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clean water at the farm!

October 9, 2012 Filed in Uncategorized

we moved out to this house in the country 6 months ago now.
i don’t know if it has anything to do with being outside of town . . . or just being in a new town . . .
but the water out here did not taste very good.
my whole family commented on it.
also there was stuff . . . little white flakes . . . floating in our drinks.
it bothered me, but i didn’t want to buy water bottles so i didn’t know what to do about it.

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so when PUR asked if i would like to try an Advanced Faucet Water Filtration System in our kitchen, i jumped at the chance!
i was thrilled to be able to try something to fix our water problems!

the box arrived, and we looked over the instructions.

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it said it was an easy installation, and they were telling the truth!
it took craig about 3 minutes to install it on the faucet we already have here at the farm.

(this is probably the only time you will ever see my sink without dishes . . . enjoy it while you can!)

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after it is installed water should be run for five minutes through the filter to get it running smoothly.
and now we can have clean filtered water all the time.

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it tastes GREAT!
it’s easy to use for everyone in the family.
my kids have caught onto how it works and like the taste of the new water too!
suddenly . . . they are drinking water more than ever.
i can’t argue with that.
i want them to drink as much water as they can!

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the PUR Advanced Water Filtration System comes with a built-in electronic filter life indicator that will tell me when the filter needs to be changed with a blinking light each time we use it.
thank goodness!
because i have to remember one more thing to do . . . it would not get done . . . ever.
so now it blinks a green light when it’s working, yellow when i need to change the filter.
and then a red light if it’s not working at all.
it says it will filter 100 gallons and last up to three months before i need to change it.

and when i don’t need filtered water . . . i can turn the filter off and just run water right out of the tap.

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it’s working out great at our little country house.

and my big cups of water have never tasted better!

do you have a PUR Water Filtration System at your house?

add a comment

Air Temperature Specialists San Diego - Sweet! You sink is well installed. Looking elegant.

Alison - Hi there Valarie…where are you guys located?

valerie - We JUST bought this exact same filter last weekend! I never thought our water tasted bad, but my daughter didn’t like it. However, at church last weekend a physician who is in our Sunday school class told us that our region has the second highest rate of brain tumors in the WORLD – after Chernobyl!!! He highly recommended everyone put a filter on their tap water, so we went out and bought it that day! My daughter swears the water tastes better and will actually drink it now, and I feel better knowing all those nasty toxins aren’t in there anymore.

sharron - we do! love it.

Sunny Haynes - YES! We would not live without one! We love it and as you said the blinking light sure helps me to remember to change the filter!

Cynthia - We use a Brita filter in in house which we have been very happy with. We looked into “Pur” in the past but many friends have said the system breaks easily? Please let me know!

Heidi Jo the Artist - No, but I think we need one!

Maggie - Everyone in my house has a bobble http://www.waterbobble.com/ I used to buy TONS of bottled water and these have the filter built right in. I get the best deals at Kohl’s (when they’re on sale + a coupon!), but you can get them at Target too. We even have a baby bobble for the baby 🙂

Jocelyn Pascall - Here in Portland, OR we have pretty tasty water, but when I lived in LA I used one of these and it made all the difference in the world.

Molly - Yes, we’ve had one for over 12 yrs now. It’s worked great all that time. We recently got a new refrigerator with a filter system built in. There is also a filtered ice maker. The girls drink more water than they ever have now. They love filling it up. But, we still kept our Pure on our sink faucet and use it too.

kerrimann17@gmail.com - Yes, but I haven’t changed the filter, in like, YEARS!!!

Jolene (Homespun Heritage) - We live “in town” and all the water is well water (treated of course) but actually tastes really good! Its not heavy with impurities nor over chlorinated. Not bad for “city” water!

tonya - i’ve looked at that a zillion times at target, but haven’t wanted to fork over the money…even though i know we’d ALL drink more water if it tasted better! thanks for the review!

Jo - I bought one of these from Brita and so wanted to use it but it kept popping off. Was the PUR one fairly easy to install?

alamama - I have wanted to get one of these badly. We can not drink our tap and am stuck buying bottled water. You make me want to get one. Hmmm… Love you blog BTW. I am a silent reader (for years).

Susan - I had one and loved it! I don’t have one anymore because of the type faucet I now have but I can get filtered water from my fridge…those filters are way more expensive than the PUR though!

Kat - We have do a PUR Water Filtration System at our house! We all love it in our house. I love the lights to remind me about changing the filter, my boys, 9, 6, & 3, know what the colors mean and will hound me if I’m slow about it. 🙂 I don’t think our filter has lasted 3 months ever. We drink mostly water and we use filtered water for our coffee. Love it!

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my brain….

October 8, 2012 Filed in me me me,my goofball kids,the farm

i feel a little out of it.
i think it's all that is going on in my head preparing for Craft Weekend again.
lots of things to get ready.
all good…but just lots of things to remember.

i had six cups of coffee today. 
for real.
that can't be good for me i am guessing. 

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waffle.
he is such a goober.

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annie made a birthday card for me…she worked so hard.
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 :)

i got The Help and a blender as my gifts. 
perfect gifts i think.
not kidding.

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 some of you were asking to see the farm house and how i "decorated"  

ha.

this is my kitchen.
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this is my kitchen when i make cheesecake.
i don't know why there is a lighter in the middle of that mess….

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this is the front room…the room you walk into when you come in the house.
it has a big set of windows that faces the yard on the right side of this picture.
(one of my kids "hung" that paper star on the curtain hardware months ago… it's not a decoration) 

this is where i spend 95% of my time when i am home.
it gets the light. 
but there are no screens on the windows or door so it has no air flow whatesoever….it's a bummer. 

that door way in the back…goes to the garage.

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the family computer is off to the right.

the coat hooks are to the left…. i showed this picture way back in the summer.
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and this is our bathroom.
that we ALL share.
there is another bathroom upstairs but none of the kids like it so they all use this one.
there is a tub behind the door…and the toilet.
it's no wider than the the doorway.  :)

do you see why i miss my bathtub?  my big private bath tub in my private grown ups only bathroom???

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this weekend i decided to reorganize my closet.
i took out everything and put it on my bed.
that is my bedroom….i am in my closet taking that photo.
there is nothing decorated in it either…just our furniture we got a long time ago….and some of my grandma's.
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and there is my reorganized cleaned out closet….
craig has one 2 feet to the right of mine…but his isn't paneled…i am the lucky one.

this house is a rental.
i like living here but do not feel a desire to decorate.
i may someday….but i feel uninspired at this point.
we are still adjusting to the smaller sized space that is not really "ours".
all of us.

this was on my bed last week after a monsterous tantrum by annie.
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she is pretty cute!

we have a no screen rule for the first hour home from school.
if you don't have homework you can read, draw or play.
she made this story….it's awesome.

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ok…i am dead tired.
i am going to bed.

goodnight bloggy people.

🙂

 

add a comment

Allison - Does Meg ever reply to the comments? I remember asking a few questions in the past with no reply. I find it curious too as to why she moved. I’ve been reading her blog for years and then one day (after the fact) she said, oh yea, we moved lol Hopefully one day she’ll fill us in 🙂 I’m guessing they are using craft house as a form of income, kinda like a small business going on… crafting/bed and breakfast. Do what works for you Meg and what makes your family happy!

bathroom lighting fixtures - Nice post! I think your bathroom is a little overworked. I mean I’d change the counter tops into something smaller to conserve space, which I think is really important especially for a bathroom where we don’t have that much to start with.

Kelly - I really enjoy seeing these photos! Your white couches in the family room make it seem so “you”. But it’s not about the stuff it’s about where you live and there have been some really good and nice comments about all that. Kelly

Antonette - I looove your coffee table set up with the kids chairs. I remember you once said the coffee table is actually a dining table, but where did you get the little chairs?! I’m having a hard time finding any that small. Thanks!

Tracy Fisher - We ALL share a bathroom too. In our rambler. I thought it best only one bathroom looks disasterous (15 yr old girl with hair products everywhere and 11 yr old boy who has discovered AXE). The other bathroom is for guests. It stays pretty clean. There’s no great solution when you only have 2 bathrooms! haha. Love the letters you share. I keep mine. Especially the ones where they are apologizing. They are so cute. Have a piece of cheesecake for me! -tracy

elisa - Awww I love that you showed pics of the farmhouse. I know people don’t get it. And I love that you don’t care. 🙂
It’s all good.
Love you girly.

Alisa - This was nicely said Jenn! I think the people who don’t understand Meg’s decision are less questioning the fact that she downsized or went to the country or even got into a rental. Many people choose to or have to do this. I think the hard thing to understand is that the other house is still there and is a craft house. Most people who downsize don’t (or can’t) keep the large house. Anyway beautifully written Jenn.

Heidi Jo the Artist - I really love Annie’s card and how she added on to the grass to make it perfect for mom. 🙂 Cute farmhouse too! I love the turquoise box with the flip flops!

