marta writes

wildhorse press / card collection

2012-05-15T05:00:00.000-06:00

am still swooning for stationery. these sweet illustrations come from wildhorse press. the apple card is my very fave. wishing you a happy tuesday. today we'll be washing the car (a.k.a. playing "Jiffy Lube"), filing paper work, folding laundry and maybe making a smoothie for lunch.

enjoy the sunshine.

29 weeks / a broadway baby

2012-05-14T05:30:00.000-06:00

we are still stuck singing grease tunes, rama lama lama ke ding a de dinga dong, in this household. and it seems as though this babe is bouncing right along with the lyrics. i must take full advantage as there is only so long in a boy's life wherein he will tolerate his mother's music choices (and bop around in the car to them). the belly is definitely big. my favorite thing is when benj and i read stories (side by side these days instead of on my lap) and he rests the crook of his elbow on my bulging stomach, as a handy little armrest. plus, now i have a nice dry spot for resting my book on while in the tub. my doc even called it an official basketball belly. i think there was a compliment in there somewhere about my narrow hips, but still, you never get used to people saying how big you are growing. it's an odd thing. but oh, what a worthy cause it is.

these days, i ...
am sleeping with a million pillows and the ceiling fan swirling.
am keeping the ice trays full for big gulps of water.
am loving maxi dresses. this dress is my fave. it is so comfy.
am just starting to dive into this book.
am planting flowers left and right (i am new at gardening)!
(my latest love is creeping purple phlox...)
am loving my upbeat cheerful doctor.
am stocking up on limes (on sale for 8 cents each)!
cilantro chicken soup is on the menu this week.
am attempting to cut back on baking sweets.
(we just polished off some pumpkin chocolate chip bread.)
am so grateful for motherhood, in all its forms.
am so thankful i am in the portion of life where motherhood defines me.

hope your weekend was happy. xo.

10 (last minute) gift ideas for mom

2012-05-11T05:00:00.000-06:00

+ mini mod podge clipboards (my favorite go-to)
+ baby photo brag book for grandma
+ simple silhouette portraits
+ peanut butter oatmeal chocolate toffee bars
+ citrus salt (or sugar!) body scrub
+ ribbon or rag tied flip flops
+ handmade vintage post earrings
+ accordion scrapbooklet of memories
+ the best banana bread ever
+ a cd mix of oldies (include peter, paul and mary, carly simon and james taylor!)
+ bonus // a heartfelt letter on pretty stationery

it doesn't get better than this.

2012-05-09T22:52:00.002-06:00

the grass is greener right where i am standing. these days there is no time to be blogging (and hardly a decent topic even coming into my mind). i am pinching myself every single day. the weather is gorgeous and our boy is learning how to hit a ball with a bat! i am wearing dan's old baseball mitt and playing pitcher (and belly itcher). it's quite a hilarious sight to see. dan comes home and we rearrange our places and i go rest on the patio and watch the boys i love best. seeing dan kick around the yard with his son, still in his lawyer slacks and crisp shirt is so old fashioned charming to me. it's my secret favorite thing. it makes me love our cozy cottage and my big belly swathed in the apron that is far from sparkling clean. my hair is in an unraveling knot and surely my makeup is long gone. oh how i am the lucky one. to feel love and to be so in love. i think to myself–as i watch the boys play in the green lawn–i should go grab my camera. but i sit there instead, choosing not to miss the moment. the blue skies fading into evening, the still spring air, the birds chirping, the playful talk and the rhythm of our voices. some nights have all the right ingredients, i wish to write them down for safe-keeping and later, get them back out and bake them into a perfect criss cross lattice pie crust.

benji suddenly loves sports and is making the most of having a backyard to practice in. today he got his first real skinned knee of the season and i felt like a real mom when i got out the first aid kit for the neosporin. i love watching him play out the windows as i stir up something for dinner. and then there is eating on the patio and watering the flowers (he with his spray bottle, me with my watering can), bathtime, storytime and bedtime. life is good, far from perfect, but so good. is spring always this amazing? i feel like i have new eyes. new appreciation. perhaps because deep down i know things are going to change. or maybe it's because i've never had my own backyard before or a garage full of bikes and balls. or a three year old that is so helpful, happy and curious. whatever it is, i am soaking it up. luckily this baby will have a big brother who knows how to put on his very own crocs and click his bike helmet on. always ready for adventure.

p.s. guess which cd i busted out today? the broadway version of grease. the one where rosie o'donnell plays rizo. i highly recommend it for road trips, car washing saturdays or running to the maverick for a chocolate milk.

