Living Locurto - Free Printables, How To DIY Ideas, Crafts & Party Ideas.» Guests & Interviews

Interview on Apartment Therapy’s Ohdeedoh

Amy — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 17:46:39 +0000

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Can I just say how excited I am?!? I love this site…

Thanks to Beth for the wonderful feature and interview on Ohdeedoh! I’m honored to be on such a wonderful website. Hope you’ll check it out.

Be sure to join Amy on Facebook for more fun!
Also, be sure to check out Printables by Amy! Find easy and affordable digital files to download and print at home or at your local quick print shop. Each product is custom designed by Amy, a professional graphic designer. Amy makes do-it-yourself projects a breeze!

Where Women Create Feature & Giveaway

Amy — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 11:59:11 +0000

I’m so excited to be featured on Where Women Create today!

If you haven’t heard of this magazine or web site, you’re missing out. They feature so many wonderfully talented women. I was honored to be asked to be their Fabulous Friday Feature! WOW! These are the minds behind The Creative Connection Event that I soooo want to attend this year. It looks like an artist’s dream:-)

Head over to Where Women Create now because I’m giving away TWO $50 gift certificates to my shop!

I’ve been working on more party ideas. So look for a new party design to go online today or tomorrow. Yay!

Interview with Sandy from Reluctant Entertainer {Giveaway}

Amy — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 16:29:22 +0000

I’m excited to introduce you to one of my favorite bloggers and authors, Sandy Coughlin from Reluctant Entertainer. I met Sandy at the Blissdom Conference several years ago and thought now is the perfect time to interview her since we will be together again at Blissdom next week! Sandy is a very inspiring, sweet and successful women. Read about how she does it all and then check out the giveaway:-)

When did you start Reluctant Entertainer and what inspired you to do so?

I started the blog, Reluctant Entertainer, in 2006 when I realized that so many women fear entertaining. What was it about opening their homes and inviting others in that was so intimidating? When I started writing and sharing my thoughts, I found even more that women could relate and wanted help. Thus, The Reluctant Entertainer book was written and came out a few months ago. I get emails daily how it is changing lives as women let go of perfectionism and realize that hospitality is not about glitz, glamor, or stuff. It’s about fostering authentic friendships.

You have been blogging for a while now, what are some of the best things you’ve learned along the way? Things you wish someone would have told you about blogging.

I had no idea that I’d be blogging for going on 5 years – on the same subject. It seems to be a needed subject in women’s lives today. Through my blog I’ve formed some of the most wonderful friendships. I never dreamed I’d have friends in every State, and that I’d get to see them at conferences, etc. So I’ve learned more about friendships and I’ve learned that it’s good to stay within your niche’ and to keep writing (do not focus on numbers!) and sharing your passion with others. Each one of us has a voice and we want to be heard. There is a lot of “wisdom” being shared in blogland!

What post or project got a lot of attention that you weren’t expecting at all?

When I write about perfectionism and relationships, these topics get the most attention. People can relate more about these subjects because we live in a “perfect-driven” world where image is very important. Image can only go so far before women realize that something is missing, that they are lonely, and that they long for a deeper meaning in life. First impressions are important but what really draws us together (usually at the table with great food) is genuine love and authenticity. Being authentic actually draws us to other authentic people – those who are soulful and who make the greatest friends!

What is the MOST fun thing that has happened since starting Reluctant Entertainer?

The most exciting thing for me has been writing a book and helping other people!

In my new inspirational book, I relate to many apprehensive hostesses in real ways with genuine encouragement and advice. Emphasizing the forgotten goal of entertaining – connecting deeply with others – I show how women can use who they are and what they have to create memorable experiences.

How do you balance life with teenagers, blogging, entertaining, writing books and everything else you do? Have some advice for those of us juggling it all with small children?

I have 3 teens, one in college. I am not sure I would have been a very good mother if I had started blogging when they were little. It takes time and discipline, especially when you’re tweeting, facebooking, keeping up with all the zillion friends that you make. Teens don’t need me as much so I have more free time. My advice is to routinely ask your partner if he’s supportive of your endeavors? Does he want you to keep blogging or is it causing problems in your home? I am not perfect at this; I will admit time management is hard.

What are three of your most favorite projects/posts?

Traveling with Bush’s Beans in 2010 and attending the EVO conference.

Participating in the 31-Day Series during the month of October with The Nester.

Stenciling a Memory - When my mom passed away I took her writing and I stenciled it on to plates for my sisters.

And Traditions … When is it Time to Change?

What’s in store for Reluctant Entertainer? Any big plans you can give us scoop on?

