Weekend Finds

So, you know I was falling flat for spirit and inspiration last week. I even declared myself officially grumpy and pouted on the couch. I am not sure why. These things do happen.

But, on mommy's day out, I found some great finds that reminded me of the simple things in life

First a stop at the bakery

That lovely heart sugar cookie you see is now probably stuck somewhere between my intestines and my thighs, but it was delicious.

Then surprising find of vintage inspired Valentines

These are made by Punch Studio, and I found them at Barnes and Noble after browsing through all the Somerset Magazines. Is it just me, or is $6.95 for a box of 24 an incredibly great deal? I was a little giddy over that- but after working with my other materials I have for the Valentine swap they aren't quite right. I will hold on to them for the future.

I browsed the aisles of our local thrift store. looking for some fun mismatched china ware. At the local antique store a saucer and tea cup can run $8-$15, and I just don't want to pay that much. I noticed a man with a full cart of various goodies, rummaging the shelves and looking at labels with a magnifying glass. In spite of this "professional" I still scored some great things.

I started stacking these pretties in my cart, not yet sure if I would buy them all or not, when suddenly a woman came up to me, just raving about the plates I found, and how she used to have similar dishes, and she couldn't believe they were just on the general shelf of dishes. That caught the magnifying glass man's attention, and he, too, peered into my cart, and said. "Wow, you have some great finds".

At that point, I decided I would just buy everything I had in the cart (at 50 cents to a buck an item, why not?) and felt pretty happy (although I am not sure why). I must admit, I left them in the car until hubby left for work. He is not the biggest fan of second-hand stores. (if you are reading this i love you babe and love me for who i am)

Now I have a few more pretty pieces to mix and match with my china for our Valentines Brunch Book Club. I love a reason to host!

On the fashion front, this weekend I am drooling all over this Spring line by Chanel. I don't live a life where I would parade around in these beautiful garments, but if I did, I may show up to the next party in this

I got the new Style.com app on my iPad and so I now sit and browse the fashion shows whenever I have a minute. It is a great app, if you're into that kind of thing. Perhaps I can beg the dentist to turn up the happy gas and dream myself in the fashion world today while I get my root canal finished.

Wish me luck

and live beautifully today

Inspire Me

Today is a rare day. I have nothing...I repeat NOTHING on my calendar until tonight. Normally I schedule these days to clean up, catch up around the house, or catch up with my DVR. I don't want to do any of that.

I want to look at lovely things that make me feel romantic

I need to find inspiration for my Valentines Swap

last year's Valentines were fun and romantic

And Bergdorf Goodman is inducing day dreams of romantic hair, boots, lacy clothing, and a bike ride in the spring

So, while the house may sit untouched for today

In my mind I have been very productive

2010 you served me well

I can not move on with my blog until I take a moment to respect the year that has just passed.

It sounds silly, but every year when I look back I get a little

overwhelmed and emotional as I peek back at the days I lived.

We are all living this wonderful life!

I am hoping by jotting down a few memories I can remember them later.

I mastered a few songs on the piano ~ I saw the surf and sun in Mexico ~ I danced all night with my sisters ~ I ran and completed my first half marathon ~ I sang on stage next to my children ~ I battled, and overcame, a nasty case of depression ~ I lunched with beautiful friends~ I ran and swam with sisters ~ I voted out a senator I wildly disagreed with ~ I swapped used books ~ I laid in the sun ~ I received cards and invitations from politicians ~ I zip lined across a canyon in Mexico with my hubby cheering me on ~ I completed, and survived, my calling as Primary President ~ I tried new bakeries and restaurants with my husband ~ I learned how to do The Jerk ~ I stayed up way too late with family~ I made art and gifts for my amazing sisters ~ I was introduced to the Food Nanny and vowed to make dinner important ~ I discovered the wonder if the iPad ~ I screamed my head off on numerous roller coasters ~ I bore my testimony at church ~ I went to the temple more ~ I napped on the couch with drapes pulled ~ I ate way too much chocolate cake ~ I survived the scraping of my dysfunctional ankle ~ I sat in awe of Phantom of the Opera ~ I gave a standing ovation to David Barton, Judge Andrew Napalitano, and Glenn Beck after being blown away with a full day of lectures and reading ~ I climbed the rocks of Yosemite ~ I read 33 books ~ I completely biffed it on my new bike and suffered weeks of scabs and road rash ~ I made more lofty goals for 2011 ~

I will no doubt trot around with my camera way too much

Taking pictures of completely random moments

Life is good

Christmas with a camera

A couple of quick shots taken fresh after Santa's visit, the last shots taken in my

"life before the Rebel".

