by Amy | Jan 20, 2015 | Blog, The Art of Gathering
I simply cannot believe I’ve let so much time pass before showing you these photos. I honestly don’t know where the time goes. But I digress…Today I’m so excited to be showing you images from a baby shower we threw for my sister back in December.
It was an amazing group effort from our mom, aunt, a couple of Erin‘s friends, and myself. It was an effort that spanned across state lines, and an effort that paid off big. In my opinion, it was a fantastic shower. I’m so happy I convinced her to let me help throw it and so very grateful to everyone who came…despite the party being only a couple days after Christmas.
Erin is going with a “Bird & Books” themed nursery…so that’s the theme we went with a book and bird themed baby shower as well. The shower was held at our county Conservation Club, where my dad is a member. Their lodge was a perfect backdrop. It was cozy and rustic…and they have an amazing fireplace. I made this word art for the nursery. It’s a quote from Jason Mraz, one of Erin’s favorite artists. I think it’s the perfect wish for a tiny, new soul.
Erin’s friends Courtney and Nicole pulled the decor together and they did an amazing job. Courtney decoupaged kids’ book pages to jars, which Nicole filled with pink-painted twigs. Every table had a lace runner and a bird house or two and a couple glittery clip on birds.
Since I’m a huge fan of order at parties…I created a “program” that we put at every seat. Basically, it told guests what activities were available–to encourage as much participation as possible. Courtney and I whipped up tiny favor nests from Spanish moss. It was a quick–but messy task. They are house in favor bags and filled with Jordan Almonds. If I did it again, I’d go with chocolate covered almonds. That’s what I thought I bought–but alas, we ended up with these hard-on-the-teeth treats.
Because we are a pretty casual bunch, the activities were loosely structured. We set up a diaper-note station, where guests were invited to use colorful Sharpies to write clever notes on a stash of diapers to be used during late night changings. We also set up a onsie decorating station, and asked guests to write a childhood memory on a small card at their seat. I like that we didn’t opt for a set time to do each activity, but let folks do what they wanted at their own pace.
I was responsible for buying onsie decorating supplies and I tried to keep all level of artists in mind. In the end, this is what I decided to buy: White onsies ranging from NB-9 months in size, markers, alphabet stencils, flourish stencils, iron on jewels, iron on embellishments, iron on ribbon, iron on “screen printing” images, scissors, iron on fabric {cut any shape.} It was nice that all the embellishments were permanent and instantly set–no paint or drying time.
Everyone did an amazing job. I was so excited to see how everyone loved making their own creative onsie. The iron-on elements and stencils really them look nice and purposeful…not like a bunch of people just wrote on some clothes with markers. I think having those things on hand also made this station feel more accessible to ladies who don’t necessarily see themselves as artsy.
I loved the design suite I put together for the shower. Once the main elements were created, I reused them on every piece of paper at the party. It helped keep things consistent.
We played two games. One was “Name That Book,” which you can see in the image above. For this game I searched the Children’s Book Guide online. They offer a list of the top 100 Children’s Books of All Time. I used 24 for our game. I copied the covers onto a sheet–very small–and blotted out the titles. Guests then had to identify as many as they could using only the tiny image as a guide.
Our other game involved childhood memories from all the guests. Each person wrote a memory on a small card at their seat. I collected them, then read them one at a time to Erin. From the pile, she selected one as her favorite {Apples to Apples style.} That lady was our winner. Then Erin tried to match each memory to the guest that wrote it. This was such a fun game, since all kinds of memories were shared. They included things like:
I remember dancing to the Lawrence Welk’s show when I spent the night at Grandma’s house.
While my dad was mowing the lawn, I ‘operated’ on my sister’s arm using a play doctor’s kit and a real razor…the pretend anesthetic didn’t last….
As I child I liked to drink lemonade and read in the shade of a tree.
I would sit behind the couch and say every swear word I knew.
I used to look at my reflection in a blank TV screen and whisper news stories to myself.
I grew up in the city, but I had family who owned a farm. Once I mistook chicken poop for gum and ate it…
That last one was our winner. I’m telling you, it was a great time.
