The Butterfly Papers

Jessica's Bridal Bouquet

2013-05-20T12:16:00.000-06:00

A few weeks back, I made a bridal bouquet for one of my favorite people, Jessica. This girl is an absolute gem, and SO gorgeous, as you can see. She wanted something light with a natural, organic feel. I used a combination of ivory garden roses, coral spray roses, anemone, jasmine, hypericum berries and corkscrew willow. Tied off with white silk ribbon and vintage scalloped lace, this is my favorite bouquet I've ever done!

To top it all off, all this floral and bridal beauty was photographed by one of my favorite local photographers, Ciara Richardson! I am IN LOVE with every one of the photos. You can see more here.

{via}

{photo c/o Jess}

{via}

*amber*

Dusky Styled Shoot:: Beauty

2013-05-03T10:14:00.000-06:00

Remember when I posted about my first styled shoot over a month ago?? Well things have finally settled down enough that I have been able to go through the rest. And it took forever, because I am in love with basically every single image! But if I posted them all here, you would probably hate me.

We were lucky to find the most stunning people as our models, and their energy and natural chemistry made the shoot feel so authentic. Our main couple just tied the knot for reals, so it was amazing to feel their excitement as they posed as bride and groom!

I could keep going on and on about how much I loved working with these amazing people and how exhilarating the whole creative process was, but again, I need to close my mouth and let the photos speak for themselves. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments below!

Another huuuuuuge thank you to all of our talented vendors and models. You made this experience truly magical.

Venue: Station 22 Cafe in Provo, Utah
Photography: Brooke SchultzEvent Styling and Florals: Amber DicksonDress: Avenia BridalHair and Makeup: Signature BridesInvitation Suite and Paper Goods: October InkCake and Mini Crostata Pies: PadicakesModels: Jessie Fackrell, Michael Andraszczyk, Danielle Huffin, Rhyan Atrice, Hayley Madsen, Justin Hedin

*amber*

Graduated

2013-05-01T09:28:00.000-06:00

Well, I officially graduated this last week! Technically, I've been done with school since December, but there are no graduation ceremonies in December, so I had to wait til now. Although it was a little strange returning to campus and hearing speakers tell us about "entering this bright new world" that I've been living in for the last several months, I really enjoyed it. I always said I wasn't going to walk. I was just going to throw a big party instead. But I really am happy I chose to participate in all the formalities of graduation. It was so good to reunite with many good friends, and finally be able to say a real goodbye to this place where I spent the last 4 years of my life.

Thursday was Commencement. I donned my cap and gown to make the processional, along with the other graduates, across the bridge above to the Marriott Center. And trust me, those gowns don't breathe, so it was a sweaty processional since the weather was gorgeous. Luckily, I had these lovely ladies with me to help me endure and keep me excited!

There is President Samuelson, in the navy robe to the left of the center pole.

And finally, we took our seats among the 6,001 in our graduating class! (The girl in front of me had a lei made out of $5 bills! Amazing.)

We were congratulated by some great speakers, including Elder L. Tom Perry. Very inspiring.

Seth and I were somehow able to find each other after about 15 minutes on the phone together haha. He happened to snap this picture when I was looking over, so you can actually see me in the masses!

Afterword, I met up with Seth and my mom who cam to support me.

These girls are amazing. They definitely helped me through my journey at BYU.

Unfortunately, wearing a plastic sack is not very flattering on a pregnant body. You can see the belly sticking out, but it just kind of poofs out extra everywhere else. I seriously felt like a tent.

See what I mean?!

The next day, we were back at BYU at 7 a.m. for Convocation. (It was so early, I forgot my camera. So iPhone photos will have to do.) We sat with our fellow-Comms majors under the bright lights on the beautiful DeJong Concert Hall stage, again, sweating, and waiting our turn to walk across the stage and receive our substitute diploma from the dean.

Beautiful Ashley. She made me this yarn lei, but in Hawaii, pregnant women aren't allowed to wear a closed lei. Who knew?

My New York girls. It's had to believe exactly a year ago, we were starting to explore that crazy city. We need to make a return trip!

I love this picture of Ashley and Rebecca playing with baby boy.

My family and support team.

This photo reminds me of a time exactly two years ago...

Cute!

I want to send a special thank you to my sweetheart who waiting two extra years for me to finish my degree. Not only did you put up with my meltdowns and times I wanted to give up, you encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone and try so many new things, accept an internship in New York City, and see everything through to the end. Even though I knew you would have preferred me to have any free time with you in the evenings, and I would have too, I'm glad you helped me stick it out. So now we can fully turn to this new and even scarier chapter of our lives! I'm ready.

