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Monthly Archives: May 2015

the Craft House

i think you need to come to The Craft House with your friends!  🙂
We have several dates at the end of this post with special discounts for you!

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we have work space for 16!
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the entire house has gigantic 8 foot windows everywhere.
this house is flooded with natural light every where you look!
the bedrooms, hallway and main floor windows have leaded glass as well!
so beautiful!
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there are three full baths each newly remodeled.

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the ongoing bedrooms are like staying in the happiest Barbie Dream House.
bed after bed covered in vintage quilts and chenille.

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the master bath is light and airy… with so much space!
the large soaker tub is truly a dreamy place.
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the newest addition to the house is the Rainbow Stairs up to the bedrooms off the kitchen.
they are pure happiness!!
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the kitchen is fully stocked with dishes, pots & pans, glasses, utensils and appliances.
the island is 9’x5′ which is amazing for cooking and working together for meals.
we also have two 10′ barn wood tables for eating together.
they can be separate to accommodate a full house or pushed together for a smaller group.
this kitchen is an awesome place for sharing a meal!
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the kitchen is surrounded by six floor to ceiling windows! It’s fabulous!

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So… how can you reserve the Craft House for your group?
these dates remaining for 2015:

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you can read more details about the house if you would like HERE.

you can also look ahead and reserve your weekend for 2016 if you would like.
several groups already have!

any reservation made for 2016 will get $100 off!

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and last weekend… we had a girls scout troop come to stay!
how sweet is that?!

so… get creative! it doesn’t have to be a scrapbooking/crafting group!
there are so many ways to use the Craft House!
family reunion?  wedding party? church group? women’s retreat? girls’ weekend?

email me at cdduerksen@yahoo.com to make your reservation today!

 

cece - Keeping this blog spot for future rental reference.

Amanda Lee - What does the price include?

Heather - Love the craft house!! Wish I could live there full time. I could be like the house mom!! Covet in a good way the Evie Sign!!

Gayle Williams - Where is the Craft House at? Address/phone number please!

beth larson - OMgoodness Meg, this was such a fun post!!! I absolutely love your house and every little amazing detail you have put into it! You could have your own show you know- such amazing taste you have girl! If I didn’t have to hop a plane to get to you, I’d so wrangle up a group of friends and rent the house for a girl friend’s getaway!!!!

Meredith - I don’t know if the cost of living is perhaps ridiculously high in Sydney but I can not believe how affordable your MASSIVE, gorgeous, beautiful house is!! Bargain of the century!! If only the plane tickets wouldn’t set me back a gazillion dollars, I would be there! Run, don’t walk people!

Lacey - Meg, where is the “live a creative life” wooden sign from? I love it.

Gail - So much inspiration! This is on my bucket list for sure. Especially since I am just down the road in ICT.

jill - would love to know where everything came from.

Kelly - Sorry for questions two days in a row! The bathroom floors! Are they original? That is what I want for my bathroom remodel but I don’t know where to find it. If you guys did it can you tell me where it’s from? Thank you so much!! Kelly

lara sheriff - i love it…..each room is just adorable!

Sasha Greene - You’re my favorite. Seriously. I stalk your blog all the time, because it is a bright spot in my sometimes crazy life 😉
Thank you for sharing your life with your readers.
God’s most abundant blessings, peace, and protection be upon your family!! Amen.
Sasha

sharon / theprincipledtype.blogspot.com - someday yes! wishing upon a star!

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women of faith

have you heard of the Women of Faith Conferences?
they are all over… Oklahoma to Florida to California and every where in between.
it’s a two day conference filled with loads of speakers and entertainment.
i haven’t been to a conference YET but i am going to the Oklahoma conference July 24 – 25!
basically meaning i will follow Jen Hatmaker anywhere.

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If you are interested in going… look through their website and find one that is close to you.
get your girlfriends together and get a hotel room!
make it a FUN getaway!
or go with any ladies in your life that would like a time to worship and learn together.
or go on your own! that is totally cool too!  🙂

Women of Faith gave me a discount code to share with you!
what?
i was super excited to get to share that!
if you use the code: Whatever20 to get 20% off your ticket price!!!!