Game winners each received one of these necklaces which I crafted up with my bare hands.
It was a great time. I hope Erin had as much fun as I did. Congratulations {again}…we are all s excited to meet the newest Kennedy!
PS…I did a really crummy photo job with some of this. But–I’m too excited and I can’t help bragging. Do you see that chevron stick in the background of the photos above?! It’s a growth chart. I made it and I love it. It’s just a 4″x6′ piece of wood that I sanded and stenciled! Perfect for tracking the rapid ascend of this growing family!
by Amy | Dec 11, 2014 | Blog, The Art of Adventure, The Art of Gathering, The Art of Living
This year I’m celebrating my golden birthday. 28 on the 28th of December. I know it hasn’t quite happened yet…but with a birthday that close to Christmas, I’m usually worn out, full of over eating, or on the road driving cross country on the actual day. This year, this golden year, I was determined to make sure my birthday rocked.
I told Derek the only thing I wanted was tickets to the White Christmas Ball in Denver. Yes, that’s an extravagant request. But I wanted it so bad. And, Derek is amazing. So we went. And it was fabulous. The best party I’ve ever been to. The best birthday gift I’ve ever gotten.
{It should be noted that photos being shared in this post were mostly not taken by me…as I was determined to enjoy the moment instead of documenting it. You can click the images to go to their sources. Most of them are from the fabulous Sheila Broderick Photography. The ones that look really cruddy were–no doubt–taken on my phone.}
You might be wondering what the White Christmas Ball is and how I came across it. By now, you should know that I’m an expert at finding really fun things to do. It’s just a knack I have. When something amazing in mentioned to me, I file it away in my beady little brain and pull it out at just the right time. In this case, I heard of this little ditty from a friend while we were shopping at Minot’s city wide garage sale. She saw a 1940’s military cap and said it’d be perfect for the 1940’s Ball. I have that moment, and Google to thank for getting me to Denver last weekend.
This event is actually an off shoot of the 1940’s Ball. A non-profit summer event in Denver that celebrates the Greatest Generation with a…1940’s themed ball. The White Christmas Ball is the winter side of things. The 1940’s Ball is a nonprofit organization, whose proceeds benefit the Wounded Warrior Project and the Spirit of Flight Center in Colorado.
Okay, back to the ball. I think the thing I love most about this event is that it is attended by participators. People who are willing to commit to the theme, come in era-appropriate dress, and have a great time. As soon as we walked in to the venue, the atmosphere started to swallow me up. The Christmas decor, the lighting, the 1000 guests all beautifully dressed, and the amazing live music threw off an aura of warm, cozy, Christmas fun just waiting to be had.
The even staff does a great job of making sure there is lots to see and do. There is a vintage vendor fair, touting retro clothing and nostalgic memorabilia. Food trucks with some of the best mac ‘n’ cheese I’ve ever consumed. A huge dance floor. Continual live music, only occasionally broken up by live entertainment. Attire contests. Photo stations. Beautiful pro-photos from Cake and Knife Photography. And when your feet are tired of dancing {or for those of us still nursing a somewhat bad back…} there was a movie theater that played White Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, and The Glenn Miller Story.
{via Sheila Broderick}
{via Sheila Broderick}
My second favorite thing about this event is that it’s full of people who know how to have a good time. They dance because they like it, not because they are peer pressured into it. And no one needs to be drunk to make their way to the dance floor. Was alcohol available? Sure, but it wasn’t the center of the party. I respect that. I like that. As a girl who never mixes drinking and dancing {my dancing is plenty crazy without the extra influence}, I love being surrounded by people who can have an uninhibited great time–and this party was full of them. There were even a handful of WWII vets cutting a rug with pretty girls on the floor. That’s an image I’ll never forget.
For those that weren’t up for dancing themselves, there were several great live performances to watch. And wish you could move like that. The group below, 23 Skidoo, rocked my world.
{via Sheila Broderick}
{via Sheila Broderick}
And what’s a White Christmas party without a few numbers from the movie?
