the artist's daughter

Sailing

2011-09-21T16:07:00.000-07:00

We know the coolest people. I love people that do cool stuff. I love them even more when they invite us along. The boy works with this guy that has a sailboat. He and his fabulous wife invited us to go sailing and watch the sunset.

It was really really really cool. We loved it and were sad when we went in.

The sunset did not disappoint. I have not touched these at all in ps. They are straight off my camera.

Giles

2011-07-15T22:15:00.000-07:00

I found the coolest ever place to take pictures!! This family makes me a better person. They're amazing.

World Peace

2011-03-27T21:24:00.000-07:00

There are a few places in my life where I feel at total peace with the world.

I love this place so much!!

#2 Before and After

2010-10-30T19:52:00.000-07:00

Before:

Boy built us a shed. Yay, now we can organize the garage!

After:

I painted it my favorite new color that I'm plastering down on anything I can get away with.

my latest vice

2010-10-23T20:40:00.000-07:00

Oh my. I have a tendency to stick with things over and over. I love watching the same movies, reading the same books, eating the same foods, etc. over and over and over. This is the latest, and it's not going anywhere any time soon.

#1 Before and After

2010-10-23T20:17:00.001-07:00

I've got quite a few projects in my little head, so I'm going to document them, before and after. My house was seriously 1 box of magazines away from going on Hoarders! So my sister intervened on my behalf and helped me organize my house, and save the public embarrassment. She rocks and is soooo amazing at organizing and such. Anyhow, she gave me lots of ideas of new ways to use what I already have, I just need to get it done now. So, here is my first before picture. I had all of these frames in my hall, and I never really liked them. I didn't like how I put them up, or the style of some of the frames, so, after like a year (because it takes me a while to decide on anything!!) I just started taking them down, and putting them other places, then my wall seriously looked like this for months!!! Pathetic!

So, the assignment I got was "get all of these frames, paint them black, get pictures in them, and get them back on the wall." It took another two months, because I knew I didn't want them black, but I didn't know what I wanted. Anyway, I finally figured it out, got them painted and got them on the wall. I need one more thing on the end, I think I found it, but as with all things, I need to think about if for a while. I like it!

my girls

2010-10-14T21:54:00.000-07:00

I want to start taking more pictures. I started today, then I ordered a bagillion prints, spray painted 10 frames turquoise, and re-vamped my hall. Then I went to a really fabulous art show, and bought me a painting that I love a lot, and next week I'm going to tile my bathrooms, if I can figure out how. I'm going to have a new house-- ish.

Pretty L

2010-06-03T20:41:00.001-07:00

This cute tiny was not tired, and did NOT want to be folded in half. She is so cute, and I love how she totally already has a little personality.

Love this kid!!

2010-05-02T21:19:00.001-07:00

The Women

2010-04-24T22:25:00.000-07:00

I want to hang out with them a lot more often!!!

Weekend Out

2010-04-24T21:50:00.000-07:00

Just spent the best day with five fantastic!!!!! women. Great hikes, fabulous food, good times!

Nat

2010-03-21T20:07:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted on this blog forever! I got to photograph my friend's new baby. I love new babies, and I LOVE this little girl. I am going to start posting more pictures. I want to photograph more, edit more, and learn more about this art that I so love.

sweet success

2009-11-20T19:08:00.001-08:00

I saw them, I loved them. They didn't have my size, they didn't have seal brown. They had seal brown, they didn't have my size. They had my size!!!! in black. I obsessed, I obsessed, I obsessed. I am so gooooood at obsessing! ......It only took two hours of my life, but eventually I conquered! They will arrive in 3-5 working days. A 6.5 in seal brown.

Tons of money raised!!!

2009-11-19T16:04:00.000-08:00

So, on Friday, over &10,000 got raised. That's awesome huh?

What to Buy for Christmas?

2009-11-13T14:56:00.000-08:00

I love people that think outside of themselves. I LOVE this blog. I don't know these people, but I want to be more like them. Anyhow, I came across this today on her blog, and I was really impressed with what I read about this awesome charity.

Every year 4500 women will bury their children because of unclean drinking water.