🙂  🙂  🙂  🙂  🙂  🙂  🙂  🙂

tell me which one you pick!  I’d love to know where everyone is going!

Melia - Hi Meg!
Do you know how long this code is good for? Trying to round up some gals for the Minneapolis one in October!

Becky B - I love Jen Hatmaker, I should totally be going!

Lisa - I’m going to the Portland one with my sisters!

Sarah - Hmm, Jen Hatmaker is in Connecticut too, that’s a little closer to home!

SoCalLynn - I’m so excited for you! WofF conferences are wonderful, so inspiring and refreshing. I haven’t been for several years, but now my youngest daughter is old enough to go so I’m thinking we will this year. Anaheim, CA!!! A hint for buying tickets: if your event is sold out, go on the website where there is a page for churches re-selling tickets. Some churches buy in blocks and they re sell the tickets their church has overbought. Enjoy!

Katie Skiff - I hope you can go. I’ve been to five, including this one here in Billings. You just have to go. These women are so amazing.

Kelly - I LOVE hearing Jen Hatmaker speak! So encouraging, so challenging, so GOOD!!! I see she will not be at Denver which is closest to me so maybe I should come to OKC!! How long is the code good for? Thanks! Kelly

Rachel J - Hey Meg! My church might be hosting the live simulcast in October for this, buttttttttttttt……….there’s a chance I may be at the Oklahoma event too! That would be awesome to see you there! 🙂

sharon / theprincipledtype.blogspot.com - in my (ever-be-it-so-humble) opinion the number one thing to look for in a woman (spouse) — ‘faithful’ With that virtue, everything else will work itself out 🙂

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RAINBOW STAIRS!

The Craft House has a back staircase off the kitchen leading up to bedrooms and a bathroom.
and for the last ten years it has looked like this…
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for the past three years i have wanted to paint them but i just couldn’t get it done.
this spring i finally had a long enough break in rentals and craft weekends and i got busy.
i cleaned everything really well.

then i primed all the wood surfaces with Kilz2.
two coats.
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and then i painted the walls and the ceiling all same color – Ultra Pure White by Behr in Eggshell finish.
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after the walls and ceiling  THEN i painted the doors, baseboard, window trim and the treads in Behr Ultra Pure White Semi Gloss paint.
painting wood white takes like a million years and then three more coats after that.
but it is so happy and bright that it is worth it to me.
wood color honestly makes me feel sad to be around… not at your house but yes at my house.
it sucks all the light out of the room.
i wouldn’t be sad visiting your house all decked out in wood everywhere but if i had to LIVE in say… a log cabin?
i would either go into a deep depression or paint the log cabin white on the inside.
(and maybe the outside too)
i know me.

it felt like it took FOREVER to get to the fun part!
i was dying to start on the color.

i taped the edges around the stair riser to help me have straighter lines.
and then i could FINALLY start.
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i got the smallest size of paint i could… i think it’s a pint?
i used Valspar paint for the colors.
Bright Red
Hint of Cherry
Orange Ochre
Dandelion Wish
Chopped Chives
Lavish Green
Wishing Well

i am not brand loyal for paint.
it is purely based on which store i am closest to at the time i need the paint.

and i used a foam brush for the colors.
it just seemed like it would be easier to control for such a small area.

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(i am aware that i still need to caulk the baseboards… one step at a time)IMG_4082
——————————————- BEFORE ——————————————————- AFTER ——————————————–
stairs
i mean???
is there anything happier?!
no.
there is not.
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i touched up my mistakes with a little paint brush – OY VEH!
i had lots of time to think and pray and sing and plan while i was working on all of this.

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and this is the polyurethane that i use on white painted wood projects.
i like it.
i used it a lot.
i used many coats since stairs get a lot of traffic.

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i may hang things on the wall.
i may not.

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it took a ton of time but it was worth every second.
i wish i would’ve done it when we lived here.
i wish i had it my house i live in now just so i could see it everyday.  🙂

rainbows forever!!!

 

Diane McVey - This is one of the most beautiful, awesome things I have ever seen! I absolutely adore it! You are right it is just plain HAPPY!!! It’s GREAT! You should be very proud of yourself for doing this!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Yes! Yes! Yes!

Leslie - Those are some happy stairs – love them!!