introspection no. 05

2012-05-08T17:27:00.003-06:00

am feeling high as a kite these days as two big wedding invitations (that i designed!) are in the mail and being sent out into the world. i always tell dan, the design process isn't over until ~~the fat lady sings~~ i see the finished product (without any errors) in my hands!

the designs i've been involved in lately have revved my excitement to revamp my website, photograph my designs better and get rolling on re-working and refining my graphic design business. i want to offer more readily available invitations of all kinds. i'm especially thrilled about my first invitation design printed via letterpress by my dear friend miranda! i have yet to feel those puppies in my hands, but from her instagram shots, they are lookin' lovely. yay for awesome collaboration efforts.

i get impatient when ideas are a-brewing and i have nothing to show for them. but–like the babe growing in the belly–i must remind myself, all good things take time.

snug as little boy bugs

2012-05-07T09:10:00.000-06:00

this weekend was full of family (not to mention chinese food, riding bikes, frosting sugar cookies, a cinco de mayo fiesta, a trip to target with the girls and catching up on downton abbey). while dan went out to see the avengers with the men, i stayed in with the little boys. benji stayed up late for a slumber party with his cousin. they played army vehicles all day long (the target dollar aisle does it again!). he is lucky to have so many cousins his age. i love that cousins are instant friends-for-life. i look forward to seeing these little buddies grow up together. they aren't afraid of liking the color pink either.

prom revisited

2012-05-05T19:58:00.001-06:00

is it just me, or is the idea of high school way better after the fact? i don't think i realized how awesome high school really is until after graduation. yes, i had some seriously silly, wonderful, unforgettable, exciting times–but i was so thick in the midst of it–i didn't appreciate it like i should have. despite the ongoing drama of my teenage years (oh, the drama! locker partners. drama club. boyfriends. first kisses. dropping choir class for creative writing. finding a parking spot before the bell rang. trying hard not to flunk out of math. late night phone calls.... just to name a few.) honestly life was so carefree back then; i truly had no (real) cares in the world.

fortunately now i get to live vicariously through my teenaged niece, anne. i love hearing about her dating experiences and all the high school happenings. plus, she keeps me in the know. i had no clue lace was all the rage before hitting forever 21 with her. she is the most fun shopping partner, as she is quite the fashionista. she invited us up to her jr. prom a few weeks ago. prom is a pretty big deal in their small town. the whole junior class does a promenade and parents (and the rest of the town) show up to hear their names called. dan was honored to be able to step in for the daddy / daughter dance with anne.

my favorite part (and maybe hers too) was the prom preparation. anne and her mom created a makeover salon in their home (genius idea!) for the girls to get dolled up together. they hired two almost-professional hair and makeup ladies from a local hair school. they set out fresh snacks, cold drinks and gossip magazines for those hanging out. faux lashes, wing-eyed eyeliner and dresses with ruffles were a big theme of the night. pinterest came in handy when the girls were deciding on their hair and makeup choices. dan entertained her date while we helped anne with her pearls and finishing touches! of course she looked simply gorgeous. i ended up taking 200+ photos (most of them blurry) of the junior class promenade... here are the happy highlights.

summer fun from the archives

2012-05-02T23:26:00.002-06:00

magical image found via pinterest

i can hardly believe it's may. i feel like i was just vacuuming up christmas tree pine needles! anyway, this is the most fun time of the year for me. reading on the patio, cuddling benji during midnight thunderstorms, enjoying every warm park day, being barefoot and pregnant, waiting for baby, devouring fresh produce, planning summer activities for our little threesome. (dan has already hatched many-a-camp-out plans.) to think that just last may we had a family vacay to new york city and we moved back to utah and started the house hunt (which lasted all summer long). and oh boy, i'm glad that's over. so much has happened in one year. here are a few of my favorite summer activities from the archives.

+ summer kiddo countdown chain
+ a relaxing spa party for one (at home!)
+ the 50th anniversary party invitations
+ a movie night in the backyard
+ i scream for (homemade) ice cream
+ parades, dress ups and amusement parks
+ the best summer drink: cucumber limeade
+ i-spy telescopes
+ hunting for huckleberries with friends
+ my favorite picnic pasta salad

p.s. i want to string outdoor lights on our patio... any tips or light suggestions?

recently / april

2012-05-01T09:11:00.003-06:00

+ it's cobbler season again. blackberry and peach for guests on sunday.
+ walking a 5k, toddler in tow for the big finish.
+ eating outside is my new hobby.
+ this boy is in the perfect small–but getting big–stage. i love it.
+ keeping up with work (and the kardashians).

