marta writes

too busy to stay and chat / but first, a few things

2012-03-14T05:01:00.014-06:00

pretty print (just $15) from little things studio

+ the other day at the park, benji saw two ladies walking on the trail and said, we're much too busy to walk. we've got to get to that playground! i love three year olds and their go-get-em / let's live it up attitudes. we played red light, green light for forty minutes last night before stories.

+ am working like a busy bee at my real job; designing. it's wedding season and i couldn't be more excited about the invitations brewing.

+ if i'm not working in my studio i could be caught eating Phish Food and reading the Hunger Games. ~~am on the last chapter and am torn on whether or not i should finish it tonight. of course i will, but i just hate finishing up a good book!~~ luckily two more await.

+ thank you for your insightful thoughts on bravery from my last post. i needed your advice. i love when this place becomes a forum of good, helpful exchanges.

+ i've loved hanging out with our families lately. i feel so thankful for their friendships (and to live nearby!). i'm a sentimental fool these days and can't imagine life without them.

+ we're planning a pizza night with friends; what are your favorite pizza toppings? am thinking the pioneer woman's basil-tomato pizza from the back of her love story book will be excellent. (seriously, that was such a quick wholesome romantic wonderful read.. i highly recommend it. again.)

+ for some odd reason i rarely make pancakes from scratch but have decided to start. (how's that for a resolution?!) pancakes are listed among dan's favorite food groups. (my go-to are the baked puffy german pancakes, but alas, dan loves the original round cakelets.) so i read through a few recipes and was blown away at the idea of adding the egg yolks and whipping them in with the flour and milk, etc., but whipping the egg whites separately and then folding them in at the very end. fluffy, addicting, incredible pancakes. where have i been? then add blueberries, ala curious george makes pancakes, and voila, i'm falling in love with pancakes again.

+ pinterest is still holding my interest. no matter what my mood.

+ our cloud dough is still working wonders; i guess it may last forever. it's the best i-have-to-sweep-anyway project to bust out before bath time.

+ any big family traditions for st. patty's day? am racking my brain for something simple and fun. all i know is we are for sure making mint brownies.

+ my favorite thing about march thus far is our standing weekly lunch date with dan. it's the perfect answer for late night worker bees like us. we dress up to match daddy's attire, head out and walk the busy sidewalks as a family and decide last minute where to eat. and play catch up over ketchup. (last week it was havarti and turkey.) it makes me super happy.

+ one thing to get off my chest: many of you wrote me the nicest emails when i was having my mini blogging crisis at the beginning of the year (so glad that's over). i've been meaning to respond and still haven't been able to find the time (or the right words). enter guilty feeling here. please know i'm so grateful for every single one of you and your added efforts to write me a line and cheer me on (and read and support my blog). seriously, i save those emails for rainy days. thank you.

+ will be posting lightly for awhile. i'll be back on the saddle soon. i'm just tying up some loose ends. and reading books in bed (with Tums by my side) like a crazy (pregnant) person.

wasatch powderkeg ski racers and a sidenote on teaching bravery

2012-03-12T05:07:00.003-06:00

dan and friends participated in the 10th annual powderkeg ski race on saturday. it involves crazy technical vertical climbs with tele skis–skinning up and then skiing down. for safety in the backcountry, the participants have to carry / wear their survival gear; avalanche beacons, water, snow shovels, avalanche probes, warm layers, etc. not one bit intimidating for the racers' spouses back at the finish line. dan thrives on high adventure stuff. i thrive on the safe ride down the canyon afterwards, buckled in our seatbelts. luckily the sun was shining and all went well. the racers rocked the terrain while b and i comfortably made conversation with good company in the cheering section. my boys were both officially spent by the end of the big event. hip hooray.
check out our other powderkeg adventures here and here.

sidenote // thank you for your excitement about boy numero two. we are completely thrilled about it. and i'm already prepping myself on a life of worry with high adventures like building snowcaves, skiing, river rafting, target shooting, camping, jumping on a school bus (without me!), going trick-or-treating unattended (will i ever allow it!!?), little league try-outs, riding bikes without training wheels, balancing a wobbly cafeteria lunch tray loaded with healthy foods that will likely go uneaten... oh, how you brave mothers do it!

benji and i have been discussing being brave a lot lately. every evening we make a fun game out of checking for dragons and monsters in his room. i turn his flashlight on and check every nook and cranny. he laughs hysterically; it has become routine and he loves it. last night he asked me what it meant to be brave and i did my best to give him a good answer. we also tell him there are three things he can do when he's scared: #1. say a prayer. #2. sing a song. #3. think happy thoughts. i've heard him singing quietly to himself in his room on more than one occasion. it melted me into a pool of motherly love right there on the hardwood floors of the hallway.

what are your tips on teaching bravery to your children (or to yourself!)? somedays i feel a bit unqualified due to my own wobbly stack of worries that weigh heavy on me. i want my boys to be tough and brave and to believe in themselves and believe in their capabilities (even if they are scared!). i will have to learn how to encourage courage while cloaking my own motherly fears! check out what mara says about being fearless. i'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter.

awesome powderkeg logo is not my own; created by the talented wasatch powderkeg officials.

it's a...