Lack of clean water is the leading cause of death in undeveloped countries.

It doesn't need to be that way. With a tax deductible donation (100% of which will go to providing clean drinking water to villages in developing countries) many more people will be able to kiss on their babies for many more years to come.

Join us in giving life to those who need it so badly.

new girly pictures

2009-10-14T21:48:00.000-07:00

My niece showed this awesome place by her house. I fell in love with it and took the girls over for a little photo shoot, in freezing weather and on/off rain. Awesome. They totally loved it. They only look a little bit frozen. These were some of my favorites.

Thanks Angie and Lynette for helping me do these. You're fabulous!

Caramel Apples

2009-10-13T12:16:00.001-07:00

My sister showed me how to make these and I must say it is my new favorite thing.

While the Boy is away

2009-10-04T20:23:00.000-07:00

My boy had to go out of town for a couple of days and we decided to make some stuff!! It's always easier to totally trash the house with our artistic senses when we don't have a boy around wanting to do "boy" stuff. So, the girls made fabulous collages. Really really really cool ones. I realize now that I didn't get proper photos of their finished work. I'll get right on that.

I finished my family rules canvas, that I love all too much. Click here for the instructions that I used. The changes I made were minimal. Obviously, I didn't write my instructions by hand, I cut them out with the Cricut, and my canvas is 24 x 36. These are the rules I used:
-be kind
-tell the truth
-serve others
-encourage your sisters, share in their joy
-choose to be happy
-be creative all the time
-be grateful
-mind your manners, yes please, no thank you
-pray often
-be thankful for your family
-Never, ever settle for less than your best.
We had an oh-so-fun night, and this is my new favorite thing!

My top 5

2009-09-29T20:37:00.000-07:00

Here are the top 5 things that are making my day lately:
1. Hip Hop Class.
I'm taking this hip hop class with a couple of girlfriends, and I LOVE IT. The teacher is so fabulous, and she's an amazing dancer. I covet her abilities. I look like an idiot, but I'm going to keep at it and let the little gangsta in me go.

2. This Guy.
Ok, technically not a guy, gut wow do I ever love it! I have all the stuff to make it and I can't wait to get started. weekend weekend weekend weekend

3. These Crazies
I am so enjoying my role in life right now. I absolutely adore my little family, and could snack down those girls one at a time.

4. Those crazies
I have the cutest preschoolers this year. Oh my, I didn't think they could have gotten better than last year, but by George they might. I love this job.

5. This to look forward to in December
can't wait can't wait can't wait!!!

The Porch

2009-09-25T21:21:00.000-07:00

I have spent hundreds of hours over the last 7 years of my life on the porch with friends that I love as much as family. Our children have grown up, with their mothers on the porch, playing with friends they were born with, that they love like siblings. I have laughed, and cried, been counseled, and given advice, eaten, learned, and mostly I have loved my time spent on the porch. I didn't notice until recently that every time I walk by certain windows in my house, my head pops over to see if the ladies are out, if it's time to gather on the porch until the boys come home and want dinner. The lights were always on there, it was the most comfortable, welcome, happy place that I have ever known. The porch sits empty now. I have cried my eyes out, but they didn't bring back the comfy white wicker furniture that was supposed to sit on the porch forever. I still have my friends that I love like sisters, but we no longer have a porch to sit on, and it's different. I'm so sad.

my favorite!!

2009-07-26T22:45:00.000-07:00

I happened across this blog tonight and I'm totally undone! I'm going to make every single thing on her blog . . . TWICE!!! I love everything about this woman.

Mom ADD

2009-07-08T11:01:00.000-07:00

I have mom ADD. I don't really know what to do about it. I feel like I am in chaos most of the time. I quite like the insanity, really, I thrive in it. I'm kind of sick of it though. My house in particular suffers. The girls and I go from thing to thing to thing. We have a great time, but at the end of the day, WOW!!! My house looks about like this most days.

please note, this is not my house. I do have some pride although not much.

