poppy.in.love

i really bad need...

2010-05-13T22:10:00.000-07:00

the following:

the end.

no turning back

2010-02-25T21:59:00.001-08:00

i just had to re-post this. i found it on jessica gonacha's blog. i was completely amazed. then, i showed it to burke, and he was completely amazed. then, we watched it again. i LOVE the illustration. celeste potter is a new favorite, for sure. the song is "no turning back" by sarah blasko, and she pretty much rocks. such a cool sound.

hope you enjoi!

poppy.love = turquoise

2010-01-29T11:37:00.000-08:00

to me,

turquoise is...

retro,

western,

calming,

organic,

youthful,

and makes me think of...

the 60's,

the beach,

babies,

polka dots,

birds,

my grandma opal's jewelry,

and my kitchen.

i just found this article on the pantone website announcing that

the color of 2010 is TURQUOISE!!!

how beautiful is that?

says pantone:

"Turquoise evokes thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a languorous, effective escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of wellbeing,"

i would add that it's beautifully retro.

i love their pick,

especially since my entire kitchen is turquoise.

it makes me quite happy.

also, doesn't it remind you a bit of this lady???

she snagged turquoise a while ago, and made it her own.

we call it, "martha blue."

i kind of own a good handful of the kitchen stuff pictured below.

so, yes, the bulk of my "turquoise" kitchen is, actually, "martha blue."

i'm fine with that.

but, i am always on the search for other cute turquoise items to find their home in my kitchen.

a shelf from my kitchen.

(if this room were pristine and photo-worthy at the moment, i would have

shown you around a bit more.but, it's not, so i won't)!

some turquoise goodness i've had my eye on...

(l-r: eight hour day, modcloth, urban outfitters, anthropologie, mimi boden, renegade homemade, forever 21,

urban outfitters, two little owls, mimi boden, these creatures & etsy).

doesn't all of that make you so...ahhhhh? (insert sigh of blissful relaxation).

here's a little painting i started last semester.

as paintings go, it's not quite finished.

aspen trees with their roots growing together...

growing new trees...

there's a heart between them with their roots...

and birds flying up to the trees,

to complete the theme of unity.

i'm still reworking all of the other colors,

except the TURQUOISE!!!

i love the turquoise.

it's seriously always the first color i mix and to hit my canvas.

conclusion...poppy.love.turquoise.

love=bee.things, but mainly...charley harper

2010-01-26T22:58:00.000-08:00

i am in love with bee.things!

find them here at their etsy storefront.

aren't these images so cute?

i love their simple lines and patterns.

mmmm, i just love finding stuff like this.

it totally inspires me.

a lot of their work is reminiscent of charley harper.

one of my most favorite artists.

(and my momma gave me this book for christmas. it's beautiful!)

here are a few of his pieces.

i love his work because it looks vintage (because it is),

but it feels so modern.

he was way ahead of his time.

and, he crafted all of these amazing patterns

by hand. with paint.

he's probably my biggest inspiration in graphic design.

nie nie

2010-01-25T17:00:00.000-08:00

i had such a lazy worthless day today.

my excuse: my girly time of the month.

i'm such a whimp.

and, i have so much to do and to work on...

and, the best thing is that i can.

i have a wonderfully capable body.

and, i know that tomorrow i will feel better and get it all done.

i'm so grateful for that.

i just read nie nie's latest blog entry.

and wept.

because she is so sweet and beautiful.

and if she had my body right now,

she would be doing everything that she could.

she wouldn't be wasting days.

i hate taking showers because i get a little cold.

not because i have to rub my skin raw until it bleeds.

i stayed in bed a little longer today because i was too snuggly with my doggies.

not because i was literally in too much pain to move.

