motivation monday

And here is your motivation for today ... enjoy right along with me singing this in your head all day long!!!  You can thank me later.  ;-)

It's just another manic Monday (oh-woe)
I wish it was Sunday (oh-woe)
'Cause that's my Funday (oh-woe)
My I don't have to runday (oh)
It's just another manic Monday.


Peace!
amylee

behind the scenes: routing the nail holes

As I promised, a behind-the-scenes look at just one of the many steps that goes into making these perfect art blocks.  Everyone- meet Ryan, the man behind the highest quality art blocks known to mankind. And no, I am not biased one bit.

Ryan is a finish woodworker by trade. He is also a perfectionist when it comes to his work.  If you want something done for your house by someone who cares what the end product looks like and performs, Ryan is your guy.  So when I shared with him my vision for my art to be on art blocks, he took to the task of creating high-quality wooden blocks.

The step we are sharing today is when the nail holes are routed.  It is not the first step -- and it is not the last step.  It is one of many steps he does before passing the blocks onto me.  The pics below show Ryan routing the nail hole in the same spot on each block.  It makes hanging these art blocks a breeze!

Peace out!

amylee

in the studio: art blocks

Looky there!!!  What is that, you say?  ;-)  It's a new design for the back of my art blocks.  I couldn't be happier.  In the past I've glued on my business card.  This proved to be a painful last step in the process --glue is messy, messy, messy.  I don't know when the lightening struck -- but suddenly my smart brain thought, "why not labels?"  Wow - it sure did take me a long time to come to THAT conclusion.  I put the task on my pinboard -- and when I had a few moments, I played around with a design.  I finally came up with what you see.  And I am SO pleased.  For now.  Because guess what?   Yes, I am a designer.  I am an artist.  And my "what looks good" opinion changes as time goes on.  Or I just get bored.  But for now, if you order an art block, THIS is what you'll see on the back of it.  And there's even a place for me to sign!!!

I also worked on the insert I place at the front of each block when all packaged up.  For this, I thought a repeat pattern of my logo would look great -- and it looks nicely with the back label showing through.  Again, I went with black/white coloring -- leaving the fun color to be enjoyed on the block only.

Tomorrow, the theme is "behind the scenes" -- and I plan to introduce you to my amazing husband and his ultra talented work on our art blocks.  Stay tuned.  For now, enjoy these lovely photographs!!!

{{back of block}}

{{back of block all packaged up}}

{{front of block all packaged up}}

Peace out!
amylee

foodie friday ... instant oatmeal

There are those in this world that are blessed to be "foodies." I am not one of them.  That's why it is SO funny that I am starting a weekly section on my blog for "foodie friday."  

ha

rofl

lol

tehe

What "foodie friday" will be is the food in my life that is making my life easier.  Or food I am obsessed with.  It will NOT be amazing recipes.

So ... the story behind the instant oatmal?  Not only do I make the BEST instant oatmeal, it also holds so many warm memories.

Nanny.

Kitchen.

Council Bluffs.

And Nanny made the BEST instant oatmeal.  Here's how I make it.

1. Put 1 pkg oatmeal into bowl

2. Add cinnamon (this is a REQUIRED ingredient)

3. Add 8oz of HOT water

4. Stir it all together

5. Let it sit for 2-3 minutes

6. Enjoy your runny* instant oatmeal. 

*disclaimer: runny oatmeal is the best oatmeal -- but it does take practice to get it "just" right.  don't worry if you don't get it right the first time.  it just takes practice.  luckily quaker oats is nice enough to include many packets of oatmeal in each box.

What food holds a special memory for you???

Enjoy!!!

thankful thursday

You'll start to notice a few new "themes" in this blog.  Today's theme is #thankfulThursday.  It is good for the soul to just be thankful.  Be grateful.  Find the moment.  Savor that moment.  Be grateful for it -- and play it over and over in your head.

I have so many to choose from this morning ... silly sock day for the girls made getting dressed fun today, holding hands with Ash this morning on the couch, carrying Morgan from her bed to the couch this morning, blowing kisses from Ashley and waves from Morgan after dropping them off at school, and lunchables that make packing lunches SO easy.  But the winner for today's #thankfulThursday => Ryan being Ryan.

Scene:  Ryan and I talking this morning while getting ready for the day.

Ryan: Are you excited for today, Amy?
me: Why? (I'm very pleasant in the morning)
Ryan: Because it is a new day!  Anything can happen.  Good news could come at a moment's notice.
*disclaimer: probably not his exact words -- but the jist is there
me: {{big SMILE}} good one!

But he is so right.  And I am so thankful for a husband that reminds me of this.  Look on the bright side -- what fun is it to look at the dreary, underneath, muddy side of the world???  Yes - sometimes we have to live in that mud for a while when bad times come (because they do) .... but there is always SONlight.

Hebrews 13:5

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

{{pic of ryan & ash at the dentist yesterday with their laser glasses on!}}

Peace out!

amylee

challenge ....

I'm participating in 30 Days of Lists.  I don't know what bug crawled up my nose (gross) -- but I signed up.  And today is the first day.

First list is CHALLENGES TO ACCEPT.

What challenges am I going to accept in my life right now?  I'm off to go write them in a book.  My list book.  I urge you to do the same.  Challenge yourself.  Write it down.  And then take the steps it takes to just DO IT!

Amazing things can happen.

Peace out!

faith

{{a little bit of driveway fun a few years ago}}

Fear knocks on the door.  Faith answers.  No one was there.