The feeling that I'm going for is more of this look:

So the plan is I'm going to sell everything I own, and with the tiny bit of money I make I'll buy the essentials, and I'll finally live in a CLEAN ORGANIZED HOUSE!!!!!!

my family

2009-07-02T13:31:00.000-07:00

For the first time in years, all of my siblings were together. I was in my glory! I didn't change my name when I married. I love my husband's family, but I came from these people, and I love them dearly. I will always be one of them in every way. It was such a great weekend together, hopefully it won't be so long before we're together again.

new photos of the girls

2009-07-02T13:26:00.000-07:00

The girls and I tagged along with my niece for her bridal sitting. Her photographer was all sorts of amazing and took her to the coolest locations. So, I took advantage and got new photos of the girlies. It was a fun and oh so exhausting.

cupcakes galore

2009-06-16T20:50:00.000-07:00

I have an event coming up and I am to make a lot of beautiful cupcakes. I have been practicing doing this piped frosting, and I think I've got the hang of it. I took a plateful to my family tonight to have them try them out. My dad instantly told me that I could not use margarine instead of butter for the frosting (seriously, I can't taste the difference), and my sister said x-nay on the sprinkles. I quite like the sprinkles. Any-who, I think they are adorable. I'll post the next trial run, they're chocolate.

black bean salad

2009-06-15T19:57:00.000-07:00

I am on a quest to find amazing salads for summer. I found this salad on soulemama and oh my it is so tasty!!!! This is my version of it based on what I had on hand. Not only is this super yum, it is oh-so-healthy. So here it is:

for the dressing, mix together: 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (juice of 1 lime) 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar 1 tablespoon sugar, 1/2 small jalapeño, seeded and chopped, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 small garlic clove minced,  1/2 teaspoon mustard, 1/4 cup oil

2 -3 big handfuls spinach (or other salad greens), well washed and dried 3 cups cooked black beans 1/4 cup shredded cheese, 1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted.

dress just before serving and top with grilled chicken.

Serves 4 - 6.

I think the next time I make this, I'll slice a fuji apple or two into it and maybe add green onions.

new bed

2009-06-14T09:01:00.000-07:00

I decided I was ready for new bedding. With help and advice from a couple of sisters, I stayed up all night before my boy got home from his forever long trip in Asia, and made us a new bed. I found a quilt that I liked, and made the headboard, bed skirt, and pillows to match. It sort of looks like a Las Vegas hotel room, but I love it for now. Here is the before:
and after:

Mmmmmmmmm SOY!

2009-04-28T18:13:00.000-07:00

So weirdest thing, but all of my summer clothes have shrunk!! Bizarre I know, so I've been thinking that a steady diet of Cheerios with cream isn't all that healthy, so while I was out yesterday, I picked me up some soy! I like the soy what-not that I've tried, and this is chocolate flavor, so seriously, can I go wrong? Why yes actually, I can. This stuff is SO AWFUL!!!! I couldn't really get it down. So, I'm here to save you the pain of buying this "delicious and nutritious meal replacement", DON'T DO IT!!! I'm going to stick with Cheerios, just X the cream, and I'm golden.

My Boy's birthday!

2009-01-30T21:17:00.000-08:00

My poor boy had to go to school on his birthday. By coincidence, spouses were invited on that day as well to discuss the book Man's Search for Meaning. It was also (my worst nightmare) a pot luck dinner. So there, among the beans and weenies, pasta salad, cookies, broccoli casserole, and enchiladas were my oh-so-cute mini cupcakes. They were so fun to make, and seriously adorable.

this week's project

2009-01-30T20:45:00.001-08:00

this is a dresser I purchased at a yard sale a couple of years ago for $10. It is heavy, and fairly decent construction i think. I had it in my daughter's room until a few weeks ago, I got her a new one. It used to be white, with 3 white knobs, the rest had fallen off. Now it's this fabulous turquoise color with brushed silver knobs, and houses my clothes. My boy and I have been sharing a small 4 drawer chest for way too long, now I have 6 all to myself. yahoo.