Susan - I don’t understand why your family lives in a rental with one bathroom while your beautiful home is reserved for crafting time and craft weekends? I may have missed the explanation, but it is confusing.

Jenn - If living in a real, undecorated, zero storage, one bathroom farmhouse means your incredible kids, and you, and your husband – have the best chance to become the best versions of yourselves…then throw the throw pillows out the window and put your feet up on the furniture and listen to the cows bellow across the field while you wait in line to use the bathroom and know that we LOVE you for that because that is life and living. Your house is awesome and it’s a privilege to have you share it with us. Family is the CAKE of the home, decorating is the sugary icing. There is no such thing as too much cake, but too much icing can ruin a perfectly good slice. Like you, our family decided to have our cake and eat it, too. We left the 4-bed 3-bath beautiful home with its walk in closets (man, I LOVED those closets), and we moved into a 2 bed, 1 bath, 112-year old farmhouse in the country. Sometimes I worry that a friend will come to visit and see this home and not understand and ask why we left our beautiful house. I hope that she finds her answer in the country lane that sees more foot traffic than cars, in the old barn with its soaring beams that arch over us like a cathedral, in the meadow where the butterflies and birds make the wildflowers dance, in the warmth of my neighbor’s eyes when she comes to leave tomatoes and hen’s eggs on my front porch, in the smell of the sweet country air. She won’t find it in my shoebox-sized closet, in my quirky farmhouse kitchen with its sloping floors and cracked countertops, in the walls which remain unpainted and bare. But come on in anyway, throw your feet on the furniture and your troubles on the floor. No pretense here, just some real living going on. And here – in this raw, undefined, unrefined space – we are becoming our most authentic selves and are finding joy in doing it. Dirty dishes and all. Thank you for sharing with us and trusting us to understand and to not judge. Love you, love your blog, love your house!

Shelly - We live in a rental too. We moved from CA to PA. I think it’s a permanent move but we just can’t quite bring ourselves to sell a CA property that is 2 miles from the beach and we have really nice tenants in it. Our first rental out here was smaller living space rooms and we all shared a bathroom upstairs – that drove me nuts. Then, 8 months later, we had to move again for weird reasons and this place is bigger with more bathrooms and living space but now my girls share a room and all our lights are very “dated.” But more outdoor space – it’ll look beautiful in the snow this winter. 🙂 Our basement floor actually has a shuffleboard game built into the laminate tiles. ha! When something breaks, we make a phone call – which is the best of all. 🙂

betsy - Don’t you just love when dogs curl up and do funny things with their legs for a nappy? It kills me!
🙂

denise@victory rd. - Annie is right, it would be funny if a dog could bowl.
Thanks for sharing a peak into your reality.

Kristen - I know you had a good reason for leaving your other house, but oh my goodness, I loved it!! It’s taken me a while to get used to the farmhouse. Actually, I’m still not! At the same time, I love the barn on your property and I imagine what you would do with the house if it were yours, considering what you did with the craft house. I love your blog and you seem like someone I could have coffee with 🙂
And you look amazingly similar to one of my cousins. Weird.

pattykaplan1@me.com - I am guessing you can’t paint anything in this rental? Small is doable, no problem, but it’s not being able to really do what you want with it because it’s a rent. I am guessing you moved there because of the school system? I am new to your blog and love your honesty. I hate it when people act like everything is peachy all the time, like WE can’t say we are having a shitty day or my kids are driving me crazy today…it doesn’t mean we don’t love and appreciate each other…it just means we are human! Thanks for sharing! By the way, I love the area where you hang your bags and take your shoes off!!

Kristin S - Emachin
I used to teach second grade and that just made me really miss phonetic spellers?!?!? I loved trying to decipher their daily homework.
Emachin
Makes perfect sense to me!

sara @ it's good to be queen - i love everything about this post. thanks for taking real pictures of real life…trash in the trash can and all. 🙂 LOVE it. we are going on two years in a rental and it is hard. i *choose* contentment a lot even though my heart longs for a forever home. thanks so much for this post.

Flower Patch Farmgirl - I’m having flashbacks from that pink bathroom tile! Man, we really missed out on the pink bathroom era. I’m glad you and I have been able to experience it.
We have the same after school rule. It grates me when Calvin comes home and starts asking to use the computer. ??? So the new rule is, if you even ask in the first hour, it’s a no-go all day. Mean.

traci - I understand wanting to live in the country and the only reason your comments about you can do without bug me is the fact that you are not really doing without. You are keeping TWO houses going which is expensive. One day, maybe you will decide to chat about why you have decided to keep two houses but for now I am perplexed.

Brianna - How long is your family planning to rent the farmhouse? Thanks for sharing your home with us!

beth - rather than trying to put how i feel into words, when the last commenter (jacci) has spelled it out so eloquently, i’ll just say, i echo her sentiments exactly. thanks for this very real post! : )

Jacci in Ohio - I just want you to know that when I saw that first full picture of the family room, I teared all up and said, under my breath, “Thank you, Megan” 🙂 Because this shows it. *This post* shows that you are you, no matter where you are. And it encourages us to remember that contentment is not found… as you reminded me months ago… in granite countertops. Joy and creativity and family can happen in wood paneling! And dated kitchens can still make yummo cheesecake 😀 Thank you so much for sharing these! You blessed me today.

mama lola - annie’s cursive is lovely! what a little lady!
your rental looks cozy for all of you! and, you’re quite the brave mama for having white furniture– wowza!

julia - I think people who don’t like to bowl are weird too! So funny!!1

Sarah - why did you move to the farm house?

Heather F. - I love the “sorry” note. My kids used to write those with pictures of themselves with big bubble tears coming out of their eyes. Precious.

colleen from alabama - Smiling. I live in a house from the early 1900’s. I love the closet pictures. My husband & I share a closet the size of yours. double hung on both sides, no shelf on top (he is 6’2″ & needs longer hanging space:) 1400 square feet gets tight at times but we always know where our kids are! We only have one shower. My oldest is a girl. 12. drama. one shower is getting stressful. one bathroom with good light is too. Thanks for keeping it real. That is sweet mercy & grace to the rest of the world who doesn’t have it all perfect either. like me. You are my kind of people.

Jennifer Davis Wood - as a Ps. When you guys lived in the big craft house I know it wasn’t perfect but it was lovely. It was also inspiring to me, I was never able to get my home as cute as yours, that’s okay! Seeing the farm house makes me feel like the energy is in the right place. Relaxed family. that’s what I’m all about right now in my life. I’m letting go of the perfectionism and concentrating on my family and traveling lightly through this world. I have a big’ol house and I miss my smaller home and it’s layout. The house I live in now is never fully cleaned and organized. We do our best and that will just have to do.

Emily M. - I love how real you are and I really like the charm of living in a home that’s not picture perfect. I like it because you can let your kids hang paper stars on the wall and it doesn’t mess up your design among other reasons. 🙂 I love your no screen rule… I’m going to have to use that someday when I have babies of my own. Hope your sleep cured your weird mood… i love the way Annie spelled weird. 🙂

Jennifer Davis Wood - OMGoodness! She is Totally Adorbs! Really funny, I can tell:) I have a couple of my own that are that way. It’s the best.

Krista - Don’t you love “kid writing”? Every time my girls ask me how to spell something, I tell them to write it the way they think it sounds. Love her cursive!

Tiffany - I agree with Stephanie, the book is awesome. Most books do…

Tiffany - oh goodness that annie is sweet. can you keep her this age?

Stephanie Talty - You are going to love the book, The Help it is amazing!
Have you seen the movie?
The movie does not compare to the book-enjoy!

amy cornwell - Ellie just started making her “y” just like Annie’s with the loop on the bottom…it’s so cute! Thanks for sharing the farm house with us 🙂 I think I missed something – didn’t realize it was a rental, are you still looking for something else to buy? I’m still envious all the same…someday I’ll live on a farm!

Alisa - I teach third grade! Wish I could have Annie in class. Such a neat kid. Love the writing!

Tracey - Annie’s notes inspire me to encourage the kids to write more to me and me back to them. Just so I can read them and save the awesomeness for later.
Love shaved Waffle. He makes me smile. 🙂
Do you have slipcovers on the front room furniture? If so, from where? I love the smoothness of yours. Mine always look like they are falling off.

Kate - Goodnight bloggy friend.

Jack - I keep all the little notes that my kids leave around for me. The ‘sorry’ ones are the best!

Rebekah Brummel - I lived in a house like that for years. . . . rental living wears on you 🙂

lisa currie-gurney - good night friend.
hugs from my heart

Tania K - The only reason I follow your blog is to see pictures of Waffle. For reals. LOL
How about a Craft weekend just for teachers? Count me in! I teach second grade.
I love how Annie writes.

