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August 12, 2014 Filed in travels

after our super long hike that ended in rain, taking the wrong bus and a less than stellar dinner afterwards i just wanted to go to bed.
but craig is much more fun than i am so he drove around a bit and found Tiny Town Mini Golf in Estes Park.
i’m a sucker for vintage signs.
and at $3 a person… how could we NOT?
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i loved every quirky little detail of this place!
you pick your ball and your kids just golf… no snacks… no arcade… no go karts?!
it IS possible.
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everything was old and maybe a bit falling apart but the VIEWS!!
and it’s mini golf… it’s always hard to make it in anyway so the age of the course seemed to make it even more fun.
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my favorite part was all the flowers.
it has to be the owners pride because they were everywhere.
but it looked like a grandpa’s backyard… not a gardening crew that comes through every week.
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we played two nights in a row because the kids begged to go back.
and on the second night sean won the free game.  🙂
you get to write your name on the hand written poster board and date it.

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seriously… if you go to Estes park.. you have to come here.
it’s the cutest place!

the second night we walked across the street afterwards and ate at Baba’s Burgers & Gyros.
it was equally “local” and kitchy.
totally delicious.
my family loved it!
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and both nights we also went to Dairy Delite in Loveland, CO.
it was the perfect local ice cream place.
like the kind you went to when you were a kid.  🙂
and there was a Ms. Pacman and Galaga machine!!!
it seemed to make the ice cream taste even better.
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we did go horseback riding… at least the girls did.
we signed up at the YMCA of the Rockies on the first day to come back the second day.
the boys went hiking while we rode.
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we had signed for 1:20.  the 1:00 group was about 15 people and the leaders.
our group was us.
and Sam our wrangler from upstate New York.
so my girls and i got a private two hour tour of the Rockies on horseback.
annie had never riden and i think talby had once.
it couldn’t have gone any better.
except i did have the lamest horse ever… i told craig “i get enough difficulty in life raising kids and even the dogs… having a horse that listened to me would’ve been nice. i just paid money to have an animal ignore me for 2 hours”
but the other horses were great…perfect for my nervous girls.
they were so confident by the end!  i loved seeing that.

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and that is all we did in colorado.
we got up the next morning and left for wyoming.
we debated on just staying in colorado and forgetting wyoming.  seriously.
i am really glad we didn’t but we easily could’ve kept finding things to do everyday and had a perfectly great time in colorado.

have you ever been to colorado?
what are your favorite places there?
because we are totally going back… and i want lots of ideas.

 

add a comment

meg duerksen - i THINK that shirt was from my nephew. He went there? i think. 🙂

Emily - Catching up on your blog, but love the Georgia Southern shirt! Do you know someone there? That’s my school!

Lori S - I live in Colorado…an hour away from Estes Park. Its funny, wehn you live here you don’t go do those things..too bad for me, I think I will try that horseback riding!!!

Kristen - You must go to Durango and take the train from there to Silverton. Then, we stayed a week in Silverton and rented a jeep to take ALL around. If you aren’t comfortable doing that on your own look into a jeep tour doing the Alpine Loop. Seriously the most gorgeous 360 degree view I have ever seen was on that loop. I think they called it Oh point because all you can say is “oh”! This trip is still a favorite of our kids and they are begging to go back and do it all over again.

Lori Immenhauser - I traveled out of state for the first time in my adult life. I am 48! I live in South Texas! We drove to Crested Butte,Colorado. We stayed in a cabin on Cement Creek and spent most of our time going up into the mountains on ATVs and then hiking. It was hard to hike at the high altitude! I loved it. We visited Crested Butte one evening. It was a beautiful little town.
Blessing,
Lorilee

Staci from PA - We went to Breckenridge during the Winter…….
1. We went to Snowmobile through the Rockies……AMAZING!!!!!!!!! (Did this 2 different days)
2. The DEW Tour was happening and lots of events to watch/visit were free. Your kids would LOVE this at their age. We were in AWE at the tricks of these athletes.
3. We did a Horse Drawn Carriage ride at night to a cowboy style dinner……this turned out to be a Bucket List item just like the Snowmobiling was!!!! http://dinnersleighrides.com/ Apparently they have a Wild West show in the Summer too.

Kelly - I live in Colorado! Colorado Springs. I’ve only been here three years so far so we are still learning all about our state. We were at YMCA of the Rockies last year. Fun! We will have to check out that mini golf place. Helen Hunt Falls is my favorite place in Colorado Springs. Happy travels! Kelly

Melanie - Wow you were visiting my part of the world! So happy you and the family loved it. I’ve lived in Longmont, CO, since 2004 and the entire Front Range has so much going on, especially for family vacations. Estes is a great start! Of course, when you come back, please see us in Boulder County. I’d love to share my ideas for fun and good eats. See us again soon!

Ruth - Wonderful! If you went to the Tetons in WY, you are not far from Yellowstone and Bozeman MT. Seriously Meg, you and your family NEED to come here! You would LOVE it. Just puttin’ it out there for next year’s trip consideration. 😉 Beautiful people, gorgeous scenery, super fun!

Mollie @ Sprinkles of Life - We went to Estes for a day when we were in Boulder last month. Beautiful!

I rode that same horse trail when on my senior trip 11 years ago. We stayed at the YMCA. I have the exact pics from the trail ride. too funny! 🙂

Rachel Jeter - Hi Megan! 🙂 I LOOOOOOOOOOVE Colorado. My uncle lives in Loveland! I have spent many summers in Estes Park! IT’s so beautiful! I also have a sister in Breckenridge. I highly reccomend going there in the “snow season”. It’s a beautiful little downtown. Even if you aren’t skiers, (I’m not!). There’s something so magical about Colorado. The Mountains are incredible! Loved all your pics! 🙂

Karie - Estes Park is my favorite! We went there every summer when I was a child. We would camp in Loveland, too.

Lydia Skaggs - 5 years ago, my husband and I spent the summer working at the YMCA of the Rockies back when we were dating. Love that place! We can’t wait to take our daughter someday! Next time, you’ve got to drive out to Allenspark and have breakfast at Meadow Mountain Cafe. Its literally a tiny bungalow house that’s been converted to the most cozy restaurant ever. Homemade bread every morning. Beautiful omelets. Totally kitschy & unmatched coffee mugs. The bacon, oh the bacon! But seriously, your crew would take up the entire living room, so I’d suggest eating out on the porch surrounded by Roosevelt National Park. Every time, best place I’ve had breakfast. I hope Meadow Mountain Cafe is in heaven someday. 🙂

Christy - I love Colorado so much, I try to figure out how to move there every time we visit, and we have visited lots of times. 🙂 My husband and I went to San Isabel in May. It’s such a hidden gem! We also stayed in the Vail/Avon area and fell in love. Breckenridge is a fun place to go in the summer too. You really can’t go wrong anywhere!

mel - I was born & raised here in CO, and I totally love that miniature golf place. My husband and I went to Estes for our honeymoon(!) 20 years ago. We went for two days because my husband was starting medical school a couple weeks later. We had no time or money. So we played miniature golf there several times so my husband could work on his short game. I would recommend any hike in the Park… but especially Chasm Lake. I think it’s 4 mile one-way, and a pretty good climb, but it’s right at the base of the face of Longs Peak and SO worth it! Longs Peak would be awesome for your older kids. Wild Basin is incredible too. Really, anywhere you end up in the mountains is pretty great. 🙂 Just close your eyes and point to any random spot on the west side of the state! Love that you guys had so much fun!