This lovely piece is just one of a pair. That's right I have two of these 100 lb. beauties. They came from my neighbors trash, and originally from her in-laws who purchased and no doubt loved them in the 70's. Each handle is a whopping 9 lb.'s of solid brass, they are currently on Craig's list, and up for grabs. I'll bet if you rubbed them down a genie would appear, but that my friend you must find out for yourself.
so, I painted the massive guys this great limey green color, and added matching silver knobs. I still see the nastiness of the original peeking through, but I have to say that I quite like it. The second one is painted on the other side of my bed. So there you go

3 Pieces of fairly decent furniture, $10

Knobs, $20

Paint, $14

Two shades of green furniture, and a third shade in the carpet . . .

Priceless!

Happy

2009-01-03T21:11:00.000-08:00

I've just had buttered toast and hot chocolate for dinner. Is there really anything better? I am reading a book that I love, my house is clean, and I am so excited about this new computer and accompanying software. I love it. I took pictures of my girls this morning, along with some of their very favorite friends. I know the images are processed right to death, but I love them. I love working in this medium. I haven't done photography as art for a while. I've been so wrapped up in lots of other things. I am so happy to be getting back into it. Creating anything is really important to the well-being of my soul, and now I have so much learning ahead of me, I can hardly contain my excitement.

spoiled rotten

2009-01-01T21:00:00.000-08:00

Once again my boy has spoiled me silly for Christmas. He got me this AWESOME MacBook, and everything Adobe makes to edit photos. I am so excited I can't stand it. So here is the first image I have edited. I think it is so fun. I have always sort of been against computer editing as I am very loyal to the art, and to light, and film, but man, this is all sorts of fun. Thank you boy so much, I love it! I love you!

How to Make Books

2008-12-07T20:59:00.000-08:00

I ordered this brilliant book last week and I received it over the weekend. I highly recommend it! It is a lovely book in and of itself; and the writing, illustrations, and instructions are clever and fabulous. I've been making books since college, but none like this. I am going to make everything in this book quite a few times I believe. I love it love it love it!
I just made this darling little Christmas book in about 5 minutes. True love is a hand made book.

E is for . . .

2008-11-30T19:35:00.001-08:00

Whoever you are who put this wonderful vowel on my porch, name yourself immediately so that I can kiss you on the LIPS!!! How cool are you!? Thank you so much, we totally love, it! So, now, E is for my first name, my husbands last name, and . . . . . . Edward! he he he

Give Thanks . . . For Edward

2008-11-30T19:20:00.000-08:00

It's just a little bit embarrassing, this fascination that I have with Vampire stories. I really get a little bit sheepish about the sheer number of times I've read the books. None-the-less, here I am shamelessly posting on the world wide web about the funnest evening I've spent in a while. This amazingly over-ambitious chick in my neighborhood put together the BEST movie experience ever. She bought out a theater for a midnight showing of Twilight on the release date. She then proceeded to make a map of the theater, assign seats (so that everyone could conveniently show up 5 minutes before show time and not have to worry about sitting on the front row), number each row, seat, and ticket by HAND, and not stop there. She had treats in every seat, and super fun give-aways, and seriously, the whole night was just a blast! Ang, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! It was so fun. Before midnight, we went to a Twilight tailgate party, where we got to be photographed with none other than Mr. Edward himself, and eat yummy yummy treats. It was so much fun to be surrounded by my favorite people, and just play like a teenager again. Thank you again to everyone who made it such a super fun night.

Tag 2

2008-11-17T15:48:00.000-08:00

My first nameMy Middle NameMy Last NameMy AgeMy Favorite Food

My Favorite Thing That I Own
I Suppose I Don't Actually OWN My Girls, So Let's Try ThisMy Favorite ColorMy Favorite AnimalMy Favorite StoreMy Best FriendCelebrity CrushMy First Job
Bad Habit
My College DegreeAndWhere I've Been RecentlyWhere I'm Hoping To Go SoonWhere I Was BornWhat I'm Doing Right NowTag; Lynette, Megan, Cori, Debra

Little Baby L

2008-11-11T18:09:00.000-08:00

Such a cute little baby. I love this family.

Faerie

2008-11-01T15:31:00.000-07:00

I got to tend this darling little girl for an hour, and I full blown stole her away to my parents back yard to take these pictures. She is so cute is she not? I could just snack her down!