Ruth Elder - You are one for being creative so….. go online, maybe Pinterest and look up wall art done with paint chips. You find a picture and make it out of ‘pixels’ of paint chips. I think that would be perfect in that hallway.

Kimberlee Jost - It’s stunning! LOVE it. It makes that area so bright and cheery!

Kristy Mendler - I love this! Looks awesome!

Bethany - Obviously this is the happiest staircase ever. And the fact that it’s a back staircase…just another reason to love the craft house. I’ve dreamt of one day having a house with a back staircase since I was a girl.

The Love List | Gloria York's Blog - […] Meg’s stairs make me happy […]

Andrea - I love this….. don’t you have stairs going to a basement???? boy would that be fun!!!!!!

Carol S. - Sensational. And yes, a ton of work!!

Gevay - I am so with you on the painted wood. It looks so clean and happy and bright. There is a designer on that design channel we all love who goes on and on about how awful it is to paint wood and how people are terrible humans for doing it. She’s been shaming me and now you have set me free to enjoy my painted wood again! Thank you MEG!!! 😉

Beth - Yep, SO COOL! I love it. Job well done!

Judy - Those stairs just make me happy to look at them! Fantastic idea!! I bet you feel happy every time you walk upstairs!! :0)

Talia - LOVE this! Please do this at my house! 🙂

jennyonthespot - Oh Meg. So much the very, VERY BEST!!!

Lisa - I freaking LOVE it! I am with you on the wood being depressing, I would have to paint it all white too…I know lots of people would not approve of that, but oh well!

jennibell - Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. Really, there are just NO other words. These are the BEST!!!

Kimberly - That staircase looks so light, bright, and happy now! I love it! Kudos to you for the patience it took to paint all of that!

bekkah - wow! this is impressive; your dedication/patience is inspiring 🙂

i totally know what you mean about being comfortable in your space vs someone else’s. i LOVE all the colors in your home/craft home but at the end of the day i am a neutrals/minimalist girl.

Kathleen W. - That is so awesome, bright & cheery ! Makes me want to paint my stairs ! You rock Meg !

iralee poore - yup- i love it! i know it was hard and a long process but it looks lovely!!

Megan - Meg-
you are sooooo awesome! thanks for posting the whole shebang…..I can hardly wait to do my back staircase! I have to wait until school lets out (I teach) but as soon as the end of June rolls around….I am breaking out the rainbow paints!

Thanks so much for inspiring me and helping me to be creative!

Jen@thecottagenest - It looks amazing! I could move right into the craft house!

robin - Best.inspirational staircase ever!!…

Kristin S - That is a true labor of love and I so love the end result!

I painted my two garage steps lime green a few years ago and it still makes me happy when I pull in my garage. Rainbow would be dreamy.

Corinne - Hi
Wondered what poly you used there’s no pic. All the ones I’ve tried on white turn yellow and I end up sanding and repainting. Looking at my coffee table now and I have to repaint again to get back to white. Love the stairs. Thanks

Janelle - If I had a million dollars, I would offer it to your for your house. It is so well done, with so much love & thoughtfulness!

Kristen - Meg, I love the way that you feed my need for COLOR!!!! There are 7.2 zillion projects that I should be doing at our house, but I just wanna paint my stairs now!!!!! You did an amazing job!!!

Kristin F. - They look amazing!! And I am completely with you on the painted wood bandwagon. We are in the process of buying my parents’ 1987 log home and the VERY first thing on our agenda? Paint every surface white. I cannot wait to live surrounded by painted wood logs.

Julie - Such a light bright cheery stairway to walk up and down in now. How old is the house Meg?

Kelly - I have never seen a prettier set of stairs! I bet it just makes you smile every time that you see them.

Oh.. and I completely agree about wood tones!

Su - I don’t like purple either. Noticed it got left off the stairs 🙂

And I could not live in a log cabin or a house with wood cabinets, wood trim, wood paneling either. . .when we moved into this house I painted everything white. . it was definitely 70s, Brady Bunch style wood. . .now it is happy.

Thanks for sharing the colors. . pinning it. ..I want to do my dining room chairs each a color.

Pam - Good heavens, we just did some painting so I can imagine how much time it took. And glory how hard to have done all that work and not see it every day. Beautiful, absolutely beautiful!