*amber*

Life without timekeeping

2013-04-25T08:15:00.000-06:00

“Try to imagine a life without timekeeping. You probably can’t. You know the month, the year, the day of the week. There is a clock on your wall or the dashboard of your car. You have a schedule, a calendar, a time for dinner or a movie. Yet all around you, timekeeping is ignored. Birds are not late. A dog does not check its watch. Deer do not fret over passing birthdays. an alone measures time. Man alone chimes the hour. And, because of this, man alone suffers a paralyzing fear that no other creature endures. A fear of time running out.”

― Mitch Albom, The Time Keeper

I found this quote recently and it kind of blew my mind. Our life over the past year has been all about timekeeping and deadlines. 32 weeks (8 months!) into growing a beautiful baby boy. 2 weeks to find our home. 1 month to buy it.

Today, I will celebrate another time-driven milestone. I graduated from BYU in December with 4 years of school, 1 perfect love story, 100 breakdowns, 1 change in major, 2 life changing months in New York City, and many priceless friendships under my belt.

The past 4 years were all about time. But today, I am making an effort to forget the counting of hours, months and years, and trying to soak up the individual moments. Those ones where time stops being important and you are transported to simply moments of happiness.

The next 2 months will likely be some of the most hectic of my life. I have a huge deadline looming so close I can hardly think about it! But I vow to do all I can to live moment to moment and not stress over time and fear it running out. At least for today, my focus is one moment at a time!

*amber*

All The King's Horses Baby Shower

2013-04-22T10:46:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago, two of my amazing friends threw me an amazing baby shower at The Chocolate Cafe in Provo. My nursery has a bit of an equestrian inspiration, so Jessica and Ashley incorporated that into the shower's theme. I loved every bit of it! Thank you girlies! You made me feel so loved.

Mini cupcake favors with gold sprayed horses by Jess.

The sweet invitation by Ash.

The most heavenly, moist yellow cake I've ever had, and chocolate with vanilla buttercream.

Ashley made these mini sandwiches and still can't stop thinking about the Pistachio Olive ones.

I received such sweet gifts and can't wait to try them all out on baby boy!

Brenna, Ashley and Jessica.

My partner in crime and soon-to-be neighbor! I can't wait for all the shenanigans we'll get into.

Gifts and horse busts make great photobooth props.

My sister and mom "trying" to look pregnant. I win.

Then, of course, things got weird.

Seth showed up at the end, so we had to take some pictures together.

Thank you again to all the girls that came and made me and baby boy feel so special! Can you believe this baby is due exactly two months from today?! I am excited but totally freaked out!!!

*amber*

The Colors of My Dreams

2013-04-19T08:00:00.000-06:00

For a few years, Seth and I have kept a list of our fantasy travel destinations. Topping my list for some time is Thailand. I can't explain exactly what it is that has me so drawn to this place and its culture. But still I dream of helping to build a school and making friends with adorable Thai children, exploring the water markets, gazing at ancient temples, sea kayaking, riding an elephant through the jungle, and the food. Oh the food... We are both addicted to the flavors of Thai cuisine.

The colors, textures and simplicity of life in Thailand seems so magical and has me enchanted. Which probably explains why I've watched this video by Anthropologie over and over. And over.

Away We Go: Thailand from Anthropologie on Vimeo.

This is truly what my dreams are made of. Thank you for indulging me. I hope you have a beautiful weekend!

*amber*

Easter 2013

2013-04-16T08:00:00.000-06:00

I'm back and catching up after a little break. We have been out of our minds crazy busy the last few weeks, and I will share why very soon.

Easter is one of my favorite days of the entire year. It helps us remember the most important event in the history of the world and that we can always improve and blossom into something better. Just like the renewal of the earth in springtime. This year was no different. It left me feeling fresh with a new appreciation for the sacrifice of our Savior.

After church, we finally remembered to snap some preggo pics. Because people keep asking to see my growing belly and I have totally dropped the ball on that. Sorry out-of-town family! But here you can see me at about 28 weeks. I apologize in advance for my blinding paleness.

The night before Easter,we babysat my 3-year-old cousin who helped us decorate eggs. Which meant she basically took it upon herself to do all of them. It was so much fun to watch her creativity go wild.

At first, when she realized I was taking pictures of her, she was not very happy with me. But the realization that there was one egg left to color cleared that right up. Little cutie.

Seth and I did a few eggs each. My contributions were a Japanese pagoda, dip dyed in colors that make me think of Easter, and a little emerald beauty for my love and me.

Seth got very into some detailed designs. I'm telling you, there is a die hard man-crafter in there, just dying to come out. On the last one, he said, "These are the colors of the Italian flag right?" Close. But Italian flag and 2013?! Interesting... (In my dreams!)

*amber*

My Birthday Breakfast Bash

2013-04-03T08:00:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow is my birthday! Since I don't have any fun plans, I decided to throw myself a virtual birthday party. And you're invited!