2012-03-09T15:20:00.001-07:00

big brother benji was right all along.
boy oh boy. this is going to be fun.
we're still smiling about the surprising news.

it's so good to know–tuck away the baby girl clothes–and dream of a house full of boys. my friend kimberly (a mom of two boys) texted me a happy message after hearing our news: words of wisdom: embrace the loudness. you can't fight it. ha! i love it. i've already unboxed a few newborn favorites from storage. can't believe how tiny babies come! we had a girl name all picked out, now onto making lists of boy names. oh, the possibilities are endless. we're delighted.

in other news // wishing you a wonderful weekend; we're headed to another birthday party (i get to frost another cake!), cheer dan on in a ski race, read hunger games real fast and celebrate getting over a week of sickness. and think about another baby boy.

real life / still life no. 02

2012-03-07T05:07:00.034-07:00

+ coat closet collage
+ chocolate easter eggs (debuting dangerously early this year)
+ forts and flashlights
+ favorite picture books
+ painting with water (and blooming spring greens!)
+ best costco salsa ever (thank you for the intro, hilary!)
+ MAC red she said, rebel and hourglass raven
+ sunny blossoms

graphic design shop / dapper paper co.

2012-03-06T05:04:00.069-07:00

i'm excited to rev up the home is where the art is series again in 2012.

pictured above is the print that is going to be the piece de resistance in our madeover bathroom. after seeing this baby in real life, the soft hues basically gave me the shove to finally paint those walls! i simply love this gorgeous good morning print. thanks to so many amazing sponsors, we've been able to frame and fill our nest with unique etsy artwork, which makes me super happy. (so much of it, coincidentally, happens to feature typography too.) the dapper paper co. is made up of another rad husband + wife team (based in raleigh, north carolina!) who create all kinds of custom branding geniusness; business logos, fancy invitations and prints. i've never seen anything else like their work; their designs are so fantastic. i hope to throw a big event in the future just for an excuse to see their handiwork in action.

this post is part of my home is where the ART is series. the artwork is theirs, but these opinions are all mine; learn more about my handpicked sponsored series here.

your custom invitations are so unique and personalized! how do you get to know your cross-country clients so well? In regards to our clients, believe it or not we do almost all of our communication through email. It seems to be the preferred choice for most people these days and it works well for us too. If we ever see the need to talk over the phone, we make it happen, and always let clients know we are available by phone if needed. We feel like when people are investing lots of time and money into hiring us, we want to give them the peace of mind that we aren't going anywhere. We always ask our clients to give us as much information as they can about themselves and what they envision for the artwork we are designing for them. If we don't get what we need to first time around, we open up more dialogue with them until we both have a clear idea of the creative direction we will go in for their project.

what is an essential must-have for your creative work space? For us, our work space has to be an environment that is conducive to creativity. We like a clean, functional space with the right workspaces, tools and decor to keep us motivated and efficient. We love the mix of vintage, industrial and modern pieces around us–and a space that feels lived and worked in, much like the rest of our home.

i hear you are musicians too! what's on your playlist to pump you up for good print-making? Yes, we are both musicians and love music! And are heavily inspired by music posters such as Hatch Show Print. We like a good mix on our playlist, everything from pop to alt country to indie.

custom invitations by dapper paper co.

dig in: dapper paper shop / blog / tweets

goings on.

2012-03-04T23:43:00.005-07:00

special keepsake box / more about organizing memorabilia here

+ am spring cleaning this place slowly but surely. am tucking special things into benji's box and making extra room in his closet for some sibling stuff. i can't believe i'll be folding (and soaking!) teeny newborn onesies come summertime.

+ i had a good excuse to make and share these chocolate chip cookies and they were amazing. melted butter!? who knew?! dan served homemade ice cream sammies out of the leftover cookies. he is so good to us.

+ we took a walk in the park and broke out the sidewalk chalk the other day. it feels so good to be out in the sunshine, even if we are still wearing parkas.

