
matching colors, mismatched colors. Girls room, party, living room, wedding, craft room...SCRAP
FABRIC BANNER ALL THE THINGS! <br />
<br />Amy @ Fig Milkshakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633790597836151314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049424276255451783.post-32558141347379543092013-03-07T12:07:00.001-07:002017-05-26T08:08:37.899-06:00DIY Sliding Barn Door<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello everyone! The post you're looking for is below. When you're done
checking out this post, please visit my <a href="http://dearestfriend.etsy.com/" target="_blank">Etsy Shop</a> with completely unique
illustrated cards designed by myself and using a fine natural laid
paper! <br />
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I'm sooper excited to show you this sliding barn door project! Check. It. Out. That's it down there. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGyUkwnxKi6eAoDHGPlNyIoMEcoTT-bGdvCjFGsWXj-Fvq_REOJtXpsdUbAV9A1yQx3KliGqLzt8kUIme8mHBUwllMaV7bFYUC3GwCcm7-FnXvEoYpfS2Yek6lab2S5ki6gPsWmBEc74/s1600/025+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="566" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGyUkwnxKi6eAoDHGPlNyIoMEcoTT-bGdvCjFGsWXj-Fvq_REOJtXpsdUbAV9A1yQx3KliGqLzt8kUIme8mHBUwllMaV7bFYUC3GwCcm7-FnXvEoYpfS2Yek6lab2S5ki6gPsWmBEc74/s640/025+(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okay that's a bright picture, but it's all I gots!</td></tr>
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So, our funky old house has so. many. doors. Out of EIGHT rooms, only ONE has one door. TWO rooms have TWO doors, and THREE rooms have........THREEEEEE doors! Granted, it's a little bit of a different way to live always zig zagging through this maze, (but I am always comforted that should there be a fire, there's almost always three exits). One of these days I may figure out why this old house was designed like this, but as for now...I dunno.<br />
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My point is - with all those doors moving in and out, one finds it hard to make the space for them to swing open and closed. Most of the folks that own houses around here utilize the pocket door; I, however, fell in love with this sliding barn door I had come across photographs such as these below and knew it would be a great alternative to a pocket door:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8uT0at29ojprQ6TRWrOfoEtjzLttZxg8HZAd5N_saLBnLy6MejKYgw6lrgaI7DFJxQFOOClLUZMQwWBjPVaqfcCYdUZ9am-joLdPBemQplICyF1-vlbgJZFHkntIZHQIXdIILndWTTc/s1600/Sliding-Barn-Doors-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8uT0at29ojprQ6TRWrOfoEtjzLttZxg8HZAd5N_saLBnLy6MejKYgw6lrgaI7DFJxQFOOClLUZMQwWBjPVaqfcCYdUZ9am-joLdPBemQplICyF1-vlbgJZFHkntIZHQIXdIILndWTTc/s400/Sliding-Barn-Doors-2.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIX2u5WHJHq5zGsdoJzza8IGC8z8JO1M2TkYw4ePPpJZeo8SZJrejMpVy-nhGBZJtYJAFR5r3evoqWU6SY51Ql2HrJGtY_WiRDKqOHbqc_dWi3hPwcOaQW3B689bCaxLTXq9hq6OYd7xQ/s1600/sliding+barn+door+inside3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIX2u5WHJHq5zGsdoJzza8IGC8z8JO1M2TkYw4ePPpJZeo8SZJrejMpVy-nhGBZJtYJAFR5r3evoqWU6SY51Ql2HrJGtY_WiRDKqOHbqc_dWi3hPwcOaQW3B689bCaxLTXq9hq6OYd7xQ/s400/sliding+barn+door+inside3.jpg" width="310" /></a><br />
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But upon looking into the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/NW-Artisan-Hardware-NW-1-Sliding/dp/B00A2BZRZK" target="_blank">price of sliding barn door hardware</a> - I thought it would be wishful thinking swept under the rug. I mean, that's not even a, <i>"Well, maybe someday"</i> investment. That's more of like a, <i>"Somebody put me out to pasture if I'm crazy enough to spend $300 on one door" </i>investment.<br />
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And then, comes Country Living magazine to the rescue - they posted a lovely tutorial on how to DIY this<a href="http://crispinteriors.blogspot.com/2012/06/country-living-sliding-doors.html" target="_blank"> here</a>.<br />