Peacock

2008-10-31T13:53:00.000-07:00

I am so excited for how this costume turned out. I think it is so stinking cute!! I made the whole thing for under $20. This is the costume I was copying, but of course I had to add pink, sparkles, and a few more accessories.

mini carmel apples

2008-10-29T11:32:00.000-07:00

Aren't these the cutest ever?? My friend found this cutest idea (link here) and brought over a plate of them. They were so good!!!! and she said they were pretty easy to make. I love good ideas!

silhouette

2008-10-17T09:48:00.001-07:00

I love this silhouette of my cute little pie.

fall photos

2008-10-17T09:40:00.000-07:00

I was taking my kids fall photos, and met up with my good friend with her little girls. Aren't they so cute?! I love the train tracks, I love the fall clothes, and I love the polka dots. fabulous.

My dog and the Pink Bike

2008-10-15T20:30:00.000-07:00

So, I put Ruby in the basket of my bike and rode to my moms. It was so fun! I love the bike, I love the basket, my dog is so cute, life is good. I then came home and proceeded to give my dog a not-so-cute hair cut. My ambitions of having a show dog are waning. The Studio on the other hand is fabulous.

mmm.

2008-10-11T20:08:00.000-07:00

I am full blown plagiarizing this whole post. It is sooooooooo cheesy, seriously, it's too much. I LOVE it though!!! Angie F this is for you since all of my other friends are questioning my mental stability for being so obsessed with these books. And now I have reason to believe that you may be even more than me. And because I listened to this song on your blog about a bazillion times.

victoria robbins bags

2008-10-10T13:03:00.000-07:00

I just bought the best bags!! I got them here.
I got one for my daughter to use as a dance bag, and one for my friend's birthday, and I'm going to get one for myself as well. They are super cute, and so affordable, and they hold so much stuff. I could pack for a weekend in one. I can't figure out how to put a picture online, but I'll figure it out. Anyway, Christmas is coming, and these are fabulous bags at a great price.

I can breath again!

2008-10-04T17:58:00.000-07:00

I am so happy to say that for the first time since our remodel started in February of this year, my house is clean!!!! I could cry. For the past 8 months, I feel like I've been living in total chaos, and now, every room is clean. I completely filled my trash can from empty, to so full, the lid won't properly close. I love it! I know it won't last, but I have pre-warned my family "mom is now a NEAT FREAK, and I will go ballistic on you if you don't tidy up after yourselves!!" They weren't nervous at all. At least for tonight though, it's so clean, and I am so happy.

The Girl with the Pink . . . Bike!! Yippeee

2008-09-29T20:01:00.001-07:00

My cute and diligent boy got me the ring. Unfortunately, it doesn't really look like the online picture. It looks more like something that came out of oriental trading company. So, I got this instead!! Isn't it cute??

I ordered it online, I should have it by the end of the week and I'm so super excited. Of course I got the white accessory basket to hook to the front. I think I'm going to start doing my grocery shopping on my bike, with Ruby in the basket, and maybe a bonnet on, or a frilly dress, or something. Thank you boy!

The Girl with the Pearl... Ring

2008-09-08T08:39:00.000-07:00

I saw this ring on a blog that i love, and man, isn't it beautiful? Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a jewelry girl, at all, but this ring is so simple, and so pretty, i just love it. And, it's so affordable. I think my husband should look into this ring in a 6.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

2008-07-14T21:03:00.000-07:00

I'm not complaining at all, but my life is so super busy right now. My boy is out of town, over the weekend we had lots of family in town, and 13 of the nieces and nephews had a sleep-over at my house. I'm still neck deep finishing the basement, and man I'M TIRED!!! So I'm a primary teacher at church, and Sunday during sharing time, I conked right out!! On the front row no less. I was seriously out cold. The primary president that was giving the lesson is also my VT partner, and I don't think she's too impressed with me anyway. So there I am snoozing away for who knows how long, and my cell phone starts ringing! I bring it as a clock, because seriously no one is going to call during church! Well, my boy actually would call me from France, during church! So, I woke with a start, fell out of my chair trying to figure out where my phone was, where I was, and on and on. It was humiliating, just humiliating.