"Even in the midst of pain and suffering,

the Lord always reminds me that

life is a gift-no matter the condition." - nie nie

if you haven't read her blog today, or at all, you should!

she is the loveliest person i know.

and, i've never met her. :)

i'm so grateful for nie nie because she is willing to share her life with us.

and, i know that it can't be easy to do that.

i'm grateful for the perspective that i get when i read her blog.

and, how motivated i become to take on life.

to keep on working and trying.

because, that's what she's doing.

and, she is definitely the type of woman i would love to be.

snow.town

2010-01-24T18:14:00.000-08:00

snow is one of the things that i hate the most.

but, even i will admit that sometimes it can be rather magical.

like when the night is still,

and the air is crisp,

and there is a new blanket of white covering the world.

and i think, "well, ok, this isn't that bad."

then, we drive on roads that haven't been plowed,

with the slushy disgustingness.

the cold wetness.

and, the magic is over.

i hate snow again.

i will, however, go out in the snow with my feet in these.

they are comfy, warm and dry.

and, they look darling with leggings and a cute skirt.

they make my life in utah manageable.

and, i know i'm a brat about it, and that's just the way it has to be.

twenty.ten

2010-01-04T16:56:00.001-08:00

twenty.ten reflections:

i began this century as a highschool senior.

left my bestest friends to go to school.

knocked out 3 years at byu.

made more best friends.

went on a mission.

found myself and Christ.

made more forever friends.

came home with a testimony and a small dog.

found the love of my life.

got another dog.

married my man.

had 12 bridesmaids because i love all my collective friends and sisters.

went back to school...finally.

got another dog.

twenty.ten = college senior, returned missionary, wife, mother to 3 doggie.children,

and one of the happiest girls i know.

i have a big bright future!

oh little tree...

2009-12-11T23:05:00.000-08:00

a tiny (& compact) tree for our tiny space.

no room for the likes of this beauty from last year...

{sigh}

so the hubs and i created the above tree

for our sweet little christmas birdies to rest rest their wings.

and they are very appreciative of the gesture.

welcome, Christmas!

to see/hear a perfect ushering in of the true Christmas spirit,

follow another little birdie here.

typography.love

2009-12-02T11:42:00.000-08:00

o, next semester, i get to take typography. what a cool art. the few tastes i've had of it, i have loved.

and, the genius of typographer & illustrator jessica hische at daily drop cap is nothing less than inspiring.

as much as i'm tired of school, and want it to be soooo over, i can't wait for my classes in the coming semester.

i'm sure i'll be soooo over them soon enough.

good thing there are great artists around to keep me motivated.

photo 101

2009-11-18T15:50:00.000-08:00

i'm taking a photo class this semester. it's been so much fun. all of the photos below were taken down by utah lake. there's something about using film and developing your own pictures in a darkroom. it's so rewarding. i love learning how to manipulate things just the way you want them. it's very time-consuming, but relaxing at the same time.

i got one of these babies....

and she has been too much fun! she came with a fish eye lens with which i took these pictues....

the best thing about using a diana is that it's so unpredictable. look at the awesome vignettes in the first horse shot, then the unexposed corners in the second. every picture is different. i love it.

becoming a woman means...wearing lipstick, i think.

2009-11-04T01:49:00.000-08:00

at least i feel much more sophisticated when i do. i've always had a hard time wearing the stuff because it's just so darn hard to keep on! lip gloss has been a safe haven for me. but, i don't know about all of your significant others, but...mr. austen does not enjoy his mouth glossified. on top of that, i'm a terrible lip-licker! i know i know, that's so bad. i might as well usher chapped lips in on a red carpet. any rate, a constant mouthful of gloss gets my gag-reflex goin. and, forget straight up lipstick...hello red teeth! and, that stay-put stuff clumps off all crazy-like with my lip-licking ways.

i've been searching and searching for a classy, trendy, natural pout for so long! and, for a while now i've just been using the "rose salve" by bigelow. which, is a dream. it's thin and fresh and you can use it anywhere - hands, face..it's a salve, have at it! amazing. i swear by it.

but, that still didn't solve my color problem. i have small lips, and when they are pale, i feel like a snake-woman.

i saw an ad for the covergirl lipstain stuff, and i knew at that moment that my problems were solved. just the name, lip stain...it sounded wonderful. i love it. I LOVE IT!!! it's like a magic marker for your lips. and it stays forever! i feel so finished and confident when i have it on. like a woman should! i found my perfect color - "sassy mauve." and it matches the natural hue of my lips very well.

burke laughs so hard because i now can never leave the house with out my lips on. i feel like my mother! but, i love it.