Kathy - I have to say that your comment about paying an animal to ignore you for two hours made me laugh out loud. 🙂

Janel - I’m a Denver native…if you loved Estes Park,

You will LOVE Grand Lake, just 45 min west of Estes Park or so…lots to do there for a family….also amazing fishing! My dad is a native and an expert sportsman..one of his favorite fishing holes is at the Granby reservoir…south east of Grand Lake by 30 min…you can google Grand Lake for accommodations etc….

Straight west on I-70, 170 miles west of Denver is Glenwood Springs..my favorite place! Hanging Lake is. 1 mile hike to a lake up top..gorgeous in the summer! Perfect for family photo. Bring Blue Lily with you! You can take THEIR family photo too! Glenwood is a H uGE natural hot springs and hot therapeutic pool. Bowling, putt putt, go carts in area… There is a huge slide at the pool….you can reserve a cabana too for the day for $75 so you have shade..Aspen is 40 miles away with amazing hikes and trails, a gondola to top…amazing food..views are amazing.. Glenwood offers family rafting too…and they have a gondola too to a mt top restaurant. There are also fairy caves to explore…on way to Aspen is Carbondale…cute little town… Head south of there and you’ll see RedStone and RedStone Castle. There is a hotel there…it s a beautiful little day trip as is Aspen from Glenwood.

On your way out of town headed back to Denver, you could take Independnce pass out of Aspen… It’s a BEAUTIFUL drive down 20 or so hair pin turns and a road that can sometimes be only wide enough for ONe car hanging on a cliff…. I pretty much blare my horn so people know I’m coming around the bend and to slow down…so they don’t hit me head on…regardless, the pass is stunning! The drive is a tad scary as you head down, then it evens out and is fine….

Steamboat Soring is another area to visit, or further south to Salida or Buena Vista.

As I said, I’m a native. My dad was born and raised in Salida. The family vacation you just had was my childhood, my whole summer, every summer, my whole life. Only we did a LOT of tents too! Every weekend pretty much. I wouldnt change it for a thing, and if given the chance to relive it, I would in a heart beat!

Marilyn M. - We love Estes Park. My husband I go there almost every year except due to illness we didn’t go for two years. Rocky mountain has some of the best hiking with well marked trails. Go across the mountain to Grand Lake. Day trip. Stop at the Alpine center. Grand lake has a small town with a beautiful lake and lots of little shops. Saw moose this year on the way back. We’ve golfed at that same course multiple times. Owned by an older gentlemen who lives local. Next time through try Smokin Daves barbeque, go early or otherwise long lines. Dunraven Inn on highway 66. Italian. The Appenzell Inn on highway 34 and for an amazing donut fix “the donut haus” on the corner by the big slide. Views are gorgeous and wildlife very cool. The big horn restaurant great place for breakfast. Your boys would get plenty to eat. For an adventure take the “Old Fall River Road” One way on gravel to the continental divide….the best……

Cassie Moore - I love love Colorado!!!! So many favorite places, I love Breckenridge…their little main street is adorable and has the best junk store, Marigolds! Alpine slides are a blast in Colorado!!! Mesa Lodge about 20 minutes from Powderhorn Ski Resort is an awesome place with tons of lakes & rustic log cabins you can stay in! I could go on and on how much I love that state!!!! 🙂

Lee Johnson - Oh Meg what beautiful pictures and I live here!!!! Came to the craft w/e with my daughter and friends from TX. Loveland is my home! You drove almost by my house on HWY 34. Wish I’d known you were in this neck of the woods!

Michelle from Australia - It is our biennial family trip to the USA this December. We will be going to Breckenridge, CO for Christmas. Being Australian, and from the tropics, Christmas to us is hot, Hot, HOT weather, air-conditioning, eating salads and swimming. We are very very much looking forward to finding out what a cold Christmas is like.

Barb - Awww, Meg, that is my hood. In live along the Big Thompson river in Drake. Next door to Tiny Town golf is Smokin Dave’s Barbeque. Thee best ever. My hubby and I go at least once a week all year long. Buy a “Rocky Card” in Estes at the hardware store. It is only $10. With fabulous discounts in and around Estes. It will save your big family a ton of money. Next year, Old Fall River Rd. should be open (closed this summer from the flood in sept.)…. Anyways, it is an absolute gem of a drive that takes you up the back way to the top at Trailridge. Creeks, meadows, serenity. Even funner in a jeep, that you can rent in Estes. Email me for more ideas if you are interested, I have bunches. Glad you enjoyed Colorado. Love your blog. Have been a quiet follower for a few years :).

Christy - My husband and I lived in Estes Park for a while during college and worked at the Day Camp at YMCA of the Rockies! We really miss that place!

angela - …..and there is a Christmas tree in the office. Awesome.

Jenny B. - Woops! I’m a dork. Mesa Verde IS in Colorado! 🙂 http://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm

Jenny B. - So fun! I love all the local stuff. That hamburger and fries is seriously making my mouth water! YUM. I’ve been to CO twice. Once on a ski trip to Breckenridge with friends in college, and once with my parents (I’m an only child) on a two week road trip “out west” that included camping at the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon was grand and all, but I looked at it, and said (with all of my ten-year-old wisdom), “It looks just like it does on TV.” My parents were flabbergasted. Ha! I WAS impressed, though, by the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, which is in Montrose, CO (I had to Google that to see if it was actually in CO or not). 🙂 Here’s a link: http://www.nps.gov/blca/index.htm. I also really enjoyed Mesa Verde, which of course, is not in CO, but AZ. The most disappointing stop on that trip was Santa Fe, NM. I think I had high expectations, and it was just kind-of a rundown town at the time. Nothing spectacular whatsoever. The most memorable part of that trip, though? Learning to whistle. I sat in the middle seat of my dad’s pickup truck the whole trip, and we got some good three part harmonies going for “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.” Good memories. 🙂

Gretchen P - love Estes Park. I was there for a high school trip, it was amazing to see fireworks over the Rockies. Colorado and Wyoming are some of my favorite places. i need to get my kiddo out there, but it is quite a drive from Ohio.

Jenn - How fortunate for you to live in such a central location. We so very much want to do the Great American Road Trip. We just have to get over that 4 hours of driving includes just getting out of Texas. We want to travel to Mt Rushmore and circle back around through Colorado. The pictures have been great! Looks just heavenly!

