rich girl

I have a friend who has taught me this truth lately. (Katy you know I'm talkin' bout you.)

Education would also fall into this category. I guess you could also buy stocks, and they could pay off and make you richer, but I'm talking about real riches here. 

Here's what I want you to do: take a minute and remember a trip you took with your family as a kid. Think about the actual travel part. Think about the destination, and the food you had, and the funny things that happened.

What is that memory worth to you?

We talked about just flying to our destination for our summer trip. But, you know, I think there is something to be said about road trippin' with your kids. The misery. The smell. The togetherness. It's a hellofa long haul eh? Memories people. Memories. 

We are road trippin' today. We are driving cross country in the family wagon. We are taking treats. We are taking movies. We are not taking the dog. Although that was, at one point, an irrational thought.

We have quite a few trips planned for the rest of the year. Big trips and little trips. Trips with kids and without.  

I am so excited to see where all of these journeys take us.  I feel rich.

**** If you are looking to enrich your own life, there is still room for you if you'd like to come to Morocco with Mindy and I in October.****

frankie valentine turns two

He's a quirky little scrap of a kid. He likes Curious George and climbing and skate boards and airplanes. Always airplanes. He is rough and tough and incredibly soft and loving all at once. He whispers my name "A-pole" into my ear when I hold him in my arms.

His birth rocked our world. He is the best thing to happen to us that we thought we didn't want.

God is great.

Happy Birthday Henry. We love you to the moon and back.

mindy, me & morocco

And my super big exciting news is...

Mindy Gledhill and I are super excited to be hosting a creative retreat at Peacock Pavillions in Marrakesh!

October 6-13th, 2012


That gives you almost a whole year to plan if you would like to come!

This creative retreat will emerse you in the culture of Morocco.  Activities include a guided tour of Marrakesh, shopping in the souqs, five different creativity workshops, a trip to Essaouira along the coast, henna tattooing, authentic Morrocan cuisine, spa treatments, dinner shows, belly dancing and so much more!

If you think you might like to join us on this adventure, please fill out the form below and we will contact you with more information.

Interest Form

wanderlust

dear morocco

I got me a bad case of wanderlust. I got it something fierce.

I've been dreaming of spices and old buildings and beads. Always beads. And noodles.

I have a passport that sits in our safe. Just sits there.  Ready. Empty pages.

I'm hungry for inspiration. I want to see something I've never seen before. Something I never knew existed. 

Lately my thoughts have leapt out of the box.  So far out of the box they cross oceans and continents. They fly over London and through the streets of Paris. They take me to the markets of Marrakech and on Safari in Tanzania.  

The Sugar Daddy humors me so. I talk and talk. He listens, and on occasion throws in an idea or two. At the end of the day, when we lay our heads down to sleep, he says, "Sleep tight big dreamer."

And dream I do. Of Chinese fire dragons and aboriginals playing the didgeridoo. And beads. 

Always beads.

blessed are the curious

Tomorrow is going to be a memorable day for our family. Tomorrow we meet the amazing girl who is granting us our hearts desire. I am so curious to see her in person. I am curious to see how I feel in her presence. I hope I don't burst into tears and do the ugly cry the entire time.

Wish me luck.

I am equally curious to see what our daughter is going to look like. Will she have light or dark hair? Will she look like me? (Don't be skeptical. It happens more often than you'd think.)

Personally, I hope she looks just like her birth mom who is a classic American beauty.

Tracy Raver is a photographer in Omaha Nebraska. I never thought I'd wish I still lived there, but Tracy makes it tempting. I'd love to have her photograph our little sweetpea. Her sister (see pic in previous post) also does infant photography.

If you are wondering what to get the baby who already has everything (sorry girls, I just can't help myself) there is always a little knitted munkin hat or swaddler used in these pictures available through Mad About Color.

I feel like I am stepping into our future this weekend. It is supposed to be raining and overcast in Utah, but everything looks bright to me.

the course ahead

On Friday we are boarding a plane to Utah. We have several items of business to take care of while we are there.


First and foremost, we will get to meet our birth mother face to face. I am so excited and nervous I don't know what to do with myself. I am searching for the perfect outfit that says "I will make a great mom for your baby". Tell me, what does that look like exactly? If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them. Please note that Lee jeans and Rockport shoes are out of the question. As are scrunchies, most sweater vests and any item with a Disney character on it.

Second, my father will be turning sixty-three. I swear he is more active now than he was at nineteen, when this photo is taken. His hairline hasn't changed a bit, but he only has a few black hairs left. His left ear still sticks out a little and we girls of the family think it is charming. Happy Birthday Daddy-O.

And then of course, there is Easter. Hopefully this year Thom will lighten up his game a bit and let some of the younger kids find an egg or two. Last year was a little embarrassing. I'd like to find a good recipe for hot cross buns to make for Sunday dinner and a really great tie for Sugar Daddy.


Today I should be getting the wash done and looking for a kennel for Finn, but instead I am going to the beach to play in the sand with my ladybug. There is not that much time left. . .

the road home

Phew. I'm finally home. I'm finally sitting here at my computer, sleepy, but oh so happy to be back with my little family. And on Halloween! Happy Halloween everyone. Carve a pumpkin and eat a heap of candy. That's what I am planning.

And now, finally, the winners of the two previous drawings.

The winner of the Danita art print is comment #32 Celita in Avellino, Italy. She has a very interesting blog that you should most definitely check out. Celita, I need you to email me your shipping info please.

The winner of the blanket is comment #10, Morgan from Ogden, Utah. Morgan also has a blog and happens to be one of my little sister's good friends. Yeah Morgan! Just in time for your little one to come to you!

krabi not so crazy

This morning I took a short flight to Krabi. The slower pace of life here is tangible. The crazy busy rush of the city has fallen away and the hours here seem to last a little longer. We did art by the pool with pinacolada mocktails. Dinner was served near the ocean. There was a warm breeze that made the torches flicker and we were serenaded by the lapping waves and the soft voice of a man with a guitar. Sounds like a dream doesn't it? It felt like one too.

Here are a few random pics of a few of the sights I've seen so far.

The drawing for the Danita art and One Lucky Baby blanket are still open. Please leave a comment to participate. I'll be drawing names on Halloween.

tweaked and tailor made

One of the things I am really looking forward to in Thailand is tailor made custom clothing at a reasonable price. I have a few ideas that I am taking with me to see what I can have made. The first is this little number by Odd Molly.

I'd like fabric that is a little less busy and I'll want to add some sleeves. I'm thinking some flouncy pirate sleeves would look nice. I'd also like to find some hand embroidered trim to use for the cross detail at the neckline.

I found this dress and overcoat, also by Odd Molly, that I'd like to tweak a little. We'll see what I end up with. It will be an adventure.



Here's a little sneak peak at tomorrow's giveaway.

mango and sweet rice

There is a little something that has been brewing lately. Emily Falconbridge and Tara Whitney are two great artists who conspired together to bring eight women to paradise for a week of art and self exploration. The trip is in October. Somehow, I am lucky enough to be going.

We have formed a Yahoo! group to get to know one another. We are strangers all. Hopefully, our internet chatting will make us friends before we leave for our adventure.

I am really looking forward to the inspiration I can glean from this trip. Hopefully, I will return with boundless ideas for new art projects and jewelry pieces.

Mango and sweet rice is a traditional Thai dessert that just happens to be one of my favorite things on the planet. (See recipe in Cucina Chronicles.) Thai food- here I come.