About Amy

summer drive

i'm really not good about carrying my camera around.  it's kind of like the stack of reusable shopping bags i should haul to the grocery store...i only remember them once i've pulled into the market.  luckily though, i remembered my camera was magically stuffed in my bag the other evening.  it was gorgeous outside and we were able to throw the top back on the jeep on the way home from my parents' home.  a good summer drive is a thing of beauty.

the heat has made this an odd summer.  we weren't able to enjoy the great outdoors nearly as much as we'd like.  but i so look forward to a cooler fall and all the festivals that come along with it.

amy

reason

since i carry on and on about it, i thought i'd start sharing some simple reasons to celebrate.

yesterday's reason to celebrate was a no-brainer...perfectly blue skies and temperatures in the 80's.  it was a fabulous day.

amy

challenge

don't you wish you had serious, kid-like confidence?  that self-consciousness didn't creep in and swipe your chance for fun or adventure?  that you didn't worry how you look or whether or not you were the best?  i am trying my darnedest to keep this going with my kids.  go on, don't worry about the massive crowd gathering at first fridays to watch the demonstration...you can do this!  with smiles on their faces.   

what have you always wanted to try?  i would love to try boxing at a real, gritty gym.  i would love to try tap-dancing.  have i done it?  nope.  guess i need to practice what i preach.  

what's holding you back?

amy

keepsakes

we've been back from our dreamy beach vacation since early june.  and all this time there's been a big tupperware container full of sand sitting on our cluttered kitchen counter.  i finally figured out what to do with it.

we collected it to remember the incredibly beautiful white sand beaches that we enjoyed so much.  it was the kids' first trip to the ocean and one of our most relaxed and wonderful family vacations.

(i love this picture.  it has such a great burning man feel to it.)

i sifted through the refrigerator for nearly-empty or expired foods and then the kids and i went to work.

we selected our favorite beachy images, then filled the jars with sand and special shells.  

now we have a piece of our vacation on display.  they're like our own little worlds.  

i left my lid plain, but the kids affixed shells to their creations.  magical.

amy

i like this life

i was just reading a favorite blog, marc and angel hack life, and read something lovely and profound. "remember that there is no perfect life, just perfect moments."

there are no perfect relationships, people, mothers, fathers, kids, friends...just be happy.  find a way to be content.  i implore you, find a way to make yourself content.  and notice i didn't write blissfully happy.  you don't have to be grabbing your sides laughing with cheeks hurting from smiling, to be truly happy.  just be.

i enjoy my leisure time.  admittedly, i have loads more than others.  or maybe i just make sure i have loads more.  keith and i don't create unnecessary tasks.  we love weekends with nothing on the agenda.  it's an art really.  

i wasn't always like this.  i used to have to have something to look forward to.  maybe a vacation, holiday, or party, but that's no way to carry on.   every single day can be a nice, casual, low-key little vacation or party. you just have to wake up and decide that that's how it's gonna be.  364 unbirthdays.  

oliver took his very first solo shower last night.  i was so proud (and relieved- i've never enjoyed bathtime). celebration.  the opening ceremonies were last friday evening.  celebration. sophia had her lip bumper removed.  celebration.  i found a dollar's worth of quarters in the cup holder- icecream time!  celebration.

it's kind of like saving your good china or prettiest dresses for a special occasion.  that's just craziness!  and in the same vein, you can't save up your days for perfect ones.  they're all going to come and go no matter what.

amy

dog days of summer

it's hot around here.  super, duper hot.  today it's supposed to reach 107.  it's not bothering me much this summer though.  if it were a mere 90 degrees outside we'd still be stuck inside with our ac running nonstop, wishing for less mosquitoes and lower temps.  so i'm choosing to go with it.  i am following the cdc's recommendations (really i just read an article in newsweek about beating the heat).  ready for what i learned?

do nothing.  seriously just do nothing or as little as possible.  done.

drink water.  chug it.  skip all the silly bottled sports drinks.  done.

dress in light layers.  more like a bedouin than a starlet, but you get the picture.  working on it.

simple, right?  i think adding in long afternoons at the pool is a nice touch.  the kids don't mind it either.

amy

friend request

i did it.  it's official.  i quit facebook!  

i feel so good about it too.  it's not like i spent a bunch of time on it and i never, ever posted status updates.  it just started getting to me though.  the friend whose beliefs were so off the chart opposite mine it was changing my memory of him. the "friend" who made it abundantly clear she didn't want to be friends anymore 13 years ago.  the constant updates and anecdotes about darling children and accomplishments beyond the beyond.  nonstop photos of a life less ordinary. birthday wishes sent to people who i know were sitting in the same room as the writer.  come on.  

and what i should probably clarify is that i am not a bitter or jealous person.  at all.  as i've written i am so completely satisfied and happy with my life.  my breaking up with facebook was due to a slow chipping away of any credibility. we've been led to believe we need it.  what if _____ needs to get in touch with me?  it was an irritant and i always try my hardest to rid my perfectly lovely little life of irritants.

so here i am, friendless.  i won't know that stacy's baby slept through the night, or what music tiffany was listening to, or that alicia bought a new pair of shoes, or that chris's neighborhood was voted one of the best in the country.  whew.  good.  

i'll finish this little rant, sip my iced tea, read another chapter of a great book (recommended to me by a friend via a conversation), and go on with life in my little corner of the universe.  

cheers!

amy

*my new glasses came today!  i love them!!!

Summer rituals

(so here's the deal.  without a phone, we just wouldn't have any pictures or posts these days.  so let's all pretend that these are crisp, lovely pictures, with fabulously written text.  okay?)

keith and i love a good concert.  summer?  even better.  outside?  but of course.  dave matthews?  yes, yes, and yes again.  we scooted ourselves east to st. louis wednesday to catch dmb.  it was a fabulous show!

we were so pleasantly surprised to meet our man tim reynolds.  

 

that's my man dave there dueting with brandi carlile.  she was amazing!!!  the story brought on serious goosebumps and her rendition of bohemian rhapsody was dynamite!

a perfect night followed by a rough morning.  i love summer don't you?  what are your favorite summer rituals?

amy

specs

these are my new specs modeled by handsome oliver.  the finished product will be delivered in about 10 days.  i think they're pretty darn sharp.  

Aftermath

I love my refrigerator after a party. It's filled with delicious pasta, some interesting hummus, good cheeses, veggies for the taking, and this time, a huge hunk of red velvet. My stomach just isn't as impressed though. Red Velvet cake post boxing? Maybe not such a good thing.
patiently awaiting the return of my computer,
Amy