Cathy - I love it! A trick I’ve learned in all the painting I’ve done: paint, let it dry, tape, paint over the tape with the same color. After it dries, paint the bordering color. The first color is what will bleed under your tape a little bit and that’s ok because that’s the color you put down first. The bordering color won’t bleed through. Remove the tape and you’ll have a perfect clean line.

Ame - That is brilliant – what a fun, incredibly happy idea!

kim - lady, you are DEDICATED. this looks like SO much work (and love) went into them. the payoff is GRAND, they look amazing!! can’t wait to see these in person!

Kit - Meg! Way to go, it’s completely awesome!

sharon / theprincipledtype.blogspot.com - you are so brave and i am so chicken! lol. your ‘more color’ life beckons.

KWolff - Way to go! This would definitely make trekking up stairs a lot more fun! 🙂

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this week

i will say it again… i don’t like when shows end.
i don’t mind if it’s like “Full House” or something but when it’s MY show that i go to every week for down time… UGH!
and i keep getting told “all good things come to an end”
umm… NO.  No they don’t.  they don’t HAVE to.
blah.
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so it’s over.
and I’m sad about it.
i loved every single episode.
in the beginning, i tried really hard to not like this show but i just could not!
it’s too well done!
you can’t NOT like Madmen if you start from episode one and watch… it’s impossible.

and i could never pick a favorite character because i love how they all work together.
i will miss this show.

 

and then ON THE SAME WEEK David Letterman retires.
i mean really.
he has been in my life forever.
since before i knew what late night tv was!
and he has ALWAYS reminded me of my dad… the way they speak… deliver a joke.
there wasn’t a single show where i didn’t think “sounds like my dad” and i almost always said it to craig.
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we didn’t watch much anymore… but i liked knowing it was there.
and then this week with all its farewells i loved Tina Fey’s honest and hilarious and brave goodbye.
i loved seeing REALITY of what it takes to wear those dresses…. she’s a riot.

and let’s see….what else could end this week?
oh yeah, SCHOOL!

my Annie ended her elementary school career!!!
she is now a middle schooler!
WHAT?!
like as in… i don’t have ANY children who go to the elementary school anymore?!
bittersweet in every way.
the whole school & the parents line the halls of the school and clap for the fourth graders as they leave on their last day.  it’s a fun way to celebrate them.  Annie thought it was embarrassing.  ha ha haannie

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and Sean is now ending his middle school years and is moving onto high school in the fall!
our school does a promotion ceremony for eighth graders that is casual and fun.
since it’s my third i managed to make it through without crying…. knowing it’s just another step in the journey.

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i didn’t cry because i know he is going to do great!
he was SO HAPPY to be there with his friends and having such a fun day.
he’s really looking forward to football in the fall.
i will have a senior and a freshman in the high school and an 8th grader and a 5th grader in the middle school.
kinda funny.

AND one of my BFFs moved away this week too!!!!
my exercise buddy.
my thought processor.
my organized genius.
my calming presence.
dianna
it’s only two hours away but it will never be the same.
boo-hoo.
i am going to miss her so much.
she is truly the kindest person i have ever met.
EVER.
sighhhhhhh.

so… yeah.
don draper, david letterman and my children’s youth AND my bestie left me – ALL in one week?!!

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i earned my margarita last night.
all three of them.

 

tracy fisher - i’m just getting back to reading blogs… took some time off. oh boy do I miss reading yours. have the best summer ever!!

Flower Patch Farmgirl - Grumpy frog suddenly makes sense.

Wendy - We are going to watch the entire series of MadMen for the third time. I LOVE this show so much and really can’t get over that it is over. I thought the end was pretty good but I was just so sad that it was over. I really liked what they did with Peggy. That was my favorite.

I love the stairs so much and I am so glad you shared. I have an odd stairwell that I seriously am considering doing this to. Right now it is pine treads with unfinished fronts because I haven’t touched it since we removed the ugly carpet. i have painted the walls but that is all. You always inspire me! I love your blog and really how you share. You are still my first blog to check on. Long time reader! You have such courage, faith, and honesty. Thanks!

-Wendy

Debi Meyers - i love ya Meg. I hope we meet someday. Best photo of Dave. I love his little caramel-colored glasses.

