tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23819887688010226242024-03-19T04:40:02.240-05:00Our Kitchen Table CreationsMandy Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16002267777187439837noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381988768801022624.post-62412867500988491902016-12-26T08:29:00.001-06:002016-12-26T08:54:07.429-06:00Merry Everything and Happy Always! {Christmas home tour}<img id="id_6519_f10c_44b8_3099" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bAeRLS2bolc/WGEpLLzX6OI/AAAAAAAABI4/65geyRc-iaQ/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><div>A quick evening Christmas tour (the pictures were taken over the past week as the happiness and love of the holiday filled my heart). Welcome... <img id="id_cb03_80a9_aa26_a057" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-e2FB093YBrU/WGEpLVPov8I/AAAAAAAABI8/jIIk2eLMu7w/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"> After we drove around looking at Christmas lights and listening to The Coffeehouse's acoustic mix of wonderful holiday music, this vignette on our porch just made me smile. This is on our front porch and through the window you can see the tree with presents piled around it! We spoiled our nieces and nephew for sure this year. However, don't think the presents are piled from the ground...Addison would never have allowed that. They are on an old suitcase and an ottoman so she cannot gain full and easy access to them. <br><div><img id="id_a825_f2a8_63d5_e943" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K8AeUgXVAcY/WGEpKjpXxeI/AAAAAAAABIw/4yBblIv2AYU/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"> <br></div><div>We were gifted the gorgeous poinsettia from our insurance agent and friends at his office. Very thoughtful and an amazing pop of color in our office...and it's huge (and still alive which we are pretty impressed with ourselves over)! I took this one night just before heading to bed. So peaceful. </div><div><img id="id_35e8_9713_af80_2d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1ESUMHgiXII/WGEpLDeEVaI/AAAAAAAABI0/fgVjiLzys8k/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"> Silver, white and burlap cover our tree this year while packages were wrapped in mostly red. <br></div><div><img id="id_333a_631e_77a1_be58" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g1Kg0Ic-UIA/WGEpLYAzdXI/AAAAAAAABJA/oSeF1b4NnG0/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"> Good night, from our humble home to yours! <br></div></div>Mandy Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16002267777187439837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381988768801022624.post-34697029409844015752016-07-03T11:57:00.001-05:002016-07-03T12:05:54.722-05:00Red, White and Blue: Dinner for Two!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXrvoGLMPUoCjuIK7WQuOtVKvZF0obt17LieJlPU4MqWZiVZT0ceFOOrYgN1kbeFpwqzx-6J2eSp5jLU4WrtYxKlQXg7c2EXZ098Qkqx47AbMkg5oK4lVan3r7L2IxWm2lW0fLarCCavRt/s640/blogger-image-1244401781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXrvoGLMPUoCjuIK7WQuOtVKvZF0obt17LieJlPU4MqWZiVZT0ceFOOrYgN1kbeFpwqzx-6J2eSp5jLU4WrtYxKlQXg7c2EXZ098Qkqx47AbMkg5oK4lVan3r7L2IxWm2lW0fLarCCavRt/s640/blogger-image-1244401781.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Just a fun dinner for two- Fajitas and a watermelon margarita for me and a New Castle for her. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmw7lnhXs0QZhb2-lMqf3mfOKrvzBwfjAGLo_r9nS3RjVvZ03ZePsCscdv1fn11D2OwyK5DJPKnzUGppXL77dw6sUv07IHE-v4xEfQyIugQ3_E4VcUDIWl9vzX1R3-LU3VCq5XM3OjfhL7/s640/blogger-image-2042797098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmw7lnhXs0QZhb2-lMqf3mfOKrvzBwfjAGLo_r9nS3RjVvZ03ZePsCscdv1fn11D2OwyK5DJPKnzUGppXL77dw6sUv07IHE-v4xEfQyIugQ3_E4VcUDIWl9vzX1R3-LU3VCq5XM3OjfhL7/s640/blogger-image-2042797098.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYtGyIlVfKsKvZU1GH6071QAB71AImJ_F4c0yQxPxnvvsdohtf4mTTixFjjmuXW8L0EZ-butD4NIP3On-6YAChk9-SE-GcPOmFihmo-cKYiNaohyphenhyphensAo3pG-LvnV1YzmwIkiI2DOM88Khu/s640/blogger-image-387425018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYtGyIlVfKsKvZU1GH6071QAB71AImJ_F4c0yQxPxnvvsdohtf4mTTixFjjmuXW8L0EZ-butD4NIP3On-6YAChk9-SE-GcPOmFihmo-cKYiNaohyphenhyphensAo3pG-LvnV1YzmwIkiI2DOM88Khu/s640/blogger-image-387425018.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I like to keep a fun tablescape on all the time. This July decoration let's me enjoy some of my grandmother's hand me downs with some of my pieces. I love this old tray I found at an estate sale with the little buckets. </div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div>Mandy Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16002267777187439837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381988768801022624.post-63970393340023914312016-07-03T11:38:00.001-05:002016-07-03T11:39:00.716-05:00The Cure<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisY3taaKdmZ-9KMjeCppRZpBjqORUeuMgJjG9fxMJxjiaNo7KJSDbQWmjbX46NYtUObiF331liJJhdqRNpCs6Ds-Qg1jQ-bg-3lFmtzesXzZmCMcbpDIcOpOeEyflOY8oR4T0uFiAwhkMG/s640/blogger-image--1962466617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisY3taaKdmZ-9KMjeCppRZpBjqORUeuMgJjG9fxMJxjiaNo7KJSDbQWmjbX46NYtUObiF331liJJhdqRNpCs6Ds-Qg1jQ-bg-3lFmtzesXzZmCMcbpDIcOpOeEyflOY8oR4T0uFiAwhkMG/s640/blogger-image--1962466617.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div>We are so blessed to have a dear friend who remembers our anniversary each summer. She's the friend who made my wedding dress. At the time that we were married, only Civil Unions had gone into effect and we would wait another year for our Civil Union to change into a marriage. When she was telling friends that she was making a Civil Union dress they asked if it was blue or gray. Which isn't so far off of a question as one might think. You see, we live a block from a Civil War reenactment that occurs each year on the same weekend we were planning our ceremony. This story has brought us so many laughs over the years. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnSPrUtGu5J7TDC-SVDXYDv22oXNUdCg0HgWu44mHtBgUrJARwpR0NPjhCH7JcO3lUGgMA2F5cVsUMeSW0_z1eC6YCpAyefG6A9oLBHvIVnNugK4crRdu2JQsruMJ8Hjopj72Y8vsoAb4/s640/blogger-image--1530469356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnSPrUtGu5J7TDC-SVDXYDv22oXNUdCg0HgWu44mHtBgUrJARwpR0NPjhCH7JcO3lUGgMA2F5cVsUMeSW0_z1eC6YCpAyefG6A9oLBHvIVnNugK4crRdu2JQsruMJ8Hjopj72Y8vsoAb4/s640/blogger-image--1530469356.jpg"></a></div>This same awesome friend also threw us an amazing bachorlette party before our big day. I love outdoor dinner parties and she planned the perfect evening of wine and food. The music at the winery has also given us many years of giggles but we will always remember that night! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Every year since then we have had our CURE (Civil Union Re Enactment). An evening with good food and drinks but even better friends enjoying life. This year we hosted in our gorgeous backyard. It's unseasonably cool this weekend and it was so comfortable sitting outside for an evening of wining and dining. The food was delicious- shrimp, fruit, fruit dip, lentil salad, anti-pasta platters, vegetable trays, hummus, champagne and champagne cookies. I had hibiscus flowers in elderberry syrup and had been waiting to use them in champagne. We learned about this drink while in Las Vegas a few years ago and I just love it! </font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexZ7-d8K938IEiZ6E7BztMXnpGT91QnhFJQ5mrfvBeR-1S2LlUbQzgFhK3Zgtu5LDwylZ2hUkZ8R7Q5JIZaxhAzGkQjSsb_Ry8bAXh9dOPJCoxYGvVFO57xrdwM-_NrHAOfb6LwDihlLU/s640/blogger-image-810979868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexZ7-d8K938IEiZ6E7BztMXnpGT91QnhFJQ5mrfvBeR-1S2LlUbQzgFhK3Zgtu5LDwylZ2hUkZ8R7Q5JIZaxhAzGkQjSsb_Ry8bAXh9dOPJCoxYGvVFO57xrdwM-_NrHAOfb6LwDihlLU/s640/blogger-image-810979868.jpg"></a></div>The tablescape was a simple one. I wasn't sure if it would be raining and we would have to move inside or into the cabana. The plates are actually plastic and I just got them from Pier 1 Imports on clearance! The napkins are also from Pier 1 Imports. I had fun making the place cards using wine corks from our favorite winery and old buttons. The base that I have our little flags in is candle holder that my grandmother had painted. Our wine glasses are little mason jars that we use for lots of our outdoor parties. I added the wine stem markers along with the buttons to make them fit for our theme. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPdsz6_NBOX54p8lVpzuQKadsjm2BTurmOh0Xmfr1k-4C4fDLrTpZoXnoTR5BomHnIT2XQRQXBu8T84GxfHbwPfMJcLd2BHCEzhKX3YgWAN9Tn7flQFfWqvLw8yW5925QnmPKIV-RPDR1/s640/blogger-image--347695468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPdsz6_NBOX54p8lVpzuQKadsjm2BTurmOh0Xmfr1k-4C4fDLrTpZoXnoTR5BomHnIT2XQRQXBu8T84GxfHbwPfMJcLd2BHCEzhKX3YgWAN9Tn7flQFfWqvLw8yW5925QnmPKIV-RPDR1/s640/blogger-image--347695468.jpg"></a></div></font></div>Mandy Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16002267777187439837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381988768801022624.post-28387338042813610712016-03-19T14:16:00.001-05:002016-03-19T14:16:24.891-05:00Garden CraftinessThere is a chill in the air today so my garden craftiness will happen in my studio. Em is bundled up working in our yard and playing with the pups. I've headed downstairs with the fireplace and pulled a blanket on me. I have a garden craft I started two weeks ago, today is the perfect time to finish it. