Summer 2011 Recap, what I can remember anyway...

I’ve been meaning to recap the summer a bit. I know it’s well into feeling autumn-ish, but I don’t want to forget what we did this summer. Er, any more than I already have...

Projects:
Memorial Day sort of kicked off summer and we painted the kitchen a lovely pale yellow. Hooray for a whole room that is not the same color as everywhere else in the house!

Mid-July my uncle visited which gave me incentive to clean out the “guest room” and make it a real guest room. It had become a catch-all room for my stuff after I moved in, as well as wedding gift bags and tissue paper, Christmas wrappings, and general junk. Also we had my daybed and Brian’s full size mattress and box springs in that tiny room. Now it’s basically the daybed and actual floor space!

Other projects included painting the trash can and spray painting a metal bench? vanity stool? i should find that picture...

I still want to get some different fabric for the cushion, but this stuff matched so it’s safety-pinned to the pillow. Currently it's sitting in the tidy guest room and I still need to work on my camera skills. Probably some other small projects happened but I can't remember them right now.

Travel and People:
In June we road-tripped to Colorado with my parents for my brother’s wedding. It was the most intimate, beautiful wedding I’ve ever been to. It was immediate family only and we just spent the afternoon together on the top of a mountain and ate good food and had great fellowship. C and her family are wonderful. (check out these blogs for a great peak, uh, peek: http://seanflanigan.net/?p=5790 http://sergiomottola.com/blog/?p=724 )

In July, as previously mentioned my uncle from L.A. visited. It was fun to host him and show him around to some of our favorite places in Wichita. We also attended a family reunion, where we mainly showed up to eat, and were terrible about talking to any of the relatives.
Then we road-tripped back to Colorado with my youngest brother and sister-in-law for a camping trip with my family, and said uncle, an aunt, and a cousin and wife. It ended up being a lot of fun and definitely cooler than Kansas. It was good to catch up with family we haven’t seen much lately and hang out with the month-old newlyweds. Most of us went down a zipline, had a little archery tournament, and played lots of Five Crowns.

August included a bridal shower for one of my best friends (and former roommate), as well as wedding preparation. We welcomed friends home after they’d been in Korea a year. All summer we soaked up time with friends and family. The wedding shindig was over Labor Day weekend and felt like the official capstone to summer!

Busy Summer

I've been wanting to get back here for a while now. It's even on my to-do list, but (aside from getting sucked in to Pinterest and audiobooks) it has been a busy summer. Which is exactly what I've wanted to write about, so I remember the trips and the people and the projects. I figure since I just finished another little project that now is a good time to get back into things and maybe (maybe) I'll catch up on everything else too, one of these days.

I've been inspired by a number of sources and projects to return to my roots of garage sale-ing and thrifting, and to try my hand at re-inventing my findings. (These sources include, but aren't limited to, Young House Love, A Beautiful Mess, and Pinterest)

I have a short list I carry around with me of Things to Keep an Eye Out for While Thrifting/Garage Sale-ing (or other Shopping). One (or rather two) of the things on the list is a trash can. The office, or studio, or whatever we're calling it, needs a trash can. Especially if we ever get it cleaned out and functioning. Hmm, I guess I am sitting in it right now, so it's functioning, but the piles o'stuff are distracting.

Anyway. Trash can. On the list. Found one! An old metal trash can with hand painted fruit was waiting for me at the DAV thrift store:

So I painted it. I mixed the paint myself from two sample pots I have around.

After a couple of coats of paint I decoupage'd some circles from an old book. Cause I like the look of old pages and I wanted to experiment. I'm not sure if the circle of circles is my favorite design, but I can always turn the trash can around and look at the turquoise? tiffany blue? greeny blue? side (since that's what's pictured above). Or I can decoupage something new.

I know. Decorating a trash can. Soo exciting. But, it gave me something to do, a creative outlet, and I like pretty things. And sorry about the pictures. One of the other things on my to-do list is learn how to use the camera better, and some editing.

Hopefully I'll be back soon with another project that is in progress and maybe other random tidbits or improved camera skills.

Updates 4/13/11

Hmm, i was doing so good updating more regularly there for a while. Then the weather turned nice, beckoning me. Also I’ve been using the ipad for most of my internet-ing lately, since Brian upgraded to the xoom, and that’s just not good for blogging, at least not for me.

So here’s some stuff that’s happened/been going on since I don’t really have any stories to tell...

