About

Enchente! I’m Amanda Nolan, a yurt-dwelling, soap-making, 28 year old mom of two little girls. I guess you could call me a hippie, but really I’m just a big nerd exploring my idealistic side and trying to take life back to the simple truths. I fidget with my fingers wrapped in yarn and embroidery floss, I figure my nerves have a better chance of being productive that way. I’m by no means perfect, and I have no problem displaying that fact here. Perfect women creep me out. I worry about the other side of their closet doors, ya know?

We currently live in the Maine woods, and take so much inspiration from that. Lichen is a shockingly beautiful thing, any way you look at it. I wasn’t born here, though. I was born on Long Island, NY. Yes, I still have a lil accent. I grew up with my toes in the sand and perfect pizza in my hand–at least those are the things I miss most. I came to Maine for college, first as a Wildlife Ecology major, then a writing major. I don’t get to write much though, especially since my old process involved insomnia and quite a lot of vodka. Enter the blog. New process: mommy stress and good strong coffee.

23 Responses to “About”

  1. mary robbins, on May 14th, 2008 at 8:54 pm Said:

    amanda…you are a beauty and i am so happy to read your blog…can’t wait to see you again. sooner rather than later! love!

  2. Harmony, on July 8th, 2008 at 12:53 pm Said:

    Joy George told me about you! A friend, Donna Campagna who is also the school secretary at the school Joy just left, and I started the Bath County Farmers Market this year. To bad you are in Maine because we need people like you here in our little corner of Virginia!

    How is the yurt coming along?

  3. Susan (sMacshop), on July 15th, 2008 at 1:05 am Said:

    Oh Amanda, what a fantabulous blog you have. I’ve gone back and browsed through the whole thing. Completely fascinated by the yurt. What a fascinating life you live!

  4. Howie, on August 30th, 2008 at 1:36 am Said:

    Howdy!

    I ran across your blog doing some searches on yurts…I am pretty into them myself ;-) Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for your blog and for turning us on to some really great music via the playlist thingy you have there. Thanks!

    best,
    Howie

  5. longwinterfarm, on September 1st, 2008 at 11:19 am Said:

    Howie! I’ve actually been to your site before, what an awesome product you offer. Seems like the industry is moving towards comfort and permanence these days, but you’re sticking to the original ideal: portability. I think I need one! (hey thanks for diggin’ mah tunes :P )

  6. Gabrielle Krake, on September 9th, 2008 at 10:22 am Said:

    I love your life. I grew up like that and have so many fond memories. At the time, as a kid and teenager I thought some of it was torture, but now I strive to offer my own four home educated kids the same opportunities. Beautiful site, I subscribed and can’t wait to read more. I used to be a soap maker, it’s a glorious process, eh?

    Sincerely,
    Gabrielle

  7. Frank, on December 24th, 2008 at 9:12 pm Said:

    Hay my last name is Winter. Talking about a long winter I last the year around. Have a great day.

  8. bilgin manisa soma, on January 23rd, 2009 at 11:27 am Said:

    bCFRzN bilgin manisa soma 0 hours) - resulting in longer duration of action, and so partly responsible for “The Weekend Pill” sobriquet.

  9. Katrina Bartoszak, on March 1st, 2009 at 8:08 pm Said:

    hi i didnt know where to go i know your contest is closed but i thought you should hear my idea lol if you take it you dont have to send it to me because i didnt follow the ruls but y dont you call it “Midnight Maddness” and your slogan could be “things that seem use less at night are better in the morning”?

  10. Chelsea Daigle, on March 8th, 2009 at 9:17 pm Said:

    Thanks for entering my giveaway and for the compliment on my playlist as well. I really love yours too, by the way. You seem like someone I would love to swap mixed CDs with. :) LOL. No, but seriously. Ha!
    -Leland’s Mama (Chelsea)

  11. Tonia, on March 14th, 2009 at 9:18 pm Said:

    Hi Mandi! I miss you! I will be coming to Maine in August, and I expect the grand tour of the yurt…

  12. Chris, on March 28th, 2009 at 10:12 pm Said:

    Hey.

    I saw you made soap. I have a rash that the doctors say needs soap and water to go away.

    Will you soap make it go away?

  13. DougSmith, on March 29th, 2009 at 4:01 am Said:

    Hi…
    yeah - I, um…too.
    Love the blog, all ‘cept the cat details. Keep at it…

  14. cindy, on May 28th, 2009 at 5:11 pm Said:

    your photos are lovely.

  15. Jessica, on November 10th, 2009 at 12:21 am Said:

    I love your blog site and your soaps look great. And living in a YURT! Holy SMokes, that looks wonderful. I’ll stop exclaiming over and over. I’m off to see what’s on the curing rack so I can pick my four samples. EEE
    regards, Jessica

  16. mariano, on November 30th, 2009 at 8:19 pm Said:

    Amanda,
    My name is mariano I am a photographer in New York City. Some of the companies I help to increase sales are Lancome, L’Oreal, Givenchy, Revlon and Avon. I would like to become your photographer too.

    Via U! is my online studio, the way you and I can work together. It allows me to cut costs and still give you the same beautiful photography I create for my Madison Ave. clients.

    How does it work?
    - You send us your product.
    - Within 24 hours, we will photograph it and return it to you at no cost.
    - After that, if you like your picture and you wish to buy it, you pay $112. It’s that simple!

    http://www.viauphotography.com/
      
    Thank You.
    m.

    718 222 2985

  17. Gina, on February 13th, 2010 at 2:57 pm Said:

    I hope you read this often and get my note! Your stuff is SO great! I’d love to chat! Please email me at dang.gina.gives@gmail.com

  18. Michelle, on March 3rd, 2010 at 7:34 pm Said:

    I have been following your blog for a few months now, and I absolutley love your humour,stories and fantastic products. I would love to one day be a yurt dweller in the forest.

    And I love the playlist. This has become my sanctuary when I am working in my studio late at night as an mompreneur as well, I often have it playing.

    Thank you, and keep up the great work :)

  19. Val, on April 11th, 2010 at 8:20 am Said:

    Love your blog…I am a one person business gal too and my company does fresh herbal remedies all created from the earth. I too have lived a mompreneur life for a long time as well-hard by very rewarding so I have a lot of respect for you. If you sell wholesale, let me know and we can carry your yummy looking soaps.

  20. Val, on April 11th, 2010 at 8:20 am Said:

    Love your blog…I am a one person business gal too and my company does fresh herbal remedies all created from the earth. I too have lived a mompreneur life for a long time as well-hard by very rewarding so I have a lot of respect for you. If you sell wholesale, let me know and we can carry your yummy looking soaps. http://www.motherearthplants.com

  21. Morris Farm, on April 26th, 2010 at 10:52 am Said:

    Amanda, I love your blog! And I still love the chocolate-fir soap you made at your fall ‘09 Morris Farm workshop. Can’t wait to have you back tomorrow night to make something scentsable for the class and hopefully so I can swipe some for the visitor center desk.

    Let me know if you need anything for the 4/27 class.

  22. Michele, on July 22nd, 2010 at 10:06 am Said:

    We wanted to take a moment to let you know that you have been written about on http://www.itsabrideslife.com by a featured blogger. Itsabrideslife.com documents the stories of real brides as they go from the process of ‘I will’ to ‘I do.’

    -The It’s a Bride’s Life Team

  23. matt, on August 19th, 2010 at 11:53 am Said:

    mandi…

    send me your email!

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