At a crossroads, I chose The Walking Dead over MadMen. Can’t say I’m sorry. But you make it look worth my time.

deb meyers

Carrie - I have also never heard of middle school starting in 5th grade. In our area most middle schools start in 6th grade. A few districts start it in 7th grade and some have 6th grade centers.

Eugenia from Southern California - Woweeee. Middle school doesn’t start until 7th grade here. I have two boys in their twenties and another two traveling the journey.
A boy starting middle school and a girl starting 3rd grade in the fall. School doesn’t get out until the middle of June and starts again at the end of August. My kids are counting the days until they get to swim nearly every day.

I love the time without homework and longer fun days.

You are a brave brave woman. xxooo

Jen - I feel the same way about Mad Men. I loved every minute of it, and I thought the finale was absolutely brilliant. And I have a senior who graduates on 6/1 and heads off to college (four hours away) in August. I think I’ll go have a bottle of Moscato! 🙂

Debbie H - I meant 5 to 8. I’m in shock and can’t type, apparently.

Debbie H - HOW is that possible!??? Annie JUST began kindergarten! Have I been honestly reading your blog THAT LONG? You MOURNED the day she left for school (kinder) hahaha. And Kansas does middle school from 4 to 8? California is really out of it, I guess. I learn a lot here. . . I might need a marg. wow.

Lisa - That IS a lot to happen in one week! The friend moving? The hardest I would think. Good friends are the biggest blessings in life. And I have never heard of 5th grade being in middle school? Is that the norm in Kansas?

Lpro - What a week! I think you should have 3 more this weekend 🙂

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summer’s comin’

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these peonies are in our backyard… they are CRAZY beautiful!
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our first tornado warning of the season…
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green smoothies and the AMAZING High Rise And Shine Capri leggings!
did you order them?  everyone that did is singing their praises.
i could wear them every. single. day.  i just need more long shirts!  🙂

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how crazy is this picture?!  🙂
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we went to a NeedtoBreathe concert a few weeks ago…. so good.  It was outside and i was nearly frozen by the end but totally worth it!
i love escaping with mr. duerksen even if it’s just for one night!
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a shirtful of kittens?  yes please.
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holding babies is like riding a bike… not really but you know what i mean.
everyone had doctor’s appointments this week to get them out of the way for summer activities.
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milkshakes for annie’s completed reading chart.
scott high jump sin track… he got first at that meet.  🙂
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talby’s room is so fun… i am tempted to go down and draw a floor to ceiling mural in there someday.
sean is a shot putter.  he had a GREAT year!
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this is probably the best picture of us ever…
rainbow + kissing + basketball goal + chicken coop + stripey skirt + wind blowing +gray skies +sunshine + rain = AWESOME!19
this turtle was so interesting to all of our pets and kids for about… 20 minutes.
and then we let it go.  🙂
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always here.
i heard that walmarts are starting to have online grocery shopping where you just pull up to the drive through and say “hey it’s Meg Duerksen and I’m here to get my groceries” AND THEY BRING IT OUT TO YOUR CAR!!!
whaaaaat????
of course i immediately checked and no we do not have this in our area.
but check YOUR area!!!
maybe you can eliminate going to the store for 1.5 hours and overspending every week (like i hear some people do…. ha ha ha)

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i am trying to get myself exercising more… #thestruggleisREAL
it never gets easier not to quit working out.
but i feel SO much better all day long when i do.
why do i do what i don’t want to do???
i don’t want to quit.  i don’t want to get weak.  but i eat cake and get tired!

ughhhhh.

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i wish my blog had emojis.
you know this would be heart eyes… or rainbow-tized hearts at the very least.