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We already had a door lying around that we had taken from another area, so the whole project was done for around $40 using this hardware:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4VxOzNiXTZKbClFBM_84Nth7WsEWN0Ikgg1YJd84jwopKAHooS5CuABXMTFGaShOco1BndqYxIcBZ9xLu4UujG3oOieNGhLInNEhvsuAQnN8Cls_FmQdkpkng6-WQqL46lYbtIrRhyUY/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4VxOzNiXTZKbClFBM_84Nth7WsEWN0Ikgg1YJd84jwopKAHooS5CuABXMTFGaShOco1BndqYxIcBZ9xLu4UujG3oOieNGhLInNEhvsuAQnN8Cls_FmQdkpkng6-WQqL46lYbtIrRhyUY/s640/027.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okay, I goofed on the street elbows, and instead picked up <i> REGULAR</i> 90° elbow pieces. What you want is a 90°<i> STREET</i> elbow - and this means the threads will be on the outside of one side of the pipe, rather than the inside- to fit into those floor flanges you see there.</td></tr>
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Once we got the hardware home, it was just a bunch of measuring, drilling, screwing, and fitting the puzzle pieces together.<br />
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Can you look at it and see where everything went? I will not post a detailed step-by-step tutorial, if you want that, got the link provided above. I will; however, give these notes:<br />
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**It's a little bit tricky drilling into the side of a door - it's pretty thin - so take your time drilling and be careful not to split your wood. Be mindful to go straight in, lest your drill angle out and make a hole through the front or back of your door!<br />
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**Make sure you measure the extra room for your eyelet hooks. Your pipe will not be fitting directly above your door - I left about 1 1/2" extra for the pipe to go through the eyelets.<br />
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**When we first started moving the door around, it made an AWFUL squeaking noise. I oiled mine up (with PAM. hehe), and it has worked just loverly ever since!<br />
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There we go! That's the DIY sliding barn door for ya.<br />
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And, just FYI, this is what this area of the kitchen looked like<i> shortly</i> after we bought it. This is NOT what it looked like WHEN we bought it. Actually, I wish I had taken more pictures the day we stepped into this house...but just take it from me, there was a crazy black UFO lookin' fan/light in here, and the walls were dingy gray. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRuFj4qI42Lq3XfR4RLNOHcOS9ooLRsYEQgwtn5vG66V4QuVMt-__S9rX56GX5GaSZaMJtZq9JlqijyPPcK0sE6iVd8jDIBmZu2hwzpGNT7i2qK0hE_NSXbYntTvg8aylunBJ6gUgWVhE/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRuFj4qI42Lq3XfR4RLNOHcOS9ooLRsYEQgwtn5vG66V4QuVMt-__S9rX56GX5GaSZaMJtZq9JlqijyPPcK0sE6iVd8jDIBmZu2hwzpGNT7i2qK0hE_NSXbYntTvg8aylunBJ6gUgWVhE/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" /></a></div>
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Pretty cool, huh?<br />
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And here's another photo, just for funsies:<br />
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Amy @ Fig Milkshakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633790597836151314noreply@blogger.com172tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049424276255451783.post-38238139451235209862013-02-28T17:14:00.000-07:002014-05-16T14:14:55.672-06:00An Exciting AnnouncementNah, I don't have "an exciting announcement" - I just<i> wish</i> I had something exciting to say, and wanted to be cool for a moment . What did you think I'd say? Bun in the oven? Perhaps you already know my brother is getting married soon and thought I would announce it on this post? Nah, this here's the Amy show. No guest stars. /wahaha (Okay, not really - I hope you recognize my joking, flippant voice...)<br />
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I just feel a little guilty about both not updating the blog often enough, and also not having enough terribly exciting things to post. Truth is, life feels a little bit in limbo right now. We just got our tax return back and I have a ton of home renovation projects I'm itching to get to, but sometimes life has a way of sitting in the middle of the house and making you climb over and around it to get anything done. It's not any one big thing...just, you know..life. I have been spending my days with mounds of busy work: mailing letters, paying bills, driving across town to pick up something I forgot...meeting with the wonderful working class heroes: the furnace and roof repairmen.<br />