(funny story, my neice, phebe, would call her lipstick "her lips" and she always had it on, all over her face. she would even use it to draw a few sets of eyebrows above her given pair. she was like 2 at the time. sassy little thing. one day, when she couldn't find her lips she said, "oh, where are my lips? oh sh**! i lost my damn lips!" even a two year old understands the need a woman has for beautiful lips)!

so, if my problems sounded similar to those that you face...here is your solution: put on some lip-stain, let it dry, add a layer of rose salve...and away you go! worry-free. you'll be a new woman! free from clumps, red teeth, mouthfuls of gloss and unhappy boys.

next project please...

2009-11-03T23:12:00.000-08:00

is this not just darling? oh goodness. what a great idea.

i've been getting so excited to make some cute and citchy crafts for christmas. i started looking for ideas, and when i found this little jem at KnocKnocking's etsy shop, i knew that it was just the thing. (check them out here, they have such a great vintage feel). i will have to play around with a few different possibilities i have dancing around in my head... and doesn't that prospect just make your heart flutter with excitement? it does mine!

oh, and i am just dying over this little darling!

you can find the tutorial here.

mmmmm, christmas is so nice. i can already taste it!

an afternoon stroll

2009-10-26T12:41:00.000-07:00

this past friday, the weather was gorgeous, the sun was shining, and autumn was at it's best. i grabbed our dogs and my camera and we went for a beautiful and lengthy afternoon stroll. i'm sure that i looked really cool taking hundreds of pictures of trees and leaves, but it had to be documented! it's been so cold here, so i was grateful for at least one true (california-like...sigh) fall day. (i know, there's been at least a few)! you may disagree if you live here in provo as well, but fall is not supposed to feel this much like winter, i promise. it should be perfect! at least it was on friday.

remind me, again?

2009-10-22T01:07:00.000-07:00

this little quote has been feeding and comforting my soul lately. so, i made a couple little prints. if you need this constant reminder, like i do, feel free to use any of these in your own home. or, if you want me to make you one a little bit different, let me know! i would love to. :)

which one do you like the best?

"Bright Star"

2009-10-20T12:42:00.001-07:00

um, so i just cried a little when i watched this trailer. i'll have to trick burke into taking me to see it. (then he'll ball his little eyes out and love it). i can't wait! (insert girlie scream and clinching of my fists). and just like johanna goddard put it on her blog (here), abby cornish is totally my new girl crush.

our new curtains.

2009-10-18T01:00:00.000-07:00

i finally finished our curtains for the front room and kitchen! we live in a little studio apartment. so, when i say front room, i mean our bedroom/living room. and, we live in a basement with miniature windows and proportions that no one sells in curtain form, so, i definitely had to make the curtains myself. i was so excited, because i haven't really gotten into sewing yet. i mean, i made a couple of quilts for my laurel project when i was 17...that's almost 10 years ago! so, my mother-in-law, nancy came over and gave me a quick tutorial of my sewing machine, and then got me started with my kitchen curtains. she's an amazing seamstress, and has an alterations business. (thanks momma nancy)!

i think they turned out quite nice!

i love the color - that wonderful not yellow but not green (as my darling friend ashley has so eloquently put it).

that headboard is my next big project, by the by. i found it on craigslist and burke got it for my birthday. (back in march!) we've painted it already (it started out as a nasty light oak), and i think it looks great at this point. but, once we can justify spending another little chunk of money on it, we're going to add padding covered in beautiful fabric. you'll see! it will be fabulous!

i love our kitchen curtains. they're just so cute and playful.

the best part about doing this project is that i'm no longer scared of the sewing machine! i've jumped on and used that thing to fix all this random stuff, which i never would have had the guts to do before. it opens a world of possibilities! i love it.

poppy.love -> liz tran

2009-10-12T09:02:00.000-07:00

i am going oogley-town over liz tran. i adore her work. it inspires and motivates me. i yearn to become a better painter. i will let this inspiration work it's goodness in my soul!