a picnic lunch in paradise / downtown in full bloom

2012-04-25T00:45:00.001-06:00

we toted a picnic lunch downtown to dan's office on monday (day dates are becoming my fast favorites) and were overjoyed with the tulips in full bloom. tulips are top on my list. there were so many varieties and a gorgeous rainbow of colors too. walking through the gardens with my boys was a little slice of heaven. nothing beats fresh flowers growing in the middle of an urban landscape. it's pretty much the best of both worlds.

baby shower invitations and then some

2012-04-24T09:09:00.000-06:00

here is a quick pic of the baby shower invitation that went along with our party. i went with the two-sided 5x7 flat. always classic. it's a thrill to design something from scratch. the guest of honor is the queen of awesome embroidery quotes, so i thought sweet faux stitching would make a nice touch.

side note // thank you for your mini diary orders and your thoughtful words about motherhood. angie, you are my giveaway winner. congrats!! please contact me with your shipping address. today we're off on a costco adventure (always fun) and we'll be doing a bit more sitting on the patio in this perfect weather. and i'm thinking sloppy joes for dinner. hope yours is a happy one. guess what else.. i went to my niece's prom this past weekend. can't wait to discuss.

a baby shower for whitney

2012-04-23T04:30:00.000-06:00

my cousin (and best friend) little whit is having a little one of her very own this coming june. we could not be more excited for this little lady to arrive! this weekend her sister abby and i hosted a baby shower brunch in honor of the mama-to-be. abby had quite a darling vision for this event from the get-go (we've been brainstorming this brunch for months). it's quite fun having a gorgeous house to doll up with a quilting room in the basement to pull fabrics from. (psst... that perfect polka dot table runner is just a giant piece of fabric!)

our cousins and aunts and friends gathered to stock up whitney's nursery in style. the best parts were hearing everyone take turns giving (really amazing) motherhood advice as whit unwrapped their gifts and seeing whit get all teary eyed when she walked through the door! it was such a sweet occasion, one i won't forget. the guests went home with a mini mama survival kit; oreos and dr. pepper, whitney's classic favorite snacks. congratulations mama whit!

free shipping on mini diaries and a little giveaway

2012-04-20T04:39:00.000-06:00

the mini diaries are turning five! the idea for a simple paperback diary came to me on a morning bus ride into work one day. i printed a few pages at work and the mini diary was born (and hand-bound) in my little apartment way back in 2007. the fill-in-the-blanks were my idea of a simple way to capture up the details of the day without too much effort. they have been a best-seller in my shop ever since (special thanks to you)! over the years i've added more pages, included a collection of catchy cover designs and have left the fun fill-in-the-blank pages the same.

as a mother's day spring special, i'm offering free shipping when you purchase any two mini diaries. enter code: MOMANDME at checkout to receive the discount! if you'd like the party of five pack, your free shipping is automatic (no discount code required). this offer is good in the U.S.A. only and is available until may 1st or while supplies last.

click here to see the full collection of mini diaries. thank you for supporting handmade!!

p.s. comment on this post to enter to win two free diaries; one for you and one for mom. tell me something awesome about your mom, your grandmother or why you love being a mom. happy weekend! this giveaway closes tonight at midnight.

am a fan

2012-04-19T09:27:00.000-06:00

am a fan of simple ink. look at this gorgeous letterpress print. thank you, amy!
am a fan of prepping for weekend parties; a baby shower for bff little whit.
am a fan of baking bread again. made four loaves yesterday, crusts only a little burnt.
am a fan of sydney's style and cheerful persona. the daybook blog is on my daily faves list.
am a fan of the local library. am loving flipping through this and re-reading this book.
am a fan of dan coming home from a business trip. airport reunions are the best.
am a fan of sarah carey's simple recipe videos from Everyday Food. thanks, heed!
am a fan of landing on this collage of jackie o. snapshots.
am a fan of sunny park days. rain, rain, go away.
am a fan of taking a peek at danni's fabulous little notebook.
am a fan of hearing benj say the phrase, speaking of jets...
am a fan of the bright skinny jean trend; now available in maternity. hip, hip.
am a fan of asparagus and finally learning how to prepare it; perfect every time.
am a fan of busting out the barbecue. twice already this week.