I was inspired by a Breakfast at Tiffany's theme. Most parties inspired by this film are all about the Tiffany blue and black. They reflect the iconic black dress from the first scene, but I feel like the capture the essence of Tiffany's more than the film. What I love about it is the crazy, whimsical early 1960's period it's set in. So for my party, that's what I would play with. Just imagine a girly 60's inspired pajama brunch set to the soundtrack of Moon River. Oh, and it wouldn't hurt to plop this little soiree into a New York brownstone, just like Holly Golightly's quirky flat.

Let's party.

Pretty little details I would include:

1:: lighthearted color palette in brights and metallics

2:: my girls dressed in their prettiest jammies

3:: beet juice pickled deviled eggs for another pop of color

4:: lots of pastries, obvi

5:: an easy morning spent lounging and chatting with classy friends

6:: a giant diamond pinata full of blingy ring pop candy in Tiffany blue boxes

7:: fresh fruit served in carved out pineapples and melons

8:: stylish tassel earplugs just like Holly Golightly's for the ladies

9:: refreshing virgin peach mimosas

Thank you for coming to my imaginary birthday party! I had a blast with a minimal amount of physical effort. Birthday score!

*amber*

What's your signature Instagram filter?

2013-03-30T08:00:00.000-06:00

Here's a little Saturday fun for you! I recently saw this infographic that is supposed to tell you the psychology behind your favorite Intagram filters. You can see my IG's and glimpses into my daily life over in my sidebar, or here. Most commonly, I use Nashville. (So I'm the "cool guy"?)

I'm curious, what filters do you use? And what does that say about you? Do you agree with this analysis?

PS: Today is my baby shower thrown by this lovely lady!!! This is the only one so far and we have a looong way to go to be ready for baby. I cannot wait... Whooo!

*amber*

Dusky Styled Shoot:: The Details

2013-03-28T08:55:00.000-06:00

Eek! I am bubbling over with excitement this morning because I CANNOT wait to share this post with you.

Recently, I styled and did the flowers for a wedding inspiration shoot with bomb.com photographer Brooke Schultz. We swapped creative concepts and planned for a few weeks, then collaborated with some incredible local vendors to pull the whole thing together. It was my first official styled shoot, and I had a blast! It was so inspiring to be able to work through the creative process from start to finish rather than just letting ideas bottle up in my head, like what usually happens. And I had some serious talent working with me, so it was an absolute treat! (All their info is below.)

For this shoot, we wanted to explore the subtle beauty of light and shadow, which worked well with the filtered light that comes through the windows of our venue. I also played with a lot of natural elements and texture with an artistic, collected vibe. Today, I will just share some of the details and styling.

Shout-out to Seth for getting crafty and painting the paper butterflies with me! They were so easy to make and ended up being one of my favorite features.

Ok, I'll stop rambling on now and let the photos do the talking!

Venue: Station 22 Cafe in Provo, Utah

Photography: Brooke Schultz

Event Styling and Florals: Amber Dickson

Dress: Avenia Bridal

Hair and Makeup: Signature Brides

Invitation Suite and Paper Goods: October Ink

Cake and Mini Crostata Pies: Padicakes

Models: Jessie Fackrell, Michael Andraszczyk, Danielle Huffin, Rhyan Atrice, Hayley Madsen, Justin Hedin

Up next, you'll get to see more of our stunning models and whole lot more beauty. Get excited! (I obviously am.)

*amber*

Things I didn't expect while I'm expecting

2013-03-27T08:15:00.000-06:00

Before I found out we were having a baby, I had ideas of what I thought pregnancy would be like. Of course, it's a little bit different for everyone, but there have been so many surprises! Overall, pregnancy has been so much different than what I expected. Here are some of the things I've noticed along the way.

This lovely public bathroom photo was taken after my yoga class around 13 weeks, when I first started to notice a bump.

I don't FEEL pregnant. At least not yet. I mostly just go about my day and then I'll catch my reflection or bend over and feel my tummy hit my legs and be like, "where did that come from?!"

Along the same lines, I haven't really transitioned into "maternity" clothing yet. I bought three tops at the very beginning but I mostly just wear more flowy tops. And the last pair of jeans I bought must be miracle pants because they still totally fit. But then I'll try something on one day and get confused as to why it doesn't fit me.

At the beginning, I had plans to journal each week and take a weekly photo of my progression, similar to the pregnancy series by Carolee Beckham. I thought it would keep me sane and help me moniter all the changes I was going through. I wrote about four times and never got around to taking photos. (For a visual reference, this is where I'm at right now... 28 weeks!) Which is why I posted the photo above. I don't really have anything more updated!