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working on a friday

October 5, 2012 Filed in pretty,things i love

i am here at the crafty house painting the work tables.
i have a few hours left of that work.
boooooring.
but worth it.
they look so good already….YAY white paint!!

i snapped some shots of pretty things around me this morning to brighten your day.

look at this sweet little mug i found at the thrift store….
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and then look at the inside!
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so sweet right??

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FUN FACT:
my husband got the craft house a new tv.
i don't know how it works.
so i am LISTENING to You've Got Mail.  :)

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i always find sweet dishes while thrifting.
you don't want to know what i am planning on doing with them….

smashing them.
for mosaics….some time…..someday.
i have to have enough before i can take that project on.

don't hate me.
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and this table cloth!!!
those colors…. it's pretty fabulous.
lovely and faded to the perfect worn in reds and yellow.

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and who wouldn't love a crazy bright yellow chenille bedspread?
it's brrrr-iiiight.
but will be perfect on pillows.
🙂

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i have been playing around with fabric combos…

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and putting my hands in the supplies….just because i like it.

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i picked up a pack of 24 spools of ribbon by Amy Tangarine at Joanns.
and the ruffled ribbon is from hobby lobby.
so so happy.

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amy….some pillows were finally made from your kind quilty gift you gave me almost two years ago!
are they not the prettiest pillows you ever have seen?!!
yes.
yes they are.

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new print to hang up this week.
that katie daisy is a ray of sunshine.
she brings me joy every time i look at her work.

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that is my little quilt i found at the barn last month.
i love how it was clearly made from fabric they had…not $10 a yard quilting fabric that just came out this fall.
it's crazy and wonky and doesn't go together.
i love that.

ok.
back to painting.

🙂

happy friday to you.

when i was in 8th grade…i had german class….and i learned that friday was "FREITAG"…pronounced Fri-tog….i still think of that when i am thinking about saying things like "happy friday"….

how was that for a random fact?

 

 

 

 

add a comment

Heidi Jo the Artist - Such a happy post! Love thrifting! Such a fun coffee cup! Especially love the stack of plates, kicking myself for not getting some at a garage sale now, the story of my life… I do have plenty of broken pieces I’ve been saving for a mosaic piece though, just need to make time to make something now. 😉

faye - i really like the coffee mug.

Lindy - Such happy photos! loved the inside of the coffe mug so much it’s my screen saver—thanks

Heather S. - I totally have that Katie Daisy print in my kitchen right now! Have a great week!

Sandy - LOVE the coffee cup with the surprse inside! 🙂

Katie - You could make garden flowers with those plates/dishes You have to have a special drill bit to drill through glass though!
http://www.etsy.com/search?includes%5B0%5D=materials&q=flower+plate+recycle+glass&ref=related&page=1
but I am sure you mosiac idea will be beautiful too!
pretty pics – thx for sharing!

Lisa - I think this is the happiest blog entry I’ve seen ! I’m saving it for when I need an “upper”. I love all the bright colors, and the fact that you save random china plates – I LOVE random china patterns. I’m excited to see what you do with yours some day. Thanks for the smiles. Your blog is always fun 🙂

amy jupin - i’m feeling so emotional lately.
and just crying at everything.
and of course i get to the part where you made the pillows and i just burst into tears!
i’m a total dork.
all this crying has to stop! it’s exhausting! 🙂
i love the pillows.
and i love you.
mean it.

Mary - such happy things you find!
love em all!
xoxo

Penny - My maiden name is “Freel”. Everytime I see Free! I think it is my last name!

Alicia @ La Famille - you make me want to go to Goodwill. but i never find as cool of things as you do. maybe today’s the day?!?

jen - okay i love that you are smashing plates for mosaics but did you know…that in the top photo with the basket weave around the edge was {and is mine although it’s across the country in storage} my grandmother china pattern and she has the whole set! and in the second photo the plate with the needle point is her tea set – again has the whole thing and it’s my sister’s. i couldn’t imagine smashing that! {although they are NOT my style!} but i know they are probably chipped and worn so go ahead…just know i will be wincing in quebec! ha!

mama lola - that mug could not be more perfect! great find!
and the quilt pillow… genius! old quilts can be hard to salvage as a whole piece, but making something small out of it is fantastic; and what a great way to make something personal as a gift for someone!

tiffany gardner - just wanted to say how much I still love your blog. Yours was the FIRST BLOG i ever read!! And I have to say…. it is still my very favorite. thanks for bringing joy to a life you don’t even know. honest.

Shelly - Frei is my last name. No wonder Friday is my favorite day! 🙂 When we were in Austria for our 10 year anniversary a few years back, we saw our name everywhere. “Free!” 😉

Beth - You always find the BEST stuff when you go thrifting! Why are your stores so much better than the ones around here? haha I very rarely find great stuff. 🙁

shauna - love your pillows!

Terrie G - Can not wait to see your mosaic project. Always wanted to do something like that!
Lots of pretty things to look at tonight!
All of that would make a super Happy Friday!!
You find the best quilts & fabric!!
Happy Painting!

betsy - Meg – I had to tell you this story that happened in my classroom last week. Every month, I decorate for the season or holiday in that month. Each month, I have new decor to hang from the ceiling: leaves, snowflakes, conversation hearts, Chinese lanterns, etc. In August & September, I hung the bunting you made for me a few years ago in the bright fabrics & ribbon. On Friday, I stood up on a stool while my 4th graders were working to take it down (for the 8 foot spider web that went up in it’s place) and my kids all started to whine that I was taking it down. “No! Leave it up! Why are you taking it down??” I told them I loved it, too, but next month’s decorations were awesome, too. They asked if I made the bunting, and I happily said, “Nope, my friend Meg made it for me!”
Thanks again … I love it!

Tiffany - I took German through collage. Funny words in that German language! 🙂

Kristin S - I drive through Kansas every two years on my way to and from Colorado for the summer. Next summer? I’m getting thrift store ideas from you and MUST STOP on my drive. Gracious, we have nothing like these amazing finds at ours.
I went to an auction preview this afternoon for an entire “estate” for a woman who passed away. I had high hopes of a quilt or two. She had some but they weren’t well made enough to last much longer. Though it was really weird to see a person’s entire home contents all organized for auction – down to a half used bottle of B&BW Warm Vanilla Sugar hand soap.

Mommyjulia - LISTENING to you’ve got mail? Oh you are too cute. (I wouldn’t know how to work a new tv either.) and, you are so good at the fabric combo-ing!

Becky K. - Another use for the vintage plates is to give them to a friend with some baked goods on them. Much prettier than a paper plate or rubbermaid container.

Amy K. - eee! That top plate in the first plate photo is the Spode pattern I inherited from my grandma… I do not take use it nearly often enough, so this little reminder was a breath of fresh air!!

Suzanne - I love all the bright, happy colors. glücklich Freitag!

Karen Gerstenberger - Did you ever visit my blog and see my glass- and pottery-topped table? I made it from found beach glass and pottery. I’ve made a bathroom countertop the same way – it’s a joy forever. Your thrift store dishes reminded me. Those projects are a lot of work, but a lot of fun, too – worth it!

rachel - love all your pretties. 🙂 i can never find lovely dishes when thrifting. …boo. happy weekend!

EmilyK - That’s sounds a lot more exciting than the work I’m doing today! 🙂

Lindsey - Lovin’ the tablecloth and also the quilt pillows! That is an incredible idea for old quilts with holes! I am so inspired now!

happygirl - Friday in German is very random. I’m working on Friday, too. Not nearly as pretty as your work. 🙂

Debbie Hargadon - I actually LOVE this idea. I’ve been saving favorite clothes of my kids for years — this would be good — even if it were very random in appearance, the familiarity of it would make it okay. I’m curios as to how large her rectangles were? or how thick the strips.

seriously sassy mama - German in the 8th grade is pretty random!

jerusalem - oh craftiness delight. wish i was working with you at the craft house!

Amy@littleforalittlewhile - love this! I hope to find a sweet little quilt when I come to craft weekend, among other things 😉

Tanya H - My grandmother made quilts like that! Not that pattern, her’s were rows of rectangles, but every rectangle was made of scraps after making clothes, or when the clothes wore out, she’d cut them into rectangles. Every one of her children and grandchildren got at least one- I have three twin size from when I was a kid and one king that was a wedding gift. They’re kinda funny to look at, but they’re all warm and excellent quality. My mom can go thru them and say this was her skirt, this was dad’s pants, on and on. 🙂

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i vlogged.

October 3, 2012 Filed in me me me

i repeat myself.

and roll my eyes.

but i am aware of it.

ha!

by no means do i think of myself as an expert on any of these subjects.
i am just giving my thoughts on questions that some of you asked.  

 

 

 

thank you for watching.

do you think it's weird to hear my voice?

i do.

🙂

 

 

add a comment

Rebekah from Simply Rebekah - I watched this while my kids were napping. Immediately after watching it I closed my laptop and took a nap on the couch. I needed it. Badly. Thanks for the reminder!