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCaKTJ1jiqqqaxOyjmmmjG0QLisrldVWsKXU5ZvQWB5Y3PI_HB_bXSawmK1eSRVCEXIC2KClPLr_OgHjELgWejFSDv6arLn-YK2QJ7c7lt2IsEfhnP6fkwg1pnQicIz_txNWdpPBnXxne/s640/blogger-image-421885927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCaKTJ1jiqqqaxOyjmmmjG0QLisrldVWsKXU5ZvQWB5Y3PI_HB_bXSawmK1eSRVCEXIC2KClPLr_OgHjELgWejFSDv6arLn-YK2QJ7c7lt2IsEfhnP6fkwg1pnQicIz_txNWdpPBnXxne/s640/blogger-image-421885927.jpg"></a>It all started with this jar full of wine corks! I have run out of those little white sticks you write on what you've planted in the garden so you remember what is growing in each row. So I was looking around the studio for something I could make my own sticks from. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXill_7pihWbyyYdrRFa7eEjw_hKB3w6XxI505At8NHJ51ouM0FmQIzpZK11VowG3ciwqW9OLhMl2MblmafkZopRfFgbWgHy-IQmXSHA7wKdRC6QpLeoNTvStfLnkFdSsua-3knFYK_Cz/s640/blogger-image-151252386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXill_7pihWbyyYdrRFa7eEjw_hKB3w6XxI505At8NHJ51ouM0FmQIzpZK11VowG3ciwqW9OLhMl2MblmafkZopRfFgbWgHy-IQmXSHA7wKdRC6QpLeoNTvStfLnkFdSsua-3knFYK_Cz/s640/blogger-image-151252386.jpg"></a>So I labeled the wine corks with some of the things we will grow this year. This is where the project stopped a couple weeks ago. I've been thinking and thinking about how to put them into the rows. Of course, during this time Em ordered the white ones for me so I could just go with those. But these would be so cute in the garden! Today when I came down I wandered around the studio wondering what I could use for a base to slip into the ground. Good thing my friends always send the things they don't know what to do with my way! <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_2L8B7sJ57J7RD0g-QWfd1EmqNTq3K77voe-0N5TWw19dF6-x6GBdp3DXVXuipRQccafqq3Fy65bZyHptZU9JJAHF9H0D5TD2JC9DWVN1ST2mew8yTePpXv_sgX0luSSHBYN7H4e12pm/s640/blogger-image-384593536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_2L8B7sJ57J7RD0g-QWfd1EmqNTq3K77voe-0N5TWw19dF6-x6GBdp3DXVXuipRQccafqq3Fy65bZyHptZU9JJAHF9H0D5TD2JC9DWVN1ST2mew8yTePpXv_sgX0luSSHBYN7H4e12pm/s640/blogger-image-384593536.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">These came from my dear kindergarten teacher friend. She used them for sorting with her students. Perfect! <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdEVlo7yLNsQtaoNcYcUq4RxE_C_HCcE7ok6ZYFApr1SF6gKCJbAtnPMWtZDuV3Xr8aTHMVbqboxSPpf3ySSMIl2h8GMN4EYvPIWKPxDHamo2v4djp0OkCcW_3cY14NQtARjgfzUh3x_h/s640/blogger-image--519508499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdEVlo7yLNsQtaoNcYcUq4RxE_C_HCcE7ok6ZYFApr1SF6gKCJbAtnPMWtZDuV3Xr8aTHMVbqboxSPpf3ySSMIl2h8GMN4EYvPIWKPxDHamo2v4djp0OkCcW_3cY14NQtARjgfzUh3x_h/s640/blogger-image--519508499.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I found enough of the brown golf tees to use those with corks. They looked much better than the white ones! Just a drop of hot glue and ta-da!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTKhVpUENU87StplPFlJNIr7HaES9WzCvqwmLVBNxrXUW_PRTSayMd-nzDmwtghAOtXNd6be6WL5leilz3yV57FbD_ZGNf58ORx141hDy0TZ-AXzxHctCGFBUyxubBENkIQbxrR-RyEK2/s640/blogger-image--1934884659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTKhVpUENU87StplPFlJNIr7HaES9WzCvqwmLVBNxrXUW_PRTSayMd-nzDmwtghAOtXNd6be6WL5leilz3yV57FbD_ZGNf58ORx141hDy0TZ-AXzxHctCGFBUyxubBENkIQbxrR-RyEK2/s640/blogger-image--1934884659.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Oh my goodness! Love my kitchen herb garden. When my dad comes this week I'm getting a few more herbs but this is a good start. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33O7KzCj2X-UZ_i18witBNQWNCqkhxMo7gPPHJaaf15jgA8aC5VVJGflQhLzZ26q_9JTAI6reWp0j3Pdrelk6ph8wwwdMeDcNoqgyDEq70WmlWm2YQPZB6BFRa0-GeSNWJxckH_9Lq3Pd/s640/blogger-image--244997735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33O7KzCj2X-UZ_i18witBNQWNCqkhxMo7gPPHJaaf15jgA8aC5VVJGflQhLzZ26q_9JTAI6reWp0j3Pdrelk6ph8wwwdMeDcNoqgyDEq70WmlWm2YQPZB6BFRa0-GeSNWJxckH_9Lq3Pd/s640/blogger-image--244997735.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I couldn't wait to see them in the garden! Love! <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0T2Xy1niU_P5U4fty2ZnH_xhwdW3-yuvBDCwS8gAwkRmTQicX2ClrMQ_iR1ODYROJ1uT9OfD-StIItzJ8x1lmKuW1bgY3S_ByZ3m8rFxY2bVK1ZfUte_-zMbaEahJxZPcbBCOFB-W2jft/s640/blogger-image-1938983695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0T2Xy1niU_P5U4fty2ZnH_xhwdW3-yuvBDCwS8gAwkRmTQicX2ClrMQ_iR1ODYROJ1uT9OfD-StIItzJ8x1lmKuW1bgY3S_ByZ3m8rFxY2bVK1ZfUte_-zMbaEahJxZPcbBCOFB-W2jft/s640/blogger-image-1938983695.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Happy Spring! </div></div></div></div></div>Mandy Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16002267777187439837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381988768801022624.post-50434830219808639302015-06-18T15:40:00.001-05:002015-06-20T18:05:47.251-05:00My Summer "Off"<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I learned yesterday that we have only been on summer break for two weeks. It's amazing that it feels like it has been two months! Well, at least a month anyways. I'm sure other teachers have done this, probably on accident or regretted it as soon as they did it, where they think about how many weeks we actually have off. I did this today as the puppy took her afternoon nap in my arms. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjQ64r6SMCKfN2mchSBYUuMiFQDW1dOYVMYNY5U4sK2SLAogCQhHQe-DqejhrEW1MfHEZlxzug347Z0NtoyJuzz1qIh0URr-y3wXOCCuyBmVYq9KfRqafkQN-81V0bcXmM_zaXemrEpGd/s640/blogger-image-977808175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjQ64r6SMCKfN2mchSBYUuMiFQDW1dOYVMYNY5U4sK2SLAogCQhHQe-DqejhrEW1MfHEZlxzug347Z0NtoyJuzz1qIh0URr-y3wXOCCuyBmVYq9KfRqafkQN-81V0bcXmM_zaXemrEpGd/s640/blogger-image-977808175.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There are lots of links I'm stumbling past about the top five, ten or nine reasons we have our "whole summer off" and attempts to explain why it's so important for teachers to have the summer away from school. I'll jump on the bandwagon. Hey, it's summer and I actually have time to see the bandwagon AND jump on it! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here are how my ten weeks off this summer will be spent: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Week 1- I cry because school is out and have a crazy weird feeling I'm forgetting something. I reflect on if I did enough for my students and make notes for next year. I wrap up any loose ends from my classroom which usually means playing Tetris with odds and ends so I can start vacation. I eat lunch without methodically planning out every minute for the next three hours. The dogs play so much because mommy is home that they are exhausted by 8:00pm. Win! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Week 2- I rediscover my beautiful porches and all the other amazing rooms of my house. I relax in the quietness. I blog, make art and garden. I potty train a puppy and snuggle lots with the dogs. I also pin lots of ideas for my classroom on Pinterest and read a book about writer's notebooks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Week 3- I miss school so much I take a week long training. I'm so lucky to work in a district with amazing technology training during the summer. I work a full day every day this week at my local high school and come away with a crazy to-do list! During this time, I learn about new curriculum, redo and update my classroom website, dream about the cool techie toys out there. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Week 4- I spend every day with friends! So many I've missed during the year so I'm be booked for coffee dates, luncheons and dinners. When not with friends, I work on that to-do list I created last week for my classroom. Oh, and there's this great book by Ron Clark I've been wanting to read! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Week 5- Fourth of July is already upon us. I host friends and that means all those projects I neglected during the school year must get completed before company comes! Oh, and I'll read books I've picked up for my classroom library and complete one of those projects from the to-do list for my classroom. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Week 6- I get to travel to see my family and spend time with the littlest niece! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Week 7, 8, 9- I take a class to learn about the new science curriculum. I get to develop lessons for the NGSS (next generation science standards) so my students have hands-on, student centered activities. Collaboration with other teachers and dreaming big for what we want for our students is nice during this summer class. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Week 10- Time to prepare my classroom! The students come back in a week and I have tons of boxes to unpack, a library to reorganize and all those ideas I gathered all summer get to take flight now! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When you know a teacher "taking the summer off," realize that means we are recharging our batteries while preparing for our next school year! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div>Mandy Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16002267777187439837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381988768801022624.post-89828931864056174462015-06-15T07:56:00.001-05:002015-06-15T07:56:29.147-05:00This Beautiful Life: 2015The current collection at Kelly's Bakery & Cafe is titled The Beautiful Life: 2015. It has been awhile since I put my artwork together as a collection but they were all coming together so perfectly this time! I really enjoyed using some old letters that I bought when Blooming Grove Academy closed to create different sayings. I've used the letters on top of my upcycled cabinet and utilized various filters and editing features to get really cool images. <br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HC5lmYSGkW8k4z2EE1D3o0I97u4LkqFv3Z_g2zZLaz2k2jalq7lIfsKkkpgMdoGv1NwCtUnLeodm0HpP3Hyu_kublK36bzs1XaNPMdXVhFQxQV4kUDaCTCpXXI_dNVnErL60UGyoJYQ0/s640/blogger-image--1868631654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HC5lmYSGkW8k4z2EE1D3o0I97u4LkqFv3Z_g2zZLaz2k2jalq7lIfsKkkpgMdoGv1NwCtUnLeodm0HpP3Hyu_kublK36bzs1XaNPMdXVhFQxQV4kUDaCTCpXXI_dNVnErL60UGyoJYQ0/s640/blogger-image--1868631654.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I also used the letter to create parts of words in my collage pieces or to create negative space. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuH4-8Cc9ZT39KXkGDL2uBApqt4oNZ5GcG7vfSr_JwexJu8rcLYKvYqUt3tgtbUfJzgjPIG90ViBhjYZJnZt_k-K0RNFRT8iwv3UA7NseLbEWZcGHHsptR5eNFS4pZ3auYWEl-uF49V8h/s640/blogger-image-116167929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuH4-8Cc9ZT39KXkGDL2uBApqt4oNZ5GcG7vfSr_JwexJu8rcLYKvYqUt3tgtbUfJzgjPIG90ViBhjYZJnZt_k-K0RNFRT8iwv3UA7NseLbEWZcGHHsptR5eNFS4pZ3auYWEl-uF49V8h/s640/blogger-image-116167929.jpg"></a>{this piece has already lived several lives- it was a Christmas piece that I re-upcycled again into this! I love the square frames so much!}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyp0Lv52s60UfKVzY0iDw1d7DYxhNOjBJGsK0wzCARAAWtxPeGrKEHyfmAXLc8K-mfS7NAniAZA2GJDF0LC49T0BOHogLKVVaW0HLh3FDx2rqWoDBMovS1XtoE65aofrrTipsMVpm7LJMQ/s640/blogger-image-1441153714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyp0Lv52s60UfKVzY0iDw1d7DYxhNOjBJGsK0wzCARAAWtxPeGrKEHyfmAXLc8K-mfS7NAniAZA2GJDF0LC49T0BOHogLKVVaW0HLh3FDx2rqWoDBMovS1XtoE65aofrrTipsMVpm7LJMQ/s640/blogger-image-1441153714.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This framed collage piece is one of my favorites (I know, I shouldn't have favorites but this one really hits my favorite colors and techniques). Most of my frames come from estate sales, garage sales, friends leaving things on my porch or from roadside finds. However, sometimes stores have crazy sales on pieces. This had a horrifying pig picture in it so I got it for just dollars! Luckily, there were like three horrible pigs! I'll have to stay on the lookout for the wolf now! </div><br></div></div>Mandy Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16002267777187439837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381988768801022624.post-24103732762252935372015-01-04T19:20:00.001-06:002015-01-04T19:21:14.763-06:00Rainy Days and Mondays<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinG6agVRCC1JxlPkL3sbSK2uqyKJKsm4CN0DtI19V-nWIYDXqWwHTFiKJJdyCr7ebUE9vHshJcT3VxxhONK20tNctSrnJHfOx-XnzRabj0Cv2trLLeLqbwoqATABgtuCYeutM1-BdQJ69M/s640/blogger-image--520469515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinG6agVRCC1JxlPkL3sbSK2uqyKJKsm4CN0DtI19V-nWIYDXqWwHTFiKJJdyCr7ebUE9vHshJcT3VxxhONK20tNctSrnJHfOx-XnzRabj0Cv2trLLeLqbwoqATABgtuCYeutM1-BdQJ69M/s640/blogger-image--520469515.jpg"></a></div>It was a rainy week here in Illinois. We finally got some snow today but when I started this piece earlier during our winter break, it just kept raining. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXSTKXkRdbVeloCnErIql9ODtIj1BdQImZw4eH9DT_OYvnsiay_LIzx5_Ej8OhlvTSkpCYysjH6-E_4nEbNQKEy4bYJVfnE3sAdy0R2mRxfZrjuHCF767oDlDyMQ581LYCN-wejMLOw5A9/s640/blogger-image--464321432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXSTKXkRdbVeloCnErIql9ODtIj1BdQImZw4eH9DT_OYvnsiay_LIzx5_Ej8OhlvTSkpCYysjH6-E_4nEbNQKEy4bYJVfnE3sAdy0R2mRxfZrjuHCF767oDlDyMQ581LYCN-wejMLOw5A9/s640/blogger-image--464321432.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I found some paint that I had painted a cabinet with years ago! Probably nine years ago! So, when I opened the cans the paint had separated and made these wonderful colors. The density and texture of the paint was really interesting and I loved watching it on the canvas. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6hbCZi0GN_PwyA0JzBFSr6MExT_7DirEGInTX-9eE0kbE-qr5MHyTgytoiukGjpWoL33Q4hnV0LM6zqnPssQqxk2pveh40xkWxe4SW9vUkjZaN3Yn58WyQHo0SavJjm5HuoCx8hLvWTu/s640/blogger-image-122012316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6hbCZi0GN_PwyA0JzBFSr6MExT_7DirEGInTX-9eE0kbE-qr5MHyTgytoiukGjpWoL33Q4hnV0LM6zqnPssQqxk2pveh40xkWxe4SW9vUkjZaN3Yn58WyQHo0SavJjm5HuoCx8hLvWTu/s640/blogger-image-122012316.jpg"></a></div></div>Mandy Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16002267777187439837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381988768801022624.post-76582205125699617472014-11-01T10:23:00.001-05:002014-11-01T10:27:44.549-05:00At the Bloomington High School Craft Show<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNEs9MEYV4eEfBzRwm5mJOGMoC6Ol59oHIg6eZBqX8yOkgrQlcPjBrIYhoT-z7tJaAuhDb-kuBzaDcCqn4M02r9Ki9W13X-K3Mo4xu_E_rI7qTuAicznze88XBRkhw0dnPxH6AojUtfkr/s640/blogger-image-200565484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNEs9MEYV4eEfBzRwm5mJOGMoC6Ol59oHIg6eZBqX8yOkgrQlcPjBrIYhoT-z7tJaAuhDb-kuBzaDcCqn4M02r9Ki9W13X-K3Mo4xu_E_rI7qTuAicznze88XBRkhw0dnPxH6AojUtfkr/s640/blogger-image-200565484.jpg"></a>Come see us today and check out the newest creations! </div>Mandy Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16002267777187439837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381988768801022624.post-45576016106321965902014-07-09T09:36:00.003-05:002014-07-09T09:36:57.758-05:00A Show For LukahThe summer show at Kelly's Bakery and Café is on display now. I'm excited to share this with you but needed a bit of time to find the right words to share about the show. You'll notice the pieces look much different than my previous pieces...that's because I had a lot of help making this show!!! <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKIbjmFGA2prZZMp-BMgWMby3CynLrEWwpQG3XG6uCVbKhPlNGPxQGjBqpdHMYDhg2dR1PtPpGAo5u_B5F3USfBwnZTxN92YN4uNtMsBNb6pVfQ_63xw6-DcVxTghiOVfUkP13QZoCZAT/s640/blogger-image--1686586359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKIbjmFGA2prZZMp-BMgWMby3CynLrEWwpQG3XG6uCVbKhPlNGPxQGjBqpdHMYDhg2dR1PtPpGAo5u_B5F3USfBwnZTxN92YN4uNtMsBNb6pVfQ_63xw6-DcVxTghiOVfUkP13QZoCZAT/s640/blogger-image--1686586359.jpg" /></a><br />
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This year my class was very responsive when they heard about others in need. They were a chatty class but they loved with their entire hearts. It was a pleasure guiding their learning during the 2013-2014 school year. As part of our social studies work throughout the year, we had written Christmas cards for the local cancer center, collected food for the food pantry, organized the Easter Seals money collection and collected canning jars for a dearly loved teacher at our school. As we wrapped up our final social studies lessons the kids asked if we could do one more community project. At our career day in May, an artist came to share her artwork and poetry. That got me thinking! I had also been thinking a lot {A LOT} about Lukah, a former softball player I had coached, whose family was raising money for a service dog. So, this show was born! <br />
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The kids created one of a kind artwork pieces. I had a lesson on collage making and using various techniques to create depth all prepared to share with them. One hand went up as I started teaching, "Can we draw?" I nodded yes and went back to my excitement to share with them collaging. Another hand went up, "But is it okay if we draw?" Again I nodded. Back to stippling paint and getting the edges of a torn piece of paper to disappear into the artwork. The hand that went up this time belonged to one of the best drawers I have ever had in class. I said, "Do you just want to draw?" I already knew his answer.<br />
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We started passing out paper and explaining how to plan out your piece to allow for margins with the frame and/or mat. The kids didn't want the mats that were in the frames. They wanted more room to DRAW! So, we just let them go. AND they created amazing pieces that reflect who they are!!! I love them all so much. This has definitely been one of my favorite shows to hang. We finished the artwork on a Friday and then I hung the show over the weekend. Watching their faces as I showed them the pictures of their artwork on the walls of a local restaurant was incredible. I hope that you'll stop by the café, if you are in Bloomington, and check out their work. It will be displayed through July...or until it is sold out! The kids' pieces are for sale for $5. In addition to the kid's pieces, I am making small pieces that are $10 a piece and all proceeds from the small pieces and kids' pieces go towards Lukah getting her service dog. . <br />