25 weeks / hello halfway mark

2012-04-17T01:19:00.000-06:00

this pregnancy is rounding second base! the months are flying by, i can hardly remember which week we're at. feeling the punches and kicks are my favorite. it is so fun to have benji talking to our little guy constantly, giving him kisses, saying good morning to him, wrestling with my belly and calling him by his nickname, spoppy. benj happily munches a snack while we listen to his baby brother's heartbeat in the doctor's office. he knows the drill, mom, you're gonna sit up there on that papery table. i love the whole family excitement for this new babe. i remembered the heartburn but had forgotten the tight stretchy stomach sensation; as if this babe is blowing up my belly like a beach ball. (at the end of a long day, i feel like it's going to pop!) i'm feeling rounder than ever and am rocking the maternity wardrobe. we are still paddling around boy names like a ping pong ball and won't likely land on one until we meet him face to face. i know pregnancy and babies and birthing are always full of surprises. umm, hello emergency c-section. we are feeling grateful this pregnancy is rolling right along. we splurged on a spontaneous pack of oreos the other day. double stuffed. exactly the way i'm feeling.

side note / julia wade of photography fame recently launched her new re-branding. i am so proud of this logo we created. a new logo is always an awesome collaboration; it must be perfectly suitable and still perfectly personal. small businesses rule. thanks, julia.

five tips / find your voice and get unstuck

2012-04-13T04:00:00.000-06:00

Dear Marta, As a blogger, I get caught in between two schools of thought. On the one hand, I want to only post really great content that I'm super proud of. I want everything I post to be worth sharing and reading (and pinning!). On the other hand, I want to free myself from my perfectionist tendencies and just go ahead and post when something is current and fresh on my mind, even if what I want to share isn't absolutely AMAZING or the photos weren't taken in the ideal light. I have a tendency to over-think things so much that I end up doing nothing. I've heard it called analysis paralysis -- which is a great way to describe how STUCK I feel sometimes! Any tips for getting unstuck?!

oh dear. i have been there. i sometimes live in the pockets of unsure-ity. it's like taking a bumpy bus ride from insecurity-ville thru rut town all the way to doubtful knob lane. get off that bus, my friend. i hope you've already read my feelings on blogging and jealousy. it's hard not to fall into a trap of comparisons. in life. in blogging. in motherhood. in looking in the mirror every morning. in everything we do. if you're not comparing yourself to someone else than you are perhaps comparing yourself to the person you WISH you were, but aren't yet. you have this ideal of who you'd like to become but can never get there because taking those steps means you have to face facts that you aren't perfect yet. and this is hard reality. so we stew. and never do. and that is the downward spiral of perfectionism. oh, i too, have many a plans and projects that sit undone because i have deemed myself not ready for them. more like, not worthy of them. i don't even want to attempt certain things because i know they will not be all that i make them out to be in my mind. so i sit empty handed instead of feeling accomplished or proud of myself. i know your question is about blogging, but i want to open it up to more than just blogging. here are my five tips to get unstuck and let loose.

tip #1. practice. practice. practice. this is boring advice, i know. no one likes to hear that you have to practice something. we all want results and we all want them fast. we want to be a power blogger. right now. we want to be a better writer. right now. we want to be more fashion forward. better with money. less shy and more outgoing. we want so easily and yet, it is so hard to do. but, if i am honest with myself, in everything i do that i am somewhat successful at, it is because i've practiced. and, my husband has downed enough burned cookies to know that i am still practicing my baking skills. this is what i know: the more you do something, the more you understand it, the more you feel comfortable with it, the more you can play and have fun with it, and the less tedious it is, the more natural it becomes. the more you understand how to tango with it, the more confidence comes with all the practice that has naturally evolved. this has been my experience with learning photoshop and illustrator, in learning how to blog in my own voice, in learning how to run my own graphic design business. and learning to let go and just be me in a party full of intimidating and fabulous guests. pick something you want to be better at and practice becoming your favorite self. a little at a time. don't stress about the huge hurdles. you'll find yourself understanding more and more as you keep at it!

tip #2. my creative writing teacher used to advise, stop whining and put your head down and write. admittedly practicing is not always so fun. sometimes just the word 'practice' gives me hives. it feels like a chore. if you can fool yourself into practicing, then maybe you'll learn something somewhat by accident! for example; i named my blog martawrites because i crave to be a real writer. i want all those gushy lovely prose to pour out of me. but usually they do not come. usually i am not so bold or creative or thoughtful to think up such amazing pieces of writing. however, i do know that nothing would ever pour out of me if i did not at least TRY. therefore, i've fooled myself into writing practice every day by just blogging. i love that this medium is giving me the excuse to write even without me really noticing it. it doesn't feel so hard to write because i have fallen in love with blogging and blogging doesn't feel like writing. give yourself an assignment like photographing your next door neighbor's newborn and figure out your camera as you are experimenting. you will please a new mama with lovely pictures and you'll have learned new lessons by simply doing what you crave to do. going back to my baking lessons; i always sign up for desserts on our church lists because i need to fool myself into practicing baking them. and thus last month, i figured out how to flip a cake out of the pan without any crumbs sticking.