At one point we stopped to take a photo with a Christmas Story vignette and a gal from 9News saw us. She took this photo and put it up on the station’s website along with others from the night.
{via 9News}
I really cannot say enough good things about the bands that played. Amazing! Just amazing. Toward the end of the night Rat Pack impersonators did a set with the The Hot Tomatoes Dance Orchestra. Hands down my favorite music of the night. These guys were so perfect it was trippy.
{via Sheila Broderick}
{via Sheila Broderick}
The only thing that was a little off was this large, mustached man who appeared on stage with “Bing Crosby” and introduced himself as “Danny Kaye.” I’m thinking there must have been some last minute change of plans…because he looked nothing like the limber, leggy, ginger we all know and love.
But really, who cares? Because while they were on stage they did a balloon drop!
{via Sheila Broderick}
Seriously this was an amazing night. A night so good it made up for every disappointing, lackluster New Year’s Eve I’ve ever spent. This is the greatest party I’ve ever been to. And I’m convinced it’s the closest I’ll ever come to the real Columbia Inn in Pine Tree, VT. So, thank you, thank you, thank you to the 1940’s Ball team for putting on such a great event.
And outside the venue–the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum–was a bedazzled B-52. So…yeah…
by Amy | Dec 1, 2014 | Blog, The Art of Gathering, The Art of Living
I really hope you had a happy Thanksgiving. I know I did. This year I have so much to be thankful for…which, I guess, is true every year, but this time around I’ve been acutely aware of all I have and just how blessed I am. I’m walking {mostly pain free}, I just got the o-k to start jogging, work is good, I’m crazy about Derek {nothing has changed in that department}, the family is healthy, and Mom and Dad were able to make the trip up to Practically Canada for the third time to celebrate with us.
That’s just a few. My list could go for ages. I’m sure yours could too. And that’s a good thing.
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. Maybe because it happens on my own turf. We don’t travel, usually Mom and Dad come up to us. There’s much less stress, I get to make lots of food, I sleep in my own bed, and it’s an occasion that calls for board gaming while the food coma is wearing off. I love it. I also love that my Minot bestie, Katie and her husband Sean usually join us too.
This year, I went a totally different route with lots of things. Different brine, different turkey, different pie, different stuffing. I was nervous. But let me tell you…this is the best turkey {and pie} I’ve ever made. Here’s the secret. Start by reading this article from Alton Brown {my culinary hero.} I used his brine recipe, and lots of his handy tips. And–I learned the science behind cooking a turkey.
Next, while shooting a newborn session for the Rockwells {remember the maternity session}, Sarah’s father asked if I’d ever heard of “spatchcocking” a turkey. Nope. And, no, I’m not making that word up. It’s kind of weird…but it makes lots of sense. You cut the back bone out, then roast the turkey on a cookie sheet. Laying it out flat let’s all the meat cook faster and more evenly. To let you know just how fast…I cooked up a 14lb bird in about 80 minutes! Martha explains the technique really well. Just be sure to put some water in the pan and set the bird up on a bed of onions so the juices don’t burn up!
I rubbed the turkey down with compound butter. What’s that? It’s a treasure in butter form. Try this recipe from Alton Brown. Or this one from Miss Information Blog.
Now, pie. I make a killer apple pie. Someday I’ll give you the recipe for that. But in the mean time–let me show you this gorgeous recipe I used from Southern Living. A little time consuming, but entirely worth the effort.
I should have taken better food photos. But alas–I was too eager to eat. So, I only have these crummy Instagram shots. My bad.
Perhaps one of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions is whipping out the big, fancy camera {which we usually have set upon the tripod for the timered shot of everyone at the table} for some after-dinner photos. I’ve told you all the details and all the foody stuff. Now, I’ll force some random photos on you, that {hopefully} invite you right into my living room, into our holiday.