Directing Traffic with Dance

2009-10-12T07:40:00.001-07:00

i truly appreciate this man. he can just keep doin' what he's doin'! i just hope that i get to drive down his intersection someday.

kitchen curtains - sneak peek

2009-09-20T01:42:00.000-07:00

this curtain project has been on a little stand-still ever since my sewing machine went into the shop. i can't wait to finish them! our kitchen needs them so badly. right now we are using a baby blanket in the window. and that is just pathetic.

austen yum-town: butternut & arugala couscous

2009-09-04T20:40:00.000-07:00

butternut & arugula couscous with citrus honey dressing

i have no idea how this idea came into my head, but this dish was scrumptious. now, i don't expect ANYONE to ever like our concoctions. but, when they work for us, i like keeping a record. and, maybe someone else will enjoi them too! (ps-i promised myself that i would post something more artsy before i did another cooking post...but this turned out too yum-town...oh well)!

this literally took us about 20 minutes to whip up.

ingredients:

4 tbs. butter

1 butternut squash

1 yellow onion

1 yellow or orange bell pepper

couscous

ricotta cheese

2 grapefruits

arugula

2 tbs sugar

2 tbs honey

salt & pepper to taste

directions:

first - prepare your butternut squash. a really easy way is to just split it in half, sprinkle with salt & pepper, put in a dish with 1/4 cup water, cover with saran wrap, & throw it in the microwave for about 10 minutes. if you want to bake it in the oven, it's gonna take longer...but, it might taste a little bit better.

while that's cooking get your couscous going. nothing fancy, use just water and butter.

dice up your onion & bell pepper. warm butter in pan to saute them until they're nice & yummy.

when your squash is done, slice it up & throw it in with the onion/b.p to kinda marry the flavors. about 2-3 minutes. season with salt and pepper.

throw in baby arugula & continue to saute for another 2 minutes, then remove from heat.

prepare your sweet dressing. squeeze juice from grapefruits, & mix with honey and sugar.

lay a bed of couscous on your plate, & cover that with a bed of small dollops of ricotta. top with your salad.

drench everything with the dressing and...

ENJOI!

it's so fresh, & sweetly satisfying.

(arugula is not pictured b/c it was an afterthought. it was great either way, really.)

austen yum-town - tex.mex soup.town

2009-09-03T09:14:00.000-07:00

this was deeeelish! after we scarfed it all down, our bellies were so full, they were protruding with pleasure!

you can substitute any of these ingredients with cans, but tis' the season for garden fresh! and, really, throw any veggies you have, or want, into the pot! but this mix worked really well together.

we used:

1 large yellow onion

2 green bell peppers - seeded, if you want

1 anaheim chili - seeded

1 jalepeno chili - seeded

3 large tomatoes - diced

3 cloves garlic

1 box veggie stock (32 oz.)

3 ears of corn - kernels only :)

1 large can green chilis

salt & pepper to taste

3 Tbs. cumin

1 tsp. paprika

2 diced avocados

1 bunch cilantro

3 limes

sour cream

***dice everything up real small, so you can get one of everything in each spoonful!***

in a large pot, warm about 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 3 cloves minced garlic.

add your onions and peppers. saute for about 5 minutes, until they're all tender.

add your tomatoes and cook for a few more minutes.

add box of veggie stock and bring to a boil.

throw in your large can of green chilis and corn.

add salt & pepper to taste, cumin, and paprika.

bring back to a boil, then let simmer on low-ish for 30 min, stirring occasionally.

serve it on up with grated cheese and/or queso fresco, fresh squeezed lime, cilantro, avocado, a dollop of sour cream, and some tortilla chips crunched in to your liking.

burke made a delicious black bean salad. it was AMAZING!!! here's the link to that recipe : mmmmmmmm.

note- he didn't put in the tomatoes, and it was fabulous.

what a meal! complete with a soda.

we've already eaten leftovers, and this is one of those meals that is almost better the next day. all of those yummy fresh ingredients seem to ripen even more.

ENJOI!

just cook already!

