20 answers: no. 5

Marlene asks...

If you had the chance to go any where in the world free of charge all expenses paid where would you like to go?

A. Oh, I'm terrible at these kinds of questions. I haven't traveled a whole heck of a lot but if I could go anywhere, free of charge, I would want to find a place that had a fairytale kind of charm to it. Probably in the Old World, somewhere. With castles and cobblestone paths, thick with history. I would want to have a whole family take me in, adoring me and totally taking care of me. That last part really appeals to me...I would like that very much.

I really loved Prague...we went to the Opera there one night and then wandered the streets afterwards. A big fat rat ran across our path. It sounds scary but it was really very much like a fairytale.

When do we leave?

a big let down

okay, so I owe you a big apology. I have no pictures of a grand camping set up...mostly because there was no grand camping set up. The trip to the campground that should've taken just 2 1/2 hours ended up taking 6. And 3 of those hours were spent with an inconsolable baby in the backseat. By the time we got to the campground, it was almost dark and we were not in a good mood, not one of us.

We also discovered upon arriving at the campground that we were to share a campsite. I just didn't feel like pulling out all the stops in a shared campsite.

I'm sorry if it's a let down. But boy oh boy am I glad to be home.

Home sweet home, ain't it the truth?

treats!

We're getting ready to hit the road but I wanted to show you these rice krispie treats on a stick that I made for the kiddies. Rainbow sprinkles make everything better, don't you think?

I'm also roasting some potatoes to finish cooking over the fire pit for the pot luck tonight. I'll drizzle crumbled gorgonzola over them just before serving...yum!

I'm also planning on making flat bread pizzas on the grill. I haven't tried this before so I hope it works out...fresh heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, olive oil and a bit of balsamic vinegar drizzled over...doesn't that sound great. I'll just have to keep my eye on it and take it off just as the cheese gets melty but before the crust burns. It'll be tricky.

Hope you have a good weekend...I'll show and tell the camping trip on Monday.

cutie cute cute

To quote my friend, Teresa "Oh my gloss!"

When I saw this cute lipgloss girly at Target, I just had to have her. Granted, I know I'm about 30 years older than the intended audience. But just look at the cuteness of her... I especially love the big shoes on the end of dangly legs.

So, it's that time of year again folks...the time when yours truly spritzes on the bug spray, rolls up her sleeping bag, and packs her kitchen sink...that's right! It's camping time!

We leave tomorrow (in spite of Baby's sudden pink eye outbreak, which I was sure would keep us at home...) I promise to take pictures of the set up, which will include the gourmet camping kitchen with running water (thanks to the foot pump). And I do think a book is in order so that I can share how to make camping more bearable (pun certainly not intended as bears are the scariest part for me!)

embarrassing...

So, in what is probably the most embarrassing moment of my life, today as I was chatting with my new friend Emeril (he's taping a tv show at my Whole Foods), Baby grabbed my shirt and pulled it as hard as he could in a downward motion, revealing my bra-covered boobs for everyone, including Emeril to see. Emeril, being such the gentleman, looked away. I could feel my face getting hot red. And, Baby? He just held on to my shirt with his superstrength deathgrip, prolonging the embarrassment and ensuring that everyone in the whole grocery store got a peek.

What's the most embarrassing moment your baby brought on?

20 answers: no. 4

Anonymous asks...

What kind of camera do you use to take such fabulous pictures?

A. First of all, thanks so much for thinking my pictures are fabulous. I just have an old Sony Cybershot (I think it's 7 years old... that's ancient in digital camera years!) The one really good thing about it is that it has a Carl Zeiss lens. I guess I could go on using this rusty old camera but I have my eye on this newer version. I have to use a big camera that I can really hold. I can't do anything with those dinky credit card size spy cameras.

Also, I use a lot of natural light and never use the flash. If it's a yucky grey day, well, I just don't take pictures unless I absolutely have to. Oh, and one more thing...I always adjust the levels in photoshop. It's like lifting off a layer of grey...magic!

p.s. Just to emphasize how unspecial the camera is, it looks like it might be going on ebay here for about $10. Geezy pete!

20 answers: no. 3

Annette D asks...

What words is Baby saying nowadays?

A. Baby is saying lots of things these days...Since the trip to California, he's been saying Papa & it sounds so sweet. He says Car and Baba (for bottle), Juice and Milk. He says No (always in multiples, as in...no, no, no!) He says Ball and Bubbles and Poo Poo (pinching his nose as he says it!) He also has a word for when he's super dooper excited, but we don't know what it is. He pumps his arms up in the air, gets a wild look in his eyes and exclaims "Baachee! Baaaacheeee!"

He also sings a lot of the songs we listen to in the car, but usually only when it's the two of us. I think he gets a little embarrassed for Rich to hear. They are mostly kiddie songs but there is one grown-up song that he's awfully fond of...it's Mercy by Duffy. He sings the back up part and he dances this really slow squatty dance. It is the cutest thing in the world to see.

jessi! It's you!

Hey, Scrappy Jessi, you sweet thing! You WON the giveaway! Some paper lace is coming your way. Lucky you.











And there are just a handful of paper arts kits left. So cute! I didn't want you to miss out...

giveaway time...

Andrea of OneHundredWishes.com has sent us a very happy giveaway...enter a comment below and enter to win a roll of vintage paper lace.


