Home improvements

Sunday, normally a day of rest, was re-organize day at the ampm household. We've been meaning to get a second dresser now for quite some time. I'm not sure what was holding us back - it certainly wasn't our sanity. We got a new dresser yesterday and have spent the better part of today setting it up and organizing our living space.

The results -- a much more homey living space. We moved a "junk" table to the kitchen to remove the card table. We switched also switched around our desks. [pm has been wanting to rid our place as of late of all "college-type" decor. The card table fit this bill, as did the built-it-yourself wire shelving.]

I'm starting to feel like a real adult now. No more hodge-podge furniture. (Okay, I lied. We still have it, but it works. Yes, I swear it does.).

I think our place is slightly more sophisticated, but still unique. We still have to declutter of lives some, but at least we are in a step in the right direction.

+Like the Pritzker Auditorium super sampler photo? This photo totally works in our space. It's a nice reminder for us that we live in this city. Sometimes it is easy to forget when you spend the better part of the weekend on home improvements and connecting with old friends.

All in all (despite the heat and no a.c.) it was a SUPERB weekend.

Feet Planted Firmly

Hope you haven't been missing us too much these past few days. After posting something for one month straight, we've been easing back into posts. (To our defense we've been a little sluggish because of the heat).

I've been thinking a lot lately about home; and by home, I mean home as a place. Turns out where you live doesn't matter as much as who you live with and by. Part of the reason I've been thinking so much about home isn't because we're planning another move. Quite the contrary, we're planning to plant our feet firmly on the ground, just as I mentioned in the title.

My parental units, however, are moving. This is what has got me thinking so much about the meaning of home. Will I miss visiting my family in my childhood house? Yes. Will I still drive by the house on occasion to see how it's changed? Yes. Will I miss the house? No. I won't miss the house. I don't see the point in missing an item. I'll still have the memories made in that house and I'll still have my beloved family. (Admittedly, I did take multiple photos - film & digital - of their old home. Got to have something to refresh my mind someday!)

I've come to an age-old conclusion as I've been thinking about home: Home is where the heart is. Doesn't matter where it is, how long you're there, or how much stuff you have inside - I'd be nothing without having others in it to make you happy. What's home for you?

30 Days of Creativity - Day 7: Billfold

Happy One Week of Creating! It was high time the sewing machine came out for creative uses. I made a bunch of these billfolds (which were on our Etsy shop and more will be posted soon) awhile back.

Under normal circumstances I would not say that I have a "hoarding problem"; although, when it comes to paper, I will admit that I do. I have so much paper that I am no longer sure what to do with it all. (That said, I am open to ideas!).

The idea of making sewn billfolds came to me at a time when I was in the market for a new wallet. That said, I do not like wallets and I never have. I am also not a purse person. I like to carry the bare minimum around with me when I go out. This is how I got the idea to make a paper billfold. My sewn billfolds can only 4-5 cards at a time without overexerting the snap. Perfect for me - I can carry my drivers license, credit cards, insurance information and cash. I like being able to have this with me and use it regularly because it reminds me that I am creative and has proven to be a great conversation starter.

I have revamped my design a bit. I used two different types of paper for this one. The inside is lined with a textured stock paper and for the outer layer I used a silver water-repelling paper. Since I changed up the design a bit, I am going to add a velcro strip instead of a snap. I'm glad I made one today - I needed a new one :).

New collection.

It seems like it has been awhile since we posted photos of our creative endeavors. Don't be deceived - we still have been using our creative powers to make things; we just haven't been very good about sharing them.

I have been humming away at my sewing machine a lot lately. I've been making all sorts of envelopes (mostly black like in this past post). I've used various different thread colors and have also been experimenting with different sizes.

I am still undecided if I will actually try to sell any of these envelopes, since it takes me a good 20-25 minutes to make one. (That's if my sewing machine behaves!) Not sure I could price them in such a way that someone would actually want to buy one. Maybe they will pop up on our Etsy page soon, so stay tuned.

Anyway. I needed a solution to a problem I know many of us suffer from. Too many bags! I am always trying to use reusable bags when we go out shopping. I do this partly because we have more than enough plastic bags to use for the garbage for the rest of the year and I think it is a huge waste to always need a *new* bag. The area for "bag storage" under our sink was getting a little overwhelming. That is when I decided to make some envelopes out of brown paper bags.

These envelopes are surprisingly durable. I like how some of the bag graphics peak out of the top (like in the photo on the right from a Trader Joe's bag). I am working right now on a design to match for stationary. Once that is complete I will get more photos up.

This has been a good solution to an excess of bags. It's also been a fun recycling / up-cycling project. Sometimes you have to think outside of the box and sometimes you need to think outside of the bag.

Say "ahhh"

Nope, we are not sick; we are just recovering. We are recovering from packed, in fact over-packed, schedules these last few months. Looking forward for the warm breeze and the chance to relax (perhaps with a homebrew) outside by the lake.

