Amy Peters' Studio Buzz

Circus Vargas

Last night we ran off and joined watched the circus.  Circus Vargas came to San Luis Obispo, so we had to go. It was everything I remembered as a kid, only better since I got to watch it through my kids eyes. I had to take the pictures in vintage hipstamatic feel as a homage to the circus of my youth.  Isn't that how a circus should be? 

The show was simply amazing.  The performers were talented and the kids had so much fun. Aerial acts, motorcycles, balancing stuff on chins, hula hoops....on and on.  It was a fun filled evening. 

But the excitement didn't end when the show was over.  Since Kyra has been doing aerial silks the owners of the silks studio set up an amazing special backstage tour after the show. Jon Weiss the host of the show could not have been nicer and more giving of his time.  The stories he told and the memories of the evening will last a lifetime for my kids.  Especially hearing about him trying to balance a 16 foot ladder on his chin, in the middle of Home Depot before buying it and how many times he was shot out of a cannon when he was younger. If Kyra wasn't already wanting to run off and join the circus, now she does for sure.  And I think Nik is hooked too!   

So if you live anywhere near where Circus Vargas is performing.  Go...Be a kid again and see the circus!

 

I'm also linking up for

Insta-Friday with Life ReArranged.

Shadow meets Avila Beach

This morning I got out of the house early and decided to let Shadow have a little play time before we headed to the studio.  So I took her for the first time to Avila Beach. 

I was able to snap just one picture before my camera battery died. 

We met a nice couple from Tahoe visiting for the forth of July.  They were in love with her and gave her lots of pets and cuddles.  Then she met a few sweet dogs that live in Avila, so I'm sure they will become great friends over the years. 

It was fun and exciting to see how she reacted to the sand, the sounds of the waves, smelling new smells and meeting new friends.

What new experience have you had this week?

 

True Friendships

A sweet little bird hangs out on a curved branch inscribed with the latin phrase "amicus vera est rara avis" which translates to a true friend is a rare bird. This is our newest addition to our limited edition collection. It comes on a 32 inch long and short link chain.  This necklace is made in a limited edition of 50, each will come signed and numbered with a limited edtion tag.

I've come to realize how important true friends are in life.  I hold them close to my heart and thoughts.  Let this necklace tell them how much they mean to you! 

The design are available on the website HERE. 

How to Tuesday: Strawberry Shortcake

Believe it or not this is not a stock photo. We live in strawberry country.  There are field and fields of them just about 10 miles from our house.  So from April until around August we get the best strawberries I've ever tasted!  And I love strawberries.  But more importantly I love strawberry shortcake. 

Bad blogger that I've been the last few weeks, I forgot to take pictures of the process.  But I found what I think is THE best shortcake recipe I've ever tried.  I found it on allrecipes.com.

It is called Scrumptious Strawberry Shortcake. Rather than repeat the recipe here.  HEAD OVER to All Recipes to find it.  While I love handmade whipped cream, the kids love the stuff from a can. I took a huge flat of strawberries up to my parents and made two batches for my mom a few weeks ago. I guess I come by my love for it honestly!

 

For me Monday: Girls Weekend

Since Nikolas had his big studio dance show this weekend and Jim helped backstage.  It left a lot of girl time.  Saturday we cleaned the house, but Sunday was our relaxing day off. The day started out with lots of snuggles for Shadow the puppy.

We had a farm tragedy a few weeks ago and a racoon killed most of the chickens.  Sadly we were left with just two of the little ones.  We fixed the door on the coop and put more locks, so the raccoon couldn't get in again.  Kyra cleaned out the coop and got it all ready for the new chicks arriving next week.

Then we spent a little time pulling weeds and harvesting a few veggies. Shadow was great helping.  She loves running around the garden. 

Then with our dirty feet from gardening.  We headed to the nail spa for a pedicure for me and a manicure and pedicure for Kyra. (Don't you love the bored look from the teenager!)

Then we ended the day watching Nik perform in his very first BIG dance show.  He was amazing!

I hope had a little fun this last week.

 

 

April and May guestbook winners!

The May Winner of the family tags is...

Freckled Farm Chick, Cynthia   with her first letter of her email fotome

 

The April Winner of the family Tags is...

Irma Gomez  with the first letters of her email irma.

 

You have until the end of June 2011 to contact us at

Sales (at) AmyPetersStudio.com to contact us for your necklaces!

Congratulations.

My little entrepreneur

The last month Nikolas has been planning and plotting his "business".  At our school, they create a kid town where the kids have jobs, create a town and make real life decisions about how to run the town and how they will earn and spend their money. 

Knowing this was coming up, we talked about it quite a bit at dinners and throughout the day to get Nik ready.  We wanted him to take it seriously and have fun with it. 