Heather - Yeah. What she said. Except Toronto instead of California. I think you’d make the most wonderful friend. Thank you for being you, for your blog, for being here, for the eye candy, for always keeping it real.

lisa currie-gurney - love hearing your voice. 🙂
hugs from my heart

Wendy - Meg-
I love your style all around! I love how thoughtful you are. i love your laidbackness! Also, you look great! Thanks for the vlog.
Your blog is still my number 1! I think that is because you are always yourself and I never sense a certain formula. Thanks for always sharing your heart. I still dream of doing what you do.

Sarah - You look so pretty (I love your lipstick) and sound so professional-now I really really feel like I know you in real life! 🙂 And love your answers-all of them.

Lesley - So stinking’ adorable! Just makes me yearn for craft weekend all the more!

Lesley - Absolutely stink in’ lovely! This only makes me yearn for craft weekend even more!

Courtney - Love your blog and love to get to HEAR from you! You are gorgeous. Keep up being you!

Kasey - I have never left a comment here before, but I have visited your blog for a while now. I love to come here and see all the crafty cuteness you are up to, I love your photography, and I think you might be the most inspiring decorator ever (I’m not sure you’ve ever done anything decorative that I’ve not completely wanted for myself- hehe!!) Thank you for your willingness to share and inspire- I think what you have going here is awesome! Oh- and I want to move to Kansas just to be close to your wonderful barn store that you always visit…I think that might have been where Dorothy was wanting to go when she was clicking her heels together and saying “there is no place like home”.

Michael Kors Crossbody Bags - Ho, tiu video estas bona amuza oh

Lisa Q - you are just so stinkin cute! thanks for being so real….I think that’s why you’re so adorable…you’re so relatable!

Katie - Do I spy a teeny tiny globe behind you? 😉

Tiffany - You are seriously the cutest thing ever. This was adorable!

Beth - I like your vlog and hearing your voice. Also, you have great vlog presence — good eye contact, etc. It felt like you were looking right at me. Not in a weird way haha.

Janine - You are adorable! Thanks for the Vlog. It is always nice to put a voice with the face 🙂

mum of all trades - Your voice is not at all like I’d imagined! Really enjoyed this and hope you do them more often.

jennyonthespot - Since we aren’t neighbors, this is the NEXT BEST THING. 😉

Lindsay R. - Love your vlog!

Sarah - You are adorable! Vlogging is so fun, it’s nice to hear your voice. Thank you for being such a great blogger!

Belinda - The Lattimore Acre - Oh Meg…. you are lovely!

Jenn - Love your voice, love your blog and that you are real just like the rest of us. I know that’s why we all gather here almost daily to see what’s up!

shauna - i love your voice.
i love naps.
i want to come over right now.
i also want to take a nap.
i am annoyed that kansas is so far away.
why did God think that was a good idea?
to make california and kansas so far away….
i feel like reedo and craig should have therapeutic talks about dis-organized women with no schedules.
poor babies.

Jenny B. - Fun fun! 🙂 It’s not weird to hear your voice now, but it was a little the first time I watched one of your videos. I had imagined you talking faster in a higher voice. Not sure why… but that’s just what came to mind when I read your posts. Probably because that’s more how I talk. I think we probably imagine people talking like we do for the most part – until we know how they talk, of course. 😉

Michele - You are adorable!! It was like sitting and chatting with an old friend! 😉 I am with ya–naps are so important!! Especially for new moms. When the kids napped, I napped!!

Brooke - oh meg…you are awesome! I agree with you…schedules don’t work for me either. Can I just say, it was cracking me up how you would start by stating a question…then prop up on the chair next to you. Loved it. Felt like I was sitting across from you at the table. I loved knowing where you were. I hope you are having a great week. I am a big fan of your vlog. What a good video editor you are (those fancy words…wow..!) Your hair is so cute too. Makes me want to cut mine again!
Oh, and I wake up crabby from naps. i wish I didn’t…because I want to nap!

Lindsey - Awwww I loved this vlog! Thanks for answering questions!

Lee Ann - I love hearing you! It makes me really want to be your IRL friend! We’re totally opposite – but that’s ok. Just because I have a schedule for EVERYTHING doesn’t mean I can’t be a little flexible 🙂

Michelle - LOVE your blog! I try to “check in” every day and see what Meg in Kansas is up to! Nice job on the vlog! 🙂
I hope to someday make it to Craft Weekend!!!
You are adorable, Meg!!

northern cottage - you are just WAY too cute! thank you!!

mama lola - awesome vlog! yes, strange to hear your voice, as i thought you would have more of an accent… i’m from up north in canada, so i was surprised! regardless, great advice, love the cardigan, love the blog.
p.s. i don’t think you’re an OLD mum, just EXPERIENCED! big difference!

Becky J - You’re precious!
On naps, glorious naps: I’m pregnant with #3 and I still nap every day. My oldest is over the nap but me and #2 are very consistent, reliable nappers. 🙂 I plan on napping every day I can until my kids no longer can handle it! Or until they join me again for nap time. I SO want to get picked for Craft Weekend but my #1 fear is: will I get enough sleep???

Jennifer@beautyinbloom - Yay for no schedules! You are adorable! xoxo

megan - loved your vlog! you did a great job and i feel like i should have had a cup of coffee while i watched you…it was like really sitting and getting to know you. so sweet…keep up the good work and thanks for posting!

Anne - See ya! You’re so cute!! Thanks for the vlog. You rock.

sara @ it's good to be queen - so fun! love it!!

Sophie - Thank you for this nice chat !! How I love your accent ! For me, French girl, living in the North of France, I am much more used to the English sounds ! So it’s a very good exercise trying to grab all the words and meanings !
Love your blog and pictures ! it’s so colourful, bright, alive !! dont stop please ! hugs

susan barnett - So glad to put the voice with the face now.Love your blog!Love your photos of
life in the country, especially the sunflowers.

elma - I just love this!!I love putting a voice to the pretty face!!! Love your blog~!!!Thanks for sharing!

Lisa - This was fun! Thanks for being brave enough to Vlog – that has to be kinda nerve-wracking. I think you’re so blessed to get to have a Craft House – I love the decor and all the color and creativity that flow in that house! Thank you for holding the Craft Weekends – what a gift you are giving others, to share your creativity and your ideas and encouragement – I think the world is a better place for this. And I think you follow your own advice very well – your blog entries always seem very natural, and you blog about what you want to blog about, whatever comes up at the time. I REALLY enjoy reading your blog! Thanks! [And we Kansans don’t have accents . . . do we ? 🙂 ]

Jessie - Love your blog! You are so cute and comfy looking…well put together. Where do you buy most of your clothes??

Liana - Love it– you are too cute. Thanks for sharing!

mollie d - It’s nice hearing your voice, and to see you live, you’re so pretty!

Jill - you are AWESOME, Mrs. Duerksen!! : ) And I love your blog…all the colors, the craftiness, the realness, your coffee mug, Kansas. Keep up your great work! XO

Lisa M. - I loved this! So nice to hear your voice. And you. look. beautiful! So vibrant. Must be all that running 🙂
Thanks for sharing!

Heather R. - Thank you for blogging. 🙂 And vlogging.

Amy M - It was strange to hear your voice, but it made me smile. You’re even cuter than I imagined. 🙂

Kelly - Today is my fourth anniversary! My sweet husband (after changing our two year old’s poopy diaper – I told him that was all the anniversary gift I needed!) 🙂 went to get a nutella latte for me. So yummy! And I enjoyed it while watching your vlog this morning while he went to work. Nice to “have coffee” with you this morning. Kelly
p.s. I’ve bought several new glass Christmas balls at garage sales/estate sales lately and I’m getting close to ready to fill glass jars with them and have been thinking of you.

Ruby - Thanks for your sharing.
Love your blog, love your sharing.
I always can get some interesting crafts, ideas, and the ways to live from your blog.
it’s totally different from eatern life.
I love to visit your blog, and i am so happy you keep it constantly instead of FB.
Love you using pictures and words to share your life with us. you make it lively.
Thanks a lot.
Of course, love this vlog,too.

Heather - I adore you and your blog 🙂 Thanks for inspiring me! I hope that one day I will be able to turn my creative passions into my career. I love teaching, but I’m finding that I’m less and less able to be creative in my work…

Renae - Aww, it was great to hear your voice! Thanks for doing this, it was fun. By the way, you definitely need to do more fashion posts. You’re so stinkin’ adorable!

Lynn - So fun to see you’re every bit as real off the cuff as you are writing your blog, which has become a perfect coffee break for me with being a work-from-home mom. This little “vlog” makes me feel like I just bumped into a friend by the coffee pot and was happy to take a little longer to catch-up. Thanks for sharing – I really enjoy your sunshine-y style 🙂

Julie - Your vlog was darling. You did a great job. Loving the watercolor picture behind you!