tip #3. sometimes it (whatever it is you're working on) needs a little time to breathe and evolve organically. for awhile and sometimes still, i feel like my blog is way too all over the place. every blog conference i've attended warns that you must have a niche to be a successful blogger. but frankly, i figured out that for me i don't really belong in a niche. my blogging style is crazy and random and off the top of my head and that's the way i spill my words the best. those of you who can hack it have stayed with me. hooray. you have to do what's right for you. you have to be brave enough to let loose and let go of your need for perfectionism. you cannot figure out what you want to blog about if you never blog. you cannot find your voice in blogging if you never allow yourself to get comfortable using it. you can never learn what your readers connect with if you're constantly editing your work and giving yourself negative feedback and pulling back on your original content. you will not get better at something if you never really start with your whole heart. you will never know what the genuine words of your voice are saying if you're gagging your words with a spoon. "slotted spoons don't hold much soup." that is my favorite line from the musical, into the woods. figure out what it means for you.

tip #4. do or do not, there is no try, words from yoda. lets review: figure out what it is you want most and figure out a way to do it. practice it. fool yourself into practicing and do not be so hard on yourself. let your rough drafts breathe. allow yourself to be imperfect. some of my favorite pieces from famous artists are the ones that were tossed to the side, the rare peeks at their scribbles. sometimes a masterpiece can come from doodling in the margins. van gogh drew little sketches in his letters to his brother, theo. let yourself be at ease with your art (and yourself). it's okay to let the mistakes show.

tip #5. when faced with a problem, step back and take your own advice. what would you say to a friend who was struggling with a similar problem? think of what you'd tell her and then take your own advice. i like writing these types of blog posts because it reminds me to actually practice what i preach. ease up the pressure; think of your goal and break it down into simple segments. do not focus so much on the outcome of what you want to accomplish (a gorgeous inspirational blog, an incredible six pack, shiny hair that just won't quit), but rather hone in on the journey of it (continuing to figure out what posts you like to write and brushing up on your photography, figuring out the next rockin' playlist that will get you movin, deep conditioning like a maniac). make it a manageable goal rather than something that feels overwhelming. take baby steps and you'll find yourself refining your art. take small bites and overcome your feelings of self doubt and stage fright (and feel proud of every batch you do not burn). you can do this. xo. marta

easter in sun valley

2012-04-12T05:00:00.000-06:00

wearing winter gear on spring break is not so bad when you're in beautiful sun valley, idaho.

+ an easter egg round up (not so much of a hunt as they were all scattered in plain sight for the wee ones)! with so many kiddos, it was the quickest hunt i've ever seen. off to get a tattoo.

+ meeting the real easter bunny, in the fur.

+ the boys got in on some serious spring skiing. i love watching dan get benji all geared up: helmet, mittens and more. okay, thumbs go in the thumb pockets. admittedly, i am not much help on the slopes. however, i am in charge of packing the apres ski snacks. dried mangoes, sandwiches and trail mix.

+ iconoclast book store and cafe is our favorite place to browse books and sit awhile. oh so charming with its chalkboard-topped tables and an incredible stationery and hipster card selection. the toasted bagel and cream cheese is an excellent lunch for the famished.

+ the latest craze while being patient for a parent who is shopping is to find a little cozy spot to make a quick movie. no, no, no, mom. we start like this: you say, how old are you benji? and then i say, three. and we go from there. he's got the script down. and there is usually a knock knock joke involved. i can't wait to show the home movies to his fiance.

+ enjoying breakfast (and bears) at the kneadery. best breakfast in town. opens at eight.

read more about our trip here.

coming home from vacation. the list.

2012-04-11T09:54:00.000-06:00

+ i packed all our darling easter spring clothes for our easter spring vacay. i forecasted sunshine and suntans. unfortunately the short sleeves remained packed. we wore turtlenecks and parkas the whole time. in fact, in a moment of motherly weakness, i let benji hunt for easter eggs in his camouflage sweat pants. (gasp.) he also got a temporary tiger tattoo that day. on his face. it still hasn't come off yet. i'm deeming myself as awesome mom. he was unbelievably happy and it was too chilly to make him wear his charming argyle vest and plaid shirt. and the way he says hello to tiger every morning in the mirror is pretty cute. i'm learning to let things go. and come to think of it, i'm totally fine without that perfect picture of him hunting for eggs in a catalogue-worthy outfit. small steps, people.

+ dan calls him a tiger on the slopes. so, it is a fitting symbol. as all tats should be.