+ a harsh cold suddenly hit the house this morning; coughing and congestion. i can't help but think back to our experience in the hospital last spring and pray for a quick recovery this time around. oh, how my heart goes out to sick babies. am hoping he'll be bouncing around the doctor's office tomorrow. benji's favorite reads this week: inside, outside, upside down and donald duck's toy train. we can recite them by heart.

+ our ranunculus plant has three blossoms and another bud coming. it reminds me of our growing family. we are finding out the gender of the babe this week. i could not be more excited. i know so many mamas expecting baby girls this summer, so i keep thinking it may just be a girl (and may have purchased a girlie item or two!!). but i've heard siblings somehow know and benji is sure sure sure it's a baby brother. he never wavers his opinion, so i'm leaning on another boy since these pregnancies have been so similar. we're highly anticipating it (and ecstatic either way). i can't wait to start dreaming of him or her.

+ while dan made the major grocery shopping trip (thank you, babe!) my mom and i spent saturday together. a girl's day is always a treat. we shared slices of cheesecake, lots of conversation and bellied up to the makeup counter side by side. she and i snagged some bright lipsticks to further expand the collection. did you know when you return six empty MAC makeup containers, you score a free lipstick?! i even talked mom into seeing The Vow; she is the best friend a girl could have. (during the movie i kept thinking, if i ever lose my memory, it's a good thing we're all blogging our brains out to remember life as it once was.)

p.s. did you see this darling baby shower for angela hardison? it looks so incredibly charming and perfect. so happy for babies and growing bellies.

best banana bread ever

2012-03-02T08:52:00.004-07:00

we ate this loaf in about three days. and that was stretching it out. benji loves banana bread and prefers it for every meal and would gladly take it instead of a bowl of ice cream. admittedly, it is the perfect wake up in the morning treat (holds up for a dip in the toaster!) and a moist cakey midnight snack with a glass of milk. i may never bake my old recipe again. this banana bread comes from Here In America's Test Kitchen cookbook, which has never led me astray.

i've been loving my banana bread slices on a neat small plate, when the house is quiet and i'm curled up with my latest favorite ree-read. (i nabbed it at the library and got a hundred pages in on my first sitting. it's terribly addicting and laugh out loud / read it to your spouse funny.) i love simultaneously devouring a delicious book and an equally delicious treat.

Banana Bread
originally from America's Test Kitchen
Use a loaf pan that measures 9" long, 5" across and 3" deep.
(yes, i busted out my ruler too.)

2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3 very ripe, soft, darkly speckled bananas (mashed well with potato masher)
1/4 cup plain yogurt
2 eggs, beaten lightly
6 Tbs. butter, melted and cooled
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups walnuts, chopped coarsely and toasted

1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour loaf pan. Chop and toast walnut pieces in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring until fragrant. (Stay attentive. There is a fine line between toasted and burnt!)

2. Whisk together dry ingredients in a large bowl and set aside. In separate bowl, mix mashed bananas, yogurt, eggs, butter and vanilla with wooden spoon. Lightly fold banana mixture into dry ingredients with rubber spatula just until combined and batter looks thick and chunky. Fold in walnuts. Scrape batter into prepared pan and smooth surface with rubber spatula.

3. Bake until loaf is golden brown and toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, approximately 55 minutes. Cool in pan for 5 minutes and transfer to wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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love the overlapping

2012-03-01T05:06:00.010-07:00

screen shot of some design work getting done during naptime. hurrah.

i love that my pieces of life get to overlap. i am so happy that i get to blog, design, mother, eat, pray, love. my life looks like a scrap quilt and has been weaving steadily for a few months (settling into a house has been such a blessing)! the threads are all tightly woven and the pattern is coming together so nicely. i love what i do and love interacting with people all over the world via the internet. it's so rad. i have the opportunity to design from home and play with my boy in all the waking hours. the overlapping is my favorite.

i know as a small business owner, one might plot down exact times and increments in which work will get done. and, of course, i do that in some cases. on the other hand, usually, i work when there is time to work and rest when there is time to rest. fold laundry in the down times and splash dinner together when i can and read aloud whenever he asks me to and clean when the monday motivation hits. i've come into a routine of spontaneous design and i am relishing in it. our trio works like a well-oiled machine these days. and yes, i'm noticing all of this because i know the birth of our new babe will rock our routine to oblivion. so we're milking it. in fact i took a relaxing bath in the middle of the day last week. i don't remember the last time i had sunshine filter through on a peaceful bathing hour. you should try it. daytime bubble baths may be a new thing for this second trimester. benj and i are going on lots of little mommy & me outings. dan and i are staying up chatting rather than channel surfing. am doing my best to utilize my time wisely while still enjoying every mild minute of it. i can't wait to meet our little addition, yet i'm cautious of the changes a new baby will bring. i keep reminding benji (and myself) that little babies cry. a lot. oh but the little slug phase of snuggling and the scent of a newborn's head and seeing our family grow and letting our hearts burst open in a brand new way. i'm in such happy anticipation. i'd love some advice on the matter. how did you prepare for a teeny swaddled babe? and what about preparing older siblings for what lies ahead?