We took a leisurely walk down by the lake this evening. It was wonderful and so nice to see so many other people doing the same thing. I sometimes forget that we live in a big city after being surrounded by our very quaint neighborhood away from the hustle and bustle. It sure is nice to have a balance of both worlds. At some point this summer we are going to get some shots of the sunrise over the Chicago skyline.

Well, back to unwinding and relaxing.

+ I love the above photo from Festifools. I think I love it so much because I so often stick my tongue out in photos. This helps remind me how ridiculous it looks sometimes. It also makes me laugh. :)

cinco de mayo

Happy Cinco de Mayo ya'll. My sincere apologies for not posting something sooner. Let's just say the last week has been a whirlwind. I've been in and out, and out of town. Good thing pm is picking up on the posts as well. :) I am not seeing a calm in the storm at all the rest of this week, but it's all good things.

In fact, it will always be good things. This is one thing I have come to realize as I have progressed on my life journey: It is more important to write about and remember the good times. I do not like looking back through my journals of my teenage angst years (P.S. I didn't really have any by the way, I just like how it sounds). I tended to only write about the times when I was stressed out or upset. Those are not the times I want to remember; this is why these journals have been discarded. I want to remember the good times. Those are the times I want to be able to share with friends and family. I am a true believer, just as Anne Frank said, "All people are good at heart." And, if that is the case -- let's remember it! Positive thinking. This blog is all about the positive, the good and the creative. I fully intend to keep it that way. (I will admit, there may be some slip-ups along the way. I will, however, do my best to remain upbeat. :))

Enough of that rant. It's Cinco de Mayo, and while my day was hardly a celebration complete with 'ritas, it was an exciting and very productive day. Now I have 'ritas and sitting on my parents' patio on the mind. I guess my archived photo of martini glasses and my favorite homegoods store (hint: it's where we got the killer deal on pillowcases) will have to do. Bottoms up!

Recipe for the best margaritas ever:

(I'd like to agree that those who have tried it out would concur.)

+ 1 can limeade mix (frozen)

+ 1 can beer (light, not specialty)

+ splash of orange juice

+ tequila (fill limeade can almost to the top)

+ ice

+salt

No need to put it in the blender. Serve it over lots of ice. I also recommend drinking plenty of water with this recipe. It's a strong one. :)

reach for it.

Thought I'd shine light on another "old" photograph from our Flickr stream. (It's funny as I write "shine light on" the afternoon sunshine is streaming through the blinds and shining plenty of light on me.)

I love watching everything come into bloom during spring. It all seems to grow so quickly, making it hard to believe that only a few short weeks ago there was more brown than green on the ground. I was amazed just how green everything was over the weekend. Too bad we didn't have a camera on hand to capture all the rich colors. The overcast skies sure helped illuminate all the blooms and buds. Can't wait for some of our indoor plants to catch up!

On a side note: We just got about 8 rolls developed from two of our favorite cameras: Holga & Kiev. This means we'll have plenty of new photos to post both to the blog and to Flickr in the coming weeks. Other than that, it's just another manic Monday. One soon to be filled with paella and red wine. mmm!

FestiFools - Crazy fun!

We are deeply saddened we will not be able to participate in Ann Arbor's FestiFools event this weekend. This gem of an event involving over-sized paper mache puppets, was one of our #1 favorite townie traditions.

Not only is an extremely creative way to celebrate April Fool's Day and foolishness in general, but it's a great family-friendly event. You walk up and down Main Street and see adults, teenagers, tweens, and children all smiling, laughing and enjoying.

We will for sure be checking out the event's snapshots on the Flickr Group and bookmarking Myra Klarman's wonderful blog (and photography!).

While we can't be there in spirit, we are happy to be offering a portion of the proceeds for our FestiFools photo magnets (as seen above - click here for larger image - and on our Etsy shop) to FestiFools, an Ann Arbor non-profit organization. Please feel free to mix & match.

Don't miss this event. Sunday, April 11. 4p.m. sharp. Downtown Ann Arbor on Main St.

origami birds

It is amazing to me how sometimes such little things can have such a big impact.

I am sitting in a bustling coffee shop enjoying my americano almost as much as I am enjoying new customers swing into the room through a revolving door. The cold air continually brushes against my back. I am watching the baristas dance around the narrow space by the machines trying to keep up with all the orders coming in. Everywhere I look the room is humming with movement.

Everywhere. Everywhere except for these two little origami birds. There they sit, neatly perched on top of one of the machines. I find this truly fascinating. They are so small, so simple.

I may just have to place a few of these birds around the apartment one of these days. (Here's a link on how to make them.) It may help me remember the simple things more often. Happy Monday everyone! :)

Shadows

It is a lovely day outside today - the sun finally decided to peak out from beneath the clouds.