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the daisies all around the chicken coop are kind of dreamy.
and we didn’t plant them there… we just dropped the chicken coop onto this spot and daisies came up all around it.
more heart eyes inserted here.
(because there is no daisy emoji anyway)
(AND when are we going to get emojis that are more practical???)

ice cream after dr. appts because shots are a bummer.
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my cousin (in the white gown standing with her mother) got married last weekend!  she was beautiful and their wedding was too.
i think seeing how people celebrate love and friendship in all the different ways is so lovely.
and if it involves goat cheese covered grapes… i am even happier.
i heard my sister say “she looks so good she should wear a flower in her hair everyday!”
i agree.
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this is my side of the family in two pics – minus my oldest daughter.
we were so close to having a family photo!  ha ha ha
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softball season is fast approaching.
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late May and early June are my MOST favorite times in kansas.
every day looks like a painting!  it’s GREEN!  it’s LUSH! the skies are emotional!  it’s sunny!  it’s raining!

this is my kids’ last week of school.
and everything gets quite crazy when there are five people home all day instead of one.
i am REALLY excited about sleeping in everyday… which goes back to my struggle of working out.
sleeping almost always wins.
can this be changed at 39 years old??

but all in all… i am ready for the break.
ready for sunshine.
ready for the change of routine.
for the extra time together.
and again… for the sleep.

 

alice - You have such a lovely family. Wonderful pictures! It shows that you enjoy life.

jill - Talby: taste the rainbow! 🙂

Rae - I LOVE your blog. I’ve followed along for several years and I was wondering at what ages your children started playing sports. I want to encourage an active lifestyle without over-scheduling our kids. We have an almost 7 yo and a 4 yo. The 7yo has played several sports but hasn’t found his “thing.” Do we keep trying or wait? What advice do you have for active kids?

BeckyB - I always love your photos, Meg. Thanks for the peek into life at your place.

Valerie - Meg, You are seriously inspiring in every single way! That rug your are sitting on is dreamy! Thanks for being a light!!

Kathi - LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this post! kittens, goofy dogs, chickens, turtles, rainbows, flowers, ice cream, babies, fun kids! What’s not to love about this post. I need to remember to take more pics of random everyday life, yours looks dreamy:)

Wendy - I would love a post (or email) about Talby’s room. My daughter will be 13 this summer and I want to re-do her room as our summer project – Love the wall-to-wall chalkboard walls but have so many questions 🙂

Linda - these are my favorite posts. Just randomness in life. your love for your family comes shining thru!

Amy Jo - Love those peonies!!
Such a fun post!

sharon / theprincipledtype.blogspot.com - i’m having totally rainbow love (like, more even than ‘double rainbow guy’ if you remember him?!!)
pretty happy about the peonies too.

Shanna Mead - Oh my! I can not tell you how happy these photos make me feel.
Love them!

Sarah Joy - Hi, love all your pictures. Where did you get the HOPE tee? The picture of you and hubby is beautiful, you need to print it out asap.

Jenny B. - Love all these pictures! Especially the rainbow ones and the kittens!

Are you so thankful to have a basement now? I don’t think you had one at the craft house, right? I wish we had one. Every spring, I talk about having one of those companies come out and dig a shelter in our garage floor. But, then my dad tells me how that’s not safe at all to have your cars and hot water heater and chemicals etc. right above you. I’m just thinking having a hole to get in is better than cowering in the hallway, you know? We don’t even have a room that is completely interior. Anyway… I have a love/hate relationship with Spring, for sure. 🙂

We just did doctor appointments last week too. My boys were dreading it for weeks because we thought they needed new shots, but when they got there, the doctor said they were actually all up to date. Happy surprise! 🙂

Melissa - The shirt-full of kittens!!!! Ahhh I need them!

And how beautiful is that picture of you two in front of the rainbow? Seriously… you couldn’t have planned that picture better if you tried.

Gillian Currie - Hi meg, I’m amazed you guys don’t have click and collect at your shops. I live in Northern Ireland and I never thought we had something you guys over the pond didn’t have! We are able to order our shopping, drive up and collect. We also have a delivery service too…its GREAT!! Saves loads of time and money!! Love your blog x

Meredith - Such a lovely post. Minus the tornado warning of course. I’d take an earthquake over one of those anyday! The peonies are amazing and was that a tamarind margarita?! My fave!

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may craft weekend sponsors

Each Craft Weekend we have super awesome sponsors who generously send their product for our guests!
it’s so much fun to be able to give it to our girls and then to talk about each company.
We have the best sponsors!

Please go check each of these shops and use their discounts too!   Lucky You!

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Use the code WreathKit10 for 10% off your Chalk Board Wreath Kit
GIGGLE THIS STUDIOS

we made these AT Craft Weekend (see the CW post for pics) and they were AWESOME!!