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So now I get to share WHY this show is so important to me. For 12 years, that's a long time, Emily and I coached softball for the Clinton High School team. We loved the community and family and especially the student athletes we got to work with each season. Emily also coached for the junior high school team and I helped with pitching when I could {my first priority has always been to my classroom and fall was a hard time to get away}. <br />
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Our final year of coaching brought Lukah to our team. She had worked with Emily in junior high and we absolutely adore her. She brings a light and a spirit to everything she does. Her smile and that dimple bring happiness to the saddest of souls. So when the seizures started, we were devastated. Of course we feared we had pushed her too much during try-outs week. You see, Lukah wanted to make the team and wanted to do it on her talent and not that fact that we adored her. So she worked so hard that week of try-outs. Challenged the upper classmen and gave the underclassmen a run for their money. It wasn't only her amazing heart that won her a spot that week...it was her talent. We were so excited by her reaction and enthusiasm to be a part of the team, we drove home on cloud nine. However, those clouds turned dark and scary very quickly. I can't imagine the terror the family was in as the seizures started. One here. One there. Another one. It is all such a blur. She would come to practice on the days she was seizure free and cheer on her teammates. Then more seizures. And fear came. How in the world do we keep this child safe? What can be done? How can we help the family? What do we if she starts seizing and we've taken her with the team to Podunkville for a game? It was decided that she could not travel with the team unless a parent came with her. The seizures kept coming and we watched Lukah's high school life drastically change. Through it all though, you can still find that beautiful smile and that adorable dimple lighting up the world for others. <br />
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So, when I found out the family had found a possible solution for helping Lukah get a bit of her independence back, I kept wondering how I could help them fundraise. If Lukah gets a service dog she will have a companion with her at all times that can protect her from the seizures. There doesn't seem to be a solution of stopping them totally but the dog will be a miracle for her and allow her to return to things she's enjoys. </div>
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Please check out the blog that Lukah's mother is using to share the story. She writes from the heart and, as Andi explained to me, "I write it from a mother’s perspective looking in. Goal is to raise awareness about the disorder (and it also is cathartic for me to write to get the feelings out <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>). My wish is for someone else who is suffering to stumble upon it and find it helpful." </div>
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<a href="http://www.lookingforlukah/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><u>www.lookingforlukah</u></span></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukSGfYt2ev9T4ot6BaBOiHoUQGKxM6PM3AbdnlB3y2iBk6gaWWFhHqz6e-wLxzGfsAw-vWKNNK4M-yomCkiiz1753SK04P6RKUCMRvIXQsff_r4fZitEgQ1y6eKSZ6tbAO-vGKb7lWyqD/s640/blogger-image--2062886159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukSGfYt2ev9T4ot6BaBOiHoUQGKxM6PM3AbdnlB3y2iBk6gaWWFhHqz6e-wLxzGfsAw-vWKNNK4M-yomCkiiz1753SK04P6RKUCMRvIXQsff_r4fZitEgQ1y6eKSZ6tbAO-vGKb7lWyqD/s640/blogger-image--2062886159.jpg" /></a></div>
Mandy Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16002267777187439837noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381988768801022624.post-53800657130274237062014-06-07T17:12:00.001-05:002014-06-07T17:13:02.632-05:00Here's the story {part two}When your life changes you usually have absolutely no idea that a life altering event, person, conversation is about to be introduced to your little world. So going to pick raspberries and strawberries with my berry picking ninja friends seemed like a normal day. Until my friend started sharing about these classes she was going to in order to get her foster care license. She told of friends that had done this and now were on the path to adopt. Tears were steaming down my face as I listened to her knowing that this car ride, this conversation, this door standing wide open for me to walk through was not an accident. I don't remember picking berries that day but I was the berry picking ninja of the day as my mind raced. <div><br></div><div>A research mission was launched when I got home and by September we were to start our foster trainings and home study and licensing agents being in our home and preparing our home for a little one to come. The official word came in June that we were licensed. And we waited. </div><div><br></div><div>And as we waited there was this nagging little seed inside my brain that maybe we shouldn't give up all hope on having our own baby. That maybe there was one more doctor we hadn't seen, one more procedure to try, just one more prayer that needed to be said. So we jumped and gave another a try, completed one more procedure and were once again told that our chances didn't look any better. </div><div><br></div><div>Over a bottle (or two) of wine we decided to give it to the garden. We have seen (a dozen times) The Odd Life of Timothy Green. Time and time again I've said, "let's do that! Let's make our list and give it to the garden." My passion for cheesy movie cliches and grand gestures isn't shared and I often get a confused, blank stare. But on this night, after a bit of wine and lots of talk, the agreement was made that we would give our responsibility in the bearing of children up. We wrote an agreement that we would no longer force ourselves through infertility treatments or discussion of what we would 'do' next in regards to completing our family. Instead we would turn over all trust to God and what was to be, would be. So we wrote the agreement. We signed the agreement. We gave it to the most stubborn, yet strong, plant in our garden- the oregano. We agreed that from that moment if one of us started to panic and think...I'm a chronic over thinker!...we would remind each other that we gave it to the oregano to protect and to be quiet and wait for God's plan. Then we turned on the sprinkler, after digging a hole beneath the oregano and dropping in our agreement, and danced in our garden. </div><div><br></div><div>And peace came. A beautiful, wonderful, amazing peace entered my heart and soul. And I knew that we had so many blessings and having children to care for in our home would not make me a better person. I started to forgive my body for its imperfections and I began to love myself. I routinely counted blessings (friends, family, nieces, experiences, faith, safety, good food, the opportunity to teach, a school I love, all things small and big got counted). </div><div><br></div><div>One morning, as I was leaving to teach summer school, I looked in the mirror and was genuinely happy. I was confident, loved and enjoyed the things I was doing in my life. My aurora was aglow and all was right with the world. </div><div><br></div><div>If I could have known that moment was fleeting and just a short-lived moment. Two days later, our life would change. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjr8dWbVhE3V1Qgvd2IWUfOjCYAe4YnCxrNNYxSRI3L0_7pniUE9OxSB-bjZwoSJFsbZob7bv-F-2Z8-UnXiNsueWrB0WYswX1h9tBtRluwHpTGcEsWfs-GSv0gw9_bxC5XFntRBCGkAd/s640/blogger-image--450277629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjr8dWbVhE3V1Qgvd2IWUfOjCYAe4YnCxrNNYxSRI3L0_7pniUE9OxSB-bjZwoSJFsbZob7bv-F-2Z8-UnXiNsueWrB0WYswX1h9tBtRluwHpTGcEsWfs-GSv0gw9_bxC5XFntRBCGkAd/s640/blogger-image--450277629.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Mandy Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16002267777187439837noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381988768801022624.post-91172468160648135712014-06-07T16:34:00.001-05:002014-06-07T16:34:46.272-05:00Welcome to my Fairy GardensIt is a rainy afternoon and there is no place where the rain sounds better than on my front porch. While we are here, you should say hello to the fairies! <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqd2Ob3oq-eL-f-GBLNBb-_Ej-JZqF_5BATA3UsQR2Yl-WUCJakUygO4-v68ilM5AIkUnr14GAnC4O5xsaPUgpfmJIBtVi1qeZQLMU65YKKYw2L1_HvMnMlVgiXxsMVbtyNvkGrFUzREm8/s640/blogger-image--704383908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqd2Ob3oq-eL-f-GBLNBb-_Ej-JZqF_5BATA3UsQR2Yl-WUCJakUygO4-v68ilM5AIkUnr14GAnC4O5xsaPUgpfmJIBtVi1qeZQLMU65YKKYw2L1_HvMnMlVgiXxsMVbtyNvkGrFUzREm8/s640/blogger-image--704383908.jpg"></a>No contemplation is complete without a favorite cup of coffee! I love her peaceful little face. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgRstZaN34bAdcVaaTBH1QLQuVs5ryP8N8JwSqDvCW9aEG6oLB4e4hXlqTVbValbO9ISB8U1jNXzh9DXW-jrijQg4LOI5-0tuibowwzwyCki23covPWlK4L318ND3A4CKjK9Stwu1uXyV/s640/blogger-image-839628693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgRstZaN34bAdcVaaTBH1QLQuVs5ryP8N8JwSqDvCW9aEG6oLB4e4hXlqTVbValbO9ISB8U1jNXzh9DXW-jrijQg4LOI5-0tuibowwzwyCki23covPWlK4L318ND3A4CKjK9Stwu1uXyV/s640/blogger-image-839628693.jpg"></a></div>The cup of coffee was bought with a teacher appreciation gift card from Hobby Lobby. The candles, bench, banner and fairy we purchased at this amazing little fairy shop in Kansas City when I went home to spoil my mom for Mother's Day. I bought mom several goodies for her fairy garden while there as well! The sea glass rocks were found at Growing Grounds as were several of the plants. Isn't that ladder on my Nell Hill yellow vase too cute?! My dear friend left me Jack Sticks in my mailbox the last week of school. I'm sure it is a game or something but several of the pieces made it to my fairy gardens. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvUgmqoiwCboy4U1o7bcVG2hpbjst1mbPcRlteuYQERvcezDgY6VFoSQxfrZ2EcJ2h2Gl3STgPQLQki8xjfe6cgp2IG-DJFt1ATSNO8CHO2Ep-FyWcKeDrGppNIyCvbXKcPCkuHChzRDi/s640/blogger-image-1987057026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvUgmqoiwCboy4U1o7bcVG2hpbjst1mbPcRlteuYQERvcezDgY6VFoSQxfrZ2EcJ2h2Gl3STgPQLQki8xjfe6cgp2IG-DJFt1ATSNO8CHO2Ep-FyWcKeDrGppNIyCvbXKcPCkuHChzRDi/s640/blogger-image-1987057026.jpg"></a></div>This fairy flits around among the rosemary. Her bucket and water can came from Casey's Garden Shop while the flowers were doll hose accessories from Hobby Lobby. There are more of the Jack Stick pieces- a rake, hoe and shovel. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRv7anndjK6UwhGPXvfedPebW6mwaInp55LQpWOPhZaxFH8tp-W1HN7cq9t2lSn_rtn-Dx_97oLAYb9-KWFZYx_Kco_0ih085GCbOWNlzQR_bGG_QBwCIw6-A3hfqjxEp7HOLtBcaUUan/s640/blogger-image-1495991189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRv7anndjK6UwhGPXvfedPebW6mwaInp55LQpWOPhZaxFH8tp-W1HN7cq9t2lSn_rtn-Dx_97oLAYb9-KWFZYx_Kco_0ih085GCbOWNlzQR_bGG_QBwCIw6-A3hfqjxEp7HOLtBcaUUan/s640/blogger-image-1495991189.jpg"></a></div>I'm determined to bring back the ivy that is trying to die. It struggled to make the journey home from Kansas City and started to die as school was finishing up. Be strong little root! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxsVOQsZ4Hdh3VYOOurC5BSU7c5mpCYny5W37nDi8kxj4bCljplbwHgZt5rExiCRp59AwaGoW6KQ2je7RR8_yq4l68gsjzZjrXM5HeKDR2Pt41c85TWBBwFzJGUtWwzkHuuj5Xj0qd4h78/s640/blogger-image--1290505607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxsVOQsZ4Hdh3VYOOurC5BSU7c5mpCYny5W37nDi8kxj4bCljplbwHgZt5rExiCRp59AwaGoW6KQ2je7RR8_yq4l68gsjzZjrXM5HeKDR2Pt41c85TWBBwFzJGUtWwzkHuuj5Xj0qd4h78/s640/blogger-image--1290505607.jpg"></a></div>This vignette makes me smile every day! The old table was rescued from the side of the road. We threw it in the back of the Jeep while cruising around one Sunday afternoon several years ago. The wooden ampersand was found on sale for 75% off when mom and I were shopping for Mother's Day. The lantern we just got at Target as a sort of experiment. They have this whole line of solar power lanterns and I wondered if the work. We got one of the less expensive ones and I love it! It is perfect with these other pieces and then at night gives off the prettiest glow! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2sx7VD6fkPDgkUHT-MiqiguR-eWDc4msfRth3Ftda35Rog5lJmZIsjp0Vst8lbwSYwZJEvh476wTrT0X3c69Ojb8l08YPik0Ub2O4XurQj_rEo_kELwvRjRhr3C3h409WcwFuXE2FVC2/s640/blogger-image-2016446958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2sx7VD6fkPDgkUHT-MiqiguR-eWDc4msfRth3Ftda35Rog5lJmZIsjp0Vst8lbwSYwZJEvh476wTrT0X3c69Ojb8l08YPik0Ub2O4XurQj_rEo_kELwvRjRhr3C3h409WcwFuXE2FVC2/s640/blogger-image-2016446958.jpg"></a></div>I need a fairy for this pot. I've got my peaceful fairy in her garden, the flitting fairy working on saving her ivy and I need a playful fairy for the bike. So I guess I will have to head to see my mom so we can go to the 'fairy garden meca' together! Dad has to drive because it's super hard to find! </div>Mandy Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16002267777187439837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381988768801022624.post-59860918669935164902014-06-06T09:12:00.001-05:002014-06-06T09:12:55.256-05:00Welcome back!Hello! I've missed...well, the list of things I've been missing is very long! I've missed blog land so very much. So, I've returned.<div><br></div><div> I'm glad you are joing me at my kitchen table again. I'm feeling inspired and ready to share this crazy life with you all. I'm working on pieces in the studio and creating in the kitchen. I'm sprinkling my home with happiness and stumbling through gardening. There is also a journey that I've been on that I'd love to share with you! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYER0MYBCbgaVsw0uFKT4Au9PA-4UhGEPwdcyH8rpHv8h89RTsJ8sVFaNox5BddRGriOjxvShVnCMhKw6DY88YWzEyKUAciAFb8Tird06AlkYz0OtoY5tQ73n-p1l1t8DNOIHOvxfkh-xv/s640/blogger-image--588871054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYER0MYBCbgaVsw0uFKT4Au9PA-4UhGEPwdcyH8rpHv8h89RTsJ8sVFaNox5BddRGriOjxvShVnCMhKw6DY88YWzEyKUAciAFb8Tird06AlkYz0OtoY5tQ73n-p1l1t8DNOIHOvxfkh-xv/s640/blogger-image--588871054.jpg"></a></div>Welcome summer break!!!!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6wkruLHc8k8OE_JtiBCUGLHPzMp1PBjdSZ5AAXVOIl5IbS3hGr39bOWHf321-6C64m3RUj0lpFVVBpOu692mWWD1GMK8wzxYm80oSlqX-qGcMxLPKu34CDYVrwOn9IfYvmVZZsjkme_1/s640/blogger-image-1220335135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6wkruLHc8k8OE_JtiBCUGLHPzMp1PBjdSZ5AAXVOIl5IbS3hGr39bOWHf321-6C64m3RUj0lpFVVBpOu692mWWD1GMK8wzxYm80oSlqX-qGcMxLPKu34CDYVrwOn9IfYvmVZZsjkme_1/s640/blogger-image-1220335135.jpg"></a></div>So much love!!!</div>Mandy Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16002267777187439837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381988768801022624.post-69163031893311125242014-04-21T16:37:00.001-05:002014-06-07T16:37:09.991-05:00Here's the story {part one}Because sometimes you just want to clear things up with a simple answer...this is the long version of the simple answer (in several parts)! And I don't do condensed versions- they don't seem honest. <div><br></div><div>For the better part of the last decade, my beautiful, stunning and amazing partner in this life and I have attempted to complete our family. We have seen specialists in Chicago, Indiana, Champaign, Peoria and our hometown. Each giving us different answers. Each offering varied solutions. Each leading to a dead-end, empty promise filled roads that were lined with gold we just didn't have to spend. Tests. Probes. Pills. Shots. Pictures. Scans. Meetings. Cat scans. MRIs. Three surgerical procedures. Tears. Lots of tears. But we stood hand-in-hand and took every blow together. The hardest losses were those we suffered when we thought we were actually winning. Those devastated us. Devastated our family and friends as well. </div><div><br></div><div>So we kept busy. We both have careers we love and have worked so hard to cultivate. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We've taken extra classes, gotten extra degrees and taken hold of every opportunity we could.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> Teaching is my true passion and there is no job I would pick over being a teacher. I love my students. The harder they are to love, the more I love them. I take this honor of spending my days with them very seriously but I always remember to laugh with them too. I get so nervous and anxious to meet them the first week that I can't sleep. Hoping that I will be what they need and that I will be able to meet them where they are causing insomnia. Then at the end of the year I cry. I cry huge tears as I hug them and send them to the unknown. When they come back to visit, oh! I just can't even explain that feeling. It's nothing short of amazing. </span></div><div><br></div><div>We kept busy by coaching. We gave back to a sport we absolutely love. Softball gave us a chance to play outside and share our passion. First at different schools and then we found a small town where the players captured our hearts. We love our players and cared for them as they were our family. Hmm. Maybe we were completing our picture and didn't even realize it. We've cheered "our girls" on not only from the coach's box and dugout but from the sidelines of life as well. We've cried many tears of joy for them. And with them. We've been blessed. </div><div><br></div><div>During this decade we've loved our family and created a circle of friends that are the family members we would pick for ourselves. We enjoyed dinners and holidays together. We celebrated milestones and consoled family members and friends over the bumps of life. When we have fallen down, there were others to pick us up. We've been blessed. </div><div><br></div><div>Above all, we have created a life together based on love and trust and support. Our relationship is my everything. Having a love I can laugh with, shed tears with and who knows when to hold me or when to make me laugh is priceless. And during the past two years, just as in the decade of infertility that preceded it, that is where our strength has come from. Love and trust. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPe02LpQDcIRZAC1aL1IeqZEBHR3wVKqhbgE6kVumr5A2VY7r14x6vuMORSGxx0WLvOxLj7prvzzZ5DDjVEVAQXPJRyBHV1Nv2WgBh311q56j0TuhxCP4hGfIGX4wtNf5882TCqy4mwdc/s640/blogger-image-2096138575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPe02LpQDcIRZAC1aL1IeqZEBHR3wVKqhbgE6kVumr5A2VY7r14x6vuMORSGxx0WLvOxLj7prvzzZ5DDjVEVAQXPJRyBHV1Nv2WgBh311q56j0TuhxCP4hGfIGX4wtNf5882TCqy4mwdc/s640/blogger-image-2096138575.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Mandy Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16002267777187439837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381988768801022624.post-89136997889792979292013-04-07T22:10:00.001-05:002014-06-06T09:21:42.997-05:00Guest Blogger!<br>