p.s. off the subject, but hilarious. did you see oprah on jimmy kimmel? we missed the oscars but tuned in for this episode and laughed ourselves silly.

p.s. remember how i said spring is in the air? well it has been snowy and rainy and windy ever since i typed that in. oh well. happy march. at least we're marching toward finding-out-the-gender day. hooray.

ranunculus for leap day

2012-02-29T08:28:00.002-07:00

gorgeous ranunculus fine art photograph by jessica nichols via etsy

"Open your mind, open your heart, open your arms, take it all in."
- Kobi Yamada

happy leap day! today is the last day for the ultra awesome sale on my blog & business workbook download. get the super secret discount code right here. spring is in the air. i am busting out my spring short sleeves, colorful cardigans (and maternity wear) and putting away the chunky sweaters (which i may regret come march). and the other day, on my trip to home depot for paint liners and purdy rollers, i discovered potted ranunculus blooms (a whole rainbow of options!) for under three bucks. i snagged a bright yellow one for the kitchen. better than a slurpee! and i love slurpees.

hope you have a fantastic leap day. we'll be doing the usual; curious george, storytime at the library and piling mounds of sweaters on the bed for storage.

and admiring the new bathroom. you guys, it looks so good. i'm so proud of us. it's not perfect, but it's perfect for me. you shoulda seen it; two pregnant bellies, a huge ladder and tons of plastic wrap in one tiny bathroom. and hopes not to step in the paint. guess who ended up with paint in hair, face and clothes? and guess who was clean as a whistle?! yeah, i guess i'm a bit more ~~messy~~ expressive. other than one purple patch still showing behind the toilet (a surprise for anyone who happens to be vomiting), the walls are like fresh buttery cream. i almost went back in to touch that spot up, but it makes me happy and will remind me of our project and that shade of lilac. so it's staying. i'll show you the before and afters when it's all said and done (am still waiting on the artwork).

favorite finds

2012-02-28T09:16:00.001-07:00

+ breathless paper co. / such clever cards
+ minnetonka moccasins / a tj maxx find!
+ low rise maternity leggings / so comfy cozy
+ stretch skinny belt / obsessed and in love
+ einstein bagels / their pretzel bagel is my new fave
+ tissue ruffle tee / this soft tee screams spring
+ sour patch kids / the perfect pregnancy treat
+ bright blue jeans / the most cheerful pant ever
+ maternity stripey skirt / will wear it long after the babe is born

paint party monday.

2012-02-27T08:46:00.000-07:00

print & production print via inksie

can't blog now, a painting party is about to begin. i am about to cover everything in plastic and head to home depot. (and no worries, we are using baby safe latex paint.) we are saying goodbye to our purple bathroom at last (the lavender shade has actually started growing on me in a strange way). we're painting it a smooth classic cream which i hope will open it up and feel a lot lighter. i couldn't sleep, i'm so excited about it; the bathroom was the first room we wanted to paint but has ended up being the last. all that cutting in has me shaking in my shoes. but i think we can tackle it. we meaning, me and whit. she is my painting partner professional. hope you have a happy monday. and i hope we get further than just the frog tape stage. wish us luck.

p.s. we did another crazy thing this weekend; we went target shooting on a double date. it was a birthday gift to dan for me to tag along (first time in ten years!) and i've never seen him so elated. pretty fun to shock your man once in awhile.

saturday / pentagram artsy windows

2012-02-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

window art by pentagram for cass art

saturday.
sleeping in. sorta.
bowls of cheerios with bananas in bed.
rice krispie treats for someone special.
making beds and an early start on laundry.
two boys headed out for dual haircuts.
serious fun adventures planned.
and a real shower.
and maybe a twilight dvd for tonight. yesss.
with lasagna leftovers.

happy saturday to you.

tip of the day / make dinner at breakfast

2012-02-24T09:25:00.000-07:00

this is a pat-myself-on-the-back post if there ever was one. but i just have to explain how happy it makes me to whip up dinner earlier than five o'clock at night; when the sky feels like it's falling in and my counter is filled with junk mail and benji needs tons of attention and i forgot to thaw anything.