I am overwhelmed. By everything. All the time. What to eat for lunch? I can't even handle the uncertainty. Oh, I need to get a nursery ready? Unthinkable. Can't wait for that "nesting instinct" and the associated energy to tackle projects to kick in.

The other day, Seth said, "you don't even have a belly button anymore!" It's true. Before baby, I had a little cinnamon roll shaped innie/outie that was about even with the rest of my stomach. I knew pregnant women got outies toward the end, but I didn't think about how it would have to stretch out! It's now almost completely flattened out. Complete with baby soft skin :) It's really weird.

I've always heard of pregnant women being more emotional or crying at every little thing. I feel like my emotions have been turned off. I don't cry during movies that would usually kill me and usually just feel meh.

Nose bleeds. Every day.

Naming a baby is the hardest thing ever. Growing up, I had a list and was so excited to use one of my favorite (mostly girl) names someday. Now that we actually have to come up with one, we can't decide on any!

When you get a cold while pregnant, you really get a full-blown cold. Because your immune system is slowed down. And bonus, you can't take like ANY medications! So that's fun.

Pregnancy brain is real. I always thought pregnant mamas were more forgetful because they had so much to think about and prepare for. My brain feels like it can't hold a single thought. Which is super frustrating because most thoughts I have these days feel totally brilliant but can't even be fully formed before they disappear. I've started a habit of chanting reminder words to myself constantly to remind me what I was thinking of so I don't forget as soon as I leave a room. "Laundry, email, water bottle, laundry, email, water bottle" chanted rhythmically until the tasks are complete. And then it's sometimes stuck in my head after that.

I know there are other things that have surprised me. Almost every day, there is something that feels new and unexpected. But these are some I could think of right now.

Overall, my advice to future moms would be: Don't expect ANYTHING when you're expecting. It will not be what you think, and that's what makes it so special for each individual woman.

*amber*

Sneak Peak

2013-03-21T14:04:00.001-06:00

A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to style a wedding inspiration shoot with photographer Brooke Schultz and some other talented vendors. It was so much fun, and feel so blessed to have creative outlets where I can bring some of the craziness that's always buzzing around my head into reality! I'm seriously bursting to see how the whole thing turned out.

For now, here are a couple sneak peaks. I will have more to share (hopefully) soon!

One more day until the weekend people! I hope you enjoy it, even if the cold weather decided to make a surprise return for the first few days of spring, like it did here. Or if you're sick like me, fruity herbal teas and movies in bed are where it's at! Whatever life's giving you now, make it amazing.

Loves!

*amber*

Sundae Sunday

2013-03-15T08:15:00.000-06:00

With spring literally right around the corner, my mind is quickly filling with bright colors and warm weather gatherings. About a year ago, (when we were still in our little Provo apartment... how time has flown!) we were relaxing on a sunny Saturday afternoon and decided to invite some friends over after church the next day. And what better way to celebrate spring than with an ice cream party? Thus was born the first Sundae Sunday.

We dashed around our house and gathered a few supplies, then made a quick trip to the grocery store. And we were ready to go!

I also have to apologize for the photo quality. The light above the table decided to burn out right before everyone arrived. Boo for basement apartments and their lack of natural light.

I designed these little printables for the party in a palette of coral, pistachio and white. I used elements, like the stripes, that seemed reminiscent of classic ice cream parlours.

We had cake and waffle cones, along with a variety of toppings.

We chose classic ice cream flavors so everyone would have something they liked. Strawberry, vanilla and mint chocolate chip.

I laid some kraft paper on the table to make cleaning up the unavoidable sticky mess a snap!

We also served root beer and cherry soda in glass bottles. They reminded me of an old parlour and allowed our guests to make floats, or just have something to sip.

This was seriously one of the most simple, fun, tasty little gatherings we've done! I'm hoping to make a yearly tradition of it. And now that we have an ice cream maker, we can experiment with homemade flavors!

Happy weekend everyone! How are you ringing in this bright new season?

*amber*

Chic for Cheap:: Brass Bamboo Tray

2013-03-13T10:03:00.000-06:00

I must start this post by saying I love Emily Henderson. Don't know her? Then check out her blog. She is a brilliant designer with awesome taste and is one of the funniest people to read online. I consider Emily a close personal friend. No really, I had a dream several months ago that she came over and we shared secrets about our lives and worked on a few awesome DIY projects. Then for the next week, anytime I had a good idea, I thought, "I should call Emily and run it by her for feedback!" Then I realized we hadn't actually met yet. Shoot.

Anyway, as we're transitioning into the next period in our lives and preparing to create a new home for ourselves, I have definitely been inspired by Emily's interesting and functional styling. That's how I want my home to be. Pretty but completely able to be lived in.