Kim - Estes Park is one of the most beautiful towns in CO…love it! My husband and I did a big two week tour of CO a year before we had our first son. Best vacation ever!

Karyn - I grew up in Emporia, KS and moved to Denver when I was 22. Seeing your family sporting lots of KU gear while enjoying beautiful Colorado makes my heart smile!

stephany - Meg-
I was born and raised in Colorado! Lived there for the first 30 years of my life…went to college in Boulder!
Next time you are planning a trip e-mail me!
xoxo-
Stephany

Jennifer - We did Colorado for our family vacation this year and really liked it. Estes Park was great, we enjoyed some of the same things you did, and really went in for looking at all the great art shops they had there. Overall, Colorado got to our family of midwesterners – the mountains. The mountains!! I have roughly three million photos of them and love them! In Denver we did Hammonds Candy Factory (free + candy), a Rockies/Braves game, great food, Dinosaur Ridge, Red Rock, Garden of the Gods, so many drives into the mountains, and Casa Bonita. Good times!

jenni - We live in a small town outside of Durango. From Durango it’s just a short drive to Pagosa Springs (1.5 hrs), Silverton (1 hr), Durango Mountain Resort (30 mins)… hiking, rafting, tubing, alpine slide, hot springs, quaint shopping, horseback riding, dinner shows, fishing, boating, kayaking, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad…

Michelle - We spent a week in Colorado Springs when my kids were 16, 13, and 10. It was the best vacation EVER! There is So much to do there! We did one or two activities every day and could easily have found more… Can’t recommend it enough!!!

Cathy - Been to that very place! and it was our boys favorite – especially writing their names on the poster. We love Colorado – especially Buena Vista, Salida and Lake City. So glad y’all had a vacation 🙂

Emily - We have a mini golf very similar in Springfield MO. Total classic for the town! They do have batting cages and so we always have to take our turns in those too. And trail horses are always on auto pilot! Not surprised at all! Looks like lots of fun!

Angela Storm - We grew up going camping in Colorado and doing all the tiny little towns and some of the big ones too. There is a small town near Colorado Springs called Green Mountain Falls – a restaurant there called The Pantry is excellent. I think it may be a breakfast/lunch place only. C-Spgs. also has cool hiking at Garden of the Gods.

Riding the train in Georgetown or the train from Durango to Silverton is fun. And we loved going hiking/driving up Engineer’s Pass. My parents love Pagosa Spgs. I could go on and on and on – I love CO and need to get back there ASAP!

April R - Thanks for sharing the vacation 🙂
We didn’t go anywhere this summer so it’s nice to vicariously virtual visit Colorado. (alliteration!)

We lived in Colorado Springs one summer and LOVED it. First place I’ve ever been that I knew the first week – I could stay here and be happy.
We visited Garden of the gods, went horseback riding at the AF Academy, hiked, climbed, visited Pike’s Peak and spent a lot less time indoors! (sigh)
My favorite was the sky! Every hour was a new “show!”
Grateful for our time there.
btw – sorry if you’ve already said this somewhere but I was wondering if the pics were iPhone or dslr? thanks!

Erin - I grew up in Colorado! There is so much to do here. Next time check out Boulder and Pearl Street. Or head up to the mountains and visit Breckenridge or Telluride or Winter Park. Or even go jeeping in Ouray and stop by Durango. You will love everything 🙂

amy jupin - i love the miniature golf place.
i love that it was worn and looked homemade.
and those flowers!
i was looking at your pictures thinking “this was someone’s dream! (to build and own it) and that made it awesome all the more.

Lee - I saw your Pacman photo on Instagram last week and KNEW it had to be from Dairy Delite! 🙂 We live about a mile from there and pass it everyday driving. Glad you had fun exploring our lovely state! 🙂

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vacation rocks.

August 11, 2014 Filed in travels

we started our vacation this year in colorado.
we were staying in a hotel but we stopped by the YMCA of the Rockies.
craig & i had been there in high school for a youth conference but hadn’t been back in 24 years.
Estes Park YMCA camp has all kinds of activities for kids and families… but we weren’t staying there or signed up so we missed out on those.
if family camps are your thing… it did look awesome.
it is a HUGE camp with a million options.
we may look into it more for another year.
(this is not an ad for the Y…it was just me telling you that it looked very cool for family activities in the mountains all in one place)

we hiked up to Dream Lake and then even further up to Emerald Lake.
it took some bus rides to get up to the start of the trail and it was still a really long hike.
GORGEOUS!
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annie spotted the first wildlife.
we climbed up on a rock and there it was!  elk? moose? we weren’t 100% sure.
she was proud to be the first one to spot it.
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the trail ends at Emerald Lake.
it was truly amazing.
it was a long way to get there and annie almost didn’t make it without tears.
but she DID it!  🙂
the others were way ahead of us the whole time.
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it rained on us on the way down… and quite a bit the rest of that afternoon.
because it does that a lot in colorado.
you’d think we would have brought some rain gear.
but we didn’t.

we stayed in a hotel during this part of the trip.
did you know embassy suites has a huge breakfast buffet included in your room price?
i would hate for you to not know that!   🙂
our kids like to eat a lot of food…  maybe yours do too?
we almost always stay there because it has space for all of us to sleep and the buffet.
and there is a pool too.
our kids think its super fancy.

and it is not NOT fancy but craig and i  love it for the buffet.
HA!

add a comment

Lisa - LOVE that green hutch! What color is that? I have a old dresser, turned TV stand, that would look GREAT in that!
Thank you, Lisa

Kristin - Ohhh…we did that hike on our daughter’s 10th birthday! It was lovely. I’m glad Annie made it, and that you had a good time.

Tiffany - Family road trips are hopefully in our near future. We would love to go to Colorado! I’m hoping 6 and 3 aren’t too young. Maybe we will wait a few years. I love to go exploring and hiking, so it looks perfect! And yes, we only go to hotels with a pool and free breakfast. That’s a must. I’m so glad to hear you had a wonderful time.

Jen Cnristians - Welcome to CO…. We <3 YMCA of the Rockies! We have lived in CO for three years now, and still find amazing hikes and hidden gems. Have fun in CO!

Marilyn M. - We have hiked to Emerald lake multiple times and the view is worth it. The trail is improved a lot over the years, but there is a stretch along the trail that I start getting tired too. So good for Annie that she made it. All the lakes are worth hiking to in that area.

Rebekah G - We were in Estes Park two years ago. Stayed just up the road in some fabulous cabins called Machins. Truly beautiful! Did the same hike too. Our twins were 3 at the time. We carried them most of the way! Emerald Lake was definitely worth the hike! Thanks for the wonderful reminder of a great trip!