We have now been married over a year! It has been a great one, our best yet! And we decided to celebrate with a trip to Kansas City where we did lots of walking and eating good food, as well as saw some art and spent some money. Ah, vacation.

We also celebrated Brian’s birthday with a small gathering. The theme was, rather loosely, Robots. Of course, the only party hats I could find on short notice were dinosaur ones, and i found a pirate pinata that I couldn’t pass up. So, it felt like little boy extravaganza complete with cake and ice cream only there were also more adult drinks. I drew a large robot and we played pin-the-mustache-on-the-robot. It was a surprising success. Hold on, I think I can find an after (after people had some fun with mustaches that ended up on the wall, that is) picture...

And all of that was about a month ago. Lately time has been filled with books and gardening. So far I have onions in as well as some going in pots. Last summer I started on clearing out a spot in our garden for a garden. It had completely become overrun with day lilies and weeds and a few iris’ and other random things. So this year I have continued digging it up, and hopefully when it’s time to plant more things I have the space for them. Just so long as I can keep the cats and other wildlife from using it as a litterbox.

I’ve also been listening to and reading several books. This has probably cut into some blog time, but the listening ones have been great for the yard and getting dishes done. I listened to Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss and am about ⅕ of the way through Wise Man’s Fear, the second in the trilogy. These are fantasy books (and they’re certainly long enough to be), but they are also just really well told stories. I also just finished Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool. This book is the first for the author, who is from Wichita, and won the 2011 Newberry award. Needless to say it’s got a little bit of hype around here. It is definitely worth it. The main part of the story is set in 1936 in a small southeast Kansas town and focuses on a 12 year-old girl, but there is another story about the same town in 1918 and is about a 13 year-old boy. It’s beautifully told and I think it would appeal to boys and girls alike, of all ages.

Good Grief! I had no idea I had so much I wanted to talk about. Sorry it’s so long! and random! I’ll leave you with that, and try and keep things more current... Who am I kidding? There will be a new post when there is a new post.

Random: Everyone seems to be blogging these days. Check out the new people over there ----> And I’ll probably be adding more soon. (i like it when i know bloggers :-) )

A Few of my Favorite Things

I’m feeling the need to write. or something. I’m doing absolutely nothing else. I’m not involved in any books right now (other than Hunger Games, but I’m waiting to read it with the Read Allowed Group...I don’t cheat), and I started a project, but it involves waiting for glue to dry. I feel like I’ve done enough of nothing today. So I’m going to have myself a cup of tea and share a list of current favorite things. Because that’s a good thing to do on a blog.

1) I’m kind of obsessed with the blog A Beautiful Mess right now. It’s been overly full of the writer’s dress shop projects lately, but that has only served to whet my appetite for vintage things. The nice thing is I’m rediscovering vintage things i already own, wahoo!

2) Another blog I’ve been following lately is Young House Love. They recently bought and started re-doing a new house and it’s very inspiring. Now that I have weekends off my list of projects has grown.

3) A trip to World Market last weekend scored some half-price water bottles. It’s nice ‘cause they’re glass, so that’s healthy and stuff. Also they’re cute so I find I’m drinking more water. (Hmm, I planned on linking a picture, but I suppose they were on sale for a reason, and they're no longer on their website)

4) I’m excited about gardening. I’ve been planning it out in my head and even on paper. These warm bursts that feel like early spring have me antsy.

5) Brian and I have be re-watching and re-enjoying Arrested Development. So good.

#6 For good measure. It goes without saying but Brian is my all-time Favorite. cheese, I know but still true :-)

Not favorite: the Ice Cream trucks already starting up.

2/18/11

I’m thinking I’ll take up journaling again. In some form or other. The thought springs from starting the book Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. Who knows if I’ll finish it, I’m bad at reading non-fiction, and I'm just in the introduction. And I don’t know that I really want to be a writer...
I also read Neil Gaiman’s blog. And both of these things remind me that I spend a lot of time putting things into my head, but I never pull anything out. I spend so much of my day reading the endless subscriptions in my google reader, watching tv, looking at magazines, reading books, that I rarely take time to process it.

So, even though I don’t think I’m really a writer, I feel the need to take time to write, or at least process. Maybe that will be through some art, or maybe it will be while I’m working on some project, or maybe it will simply be washing the dishes with no extraneous noise, no podcasts or audio books, just taking the time to let my mind wander. And wonder. And maybe stuff will end up on the blog, and maybe it won’t. Because that’s not the point.