One of my favorite things that Emily does is use a lot of trays. Seriously, she uses them to style everything from nightstands, coffee tables, ottomans, entryways and even toilets. In fact, the use of trays is her number one secret to good styling. They are so good for organizing a bunch of small, random items and making them feel like they have a place.

This brass beauty with a faux bamboo gallery is one of my favorites that Emily used to deck out her home for Christmas. Cool, eh? I'm sure it's vintage and has a cool story behind it. I only wish I knew. I've also seen some similar versions floating around Etsy lately. Then, this morning, Emily launched a tag sale on One Kings Lane full of her recent vintage finds, and guess what I spotted??

This baby. She really is a baby, only 3.5 x 1.5 inches. And although it's awesome, I couldn't justify the $65 for such a little piece. And I remembered the others I've seen, but they were still more than I wanted to spend on my very tight budget. But then... I made an awesome discovery.

This amazing replica on Amazon for under $14!! Sure, it's lacking the beautiful worn patina of the older versions, but it's real brass, and that will develop over time. Sold. Really, she will be on her way to me soon. And I can't wait to use her to wrangle lots of currently-homeless items.

So there you have it. My tale of a love affair with a beautiful brass tray and our happy ending. I should call up Emily and see what she thinks about THAT!

*amber*

Heart Melted

2013-02-27T14:27:00.001-07:00

Today I was browsing through some of my favorite blogs and stumbled upon this photo at Small Fry Blog. My heart instantly liquefied.

See that handsome dude on the left? I think he looks so much like my dear husband! Suddenly, I had visions of what our little man might look like and got so excited!

Just to kiss his little forehead and hold his little hand as we go on adventures together. I simply cannot wait to show him how to make cookies, dance around the house with him, and teach him to open doors for ladies. This little man is becoming more and more real every day. And he's making sure I know he's there with his big strong kicks that just started and feel like they make my whole tummy bulge!

Can't wait to meet you little man!

*amber*

Top Swim Picks 2013

2013-02-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

It is a universally acknowledged fact that swimsuit shopping sucks. That fact is made all the worse if you choose to don modest swimwear for body-conscious or religious reasons. Modest swimwear is rare and what does exist is usually lacking in any good design. So I did a little looking around and compiled a list of my top modest swim picks for the upcoming swim season.

Why am I posting about swimwear when it's only February and this prego body won't fit into a normal suit until (at least) July? Every year, once the holiday season passes, I instinctively start looking around for spring and summer essentials. Even though I know it's a long way off. And now that Utah's highs have started soaring into the high 30's, (yes, you read that right) I am especially drawn to anything that feels like warmer weather.

Hopefully this list will help some of you who need a new suit in a few months. Or have an awesome vacation to somewhere warm planned. In which cases, I envy you.

I'm noticing a few themes here in what I'm liking. Interesting volume with defined waistlines. Cutout detail and mosaic-like patterns. Tulle?! There even seems to be a definite color story going on.

1. The Sunburst Stripe Maillot from Anthropologie is definitely one of the best one pieces I've seen in a long time. The fresh colors and shape are perfect and would be so good on a variety of body types. I also love the detail on the back.

2. The Lolli Big Bow One Piece from Urban Outfitters is simple and reminiscent of beach bathing beauties of the 1960s. Of course, I love the classic stripes but the bow gives it just enough extra fun.

3. The Love Scarlet Knit from Bona Drag a total bombshell suit, but I think the cutout fabric tones the sexiness down just enough. It looks well structured and flattering.

4. The Eden suit by Tory Burch is lovely. The blocked patterns are done so well and the floral looks like it's hand painted! The overall design is ladylike, demure, and looks like it was pulled straight from Mediterranean tile!

5. The Jena one shoulder swimsuit by Miraclesuit is a great LBS (little black suit.) It has diagonal mesh ruching that would be slimming on almost any body.

6. This ruched bandea beauty from J. Crew is draped with... tulle! I would have never thought of tulle for swimwear but am pleasantly surprised. The shape is awesome and it comes in really pretty colors. My favorites and the ancient fig and boulevard green.

7. Another hit for J. Crew, with the Neon Swirl Print Tank. It's the most trendy, I think, with neon, polka dots and a paisley-reminiscent pattern. I usually don't like swimwear that is too trendy because it's expensive and I like to wear it for a long time. But this is one that I think I would still like a couple years from now. It is bright and youthful. Like summer!

Now it's your turn. Where have you found good swimwear? I'll tell you, I CANNOT WAIT to fit this body back into a swimsuit and hit the water slides. Come on little dude, let it be June already!

*amber*

My Secret Talent

2013-02-19T11:08:00.000-07:00

Guys. You know how sometimes you are led to something that is perfect for you without intentionally seeking it? Some people start their careers as lawyers or bankers and end up pursuing paper clip art or cheese making. Well, I think I've discovered my calling in life. That thing the universe has revealed to me as my true talent.