Nancy - My first trip to the Y Camp was at age 6 years old, some 52 years ago. The Y Camp has a multitude of activities and many guided hikes of various difficulty. The uprooted tree is our “Grandpa Tree”. We have a photo of my grandpa, my brothers and me standing around it in 1962. Our most recent photo at the “Grandpa Tree” was with his nine great grandchildren peeking out around the roots. Next time you are there you can hike to the top of the glacier above Emerald Lake and slide down! Thanks for a post that took me down memory lane!

Krista Wiehle - We love us some Embassy suites!!! It is the only practical choice with a big family! And we were in Colorado early this summer and my hubby and I swear those pancakes were the best we had ever had! 🙂

Angela Atkins - I have a plan in my head for our family to go to Estes Park next year. I almost talked myself out of it but this post ended that! Thank you for the awesome pictures and lodging suggestions.

Jenny B. - Had to come back and comment again because I read on Ashley Campbell’s blog that THEY just got home from a week at Estes Park! How funny. Did you see each other? 🙂

Jenny B. - You guys are so adventurous and make so many great family memories together! Also, I’ve never noticed before, but in the first picture, Talby looks a lot like Scott (in the face), and Annie looks a lot like Sean. 🙂

BaileyC - Beautiful photos! And…it’s a cow (female) elk.

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family togetherness

August 4, 2014 Filed in sponsored
I was reminiscing about family memories from MY childhood and I asked my kids, “What are your most favorite memories of OUR family time?”Oh, it was so fun to hear their answers!The first thing shouted out was “CALIFORNIA!!”
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Such a great family vacation we had that year! We were able to fly there and then rent a car to explore the coast.I remember visiting my grandparents in South Padre Island once. The main memory i have of that trip was that my grandpa bought me a Cabbage Patch doll. It was a dream come true.Another answer shouted was “THE BEACH!” Going to the beach is such a great place to bond.6a00d8341c469c53ef013485d24aa6970c-640wi6a00d8341c469c53ef0133f2ae456d970b-640wi6a00d8341c469c53ef0133f26f9541970b-640wi
My family can play for hours at the beach.Relaxing by the water has been a favorite past time of mine my whole life.
i would choose that over any other place to visit.”GETTING WAFFLE!” Oh, how we loved our little Waffle baby.

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Growing up we had a dog named Toto who only had three legs. He was so special to our family… it’s weird how animals work their way into your heart.
And when Craig went off to college my friend gave me a puppy for my birthday! I named him Seton after craig’s college.  🙂

My kids shouted “CONCERTS!” referring to Taylor Swift and U2.6a00d8341c469c53ef0120a5f6257d970b-640wiIMG_5865

Those were amazing memories.
There was always music on at my house. ALWAYS. But the concerts I got to go to were small but still loud and lots of fun.

I know they think these BIG things are their great memories — because they are.
But the more I thought about family togetherness I realized to me it is more about the everyday.
Making pancakes every weekend…
giving haircuts on the back porch…
watching our favorite movie again and again…
playing games on a Friday night…
making chocolate chip cookies…
taking the dogs on a walk…
basketball in the driveway…
drawing pictures at the coffee table…
doing the dishes… folding the laundry…
gathering the eggs…
cuddling the kittens…
making silly videos on the computer…
one last game of catch before bed…
bedtime prayers…
Those BIG events like airplane rides are that much more special because of all the amazing moments in the ordinary days.

Things are very different now than 20-30 years ago but yet so much is the same! I love that. We still just want to be together with people we love and who love us back. No matter what we actually DO with our time.

but i really would like to be at the beach right now.  🙂

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  1. Standard on LS and 1LT.  Available on 2LT. LTZ seats 7.
  2. Government 5-Star Safety Ratings are part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s New Car Assessment Program (www.SaferCar.gov).

 

add a comment

Katie - I love our Chevy Equinox!!!!

Stacey - Love your blog, follow you on IG, not a huge fan of the traverse. But I have 1 kid. Do they pay you to promote the vehicle or do you drive it and recommend it?

Stephanie - Lisa–you didn’t ask me, but I thought I’d put in my two cents since we have seven kids. We now drive a 12 passenger van that my husband put seven bucket seats in (vans come with bench seats, which means no head support!). I wish we could drive something better and safer, but we are doing our best.
When we had just six kids we had both a Honda Pilot and a Ford Expedition. Both seat 8, and we would go back to those in a heartbeat. The Pilot had great safety features, but not such good AC which we needed living in Las Vegas. The Expedition was much roomier and was definitely my husband’s favorite. We miss that truck.

Beth - Stacy P. – bahaha! I saw that, too, and thought, wow, Meg is reeeeally pushing the limits here. Thanks for the smile this morning.

jen - LOVE the Traverse.

Lisa… we have four kids and our Suburban has been great for road trips. Just my 2 cents. And congratulations on baby #5!

stacy p. - I *LOVE* that it seats 81! You’d never know that from the look of the car from the outside. 🙂

Lisa - I have a question for you regarding vehicles for a family of 7… But not about a traverse. :/ We will be having baby #5 in January and am wondering about cars. We have a minivan but for trips it’s not going to be the greatest option in the near future. Especially since we love camping. Do you guys sometimes use a passenger van? (12 or 15 passenger van) It looked like in a couple pictures that was what you were driving. Would love your opinion on that if you have a chance. Thanks!

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a new favorite book

August 1, 2014 Filed in crafts & art

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KEEP PRAYING FOR MY FRIENDS IN LIBERIA.
I think about them every other minute and my mind has been racing for days.
i trust in God and know He has all the details worked out.
What appears as CHAOS to us is part of the plan to Him.
please keep praying for strength to continue on, health, and the details to fall into place in a miraculous way.

************************************************************************************************

 

i ordered this book a few weeks ago.
oh my goodness!
it is THE SWEETEST!
i ordered several sewing/crafty books and returned all but this one.

WE LOVE TO SEW – BEDROOMS by Annabel Wrigley.

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i told annie she should look at this new book i got in the mail.
she was filled with inspiration!
she looked through it over and over.
then she said “mom… we should start at the beginning and make everything in this book”
then that evening she said “is it ok if i keep this on my bedside table mom? because i want to look at it as soon as i wake up”
i would say THAT is a ringing endorsement.

🙂

she chose to make the Party Mouse Door Stop as her first project.

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isn’t it adorable?!
we had so much fun putting it together.
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she writes it for kids.
it’s written for kids to be able to complete projects on their own if they needed.
and i really like how she talks to them on artist level… validating that their ideas are important… finding THEIR inspiration… finding THEIR style… not their mom’s.
and it is not ALL sewing machine projects.
some are hand sewn and some are even hot glue!
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clearly we loved this book.
last year i was in hobby lobby and found her first book WE LOVE TO SEW – 28 pretty things

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i thought it was AMAZING.
i went home, read from cover to cover and ordered several more for friends immediately.
seriously i did!
and then i googled the author (adorable blog too btw…) and wrote to her to tell her that she made a FABULOUS book and i just wanted to be sure she knew it.

you will want to pin every single image from her blog.