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I wish I could pull myself together long enough to make a tutorial or draw a comic or something, but such is life and there ain't no tutorial, funny comic, or exciting announcement.<br />
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I did; however manage to pull these together in the past week:<br />
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This first is a robot I made for my nephew two Christmases (what IS the plural of Christmas?) Anyways, it was a gift two Christmi ago, and he has since loved it enough that it was handed back to me for some patch work. I doctored him AND gave him an upgrade of a laser gun. <br />
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Welcome back, little guy - sorry one of your legs is longer than the other.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD50xoPlEFvf5ncTFKKX1vDcd0kz0m0CU866MYzuvydSmGF2sCKegnReuSPyl6akso78PU_QEjSNALp_9mWgxdEqsCuzrz7zoVWgyN9wppIFSSskOvbmy9j1MN8GQ1i7Y39uD9FXqIzLM/s1600/rebot+and+hippo+bag+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD50xoPlEFvf5ncTFKKX1vDcd0kz0m0CU866MYzuvydSmGF2sCKegnReuSPyl6akso78PU_QEjSNALp_9mWgxdEqsCuzrz7zoVWgyN9wppIFSSskOvbmy9j1MN8GQ1i7Y39uD9FXqIzLM/s640/rebot+and+hippo+bag+002.JPG" height="520" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"What do you mean I'm not the exciting announcement?"</i></td></tr>
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I also put this together to house Maggie's <a href="http://www.yoyo.com/p/vtech-innotab-2-interactive-learning-tablet-pink-418986" target="_blank">V-tech tablet</a>. (Which, btw moms, is highly recommended...you know, by <i>me</i> for what it's worth...) I take very little credit for this. The single thing I did was sew it together. It was Maggie who picked out the fabrics, she who chose handles over a single strap, and she who said, "Mom, I want it to have a happy hippo wearing a tutu."<br />
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Man, I love that kid.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFivS1C8R8Khx3Syct1xP69jEzt1efL8rLy8evJAANyUT-CRG6dxPBhlv1XsDEUbbdqv1zZdW2bRRiNNTEJNepyqQyDwqISB_uusRI58BxrOHl7CJP2BhdOgScBw2OCE8gMhcOmRDEKo/s1600/rebot+and+hippo+bag+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFivS1C8R8Khx3Syct1xP69jEzt1efL8rLy8evJAANyUT-CRG6dxPBhlv1XsDEUbbdqv1zZdW2bRRiNNTEJNepyqQyDwqISB_uusRI58BxrOHl7CJP2BhdOgScBw2OCE8gMhcOmRDEKo/s320/rebot+and+hippo+bag+012.JPG" height="272" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, the tutu is a little high up there, but we're not fancy here. One of these days I'll stitch some extra tulle in there and make her a little more modest.</td></tr>
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Amy @ Fig Milkshakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633790597836151314noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6049424276255451783.post-76123450844578399912013-02-18T09:23:00.000-07:002013-02-18T09:23:17.354-07:00Instagram, Mostly<br />
Hi everybody! /hihi<br />
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I talked about satiating an instagram lust<a href="http://figmilkshakes.blogspot.com/2012/11/photo-dump.html" target="_blank"> here</a>, and often post instagrammy type pictures, such as <a href="http://figmilkshakes.blogspot.com/2012/12/christmas-photo-dump.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Well, recently I got on instagram using our Kindle. It's really quite exciting for me. I love this resource for tracking memories, and I can just imagine at the end of the year, it will be a wonderful way to look back on the year, and<i> ooh</i> and <i>ahh</i>, and "<i>Oh, I almost forgot about that...