2009-08-31T18:43:00.000-07:00

you must check out this site! just cook already is an ongoing compilation of recipes with great contributors. the recipes are simple and quick! burke and i have made quite a few things and loved them! one of our more recent meals included the "skillet bake ziti" with the "parmesan zucchini". we were so surprised with how quickly and easily we whipped it up and how delicious it was! i also really enjoy all of the little tips that they give. they do a great job at getting me motivated to cook more regularly. which sometimes feels not worth making all of the mess and fuss for only the two of us. but, you know what? it is worth it! and we have so much fun cooking together.

have fun cooking, everyone!!!

yum-town #1 - yellow austen curry

2009-08-12T23:03:00.000-07:00

mr. austen and i love to cook together. we're learning together, so we usually make our own collaborated take on different recipes. we think we found a winner for some yellow thai curry. we're no pro's, but some of our stuff is so dang yummy that i just want to share it! we'll call em' our "yum-town" posts. and this can be the first! :) oh yeah, i don't eat meat (unless it comes in the form of a corndog or a jack-in-the-box taco), so most, if not all, of our recipes will be veggie only.

yellow austen curry (took about 35 min. - you might have to change up some values to your taste - like the jalepeno, we like it spicy-ish)

INGREDIENTS:

6-8 small yellow potatoes

3-4 medium carrots

1 red bell pepper

1 green bell pepper

1 large yellow onion

1 jalepeno pepper

3 cloves garlic

1/4 cup olive oil

3 tsp. curry powder

2 tsp. cumin powder

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground white pepper

1/2 tsp. paprika

2 cups veg. or chick. broth

1 can coconut milk

2 tbs. white sugar

1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

1 1/2 limes

1 bundle cilantro

2 cups rice (whatever you're preference)!

DIRECTIONS:

dice up:

yellow potatoes and carrots (bite sized)

*boil em'

dice up:

red & green bell peppers

yellow onion

jalepeno pepper (dice em' up real good-minced style)

garlic cloves (minced)

in really large saucepan:

throw in olive oil with garlic & jalepeno

*heat 'er up on med. til' that oil starts to barely bubble

toss in onion and peppers

*cook em' all up on med-high heat (saute slowly)

*let cook-3-4min

add to saucepan:

curry powder, cumin powder, salt, white ground pepper, and paprika

throw in 1/2 cup of your broth

*mix all together-let cook for 1 min

add another 1 cup of broth

*while your mix in the saucepan is cooking, drain your cooked potato and carrot and throw into saucepan

add another 1/2 cup broth

*wait until boiling

add in:

coconut milk, sugar, and red pepper flakes

*stir it all up, cook until boiling

add lime juice

*test veggies and sauce, if it all tastes good...

turn off heat and throw in:

chopped cilantro

*mix 'er all up in there and...

you're done! serve over cooked rice. soooo yum-town good!

cute, happy and yummy!

2008-05-15T23:24:00.000-07:00

here's just a few things that i've really appreciated lately :)

meet gidget. but be careful! she only likes me. she would slash anyone else to pieces if they got too close! story behind gidget: my 8th grade graduation present. she had 4 litters of kitties before we fixed her. out of those litters came mr. binks and gigi - who are still around. but, gidget hates their guts. she snarls and swats them if they go near her. like i said, she only really will tolerate my company. when i left for college in my 18th year, gidget disappeared. everyone thought that she died. until, i came home for thanksgiving, and so did gidget! this pattern happens everytime i leave home - she is gone to the world until my return! when i went on a mission, so did gidget. she was gone! my dad said that there would be rare gidget sightings - but she never came home, until i did! isn't she weird? so, this is gidget, gardening with me. :) whenever i'm outside gardening, she finds a place in the area where i'm working and just watches me. she's been here every single day since i've been back. some days she'll spend a while in my closet or on my bed. but, mostly she just sleeps on the front porch, just waiting for me. :) what loyalty!!!

these are some of my babies!!! last year i planted a ton of shasta daisy seeds. they waited until this year to bloom - and now they are just going mad! our front yard is beautiful with the abundance of these happy little flowers. daisies are my favorites. :)

this beautiful pasta salad was a hit at the latest family gathering!!! it really did turn out so good, and i wanted to share the secret. the dressing!!! i am so into dressings lately. they make or break a dish. and this one was a winner. i have to share it with you! well, first of all, i'll tell you what's in the actual salad: cooked bowtie pasta, diced tomatoes, grilled bell peppers, grilled fresh corn, black beans, avocado, and it's all drenched in this dressing and covered with fresh cilantro!