So.. there you have it.
a non sponsored report of two REALLY fun, well written sewing & craft project books for little girls.
because i like pretty things and i know you do too.

We Love to Sew: 28 Pretty Things to Make

We Love to Sew – Bedrooms

 

 

add a comment

beki - I LOVE Annabel! She is the sweetest!!

Deb Meyers - please tell Annie that the first picture of Party Mouse I thought was the BOOK picture. Then I saw SHE made it! great job annie duerksen!!

Mindi - I think this would be perfect for my little girl! Bookmarking this for her upcoming birthday!! Thnanks!!

Lisa - Very cute! I need to know where you got that aqua/white polka dot fabric behind the mouse…it matches the chevron fabric I got recently at Hobby Lobby, I have re-decorated my oldest daughters room as a guest room and used gray and that aqua and still looking for a couple more fabrics for pillows…

Aubrey - These look so fun! I hope my almost 12-year-old isn’t too old for them because she’s already a good little sewer and would probably really like these projects. Thanks for sharing! And darling doorstop Annie! I hope Pam and her family will be okay. I know it’s hard to always accept God’s plan and submit our will to His, but it does always work out for the best and one day, we’ll understand everything.

jen - That mouse is adorable!

I will definitely need to get these books for my daughter. This very NOT crafty mom ended up with a daughter who would love to do crafts all day long, so these books would be a lifesaver for us both. Thanks for sharing.

Jenny B. - SO CUTE! Or, maybe I should say “SEW CUTE!” 😉

Karen, If I remember correctly, I think Annie is the same age as my oldest son (who is 9), so I’m guessing she’s 9. 🙂

amy jupin - i know this lady!
i remember when she had a little bitty garage she made into a workshop.
maybe one of my first pins ever!
http://coatsandclarksewingsecrets.com/blogcategory/sewing/sewing-studio-tour-little-pin-cushion
now i must must MUST get my hands on these books.
i’m going to need annie to teach me to quilt.
and maybe finish my apron one day!

i am praying for pam and the fam every day.
i know you are scared for her.
hand that fear over to Him. He’s your comfort.
love you!

Megan - Ohhh! My 11yo step-daughter will really like these books. Thank you for the recommendation. Which to choose? We often don’t have much in common and I love finding positive things that we can do together. And prayers of health for everyone who needs them. Thanks Meg!

Traci - This looks like so much fun! I would buy this book for myself, haha.

Jenn - I’ve been staying on top of the news coverage and checking the Samaritan’s Purse web site for updates on Dr. Brantly and Nancy. I am praying for your friends as well. I know its hard to just let go. God does indeed have a plan and every moment we think of them and ask God to help it brings them closer to healing.

Great book and review. I have two girls too and these seem like great projects for them. Thanks for sharing.

Hugs!

Karen - How old is Annie? My daughter is almost 8 and loves to craft but wondering if this is too old for her?

Kristine - Oh. My. Word! That mouse is full of personality just like Annie! Oh I wish I had a girlie! You obviously have nurtured her creativity!
Praying for your friends in Liberia.

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please pray

July 29, 2014 Filed in africa

hi.
so i am back from Liberia.
i didn’t mention i was going until the hour i left.
partly because i don’t like to cause people to worry and partly because i didn’t want to listen to people worry.
i understand people sharing their concern but also it is not usually helpful.
so… i kept it to myself and a few close friends & family.
and they were worried enough that i didn’t want to add more onto that.

i will share lots of photos and stories but today i just want to ask you pray.

the American doctor who has tested positive is my friends Pam & Eric’s best friend.
he is a medical missionary who has been working so hard to HELP.
he is adored by his friends and family.

then.. to stop & think HARD about how every person (over 1200!) that has contracted the virus is also as special as Dr. Brantly.
every person has a story.
no life more important than the next.
yet now it feels so much more real.
and it is so much worse than i can convey here.

please pray…

-for dr. brantly & nancy his co-worker and their families
-for my friends wrapped up SMACK in the middle of this crisis
-for those in the hospital… working and sick
-for liberia

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click here for more information on samaritan’s purse & ebola in liberia.

add a comment

Sarah, from Samaritan's Purse - Meg, thank you so much for your prayers and support during this time. We are praising God for the good news so far and praying fervently for Kent and Nancy’s healing, as well as help for West Africans battling the disease.

Laura Whistler - It’s an honor to pray for these people. My brother-in-law went to Liberia last winter and was forever changed by his visit there. After his trip he’s decided to take his son (age 9) next winter.

Debbie - Hi there

Just wanted to let you know I have had Dr Brantly in my thoughts since your post.

I just read on cnn that he is the person they are flying out of there and came back to check the names you had written

Sending prayers from Canada.

Debbie

Dawn - I have been watching this story. May God get all the glory no matter what!!! HE is so much bigger than any of this. Trusting.

Lauren - Meg,
Prayers are being answered! I just read that either Dr Brantly or Nancy is coming to Emory hospital in Atlanta, only yards from the CDC. This is a world class facility where he/she will be in the best of hands. God is good all the time.

Carol S. - I’m so sorry about all of this, it is terrible news and knowing you were in the thick of it brings it closer to home. Such a brave and heroic family, sacrificing everything to serve others. That I should be so Christ like. Thank you for update, and as I always say to those that may question…do not judge, lest thou be judge. God bless them.

Ronnie - Meg, I’m glad that you are back and I’ll keep those suffering in my prayers. I saw this on the news again tonight and while I was missing family and I’ll admit a little feeling sorry for myself. The story reminded me to give thanks for the many blessings I have and that there are those that are fighting for their lives while giving so much to others.
The story tonight spoke of a few volunteer physicians returning from Liberia and getting g treatment in a special facility in Atlanta. I hope that whoever returns is strong enough to make the trip and to recover.

Katie - Praying.

Allison - Praying for Everyone!..So heart breaking.

Jenn - I have been praying and will continue. Please keep us posted on any news you may hear.

Emmelie - Meg, thank you so much for using your blog to ask for prayers for this situation. The Brantlys are friends of mine, too. I’m glad you made it back safely from Liberia.

staci torgerson - Meg,
I understand 1st hand how you are feeling. We have 2 little boys that we’ve been trying to adopt from Monrovia, Liberia since 2008. They’ve been in the orphanage for 5 yrs now and are not the healthiest children there. They are much smaller for their size, even from Liberia standards and constantly battling colds. My heart breaks for all the people that are suffering from this horrible epidemic, those that are in the trenches fighting to contain it, those who’ve lost loved ones, and those who are terrified of contacting it. My prayers are with them all. I’m so proud that you chose to go. If you ever go back, please let me know, I’d love to accompany you and hopefully hug my babies.