When the first gift you open, upon Santa's strict request, is a camera, the rest of a day is just a blur from behind an unfamiliar viewfinder. (Why yes.....that is my two eldest sons enjoying their new Snuggies, in lieu of Christmas Eve pajamas on Christmas morning!)

You know it's a great Christmas when you can't make it through the day without crashing for a much needed nap

and when the leftovers from the stocking suddenly look beautiful to me

the day is spent tinkering with new gadgets

(these ever cool magnetic "Bucky Balls" kept my 15 yr old busy all day....all week, actually, as he shaped them into all sorts of amazing contraptions.

And later, taking down decorations is suddenly a chance to capture a mix of beautiful tidbits

What began as a few cards pinned to a lovely bow turned into a curtain full

of Christmas greetings. Is it wrong to leave them up longer to enjoy,

although everything else is cleaned up?

Looking through the eye of a camera reminds me of something important.

Our life is full of beautiful images just waiting for us to capture them.

some of these images were inspired by challenges from the Digital Photography School website. Until I can get into a real class, it is just me, these posts, my instruction book, and my Canon Rebel working our way through the world. It is gosh darned fun, too.

The fire that's breaking my heart

A brief history as on file at BYU of the Provo Tabernacle

The Provo Tabernacle, located on the west side of University Avenue between Center and First South streets, has figured prominently in the history of Brigham Young University. It was built by the Saints of Utah Valley at a time when money was difficult to obtain. Fifteen years, from 1883 to 1898, were required for its construction, largely because of financial limitations. From 1930 to 1941, when the Joseph Smith Building was completed, BYU commencement exercises were held in the building, the procession proceeding from the Education Building to the Tabernacle, a distance of six blocks. The Tabernacle was used for lyceum concerts even into the 1950s, and organ recitals of the Music Department continued there through the 1960s. Some of the artists who have appeared there have been violinist Fritz Kreisler, pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff, baritone Paul Robeson, soprano Bidu Sayao, the Minneapolis Symphony (1918), the Metropolitan Quartet (1916), opera star Emma Lucy Gates (1923), the Bach Festival (1934), and dozens of others. The dome in the center of the building was removed later because of excessive weight.

The building has been host to countless ceremonies, concerts (as a high school student I sang there with my choir) graduations, weddings, church meetings and more over the years. Just last Saturday I marveled over the beauty of the building. It was my second concert of the season with my son singing.

And this morning we woke to this

It hard to believe that beautiful organ, woodwork, stained glass, and detailing that I captured with my silly little camera is gone.

For the record I must say that building had a spirit about it.

I performed and listened to others perform there.

It was place beyond many you might step foot in.

I am so sad at this historical lost, yet feel blessed we were there just days ago, and my son got a final chance, that we did not know was final, to be a part of that great heritage.

If you have a few minutes, I invite you to share in the spirit of music and Christmas by watching this song my son performed with the choir when we were last there. Merry Christmas. May the Lord bless you and keep you.

We say "Merry Christmas"

Can you even believe this sweet picture?

Snapped at the mall in 2003, I believe this was the last year that all of my little ones still believed the "Christmas Secret". Strange, though, that that fact is not near as hard to live with as I thought it would be. They are sweeter and more grateful with Santa now than they have ever been....(and no more asking for a million dollars)

Christmas Card 2010

It’s all about the little things

This year, like any other, was full of family milestones and accomplishments; football and soccer games, choir and guitar concerts, piano recitals and vacations, church callings and work trips. As we ponder the year, however, we are overwhelmed by the little things….. The everyday things…..

~ The ability to walk into a building and vote ~ to read a book of our choice ~ to turn on a song and dance together as a family ~ to attend a worship service of our choosing each Sunday ~ to open a closet and have choices to make ~ to click on the mouse at the computer and be surrounded by family updates and photographs ~ to turn on the radio and hear voices discuss things that interest us ~ to send our children to a safe school with people and friends we love and trust ~ to have employment and the means to provide and be self-sufficient ~ to live with a roof over our heads and a bed for each of us ~
to gather together as a family and pray ~

As we observe the little things we realize they are not so little at all.