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I’m so pleased to be guest blogging for my wonderful friend, Kelly at www.ayearofpinterestcooking.wordpress.com. I’ve enjoyed trying recipes she’s shared this year on her blog. I still love the cinnamon rolls in the waffle maker. It cracks me up to find unique ways to use things we already have. I’d like to share my Sunday Pinterest-Inspired Brunch from this weekend. There are several recipes that we tried out. My wonderful taste-tester spouse is very honest about my cooking (for fear of having to eat a bad dish again, I think!) and so that’s where the words for the statuses came from. Enjoy being at our kitchen table for brunch!<br>
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Hash brown Cups<br>
We love hashbrowns. But babysitting them in the pan on a Sunday morning when you have tons of other things to do just stinks! So I was very excited when I found this recipe. I adjusted the recipe so it would feed the two of us. The blog said that reheating these was not as delicious so I trusted that.<br>
http://www.recipesquickneasy.com/parmesan-hash-brown-cups/<br>
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5 oz. Simply Potatoes shredded hash browns<br>
1 green onion (chopped, use the white and green parts)<br>
1/8 c. grated parmesan cheese<br>
1 t. salt<br>
1/2 t. pepper<br>
1/2 T. olive oil<br>
*makes five muffin cups<br>
Preheat oven to 350 and coat a muffin tin with cooking spray.<br>
Combine all ingredients.<br>
Spoon mixture evenly into muffin tin evenly and then press into the cups using the back of a spoon.<br>
Cook for about an hour.<br>
Status: They are good.<br>
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<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHVnhPfHWgF-4u3QmKXFpgFwdp0KeCHXwAzvm-HcCzjpa56DoL_RHblxevNe0oBR7VWm0G2xDE5cPfKNNzDf3WCen0F1lIJ_iWzu7QTBaN_kVpQmwCiaHVIWpPpNgEy1G0aJwqsR2C9Er/s640/blogger-image-2109951172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHVnhPfHWgF-4u3QmKXFpgFwdp0KeCHXwAzvm-HcCzjpa56DoL_RHblxevNe0oBR7VWm0G2xDE5cPfKNNzDf3WCen0F1lIJ_iWzu7QTBaN_kVpQmwCiaHVIWpPpNgEy1G0aJwqsR2C9Er/s640/blogger-image-2109951172.jpg"></a></div> <br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkguKIJuCOSgsmylsOAQ0Bk9MEiGLB7IDoa2BZUzcd-86Jp_uo2t5oMpFd0iQB40AQSwO4Q6btQrPmUI07ARaI1Oiqq0rN4GHGBKrwqq4tOVXougBRghxjjHz1Rut5InXdMzmBv_Un5xnj/s640/blogger-image--861627299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkguKIJuCOSgsmylsOAQ0Bk9MEiGLB7IDoa2BZUzcd-86Jp_uo2t5oMpFd0iQB40AQSwO4Q6btQrPmUI07ARaI1Oiqq0rN4GHGBKrwqq4tOVXougBRghxjjHz1Rut5InXdMzmBv_Un5xnj/s640/blogger-image--861627299.jpg"></a></div>Mandy Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16002267777187439837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381988768801022624.post-57510682204856611192013-02-05T07:00:00.000-06:002014-06-06T09:18:45.702-05:00I got it from my momma!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiPKhx3sNgpVV5lKkX6tK96ieCIEgMQlJ0fClSNk7SFIdM71mgVaixbcEVYUg9l3Bgp42nUOqFxbN2K6ulCYdYudKmY2hTZqQZDe5VrqgfBHGDVF3YGz32vIrQ-AY0mwkjBfo70WDeFWK/s1600/IMG_0712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiPKhx3sNgpVV5lKkX6tK96ieCIEgMQlJ0fClSNk7SFIdM71mgVaixbcEVYUg9l3Bgp42nUOqFxbN2K6ulCYdYudKmY2hTZqQZDe5VrqgfBHGDVF3YGz32vIrQ-AY0mwkjBfo70WDeFWK/s400/IMG_0712.JPG" width="400"></a></div>
Of all the things I got from my momma, I'm glad I got her eye for colors, textures, patterns, design and putting all those together. I wish I had gotten her knack for cleaning as well. But I didn't. So I spend today playing in my studio using her pieces as inspiration for my own creations. Not cleaning my house. Again today. I'm okay with this. <br>
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These are three more of the pieces that I picked up from mom while home visiting her. Each time she pulled out a piece she had completed I squealed with delight. Mom has a great technique for antiquing frames and adding texture to them. She's only shared a few of her tips and tricks with me. I think that the only way she'll share more is if I go home and visit her more!<br>
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These are on display at Kelly's Bakery and Café during the month of February. I love how her pieces look with mine up on the walls! <br>
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Mandy Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16002267777187439837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381988768801022624.post-67036873323331836252013-02-04T07:00:00.000-06:002014-06-06T09:20:49.690-05:00Have Another Cup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSU5AlvI_7Pf88UzP1cFFyGcIU0bTsiFAalUN970JsTP0kWM4LHYl01gusU6-zfuCy9xUSGFtl5AAM-Q6UML0uGWeqKtTb74OHub-dpw66OD2RV5Lns-REomf6VgvFzIhk6ol3FJuZTSB/s1600/IMG_0692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSU5AlvI_7Pf88UzP1cFFyGcIU0bTsiFAalUN970JsTP0kWM4LHYl01gusU6-zfuCy9xUSGFtl5AAM-Q6UML0uGWeqKtTb74OHub-dpw66OD2RV5Lns-REomf6VgvFzIhk6ol3FJuZTSB/s400/IMG_0692.JPG" width="300"></a></div>
The background for this pieces was a happy accident. As I worked on other pieces I noticed this beautiful texture happening on the paper I was working on top of. I loved that the square where I had mainly worked was a little bit lighter and framed the coffee cup. <br>
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I love the spray of the ink and the way the it adds to the texture. </div>
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I did add some highlights to the dots and throughout the background.</div>
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Mandy Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16002267777187439837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381988768801022624.post-3379549271434922592013-02-03T19:00:00.000-06:002014-06-06T09:20:32.513-05:00Eddie-No-No<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My little helper. His name is Eddie. I use the term "helper" very loosely. Not sure that we have a shared vision of his antics. I'm sure he really thinks he is helping me. He is confused by the stress he causes. He's often referred to as Eddie-No-No. How Eddie came to be a part of family is an interesting story.<br>
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We had a cat, Otis, that we had saved from under a porch in our former neighborhood. We had an old cat named Milo when we found Otis was it the perfect name to round out our duo. We lost Milo six years ago but Otis kept going strong. Until in the fall of 2011 when we noticed that Otis was suffering from some stomach issues. He would walk backwards when he was hurting. The vet gave us remedies but the little guy would hurt so badly. We knew that our time with him was running out. <br>
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While getting ready for our October art show in 2011, Otis snuck out the front door. He had done this before and he'd stay out a few minutes and return to us. He had even stayed out over night with other alley cats partying it up a time or two. When we came home from the show we were exhausted. We woke in the morning, put food in the animals' bowls and rehashed the evening. As we poured our second cups of coffee, we knew something was wrong. We started calling for Otis. And calling. And calling. Calls became panicked shouts and we realized he was in none of his normal hiding spots in the house and not waiting for us on the porch. Thanks to FaceBook the news spread to our friends and we had search party in full swing within a few minutes. We looked everywhere. We had people in cars, on foot, on bikes, running around, talking to neighbors and there was no sign of our little guy. They say that tom-cats go away when their time comes because they are born free and that's how they want to go. That wasn't much help when multiple friends told us this. We continued to look. By November we had decided that we didn't need to go out everyday before and after work to search for him. We didn't stop looking when we would drive around. We even stopped one day in December when we thought we saw him. We never did find him.<br>
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With two dogs, one of which has developed seizures and requires a lot of attention and stability in her life, I say she's a bit autistic and being a teacher that makes sense to me with how to take the best care of her, we decided NO MORE CATS...for awhile. We should have shared this revelation with our family. Well, particularly, our brother and nieces. And we should have done so before Christmas!<br>
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I don't know about you but holidays can be stressful. Ha. I'm trying to be nice. Holidays ARE stressful. I have a bit of perfectionist in me and it has taken me ten years to find the perfect balance for hosting a "perfect" Christmas. I had snacks ready for the early comers. I had plans for roast and chicken and enough sides that even the pickiest eater in our family could be happy. The cookie plates were adorable. I was well-enough rested and had eaten breakfast and drank the perfect amount of coffee. As I turned to my Emily and said, "We are so ready this year," I should have knocked on wood. <br>