Katherine @ Grass Stains - I’ve been following this story, Meg, and will stop and pray now.

wendy - Praying. xxx

Stephanie - I read this morning that he is doing better, gosh I hope this is true! Praying for eveyone…so very scary!

Kerri - Nancy Writebol’s son lives in Wichita and was the Today Show this morning. He said he has been able to speak with her while she is in isolation in her home. His father was exposed to the virus before his wife was diagnosed, and so far has not become ill. Prayers for all.

Mary - Meg, my church is praying. A member works for Samaritans Purse and had asked all of us to pray…

How are you?

Barb Brumfield - I am praying and last night my prayer group prayed for Liberia and the outbreak there. I believe that everyone there is being lifted before the Lord and He hears our every prayer. “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12 I believe that there is hope for our God is the God of hope and I believe that He will help us in our time of need. I will continue to pray and know that our God is an awesome God and He is the healer and protector.

paige - praying. praying. & praying.

janetg - Small world. I have been watching this story unfold and have been so worried about this man and his family at home. What courage it took to go to Liberia to help all these people with the Ebola virus. I do pray for his recovery and for the many others.

Jessica - Praying.

Angela - On my knees this morning for him.

Kirsten J - Prayers – that is too close for comfort – how frightening for you and your friends. I’ll tell you this: I’m a huge Stephen King fan, and The Hot Zone is the scariest book I’ve ever read. And Mr. King agrees. Ebola is nothing to be taken lightly. Hugs.

Heather - Praying!

Jessica Johnson - Praying like crazy. Thank you for going. I loved seeing your pictures. Miss you.

Amie - Praying.

Angela Atkins - It looks like you almost got stuck in Liberia, with the borders closed now. Were you out of the area–or are you now in a 21 day quarantine? Praying for your friends, the doctor, and his family. So grateful that you were finally able to spend some time together with Pam and encourage them in their work there!

Eugenia from Southern California - Gracious Heavenly Father,
You alone know your will for us.
We ask for your tender mercy on Dr. Brantly.
As a physician, Lord, Dr. Brantly has put himself in harms
way to help the less fortunate. Lord, we ask for you to
surround Dr. Brantly and all the health workers with your healing
and protecting light. Bring them to and keep them in good health.
Heal them, Lord, and wash them in your mercy so they may continue their important work. We pray also for Dr. Brantly’s family and associates. Lord, show your love for the people of Liberia through an out pouring of love. In Jesus’ holy name.

Amen.

jen - Thank you for going and for coming home and sharing with those of us that aren’t blessed to be able to go. My heart goes out to Liberia and to the Brantly family, Pam and her family and to you.

Jessica - Sending prayers for the Brantly family. As I was reading your post tonight, I was also watching Anderson Cooper and his interview with a Pastor (I believe) of the Brantly family Church. What an amazing man, doing amazing work…a true hero.

Tiffany Clark - I’m so sorry Meg, for any sorrow and worry you are holding right now, for your friends, and the people of Liberia. I live a sheltered life when it comes to the news (partly by choice, and partly because I don’t want my young children to be exposed to it), yet I get so mad at myself that I didn’t know about this problem. I could have been praying earlier! Thank you for bringing it to our attention. Hugs to you! Take care!

Caitlin - Thank you so much for posting this. We are friends of Nancy’s family and have been praying hard for God’s healing and glory in the midst of this.

Corinne - I will pray for all the people of Liberia. I am grateful that you are home with your family. All the best to you.

Dara - Praying.

Sara - I will ask God to be merciful in protecting your friends in Liberia and in healing Dr. Kent and Nancy and bringing them safely through such a life-threatening illness. They have given everything in order to serve others in their time of dire need. May God minister to them in body and spirit on their sick beds in Liberia.

Jen - Have been following this story at this blog of one of Dr Brantly’s family members.

http://www.carrollcrossroads.com

Breaks my heart. Praying. Glad you are home safely, Meg!

Kristin S - I was completely shocked this made the national news last night and they mentioned they are medical missionaries.

And you know them.

Tina Jacobsen - Oh Meg!! We are praying!! My heart aches for Liberia! Thank you for sharing and bringing a little corner of the world to our doorstep!

Deborah Jeffrey - Thank you for your willingness to go…and to share…
I am praying. Thanking God that Dr. Brantly had a heart for service…so much so that he was willing to serve and lay down his life to help others. My prayers are for his family and friends, for the people in the village that face this horrible virus everyday.

Mickie Lara - Dear Goodness, I just can’t even fathom the bravery and commitment these people have to be willing to put themselves into such a scary situation to try and help so many. Honestly, you just going over there is more than I think I could ever bring myself to do so thank goodness for Dr. Brantly, your friends and all of his coworkers. And, just lots and lots of prayers going up for them.

Angela - May I add this prayer request to the prayers requests at my church? We have many dedicated prayer warriors. So glad you are home, I follow you on instagram so I knew you were leaving and I’ve prayed for you since.

JoAnn - oh no! I was just thinking about that Doctor last night and praying, I think God woke me up. I am so sad about this, the whole thing.

elma - Oh this is so sad. So glad you are home and safe and will pray for this doctor and everyone else. It was just on the news here that he took a turn for the worse…

Alissa Getson - Will be praying!!! Will also find more prayer warriors!!!!

Rebecca - Praying.

Jer. 29:11

Toni :0) - What virus? Sorry I’m out of the loop so I will pray for him and all the others.

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this was weird.

July 17, 2014 Filed in family fun

we were on our way to sean’s basketball tournament in kansas and we saw ostriches.
like… 50 of them on the side of the road.
????
we said “WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THAT PLACE?”
so later between games we found out.
It’s called Hendrick’s Exotic Animal Farm located in Nickerson, KS.

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we got out of the car and there were all these giraffes…that you could just… PET.
you know how all your life you go to the zoo and everything is really far away and there are signs everywhere to stay back and don’t touch?
this is opposite!
and suddenly we were petting a giraffe!
our minds were blown.

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^^^^ my picture.

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^^^ talby’s picture.

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check out that gorgeous profile!

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then i tried for a selfie with the giraffe… and i think it has done this before.
because as soon as i turned around it licked my head.
and wrapped my hair around that tongue.

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we loved the giraffes.
but none of us were liking the ostriches up close.
it was WAY too close.
WAAAAAAY.
have you ever seen one really close?

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do you see the ostrich on the far left… see how the wing feathers are blowing up from the wind?
LOOK!
THEY ARE NUDE!!!
so creepy.  and their eyes bug out… the necks? the half open beak?! the huge middle toe claw?!! oh my word.
later that night when i was going to bed i told craig “i am honestly worried about having nightmares about those ostriches today”
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i love watching the girls explore with photography.
🙂

this was a really fun completely unexpected stop.
we were just looking for a park to run around and we ended up hugging a giraffe!

add a comment

Kerry - This is SO cool! Can’t believe you could just pet them! That giraffe selfie is amazing, and great blue tongue shot too Talby!