I am an amazing details model. The position may also be known as a cropped model or hand model. Whatever you call it, I am amazing at holding pretty things about waist high and being photographed as a headless backdrop for said prop.

How did I realize this? One day I was going through some facebook photos and noticed how frequently I am used as a details model. I went through and pulled some examples for you so you can see how photogenic my torso, arms and hands are. Seriously people, these are not even half the photos I found. Just some of the better examples.

Are you in need of a professional details model? Give me a call! I'm negotiating with agencies and my cards are being printed as we speak.

{featured on Utah Bride Blog and Brooke Schultz Photography Blog}

{from our two year anniversary shoot, photographed by Brooke Schultz}

{Ashley's wedding favor, photographed by Brooke Schultz}

{elegant La Caille wedding, photo by Pepper Nix Photography}

{boots for our little bebe, modeled during our Christmas card shoot}

{homemade ice cream from our summer vacation in Ocean Shores, Washington, photo by my hubby}

{my famous raspberry cream filled cupcakes, photo by my hubby}

{my bridal bouquet by Jamie Bellessa on our wedding day, photo by Tara B Photography}

What did I tell you? Are you ready to hire me yet? You probably can't afford me anyway, but if you send me fan mail, I'll send you a limited edition signed photo.

Disclaimer: signature may be stamped on by my publicity team. I have to keep my hands and forearms in top photographable condition.

*amber*

Happy Valentines Day

2013-02-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Well, it's finally here! The most romantic/stressful/expensive/depressing day of the year. We are both working all day, so we'll be going low key this year with a cozy night in, dinner and some hot tubbing. Whether with your sweetheart, with the girls, or by yourself, make a little effort to show some love make today beautiful. Like the photos below.

{photos via}

*amber*

Valentines Surprise 2: Love Is In The Air

2013-02-11T15:16:00.000-07:00

Another quick surprise for all you last-minute-valentine-gifters! I love balloons and the ability they have to make a space feel so whimsical and festive. So I decided to use sweet notes hanging from pretty balloons for my second surprise idea. (See the first here.) So simple, you really don't need a tutorial. Oh well, I included instructions below anyway.

1. First, decide how you want to do the surprise. You could put a bunch of helium filled balloons in a box as a present for your love like this. You could fill a room with balloons to surprise your entering sweetheart. Or, fill the bedroom ceilings with balloons while they're sleeping so they wake up to a pretty surprise.

I made this tag, modified from here, to put on a box or tape to a door.

2. Pick up a bunch of helium filled balloons from your grocery or party store.

3. Cut out paper hearts and write sweet little notes to your Valentine. Then tie them to the balloon strings.

4. Deliver a surprise that has big impact and thoughtful touches while still being cheap and easy to pull off!

That's really it! Only a few more days to prepare for the day of love. Good luck! I know I need it.

*amber*

Valentines Surprise 1: Fortunate to Have You

2013-02-10T10:58:00.001-07:00

If you are a procrastinator and still don't know what you're doing for your sweetheart come February 14th, (ahem, that may be me...) I have a few sweet little projects I'd like to share with you over the next few days. None of them take a lot of time or money, but you can put a lot of personal thought into them so your Valentine feels the sweetness of the gesture.

Today, I will be sharing how to make the paper fortune cookies I used here.

All you need:
* pretty paper (I used a cardstock weight, but warning: lighter paper is much easier)
* a bowl, lid, or something round to trace your circle
* pencil
* scissors
* hot glue gun

1. Trace the circle on your paper and cut it out.

2. Fold the circle in half with the pretty side inside the fold. Open it again and lay flat with the fold going vertically.

3. This is the tricky part to explain. Take the two ends of the fold in your fingers and pull them toward each other, pretty side out. Act like you are going to make another fold, but don't crease. The existing fold should now be running through the center of your paper. Push into the crease from the fold you already made until the center part folds in on itself and makes this shape.

4. If your paper is too heavy or it won't hold the shape on its own, add a glue dot right inside the crease. Hold until dry.

5. Write peronal messages on strips of paper and slip inside the cookies. Then package them up in a takeout box for your love, or use them as place cards for a dinner with the girls.

6. Finally, surprise your special someone with loving memories, new goals together, or simple sweet nothings.

Happy (almost) Valentines Day! What are your plans for this year?

*amber*

Happy Chinese New Year

2013-02-08T12:03:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, my New York girls came over for dinner and catching up. Every time we get together, we have a meal based on a region of New York cuisine We've done Little Italy, Harlem Soul Food, and this time we chose China Town. Of course, last minute I decided the table needed to be dressed up a bit. And since the Chinese New Year is this Sunday, I thought now would be an appropriate time to share it. If you're celebrating the Chinese New Year, or even want to host a unique Valentines dinner, here are some ideas.

