Thursday, June 14, 2012

GBTV Lemonade Stand for Charity

PhotobucketToday was National Lemonade stand day. In celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit, lemonade stands were erected all over the nation. In a time where people feel entitled that the world has a spot ready and waiting for them (and who are often shocked to discover otherwise) it is empowering to remember that we create our own opportunity. A few of us have been blessed to land an established role, but it is only because someone before us was an entrepreneur and created it. The simple lemonade stand reminds us that if no role is available (or even exists) for us to occupy, we can create it. we can create. create.

(here is our stand advertised along with hundreds more on glennbeck.com - we were the only ones representing the Palouse!)

PhotobucketKate and I heard about National Lemonade stand day last week, and both fell in love with the idea. There was just the small problem of not having a Lemonade stand - what a fun challenge, we worked to get everyone's creativity involved.

I scoured google images for lemonade stands, and sketched up a plan:
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To keep costs low we used free pallets from our local lumber supplier. It took time and effort to get those apart but to have free wood was worth it (you just have to tell yourself that you are burning a lot of calories)!

a few tips on harvesting free pallets:

1. Get pallets that don't have a ton of split boards
2. Use a skill saw (circular saw) to cut just inside where the ends are nailed down. - the ends are almost always destroyed, and trying to save them usually splits the wood even more.
3. Invest in a good flat prybar (i use a large Estwig, the larger the better)
4. Pry off the ends that you just cut off your board (but are still nailed to the pallet)
5. The only remaining nails should be in the center of the board, dont try to pry off the board yet.
6. swing the board back and forth by grabbing each end and rocking fast (all the nails should break off by the friction except 1)
7. Use the prybar to get the last nail.

Pallets often use nails that are hexagonal and twist down the nail like licorice. This makes them almost impossible to pull out. Your board will usually bust before the nail gives. The Eastwig prybar is great at pulling these nails as long as you have enough leverage, so get a long handled one. Also, avoid prying directly on the board you want to remove, this will gouge it. place a small sacrificial scrap of board beneath your pry area.

The longest boards you can typically harvest is around 3'.

Before and After!
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Now the paint. Brooklyn is great at painting signs and her sisters.
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Kamryn is great at "pooling" and marking all the boards that need painted unless we miss one.
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Lauryn is a little trooper, she painted about 50% of the first coat. She loved being involved.
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Kate and I noticed that a lot of the "Pinterest" Lemonade stands were a little too ideal. As if the real motivation  behind them was to stage the perfect photo-op. While we were definitely going to photo-document everything, it was all about our whole family creating. Lauryn drew out all our "pop art" and words in a notebook. I sketched them onto our signs, and we both painted them in. You can try to fake 7 year old creativity, but nothing evokes that inner child like the real thing. Thanks for your marketing genius Lauryn!
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Brook and Kam were busy putting together all the goodies for the stand.






















Kate was amazing and got everything together even though she was in the middle of an allergy crisis

And now for a Lemonade Stand montage 
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We thought the cop was going to shut us down. Many states are adopting regulations that require food handler's permits for bake sales, public BBQ's, offering food to the poor, and lemonade stands. But thank goodness for Idaho, the officer just had a hankering for some refreshment. He even advertised our stand for us on his police radio!

Brooklyn was our lemonade stand poster child. Lauryn and I spent 20 minutes trying to wave in customers from a busy street, without much luck. Kate told me to try Brooklyn instead. Brook just stood holding a cup of lemonade with both hands, outstretched to the passing cars (while I worked the sign). We drew in so many people, that Kate ran out of ice, cups, lids, lemon slices, and lemonade in about 20 minutes. No one could resist!

We also had tremendous support from our community. It's amazing to just talk face to face with your neighbors. I think that the greatest potential for a fantastic standard of living lies in a strong community ("strong" meaning you actually know each other). I wouldn't have said that a few weeks ago, but since building our garden and this stand, Kate and I have both enjoyed getting to know a ton of people around our block. I guess the best way to know your community is to get outside, become visible, and create opportunities to encounter them!

31 days ago we didn't have a garden. 31 days ago we weren't part of a community. 8 days ago, we didn't have a lemonade stand. 8 hours ago Brook and Lauryn didn't know the process of serving great lemonade: Cup, Ice, Lemonade, Lemon slice, Straw, Lid, Serve. Now we have all those things. It is amazing how quick we can create these rich assets, relationships and experiences.

So happy National Lemonade Stand day, see you all next year (and probably several Saturdays this summer!) and remember, create, create, create!

- Bryan, Katelyn, and the girls. Photobucket

Monday, June 11, 2012

Rigby Family

I am out of town today photographing a family who has a marine back in town! While I am gone please check out my latest shoot with the Rigby family. I will be back soon!




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Friday, June 8, 2012

A Daily Dose

This morning we got up and went to the local Junior High. My plan was to get some laps in. Did. Not. Happen. Oh dear, was I frustrated! I think for now I will try and save my exercise routine for the evening. Bryan has started going into work early to get home early. This has been nice however, I've had to change my routine around.
Even though I couldn't get much of a workout in today, I know that what I eat, can make me feel good! We have one of these whole food smoothies just about everyday! My girls LOVE them. And for some reason, my youngest, Kamryn calls them "kitty smooties". Cute!