{I’ve just got to say…I’m the absolute weirdest in photos. Why am I holding my cup like that? Why??}
by Amy | Oct 23, 2014 | Blog, Crafts, The Art of Art, The Art of Design, The Art of Gathering, The Art of Projects, the house
Check out my spooky fall trees! Usually the chalkboard panels only live inside when I’m expecting or shooting photos…but a few weeks ago a client asked if I ever decorate them and leave them up. You can imagine how silly I felt when I told her “No.”
So, one night, while Derek was working late I drew up these spooky trees. I love them. They really put me in a festive, fall mood. Since we’ve had to clear everything out of the basement as we start to make progress on that project all my decor is being stored in the attic and is inaccessible. For the first year I can ever remember, my house was stark naked of fall decor. No leaves, no wreaths, no paper bats, no Halloween candy dishes, no 60’s plastic pumpkin lamp. Nada. I’m still jonesing for that pumpkin lamp, but the chalk trees are doing a good job of holding of a real hate rage.
My question, for you is…if you were me, would you leave these up all the time? Should I leave them through Christmas? Let me know. Comment here {really hoping the glitch is gone from the comment system…} or tell me on Facebook tonight.
On a side note, a couple nights ago some friends of ours hosted a pumpkin carving party. I cannot even start to describe the genius of these people I’m lucky enough to call friends. Look at this spread! Not a triangle-eyed face among them.
Please take special note of Mufassa, the adorable hedge hogs!! Oh, and Grumpy Cat! I’m so stinking impressed with every single one. I carved the spider. Probably my best yet. Even better than last year’s. Derek made the eagle in back. He’s so American.
Obviously, when we got home we snapped one of our self-timed pics we are so notorious for. Again, the trees look awesome.
Oh, and for good measure I nabbed a close up of the Grumpy Cat pumpkin our friend Danica made. Hope she’s okay with me stealing it from her Facebook page…I included it here because it’s so amazing and you all deserved to see a close up.
Be sure to come back tomorrow for more fall fun when I show off my first Artists in the Schools piece that I did today with a group of first graders!
by Amy | Oct 1, 2014 | Blog, Crafts, The Art of Gathering, The Art of Projects
I love Halloween. That’s no secret at all. One of my all time greatest dreams is to go to or host an epic Halloween party, just like the one in Hocus Pocus. Skeleton-clad musicians included.
Even though I’ve never been to a party that great–yet–I’ve still had my fair share of awesome costumes. Mostly because I have an awesome costume partner. And, although most of our costumes were thrown together in the last minute, we still pulled them off. It’s been a few years since we were costume clad for Halloween…one year I was hospitalized, the next Derek was working, and the years after that we had moved to Minot where our house was too small to host a party and none of our friends did either.
But. But, but, but…that doesn’t mean that our most amazing {and infamous} costume has been forgotten. Quite the opposite. I do my fair share of Pinning, but 90% of the time when I’m notified that one of my Pins has been repinned…I see this.
Me, Derek, Spartan Cheerleader costumes.
Yes, it’s amazing, I know.
So I thought today, being October 1st–I’d revisit this costume. The one that gets me so much buzz.
A friend recently told me that she found it on the top search results on Pinterest. Last year a friend saw it featured on a blog…and today I was contacted by the associate editor of Huffington Post Weddings. She wanted to run it in a feature about couple’s costumes. You can read it here. It’s called “18 Awesome Halloween Costumes for Couples Who Don’t Suck.” So, I guess it’s official. If you think we suck, you’re wrong. The Huffington Post says otherwise.
Crazy, I know.
The craziest part is that we literally threw that costume together the day of Halloween for a party we’d just found out about. We walked into the thrift store with a few basic ideas, and when we laid eyes on those atrocious, red, men’s pants, we knew we’d struck gold. The white bands are cut up white T-shirts destined for the rag bin. I cut the letters out of felt, and the whole ensemble is hot glued together. Who know, way back then in Enid, OK we’d be making costume history?