For the color scheme, I didn't want to go ALL red. It's very Chinese, but can also be overwhelming. Instead, I went into varied shades of red. Oranges, pinks, corals, and some true red with accents of gold, black, and a little green to freshen things up. I also incorporated leafs and natural motifs wherever I could.

Each place was set with layered leaf silhouette and black square plates. For place holders, I made these paper fortune cookies. (More on these later.)

I also used my favorite smoky black goblets (from the dollar store, score!!!)

And a bunch of different patterned chopsticks.

For the centerpiece, I used a gold floral runner and a shallow black bowl filled with white/green spider mums, lemon leaf and kumquats. Have you ever tried kumquats? They are a berry-sized asian citrus fruit that are beautiful in florals, but also pretty yummy to eat. You just pop the whole thing in your mouth, peel and all. They are pretty strong, but once you're used to the flavor, they're really good!

Please ignore the fact that the flowers are wilting... They were left over from this party the week before.

I went very small on the centerpiece because I hung a bunch of asian lanterns from the chandelier and they already took up so much visual space.

The light they created over the table was beautiful.

After that, the table was set and ready for the girls to come over!

We had so much fun catching up on all of our quickly changing lives and stuffing ourselves with lettuce wraps and different stir fries. I love these girls so much. I would not have survived two months in New York away from my hubby without them!

As a side note, these paper fortune cookies were my favorite. So cute and easy to make! I'll be posting a quick tutorial tomorrow. (Hint: they're also great for Valentines Day!)

*amber*

What Will It Bee? Gender Reveal Party

2013-02-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

If you have been reading recently, you probably saw a little video announcing the gender of our baby. As promised, here are the details from the party. We had a small gathering of friends on a Saturday morning to break the news. I went with the theme "What Will It Be?" which allowed me to bring in bright, springy touches while staying gender neutral. Plus, yellow was our wedding color so I thought it would be fun to hearken back to a similar feel for our baby's first party.

Mommy to Bee, Daddy to Bee and Baby to Bee. I swear my belly doubled in size just that morning. Little one must have known it had an audience. Definitely my child.

I went super simple with the centerpiece. I used a birdcage I've had for a few years, and liked it because it has the honeycomb hexagonal patterned wire. And it tied well into the yellows and greys theme. I picked up some yellow flowers and arranged them in tin cans with burlap and gold ribbon. The whole project took about 20 minutes and I really liked the result.

I also decorated with baby's first pictures from the last three ultrasounds, accompanied by photos of mommy and daddy.

I set up a breakfast bar since I know Saturday mornings can (and should) start late. Wanted to make sure everyone got their most important meal of the day! We had Buzzing Berry Crunch and Honeycomb Cereal...

Orange Peach Mango Nectar...

Clove Honey served by Mama and Baby Bear...

And waffles with a yummy assortment of toppings.

After breakfast, guests were given clues about what some traditional wives tales predict we would have, then asked to make a guess and provide some name suggestions.

Finally, it was announcement time! To break the news, I made this Beehive lantern piñata, inspired by Oh Happy Day's tutorial here.

We pulled the string and...

(if you want to relive the excitement of this moment, or be surprised, you can watch the video here)

Blue!

It's a BOY!!!

I made little clip on bow ties that fell out of the piñata for each of the guests to wear.

We love these crazy people.

Once the news was out, we went through the suggested baby names. We found a few good ones, but mostly, our friends tried to mess with us. We had some good laughs but are still at a loss for what to call the little guy!

As guests were leaving, they got to take home a favor of local artisan-made honey soap. I picked the flavors Chamomile Lavender, Lemon Poppyseed and Spiced Oatmeal. They smelled so good and felt so soft! I can't wait to use mine during a nice long bath. Hopefully soon (if I ever find the time)!

Thank you to everyone who came and made the day so special. We can't wait to meet our little man!!! Every day, I feel more nervous and just want to cuddle him in my arms.

Oh, and if you have name suggestions, please share. We're on the hunt, but struggling.

*amber*

8 Car Buying Tips for Newbies

2013-01-30T12:30:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! Last week, we bought a car. I had needed one for a while since we've shared one car the whole time we've been together. But the whole idea of buying a car, especially the financial investment, terrified me. As does any large purchase. But then I realized I have the smartest husband ever and I should never worry about money when he's managing it. He'll share his top car buying tips below.