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aidieShe is offering a FREE Mini Garland with purchase!
include the code: CRAFT WEEKEND in the notes section at checkout
AIDIE’S HIDEAWAY

go check out her shop – it is SO FUN!!!

 

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burlapUse the code  craftweekend  for 20% off your purchase!
THE BURLAP BAG

you can’t even imagine how amazing Unicorn Puke smells!!! SO GOOD!

 

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dayspringUse the code SAVE20GIFTS for 20% off a Gift Purchase
DAYSPRING

i am crushing on this mug!

 

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gabUse the code WCW40 to get 40% off and free shipping!
GARBRIEL’S GOOD TIDINGS

i would be lost without my chapstick holder!! everyone in the world needs this.  🙂

 

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graceUse the code craft15 for 15% off through May 24.
GRACELACED

everything Ruth creates is GORGEOUS!  True story!

 

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jennUse the code WHATEVER for 20% off
Instagram: Jenntage
Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/jenntage
blog: www.jenntage.blogspot.com

i love her crocheted coasters! i have every color of the rainbow!

 

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helloUse the code CWMAY25 for 25% off your purchase
HELLO FROM A GIRL

100% of her profits go towards her mission trip fund!  she is 16 years old!

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ikeUse the code MEG25 for 25% off
IKE & CO.

 her rainbow bracelet is one of my favorites and i wear it ALL THE TIME!

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jddUse the code CRAFT25 for 25% off your order
JENNIFER DAHL DESIGNS

i am loving these Story Necklaces in her shop!

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katyUse the code whatever15 for 15% off your order
KATYGIRL DESIGNS

i am loving her Believe in Magic print – it’s precious!

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ppartLaura’s shop is mostly done in Pop-Up form on Instagram or custom orders.
visit her site PITTER PATTER ART for more information and to read her super cute blog!

this post on welcome baskets had me crying and smiling so big!  Love your big heart Laura!

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spunkyUse the code MEGBLOG for 20% off entire purchase
SPUNKY FLUFF

 i thought this You Are Here was really cute!  🙂

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blessedUse the code CRAFTWEEKEND for 20% off your order
BLESSED MOMENTS STUDIOS  and you can read her blog too!

she does custom home portraits! what a fun gift that would be!

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yourUse the code WCW10 for 10% off of any order
YOUR WORDS CUFFS

Traci sent us a different sort of stamped bracelet this time… HOW COOL is that?
everyone got a stamped monogrammed ribbon bracelet!

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THANK YOU AWESOME SPONSORS!!!

Heather Thornburg - Thanks for the awesome discounts! 🙂 I am having trouble with the Dayspring promo code…not sure what I am doing wrong! 🙁

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May Craft Weekend

BLOGstripRNBW1000i was excited to get this Craft Weekend going because i was missing craft time!
i’m always happy to be with Kimberlee again and our two friends Tara & Amy came to help too!
the time just flies by much too quickly…no one is ever ready for sunday to come at CW.

very randomly this group was almost all midwesterners!
we only had one guest fly in – that is the opposite of most CWs.

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we got the house ready room by room…
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did you know the Craft House has rainbow stairs now?!!

🙂   🙂    🙂    🙂
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kimberlee served us a delicious meal and then we got right into making ruffled aprons!
i always love to see their color combinations!
i really enjoy helping women learn to sew for the first time.
the talk around the table always turns to their mother’s or their grandmother’s sewing skills too.
sewing with a room full of women is just FUN!
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kimberlee served us chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting with a chocolate ganache on top.
you guys… i mean… A M A Z I N G!!!