Sweet Sweet Baby

2008-07-03T11:08:00.000-07:00

Survivor

2008-06-18T13:59:00.000-07:00

I have debated over posting these photos, because I'm such a BABE in them, but there you go. It was yard day, and I honestly did not think I would be photographed, so I didn't bother taking my hair out of ponies. So, I'm a huge Survivor fan, and the winner from Survivor China just happens to live here in my thriving metropolis. So, he invited four of the other survivors from Survivor China, to come to our city for "Corporate Survivor". All of these people in my city signed up, got put on tribes, and had competitions, and in the end someone was crowned soul survivor. So, being the huge nerd that I am, I went to the first challenge. I was totally thinking I'd have to park a mile away, hike in, show up an hour early and on and on. Not so, it turns out that I'm one of the only survivor fans here, because when I got there, no one else was there. The 5 Survivors were sitting there, by themselves, no one bugging them, nothing. I was so star struck, all I could do was stare. This is seriously killing what little bit of pride I have to admit this, but I was dying. I didn't dare go talk to them, and my girls wouldn't go with me even though I begged, bribed, anything. So, after a lot of staring, (and I'm sure they were creeped out because I was just staring with my massive, goofy grin), we went home. Well, my fabulous neighbor offered to go play paparazzi for me if we went back, and she would talk to them with me. So, we went back, and got to talk to my personal favorite of them all, Courtney, for like 10 minutes. It was so fun to ask all of my "I've always wondered" questions. It was such a fun experience, and as you can tell by my gargantuan cheeser, I was a little bit more than just a bit excited. I loved it.

mom and baby

2008-06-11T20:51:00.000-07:00

There is nothing more beautiful than a woman with her baby. My good friend let me take these photos of her, and her little. It was a wind fest, but so worth it. They're fabulous.

canyon

2008-06-09T21:02:00.001-07:00

3 weeks to go

2008-06-05T10:33:00.000-07:00

I got to take my cute friend's maternity pictures. She is so beautiful, and seriously no one should look that cute 9 months pregnant! These are the first photos I've taken with my camera that are for someone else, and I was a bit nervous about it. But, when all is said and done, I love my camera.

Swan Lake, Chinese Style

2008-05-20T08:15:00.000-07:00

Watch this all of the way through if you can. It's rather long, but OH MY HEAVENS!!!! It is amazing!!!

my favorite things

2008-05-13T16:46:00.000-07:00

I love making things. I would rather make anything than buy it, just to learn how to do it. Here are my favorite things that I've been making as of late.

These two bags, Bird Crowned with Glory, and the Cupcake bag, I made for a church auction. I have made hundreds of bags over the past few years, but I must say that these are two of my favorites

At a church function around Christmas time, a fabulous woman in my ward was wearing this super-girly apron, and I fell in love with it. She let me bring it home, where I made a pattern, and whipped up a ton of them. You can see the originals at funktionhome.com, they're spectacular.

The first time I saw these hair flowers on a child, I laughed my head off. Now, I don't think they could be cuter, and they are so easy to make. We pretty much have one in every color for every occasion. My good friend has a thriving business selling these in Denver, and they go like hot-cakes. I can't get enough of them.

Last, but not least, I have a fetish with yummy drinks. So, here is the recipe for my personal favorite summer time slush.
in a blender, combine:
2 cups of ice
1 cup of milk
1/2 cup of hot chocolate mix ( the kind you mix with hot water)
1T Pero (or some other version of Mormon "coffee")
blend it all up until it's thick and slushy.

MMMMMmmmmmmmmm!!!!!