This vintage paper lace is used in the wrapped candle project featured in the magazine.

Good luck!

Drawing ends at 4 pm EST Saturday, August 16 and the winner will be announced shortly thereafter.

p.s. Please remember to post your name with your comment, especially if you are posting as "anonymous"

inspiredfriend: Teresa McFayden

Presenting....Teresa McFayden! She's my latest inspiredfriend and she has made some really wonderful things for me to share with you. Click here to see it all!

And don't forget to check out the lastest issue of inspiredideas...and check in later today for a really fun giveaway!

benedetta

While in Petaluma, I wondered into a very small boutique with walls lined with simple, beautifully packaged products. After looking around a little bit, I decided to buy this miniature apothecary of products.

My skin is incredibly sensitive so I was just a little bit nervous. After using the products for just a matter of days now (just since Thursday night) my skin is softer, smoother, and more refined than ever. I put the "control creme" on a spot and it was completely (completely!) gone by the next day.

Here's the link to their website.

We're back!

I'll post again soon but I wanted to let you know we are back in Virginia. The visit with Baby's father and his family went very well. It really gives me so much peace to see how much they love and care for this sweet little one. They decorated the house with about 200 balloons and banners and a sign that said "Welcome!" I couldn't stop the tears from coming when I saw it. When I started crying, everyone started crying.

Stephanie T., it's so crazy that you should mention Mrs. Grossman's sticker factory! We were actually in Petaluma, believe it or not! AND we went to the sticker factory! So much fun! I love Petaluma...all the older buildings and cute little boutiques and restaurants! More on that later. Hope you have a good day!

and we're off...

Baby and I leave bright and early tomorrow for our trip to California (just north of SF). I'm busy packing and cleaning and doing laundry and getting ready for the trip. I'll try and blog from there but I'm not taking my laptop so it might be difficult.

20 answers: no. 2

{Question from Janis}
Q. Hi Amy, What is your favorite meal that you cook for dinner?
A. Lately, my favorite thing to do is get kabobs from Whole Foods (already assembled) and fire up the grill. I make couscous and toss a fresh salad and dinner's ready in a flash. I think Rich is getting tired of this but it is just perfect, in my eyes. Not much mess in the kitchen, quick, easy, and fresh.

I know it's a bit of a cheat to buy the kabobs already assembled, but when you're just cooking for 2 1/2 it doesn't make much sense to make them yourself. And I can get two kabobs for about $4.

20 answers: no. 1

This is really 3 questions...but it'll all count for the first one.
{Questions from Megan}
Q. How come you never reply when I email you - I have had a card addressed to you in my desk for months and I don't know where to send it??
A. I have a serious email issue. I often don't get emails from people. And sometimes they don't get emails from me. I can't get any help from Yahoo because they can't "recreate the problem". I don't know what else to do so I'm just ignoring the problem. I do, however, have a new email. I'm breaking it down in code here because I don't want to be spammed by spamming machines asking me to increase the size of a body part I don't even have. (I'd really love to see the thesaurus those machines use...very creative!) At any rate, the email you should use is: my company name, all spelled out, @gmail.com. edited to add: I hope you understand I'm not comfortable leaving my home address here on the blog but, if you email me, I'll happily give it to you.
Q. My real question is - if you are a vendor at Silver Bella this year what will you be making to sell?
A. This year I decided to sit vendor night out. It was, as you might remember, an incredible amount of work. I think I might have burned out the whole sugarville house factory because, you probably noticed, I've since not made many new properties. Also, I'm looking forward to going and just being a participant. Lots less pressure and hassle.
Q. Also since there was no Paris Flea Market this year - will you be doing any other local events? That will really make me happy.
A. I haven't planned anything but that's not to say it won't happen. But there will be more Amy-made things in the shop soon, including the most delicious Sugarville houses, some of them mansions!

p.s. Keep the questions coming! Post them under the 20 questions post below.

Lilli! It's you!

Lilli, my friend, we will indeed make yours blissful! You are the winner of the Paper Relics return label giveaway!

Congratulations!

20 questions...

Want to play a game? Ask me a question in the comments here...anything (well, let's keep it clean!) and I'll post answers to 20 of the questions here.

Here's one to start the ball rolling...

Q. When are you doing another Club Little House installment?
A. Soon! Start thinking now of what you'll make. As you know, it's an incredible amount of work. Add to that all the problems of people dropping out last time (many of them with really good reasons) and you can see why it's taken me a while to warm up to the idea again. Everyday I get emails asking about it and, well, there's no way I could go just stop now. I'm hoping to do it at least once a year. There will be a substantial increase, however, in the cost for participating. This is because of how much work is involved but hopefully will alleviate drop offs.

Ask away...

it's giveaway time!

Leave a comment below to enter the drawing for a free set of address labels from Paper Relics! How sweet are they?

Drawing ends Saturday, Aug. 2 at 4:00 pm EST.

Good luck!

Hope Wallace, inspiredfriend

I'm so excited to present my friend Hope as the newest inspiredfriend...Hope owns Paper Relics, a fine stationery company. She made some wonderful original collages for us, an exclusive and limited edition collage sheet, and (my personal favorite) a sweet little birthday book. Click here to see!

Be sure to check out the latest issue of inspiredideas, too.

And tune in a little later for a giveaway! It's a doozy!