IMG_6187IMG_1207every apron is adorable like they always are!
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seriously just the best combos!
i can never get enough pattern and color mixing!IMG_1203IMG_6199
saturday we had a yummy breakfast before we headed out to antique.
kimberlee’s frosting gets me every time!
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the weather was beautiful and we were able to eat outside at the Mill.
those are my favorite shopping days… sunshine, antiques and a homemade salad!
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how creepy is that painting?!!!
IMG_5382lots of fun treasure were found… loved the old sewing machine and Lard Cans.
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saturday evening we make three or four different crafts at once.
tara led a project that was really fun using magazines & mod podge on wood!
it’s always fun seeing everyone make it their own.
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we keep making the cuff bracelets because
#1  they look super cool.
#2  we have all the supplies
#3  it is a fun skill to teach and learn!tara3IMG_5428FullSizeRender-21IMG_5492FullSizeRender-22IMG_6193
the scraps are too hard to look through in their baskets so it’s just easier to dump them out.
🙂

 

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a VERY fun new project we made was this adorable Rainbow Chalk Board Wreath that came all together in a CUTE kit provided by Britni at Giggle This Studios.
the kit comes with the chalkboard backing, the wreath form, fabric, chalk pencil, chalk, ribbon to hang the wreath and a set of examples of chalk art to choose from to trace and create your greeting in chalk AND a fast motion video tutorial on how to put it together

everyone had a really fun time putting these together!
Britni you made it very easy to create an awesome wreath – THANK YOU!

we thought they would make great gifts too!
if you have a crafty friend who is having a birthday coming up… ship this to her!

if you want to make one for your house you can order HERE.
You can use the code WreathKit10 for a 10% discount too!

YAY!!!

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i like that you can change the message!
“Happy Birthday” when you are having a party… “SUMMER” on the last day of school… baby name when you bring home a new baby!
the chalkboard is rad!

some of our guests added extra ribbon or fabric scraps to make it unique to their style.  🙂

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all of these women have great stories and i loved getting to know them.
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this group of five was our biggest group to come together yet.
what a fun car ride that must have been!
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tara, kimberlee and amy make me laugh and laugh.
i enjoy them each so much.

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everyone’s least favorite part of the weekend is the 30 seconds they have to get their picture taken.
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but i love seeing everyone in a brady bunch collage framed up forever in my memory.

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thanks ladies for an awesome weekend!
i hope you left feeling pampered, creative, refreshed and that you went home and crafted your hearts out!
because that’s what Craft Weekend is all about!

if YOU would like to come a Craft Weekend like this… first read THIS post

then Click Here to be put on the Wait List.
we use a lottery system to select our spots so you never know how quickly you could get picked.
but you won’t get picked at all if you aren’t on the list.  🙂

 

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Liz - I just signed up for the wait list and I have read your post about craft weekend questions, but I have a question that I can’t find the answer to. What if you have food allergies? Do you accomodate or should one be expected to bring/buy your own food? I am sensitive to gluten and I noticed that almost every meal had a wheat flour base.

Thanks!

Pam - I love your outfit in the group pic. Where are your jeans from? You look fantastic!

sharon / theprincipledtype.blogspot.com - what a dream. as usual!

Jenny B. - Oh the rainbow stairs!!! Pictures of the craft house just make me happy. Sigh… 🙂 But, um… what is up with that super creepy clown painting?? Yikes!

Elizabeth - LOVE LOVE LOVE the rainbow stairs!!!!

Tara - #hashtagsforever #rainbowlove #succulentsareforgiving #natgeo #spacehaha

jaime - three things.
you & kimberlee do good work. your new wavy hairstyle is hawwwt.
it felt like a little piece of my heart was crafting right there with you girls when i saw the NY mug.
thats all.
the end.
xo

Kristin S - I can’t even. Love this so!

meredith - Hi Meg! Where’d you get your jeans?!

Jennifer - Is that Smitten Kitchen’s chocolate peanut butter cake that Kimberlee made? I tried to make it once and it was a delicious but horrible mess… https://howtosavethekosmos.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/i-tried-to-make-this-beautiful-cake/ I am attempting it again beautifully for my 30th birthday at the end of the month.

Melia - You should print out the collages from each craft wknd and make a collage wall at the craft house!

Julie - I adore your craft weekend posts, the colour, the crafts, the food – it all looks like such an amazing time is had by all.
LOVE those new stairs too!!!

Megan - Will you post some details (like the paint colors) for your rainbow stairs??? I have a back staircase that I want to attempt repainting them in the upcoming weeks. I would so appreciate your advice.

BTW….I am still on your waiting list….and cannot wait until my name gets picked. Meanwhile, I absolutely love reading all about the weekends…each one seems to have something fun and special that makes is different from the one before it!!

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