+ one of the highlights was watching the skillful woman in the lobby put together the easter floral arrangement as i cozied up by the roaring fire. the fresh flowers smelled divine. and the assortment was taller and rounder than me (if at all possible). it was a huge assortment of lilies and hydrangeas and all kinds of colorful blooms somehow perfectly placed in symmetry. i also liked watching the delicate flowers balancing in the assistant boy's hand while she took her time creating the huge masterpiece. he was attempting to text someone and hold a garbage bag for the clippings at the same time. my favorite was the florist's professional method, as if she does a hundred of these arrangements in her sleep. she still loves flowers but is no longer drunk off their scent. at the very end of her tango around the blooming arrangement, she took out her camera and snapped a quick shot (just one) of her incredible creation and turned away as quickly as she arrived. i liked seeing that teeny glimpse of pride in her work.

+ laundry. i dreamt about bountiful towers of folded laundry (and termites!) last night. termites that mutated into giant scary creatures. and something else called 'laundry cake' that supposedly smelled and tasted delicious, with a touch of downy. bizarre. i got the message; my laundry and cake-eating habits need to be attended to.

+ re-reading tina fey's bossy pants on the road. alas, mockingjay was not available at the local library (go figure). i was happy to share our easter vacay with tina. she's hilarious and self-deprecating, in a really likeable way.

+ the cold did not deter the fun of the vacation, of course. the boys skiied. we relaxed. and ate. i read every magazine on the rack at the glorious bookshop that has a mammoth assortment of legos for kids to play with while their moms get in on free relaxing and reading (not unlike a spa treatment). i shopped around town. and balked at a 300 dollar scarf. actually a whole wall of 300 dollar scarves. the lady working there came over to me and kindly handed me a plastic egg with a ten percent off easter coupon inside of it. guess how many scarves i bought.

+ tiny silver earrings. i finally found some in a sweet gift shop. for under $300. i am happy. and will likely be wearing them for years to come.

+ cable tv and a swimming pool and endless supply of bubble bath. the little lovelies of hotel life.

+ introducing benji to strawberry sprinkle pop-tarts was another highlight of the trip.

+ not being able to fall asleep on the long drive home. rare treat indeed. while b slept the hours away, dan and i had a chance to catch up–just the two of us. plus i didn't miss passing all the gorgeous sunlit fields, tractors, and bugs splattering on the windshield.

pictures to come. / how was your weekend?

little boy love / inspiration board

2012-04-04T05:00:00.000-06:00

i could go on and on about how much i think about little boys; the fact that we will have two bouncing around this place makes me so happy. i can't help but dream up shared bedrooms, imagine tiny clothes and diapers lying around, and hoping benji can help swaddle his brother. i am in one moment trying to enjoy every second of the just benji stage while, the next moment, anticipating (and planning) life with another!

just yesterday i sat at the kitchen table (warm spring sunshine filtering in) with the back door open watching benji and his cousin scoot around on bikes, mark up our garbage cans with chalk and play soccer together in the backyard. benji kept his helmet on the whole time explaining that he was a construction worker man. after working so hard, they decided they were getting thirsty. i officially became the watering station with cup fulls of endless drinks. i love watching their imaginations grow. i am constantly wanting to write down every little thing he says and does. like when i gave them string cheeses, their sweaty little bodies sitting down to rest on the steps, and they knocked their cheese sticks together saying, cheers!!

+ i love this wagon for a playroom bookshelf / cory connor designs
+ am obsessed / the boy with the orange bowtie print / by lisa golightly
+ am dreaming of a red crib for our summer baby / chez daphne home
+ the mini cooper onesie / be still my heart / charlie and sarah etsy shop
+ stripey jammies and chubby legs / yes, please / polarn o. pyret
+ dancing dot blanket / just darling / polarn o. pyret
+ wooden car transporter for a helpful big brother / melissa & doug

real life / still life no. 03

2012-04-03T05:00:00.000-06:00

+ lemon chiffon cake (this must be the season of cakes; never baked so many in my life!)
+ spring has sprung in our town / benji loves to sing the popcorn popping song
+ prepping party favors for a special occasion
+ berries bathing in cream / a little luxury for a busy morning
+ storytime with benji (plus one) is the best time of our day
+ the mommy book by todd parr is my new favorite find from the library

hope your april has been beautiful so far!

traditional trail mix and a personal Q&A

2012-03-30T05:00:00.000-06:00

a long-standing tradition in my family has been whipping up a giant batch of conference trail mix in honor of the semi-annual LDS general conference (an incredible, two day televised event featuring speakers who discuss topics of faith, family and God). as young kids we'd use the pieces to fill in the squares of conference bingo; as adults we all munch thru cup fulls and give most of the nuts and raisins to my dad. i loved sitting atop the counter as a little girl to help my mom dump in and stir the treats together. every year the mix seemed to feature additional candy options: chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, peanut butter m&m's, craisins, etc. she liked to make a little twist on the traditional treat. however–ever since i can remember–gumdrops are always an essential. and on goes the tradition in my little family. happy general conference weekend.