so here is my tip (and likely, you are already way ahead of me on this) prep dinner at breakfast time. you are already doing dishes as it is, you may as well add some to it. as dan is scurrying about the house and benji is happy enough to pad around or watch a cartoon, i have the energy to think up something grand to make (cook lasagna noodles at seven a.m.? yes sir.) and have at it. as the day goes on (and if everything i do gets undone) i know something is ready and waiting for the evening to settle in, our stomachs to growl, the oven to pre-heat and the forks to go on the table. even if the bed is not made and i'm still in my sweats, the dinner before us makes me feel like i've done my duty as a good wife. what about you? what makes you feel like a good homemaker??

the other day i threw together a quick pinterest recipe binder of printed recipes. nothing fancy; just a holding place. once we make it, taste it and approve it, the recipe moves into my recipe bible. i have a feeling these spinach lasagna roll-ups (which claim to be healthy) will be a keeper.

happy weekend. next week is full of good stuff. including the best banana bread ever. ever. ever. and since this isn't a food blog, i'll also be featuring some pretty art prints that made their way into our home (i'm in love).

shop update / blog & business workbook now on sale

2012-02-22T14:14:00.003-07:00

right now until leap day, my best selling blog & business workbook download is available for only six bucks (originally $15). click here and enter code leapinlizards for your discount. this workbook is still a favorite resource for me to page through; it's packed with pertinent information about being brave and gutsy enough to open up an online shop and blog from the heart. you'll find handy worksheets and advice from gals who have been in the etsy selling and blogging business for a long time.

p.s. the mini diaries are stocked and my take on st. patty's day designs can be found right here.

baby hunger / the pain and the joy

2012-02-22T05:00:00.006-07:00

am feeling a bit anxious about documenting tidbits about this pregnancy as i am not so sure how to dive in. i'm tiptoeing around posting about the topic i love: babies. perhaps because these last couple years have been full of wanting, wishing, and waiting for a baby. hoping for a positive sign on that silly stick. i know what it's like to read / skim / cruise past / even unsubscribe from blogs about pregnancy. sometimes it's just too painful to read. i know how it feels to feel like you're failing every month; to be rejected from doctors because they're only accepting pregnant patients; to feel lonely and lost and like no one understands; to be the girl people are tiptoeing around. i know how it feels to throw a pity party (with a sad bowl of ice cream).

more recently, i know how it feels to wish (on every star in the galaxy) that your little one had another little one to play with, to share everything with, to eat breakfast with, to buckle seatbelts with, to share french fries with, to run around with, to grow up with, to giggle madly with, to ride in the wagon with, to splash in the bathtub with, to learn with–even perhaps–to fight with. i know that i-wish-to-give-him-a-sibling yearning so well (and hope never to forget it).

i want to acknowledge those of you waiting for a baby to join your family. i'm sorry what you're longing for is not happening. we've had a taste of feeling truly baby hungry and i know no one can say the right thing to comfort you in those dark times of sadness. every situation is different and you hear hopeful stories, but you never know how your own story will play out. you want to have faith but you also want to be realistic. however, i know the comfort arrives in little doses. in small ways i would look at my life after suffering the miscarriage and think it's actually pretty perfect, i've been so blessed. we are so grateful to already have one healthy happy child in our arms; so many we know are still waiting for (or mourning after) their babies. i see others dealing with difficulty and feel thankful for my burden. i can handle this i would think. we can be strong through this. i know God has a plan for each of us individually; understanding the timing of it is the hardest part.

finding out we were indeed expecting was almost shocking, as i was getting used to those negative results. it was such a joyous happy feeling, one we couldn't keep secret for long. we told our families on christmas with little matryoshka doll ornaments with our mini announcement scrolled up inside their tummies. (the first signs of pregnancy were my wildly colorful and phenomenally crazy dreams. i'd forgotten about pregnancy dreams and didn't even realize that could be a sign; but night after night i kept having random, awesome circus flying incredible dreams.) and yes, of course i've been worried about miscarrying again but have a much better outlook on pregnancy this time around. i have tried to enjoy the nauseated-morning-saltine-cracker routine. i've tried to think positively and know in my heart that God has a plan for this little baby. no matter what happens, i'm still its mama. knowing that means i've tried to treasure mothering this soul each and every day thus far. i've learned about letting go of trying to be in control and rather, enjoy feeling the absolute joy of carrying a miracle.