Cathy - that is so cool.. if I ever get out that way ..from OHIO I will have to stop. So how did it feel when he licked you. I was reading and saying ewwwwww….

Lorieloo - Also. An ostrich peeing might be the most disgusting & horrifying thing ever.

Lora - Those giraffes are the cutest!

Kerri - Isn’t it fun to discover something special in your own backyard, so to speak? Hedrick’s has been there for many years. School children from the town we used to live in in central Kansas go there for field trips.

Ashley Tiburcio - this is awesome! we are planning to go to Kansas next summer…I’ve never been and neither has my hubby or kids….We are going to go to Schlitterbahn but are wanting to explore to so we may just have to stop here too! Do you have any more places that might be interesting stops? I love exploring and we are going to have 4 days to do just that….

Tiffany - Meg, I love these posts of yours. For the few minutes I’m reading it, it’s such an escape to a happy place. You make me laugh, and tonight I shared some pics and part of your story with my husband and it had us both laughing. Thank you for that. Also, looked like a goat was getting fresh with you. 🙂

Jennifer - Oh my goodness…how fun!! The giraffes are so beautiful and boy, the ostriches–they are creepy!

Kari Bobari - I just found out I am pregnant yesterday. Here’s how I know it’s true… these pictures made me cry and tell my husband, “I love giraffes so much. I just want to move there so I can go see them every day.”
Haha. Wow! First pregnancy, things are weird!

Dara - I love that place!! we’ve been there twice. I love the giraffes.

Suzelle - Those giraffes are SO dang COOL !!! You got some amazing photos 🙂 Your expression with the ostrich is hilarious 🙂

Stacy - Oh My Goodness. I’m dying from the giraffe cuteness! We have something similar in Pine Mountain, Ga, but I don’t remember petting the giraffes! So glad ya’ll stopped AND shared the awesome pictures! I’d love a LARGE print of the giraffe close-up!

Haley F - Talbee’s picture is soo cool! this post is amazing!

Heather S. - My mom took my girls here about 5 years ago and they stayed for the weekend. They rode a camel, fed baby kangaroos, and generally had a fabulous time.
Have you ever been to Tanganyika in Goddard? Been twice now. I have the BEST pic ever of my then 9 year old hugging a giraffe! So sweet! And the lemurs? It’s awesome to just sit and let them climb all over you. We love that place!

Carol S. - We have TWO of these in Knoxville but I haven’t been there yet. They get rave reviews from all ages. Fun fun pics! You are fun parents.

Jenny B. - Awesome! Talby’s giraffe picture is so great! There is a drive-thru safari near where we live, and the ostriches (or emus maybe?) come right up to your car window and stare at you. It is freaky! 🙂

DebbieLynn - I am crying…I am laughing so hard right now! Real tears! The ostrich! Your expression! I have LIVED that! I am a huge animal lover. I am vegan because I love animals so much. Last spring we went to a wildlife safari. Saw bears, lions, zebras, etc. So cool…BUT..we were able to buy a cup of food to feed the ostriches that were able to walk up to the car. I was SO excited!!! At FIRST….soon as they walked up to me and got close..i screamed my head off, and just threw the whole cup of food out of the car. I almost cried and had an anxiety attack. They are SO creepy!!!!(poor things..lol). But I love the giraffes!! 🙂

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my milk paint experience

July 15, 2014 Filed in home decorating

awhile back i found this buffet on pinterest.
i think i entered “green buffet” to see what came up.
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and that was that.
i was in love!
i tracked down the artist and asked her HOW did you make this look like this?
she told me she used milk paint and a dark cream and wax.
(she has lots of beautiful pieces that she has created!)

so i started looking around online for these things… i know… you probably know all about this but i didn’t.

i ended up on amazon and i came across Jodi from Back40Life and thought “hey… i know that girl!”
because i did!
i have worked with Jodi in the past over the internet so i emailed her and said “tell me the real scoop on what i need to make my buffet look like this”
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She sent me all the supplies i would need to complete the project that i was dying to work on.

i had NEVER used milk paint before.
honestly i didn’t even know that milk paint was a “thing” let alone how big of a following it has.
did you know that people go to milk paint classes?!
huh?
where have i been?!
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this is the buffet i wanted to paint.
i got it from an antiques shop 9 years ago and haven’t done a thing to it in those 9 years.
it was finally time!
(disclaimer…our bedroom has really funky lighting and it is HARD to get a great photo)
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very first…i rubbed all the edges of this piece with the wax puck for sanding later.

did you know milk paint comes as a powder?!
i used my blender to mix it up (because the package told me i could).
i thought “this is crazy that i am using my ninja for paint!”
but i did.
and it worked.
and the ninja survived.
BUT you can buy a little hand mixer that would be way better… i recommend that.

i decided to not use the bonding agent since i wanted the paint to be super chippy.
that was me just guessing and hoping it worked.
i figured if the paint didn’t stick then i would just start over… it’s only paint!
nothing that can’t be fixed.  🙂

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this color is called Boxwood.
i painted a few coats.
and let it dry.
it is very flat paint.  i was nervous.  this is not my style at all.

and then came back and saw it was CHIPPING RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!
my mood changed immediately!
i was giddy.

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i used this scraper and the paint just fell off.
i wasn’t putting pressure on the scraper… just moving it over the green paint.

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before and after the scraping.IMG_7838IMG_7841
after i scraped the chippy stuff off… i lightly sanded everything to get it even chippier!
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i LOVED this stage!
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i wiped it all down with a rag to remove the dust and extra dry paint.
THEN i used the hemp oil over the entire piece… put it on a clean rag and applied it.
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when it was completely dry i finished the piece by sealing it with Antiquing Wax using that great big brush.
i was nervous about this part but really it just made it look finished and not flat anymore!
i like it!
of course i can’t decide on the drawer pulls so those are still missing.
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i was so pleased with using Milk Paint!
there are so many different styles and variations you can do depending on color or the piece you painting… if you use the bonding agent or not…SO MUCH FUN!

You can get all the supplies for any milk paint project you have from Back40Life in their etsy shop.
They sell Miss Mustard Seed Paints and supplies.
they were great to work with…helpful and knowledgable!

and look at all these great colors there are to choose from?!
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have you ever used milk paint?
what do you want to paint next – or for your first project?
Which color would you pick?

i am crushing on that mustard seed yellow…. or the tricycle… or typewriter….

 

add a comment

Anne - You did an awesome job, congratulations! I just love the color and texture.
Anne.

Flower Patch Farmgirl - This is SO dreamy, lady.

Karen - You should just email and then call Marian (Miss Mustard Seed). Im sure she’d love to talk to you…

Beth - So cute! I am now itching to milk paint something, anything. Think my neighbors will notice if I sand and paint their cat?

