PROJECTS

Well, I haven't posted in like..... a while.... and I'm using the excuse that I've been busy with PROJECTS! I get really excited about new sewing, crafting, cooking etc. projects; and then I start them....... I know I'm not the only one out there who quickly looses motivation after beginning a new endevour, but after Mike informed me he wouldn't allow me to start making a headboard until after my chair upholstering was finished, I got to thinking, I'm going to try a little harder to finish what I start, within an acceptable time table.... and.... I'm glad to say in the last month, I haven't done too bad! I think the excitement and pressure of the Christmas season has helped:) Here are a few of my latest! ( I think showing off a little adds some extra motivation.)

Here we have 2 books that I "created" through Shutterfly.com. It was quite time consuming; I think I might be.... dare I say.... a bit of a perfectionist, but when they arrived in the mail, it really was like my Christmas morning! They turned out AWESOME! and I can't wait for Jace and Olli to open them on their Christmas morn!

This is a pic of one of the 4 stockings I made this year for my little family. I searched for some to buy and couldn't find anything I had to have.... so, I decided to WHIP SOME UP! and by whip, I mean spending way more time than anticipated bent over strips of fabric unpicking and stiching, over and over. But I love em!

These are 2 "Ugly Dolls" I created for some of Jace and Olive's best buddies. Evan gets the green monkey, Kade, the blue bat!! They're the CuTeSt UgLy Dolls!

So this here my friends, is one of those unfinished projects I was talking about earlier...... ya know the chair.... My dear friend has been helping me with it, but with this crazy time of year, we came to a bit of a stand still.... and quite frankly, for the last few weeks, I've been too scared to venture forward on my own.... BUT, I have decided that I'm going to just go for it, and see what happens..... Don't worry, I'll have Mari on speed dial in case of emergencies. I really am excited about this little chair. It is going to be fabulous, I know it! Hopefully I'll be posting real soon with a picture of a completed red houndstoothed chair!! Wish me luck! And good luck to all you fellow Project seekers!!

and a Merry Christmas!

XOXO

Nothing like a good flick.

Okay, so while Mike's away, I tend to watch alot of flicks.... especially a good romance flick. I was lying in bed the other night watching Always, and thought to myself, "I just love a good romance, and I need some more movie ideas...." To me, there's almost nothing better than a good romance film. I just LOVE EM! and to me a romance film isn't just about the kissing and passion and.... whatnot ;) it's about the feeling it gives you. That delicious feeling. The last little while, since Mike's been away I've watched some goodies.... Australia, Sabrina, Always, Pride and Prejudice. It's been fun. So..... anyway.... I want you to give me some suggestions! Your top favorite Romance Films of all time!!! Here's mine, in no particular order:

1: Sabrina (the original, with Audrey and Humphrey)

2: Pride and Prejudice (I love all the versions, but I can't lie, I like the Keira Version, it's got alot of Hollywood added to it and it's kinda over the top, which I love:)

3:Dan in Real Life (So good!)

4: Roman Holiday (Not only one of the best Romantic Films, but I dare say my favorite Film ever!)

5: It's a Wonderful Life

6: Out of Africa

7: Life is Beautiful

8: ............ The list goes on............

Beautiful Utah

I love Utah!!! I have to say, haven't been everywhere, and haven't seen everything, but I think us Utahns have got it pretty good. I love that we can just hop in the car on a whim and head up to Payson Lakes for the day, or plan a weekend trip out to Strawberry with friends! There really aer so many uniquely beautiful places in this state and I LOVE IT! Here's some snapshots of the last few months, enjoying time in the Great Outdoors!

At Payson Lakes, Sequoia and I sharing a moment!

Olive picking flowers along the trail at Payson Lakes.


Jace and Olive at the beach in Eden, up Ogden Canyon. One of Utah's most beautiful hidden treasures:)


Curtis and I at the top of a HUGE cliff in Snow Canyon, St. George Utah. We pretty much hiked straight up the face of this thing. Scary, but so awesome once we reached the top!


The pictures does it no justice.

Mike and I:) Love him.

Cyd, Booter, Jace and Casey in Goblin Valley.