hummus chicken / your kitchen will smell like a fancy restaurant

2012-02-21T05:00:00.015-07:00

two nights ago, without a decent book to read, i turned to my cookbooks for night reading. do you ever do this? america's test kitchen cookbooks are always so thorough and completely complete. i highly recommend them. i got out my sticky notes and planted them on some pages. am planning on making garlic lemon spaghetti, their version of banana bread, turkey tetrazzini and flourless chocolate cake someday in the future (the last one depending on if i can brave using a springform pan). being pregnant is just a new excuse to fill my fridge with tasty foods. i went crazy with greek yogurts the other day and bought every low-fat brand for a little taste test experiment. we'll see how that goes.

anyway i was delighted to read a dozen great go-to recipes in the latest issue of oprah magazine. i decided to whip up this hummus-crusted chicken for valentine's day dinner. adding biscuits, asparagus and fresh strawberries because they are a necessity for valentine's in my mind. not only was it a cinch to make, but it made the kitchen smell like a fancy restaurant (and the whole family loved it). meal accomplished.

Hummus-Crusted Chicken
adapted from O magazine

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken tenders
squeeze of fresh lemon
2 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
1 cup favorite type of hummus
a pinch of fresh chopped (or dried) rosemary
lemon slices for garnish

Spray a small baking dish with non-stick spray and spread chicken in a single layer. Sprinkle chicken with fresh ground pepper, squeeze of lemon juice, balsamic vinegar and then smother with hummus. Add a sprinkle of rosemary and lemon slices (optional). Bake uncovered at 450 degrees for 20 minutes (add ten or fifteen more minutes if you're using chicken breasts). Serve immediately and enjoy!

weekend review // hope you had a wonderful long weekend. we went sledding! slept in! made homemade rice pudding and ate plenty of birthday cake. lots of big birthday celebrations for little ones and this one too. partied hard. we also stayed up late for a pinterest potluck gathering (super fun; everyone brings a dish they've discovered on pinterest!) dan taught a great lesson in sunday school. monday night i vacuumed the house while simultaneously having a sword fight with benji. (he with a bubble wand, me with the vacuum hose.) he recently saw disney's robin hood and is hooked. luckily i get to play maid marian more often then not. of course other times i am cast as the mean rhinoceros.

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citrus salt body scrub recipe

2012-02-17T05:09:00.069-07:00

Citrus Salt Body Scrub
1 1/2 cups of kosher salt
2 Tbs. lemon, grapefruit or orange zest (i like a combination)
1 cup vegetable or canola oil
1 tsp. lemon extract
1 small glass jar or other container

Fill your jar with the kosher salt and sprinkle citrus zest on top. Using the long, blunt end of a wooden spoon (or mortar and pestle if you've got one) distribute the zest throughout the salt evenly by stirring the dry ingredients together. Next pour the oil first into a measuring cup. Stir the lemon extract into the oil. Now pour half of the oil mixture into your jar and stir with small spoon to combine well. Pour the rest of the oil into the jar and mix well. Label your jar, tie it with string and it's ready for giving. This scrub makes a sweet gift for a spahhh party, a girls night out or mother's day!

kitchen notes // a 48 oz. box of kosher salt makes enough for 4 jars of scrub. the kosher salt is rough, but this stuff made our feet unbelievably (and noticeably) soft for days! this is a perfect size jar for this recipe; they came from ikea at $3 each. the original source for the recipe is unknown, i received it at a church activity.

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recently / february

2012-02-16T05:06:00.068-07:00

+ rifle paper co. calendar. (on sale right now!)
+ our hutch all heart attacked for valentine's.
+ the heart wreath i made up with the contents of my ribbon stash.
+ my favorite spot for reading; day or night.
+ carriages for lovebirds all lined up on temple square valentine's night.
+ the perfect chevron quilt for the aqua studio. i absolutely love it. thanks abby!
+ orla kiely pencils make me entirely happy. thanks suz!
+ a fancy salad from pizzeria 712. the start of our food frenzy of sista weekend 2012.
+ i brought jars of homemade salt scrub for the ladies; we stayed in for a spahhh party.
+ chit chat into the wee hours with a surprise baby shower / birthday party too. with heidi's lemon angel food cake. just the beginning of a weekend full of amazing sweets.
+ we dined at communal in provo for dinner one night and were all oohing and ahhing over every single dish. (not pictured.) i love sharing food and drawing out a long dinner. it was so awesome to eat at 'local favorites' (thanks to the suggestions of dear internet friends).
+ the rest of the photos are from our last stop before shopping the boutique scene. we headed to the chocolate, a dessert cafe in orem and happily passed plates and forks around. everyone took a little something sweet to their husbands at home too. it was an unforgettable weekend. i'm so grateful for family.

p.s. thank you so much for the warm, happy encouraging comments on our baby announcement. we are so thrilled. telling all of you feels like it's officially official. benji and i heard the baby's heartbeat again yesterday at the doctor's and all is well. hooray. more baby love soon.

