About Amy

Vintage Me

Hello, I'm Amy and I'm vintage.  I actually just realized today that in 16 short years I'll be antique.  You'll be able to find me in the 50-75 year category. 

16 years. It was 17 years ago last Fall that Keith and I went on our first date.  We saw "Last of the Mohicans" and had chicken strips at Perkins.  Romantic, don't you think?  It may seem that I'm suddenly obsessed with youth...maybe I am.  I laughed at the arrival of my 30th and cared even less about the following 3 birthdays.  But lately I'm really feeling it.  Maybe it's our culture.  Or perhaps it's my fascination with all these tremendously talented people that have been able to figure everything out by their mid-twenties.  Nah.  It's that one of the students that I had from third through fifth grade just made a friend request on Facebook.  She's in college now.  Dear me.  What happened to all those years in between?

In one week and three days, I'll celebrate my 34th birthday.  I LOVE birthdays.  Seriously my favorite holiday of the year.  I'm not scared of getting older, just shocked by how quickly it happens. 

 

 


 
Cheers!  It's Friday!

amy   

  

Fieldtrip

Still feeling craptastic.  I did sleep a little better last night though.  As a pick-me-up treat, I perused a lovely anique mall while Oliver was at school.  I walked out without making any purchases, though a few lithos and swag lamps made me swoon.  Lucky me, I carried along a small camera.

 
 

For the most part the prices were all pretty reasonable but I feel I've been ruined by the thrift stores and have a hard time buying anything now.  I've been dreaming of a dress form for some time now but, this one, complete with foot pedal, was $550!!!!  What?!  Guess that's not too reasonable.  So if you know of an oldish form, I'm still searching.

But onto an actual purchase...I am so so so excited about this pendant light I ordered from anthro.

I fell in love with it when I saw it in the catalogue and finally decided we needed it (it sure doesn't hurt that it went on sale).  I can't decide whether it will light a dark corner in our living room, or hang above our dining table.  I'm leaning towards the living room.  We still have that fantastic chandelier that I picked up several months ago that would contrast perfectly with the new color of our dining room.

Both will prove to be a nice little wiring challenge for Keith.  Thank goodness I am married to a Jack-of-all-trades. 

I finally inquired about a couple of little trailers.  Unfortunately I haven't heard back from either of the sellers.  Spring and Summer are just around the icy corner and I'd like to get a start on my trailer renovation. 

Have a happy and healthy Thursday!

amy

 

My sick day

I am feeling slightly better but never quite felt up to a photo shoot.  Think flowers, stripes, leggings (they are so abused), baggy eyes, messy (but clean) hair.  Let's just pretend that I was able to pull myself together and replicate that delightful spring outfit from this morning.

See how the light bounces off of my hair, making it appear blonde? Oh, and the fall leaves.  Hmmm...   

I was able to get to the grocery store- oh joy of my life!- and bake the absolute most delicious loaf of banana bread. 

 


We already devoured half the loaf.  

Oliver and I went down to Anthro and Urban Outfitters yesterday to see what's new.  I scored the cutest bento box at UO for only $4.99.

Sophia's not too excited about it.  "It's not pretty."  I think it's super cool.  I bet Ollie will enjoy using it next year.    

So speaking of bentos, I never responded to the interest in my egg molds. One of the perks of the kids' preschool is a FANTASTIC nutrition program called Snacks With Stacey.  Stacey has a great blog where you can find a wealth of information on packing lunches (for yourself or your kids), making nutrition fun, and my favorite, bentos.  She also has several bento kits and supplies available to order.  That's where I got a few of Sophia's and also the egg molds.  It's definitely worth a look.

amy

Well that didn't work

so much for the healing night of sleep.  i'm feeling worse and up far too early.  i am very thankful though that my nasty cold is just that, and has graciously stayed locked up in my head.  no aches and pains, chills, or cough.  so i'll just carry on and sip my warm liquids.  i am a firm believer in the old saying "look good, feel good".  i know it really applies to mood, but today i'm going to see if it won't cheer up my angry throat.  worth a try.  i think this little ensemble might help.

 
i'll post a picture later...we'll see what i come up with.  the flowers wouldn't hurt either.  this pic is from british vogue found on weheartit.

thanks for the suggestions sherri b.!  i'll try anything.

back later, cheerful, full of ideas, and ready to take on the day!

amy

Hmmm...