the dressing *HONEY-LIME-CUMIN VINAIGRETTE:

1 small clove of garlic

kosher salt

3 Tbs. fresh lime juice

3 Tbs. fresh orange juice

2 tsp. finely chopped shallot

1 Tbs. honey to taste

3/4 tsp. cumin seeds, toasted and finely ground

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Freshly ground black pepper

mince and mash the garlic to a paste with 1/4 tsp salt.

in a medium bowl, whisk the garlic paste with the lime

and orange juices, shallot, honey, and toasted ground

cumin. Slowly add the oil in a thin stream, whisking until

well blended. Season to taste with black pepper and more

salt and honey, if you like.

*the most important part is to toast and ground the

cumin yourself, and to squeeze fresh limes and oranges.

it's so fresh and tasty! a perfect dish for the summer!!! (i

actually made 4x's what the recipe called for so i could use

it in green salads, etc. so yummy)!!!

modern/vintage/rustic/natural

2008-05-10T13:59:00.001-07:00

can i please have this chair?

well, two of them - for burke and i. :) we'll angle them toward each other, put some cute throw pillows on them,

put a little table between them with a lamp,

and this mirror on the wall behind it. :)

from the kupe line at uhuru. i really like how they are making this furniture from old bourbon barrels. it gives such a modernized rustic feel. I have such a modern/vintage/rustic/natural style. and sometimes, i find the perfect pieces that should be in my life!

moths are my friends

2008-05-08T23:37:00.000-07:00

though i hate that damn movie, "mothman prophecies," (it was the first scary movie that burke and i watched together - and we both cried due to fear - ha), i truly love moths! i think that they can be so beautiful. i have this re-occurring dream where my sidekick is a ginormous moth - the size of a hawk - and he perches on my shoulder and speaks in this funny high-pitched gibberish that i totally understand. he's like a talking labrador that fits on my shoulder! such a good friend. (disclosure - this dream began years before the lord of the rings came out - you can ask crystal or lacey). i love how fluffy they are. and their cute antennas. oh! in my dream, he always used his antennas to communicate with me. :) just like kira uses her ears to communicate with me!

moths are just shy and timid, that's all.

look at her cute orange back. she's so stylish! she kind of looks like a bumble bee.

at any rate, i love moths!

gardening is fun!

2008-05-02T23:22:00.000-07:00

the other cool thing i get to do at home is garden! for those that know me, that's one of me obsessions/passions. my parents are getting old and lazy, and are happy to let me landscape their property!

the other day, i ran into my friend at safeway (i was purchasing some wonder bread. - new food obsession = a slice of wonder bread with a slice of colby jack on top). i was kind of covered in dirt and dressed in my work clothes (a.k.a. - fodonga clothes). he asked what i was up to, and i told him that i've been gardening. he said, "oh, i have to do that on wednesday, i know how you feel!" i said, "oh, i love gardening! i would do it every day if i could!." he replied, "oh wow. why?" and i said, "i love to be in the sun and outside! i love getting all dirty. and, i love... creating!" then he said, "well, now i know who to call!" that's right, that is right. :)

these are my babies. :) i love starting plants from seed! it's a beautiful feeling to see your mature plant and knowing that you cultivated it from seedling-hood. i have like half of our porch sectioned off as the 'nursery." these little guys get the perfect amount of morning sun, and they're coming along just swimmingly! i'll do another update when they're blooming.

love for cooking!