One of the things that I like most about sunny days is the reflections and shadows it brings. I enjoy being able to capture a tourist moment of shadows rather than smiles sometimes. This photo just happens to be one that I really love - waiting for the train and playing with our shadows.

I think the combination between being overexposed (we used expired film) coupled with the reflecting light from the rails gives this photo some added character. I will admit: I have been happier with past results we have gotten from the Vivitar using expired film. I guess what I most like about this picture is remembering how close we all had to stand together to be in this photo. (If you look at the very top of the image, you'll notice how you almost don't see four pairs of legs.)

Sometimes the story behind a photo is better than the photo itself. Just like sometimes the reaction to a piece of artwork is better than the actual artwork. I had a long conversation last night about the perceived "value" and "beauty" of visual artwork. Turns out the conclusion we reached is ... It is all in the eye of the beholder. Just like one man's junk is another man's treasure.

Anyway, I can't wait to start seeing blooms and blossoms. Happy sunny day!

Home away from home

Tonight it's a tribute to the homelands. Paella, serrano ham, olives, and red wine. These are only a small sampling of the many things we *love about Spain. The only thing that could be better than eating them here would be to be enjoying them with friends and family as they celebrate (well now celebrated) the day of Andalucía.

Southern Spain, much like many other places in the south, beats to a different beat and has its own flavor. People enjoy life to the fullest - the streets are always bustling with residents and tourists. Its rich heritage (and cuisine) keep people there (not to mention its balmy temperatures in the summer and temperate temps in the winter) and keep tourists coming back from more.

La tierra de amor. At least that's where the story of am. & pm. all began. Somewhere on a winding cobble stone road in the heart of Sevilla.

So tonight we raise our glasses to you, Sevilla. Salud!

(* Here a secret steal on some excellent Spanish wine: Estola Reserva. It's the tempranillo we always keep stocked in our wine rack. You can find it at Trader Joe's for under $7. A bargain well worth it. Click here for a review from albinnyc who is drinking her way through wines at Trader Joe's one glass at a time. We'll be bookmarking this site! :))

double delight

This one goes out to the incredibly crafty & sweet Papersheep. I've added the chocolate chips in with you in mind!

Lately banana muffins* have been my fall back plan. We never seem to be able to eat them all before they start getting overripe. This doesn't bother me in the slightest - it's an excuse to bake! I really like using a banana bread recipe and making muffins. I've found they last longer, stay fresher, and are a much better serving size.

Here's to one of my (many) comfort foods: baked good. Hoorah!

+On an unrelated note, I have to add that I *love* how this photo came out. Our metallic cheese grater was to the right and I love how it's reflection dances across the image. A very pleasant surprise when I took a closer look at the image on the computer. I heart photo surprises!

*This is not the exact recipe I used. I like to add cinnamon & all spice. If you'd like mine, I'd be happy to share. :)

i < 3 hearts

I love how sometimes the most mudane things can make such nice photos. This stained glass heart has probably been attached to this window for years, and it wasn't until a recent visit that we were inspired by its charm.

And, yes, having it being a bright, sunny day and watching the red reflection bounce off the walls certainly did help catch our eye.



With Valentine's Day now under our belts, we'd like to reflect on some of the things we love:
<3 Morning espresso, freshly ground
<3 Walks, both urban and rural
<3 Sweets! (Especially those made from home, like our citris cookies... mmm!)
<3 Lazy Sunday afternoons
<3 Red wine (from the homelands...Spain)
<3 Snail mail & homemade cards

Oh, and how the list continues.

What are some of your loves?

A little L.O.V.E

I so prefer this expression of l.o.v.e. over the standard graffiti or etched tree trunk. It is not quite so timeless, but a much creative use of environment.

It is exhilarating to see that even in the dead cold of winter, people are still out and about marking their journey in snow messages.

Here's to more snowy days, preferably without the cold. Cheers!

Accidental Entrepreneur

The accidental entrepreneur - now that's a killer title. And, as far as I am concerned, it may be the first breath of fresh air I've seen in the media about what positive outcomes can come from struggle (aka the recession). The New York Times just printed an article about how Unemployment can Lead to Entrepreneurship. I find it fascinating and inspiring.

Here's an interesting excerpt:

"... [T]he lack of a steady paycheck, often-inadequate health insurance and the sheer emotional stress of being unemployed, may prevent many people from setting out on their own.

But research on what is known as post-traumatic growth has found that some people become more resilient when faced with adversity, says Shawn Achor, a Harvard researcher. Creativity surges, he says, as they adapt to a new situation.

“Their brain is actually learning at a faster pace than when they are not challenged,” Mr. Achor says. “As a result of this, some individuals, the accidental entrepreneurs, they are the ones who in the midst of crisis actually respond with growth.”

