Day 1: Create

The journey begins. In thinking of what would be the best way to kick start the next 30 days of uninterrupted creativity (minus for working & sleeping), we decided to roll back the hands of time. We're not going too far back, just one year ago today when we participated in our first round of 30 Days of Creativity.

We're changed up our medium some this year. Rather than household items to write out C-R-E-A-T-E, but opted for a more natural route this year. The background is the same, the letters are not. You'll have to let us know which one you like best. Here's the link to last year's creation

The glory of the use of spring foliage is that on my walk home from work I got to feel like a child. I was scanning the ground for the signs of summer on the way in the form of plant letters. It would have been an interesting sight to see me searching for plants and randomly stopping and starting to gather more.

Moral of Day 1: Creativity is simple, you just need the idea to start it off.

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Haiku, Day 1: June Arrives

June bugs, blossoms and sun

Light the corners of my bedroom

Easy rise, easy go.

+My side project during this month is to write a haiku a day. I'll post to our Twitter feed (@ampmcrafts) daily.

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!

Getting into Gear Guacamole

Time to get back in gear! We just returned from a southern adventure to the barbecue belt (TN, KY, MO). We will give more of an update on that soon - complete with photos, recommendations, & stories.

Avocados were on sale the other day. That can only mean one thing -- guacamole. Yum, yum! The perfect treat for the celebration of spring and the season of outdoor picnics. We made it through the winter folks!

Here's the recipe (thanks to the Joy of Cooking, Pg. 72 in my edition). I have adapted it slightly.

Mix and mash.

4 medium avocados

1/4 c lime juice

1/2 sweet onion (of the purple variety. :))

2 cloves garlic

splash of hot sauce

1-2 ripe tomatos

black beans

salt to taste

spring time

I think (and hope!) it is safe to say that spring has arrived! I've seen the proof: daffodils blooming and robins hunting for worms. Let's not forget the nearly full week of consistent sunshine folks!

It's not that this past winter was colder or longer than most, it just felt like it. Maybe because we moved right before temperatures really started to drop. However, I think it has much more to do with the fact we walk almost everywhere now. There is no sense in driving; public transportation is faster and more adventurous.

Now that it's spring - that means in with the new, out with the old. We're hoping to do some refreshing of the apartment, daily tasks, and most importantly....our creative energy. It never ceases to amaze how much easier it is to do things when the weather is nice. Instead of bundling up to brace the cold, you can just go. Here's to a weekend and many weeks ahead of e.x.p.l.o.r.i.n.g.