side note // today i'm answering some fun questions for a Blogger Q&A over on jodie's fantastic blog. i'm divulging my favorite comfort foods, first movie star crush, bad habits, and much more.

five tips / getting personal with blogging

2012-03-28T05:01:00.146-06:00

truth be told, i'm running low on new blogging ideas. i'm designing two wedding invitation suites and am in the midst of two book layouts, so all my creative juices are currently at full capacity elsewhere. but you know i love blogging about blogging. so i had an idea. why not let you in on some personal emails i've been exchanging? lately i've been answering emails from awesome people. (do you have a question for me? shoot it my way.) in this post you'll find my two cents (and then some) on helping a certain someone give more genuine personality to their design-ey / professional blog.

...now, please know that i really, truly LOVE and adore your blog AS IS. i think it's clean and cohesive and fabulous in every way. your photos are amazing and your work and style really stand out. i can tell you are an amazing designer without knowing what you had for lunch or what is hanging on your walls or if you've branched out to neon skinny jeans.

but still, you asked for getting personal blogging tips and here is my advice for you... and this is somewhat funny coming from me, because i still tend to have plenty of DOUBTS about blogging. i am only affirmed by DOING IT and hearing kind comments from people like you! it's scary to be vulnerable and show REAL photos and tell REAL stories and be a real writer / blogger. it's so much easier to just blog about the fluff stuff; the material goods we're pining over, the foodie shots, to whine about the lady in front of you in the line at target and and say nothing from the heart. (the stuff from the heart takes a lot of time and effort to write!) but i always think i won't truly care about that fluff stuff in eighty years. i WILL care about the REAL stuff. the real feelings and special moments; the routine of my days, the way my house looks, how i feel, what i did as a young mom, what we did as a family, what projects i'm working on, what thoughts are brewing in my mind, etc. so here goes on taking baby steps...

tip #1. you'll have to decide what boundaries you want to create for yourself. how much of yourself and family will you share? will you call them by name? post pictures? it's important to decide what you will and will not share openly on the internet. it's a big deal and you should be careful about what you do and don't post. decide what works for you! my most open-hearted posts are usually read by dan first because i care about his opinion.

tip #2. i think words are golden; even though i love pretty photos of bloggers and their babies in central park and on the subway and foodie instagram shots, i still think readers want to know what's inside your head. it doesn't have to be poetic or perfect, it just has to be in your own words. (i know i'd love to hear more about YOU and what your studio looks like, and hear about the behind the scenes stuff! i'd love to know how you manage your time and what your days look like.. and how you've grown your business.)

tip #3. you have to shut off the voice that says you're being narcissistic. frankly, it's kinda the name of the game in blogging. however i think you can come from a good, humble place and showcase your work / family / home / etc. without being overbearing or all lookey lookey. if your intent comes from a genuine place readers will be able to know you better. a blog is a diary and a diary is personal and being personal has the potential to connect you in new ways to new people. it's incredible the reaching power it has. (would we be emailing each other right now if you hadn't first read my blog!?)

tip #4. you don't have to be an expert in pancakes to post your famous recipe. sharing is caring. and sharing a good recipe or tip is not the same thing as bragging about how rad you are. a lot of blogs get very braggy very quickly. my advice is to post what you want; post what you want to remember, post things that you love, post whatever is meaningful to you in the moment (if you're interested in a certain topic, there is a good chance your readers will be into it too). everyone always wants a good recommendation; whether it's lipstick shades or throw pillows (i know your house decor is amazing). remember, you're not claiming that you're the next NATE BERKUS by giving us a mini tour of your place, you're just telling us what works for you in your home and in your life... and that is great. (personally i love knowing where people get great house stuff, how they're organizing their storage, what their nurseries look like. you're not bragging, you're just giving us good information that we can utilize in our own lives!)

tip #5. seek out inspiration for blogging and make lists! i know you love lists. so when a good idea comes for blogging, make a stockpile of potential posts. this is much harder to do as a personal blogger, but once you start thinking seriously about what kind of posts will matter to you (and are worth your time!), more ideas will grow. and one more thing, do not focus on stats or the total number of comments you get every day. this will absolutely kill your blogging spirit. another source of inspiration is your google reader! check out your favorite blogs and ask yourself specifically what you like about their blogs. what about those blogs keep you coming back for more? see if you can implement some of those elements in your own way to rev up your blog writing.

bonus tip. don't think about it too hard. blogging ought to be fun. whenever a writer dissects their writing–revising and editing it to death–it loses its authentic light. let your words be. let them have the spotlight. especially with blogging. this is an amazing forum where writers get to publish their rough drafts to the world. don't be too critical and try hard not to doubt yourself. confidence only grows when we use it; be bold.