We take this time of year to reflect on the good lives we live and the blessings we all share,

and wish you a Merry Christmas

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace”

Isaiah 9:6

Family Festivities

I am one of those gooey, sappy, holiday enthusiasts. I love it. I love the lights. I love the music. I love the fact that my kids still count down the days with me.

Love Love Love

Holiday around the house...

tags made for tag exchange

my outdoor nativity (proud moment: buying a spotlight to light this up at night)

my nativity I bought the first year I was married

a cry for Santa's attention on our porch

a few pictures and nativity made by sweet grandma

Family moments

favorite cookies for dipping and munching (so good....trust me..but very hard to find)

collection of Santas abound

reminder to Believe

boys enjoying a quick snow fall

a tree light up, chirping, calling for Christmas to come

Let me explain: my parents had an electric ornament that chirped like a bird when you plugged it in. When lights went on, the bird began singing. I remember visitors perplexed , trying to find it in the tree. After growing up with the Christmas bird I have missed it in my own home. Although it could be annoying...it was part of Christmas. Last year I bought one, and we hooked it up. It was MUCH LOUDER than my parent's bird...but after figuring out how to open it and cover the speaker this year it is just right. It chirps whenever the lights are on. It makes me feel giddy all over again. I love my annoying bird.

My son performing with the choir. (the handsome guy looking at the camera above the mic)

Makes me cry every time.

I love that he sings unafraid, praises to Christ and songs from the Messiah

so excuse me for loving Christmas and feeling sorry for Hum Bugs.

I have reasons to rejoice...

don't we all?

And the season can start now.....

My brother reminded me that last night was the local sing along of The Messiah, by Handel.

I sang in our high school choir and chamber choir, and was directed by the notable "Mr. D". That man had a way of making us teenagers believe there was nothing more important in the world than a well sung song. Christmas was a blur performances and traveling and watching people dab their eyes as you sang your heart out for them. I loved every minute of it.

This video surfaced this year on You Tube, and the awe of this moment, of proclaiming something like this in public, still makes me cry after watching it at least a dozen times.

Mr D. always had a Christmas concert, and the last song was the Hallelujah Chorus. All the alumni who had sang in his classes before would come up from the audience to join the current choir, as students young and old packed the stage to sing this work by Handel. There was nothing like it.

(me-in the sunglasses- and my choir friends with Mr D. and his wife in Disneyland, where we went for our choir tour. 80's clothes and hair, just a bonus.)

Now when I sing it I can barely make it through the notes, which I still have proudly memorized, without a tear or two of my own.

Add to that equation a son, a teenager no less, who has suddenly picked up this love for singing, singing his part by my side, and excited about the song. We filled the chapel, and then some....shoulder to shoulder, hundreds of voices with the accompaniment of a full orchestra and none other than Mr. D. on the organ.


Moments like this seem almost surreal to me, the cycle that life is, the things that stick with us, the beauties of music and art. I felt truly blessed to experience this work (which Handel produced in it's entirety in a miraculous 24 days) and as we sat down at the end of the song (it is proper to always stand for this number) I leaned over and said to my brother, "Okay, now Christmas can come". He nodded, understanding me exactly.

On our way out of the church we noticed a new inch or two of snow covered the walks. The night was quiet, the feeling so sweet....my son grabbed the shovel at the door and started cleaning the walkway "in case the old ladies come out this way."

Then I returned home to a clean house, Christmas boxes stowed away again, candles burning, dishwasher running, and the tree sparkling and glowing.

And the Christmas spirit is here........

I'll Wake Up Early For You

Why does a gal that loves to SLEEP IN (especially on rainy fall days), and usually hits snooze a few times, and always needs just a few more minutes get up at 6:00 am with no hassles?

Because 15 years ago this happened

and that sweet little baby is still sweet, but not so little anymore ,

....and he wants french toast today before leaving for early morning seminary.

....and I love that, in spite of me being the annoying parent, he will occasionally make my day and stand still for a picture with me. I love that he has a grown up sense of humor and makes me laugh when I least expect it. I love that he is a big brother and go-to guy when I truly need it. I love that he has taken to singing and enjoys making music with voice and guitar. I love that he is 4.0smartasallgetout and I have no idea how to help him with his homework.

Happy Birthday, Connley. I love you.

where in the world have the past 15 years gone?