2008-05-02T17:33:00.000-07:00

i love esty!!! i'm an etsy idiot. i'm constantly getting sucked in!!! my most recent purchase has me quite pleased. :) since i've been living at home, i get to buy a higher caliber of groceries - because it's my parents that are actually doing the purchasing part. so, i've been completely obsessed with all recipes.com

i love cooking!!! it's so fun, and you can be so creative and even artistic. at any rate, all of my recipe ventures have inspired me to start a nice little recipe box. call it "feathering my nest." so, to etsy i went to find the cutest recipe cards that i could. that's when i stumbled on this little treasure!

a fork easel! genius! to hold my cute little recipe cards so i can cook away with out getting them all gooey.

bought from whimy love's shop. such a wonderful idea!

and...these are the cards i purchased from shelf life's shop to be put on my little fork easel.

now i'm that much more excited to be cooking and baking! yay!

we love frogs

2008-04-23T23:44:00.000-07:00

i love frogs!

though, i am no longer looking for my prince - i still think froggies deserve kisses. they're such cute and humble creatures. not to mention alarmingly cold and slimy. a good slimy, though.

i brought our little friend inside to take a picture for burke, and my dad saw him and said, "oh, nice frog. you should put him in the tub with jessie." soooo something he would do. so i snuck in to jessie's bath-time, and put the frog on the ledge. at first she didn't know who had entered the room or what was going on. then, she saw the frog, and said, "oh! why hello!" and, i think he took that as an invitation, because he jumped right in with her! it was cute. besides the poop skin he left. (don't worry, she drained all the water and put in some fresh. - i know, wasteful, but a fun activity nonetheless).

2008-04-17T02:24:00.000-07:00

Ribbons!!! i love - with all mine heart!

2008-04-16T11:23:00.000-07:00

so, our wedding is going to be somewhat D.I.Y. and, i'm so excited about it! i thought that i would post everything that's created/in the works here on formosita. for fun!

first of all...RIBBONS! oh, how i love them! one of mine and burke's songs is "all night long," by call and response. soooo happy! "is there one in a million, or just ribbons dancing around in my head?..." can you just picture us on the dance floor, with ribbons trailing down from everywhere - dancing to that song?

this is my cute ribbon box. martha stewart is a genius, that's all there is to it! yeah, i'm gonna need quite a few of these babies.

these wonderful boxes are from her collection at Michael's. sadly, Michael's online store really really bites. you just have to go check it out in person!

springtime = new life, new inspiration!

2008-03-31T21:15:00.000-07:00

my favorite pictures from our table top mountain venture.

cute little waxy yellow flowers were everywhere.

coolest tree atop table top. aren't the clouds amazing!?

flying kites. this should be a painting, no?

the disciplinator

2008-03-19T01:13:00.000-07:00

does this count as art? haha, jk! soda can + sundry pebbles + old wooden spoon + a little bit of tape and sharpie = THE DISCIPLINATOR!

reason: there is no way in all of heck that i'll ever strike our doggies. yes, they are little stinkers, but violence instills nothing but fear, and they're supposed to be my best friends. so....they shall not be stricken! however, they do need a little bit of disciplining. for example: kira will run out into the street and then stand there and just stare at the oncoming cars. (our house doesn't have a front or back fence). it's like she's committing suicide! another example is when they beg for food. that's not cool. we've tried other disciplinary measures, and nothing seems to work. i've heard that they don't like the sound of pebbles in a soda can, so out of desperation, i tried it out today. the results are amazing! frita and kira absolutely cower at the sound. beautiful.

spring time is on it's way

2008-03-17T01:01:00.001-07:00

can you believe that i live in this gorgeous place?

i took a lot of pictures this weekend. seeking inspiration.

i think that it worked. ;)

oak trees have killer silhouettes.

i love that the grass turns sooo green before the trees

begin to bud.

i love the pure and delicate state of new blossoms.

i love the warm sky and crisp air.

spring is my favorite season! (when considering

nature appreciation, that is. as for comfort,

i choose summer).

did you know that my day of birth falls on the first day

of spring? i think that god planned that one out pretty well.

introduction

2008-03-15T23:19:00.000-07:00

so, mainly this blog is so that i will start drawing and painting more. if i have something to post, then i'm more likely to be creative!

this painting i started last year. :( burke bought me a beautiful new easel for christmas, so i pulled out this painting, and continued where i left off. (it's in black and white, and only a portion is posted so that when i'm done it will be kind of a surprise, k)?

you will probably see a lot of pieces like my little rooster friend here. not necessarily roosters, but ink drawings of all kinds. i start with an ink stetch/graphic, then i get more elaborate as the work progresses. by the end, i usually have a whole line of designs, all from one idea sketched in ink!

more to come!!