Fabulous Friday: Tell Its Story –
a Review & a Giveaway

Posted by: Maggie

When I heard that Amy had written an ebook about recording the memories of “your stuff” I was curious. I wasn’t sure it would be something that I could relate to and it seemed like it might be a little too craft-centered for my taste. So I requested and received a review copy to check out my friend’s work.

I was rather pleasantly surprised by what I found. Tell Its Story is about the culture of things, the things that we keep around us, the stories that surround those things, and how to record those stories. I have to admit that when I started reading I wasn’t really on board. I’m not a person that is attached to things. Amy asks you to think about the things that are important to you, the ones you would be sure to grab if your house was burning down. And to be honest. I don’t really have things like that. Aside from my computer because it has my photos on it and my camera because it’s expensive and I wouldn’t want to have to replace it, there was nothing else that I could think of. I’m just not attached to stuff.

I know that may seem odd for a person with a weekly post about stuff I like. But really stuff doesn’t matter to me. I like nice home decor because it feels nice to be surrounded by attractive design, but I’m not attached to any individual object or piece of furniture. I don’t save things. I don’t like a lot of clutter or knick-knacks.

So, why would I enjoy Tell Its Story so much? When really, it is about that “stuff” that I don’t have any emotional attachment to. Well, it’s exactly because of my lack of attachment. I found it to be a really interesting exercise in self-exploration. It made me really think about the very, very, very few things that I do save and have some sort of an attachment to, and why I don’t feel that way about most stuff.

It actually made me want to follow Amy’s advice and record those stories, memories, and thoughts about those things and also to write about why I’m not attached to more things. So you can look forward to that for next week’s blog posts! Thanks for the blog content Amy!

I really suggest that everyone buy this ebook. If you love your stuff, you’ll love Amy’s exploration of the importance of it and the stories that surround it. If you’re like me and you don’t care about stuff, you’ll find it an interesting jumping-off point for serious thought about why you aren’t attached to things and whether that matters to you or not.

Now for the Giveaway! Amy was kind enough to offer me an extra copy to give to one of my readers! Here’s how to win:

  • Just comment bellow telling me your most prized possession, or that you don’t have one! One entry per person EXCEPT
  • You can get an extra entry for blogging or tweeting the giveaway, just come back and leave me a link to your tweet or post in the comments! You can use this tweet:   “Win a copy of @AmyTeegan’s e-book Tell Its Story from @maggie_kg at Making Me Cranky! http://bit.ly/fgMXrf”

The winner will be announced next Friday, March 11! Good luck!

If you can’t wait, all of my wonderful readers can go HERE to buy a copy for only $9, a very special cranky reader discount of 25% off, when you use the discount code: CRANKY .

Wordless Wednesday: It Snowed Again (sorta, and for about 5 minutes)!

Posted by: Maggie

Valentine’s Day 2011

Posted by: Maggie

As usual Valentine’s Day was low key at the KG house. We celebrated the day before, Sunday, by exchanging cards and gifts. Josh got me a bouquet of my favorite flower, white Calla Lillies, and a box of my favorite chocolates, See’s Nuts & Chews. I got him a brass owl paperweight and a new pair of sunglasses (sorry I didn’t take photos of those, maybe I’ll save them for a Fabulous Friday post!).

In the evening I started preparing Eleanor’s Valentines for her class. As usual, I went a tad overboard. I’m so bad at doing things simple and casual, it’s really annoying to have the compulsive need to go over the top. ALL THE TIME. Although, in my head these projects always seem smaller and easier than they end up being.

I designed some Photo Valentines a few weeks prior and had them printed for pretty cheap by my photo printing vendor. I figured that was the best way for the other kids to know who their valentine was from, since they can’t read yet. Also I sorta hate the cheap, boring, princess Valentines from the grocery store. Then I thought I’d hole punch them and tie them with ribbons to goodie bags. Seems simple right? Except then I thought it would be fun to make the goodies instead of just buying candies. And I thought about just making a batch of cookies, but then somehow I switched that to Rice Krispie Treats with HEART SPRINKLES!! Too cute!

And then I found a heart shaped cookie cutter in my kitchen and decided I should cut the treats into hearts, because that would be soooooooo adorable! You can see how things got out of hand.

It took FOREVER to cut them, put them in their individual bags, hole punch the cards, tie them with ribbon, and curl the ribbon! A much more time consuming project than I had originally planned! But they did turn out incredibly cute!

Oh, and I also decided to make chocolate-covered strawberries for Eleanor’s class party. I am some sort of masochist. It makes Josh a little crazy.

Valentine’s Day morning I made Eleanor a strawberry smoothie and Josh had brought her home some donut holes! She was actually more interested in her cereal! Funny girl!

She wore her specially chosen, red apple Valentine’s Day dress to school. We did a mini portrait session before getting in the car.

Isn’t she the cutest little Valentine ever! She had a great time at her class party and enjoyed the tons of candy and lollipops from her classmates over the next two weeks! Valentine’s Day is kinda awesome!