</i>" at all the pictures. Here are a few of the pictures taken over the past several weeks, in case you're interested. (And if you're not interested, I recommend <a href="http://ashleyannphotography.com/blog/" target="_blank">Ashley Ann</a> for something interesting.) <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgNlVkOC2_2DA9LI8Cy3ccnaHPkuemnZXb4Z9y-OkbvEp7MsGM5_VJBuD_-JB9vGSbmQBRjklGwawKPXQaSXT-LB33PtXTcvS8Nk8rixdf2GU8nAwFRjoxHvIlAhQYEP6gt7Ml8A_acw/s1600/7debebbe602f11e2b97522000a1f97e9_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgNlVkOC2_2DA9LI8Cy3ccnaHPkuemnZXb4Z9y-OkbvEp7MsGM5_VJBuD_-JB9vGSbmQBRjklGwawKPXQaSXT-LB33PtXTcvS8Nk8rixdf2GU8nAwFRjoxHvIlAhQYEP6gt7Ml8A_acw/s400/7debebbe602f11e2b97522000a1f97e9_7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zW9H1IKBGoa-oFjrwffHC19bJ6f9VQFg1eq1JUTJlz661GLrhpzC5fHa8h5WJAJHZ935ewYoWsHTu-QGRlRz52-uHKPlJIRADYh97baOLxad90sy6M_GKW2xBtC0y_c8FVKmVImHNPY/s1600/8c9d8998626d11e2bd8822000a9d0df8_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zW9H1IKBGoa-oFjrwffHC19bJ6f9VQFg1eq1JUTJlz661GLrhpzC5fHa8h5WJAJHZ935ewYoWsHTu-QGRlRz52-uHKPlJIRADYh97baOLxad90sy6M_GKW2xBtC0y_c8FVKmVImHNPY/s400/8c9d8998626d11e2bd8822000a9d0df8_7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a little bit of the work that's being done on the craft room. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4kp6cTvaBL8xzDgKpyNyUdq7olLNAbUCNRPIQH6rvIdPFFqRkkpFeFGtaG1QGrfQUDVRRqvEjaDRyo85aG5gvFXNW0fKcKNUymeRebAdLPWgkBxWkXn4rN29jmBE4XDD2QVppIzpc8c/s1600/bb4d8ad2778911e2bc0822000a1f9737_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4kp6cTvaBL8xzDgKpyNyUdq7olLNAbUCNRPIQH6rvIdPFFqRkkpFeFGtaG1QGrfQUDVRRqvEjaDRyo85aG5gvFXNW0fKcKNUymeRebAdLPWgkBxWkXn4rN29jmBE4XDD2QVppIzpc8c/s400/bb4d8ad2778911e2bc0822000a1f9737_7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HEhuMmQEhei4e8dbyHioIZwLC2952dr9Zsq0DbuFHYe8fSq6lKGDLI4t9GP02lmm-dYqMFPUrYtqpW7eh9WemaWg5B15ubq2J5ohofCtzaRJxN6AKhtAmGgaYnBV6wel-jnxAfeL02k/s1600/bd570306757911e29b9b22000a1f96c5_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HEhuMmQEhei4e8dbyHioIZwLC2952dr9Zsq0DbuFHYe8fSq6lKGDLI4t9GP02lmm-dYqMFPUrYtqpW7eh9WemaWg5B15ubq2J5ohofCtzaRJxN6AKhtAmGgaYnBV6wel-jnxAfeL02k/s400/bd570306757911e29b9b22000a1f96c5_7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This guy is a robot I made for my nephew some time back. He's been loved enough that he needs some stitches. I get to play doctor.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9MSa5WdzS15UiPAJAyl01C1_Qgg5d0VmE88kvaHxmZh1MGrlNC7ssCY46Z2an0L9Z4tAhQHBh5tkooG1W1v4hkLoDw1WTXBSwZx-lsezM5nm0z5AAgdgROyxI6reMtM_KuPijG2RAVaU/s1600/08b56096785311e2b7d622000a1f968a_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9MSa5WdzS15UiPAJAyl01C1_Qgg5d0VmE88kvaHxmZh1MGrlNC7ssCY46Z2an0L9Z4tAhQHBh5tkooG1W1v4hkLoDw1WTXBSwZx-lsezM5nm0z5AAgdgROyxI6reMtM_KuPijG2RAVaU/s400/08b56096785311e2b7d622000a1f968a_7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Installed a doggy door this week. It started out very "girl power", ended...well, DUST...just, DUST. But hey, it's in, and it is gloriously helpful.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPaso10KueSyqDIXk13rldxNNLmk7jBPaQGvVPc6rflhyIckXpa7tOByapGrNm954A2UWWwbKg5lVsNAVMPg436CHTz42VWmmmd9THdYtvInVk-6vZ97AqbwPGA-UhPybOZlR7cu9oZ4/s1600/c6bf949a785211e29d8d22000a9f1921_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPaso10KueSyqDIXk13rldxNNLmk7jBPaQGvVPc6rflhyIckXpa7tOByapGrNm954A2UWWwbKg5lVsNAVMPg436CHTz42VWmmmd9THdYtvInVk-6vZ97AqbwPGA-UhPybOZlR7cu9oZ4/s400/c6bf949a785211e29d8d22000a9f1921_7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The weather is nice here! The girls and I started putting the old trampoline together. Looking back, I see now that I probably should have put the camera down and disciplined the gladiators (or at least acquired some popcorn or something....)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMz7SvHA9DFCkLF2doZhIQnmaCSwboawZajnBFIeOPp6GPIffNKFJrjVrDFQm70JffxCZjrjhmERxbuOQRI-ZHCCtwMg_AehaOyc3kKA_5xeygR6ie41PDzYzb9OaLkP3yhaNvcHsnr0/s1600/de2d9eca778911e2866422000a1f9c90_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMz7SvHA9DFCkLF2doZhIQnmaCSwboawZajnBFIeOPp6GPIffNKFJrjVrDFQm70JffxCZjrjhmERxbuOQRI-ZHCCtwMg_AehaOyc3kKA_5xeygR6ie41PDzYzb9OaLkP3yhaNvcHsnr0/s400/de2d9eca778911e2866422000a1f9c90_7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can take pictures, too, mom.</td></tr>
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That's probably just about the best ones. If you would like to follow me I am...you guessed it, <i>figmilkshakes</i>.Amy @ Fig Milkshakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12633790597836151314noreply@blogger.com3