mid-life crisis

2008-04-11T20:25:00.000-07:00

I was talking to a friend of mine the other day about the fact that we were both probably not going to have any more children. She mentioned something about being in a mid-life crisis. I never thought that would happen to me, but as she said those words, I realized, that's exactly what's happening to me. I am in this weird phase of my life. I never wanted to be here, I don't want to be here now, yet I am. My kids keep getting older, and fight as I will, they are all going to be in school darn soon! I have spent some amount of time worrying about this since my oldest was born, and now, it's come much sooner than I would have had it. I am so excited about new prospects, but I'm terrified of the unknown. I have loved having tiny kids around me so very much, that I don't believe I can be happy without it. I always thought that I would have a whole bunch of kids, and that by the time the youngest were in school, I would be ready to move on and do my own thing. But when that didn't happen, I am now entering into this all too quickly. I do love that I'm getting tossed out of my comfort zone, because I know I will grow so much. I feel like I felt when I got on a plane to Paraguay to serve a mission for my church. I've never been so afraid, however, that certainly was, by far and large the coolest thing I've ever done in my life (next to marriage and kids of course.) So, this next phase of life too, will be huge, and wonderful I guess, if I can get my emotions together enough to handle it.

silhouettes

2008-03-26T12:37:00.000-07:00

We went to this cave sort of thing, and when the girls were going out of it, I caught these great silhouettes. These were two of the best.

Easter in Moab

2008-03-26T12:16:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun taking pictures this weekend. The light was amazing and the color bouncing off of the red rocks and red sand did such fun things to skin tones. The part that I loved the most, was the sheer enormity of the cliffs and rocks, and my tiny pink things at the bottom. We are so small in this big world, and sometimes, I catch myself feeling bigger than I am. It was nice to be humbled by nature, and remember my place in it.

Ice Cream with Satan

2008-03-18T07:56:00.000-07:00

We had the best Sunday School lesson last week. We are reading the hard Isaiah chapters in 2 Nephi. Our teacher took us to 2Nephi 24:16 (Also found in Isaiah 14) where it talks about what it's going to be like for Satan when he is once and for all cast down, never to be able to tempt us again. I love the imagery that Isaiah uses, that everyone will be looking at him "narrowly" and thinking -- is that all you are? You little pathetic little thing, you caused all that havoc on earth, and now here you are as "a carcass trodden under feet." So last night, as we were putting the girls to bed, we were talking about it, and saying that we really have the power to choose the direction our lives take. I told them that Satan will lie to them and tell them that some things will make them happy, or be fun. My tiniest jumped in with this big bold voice and said "Yeah, like Satan will say 'come to my house and have ice-cream!' so we'll go, and . . . . . . no ice-cream! He lied!!" We totally laughed so hard. I hope they always remember that with Satan, no ice-cream party there.

life list

2008-03-10T21:02:00.000-07:00

I've decided to keep a list of things that I hope to accomplish in my life. I know my list will change regularly, but I stand more of a chance of actually accomplishing something, if it's written down, and acknowledged from time to time. I'm full blown stealing this from a really great blog I happened across tonight. I love creative people, I want to be a creative person. So far, I'm really good at copying ideas, and I can do it well. Someday, I want someone to copy one of my original ideas. So here goes, before I die, I would love to:

-travel to Manchu Picchu
-own a really great apartment in Europe
-really know the Bible
-publish a book ( I don't know about what though)
-learn another language
-serve another mission for my church
-understand the stock market
-have a piece in the April Salon
-earn enough money to surprise my boy with something really cool (that he doesn't buy with his bonus before I can actually give him the one that I bought)
-totally understand how to use a computer

spring fever

2008-03-03T21:02:00.000-08:00

I came across this quote:

It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! ~Mark Twain

Isn't it so the truth? I suddenly want beautiful ribbons, cute new skirts, tablecloths, and dishes with birds and flowers on them, and I want my windows open around the clock, and I want to buy 3 pair of tiny pink flip flops that will be some greyish color in about 6 months. I really want curtains that will blow in the breeze, and a fresh coat of paint on everything. I want cute pink and white pillows on some great mis-matched white-washed furniture (that I totally don't have) on my front porch. I so love spring!

Pastries

2008-02-23T19:31:00.000-08:00

My dad is a pastry guru. He makes the most amazing pastries ever, and on New Years Eve, it's a regular French pastry shop in my parents kitchen. I took my camera along to document the art of it all.

new backdrops

2008-02-21T20:03:00.000-08:00

I got these great new backdrops that I have been wanting for a while. I was super excited to put them to use, so unbathed, undone, and looking their most rug-rattish ever, I stuck the girls in front of them, and took a bunch of photos. These are my favorites.