Toni :O) - You are awesome and beautiful inside and out and I’m VERY PRO-NAP as well..HOORAY for NAPS!!! WOOT WOOT!! Has anyone ever told you that you should do a toothpaste commercial? Seriously, you have like the best teeth!! I love your blog, you inspire me to be a better mom and I love the colors, your blog just makes me happy, like that photo of the paint on your wall behind you in your vlog, totally cool! Have a blessed day and thanks for being YOU!

jackie grandy - Awesome vlog Meg! I feel the same way about hearing my voice. I tried to do a set-by-step video on how to make my favorite kale salad, and I cringed when I saw myself and heard my voice. I said, “you know” and “like” way too many times. My daughter videotaped me and we had a chuckle watching it. Someday I will get up the confidence to post one of my videos, but for now, they will be family videos.
BTW, you’re a natural in front of the camera and your joyful spirit totally shines through!
xoxo,
Jackie

mary - Thank you for your answers. I am a “new” mom of three 4 and under, amen to sleep. I also struggle with a schedule. My Sister in law lives breaths schedule and I keep trying to be a little more scheduled, but it never works. I think it has to do with the creative side of who we are.

Lori Austin - Loved “hearing” from you. 🙂
Wore that same cardi yesterday.
A fun post. Oh and your jewelry is awesome!

Christine - You are so cute. And inspiring to young moms (like myself). It’s a breath of fresh air for someone to say its okay to not be able to do it all. Or act like they have it all together. Although, you sure do look cute and put together!

Denise Spillman - You are beautiful inside and out!!!

Mollie @Sprinkles of Life - This was great! Loved it! Thanks!

amber - so fun to hear your voice! 🙂

Jen - Cute outfit, great background, honest answers, and…you have great skin! I enjoyed it.

Dani - That was fun! You have an accent, but that comes from someone with an extremely prominent Southern drawl! I want that picture behind you! Love the colorful paint! So vibrant!

Jessica @ MyArdentLife - You are so cute! I haven’t taken the time to watch any of your other videos but I did this one and love it! I always hate when I “hear” someone’s voice in my head and then find out it’s different – but yours was an improvement on the voice in my head! 🙂 can’t wait for the next one!

Denise V. - You are just as cute as can be! Yes, it is weird to hear youf voice but it is better than the one I had in my head for you so WIN! Keep on doing what you do because I really enjoy it!

anita - Just adore you….love your style, personality, makeup and everything. It makes my day when you have posted. Thank you!!!

Alicia @ La Famille - hahaha….just read shannon’s comment about chelsea handler. i totally see it!!! except, i think you’re cleaner AND you don’t make my ears bleed and make me want to go to confession. soooo, good job MEG!!
love it when you vlog! (just typed flog…NOT THE SAME!) anyway, you’re a super cool part of my day…thank YOU!
xo,
alicia

Kerry - you’re a darling. and I LOVE your voice 🙂 Go Meg! Kerry x

Becky - I liked hearing your voice, after having spent time with you in person 🙂 Reminds me of your lovely self and your lovely house and the wonderful weekend we had.

Kate - It is soooo weird to hear your voice. And fun.

Lesley - Noooo! It’s not weird hearing your voice. Love it a lot and think you should do them more often!

Hannah Lesley - I just think you are really cute. Love the outfit, hair, jewelry…love it all!

Tracy Fisher - Love your voice. Just how I imagined. And love your necklace. I have the same one… Lisa Leonard? Love it. Okay, said Love enough. Keep up the bloggin… it makes me smile. -tracy

Mary - ok.
this was totally great!
loved hearing your voice, and just hangin’ out, even for just 8 minutes!
such adorablenesss here.
i love your laid back, honest, realness.
xoxo

Flower Patch Farmgirl - Your hair. Love.
And I can’t stop thinking: Chelsea Handler. Minus the blond hair. And all the bleeps. And the short guy.
Nappers unite!

Tami - I totally expected yiou to sound southern. even though i know you are from kansas. ( my husband is from iowa so i should have known.). I guess because i am a southern girl I think everyone should have my accent. Lol. Great job.

Tiffany - I totally agree Amy! With everything except the nap part… but I’m not pregnant! 🙂

amanda - i am so glad i’m not the only anti-scheduler. my husband is WAY into schedules and he’s always saying he wants to fold laundry on thursdays, and deep clean the kitchen on mondays and i’m just thinking, “noooooo! what if i want to knit something on thursday or go somewhere on monday?!?!” ha! i just need space to do what i need to do when i need to do it – i hate being tied down to a certain chore at a certain time – yuck!
unfortunately, i’m also a homeschooler and two of my kids thrive on schedules. it nearly kills me, i tell ya what.

Tiffany - I agree. 🙂

amy jupin - heeheee…
vlogging is funny.
just watching made me feel so nervous.
i’m a total dork.
you did a really great job!
but the whole time i kept thinking, i really love your bangs.
mine have been growing out but i’m sick of them.
bangs are good!
(and you thought you had ADD??!?!?!)

Tanya H - you’re adorable! 🙂

Tania - I LOVED it! You are such a cool, relaxed, honest, REAL blogger.
I am classroom teacher. How about a craft weekend just for teachers? I’d love that!
I follow your blog just to look at pictures of Waffle 🙂

Erin - It’s fun to hear your voice. Your “voice” in your writing style comes off the same in real life speaking so that’s fun! But I would agree that it’s weird hearing your own voice, I never sound as good as I do in my head . . . way different!

Meg - Love it! And I’m a pro-nap new mom… Haha, I want a bumper sticker 🙂

Cory - I love your blog. My dad lived in NW Kansas for years, and it was where I spent a lot of my years. Then I lived in Kansas for a couple years and passed through Great Bend, Beloit, Newton, and lastly Emporia. I miss Kansas so much. I will always carry it in my heart. I wish my dad was still with us so that I had a real reason to go back. I have a question about the craft weekend and I have not seen it answered yet, and am not sure anyone else asked… so, do people sign up for craft weekend together? IE:Friends, Sisters, Cousins, what have you… and if they do, if people are chosen at random, and not necessarily in order (maybe I have that wrong??), how do they seem to make it to craft weekend together? 🙂 I mean, I like that they do, I just haven’t seen where that is something that is an option. :)Thanks for answering in advance. 🙂

nicole i - you are so lovely. i am so grateful i stumbled by your little blog world a year or so ago.

Laine - I already adore you, but if it’s possible, watching this made me like you more, lol. =) You made me laugh out loud when you said you had “ADD qualities”…I am SO there with you, haha. These are all great answers and was such fun to watch. I hope you do more! 🙂

Shara - It’s NOT weird to hear your voice! It’s actually kinda nice! Love all the questions and your answers! I love your unique life choices and your confidence in where you are and why. You and your man following the Lord and guiding your family.

Ana - That was fun to hear and see you. I really love your blog! Thanks.

roganne - this is totally awesome 🙂 props to you for doing a vlog because i would never be able to stand listening to my own voice on mine! also – that is not what i pictured your voice sounding like 🙂

Diane - I really enjoy your blog! Thanks for sharing!

Diane - I love reading your blog and seeing what you’re creating! Thanks for blogging 🙂

Kathie M. - Love it. Keep up your wonderful blog! I look forward to it all the time!

Kristin S - Oh, cutie patootie you! Great vlog. Certainly worth the 8 mins of my time and muting the debate.
Love your heart.

Julie - You’re so cute Meg!! 🙂

Amy@littleforalittlewhile - Well, you are just the cutest thing ever. I think I admire you so much because you are so real. True to yourself and not trying to out-do anybody. Can’t wait to meet you at craft weekend next month, and see the awesome craft house with my own eyes! xo
PS..I nap with my kids almost every day! Do we nap at craft weekend too? lol 🙂

Kristin S - Off to watch… need a debate distraction and this is perfect!

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3 things.

October 2, 2012 Filed in adventure project,africa,awesome bloggers

FIRST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

i need to giveaway my piano.
if you want it and can come and get it (newton, ks) then leave a comment or email me ok?

6a00d8341c469c53ef0168e813b69e970c-700wi

it's great and i hate to get rid of it but it's just taking up space at the craft house and there is no room at the farm house.  my children have all said they don't want to play piano anymore.  Since i don't see any future prodigies amoung them in piano…i am ready to let it go.

it's in "antique" shape.  it's been well loved.  but there is nothing wrong with it. 

let me know if you want it.
i will be so happy for her to go to a good home.  :)

i wrote a post about it earlier this year.  (makes me sad now) 

it's taken now.
SIGH. 

 

SECOND – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – - 

my friend Lisa Leonard announced something pretty darn awesome today. 

join me in praying for their family in this new COOL journey they are starting.
prayer is effective….let's lift them up!

a tv show??? it's pretty amazing.
be sure to share her video on facebook, twitter and pinterest.