Here's the recipe:




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1 orange (try to keep as much skin on as possible, it contains the most vitamin c)
1 banana
4-5 whole strawberries (keep the top on)
4-5 carrots
1 whole slice of pineapple
1 tbsp Agave
1tsp vanilla
2 tbsp ground flax seed
lots of ice

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Thursday, June 7, 2012

Yesterday

Here's what my yesterday looked like:


We finally got all the Costco goods put away! Thank goodness for that! To the right you will see my latest favorite find! At Farm Chicks this year I fell in love with this "American Family Scale". It was made for my kitchen!

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Yesterday we also started getting out our Americana decorations! WE LOVE the 4th of July here at our house. It's Bryan's favorite holiday. Mainly because of all the explosives! I got this darling recycled wool garland from Lady Robin's Nest.

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Yesterday was Lauryn's last day of Kindergarten! I cannot believe I will have a first grader next year. I welcome it with open arms! She is so ready to be in school all day. (her mother is too!)

When she got home from school we checked the mail box and found that Grandma Thompson had gotten the girls subscriptions to Highlights and High Five! They love their new magazines! It brought back childhood memories for me.

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Everyone together now....... awwwwwww! Sister love.

Now for a quick update on Kamryn. We have finally narrowed down her diagnosis to it being one of five things! We know it is a type of Periodic Fever Syndrome. We have to give her a dose of steroids when her next cycle hits to determine the type. I am happy to finally be close to a diagnosis.

Since her last ER visit and fever spike of 106 we have noticed a lazy eye. Her right eye will kick out when she looks at far distances. We took her to the Eye Doctor to make sure it was something we could fix with glasses and not anything neurological caused by the frequent high fevers. As of now we are happy to report that it looks like glasses will fix the problem! She picked out some cute red, modern frames. I am so excited to photograph her in them!

Thank you again for all the outpouring of love, prayers and support!

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No Photoshop here. Brooklyn's hair is that red! Wasn't the Hidden Pictures your favorite part of the Highlights magazine? I can remember getting it and flipping straight to that page. The edition the girls got yesterday actually had a special insert of just Hidden pictures! So rad.

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My dear friends Jay and Camille are in town this week. They stopped by yesterday to visit. We were all so happy to see them and their two beautiful girls. I couldn't help myself and had to take Baby McKenna into the studio for a few shots. Isn't she the sweetest!

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Here's to a today as good as yesterday.




PS- I am so excited to have my images on The Farm Chicks Blog! As well as a link to this year's Farm Chicks 2012 recap!


One last thing I promise. I just wanted to let the world know it's Jane and Kristine's Birthday today! Kristine runs a fab party blog here and is doing a Ice cream party in a box giveaway to celebrate her blog's 1st birthday! Jane runs a whole foods blog that I drool over. It's called Nova-Granola.

Ok for real. Peace. Out.



Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Why I do what I do:

I need them to know how much I love them.

This is my new phrase to live by. It is why I do all the little things everyday. Because I need them to know how much I love them. What better way to do that then through consistently doing what matters most.

I love my little girls so much. There are days that I do push them aside for other things. I just have to keep in mind my new phrase. I don't want their childhood to pass by without them knowing how much they are loved.

How do you show your children/family/friends how much you love them?

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PS- These fresh cut peonies are from my sweet mother in law Robin! I LOVE them! They just add a touch of beauty.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Farm Chicks 2012: Find what you LOVE!

This year farm chicks started out a bit dreary and wet! All my fun plans for the morning went out the window as it was pouring out! We thought we would make a fashion statement by wearing bright green ponchos to help keep us dry.

{the only photo of us before the show, thanks Cierra!}

All was well once we stepped in to Farm Chicks heaven as early birds. We take our Farm Chicks Fashion very seriously. Here we are in the outfits we had picked out weeks before. We even made hex nut bracelets!

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Here's my farm chicks jean jacket!
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One piece of Farm Chicks advice: Have a plan. Know what you are looking for! Have color swatches from your home. Photobucket



Here is my friend, Serena! Thank you for all your hard work! We LOVE you!
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I wanted to try and really capture this year's theme: Find what you love. I really enjoyed watching those around me search through each booth to find their treasures.

Every year I goto farm chicks I never really have much of a budget to buy but a few small things. It never really bothers me because what I come away from the show with is something priceless. Here are a few examples of those priceless things:
1.Having a weekend getaway with friends and family.
2. No little ones! :)
3. Spending one whole day at the Farm Chicks show!
4. Getting to know other Farm Chicks!
5. Being reunited with all the lovely vendors!
6. Getting to photograph all the things I love!
7. Being inspired by so many creative and talented women!


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Here's this years entry art piece!
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Loved this whimsical mime.
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Soft tones of Tiffany blue!
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Baby Farm Chick in training.
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We ended the day with Texas Road House in true Farm Chick Fashion.
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Happy Trails! Until next year!