16 weeks / pregnancy

2012-02-15T14:59:00.004-07:00

happy valentine's day

2012-02-14T05:03:00.035-07:00

p.s. now that there's really no hiding it, i keep singing to myself
... my secret love's no secret anymore ...
how can you not love doris day in calamity jane?
happy valentine's day.
hope you are filled to the brim with love.
i know i am.

sunday thoughts / overcoming obstacles

2012-02-12T14:08:00.002-07:00

image via pinterest.

i love sunday afternoons when all is calm. after my church meetings, i get into my comfs and settle in. i read, i write, i bake, fold laundry and try to tackle last minute tasks before monday approaches with its weekly weight of obligations. i love how the sabbath is all about rest and restoring and renewal. in a peaceful, refined way religion feels mighty and holy and expresses the good in all. it encircles everyone.

today we discussed the concept of opposition in all things. the teacher had us write down (on a personal sheet of paper, not for sharing aloud) a difficult trial we've had to face or are currently facing in life. then she had two lines underneath it for us to write down what good had come from that hardship. at first my mind stumbled with wonder. and then seconds later it opened up and i realized, truly, so much good that has come from the hardship i'd listed. surprisingly, my writings filled up and slanted off the two lines and i was learning all the different ways that specific trial has benefitted me. having a little perspective helps me see the stumbling stones as invaluable life lessons and not as grueling obstacles that slow me down. and again, i felt thankful for the experience. among other things, i realized how experiencing that trial has strengthened my faith, helped me grow and most of all, opened my heart a lot wider. i think of a tightened flower bud loosening, allowing the rains to hit the fragile petals. gradually it opens up to full bloom, feeling the sunshine and becoming even more beautiful and fragrant than before. i know more now that the storms of life are for our good and for our growth.

during the lesson, a teenager shared with us a visual aid which her seminary teacher had showed in class. he held up a large jar of rice. he told them what they didn't see was a ping pong ball buried beneath the rice. he described the grains of rice as problems, temptations, afflictions, sins and trials that feel heavy and unbearable (we, being the ping pong ball). we often feel entitled to our depressed state, knowing the burdens we are carrying. we often give up, forgetting the choice to rise above them. she told us how her teacher shook the jar until the ping pong ball reached the top and sat upon the grains of rice. it was free and rolling about. what joy can come to us if we choose to be happy and live a good life; choosing to rise above it and reach our potential.

when i go to church i understand things more clearly, even personal silly problems that arise in life. not only do i gather strength from gospel doctrine and parables of Jesus, but i am full of thankfulness for the life i lead and the people in my life. i remember my strengths, feel remorse for my mistakes and make goals to become better. i feel newly hopeful about meeting my potential, or in the least, trying my best. one day at a time. i also have new compassion for others. i love how simple and yet so sublime a testimony of Christ can be. i rarely blog about religion, but i want you to know that it is what keeps me standing. it is the mortar between my bricks. it is so very important to me.

preschool projects / art supplies and storage

2012-02-09T05:05:00.000-07:00

i'll let you in on a little secret. i want to teach playschool someday. i don't know when or how, but i'm already organizing my supplies like i have an army of kids showing up at my door. we'll see if that ever comes about, but when i do host a playdate with benji's buddies, it has become super simple to grab a project from the closet when they need some downtime.

i keep loads of crayons and glue in my office, but i decided i need kid supplies closer to the kitchen if i'm actually going to utilize them often (which i hope to do). it's more practical to have them nearby so i can start up a project when i'm cooking, etc. i made space in our main shelf and got to work organizing our arts and crafts supplies. (i think it's ironic how my house seems to fall to pieces when i'm organizing one area. i think to myself, at least this closet is awesome and tidy.)

i love the clear sterilite storage bins with the handy handle (i even keep his baby clothes in them). they are perfect for grabbing and hauling to the table. when he's older he can help me out. the open canvas bins are nice for benji to rifle through and grab the play-doh or lacing beads himself or we can bring the whole thing out. little options like these make me happy. an extra ice bin (supposedly for the freezer!) holds our paints and crayons. random, but fantastic. i call our tactile (messy) projects science projects. he loves that, so it just stuck. everything with letters and numbers is labeled learning activities. when we get them out i tell him we're playing school. (he gets into it and likes wearing his backpack to the table.) many of these items have been collected at back-to-school sales, from party favors, the target dollar aisle, and at michaels. you'll find a list of my favorite supplies below. please tell me your favorite kiddie art supplies, i'd love to hear them.