Well, I think we did a good job in creating excitement in him. 

His business idea was born while we were eating dinner at a Mexican food restaurant.  His burrito was too big for him to pick up and take bites.  When he cut it, the beans fell out, so he decided "they" needed to invent mini burritos...bite sized to keep the beans all together.  

Both Jim and I said "Wow, buddy this could be your Kid Town business".

So Burrito Bites was born.

After I found him on Google searching for laser guns.  I had to explain that wasn't quite how we were going to "shrink" the burritos. We thought it was fun to leave the idea on this T-shirt!   We used a much less high tech way of "shrinking" them. 

He spent the next couple of weeks planning his marketing, product development and paying his business fees.

His sister even created a jingle that Nik sang at school on a regular basis. Much to the chagrin of the other parents since their kids came home singing it too!  He "bought" an advertising spot on another kid's radio station singing the commercial he and Kyra recorded with their dad.

Yesterday when he woke up he came downstairs for breakfast and very excitedly said "I can't wait for tonight when all of my work will pay off".

And it did.

His business was a huge success. Many customers came back for seconds and thirds.  What great memories.  It also taught him how hard work does pay off.

Featured Store(s): Abacus

Today we are heading to Maine to visit some fun stores..

The name of your store?

Abacus

When did you open your doors?

opened in 1971 

Where are all of your stores located?

44 Exchange Street

Portland, ME  04101

207-772-4880

 

36 Main Street

Freeport, ME 04032

207-865-6620

 

2 Ocean Avenue (Dock Square)

Kennebunkport, ME  04046

207-967-0001

 

213 Main Street

Ogunquit, ME  03907

207-646-0399

 

12 McKown Street

Boothbay Harbor, ME  04538

207-633-2166

(seasonal)

 What Makes your stores unqiue?

unique?  Our eclectic mix of things and price ranges.  We sell wearables, watches, home furnishings, jewelry, glass and lots more.  It's a store that makes people smile.  The buildings we're located in are special too and each store is located in the heart of a busy neighborhood or resort where there are lots of other things to do and see and great palces to eat.

 How did you first find Amy Peters' Studio jewelry?

We first found you at the Rosen Show I think and I can't remember how many years it's been.

What styles of jewelry from Amy Peters' Studio do you carry?

We carry word rings and most of the different kinds of pewter charms.

 

Since Dana is so modest...I'll share about his amazing artwork!  Each year he prints a beautiful calendar from some of his amazing paintings and we are lucky enough to receive one.  The calendar graces the studio wall, year round.

If you live in the beautiful area of Maine where these stores are located make sure to stop by and visit them!  Or make sure to put them on your shopping list on your next vacation to Maine! Or if you can see them in person, stop by and visit them virtually on their website.

How to Tuesday: Roasted Brussel Sprouts

A few months back someone I follow on twitter @inspiredRD suggested we should give a vegetable a try we hate.  The idea made my stomach turn. 

I have hated brussel sprouts since I was a kid.  The funny thing is my kids LOVE them.  Years ago I was in a grocery store and Kyra was begging me to get them.  The thought of steaming them and smelling the brussel sprout smell.  UGH. 

I was telling her she wouldn't like them and that yuck...mom hates them.  A little old lady walked up to me and patted me on the shoulder and said.  "Buy her the brussel sprouts sweetie".  So I did.  I steamed them and the kids loved them.  But I still wasn't eating them...EVER.

But a challenge is a challenge and I decided to try and see if I could like them. 

So...I bought a bag. 

1) Drizzle them with olive oil.

2) Sprinkle on some kosher salt. 

3) Baked them at 450 degrees until they were brown.  In our oven about 20 minutes. Then a miracle happened. 

4) I ate them, and REALLY REALLY liked them. 

Funny...just looking at the picture I want to buy some for this week's menu. 

Is there a vegetable you loathe?  Have you tried cooking it a different way?  Maybe what you hated as a kid, you could learn to love!

 

 

For me Monday: letting go of too many hats

Have you ever read the book Caps for sale?  It was a favorite of mine when I was a kid and I still read it to my kids. 

If you aren't familiar with it the story is about a cap salesman who walks around town with all of his hats on top of his head, selling his wares. After a busy day of sales he falls asleep under a tree.  While he is sleeping a band of monkeys steal all but his own personal cap.  He yells, stomps up and down to try to get the monkeys to return the caps.  Finally in frustration he throws his cap onto the ground.  The monkeys do the same thing.  And he gets his caps back.

The story is so how I've been feeling lately. I've been wearing too many hats. So often I fight and struggle when really I should just let go. 

Do you ever feel that way?  Letting go is sometime the hardest thing to do, but often the right choice.  I've been working lately at letting go of things that aren't working in my life and business.

Is there something you need to let go of?  What's holding you back from letting go?