Blog number 2 wins today

I promise I will be back with yummy images and fall musings soon. I have been hoarding photos and obsessing over magazines a little too much lately. You shall benefit.

What else have I been doing?

Oh yeah...reading.

As the year comes to a close I am in a panic. I really wanted to read 40 books this year, and I am at 29 right now. It is a goal I made with myself, and last year I only read 24, so I am already ahead, but I thought I could do it much easier! (Boo to those weeks of laziness I 'took off' from reading this spring).

I have been involved in a little book club for the past 3 years or so, and it has been a great thing. Great discussions, great books, great friends. I love reading things other people pick, because it gets me out of my comfort zone.

Last month we started a blog......I mean, I started the blog, and it was time to catch up for our Saturday meeting. If you want to see what's up visit my other blog, which won my attention today on posting.

Otherwise, stay tuned. Fall is in the air- and holidays are on their way!

Fighting 40

Soooo..... the big day is here. I was wondering if it would feel weird, you know, old, to be turning 40. The only weird thing about it is I still feel so childish some days. Oh well.

This is how I turn 40

Get up and go running here

My favorite place to knock off 3 miles.

Order a little somethin-somethin from Hammering Redhead on ETSY

I picked my little ones initials for my own admiring. Her jewelry is the kind of stuff you see other people wear and feel jealous.. That will be ME when it arrives. (thanks Melanie for the nice correspondence, too!)

Break down and get the hair you have wanted all your life

Courtesy of REMY hair extensions.

I

LOVE

these things.

Get a thrill in Las Vegas seeing Phantom (amazing, amazing, amazing) and riding the Big Shot on the Stratosphere during my girls only weekend

Lest you think the ride is not scary, please look again. Pay attention to my horrified face.

I guess a picture is worth a thousand words (or laughs, in my case) after all.

(for the record, my pants stayed dry, so I am not as old as I sound)

And that is how I am fighting (or not so much fighting, but relishing) turning 40. Hope I am having this much fun 40 years from now, too.

Eat Cake

photo by Sweet Tooth Fairy

"Cakes have gotten a bad rap. People equate virtue with turning down dessert. There is always one person at the table who holds up her hand when I serve the cake. No really, I couldn't, she says, and then gives her flat stomach a conspiratorial little pat. Everyone else who is pressing a fork into the first tender layer looks at that person who declined the cake and they all think, That person is better than I am. That person has discipline. But that person isn't a person with discipline, that is a person who has completely lost touch with joy. A slice of cake never made anybody fat. You don't eat the whole cake. You don't eat cake everyday of your life.
You take the cake when it is offered because the cake is delicious. You have a slice of cake and what it reminds you of is someplace that's safe, uncomplicated, without stress. A cake is a party, a birthday, a wedding. A cake is what's served on the happiest day of your life."

Jeanne Ray "Eat Cake"

photo by The Chocolate

Thanks for the bakery stop on our little dinner date last night, honey. That slice of cake gave me the sugar sweats.

Worry not, the Diet Coke kept me focused. I finished the whole slice.

And thanks to authors like Jeanne Ray, who so eloquently express what my sugary obsessed brain can't seem to say, and makes loving the cake a matter of virtue.

Spooky Scary Windows

A few years ago I saw this idea in Country Home magazine (moment of silence in remembrance), and used it on my windows for Halloween. This year I am changing it up to make it a little more creepy.

You need to find black butcher paper. I got mine at a local party supply store. You will need enough for all your desired windows that you want to cover, but it can be pieced together as well.

With an exacto knife, cut out any shapes you like

You can trace it first with a white crayon, but I prefer to just free hand it. You can also look at a pumpkin carving book for ideas that won't punch out all the way. Then put it up in your window, covering the entire area with the paper.

This photo shows the effect during the day, as the light comes through.

And at night, a peek from outside, on my porch. Cutout door and dollar store Frankenstein with spooky streamers.

Now, I was able to snag some old creepy movie posters that finished off my scary windows. Video stores are not allowed to re-sell these, so if you know someone who works at a video store you may be able to sweet talk your way to a poster of your own.




Movie posters are designed to hang on a lightbox, so the image is reversed from the other side and light can filter through.

I covered two windows, one on the side and one on the front of my house this way.

The window at night, from outside



I love the creepy look on my old house, and have already had a few people comment on the spooky look.

What spooky look are you trying this year?!