Meet Amy M... I've only really recently gotten to know her, but this is what I can so far share: She's authentic. This was obvious to me right off the bat. Amy's one of those people who is cute, pretty and witty, but does not intimidate. That's a rare quality and I can totally appreciate and admire anyone who can maintain that balance without trying to be the center of attention. Her sweetness and grace is most warmly expressed in her silliness and, in that, her pure loveliness. Also, I adored her responses to the interview questions... I found myself saying, "Yes! Oh my god, ME TOO!" This simultaneously thrills and frightens me. Go ahead. Read on and see for yourself how darn cute she is... ♥ Did you play dress up as a kid? If so, what was your most memorable ensemble?
Yes, I played dress up when I was a kid (and I still do). My nana (my dad's mom) kept a wicker trunk full of clothes for the grandkids to use for dress up. It was really cool because some of the clothes were old - from the 30s, 40s, and 50s. Of course, they weren't in great shape after generations of kids played with them, but that didn't matter. Every time we visited my nana's and papa's, my cousins and I dressed up in outrageous outfits and we composed original plays that we then performed for our older relatives after dinner. We thought we were genius and they humored us.
I remember my favorite outfit: It involved a long burgundy skirt that was sort of crumply and swooshy at the same time. It dragged on the ground and got caught in these awesome 50s-style pumps I found. The hoes were shiny black and had an extreme point at the toe, which reminded me of the witch in Wizard of Oz. I don't remember the shirt part of the outfit, but I do remember that I wore a blond wig that had been crushed in the trunk for years. It had the look of an old-lady permanent that had been slept on. I turned the wig backwards so that the part that was supposed to be in the back was in the front. It made me look like I had straight-across blonde bangs. And sometimes I wore a powder blue straw hat with blue netting on top of the wig!
Also, it is worth mentioning that once I put on this bridesmaid's dress - polyester, floor length with a halter top - that my nana had made for one of my aunts. It has a mid-70's disco look and a big, splashy Hawaiian print. I actually loved that dress so much that Nana decided to give it to me and I actually still find occasion to wear it. It fits me perfectly now. Last time I pulled it down from the shelf, it looked like the stitching might be coming apart, and like the hem has been dragged around in the dust too much, but I'm going to find a way to keep it together.
♥ What's your profession/day job/night job/way of making a living?
I teach English language arts and beginning Spanish to junior high students.
♥ What's your most treasured possession?
I try not to get to excited about anything I own just in case I jinx myself and I ruin, destroy, or lose it.
That said, if my house was burning down, I'd grab my laptop, the art pieces my friends have made for me and the little gold ring I inherited from my mother.
♥ Hobbies and artistic endeavors?
I like to read. I'll read anything really, but I usually try to be reading at least one serious book and one silly book at the same time. Right now I'm reading Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides, which is my serious choice, and I'm also reading a really great young adult science fiction novel called Pretties by Scott Westerfield. I'm in the middle of reading Neil Gaimen's Sandman graphic novels. They changed my life.
Lately my husband and I have been obsessed with playing Rock Band for the Wii. I started feeling like I could actually play the drums until I went to a concert and watched a real drummer. Then I realized that I was just being tricked by the power of Rock Band.
I do a little bit of novice sewing. My mom sewed all of my brother's and my clothes when we were little and I used to sew with her, but I think she may have done all of the hard parts for me. I still try to sew, though. Mostly I use her old sewing machine to alter clothes I buy at thrift stores and flea markets. For me, that's way better than buying material and trying to make something from scratch. It's way cheaper too.
One more thing - I like to embroider. I just embroidered a little tiki guy onto an aqua-colored wraparound skirt I got at a thrift store. I also embroidered some pillow cases with sayings from some favorite songs: One says, "Happy when it rains," and has a little rain cloud and the other says, "Lips like sugar," and has little candies sewn into the corner.
♥ The one band that you can listen to in any mood, any time of day, any place?
Cat Stevens, specifically the songs from the movie Harold and Maude
♥ Imagine a single room all to yourself, all for you. What's inside?
A window seat with comfy cushions, a well-stocked book shelf (that includes all of my favorites - from Jane Austin to J.R.R. Tolkein to Walter Mosley), an afghan, and a secret stash of sour candy.
♥ Your ideal day, from morning to night, as it occurs to you in this very moment?
1) Wake up early-ish. Seven o'clock is good.
2) Drink coffee and read the paper. Have some toast and a grapefruit.
3) Go for a run at the beach.
4) Find a fabulous outfit to wear.
5) Eat lunch with my husband, preferably at somewhere with an outdoor patio.
6) Go to a cozy coffee shop to read while he types his novel.
7) Find some fun clothes at a second hand store. Right now I'd love to find some high-wasted, slim black slacks like the ones Audrey Hepburn wears in Funny Face.
8) Call up friends to meet for dinner and cocktails. Drink a martini.
9) Eat yummy food with friends and laugh.
10) Go home to watch TV with my husband. Right now the show would be Pushing Daisies.
♥ Roller skates or ice skates?
roller
♥ Share a quote.
"Fly, you fools." - Gandalf
♥ What's the one thing that sustains you in your job?
Kids are funny. They make me smile, even when I'm grumpy.
♥ What piece of jewelry or hair adornment do you own by Ciara Obscura?
I love the little black cloth necklace with the striped buttons [Mon Ami Necklace]. I just wore it to the store and was literally stopped by strangers who wanted to give me compliments.
♥ Your Blog:
http://accordingtomissmyra.blogspot.com/
