About Amy

Race on over...

to Rachie's Place!  Rachel is hosting a giveaway sponsored by Nellie Loves Vintage.

 

Hurry!  Wouldn't you love this sweet, summery collection? 

Have a very happy holiday weekend!  

amy  
  
 

It wasn't all clouds

Like I wrote yesterday, the last week hasn't been solely about the pain.  There were lots of highlights.

Last Thursday, Oliver and I met my good friend, Mike, out for lunch at Potpie. (I am so ashamed that I had not visited that beautiful little space since it was The Stolen Grill, so many years ago.)  We had a delicious lunch!  I had the Goat Cheese Salad with a beet dressing, Mike had the Soft Shell Crab Po'Boy, and Oliver had the Grilled Cheese ("This is the best grilled cheese in the whole world!" and I had to agree) with some White Bean Soup. 

The atmosphere was so warm, the food was so good, and my company was just so pleasant, that I had to wash it all down with a glass of wine...at 11:45 in the morning.  But what on earth is more decadent than a drink with lunch?

Of course I chose the one table that wasn't conducive to picture taking, so my pics were less than extraordinary. 

See what I mean?  (If you really squint, you can just make out Oliver's clip-on tie.  He likes to dress up for "lunch meetings"). 

I swiped this lovely picture off Yelp.  Can't wait to go back!

Hmmm...so other highlights...

 
...visiting Soil Service with Rachel.  How beautiful are my hydrangeas and spirea?! 

...finally planting my herb garden

...picking up these light-weight, elastic waist, chambray shorts from JCrew. Sheer comfort and only $29!!

...buying this beautiful, blue silk dress from UO.  I know it seems like a new dress is totally unnecessary, but an "utter lack of physical activity" translates to a "brand-new figure". 

...and playing with my cereal with Oliver. 

I'll be back.  Promise.

amy  

   

excuses, excuses

I apologize for my absence.  I am miserable.  Plain and simple, no sugar-coating it, miserable.  A nagging pain in my backside started up in
December, gradually moving down into my hamstring, eventually flaring up to unmanageable pain after our 15 hour trip home from Mexico.  I am walking around (actually hobbling) like an angry zombie.  Everything hurts but lying on my back with my legs up.  I eat dinner perched painfully on a balance ball and sip my morning coffee the same way.  I've visited a Physical Therapist twice now and am waiting for the wave of relief to come.  An MRI has been scheduled to help pinpoint the problem, but right now everyone's guess is that it seems to be a bulging disc.  I seem to be nothing but pissed, annoyed, frustrated, near tears, flying off the handle, irritable, sad...blah, blah, blah.  I am so tired of hurting.  I am tired of not being able to walk Sophia to school.  The utter lack of physical activity is making me a basket case.  

There is a bright side though.  My poor, neglected feet have been off limits.  I haven't been able to touch my toes for weeks!  But while sitting outside with Oliver, I found a relatively comfortable position and was able to finally coat them in a happy hue. 

Ah, much better.

And now that all this complaining is off my chest, I'll be back tomorrow with something much brighter.  Thanks for listening!  I really do have fun things to report...I've just been a little distracted.  amy

P.S.  If you are looking for a big jolt of playfulness and genius, please, please, please go check out Color Me Katie.  She is brilliant and one of my very favorites.  Sophia and I were visiting her blog this morning and Sophia said, "She just makes everything more fun."  Exactly.     

Be prepared

Saturday's sale is looking great!  I keep finding more vintage to add to the mix. 

If you are in Kansas City, you really should drop by.  And be sure to let me know if you want something from the shop (no shipping!).

These goodies will also be up for grabs.

Sophia asked for a "sewing lesson" this evening.  I'm really not one to hand out tips, but we had fun and she did so well.  We used paper grocery sacks to create pretty little shopping bags for our sale.

 
It's fun making pretty things.

amy   
 

ideas for everyday

Aside from far too many caloric cocktails and mountains of delicious food, I did score some great ideas from our ultra-swank trip to Mexico.  Our resort was by far the quietest and most relaxing destination we've visited.  It began with a couple frosty mojitos and cool, scented cloths.  These yummy, soothing cloths were the easiest way to bring paradise home.

 
I bought a hospitality pack of white "rags" from Costco (24 towels for only $9.99!) and soaked them in a mixture of icy cold water and L'Occitane essential oils.  I love the lavender, tea tree, and geranium "cocktail". I keep a stack of these fresh, scented towels rolled in the fridge.  Sophia loves them at night when bedtime is still a bit too bright.  They are also terribly comforting for cranky moments (both for children and adults).  And honestly, what could be more luxuriant and indulgent than a wet towel to freshen up before dinner? 