My goal for Reluctant Entertainer is to continue blogging about food, family, gardening, life, relationships, dinner parties – and not worry or get caught up in numbers. To write from my heart and to share what I know. I’ve been very blessed by meeting so many bloggers that I want to keep in touch with ALL of them.

Next year my New Year’s Eve dinner-party is going to be featured in a beautiful book of 25 Dinner Parties by Jo Packham, creator of Where Women Create and Where Women Cook. I’m sure there will be more exciting opportunities coming up.

Also find Sandy here:

Giveaway!

A big thanks to Sandy for the great interview and for giving away one of her books to a lucky Living Locurto reader!

Enter to win by leaving a comment below.

Tell me what makes you reluctant to entertain? Or maybe you love to entertain no matter what? Leave a comment with your thoughts.

For extra entries:

Let me know you “like” Living Locurto on Facebook (Remember… now there is an exclusive gift if you do!)
Let me know you are an e-news subscriber or join today!

**Giveaway closes on Monday, January 24th at midnight. Winner announced on Tuesday.

Interview on She Posts

Amy — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 18:06:55 +0000

One of my favorite new blogs to pop up in the last year has been She Posts. If you haven’t visited the site before, it’s a great source of news from around the mom blog world. If you blog, you’ll really enjoy the informative articles to help with the business of blogging.

I was so honored when Heather from Dollar Store Crafts, a She Posts Contributor, asked to interview me! If you want to learn more a little more about me and find out what bloggers inspire me, check it out. Thanks Heather!

DIY Burlap Scrabble Wreath

Amy — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 15:00:14 +0000

I’m happy to introduce you to one of my favorite bloggers, Jen from Tatertots and Jello!

Jen is a mom of four, and when she has a second between running her kids around, she loves to craft. She also has an amazing creative knack with burlap! When I asked her to do a guest post for Living Locurto, I was very excited to see she used her famous burlap abilities here. YAY! I know you will love her, so take it away Jen…

Hi! I’m Jen from Tatertots and Jello. I am so excited to be here on Amy’s blog!! I am a big fan of Amy’s printables and of I Heart Faces. Today I’m excited to show you a Thanksgiving Scrabble Wreath I put together the other day while my daughter was at Kindergarten.

Here’s what you need:

A wreath form
Burlap — a 36″ square piece should do
A few fabric scraps
Some Scrabble tiles**
Hot glue and gun
Two types of coordinating ribbon

**FUN TIP — if you want to make one of these and don’t want to destroy your Scrabble game, you can buy “lots” of Scrabble pieces on ebay or etsy. Or, if you contact Hasbro, you can order a complete replacement set of tiles. It was around $6 for 100 pieces last year.

Here’s what you do:

1. Wrap the wreath with burlap.

Cut two pieces of burlap about 4 inches in width by 36 inches in length. Or, if you have a long piece of burlap you can use a 72 inch strip. Hot glue one end of the strip to the back of the wreath. Then wrap the burlap around your wreath. My wreath form was 12 inches wide, so if you are using a bigger form, you will need a longer piece of burlap. Once the form is wrapped in burlap, set it aside.

2. Make rolled burlap flowers.

I made 18 flowers in different sizes. For each flower, you will need a strip of material about 1 inch in width by either 32 inches, 24 inches or 18 inches, depending on how wide you want the flower to be.

Fold the material in half width-wise and then roll it tightly about 8 times. Then add a dab of hot glue and twist the material around the rolled center, adding glue as you roll. The flower will continue to get bigger until you reach the end of the material. Then add some hot glue to the back and glue down the end of the material underneath the flower.

For more in-depth instruction, check out my Rolled Flower Tutorial.

3. Glue Scrabble Tiles to Paper.

Now that you have the flowers made, lay out the scrabble pieces to whatever saying you want to display on your wreath. Then hot glue the tiles onto a piece of paper. Then cut out the tiles, trimming very close to the edges so no paper is showing.

4. Hot glue the Scrabble tiles to the wreath.

5. Hot glue the flowers to the wreath.

Now lay out the rolled flowers on the wreath. Once you are happy with the placement. Hot glue the flowers to the burlap wreath.

6. Cut the two coordinating ribbon for the top of the wreath.

Make a loop of ribbon for the top of the wreath to hang on the door or wall. Then cut another length of the two ribbon and make a bow. Attach the bow at the top of the wreath to the loop.

7. Hang up and enjoy your new wreath!

Thanks Jen! The wreath is fantastic!! Visit Tatertots and Jello for more amazing, crafty tutorials.

A few more of my favorite ideas by Jen:

Need ideas for this week’s dinner?

Visit my Meal Plan section for lots of great ideas! Most have a printable grocery list as well. YAY!

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