Megan - I love it! This is what I’ve been waiting for 😉
I wanted to see how yours turned out because I was scared to do my own. But, I did it anyway. I chose chalk paint because I need instant gratification and didn’t want to wait for shipping on the milk paint. Now I want to buy all kinds of furniture to repaint. And I’ll probably be ordering some milk paint too. I’m hooked. I need Luckett’s Green and Kitchen Scale in my life.

Here’s mine: http://thingsthatfloatmyboat.blogspot.com/2014/07/eat-my-chalk-dust.html

Southern Gal - I haven’t used milk paint yet, but my son and his fiancée painted my dining room table and chair for me in a jade. It’s chippy without meaning to be. I love it! My husband hates it. Sigh.

Jenny B. - It looks great!! I have a lone dining chair I’ve been wanting to paint Mustard Seed Yellow. We have a local shop that carries it, so I just need to go get it and get started! 🙂

Mindy - Waaay back in the ’80’s, like when Country Living was just getting their magazine feet wet, I read about milk paint but wow has it ever taken off! Your piece looks so great. I am definitely keeping the process in mind for a future project.

Lisa - OMG! I love this! I went to the Etsy shop and then to the Miss Mustard Seed’s website and watched the tutorials on how to do this. I have to chairs I got for free that I need to repaint and upholster, I am so excited to milk paint them now!!

Laurel - Looks FAB! I always wanted to try milk paint since I first heard about it years ago but never got around to it… Recently I found Annie Sloan’s milk paint and OH My Goodness. What I love about it is the lack of prep work-a plus for me!!!! I have painted two brown wood pieces so far. A table that I painted with Paris Grey milk paint and then and then a white coat over and then some sandpaper to distress and then the wax with the fancy brush just like yours. Next I painted a bookcase-from Ikea and it turned out fab. One more bookcase to go and then my new loft area will look very beachy! My husband is afraid that I found this paint as what will I paint nex….:)

Tanya H - I love this! Thank you for answering my questions on how to make furniture look like that! I sooo want to redo my old dresser in Linen for my daughter!

Amy Woods - I’m trying to get brave enough to do this. I bought a vintage sewing machine in it’s original cabinet. That’s what I want to try it out on. I think I might go for it in tricycle. Only I wouldn’t do chippy since it is a sewing machine cabinet…at least not on top. Love how your buffet turned out!

Aimee - I have a piece in my garage that my hubby and I were talking about ….. SO happy to see this! Tricycle is going to be perfect!! And then we have the kitchen table to do and then the hutch in the dining room, oh, and the table in the office….

Kimberlee Jost - You know that built in that’s in my living room.
That needs this paint.
And I’m happy to have you on speed dial for when I get stuck!

Emily - Thank you so much for sharing this! I LOVE this! 🙂 Beautiful!

Meredith - Looks amazebeans Meg!! Milk paint for the win:)

Jeri - Typewriter is my fav. Been wanting to paint something gray…

Michelle Whitlow - One of these days I’m going to try the milk paint. I’ve only used chalk paint & distressed it by sanding. Looks awesome!!!

Katie - Ohhhh I love it! I’ve been itching to try out milk paint. I have a coffee table that desperately needs to be repainted, and that Mustard Seed Yellow would be perfect. I love the striped curtains paired with the buffet, too. Can’t wait to see more progress of how you’re making your new house a home.

Terri - I love how your buffet turned out. I knew you would love Miss Mustard Seed Paints! They are great. You should check out the Miss Mustard seed website. Every Friday she has a linky party and people send in pictures of projects they have done using the Miss Mustard Seed milk paint. You should put your buffet on there. It turned out really nice. Miss Mustard Seed’s dining room is featured on the cover of the new Romantic Country Homes magazine. You can see her dining room furniture that she painted. Also, she has a great picture of a cow above her buffet.

erin - Meg!!! GREAT post. And I love how it turned out *without* the bonding agent. The chippier, the better, in my book.
For the record, I do believe Kitchen Scale is my favorite.
xo

Denise Sandberg - I painted my first piece with chalk paint about a year ago – it was super fun – I skipped the hemp oil step and went straight to the wax – but it turned out great. Now I have an antique piece that has been sanded down to it’s bare wood and I’m fearful to paint it with chalk paint – I think I probably should use the bonding agent or it will just soak into the wood…..I can’t wait to get it done – now I need TIME! 🙂 Your piece looks amazing! can’t wait to see the finished project!

Wendy - love this! Where did you get your striped drapes? I love those! So pretty and just the right amount of chippy. Also, looks so authentic not sanded to look old!!
-Wendy

Mandy - …I have a very similar buffet that I nabbed for free with the matching table and I’ve been wanting to re-do them with milk paint. I’m loving that mustard seed yellow!

Gina - Apparently you haven’t been reading Marian’s blog. 😉 I love the look of milk paint but over the past five years I have painted several pieces in my house but don’t really have anything left. :/ I’m still thinking about painting some of my beroom pieces though!! Your piece is gorgeous!! 🙂

Jennifer - Wow! That looks amazing, Meg! Great job…I’ve never heard of milk paint–thanks for sharing your “how-to” on this…I’m going to have to give this a try.

Lorri - Love this! I just used chalk paint for the first time on living room end tables and now you’ve convinced me to broaden my reach with milk paint as well. So glad to see “the classics” like this get a new life – it looks terrific.

Barbie - Love your buffet!! I am really liking the Flow Blue color!!!

Jenn - Um….LOVE IT! Its turned out fabulous!

heidi e. - These would be cute in white:

http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/home-hardware-knobs/073183.jsp#/

Or any anthro knobs.. especially the on sale ones! 😉

Alex - Thanks for sharing your heart.

I have been inspired to share my journey with Huntingtons Disease.
http://Www.livingwithpassion90.blogspot.com

Heather S. - Love the result! I struggle to do these projects. I’ve completed an end table and a decorative garden gate (for over the mantle), but I wish I’d have been more chippy with my paint. Still looks too “freshly painted.” KWIM?

Anyway, lovely work here, Meg! I really like the tricycle, the mustard seed yellow, and the kitchen scale! What fun colors!

ALicia @ Investing Love - I have never used it, but you just convinced me…first chance I get I’m doing it!!!

Carol S. - Where’ve ya been Meg? Ha ha, can’t believe you haven’t seen this around for awhile. Probably busy in your chicken coop. 🙂 Yes, been wanting to do same thing to a couple of pieces in my guest room…dresser and desk…each time I host guests, I think “I must do that before the next guest.” Maybe this time I will. A consignment store near me has a big display of these type products and offers classes. Loved the pics and descriptions and your buffet looks fab.

jamie - just went to the {miss mustard seed} website. my questions can be answered there. i think i’m in love.

jamie - silly question: why is it called milk paint? would this look good on bathroom or kitchen cupboards?

Angela - Looks great! I love the idea of using it for your tv too! I’ve never used it but I love the colors it comes in!

Lizelle - Wow – it looks great! I need to find something to paint in the “typewriter” colour!! 😉

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