Now, some of the story. I went to Provo with Seth and we planned to go to a dealership and look around after he got off work. When I picked him up, he started talking about a particular car he wanted to see and test drive. I was all, "How do you know about this one, specific car? I thought we were just looking around?" Apparently dealerships post their cars, new and used, online (who knew?) and Seth had already shopped around, compared models, prices, carfax, you name it for a couple weeks. He knew what he was doing. Which is why we ended up buying a car only a few hours later. And why my anxiety was completely set at ease. And why I'm having him share tips, because he's smarter and I would probably say something silly like, "don't buy a car unless you can pay for it up front with cash!" Which no one can do.

And now, Seth's super-smart tips for newbies who know nothing about car buying.

My new (to me) Nissan Murano. And protruding belly.

1. Decide what type of car you want.

That might be easier for some people than others, but for us it was half the battle. We started the process thinking of getting a sedan, then decided we needed something with a little more room like a hatchback, and from there felt like it would be best to have something that could handle the snow. I looked a lot on Cars.com and AutoTrader.com to compare. Once you decide what you really want is a midsize crossover SUV with all wheel drive (what we finally settled on) it makes it much easier to sort through your options.

2. New or Used?

This is mostly a budget question. Buying new comes with more security, it's more likely you'll have a Long time before problems come up, and you'll have a manufacturer's warranty just in case, but you'll pay for it up front. Keep in mind that as soon as you drive off the lot the car value drops an average of 10%. Unless you have the money to blow or absolutely need the newest and greatest, I recommend used.

3. Private or Dealer?

This is also a budget question, but for me it was more about security. I bought a car about 5 years ago from a private owner, only to have the engine blow up less than a week later driving from Washington to Utah. Of course this doesn't happen very often and it may have been a fluke, but it ended with me paying for the car twice. While you'll generally pay more at a dealership, you can rest a little more easy knowing the car has been looked over with a 150 point inspection. Many dealerships also offer extended warranties and gap insurance, which makes it in their best interest to sell you a car they know is going to last.

4. Warranty?

Due to past experience, I knew I wanted some peace of mind even if it cost more, but if you aren't the kind of person to worry too much about it and feel like the car is reliable then you might choose to do without this. If you do get a warranty, get just enough coverage to make you comfortable. This might be a basic powertrain warranty, which covers the big stuff like engine and transmission, or the full package that covers anything that could go wrong. We took the middle ground that also covers electrical issues, mainly because it wasn't much more than the powertrain.

5. Gap Insurance?

This covers what you owe on the vehicle in the event that you get in an accident and total the car. Basically it makes sure you aren't continuing to pay for something you don't have any more.

6. Check the carfax!

I know the commercials are corny, but you want to know if the car has a clean history. It has information like the number of owners, average number of miles per year it's been driven, and maintenance records. If the car was ever in an accident, you should know that before you buy. You should also check Kelley Blue Book, kbb.com, to get an idea of how much the car is actually worth.

7. Refinance.

This is something we didn't know much about before going in. As first time car buyers we got an interest rate of 6.99. We have great credit, but since we haven't taken out the type of loan that requires large payments, the interest rate was a little high. The advice we got at the dealership was to make payments for about 6 months, then go into our credit union and refinance. After about 6 months of making payments, we should be able to qualify for a much better interest rate, about 2.99 to 3.99. The dealership finance guy said he has refinanced his car 4 or 5 times in a few years. As your credit improves, take advantage of the better loans you qualify for. The added bonus to this is that when we go to buy a home this will help us qualify for a better home loan as well. We hadn't even thought of that but it made the idea of car payments much easier to think about.

8. Don't get pushed into it.

We had a great experience at Ken Garff Nissan in Orem, mostly because we didn't feel pressured at all. After hearing all the typical stories of car salesmen, I went in fully prepared to battle it out, but they were very open about what our options were and didn't try to make us feel like we needed to jump into anything. Afterward I kept thinking I should feel more like a sap, since we did walk in and buy the first car we looked at, but because of the research I had done and the way we were treated, I felt really good about the whole experience.

*amber and seth*

Soon, but not soon enough

2013-01-30T07:50:00.000-07:00

Today marks 50 days until the first day of spring. And that feels way too far away. I've been ready for springtime since the new year. It happens every year. Something switches on inside me and I'm craving bright colors and shopping for swimwear and sandals. In January. Even more irrational this year because I won't fit into a cute swimsuit until after the baby comes (in June) and I get back to normal. But I can't help it. My mind is filled with images of throwing on a light sundress, riding my bike to the farmers market to pick up flowers, and arranging them around my house.

{via}

Dear Groundhog, PLEEEEEASE don't see your shadow on Saturday. Thank you.

*amber*

It's A...

2013-01-28T09:58:00.000-07:00

This weekend, we had a little gathering at our house to announce the gender of our little baby. What is your guess?

See if you're right with our announcement below!!

It's A... on Vimeo.

More details on the party to follow.

*amber*