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Her mom came in with a bag of what I was content to keep a mystery to myself. Emily took the bag and I knew she could handle the last minute addition to dinner, the final gift that needed wrapped, a casserole to throw together, a stocking to stuff. I got drinks for the family and got the littlest niece busy with a job I had kept just for her as the family came. Another part of my perfect plan!<br>
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More family streamed in the house. We've got this. {Where was that wood I needed to be knocking on?!} Someone else knocked. Why were they knocking? I walked towards the front door to see Emily opening it and a little kitten being placed in her arms. What is this? What?! A kitten for Christmas?! I had thrown out the litter pans. We had no cat food let alone kitten food. And it's Christmas Day. Okay. Okay....then the littlest niece says, "Don't you just love him Aunt Mandy?" Well. I adore her so of course I hugged her and thanked her. I then did ask if she wanted him to stay at her house to which she said she already had two dogs. I excused myself to the kitchen.<br>
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I reemerged with an extra strong Dirty Shirley {that's a Shirley Temple with vodka and today it had some extra vodka} and a smile. Emily was already smitten with the kitten. She'd have a thousand animals if I wasn't careful. Eddie fit into the palm of our hand. I think Emily held him until he no longer fit into the palm of her hand. <br>
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Over a year later Eddie is growing on me. Or I'm getting used to his antics. He steals my paintbrushes. He rubs against my artwork and attacks my hands while I type. Eddie eats bread that's on the counter- he tears the bag open and shares to loaf with the dogs. Randomly we hear crashes from other rooms and later find he has knocked over things in my studio or off the stove or from the counter. Water glasses are Eddie's. All of them! He sticks his head into your coffee cup for a sip. Beer isn't safe on a table as he'll help himself. Eddie drives the autistic doggie crazy as he has his own agenda and schedule. When I get really frustrated I do remind him that I didn't invite him to live here.<br>
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But then he stretches up my leg or jumps into my lap. He's soft. And cuddly. His purr is pretty relaxing. Somehow those five minute increments of love each day balance out the antics! I tell him during those times that I guess he can stay. <br>
Mandy Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16002267777187439837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381988768801022624.post-24988258990122161992013-02-03T12:35:00.002-06:002013-02-03T12:35:07.139-06:00From My Mom's Kitchen Table<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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While I was home for Christmas Break visiting my parents and taking some much need relaxation time, my mom shared with me her beautiful creations. Since she didn't have a sale coming up for February I BEGGED her to let me display her beautiful pieces. Her collages are such masterpieces and I'm excited to share the walls at Kelly's Bakery and Café with her this month. . Mom is so much better at the book boards, tags and swags than I am. I like big pieces but mom is an expert with adorable smalls! Easy to give to a sweetheart, loved one or friend this Valentine's Day.</div>
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The top picture is an adorable heart embellished with dainty little flowers and the cutest vintage image. The DREAM sway is so beautiful. I hope that it doesn't sale while on the walls at Kelly's Bakery and Café so I can hang it in my bedroom. It has such magical colors that it would fit in any of my rooms: green, yellow, tan, blue! </div>
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The bird with the flowers says, "tweet, tweet." As if it wasn't already cute enough with those feathers! Mom added 3-d elements that let the bird pop off the board. The LOVE swag is so adorable. We have two of these at Kelly's for sale. The swags have been backed with thick paper and are put together in a professional manner. My mom always says, "The devil is in the details." She's very thorough and it comes through in her masterpieces. </div>
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The Mona Lisa board is an amazing collage of various papers. The pinks play perfectly on the board and compliment Mona Lisa wonderfully. The final picture is one of my favorite pieces that my mom made! Hey Cupcake! TOO CUTE! I love all the layers she incorporated and how the cupcake takes center stage with the little girl. She just makes my heart smile.</div>
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Mandy Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16002267777187439837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381988768801022624.post-79697938811958432092013-01-31T05:52:00.001-06:002013-01-31T05:52:44.985-06:00you and meThis mirror was in my mom's crafty space and she passed it on to me. Sometimes we get pieces to create with and as time passes the inspiration leaves the building. When I saw it I loved it! Wasn't sure what was going to happen with it though. <br />
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Fast forward a year and to me redoing my studio. When I found it again hiding in the corner of the studio I got to work on it. It has two of my favorites- pearls and a paper flower. I added words of love and happily ever after on the shelf and at the top. Even though it will be on display at Kelly's this month, I've found three places in my home it would look perfect in! <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWVQfJp-mRyWnnLjj5F5P3rmhpcAvTD31LKaV9hVo7PQ4rPtZhMybDZ6XX3k7xvPMo8slAywb7SXCj8MZ2eY9JGd94nizb_UfFSlbUSv3TOEttcRdeqBiQjeJpsOWuZ0w9UJTmT7pebzu/s640/blogger-image-1009092101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWVQfJp-mRyWnnLjj5F5P3rmhpcAvTD31LKaV9hVo7PQ4rPtZhMybDZ6XX3k7xvPMo8slAywb7SXCj8MZ2eY9JGd94nizb_UfFSlbUSv3TOEttcRdeqBiQjeJpsOWuZ0w9UJTmT7pebzu/s640/blogger-image-1009092101.jpg" /></a></div>Mandy Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16002267777187439837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381988768801022624.post-22060835133152156552013-01-30T21:37:00.001-06:002013-01-30T21:37:38.498-06:00Follow your HeartI'm obsessed with crayon art. I love all the different things you can do to make an old, dull crayon have a second chance at life. However, sometimes my creations are a little dangerous. I know you're wondering what's so dangerous about CRAYONS!? <br />
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Well, I should confess to you that I don't have a sense of smell. Rarely can I smell things. A random coffee here, a pot of my favorite soup simmering on the stovetop or sometimes a minty addition to my bath catch an olfactory nerve and I'm in heaven. But 99% of the time- nothing. Nada. Zilch. <br />
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So, I'm hanging out in my studio. All the lights are blazing and two computers are up and running. The television, cable box and surround sound are cranking. I'm buzzing from too much coffee and more ideas than time. Em comes in and changes the channel to one of those ghost story shows. The scary reenactment ones. I don't even notice because I'm feeding crayons through the glue gun. On Pinterest they make it look easy. It's not. I'm burning my fingers. The muscles in my entire body are pushing on this little glue gun (I didn't want to risk ruining my big, good one)! We are in a full out fight! I think I might be winning. Em goes upstairs to start dinner (when I'm in the ZONE I can't be bothered with domestic duties) and I glance up to see that this lady is about to be attacked by the ghost on tv when BAM! Spark! Smoke! <br />
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I scream and jump. I'm sure that ghost is about to get me. Wait. Smoke? Yep. The hot glue gun had caught fire and blew the power for the entire house. "Couldn't you tell how hot it was?" That's the question following the pitter-patter of the footsteps flying down the stairs. Well. Yes. Of course I knew it was hot. It's a hot glue gun. However, I could not smell the smoke! And she wouldn't let me plug that hot glue gun in again. Ever! Good thing I had another hot glue gun and she still had dinner to make. <br />