My other totally unnecessary purchase from L'Occitane was this incredible home perfume atomizer.  It smells amazing and makes me feel like I'm at the spa.  Also, it is just plain fun (and so very glamorous) to go from room to room spritzing this delicious amber scent.

amy
 

Yard or garage?

Whatever you call it...yard sale, garage sale, rummage sale...it is the season.  I am very excitedly putting together our first of the season.  I'm ready to purge our basement and overstuffed closets for a rag tag sale Saturday. 

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I hope to include at least a small table of vintage goods.  I'm thinking lovely items that are just too heavy or awkward to ship.  I have an old Singer sewing machine that I swear weighs at least 30 pounds.

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And for the sweettooths, my sweeties are having a lemonade and bake sale.  Sophia has some seriously fun ideas that I'll have to share. 

amy

Finally, a winner

Thank goodness someone jumped in there and kicked me in the butt.  Who knows how long I would be sitting on my duff, neglecting to announce a winner.  Thank you so much Trine for the gentle nudge.

So a week and a half later, some lucky reader is about to win this beautiful pack of vintage ephemera.

Are you so excited?

Oh my, who will it be?

The winner is Shelly from a day in the life of shelly belly. Shelly wrote,  

  OHHHHH...my mama...she is awesome..I am 40 yrs old and she still "babys" me...and I love it.I'm fortunate enough to see her every single day...and i love that ! My mama is my "bestie" !

Thanks for the pretty lady giveaway! i love reading your blog.Have a good one ! Shelly 

Congratulations Shelly!  Just email me with your address and I'll send your pretty pack out.

Kiss your mommies,

amy  

Thrilling thrift

As I wrote yesterday, I have been lucky in the thrifting department the last couple of days.  My finds are laid out in the dining room so I can peruse them and smile.  I love, love, love my vintage.  Here are a few pretty things from my stash.

I paid $15 for this Paint by Number, more than I ever spend on a thrifted find.  But this piece is PERFECT!  It is also quite large.  

I love this blue shirt.  It is so girlie!  The cowboy shirt above is pretty slick.  It is in great shape and is extra long and lean.  It would be perfect over some leggings.  Also, I like the semi-sheer fabric. 

Wouldn't your martini taste even better if you sipped it while wearing one of these Doris Day gowns?

And to top it all off, how about a hat?

I'd love to tell you that I'll be listing all these goodies in the shop this evening, but you and I know that won't happen.  But I'll stock the shelves (and racks) soon.

amy    

Be kinder to yourself

You are going to have to bear with me.  I'm not one for warm and fuzzy but I may have hit on something big.  Recently I read an article by an author who has suffered from insomnia for as long as she can remember.  Although, thankfully, I do not share this affliction, I do share another problem.   The author would keep herself up at night worrying, jumping from one stresser to another.   

I am a master worrier.  Pick a topic, I worry about it.  It doesn't matter how small or mundane, I find a way to build it up to massive proportions and it zaps my energy and time.

But I've discovered a way out.  When the author found herself absorbed in unpleasant thoughts, she would simply repeat a lovely line:  "Be kinder to yourself". 

Easy, huh?  And amazingly, it works.  It is almost like my escape route.  When I start hounding myself about something, I just need a reminder, "Be kinder to yourself."  It's wonderful how productive I've been since employing such an obvious way of thinking.   

I know this isn't deep thinking, but it doesn't need to be!  It's just a way for me to detour from one thought to another.  It allows me to actually smell my shampoo in the shower (sounds weird, I know...but the shower is where I tend to worry the most), not get stressed out about not posting the winner of a giveaway (it's coming, I promise!), or not beat myself up about Oliver having Skittles for breakfast (that really has happened). 

The laundry may not be done but I don't care. 

So about that vintage I love so much...Oliver and I went thrifting today and came back with quite a haul.  It took three trips into the house!  I can't wait to share pictures with you!!!  Until then, amy.

*For picture sources, click on the image.
  
  
  
  

Look what I have!

A lovely little package arrived Friday.  It was addressed to me and inside was the most gorgeous ring by Lola and George.  I have worn it every minute since tearing into the box.  Isn't it beautiful?! 

You really need to check out all the amazing pieces by Lola and George.  Thanks Carla!  You are one incredibly talented lady!

amy