 

 

THIRD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

i love The Adventure Project.
they put action to their words.
they find ways to provide a way out of poverty and they GET AFTER IT!

they offer ways for me to help out….sitting in a little kansas town all the way on the other side of the world!!

TODAY IS AN IMPORTANT DAY and we need your help.




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

ok…. TODAY ONLY…. all our donations will be matched up to $5,000.
so i want you to HELP.
lets make a difference today.
it's so simple.
and so HUGE!!!

i set my goal to provide 3 pumps today….$1200.
and honestly i think that is kind of a wimpy goal.

please tell me we can exceed that.

imagine if you had to water you own garden….let alone your crop to feed your family and make all your income….with no hose?!
and you did it for years and years and years.

AND THEN someone offered you an irrigation pump at a price you could afford because someone very far away cared about you.
that someone heard God say "help today"
that someone gave from their heart and that made a difference!

BE THAT SOMEONE TODAY.

i know how many of you come here everyday.
i know this goal is too easy.

prove it.

DONATE HERE TODAY.

 

 

 

 

 

 

add a comment

Michael Kors Skorpios - Ho, tiu komikso estas bona amuzo, nu, oh

Kim - So excited about the Lisa Leonard show! I’ve worn my Lisa necklace for almost six years now, proudly displaying the names of my two precious sons. 🙂

Jill - Wow, The piano, REALLY think about it before you give it up. Personally, I would hang onto it even tho they are having some kid moments of not wanting to play anymore.
I quite lessons and I’ve allowed my son to quit too but I sure wish, as an adult, that I’d continued. I miss it. I miss being able to play it.
I got my mom’s wacky piano in my house. Yep, takes up space but every now and then my kids will sit and pound the keys. Someday, I just keep telling myself, someday… Until then my son has taken up the French Horn. I’m hoping one of my 3 daughters will go for piano.

Julien - Just yesterday I was thinking about how much I would love a piano. Sadly, I live in California.

Lisa - I grew up in church with Lisa! (I was more friends with her two younger sisters who are also twins!) Such a cool idea! Am sharing it on Facebook now!

Cynthia Leal - Megan would you please tell me the name of the book that your kids use play piano? My daughter wants to start playing piano and since we cant afford to pay for her classes I’m looking for a book that will help her start learning.
Thank you
Cynthia

Lindsay - Megan, I might want your piano. Let me talk to Ryan…do you have measurements on it? Thanks.

jenny - You have NO idea how badly I want to hop in my mini and venture to your house to meet you in person and hang out…ahem, I mean get your piano. 😉

ira lee - i want to work for lisa!!! her story is amazing and so inspiring! i love her crazy curly hair, her ideas, and her work! thanks for sharing~!!!!

Heather S. - What a worthy project! I’ve given to many of your ministry plugs in the past, and I’d love to give today, but I cannot. Right now we are setting aside our extra cash because in December my husband is leading a group from our church to Honduras to dig a well for Living Water International. So today I just pop in to say that water is SO IMPORTANT and I will totally support this in prayer – if you can give, ladies – GIVE! Jesus is the key to eternal life…but water is the key to a healthy life here on earth!

Niki - WOW! What a day of exciting things! God is always moving but I love the days where He really shows himself in awesome, big ways!! Love it!

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a few answers.

October 1, 2012 Filed in awesome bloggers,me me me,parenting,photography,q&a,random,things i love

well…i got up today with a plan in my head.
i would go running, take a nice hot relaxing bath at the craft house
and then make Vlog answering some of your questions.
i did go for my run but then the school called and said Scott was throwing up.
so…i am stuck at home still in my stinky running clothes and i will be writing and not vlogging today. 

you guys ask great questions. 

let's see….

1. Did you ever convert the attic in the craft house?  

nope.
we just never had the energy and the money at the same time.  :)
who knows what will happen though….we may still do it.
i have dreams for it.  Maybe a store? Maybe more work space? Maybe more bunk space? Maybe a little apartment? My running buddies suggested making it a full gym so we could workout together all year long. 
and i am LOVING that idea.

2. Are you on Pinterest?

ummm….i am.  
but it's the only place online that i am private….i have a fake name.
i just like having all the ideas i like in one place but not sharing what i love with everyone.
that may seem weird but… it's what i am doing and i like it that way.  

3. which is your favorite camera and lens?

i have a canon 50D and the 24-70 f/2.8 Canon lens.
and that is all.
i own one lens.  :)
it works for my needs…i dream of the 70 – 200 and the 35mm….and a 5D camera body.
but for now and the past two years….just that.
nothing else.
so that is what is in my camera bag.
and by camera bag i mean my purse.  HA!

4.  How do you edit your photos?

i upload my photos into LightRoom and i use their settings to edit.
i usually bump up the exposure…the vibrance….the fill light….sharpen and that's it.

5.  what settings do you use on your camera?

i almost always shoot in AV mode.  i shoot at an ISO of 200 and at 2.8 or 3.5.  does that help?
someome asked about my settings for indoor shots in the evening…well i just try not to shoot indoors in the evening.  because i think those pictures are always bad.  So i have no settings to share for that.
 
i love wendy&tyler from blue lily and they have helped me immensely with understanding my camera. they have workshops where YOU can learn about your camera too. you should go.
and Ashley from Under the Sycamore has an AWESOME online class that you can learn about photography…her next course is coming up soon.  

i have never felt great at explaining cameras or putting it into words but both of those blogs do it well!

6. Will you come to Washington?  

yes.  :)
i would love to do that sometime…. 

also i was worried it was going to be raining for my run this morning and your quote went through my head Leann "once you're wet, you're wet" and had decided i was going anyway.  thankfully… it stopped before i ran.

7. where are the glasses from in the post with the happy things to look at?  And the afgans?

i found that pic of the glasses on pinterest….and it linked to martha stewart…who else? but the link was not for the pic…but i think it probably came from her site.

and the afgans linked to flikr….just plain old flikr.

that is the downside of pinterest…messed up links and not getting a real source.

8.  does having a GOOD dlsr camera make that much difference?

well… 
i think i wouldn't want to go without my dslr.  But getting a dlsr won't make you take good pictures.  there is a lot more that goes into getting good photos than the camera.  instagram is great example of that.  it's figuring out the lighting, composition and your angle.  and that is where having a nice dslr camera comes in…and makes the shot clear and crisp.  where a point and shoot may have a grainier shot? possibly.
if you just want snapshots to keep your memories then a point and shoot is fine.
if you have an interest in photography…any desire to learn more….i think you need a dslr.  

9. Can i get a top ten book list of your favorite books?

this is a funny question mommyjulia.
because i don't know that i have read ten books in the last ten years!
but i will share again what i have read the past few months…

i read 7 and then Interrupted….loved.
Now i am reading "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years"  and this book is making me think in ways i never have!!! it's challenging me.  it's making me do hard things.  it's so good.

i love the book Crazy Love.
i loved Calm My Anxious Heart….good for a mom.
Long Way Gone was a book to prepare for africa and it was so good.

i don't read very much….i get so distracted and i don't make time for it.

i definitely don't read fiction.
IF i am reading a book it's going to be about something that i want to learn about…change in myself…get a new direction.
and thankfully i got glasses so at least i don't fall asleep as soon as i start reading.

10. can i have your pattern for the apron? can you tell me how make all the stuff you make at craft weekend?  can you do tutorials on all those things that the craft weekenders paid for?  (i am paraphrasing here)

nope…sorry.  :)
that would not be fair to all those Craft Weekend girls at all.
but i will be selling these things in my shop someday.
and i can't wait for you girls to get your hands on them… everything takes time.
i have five kids and i am running a business so things take a long time to get done.
i wish i could snap my fingers and have my shop filled and everything done…but i just cant.

i am grateful you are patient.

11. tell us about Lauren….you never do…she is ignored….why don't you talk about her…WHY?!?
(again…paraphrasing)

lauren is 17…almost 18.  She requested quite a few years ago for me to not blog about her.
so i don't.
i love her.  she is crazy smart.  she works on the weekends.  she is an awesome volleyball player.  she wants to be a doctor. 

maybe someday i will be able to talk more about what it's been like raising our first teenager but for now she doesn't want me to talk about her here.  

and that is that.