xo. marta

making scripture hero binders / remembering Christ

2012-03-27T05:08:00.021-06:00

our three year old loves to learn (he is spelling out signs and wanting to read more and more), it's amazing to me how it comes so naturally. i want to teach him about Jesus and how to choose the right and make good choices while learning is still fun for him. his heart is so open, i hope to fill it up with the very best things while he's young. i want to make the most of the quiet storytimes we have together. after a few times of hearing him sweetly bless the Easter Bunny in his prayers, i decided we need more daily reminders of what our faith teaches rather than what the world is promoting.

we put together three thin binders (easy enough to carry, tote to church or the car, etc.) for our family. i made one binder of faith-promoting articles for adults, another for benji full of colorful scripture stories and simple pictures and another binder dedicated to activities and articles focusing on christmas. we included stories about Jesus, and stories of little boys learning an important lesson, powerful scripture heroes, lessons from good examples etc. (i custom made it just for him). and while benji rode circles around me on his bike, i sat on a lawn chair and compiled the articles into plastic sleeves. i could tell this was a good idea when benji kept coming over and asking if i could read him this one and then that one. i love when he crawls into my lap and says, tell me what this one is about...

i love easter time and am attempting to focus more on Christ, less on chocolates and egg hunts. the articles seen here are all taken from monthly magazines, The Ensign and The Friend.

DIY painting a bathroom during naptime / before & afters

2012-03-26T04:09:00.047-06:00

here comes the big reveal on our bathroom makeover. i'm excited.

my cousin whitney and i tackled my purple bathroom head on one afternoon. the key is having all the preparations (paint, supplies, rollers, ladder, tape, etc.) in place before starting. and having a rockstar partner in painting is essential (and a sleeping / distracted toddler is mandatory). so here's the story. dan and i had decided on the paint color long ago (we bought the can of paint back in september!) which is half the battle. we chose benjamin moore creamy white since we wanted something light and fresh. we decided on a butter, creamy hue that would coordinate nicely with the unique tile work already in place. we taped up a couple cream paintchips next to the tiles and found a shade that worked well. i figure, when there is already a color scheme in the works, why fight it?

whit and i worked hard all day rolling the creamy paint and cutting in around corners. our pregnant bellies and the limited space were just the beginning of our adventure. we couldn't be more happy with the result. i am learning to love a good do-it-yourself project, you feel a fantastic sense of accomplishment (even if it's not perfect). now i get to soak in the tub and ooh and ahh over our own handiwork. take a peek at our painting project (and inside my cupboards for even more makeover essentials)...

resource guide
+ paint color / benjamin moore creamy white
+ shower curtain / pottery barn clearance shelf
(hunting down the right shower curtain should become an olympic event.)
+ fluffy white bath mat (not pictured) / tj maxx
+ oversized blue & white platter / ikea
+ glass containers / found objects from my kitchen
+ small cupboard door hooks / command removable hooks
(looping my headbands and watch on hooks is so handy)
+ towel and toy crate / inherited vintage wooden wine box
+ over the door towel hooks (not pictured) / tj maxx
+ clear makeup organizer / ikea
(every make-up junkie needs a good system)
+ good morning print / dapper paper co. (framed at michael's)

side note / i love these work-out headbands; they never budge or give me headaches. they are created by a boston marathon alum, elizabeth, my sister-in-law. of course i wear them to keep my hair out of my face while making cookies and cleaning the house, which sometimes feels like a marathon.

p.s. if you're keeping track (not sure why you would be), but we amateurs have now painted four rooms in our new home: one (his big boy room), two (our room), three (the studio), and four (the bathroom)!!

city creek center opens downtown salt lake city

2012-03-23T05:40:00.018-06:00

opening day at city creek provided all the hype it has been boasting all this time. while living in idaho i missed downtown dearly, it is times like these i feel so good to be home near the wasatch front (and near a brand new H&M). i might add, the H&M does not disappoint; with a sweet section of maternity and plenty of kiddie clothes. gina, it was so nice to bump into you!! toddler in tow, we barely scratched the surface yesterday. city creek has so much to offer! the crowds were typical and the only line we waited in was one for ten minutes outside the disney store (at which point benji asked if we were in disneyland). have any of you been yet? what did you think!?

p.s. i'm working on some big projects (can't wait to reveal them!!) and am gearing up to send them to the print shop. last night i had a nightmare that one bride's wedding invitations came back from the print shop all in times new roman font, no elements of design added. i woke up in a cold sweat. hilarious that these are the kind of nightmares we graphic designers have. happy weekend everyone.