We even quickly memorized one of the Spartan cheers, just in case. But that never got performed in public, since the party turned out to be pretty lame. {Especially for the types who don’t consume adult beverages…us.}
After all the moves, we still have the sweaters somewhere. Just last year, I made Derek get rid of the pants. He wore them curling. I told him we could afford a pair that is new, and not bright red, or part of a gag. I only hope they have found their way into the heart of another cheerleader…
If you are looking for costume inspiration this month, check out my Killer Costumes board on Pinterest, or the HuffPost article there are some seriously clever things in there {uhhh Butter and Paula Dean?!}
Happy Haunting.
by Amy | Sep 24, 2014 | Blog, The Art of Gathering
Here’s a few facts about me.
1. I’m cheap.
2. I’m pretty lame.
3. I’m a homebody.
4. I hate being cold.
When you put that all together it adds up to equal a girl who doesn’t mind spending her weekends at home, under an electric blanket. And–if you’ve been around, or know me, or have ever looked at my Christmas list, you probably know that my stay-at-home activity of choice is board games.
I’m actually getting pretty hard to buy for, since the collection Derek and I have amassed is pretty darn impressive. It’s grown quite a bit since I created that awesome board game storage from an old book case. Have I mentioned that that is one of my top pinned projects on Pinterest? {I guess it goes to show that I’m not alone in seeking to show off my gaming goods instead of shove them in the back of a closet.}
While I was in Rapid City I came across a board game store. Not quite as awesome as the one I told you about in Portsmouth, but still pretty darn good. They have demo games and a board game meet up every Sunday. So, while I was there we popped in to try a game I’d been eying and ended up trying out a few others as well. And now, I’ll tell you about them. Three games I’ve never played before and that are totally appropriate to buy for the home-body board-gamer on your list. An ideal thing to stock up on as the chilly weather settles in.
First of all–Carcassonne.
We actually picked this one up in Portsmouth on our Maine vacation. But I haven’t given it a proper write up yet, so I’ll do it now.
It’s a strategy game. The winner is the person with the most points at the end of the game. You get said points by building cities, roads, and monasteries and by owning pastures. Okay, granted that makes it sound kind of awful. Stick with me.
My favorite part about the game is that you build the board as you play. So you’ll never have the same set up twice. On your turn you draw a tile–with a little piece of landscape on it– and place it anywhere you like, so long as it joins one already in play. Then you can set one of your “followers” {aka game pieces} on top of it to claim part of a city, field, road, etc.
There’s lots of opportunities to totally ruin the plans of your opponents and requires some creative thinking. You only need two people to play, but can have up to five total. Like other games of this nature, there are expansion packs to buy…so you can add on nearly as many players as you fancy. A game takes about 45 minutes. If you like Settlers of Catan and Ticket to Ride, you’ll love this one.
Number two: Ca$h and Gun$
This is a party game, best with 6 people, but playable with only 4.
In this game each player is a crook in on a heist. Eight rounds are played. At the end of every round loot from a heist is split between the cons left standing.
At the beginning of the game each player is given 8 “bullet” cards and a foam gun. Three are shots and five are blanks. On each round every player places one of their bullets face down on the table and on the count of three aims his gun at a fellow player. After everyone seeings who is aiming at who, players have a chance to dodge the bullet by knocking over their game piece. If you dodge you are safe. If you choose not to dodge, you are taking a gamble on whether the proverbial bullet is real or a blank.
Next players turn in the bullets they placed on the table and the loot is split between players left standing or unwounded. The winner is the player with the most money at the end of the game.
It’s fun and fast paces and only takes about 30 minutes. It’s good for groups and groups that don’t know each other too well. If you like Wits and Wagers, Clue, or Apples to Apples–you’ll like this one too.
Lastly, let me tell you about Make ‘n’ Break. I really love this one.
It’s a very simple concept. On your turn roll the dice to determine how much time you’ll be given. Then start the timer. While the timer runs you attempt to build as many structures as you can to match designs laid out for you on cards using colorful Jenga-ish blocks. When the time is up you get points for the number of cards you completed.
See how much fun this family is having? {via the Make ‘n’ Break site.}
It’s a quick one, played in four rounds and is perfect for 2-4 players. Since it’s all about building and knocking down you’ll need to play it on a hard surface and shouldn’t try this one during quiet hours. It’s good for all ages. If you are into Jenga and Legos, you’ll like this one.