To borrow a line from a favorite blogger, I feel like crappity crap today. It was only a matter of time before the illnesses caught up with me.  I'm usually the healthy one, able to dodge all forms of boogery sickness.  But not this time.  Maybe it is my complete lack of skills in the disinfecting department, or my inability to resist all the cuddles and snuggles freely handed out by one kid who takes his nose-picking very seriously.  Whatever it is, my throat is on fire, my ears are itching, and I am living deep within some nasty fog.  I just want to crawl into bed but that's not going to happen.  Laundry is calling (screaming!) because Sophia is out of clean uniforms.  And for some reason, these kids expect dinner.  Funny how you always have to feed them.  Hmmm...So I'll do my "duties" to help keep this family running right, and then crappity crap out on the sofa.  

On a sweet note, we had Ollie's conferences today.  My terribly shy little guy has found a buddy in a boy named Sam.  They are "connected at the shoulder" and causing an innocent raucous.  I was talking to Keith about Ollie's changes.  How for a month he would stand on the playground by himself and just watch the other kids- for an entire recess- never playing and never talking to anyone.  Oliver jumped in and said, "I was just looking for a friend.  And then I found Sam."  I nearly started crying.  Maybe I'm just sensitive from the illness.  Maybe I'm not quite as tough as I like to say. 

Hoping for a good night's sleep.  Hoping to get back into blogging.

amy

5 things with the Midas touch

In honor of the Olympics, 5 gold things.

1. goldfinger

2. goldilocks

3. gold rush

4. golden ticket

5. a touch of gold

Any olympic events that you are following?

amy

Updates and more updates

I did a fairly large update to the shop today, actually adding all the goodies I've been promising, including the shirts (they're priced really low).  Check it out.  Tomorrow I hope to finally get those paint-by-numbers listed.

We love the new paint in the dining room though it is quite a bit bolder than we are used to.  It gives a little more modern feel to our increasingly "flea market-y" home but still looks great with our old treasures. 

I am looking forward to eventually udating our chairs, and going for a much simpler line.  

These are hand-me-downs from Keith's parents and have served us well, but it is time for something that's much more "us".  I plan to keep a keen eye on the thrift shops and maybe even venture out to the occasional antique mall.

Onto a new topic.  I have always been a compulsive magazine horder. Before I can get rid of an issue, I must scour it thoroughly for all the inspiration and pictures I can.  For years I kept piles of old magazines and have only recently started cleaning out my collections.  I cut out pictures and quotes and eventually paste them into a little composition notebook I use for images and ideas that I come across.

When I happened upon these old photo albums during a recent thrifting expeddition, they seemed to be begging to be filled with inspired cuttings. 

Aren't they fun?  I have one very similar to the pink one, in my shop and plan to add these sometime tomorrow. 

back later with 5.

amy   

  

working, working

We've been working most of the day on the dining room.  The trim looks so clean and the wall paint is going to be perfect.  We should be done with that room tomorrow.  Such progress!

So here are a few more dreamy rooms I found while searching weheartit.  Incredible inspiration.

Have a beautiful Saturday!

amy

7 happy things

Today just hasn't been that wonderful, pat myself on the back, way to go Amy!, kind of day.  Honestly, it's been a bit of a bummer.  And the weather...don't even get me started with the weather.  To combat my feelings, I went in search of "happy".  I found these on weheartit.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Have a happy night!

amy   
 

A thrifty plan for a makeover

I am so excited to get started on painting.  I'm ready for fresh walls, a fresh look, a fresh arrangement.  I've really been examining our art and how it is hung.  When all the walls are done, I'm going to move things around and work on a few new pieces.  Some prints that I LOVE from etsy are by

Matte Stephens

and by lab partners. 

 
I would love to snatch up a few of these but after adding up all the painting supplies and a new rug...well, you know.  So I got to thinking, maybe I could be thrifty.  My bookshelves are filled with discarded textbooks and wonderful mid-century gems with crumbling spines.  Here are some of the incredible "prints" I unearthed just today. 

 
Now all I need to do is take my 50% coupon and buy a large, very simple frame, have a big, bold matte cut, and voila!  Thrifted makeover art.  Don't worry, I'll share the final results.

So go out there and grab up some books.

amy