And now I think I’ll go wash dishes.

Note: When I say “writer,” well, obviously I’m writing. But I don’t think it’s my craft, my best way of expressing myself. I’m not bubbling with stories that must be told. I’m not a wordsmith. I’ll leave that in more capable hands. I simply use writing as a means of expression, not the means of my expression.

Inspired Bookshelf

I've been inspired. Over at Apartment Therapy last month they spent a lot of time talking about organization. Mostly I hadn't thought about reorganizing my bookshelves because the thought is a little overwhelming. We're running out of room on the shelves and one of the bookcases is kind of falling apart, and there are other parts of the house I would rather focus on. But then my attention was drawn to artist Stanford Kay. He paints pictures of books. Rather pretty artistic interpretations of stacks and shelves of books, often enhanced with other objects painted over the books.

And Inspiration struck.

What if I covered some books and painted over them? Eureka! A great way to hide some somewhat gnarly booksale paperbacks that have seen better days, yet are still classics, as well a Christian fiction series. So I scrounged some brown paper that had been used as packaging filler and covered a couple stacks of books. Then I busted out the acrylic paints and a sharpie pen and Voila!

Yes, I know. There are a lot of comic books on those shelves too. They would be a pain to cover, and I'm really not sure if I'd be allowed to anyway. So the plan is to put some pictures in front of them. That's a bookshelf tip I've seen somewhere I'm sure! And while I think I'll use some family pictures, if you're looking to do something similar check out Laura's print sale lasting till Valentine's Day. There's some beautiful pictures from Korea and elsewhere!

Hey! Look over There!

Rachel has joined blogland! And she is really a much better writer than I am, so go read her stuff! She writes about her time in the ER and about the wonderful food she makes, and I'm sure life in general. It's still pretty new, but definitely one to watch!

Oh, and Brian's been working on his site too, so now there's something to see there too :-)

And that's all I have for now. I'm being terribly lazy and ignoring the mess in the kitchen and the list of projects and simply enjoying my blanket, couch, husband, and the internets. It may be about time for some hot cocoa though...

Amybuller.com is HERE!

I have the best husband ever!

One bit of evidence in support of that fact is that he got me some domain names! Woo!

Welcome to amybuller.com! (mrsbuller.com will bring you here too...hehehe)

While I love the fact that I have my own website with my own name, I'm not quite sure what to do with it. I feel like I should be doing awesome things with it, writing witty posts, having a theme, or just make it cool. But... I also know myself. So I resolve to not resolve anything. Or rather, resolve not to do anything Differently. I'll just keep posting my random stuff, whether it's pictures, or talk of projects, or recipes, or just an annual update. And really, at the rate I'm going now, the posts may not be too few and far between. I like sharing my projects, and I've got several planned. So, stay tuned!

Let the Light Shine!

Hurray! I'm finally off on the weekends! (Officially anyway, still have 1 more weekend to fill in) I've changed library locations and the hours I work. I'm getting used to the location and really enjoying it so far. It's a lot quieter, but we still have plenty of people come through. I do feel busier though, since I'm by myself anything that needs done, I do; or leave for the lady who comes in after me.

The schedule is taking some getting used to. I work 10:30-2:30 most days, so I have plenty of time to do stuff, just as long as I get out of bed. Easier said than done. Also, I've had a hard time taking lunch with me, and even taking time for a break, so when I get home I'm starving and sleepy. But I have goals, things like exercise and projects, so I hope to be more disciplined with my time.

The easiest and best part of the schedule is having a weekend. What?! Two whole days that I can spend with my husband?! Neither of us has to go to work... this is amazing!

So we spent part of our Saturday brushing up on some basic electrical work. Well, mainly Brian did. And we replaced the light fixture in the dining room! (see above) No more ball of cords looking hideous at the top of our fixture. And hey! We can actually see the pictures on the wall from across the room!

I really love to drum fixture too. It's the Eden lamp from cb2.com. I'm not sure how I feel about the plate on the ceiling. Since we converted a lamp it didn't come with anything, so that's something we picked up at Sutherlands. It has gold nobs to cover the screws. They need to be painted. But the white doesn't exactly match the ceiling or the lampshade. So my questions are, Do I just paint the gold white? Or should I paint the whole thing a completely different color? Maybe the same blue as the wall?

Also, we figured while we were switching lights and playing with wires we'd change the kitchen fixture too. So, now it's something brighter and more kitchen, maybe a little more old-fashioned, but I think it fits!