Mike, Olive and I were down below, I looked up and saw em all walking 4 in a row and had to get a pic. Love it. Such a fun trip.

Lee, Olive and I on Payson Lake. We were scaredy-cats, didn't last too long.

Probably one of my fav. pictures ever. Olive Sr. and Olive Jr.

What do I even need to say? Jace being Jace:) Having fun on the shores of Strawberry.

Dad and Oli checkin out a Crawdad. See was quite enthralled. Yuck.

That's that. I love it here, I never want to leave, I never want to take it for granted, I want to be thankful everyday for this place.

Summer time.... When the living is easy.

What a great summer so far!!! Camping trip to Goblin, getaway to St. George, Spiritual rejuvination at Girl's Camp, fun memories made at Family Reunion, warm evenings spent weeding in the gardens (which, yes, I do happen to find enjoyable), motorcycle rides up Hobble Creek Canyon, boating with friends on the lake, and today.... off to Park City, my FAV, for a night with some awesome girls:) And it's only JULY!!!

Okay, so onto the inbetween.

I've been feeling a bit sorry for myself lately.... because, even with all these amazing experiences, life is hard. Olive's continuing to prove that everyday presents new challenges,

Mike may have to go work out of town again, I don't have enough money to buy new carpet, which is a serious issue for me.... and for the most difficult new challenge, we found out last week that Jace has Type 1 Diabetes. It was a tough few days, spent up at Primary Childrens, getting everything under control. But Jace is amazing. He's such a good boy, and is such a trooper. I love that kid so much. It's going to be a hard road ahead, and I have been feeling sorry for myself... which is embarassing to say. He's the one who really has to deal with this, and will continue to deal with this for the rest of his life.

So, I needed to write this post, more for myself, to recognize how lucky I am; how full of good and how beautiful my life is, and honestly, how good life is for most of us.... When I see people around me go through crap, It hurts. But then I remember, we all go through crap, and we all come out of it, eventually. So I need to remember, we'll all get through it, and if we can focus on how blessed we are and the good times, it might make the crap a bit more pleasant:)

"Monroe Dusk"

I purchased my first piece of artwork today:) and I feel pretty good about it too. I have a friend whom I work with at Magleby's named Lesa, and we got to talking one day about how she's an artist and my dad's [literally the most talented] picture framer out there, (Allmanpictureframe.com) and she showed me some of her stuff. I was very impressed and thought to myself "it would be fun to start my very own fine art collection......". But of course this costs money.... lots, so I forgot about it... Until a few days ago, while I was on Facebook and she had some paintings posted which just happened to be on SALE!! Killer sale!!! I started scanning through the different pieces, and just totally fell in love with this particular one. She brought it over, and I fell even more in love when I saw it in person. I really don't know what it is about this painting that made my soul happy, but I don't need to know. I don't question it, I just buy it, hang it, and enjoy it, every day for the rest of my life!! YIPEE!!!

It begins.

Hello to you, new world!

I have often thought about taking the, what seems to be, giant leap, into the "blogger life"; to join all you wonderfully expressive and inspiring people out there who have impacted me with your words. I'm not sure why I finally decided to do it..... to actually take the time to walk in the office, sit down at the computer, sign up for an account, create a title and start typing away.... but here I am, and I feel good. I feel refreshed. I feel that is my first step on a new journey that I'm excited about. I'm excited to share my feelings with you, whoever you are, maybe you're no-one, and that would be okay. I have been thinking so much about the future lately, especially the future of my beautiful, energetic, exhausting, intelligent, spunky, chunky, little Olive, and what I want and wish for her. I want and wish for her to know about this time in her life, this time in her family's life. To know what thoughts go through my mind on a daily basis, the struggles and joys Mike and I face as a partnership and family, what she teaches me from moment to moment, and the miracle's (big and small) the lord SO often pours upon us. I want and wish this for her and for her children.

Despite everything that tends to make me often feel otherwise, right now I feel blessed, I feel happy, I feel thankful. For many things.

I'm excited to begin! I guess this is going to be all for now. From what I'm hearing coming from the N.W. corner of our humble abode, Olive's nap was short lived... and I must attend to my little lollie-pop!