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I hope you enjoy this piece. It wasn't easy to make! It will be one of the focal pieces for First Friday on February 1, 2013, in Downtown Bloomington at Kelly's Bakery & Cafe. See you there 5-8. <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcn2E3uXzHywKVG0a3poyLpnPsF4XQlpY1ztwBDtH7jzwuE8_x2_ecPdiYfJE-uWsCteQfrAVZdSk8n3ie13uIU-rEZhqv9itqVuuBv7GInrz8LXtAKgd2lriQQBeqUMbaItSC3qvG8FPW/s640/blogger-image--530674232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcn2E3uXzHywKVG0a3poyLpnPsF4XQlpY1ztwBDtH7jzwuE8_x2_ecPdiYfJE-uWsCteQfrAVZdSk8n3ie13uIU-rEZhqv9itqVuuBv7GInrz8LXtAKgd2lriQQBeqUMbaItSC3qvG8FPW/s640/blogger-image--530674232.jpg" /></a></div>Mandy Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16002267777187439837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381988768801022624.post-5788310932207612102013-01-28T20:09:00.000-06:002013-01-28T20:09:00.403-06:00Midwestern Oldtimer <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love the TV show American Pickers. This piece makes me think of Mike and Frank wandering around the Midwest looking for the perfect pieces to add to their store or personal connections. Through our kitchen table creations we have put our passion of picking to good use and love seeing old relics get a new chance at life.Mandy Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16002267777187439837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381988768801022624.post-3712440763619522932013-01-28T07:00:00.000-06:002013-01-28T07:00:01.313-06:00Ride a Bike <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Though I prefer a perfect spring day for a bike ride, some of my friends are willing to pedal off any day of the year. The map for this piece was found in a garage of an estate sale and I got it for a dime. I'm pretty sure the gals at the checkout didn't see the beauty in this water damaged atlas that I was so excited to find. Notice the stamping on the bottom of this map of Illinois. I had a great time painting the gray highlights onto the bike. It really gave it wonderful dimension. I am getting so excited for Friday night! This past month has flown by and it's almost time to redecorate Kelly's Bakery & Café. Mandy Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16002267777187439837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381988768801022624.post-37375340407072990252013-01-27T21:00:00.000-06:002013-01-28T20:54:30.584-06:00Dream Collage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This mixed media collage has The Daily Pantagraph from 1963 as the base layer. Some of the quirky articles can still be seen through the paint and top layers. Sheet music, graphic paper, a page from a book published in Braille, acrylic paints, a coffee filter flower and mirrored images make up the layers on this piece. This will be one of the items for our First Friday in February. <br />
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Check out Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday (<a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.net/woven-ottoman-stool-for-the-office/">http://betweennapsontheporch.net/woven-ottoman-stool-for-the-office/</a>) for more creative ideas! Great party going on there with lots of crafty people sharing their work. Enjoy! Mandy Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16002267777187439837noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381988768801022624.post-74193602394474055782013-01-20T22:24:00.001-06:002013-01-20T22:59:05.650-06:00Tour the Studio<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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WELCOME! My newly redesigned studio makes my heart sing! Pieces are coming together like you wouldn't believe in my new space. I can find everything so easily and when I want some fun bit or bauble I'm not tripping over everything to find it. (And if you know me personally, you know I spent the fall with a broken rib because of a klutzy moment in the hoarder-state the studio used to be in!) Open a drawer or door or cabinet and there is what you desire! Amazing concept. I know. You have no idea how bad it was! I decided not to even take before pictures. Let me explain that in one corner was an explosion of Christmas pieces that never came together, in another was a leaning tower of totes and boxes up to the ceiling...again with ideas that never came together, and in yet another corner was paper perched on top of bushel baskets on top of wrapping paper on top of frames. It was an avalanche waiting to happen. Since putting the studio in order, I've found six pieces that just needed a touch or two more to be finished. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The cabinet, which has an incredible work surface, has drawers that now hold what used to be in totes and boxes stacked to the ceiling. Paper, music pages and newspapers along with bits and baubles hide in plain site now for me. This cabinet was more than I ever pay for anything! However, it was so worth it and when you consider that we've remodeled the basement and been able to reuse our couches and coffee tables, it was okay to spend the entire furniture budget of the remodel on this piece. The table in the middle of the room was a side-table in a dining room and I bought it the last day of an estate sale for 70% off the ticket price making it $10.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Among these bookshelves are obviously books but also more paper storage and my stamps and inks. Ribbon and fabric are in the black drawers and I have lots of space on top to stash some treasures. The bookshelves were a present (gift certificates from our Civil Union and Christmas last year). The storage for the paper was bought YEARS ago when I was scrapbooking a lot. Don't even ask to see our family scrapbooks...you'd be disappointed! The organizational unit on wheels beside the table was a Christmas present to me from Emily this year. It has an open top that is deep set and has three cloth drawers. My fancy scissors, punches, paints and collage supplies are in here and thanks to the wheels can move to any area of the room easily. <br />Please ignore that there is bit still to sort through under the main table! <br />Life is a work in progress, isn't it?! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The table to the left is created from the top of a table I found on the side of the road (our old neighbors were throwing it out) and the base is the other part of the white shelves that are sitting on top of the awesome cabinet. My printer, extra computer and sewing machine hangout on the shelves below the table.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">LOTS of work surface on top! Love this reclaimed wood piece. It was made from a barn that had been taken down. It's so rustic that I don't feel badly that it already has paint, hot glue and <br />glitter in spots. Even though we found it at Furniture Row in Oak Express, it fits perfectly with our style. I knew as soon as I saw it that it was the piece we had been searching for! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">This big white cabinet came from the salvage warehouse in town. We had it in the office on our second floor and it was tough to move to the basement! We had to cut off part of the top to get it to fit. We got a great price on this because we are members of the Old House Society. I don't remember how much we paid as we got it several years ago! We had to paint it and add the hardware. The smaller set of drawers to the left of the big cabinet was $1 at an auction. I bid $5 and the auctioneer gave it to me for a buck because it was in such horrible condition. However, the hardware was there and I had vision...even though it was leaning and had birds living in it! The cabinet with the glass doors came from a thrift store in downtown Bloomington. It was already white! Love the glass doors on it! It was missing a top piece and didn't have a base cabinet with it so they weren't sure what to do with it. It was priced to move and they were having a 50% off sale. Even better! I added a piece of shelving that was in my classroom and I was no longer using. The ribbon shelf above came from mom for Christmas last year...along with the little vacuum- she knows that I craft without care of where the pieces of paper go as I work (much like her)! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for coming for the tour of the new studio! I'm off to create now. Have a creative day yourself! </span></td></tr>
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Mandy Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16002267777187439837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381988768801022624.post-1382502062109981392013-01-20T21:18:00.000-06:002013-01-20T21:18:03.567-06:00Love is in the Air<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are in preparations for the First Friday in February: Tour de Chocolate in Downtown Bloomington. Mark your calendar for February 1, Friday, from 5-8. We will have our lovely opening at Kelly's Bakery and Café that evening. Stop in for "Chocolate Soup" from the bakery and check out the new pieces on the walls from Our Kitchen Table Creations! Make sure to make your way through all of downtown for lots of chocolate treats and then head to the Castle to see Chicago Farmer...that's our plans for the evening. (I love him! Check him out on iTunes.) For the February First Friday my pieces will be on display and if you see something you like, you pay at the counter and can take your item at the time of purchase. <br />
Love is in the air and I've got some great new pieces for the show. Lots of new techniques and experiments have made their way into the creations. I've been really enjoying my time in the studio this three day weekend! Don't you love how the wood from my new cabinet looks behind these letters? I have a whole line of these pieces. Stay tuned to see pictures from my new studio and to sneak peeks at the pieces that will be on display starting February 1. <br />
<br />Mandy Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16002267777187439837noreply@blogger.com0