Happy playing!
by Amy | Jul 25, 2014 | Blog, Crafts, The Art of Art, The Art of Gathering, The Art of Projects
I have something very exciting to tell you about. It’s exciting for me, but mostly it’ll be exciting for the Practically Canadian followers out there.
A couple new services have been tacked on to my services menu. And they are way fun.
Starting now. Right now, The Art of Living Project is offering crafty classes for you and all your friends. Now, what on earth could that mean? Let me tell you.
I think lots of us can agree that crafting is super fun and awesome….and it only gets more awesome if you craft with friends. And it gets even better if you don’t have to spend time gathering supplies or finding a tutorial. And even more amazing if there was no Pinterest rage involved, because someone is there to help you complete a project that actually turns out the way it should and not on one of those “nailed-it” boards.
That’s where my crafty classes come in. Right now I have 15 projects available to choose from–everything from Pottery Barn knock offs to wreaths-a-plenty. Lots of others are on the way too. Projects on the horizon include DIY mercury glass, all kinds of paper flowers, burlap runners, glass painting, lamp wiring! So keep your eyes peeled and watch for new project postings.
You pick a class, I get the supplies, you have fun, you end up with something awesome and a new skill.
The best part about this type of class is that you will leave with the understanding of how to create something. For example, I offer a class that focuses on all kinds of burlap flowers. You’ll leave with some cool stuff and the know-how to do it again…the next time you want to embellish a wreath, or package, you’ll be able to whip up a flower and brag to your friends. It’s the whole teach-a-man-to-fish philosophy. I’m really into that.
Not only is it a way fun way to spend an afternoon or evening, it’s a great way to learn something new, create unique gifts and become a DIY master. After all…why should I be hoarding all the skills?
Oh…and if you and your cronies have found something that you are just dying to make…or have failed on before but would like to try again, all you have to do is get in touch with me and I’ll be happy to come up with a tutorial, gather supplies and plan a custom party just for you.
So, yeah. I’m pretty excited. And you should be too. Because this just might turn out to be your new favorite Practically Canadian pass-time.
Amy
PS–I’m also working on an artillery of painting party designs. Right now there is just one lonely painting in the gallery, but more are on the way!
by Amy | Jun 3, 2014 | Blog, The Art of Gathering
As you know, school is wrapping up. I know of a few schools that have let out already, but most of the teachers in my life are still at work this week. So, it’s crunch time.
If you haven’t been trolling Pinterest for months to find and create a super heart-warming gift for your kids teacher {or your bestie who happens to be a teacher} don’t sweat my pet. I’ve got a couple sure-to-please ideas for you.
First of all. This is my sister. She is a kindergarten teacher and a genius with children. At field day her kids found a lonely baby duck. Which she took home to my parents. Together she and my dad managed to get it adopted by another duck family on the river they live on. Amazing.
Second. I wasn’t even going to write this post. I thought it was too late. But then she called me on Saturday, raving about an amazing gift she got from a student. She described it as the best teacher gift she’s ever gotten. Here it is.
Pretty simple. Pretty smart. Tea container, drink mix, cute cup, good magazine, pretty napkins, sunscreen. Awesome.
Just for kicks I also asked a couple of her fellow teachers what a great, last minute gift would be. Their unanamous answer: A gift card with a note from the student. It’s just that simple. Another teacher approved idea is to give something for the classroom. Some teachers have a wish list online, so ask about that. Or buy something you notice they need. I’ve yet to meet a teacher that doesn’t enjoy a good Smencil or Sharpie. Or get a classroom toy {depending on grade level, of course}. Erin replaces her stock of baby dolls every year, other classrooms may have puzzles or educational games for the kids on hand.
Here’s what they said to avoid. Figurines. Knick nacks. Used items. Bad, Dollar Tree lotion. Food flavored lollipops. {Once Erin got one that was labeled in another language, seemed to be chicken flavored. That’s real. It happened.}
Happy End of the Year!
Amy