12. Kirsten J asked all these at once:  do you make lists?  yes…very messy lists   Do you ever ask for help?  yes. a lot. YOU HAVE TO or you will drown.  Do you ever future trip?  i don't what that is…dreaming about the future? not much i guess.  Will Lauren go away to college?  yes she will.  we don't where yet but she will.  Did you ever have a penpal? YES! i used to write letters constantly.  when craig got home from one year of college he had TONS of letters from me.  i had two from him.  ha ha haaa.  also my sister got letters from me constantly. My grandpa and i wrote too.  i always signed my letters to him Love,  Megan the GREAT!! i would tell him my grades and about my boyfriends and my dance recitals and he would send me money for good grades and call me out on my bad ones.   my 101 year great aunt and i wrote for my entire marriage until she passed away this year. i love writing letters.  Do you ever just veg out in front of the tv? Reality tv? Or talk shows? NCIS? i do occasionally veg with tv… Parenthood of course, Office, Modern Family, Grey's Anatomy and Saturday Night Live.  NO reality tv.  i can't take it.  NO singing shows…or dancing shows…or dating shows. it makes me want to poke my eyes out.  i did like Amazing Race and Survivor…in the beginning…but not anymore. AND i miss Oprah…really really miss her show.  What blogs do you read regularly?  Julie,  Ashley, Kimberlee, Shauna, Jess, Megan, Leslie, amy, shannon, sarah, lisa and michelle just to name a few….i have over 50 more in my reader.  :)

———————————————————————————————————————–

i wish there were some pictures to go along with this post.
how about some george?

George
 
yes…i did just take 15 minutes and made a george collage in picmonkey.
don't judge.
just enjoy….it's easy….

 

there over 100 comments on that post so it will take me awhile to get through them all.

hope you made it through all those answers.

ok…i am going to make all the appointments i have been putting off forever since i am stuck at home.
you know what i mean…. dentist, eye doctor, exterminator, ob/gyn, sewing machine guy, specialist and anything else i can think of.
the part i hate more than making the appointment….GOING to the appointments! 

wish me luck.

 

add a comment

Penny Smith - You handed me your camera and asked me if I “back focused” and I froze… then I read this-I too shoot in AV (and do the “focus and shift” (that made me think of “bend and snap” from legally blonde. Ha!)… though I also have the 50mm f1.8 (it’s $100) for those inside shots you speak of! 🙂 I have a Tamron lenses when the reviews had little difference (yet hundreds of dollars less) so that is how I have more than one. (28-75 f2.8, 17-50 f2.8, and 70-300 (but that came with the camera-and isn’t a fixed f). I think I used the 50mm and dialed the AV for my first couple years of my rebel, and even a lot at first with my 50D a couple years back (Karen Russel influenced-but I am still in LOVE with this lens!!)
OK-I’m babbling… I was happy to hear you edit with lightroom… cuz I was thinking that Blue Lily only uses photoshop and would basically expect everyone should too (regarding the workshop), so I would be lost on it from the get go)… good to know…
🙂

amber reece - HAHAHAHA! Loved all your responses and the collage of George! FUN! Your blog always brightens my day! Thanks for posting about Jen Hatmaker too, just got finished reading both the interrupted and 7 books and LOVED them! God Bless You and your Sweet Family!!!! xoxoxo

Michael Kors Monogram - Via artikolo estas bone skribita Yeah,

Tere - To think, you answered some of my questions when I didn’t even ask any. And you are coming to Washington? This “Washington” is coming to see you soon!!

shauna - i really love adam too.
but, is my marriage stable?
i’ll have to think about that….

shauna - get out.
you bragger.

shauna - oh gosh! good call on the george collage. that is a real gift.

megan@contentedsparrow - my only comment…..
george.
i die.

Kim Barlow - I love you…thanks for sharing!

cassidynoga - I read “A Million Miles…” a while back. It sticks with you, for always. It was a wonderful book and I have hit many of my friends over the head with it so they would read it. They always do and then we gush about how great it was and how it relates to our lives. I’m a writer so it was twice as rewarding.
I just wanted to share that you won’t forget this book easily! (:

Jeannine - Haha love the George collage. You’re awesome!
Thanks for answering some of our questions! And I think it’s wonderful you’re respecting Lauren’s wishes about her privacy.
If you go to Washington State, I’ll drive down from Vancouver to buy you a cup of coffee and maybe go for a run 🙂

Su@TheIntentionalHome - Oh I never thought of having a fake name on Pinterest. You are brillant!!! I so wanted Pinterest to create a way to have some boards private. . .you know for research I am doing, future blog posts, etc. But now I know how to do that. Oh, thanks for sharing that!!!

Su@TheIntentionalHome - Me too. . plus I am a faster reader than I am a video watcher 🙂

Karen - For those asking about the flower glasses, they are old sour cream jars found fairly easily in antique stores (I have no idea where your picture is from 🙂 ). I have lots of them. They are really fun! Well, except for the fact that you should really wash by hand and not by dishwasher to preserve the integrity of the flowers!

Amy - Hey Meg, regarding Question #7…the afgans…I totally knew those afgans the second I saw them! I have pinned them, swooned over them and even hooked up a couple of her patterns for my own collection. They are part of a beautiful handcrafted and well loved collection by Lucy of Attic24. She is a sweet bloggy friend from England. If you or any of your readers are “happy hookers” {as in CROCHETERS}! Check out her Attic24 blog! Just wanted to help give credit where credit is due.

Kori - So I had a fake name on Facebook in the beginning and then my friend made fun of me. I TOTALLY wanted a fake on on Pinterest because I also wanted to be private with the things I loved. I went ahead with my real name and it’s still weird to me when my friends start following me there. Not such a big deal with strangers, though. Go figure. Maybe I worry my friends will think me crazy for having as many pins as I do. 😉
I LOVE GEORGE. In fact I’m watching “Out of Sight” right now. 🙂 And I don’t think twice about you spending 15 minutes making a collage. In fact it doesn’t sound like very much time to peruse pics of him.
HA!

Leslie @topofthepage - I always think of you now when I watch Parenthood since last year you threw down for Team Adam. As you know, I’m on Team Crosby. Which is maybe why you have a stable marriage and mine, well, keeps me on my toes :). Somehow, I know that’s just where God wants us too…

Jenn - LOVE the fake name! I so am going to do this too! Thanks for the idea!!!

mommyjulia - You answered my question!!! Yay! Thanks, Meg! 6 books is better than 10, anyway 😉 Loved your answer about Lauren- she seems like a pretty awesome young lady. Anywho, I need to go purchase some books and get reading. Thanks again for taking the time to answer me!

Tiffany - Oh Meg, you crack me up. Your “It makes me want to poke my eyes out” comment was so true! Nice little Q&A… It’s fun getting to know you better!

Andrea - Thank you for sharing!! And thanks for the eye candy. I have another question- do you think you will ever stop blogging? I love reading about your life. You’re so real and honest too. Love that. I would be sad if you did, because I am not attached to you and your family! Is that weird? Please dont ever stop!

Kelly - Go you with a fake name on pinterest!! LOVE IT! I like my privacy from time to time too. Is it funny that my pinterest “fake name” is totally tied to my blog and I don’t care about that but I didn’t want to put my real name? hmm . . . have a great one! Oh and do you ever go see what people have pinned from your blog? I’ll bet there is a lot. I know I myself have pinned stuff from your craft room (before it became the whole craft house) as inspiration as I continue to create my craft room and the whole reason I came to your blog right now is to look back at bathroom pics and pin as a bathroom remodel just *might* get to be in the works soon. Trying not to get my hopes up and remember to the upheaval that would come with it. Kelly

Amy - Thanks for the George…what a wonderful way to end Monday!!!

ginny - Thank you for typing it out, and not vlogging it. (even though you maybe seemed a tad annoyed with some of the questions lol). I don’t like to watch videos. I’m usually on the couch with laptop while hubby watches tv. He doesn’t want to listen to what I’m doing. So I would so much rather read that watch videos. 🙂 JMO 🙂

Lisa - Its funny to me that people would think Lauren is ignored or question you not sharing much about her here. Anyone who knows teens would understand that most of them want their privacy and space. From your blog you seem like a great mom. Not perfect but loving, purposeful and invested. 🙂 btw this post was fun to read. And keep your pinterest secret. You deserve that!!

Anne - I love/hate that you’ve got a fake name on Pinterest. Completely respect your privacy, and think its quite clever to have a fake name, but its killing me to know you’ve pinned some amazing ideas that I don’t have access to. Ha! 🙂

Jocelyn Pascall - I really loved this post. Great answers and also, the pictures of George made me laugh out loud.

April R - Me too 🙂 Sassy, mysterious, and free
(And I think it’s funny people didn’t guess why you don’t blog about Lauren much)

Kimberlee Jost - Is this a good time for me to mention (again!) that I met George Clooney on my honeymoon? Just checking.
🙂
I love you more than I could ever love George.
For real.

Molly - I love reading your blog. You are a great example and inspiration for me. I really appreciate that you listened to Lauren and don’t blog about her. I need to remember that. Also, I totally get that you have a fake name on pinterest! sometimes you just want to keep those ideas to yourself!!!

Terri Christian - Can you get through one episode of Parenthood without crying…..cause I can’t! Terri

lc - Thank you for answering the question about Lauren. I think a lot of parents overshare on their blogs. Thank you for respecting your almost adult daughter. If Lauren wants her business on the internets, she can start her own blog!