In a report this summer on innovation, Ernst & Young wrote, “Experience shows that entrepreneurs should not give up on start-ups in a down economy.”

Makes you wonder: If unemployment knocks on your door tomorrow, what would you do? Would you try to find a job similar to the one you just left, or would you summon your inner creativity and take the huge risk of starting your own business?

While I can't say I've started my own creative business during this recession, I do know I've exercised my creativity more than usual.

In an effort to save money, we've tried to be more mindful of extraneous expenses. We decided that instead of buying beer, we would make it; instead of going out, we would entertain; instead of buying gifts, we'd make them; and instead of hotels on trips, we'd crash on family & friends' couches. Not only has this method been a great success, but we've certainly had our share of fun along the way.

Maybe some day we'll all be Accidental Entrepreneurs.

A Lazy Sunday

I have noticed a trend with Sundays. They always seem to be rainy, dreary or overcast (or all of the above.) It's a good excuse to take some time to relax and enjoy that one last day before the work week begins.

It couldn't have been more enjoyed today.

We have been crafting away like crazy for the last month (hence no posts :P) for our first craft show. While the show wasn't what we had planned, the positive is we're ready for the next and don't have to spend countless hours working on inventory. We'll have to see what shows are coming up. It was definitely nice to meet some fellow Michigan vendors and we're hoping our paths cross again soon.

We've been doing a lot of playing with patterns lately. The image above not only shows some of our patterned magnets, but also a delicious breakfast with some Spanish influence (mmm natillas!).

They are super easy to make and here's a good recipe. Enjoy!

4 eggs, separated
1/4 c. flour
1 qt. milk
3/4 c. sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
Nutmeg

Make a paste of egg yolks, flour and 1 cup of the milk. In a medium saucepan, add the sugar and salt to the remaining milk and scald at medium temperature. Add the egg yolk mixture to the scalded milk and continue to cook at medium temperature until it reaches the consistency of soft custard.

Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Beat the egg whites until stiff but not dry and fold into the custard. Chill before serving. Spoon custard into individual dishes. Sprinkle each with nutmeg before serving. 6 to 8 servings.

(Note: Adding lemon rind while heating up the milk adds a nice flavour too!)

R.I.P. Jaws

Another one bites the dust
And another one gone, and another one gone
Another one bites the dust
~Queen

Sadly, our feisty beta fish passed away today. How we can keep plants, including a bonsai alive, but not a very low maintenance fish still baffles us. We'll master it someday, I hope.

Growing up we almost always had some sort of "tank" pet - whether it was fish, chameleons or guinea pigs. They lived forever. In fact, I clearly remember one of the beta fish we had making multiple suicide attempts -- jumping out of the tank into scalding hot water, jumping out of the tank and into the dusty window sill and practically breaking its neck by attacking a mirror (or our fingers.) No such luck this time around with Jaws. *sigh

Anyway -- the event reminded me of a recent creation. I thought now would be an appropriate time to make the fish magnet public.

Moo Cards

Moo Cards, originally uploaded by Angela&Martin.

I don't know that anyone really likes "shameless self-promotion." It is, however, something you have to do sometimes to get the word about about yourself; and, by nature of the game - what you are selling. :P Our most recent business card order is all self-promotion without an ounce of shameless.

We just received our Moo Cards and couldn't be more happy. They are high quality, unique and really help artfully represent some of the photos we've taken that are up on our flickr site. I don't know if I'm going to want to hand them out!

The ordering process is really easy, and with these helpful coupons, you can actually get a pretty good deal. (Considering that they are not your average business card).

We'll see how well they go over soon.

A case of the Mondays...

Monday snuck up again; after all, it was a busy weekend. In fact, it was a very busy DIY (do-it-yourself; and yes, you already knew that!) weekend, as we successfully bottled two home brews: Chocolate Bock & Smashing Amber Ale.

We did the chocolate bock first, and without having done this one first our amber never would have even been named. It would have just been "amber ale." The bottling of the amber turned out to be glass shattering event.

We have a real system down with bottling. AM does the siphoning and pouring into bottles, and PM does the capping. (The capping takes more strength; the pouring more patience.) Two of the bottles must have had weak necks, otherwise the strength we gained from the chocolate bock was just too much for two said bottles. Lucky for us no one was injured. Unlucky, however, because we lost four bottles of the brew.

*s*

So hear I find myself on a Monday wondering what the next brew batch should be. Any suggestions? :)

Anyway, I have a case of the Mondays; and we have more than one case of home brews. Guess life could be worse. :)

ampm hits the town!

It's official - we're going big time. Okay, not really. Although we are preparing for our first upcoming craft show.

In doing so, we wanted to create some unique signage that captures the essence of what we do.

We like to find "recycled" materials and we like to work with different colored threads and strings.

So - viola - here you have it! Naturally, it's just a sneak peak, but you'll see more of this to come.