kid arts and craft supplies
coloring books / enough for friends too ($1 each at michaels)
stickers (i keep them in a large manila envelope for sanity's sake)
washable markers
washable crayons
twistable crayons
mad-lib notebooks
watercolors
washable finger-paints
colored pencils
sponge paint brushes
large stamps and stamp pad
scissors
tape
white glue and glue sticks
pipe cleaners
cardboard tubes (and other craft-potential items)
sidewalk chalk
tracing stencils
lacing cards
play-doh and cookie cutters
bubbles
foam sheets
shaving cream
sparkly pom poms
small magnetic white board
flash cards
alphabet letter magnets
foam alphabet letters (originally bath toys)
handmade musical instruments
large foam dice
lacing string and beads

am a fan

2012-02-08T05:00:00.020-07:00

am a fan of this voluspa goji & tarocco orange candle. perfect for valentine's day.
am a fan of black licorice caramels. they remind me of my mom.
am a fan of the new bonsai tree postage stamps.
am (still) a fan of nail polish (fruity petutie, kook-a-mango and pat on the black)
am a fan of this orange skinny belt. it is my new favorite favorite; it goes with everything.
am a fan of free boy-friendly valentine printables by fancy graphic designers.
am a fan (more like, obsessed with) rebekka's blog (and red nails, lips and darling hat)!
am a fan of fashionista + red lip inspiration here, here, here, here and here.
am a fan of homemade cupcakes for valentines. do cupcakes ever get old?
am a fan of awesome business cards at ALT.
am a fan of kelly purkey's dream house inspiration.
am a fan of these two incredible quotes.
am (such) a fan of this tee shirt. want one for everyone in my family.
am a fan of this erin loechner portrait by justin hackworth and this art-lovers quote too.
am a fan of these vintage winnie the pooh baby shower invites.
am a fan of jordan's love / hate lists about living in paris.
am a fan of the new HGTV magazine. it's full of good things.
am a fan of danni's details; check out this hotel room baby shower for melanie.
am a fan of this summery scarf from old navy. makes me want to go sailing.
am a fan of classy colorful sunglass cases. my cousin sarah's new biz, avenue lou!
am a fan of broccoli salad. mmmm. mmm.
am a fan of this clip. so genuine. so hilarious. i love it.
am a fan of spring cleaning; organizing one closet at a time. tune in tomorrow for a peek.

real life / still life

2012-02-06T05:00:00.037-07:00

as i scrolled through recent photos, i realized how many of them were taken at home, amidst the messes, with a table or steady surface as the main support. a surface is my favorite foundation for a photograph (i love a bird's eye view). thus, my real life, still life series was born. (you'll notice instead of a his and hers master bathroom with oodles of counter space, we compromised on a cozy pedestal sink for sharing and waltzing around. a charming old house will make you forget all about a royal master bath. with a small space, i am learning to keep it super tidy. the great lighting and tiny hexagon tiling totally make up for teetering my beauty supplies on the commode.) speaking of beauty products, we are headed on a girls' getaway soon. any must-have spa products? favorite nail polish hues? games? snacks? dvd suggestions? i'd love to hear 'em. happy monday.

p.s. photos ten and eleven were snapped at the recent karaoke jam hosted at a friend's house. i fancied the idea of an italian soda bar and the red vines perched atop m&m's in a clear vase! how clever. the rest of them were shot in our home.

preschool project / shaving cream colors

2012-02-02T09:09:00.004-07:00

benji and i loved this little project. all you need is a can of shaving cream (or perhaps whipped cream) and food coloring. we talked about mixing colors; blue and yellow make green. (i would've thrown more colors in the mix, but i've used up all my red in red velvet cakes!) the best part about it was his disbelief that i was letting him get so dirty! he was a bit timid at first, so i got in there too and showed him how to mix it up good. he quickly got the hang of it and loved playing monster fingers. we swirled colors, wrote letters, added sprinkles and mushed the mixture around a lot. our hands were dyed green for 24 hours, but it was a great art project. in the summertime, i'm thinking we could use plain shaving cream and rub our wagon clean with this same process.

p.s. are you taking advantage of barnes & noble online storytime? we just found out about it and love it.

taking off early this week. happy groundhog day and have a wonderful weekend. we're headed to visit friends tomorrow! also on the to-do list: do some crafting, play in the new snow, go to a super bowl party, have chocolate shakes, make valentines, string a banner together and continue to celebrate dan's birthday.