Terrie - I will live in your apt. and clean before and after craft weekends…
of course, I may have to take full advantage of a craft house and craft until dawn each day!
So proud of you for respecting your daughter’s privacy.
Reading Crazy Love now…loving it!
I agree with you on the dslr…loving mine!
Dreaming of the 70-200 lens and the 5D…sigh
although…shooting in av confuses me.
Crazy, right?!
I’ve been shooting in manual ever since I took ashley’s course online
two weeks after I got my camera last year. She was fabulous!!
Totally recommend her online course if you are new to dslr cameras.
And you can never go wrong with a little george! Happy Monday!

SammaMichelle - Hey Meg!!! Loved the answers to the questions but I mostly wanted to tell you that the 15 minutes you spent making a George collage WAS NOT WASTED!! ;0) Love it and him and you!!!! Thanks for always reminding me to be happy!

sara @ it's good to be queen - i think you’re great. 🙂

Lisa M. - Thank you for sharing, Meg!
Love your blog!

seriously sassy mama - My sister has a super big crush on George Clooney. Pinterest is my crack. I am on the computer more than the TV. I cannot stand reality TV. I like the store idea for yur attic. I need a big old house!

happygirl - I like looking at George, I don’t like hearing him talk. 🙂 Thanks for doing a post like this. You remind me it’s the talent that cannot be bought. It has to be developed. Love it.

Angela A - Loved this post. And you should just put pictures of George on here everyday.

Alicia @ La Famille - lovely stuff! thanks for the share 🙂

Heather S. - I totally wondered if Lauren wasn’t on b/c of a request made by her! I can see that. Totally. And George, while I’m not really a fan, really does just get better and better with age. 🙂

Tiffany - cracking up. loved your answers. you really are human, nooooo? meg on pinterest: private, eh? – good.for.you! lauren wants to be private too – good for her! even stevie wonder could figure this one out. teenagers like their privacy, readers. duh. also hooray for her wanting to be a doctor, luv that – girl power!!! reality shows blow, real actors need jobs, not those clowns. ok that may have been harsh, but man some of those shows stink to high heaven. one day, craft weekend, i need/deserve/want it. i was wondering if maybe you would do a craft weekend “guest” giveaway?! just sayin, consider it, they would have to be a helper of course. i would recommend, say….myself? ha! 🙂 Happy Monday!

danielle - Oh my word! I love that you have a fake pinterest name. I would love one, it would make me feel sassy and mysterious!

Kristin S - This post is yet further proof that you are my favorite blogger! I have about 200 in my reader and am cutting more each day. Yours will only leave when you stop blogging.
Thanks for sharing Meg!
And I love that you are honoring Lauren’s request.

Amy - if you come to Washington State I want to buy you dinner!! 🙂 And go for run and I’ll show you the most beautiful mountains!!!

Kerry - Hey Meg, I’ve checked back onto your blog for most of the day – mainly because I was interested to see if you answered the question about Lauren, I’m so glad you did! My 12 year old daughter has also requested I blog ‘only if I really have to’ about her as her friends are so into Social Media and they click through to my blog posts from there – she gets a little embarrassed 🙂 So I’m so glad I’m not alone!
Great blog list too by the way – I already read Kimberlee’s, Joy’s & Lisa’s on your recommendation – I just signed up to the rest too!
Happy Monday Meg xx

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instagrammers.

September 29, 2012 Filed in instagrammy

wow….you peeps know how to ask some big qustions!!
i will answer them….most of them.  
i started on a post but for now here is my instagram this week.
🙂


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read this in The Message translation this week.
Get on with it! 
Do it!


finally got a red cardi from Old navy…it's hard find a good red.
i like it.


i saw this and thought "i wish i had somewhere to take my lunch"
ha.
it was cute.

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more volleyball games.

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driving out to my friend kerry's for the morning.
feeling sassy with my favorite big mug from World Market.

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and this is what my truck looked like when i got back from kerry's….
dirt roads after rain is messy.

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my four youngest kids ride the same bus to school everyday and it makes me happy.
i like to listen to them talk to each other (when they are being nice) in the driveway so early in the morning.
 i overheard annie say "tell me when the bus is coming…i'm just gonna dance"
and she did.
in the middle of the road. 

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i showed up to run with my friend and this giant vulture was at her back door.
it would not leave….it was so bizarre!
it was there ALL day!!
she called animal control and they told her
"our large bird specialist is out for the day.  let us know if it's still there tomorrow"
so she had that looking into her house all day.

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i ate lunch with annie at school on thursday.
she loves it because i bring pizza hut.  :)

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double cheesecake making happened on thursday.
one for mr. duerksen and one for my friend's 40th birthday.

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my girls i run with and i stayed up super late celebrating her 40th at the craft house.
and i got some fun gifts too.
those girls are so thoughtful.


happy birthday ang!

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happy birthday to me.

then we had a sleepover!!

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we started our spa day the next morning that we have been planning all year!

first stop starbies.

next stop… facials at spa #1.


cute sign.

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after our facials we walked out and saw a rack of really fun scarves.
and we each got one! 
everyone had a different one that looked so perfect for them.

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lunch at Tanya's Soup Kitchen.
yummm.


did a little shopping…. hoped for this shirt someday.
because my running buddies and i committed to a half marathon in 2013!!
oy veh.
i am nerrrrvous.

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we went to spa #2 for massages.
(the 1st spa could only get us in for facials & the 2nd spa could only get us in for massage)

it was sooooo relaxing.
we all felt so good.
best way to spend a birthday!!

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out to dinner…looking refreshed and glowing!

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enjoyed drinks & fabulous grown up conversation over steak and glazed carrots at Red Rock.
i love those girls.
(so much that i would agree to a half marathon with them…crazy)
we stayed out past midnight…soaking up the whole evening….drawing out the birthday celebrationas long as possible.

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it was right back to reality early this morning.
soccer and soccer.

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but i stayed warm in my new scarf and with a cup of hot coffee.
and of course my petal pusher from the pleated poppy makes everything cute!
:) 

 

are you on instagram?
i am @ meg duerksen if you want to follow me.
i love it….maybe a little too much.

ok…i will be answering questions next week.
and looking forward to it!!

happy weekend to you.

 

 

add a comment

Victoria - Happy birthday! Looks like you have a fabulous weekend. How blessed you are to have such great girlfriends.
Love those little quilts you found – can’t believe the price!
I don’t say it much but I love your blog and all the happy colors. 🙂

Lisa M. - I do not Instagram. I have the app on my phone and have never opened it. Why? It scares me. I use my Hipstamatic app ALOT and love the pictures it gives me, but I guess I’ll have to take some time and venture into Instagram land.
Love the new scarf and the petal pusher. Pretty 🙂

Katey Deasy - What an amazing birthday! I love the grown up spend the night party!! And Annie dancing! so special to hear that. Happy Birthday.

Flower Patch Farmgirl - Think I could insty with my flip phone???

sharla - I loved that annie danced while waiting for the bus:)

Holly - Happy Birthday Meg! Looks like yall had a great weekend!

Tonya - Happy Birthday. is there a way to follow you on Pintrest?

Kori - Holy cow! The vulture ‘segment’ made me laugh out loud! Definitely creepy, but definitely funny!! 🙂

Joanne B - Happy Birthday Meg, sounds like you had a fabulous time!!

Lana - I bought the same red cardi from ON and I love it! That is all. 🙂

Jen - Happy Birthday, Megan! The out to dinner pic of the 4 of you = beautiful! Y’all looked great!

melissa @jonahbonah - i was totaly going to say you girls looked so refreshed. good for you having a girls day out. you’re blessed to have such great girlfriends!

mama lola - happy birthday!
love the pics! and, um, that vulture looks HUGE & SCARY!

Jeannine - Happy Birthday Meg! 🙂

Angie P - We have the Lunch Blox and they are completely awesome! Maybe you could get them for packing snacks to games??? 🙂

Janelle - You need to tell us where you found those fabulous afghans in Wednesday’s post!!!

Krista - All right, this has nothing to do with anything, but I was looking at your pictures and I thought “Meg has the most beautiful skin…” So, when you’re in your question-answering mode, can you please share what your skin care regimen is?

Terrie - I love seeing your pics on Instagram! I <3 it too!!
And she can't seriously be 40?!!! Holy COW! I'm uber old!!!
Please tell her belated Happy B-Day from me!!
Hope you have a great b-day too!!
Love your new scarf...and lucky girls to have a spa day
and get to spend the day together...not much better gift than friendship!
Hugs!!

Wendy - ~~ HaPpY bIrThDaY mEg! ~~

Leonie - Happy birthday” I would love to find you on pinterest…… Any chance you could share that too x

melissahoop88 - I have the Rubbermaid lunch blox and I LOVE it. It even has it’s own ice pack that just snaps in.
I also love your IG pics. I look forward to the fun things you find at different thrift stores. 🙂

Susan - Sounds like wonderful girl time! Happy birthday!

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