angela hardison.

the art of almost.

2012-01-25T13:45:00.003-07:00

There's probably an implied rule that one shouldn't wear horizontal stripes while this pregnant, but I'm not following it. At over 32 weeks it's all getting quite comical anyway. I'm just about at the point where it's hard to imagine my body getting any bigger, and yet I know it will.

Can we talk about how I'm a little bit terrified for what's to come? Labor and delivery, recovery, and then being responsible for raising a life in this world... it's all so much to take in and keeps overwhelming me. Looks like I may need to spend the next few weeks working on my mental and emotional state; perhaps I'll even read the birthing and parenting books on my list.

On a much lighter note, a big thank you to Rachel at Black*Eiffel for including me on the list of up-and-coming blogs at Alt Summit. Lately there hasn't been as much time or energy to devote to this space as I would like, but I do love sharing whenever I can.

dawned on me.

2012-01-21T11:45:00.019-07:00

It's been a whirlwind of a week, with no time to stop and rest until now. Five senses, a day late:

------------------------------

seeing
Remnants of party decor around the house. Last night we hosted a surprise 30th birthday party for our friend, and this place was packed with a hilarious, rowdy bunch of people.

tasting
Urban Picnic for lunch with some friends visiting town.

hearing
Wilco tonight at Gammage!

touching
My poor swollen ankles, proof that I need to kick back and relax for a bit.

smelling
Everything to an intense degree (and I thought my sense of smell was powerful before pregnancy).

------------------------------

make it easier.

2012-01-16T16:55:00.002-07:00

This is a favorite snack in our house*. Partly because it's really really simple, and partly because it's delicious. I usually have all the ingredients on hand so it's something I can make when that trip to the grocery store keeps getting put off. The balsamic vinegar adds a bit of sweetness, which I love.

Bean & corn salsa
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 red bell pepper (sometimes I add in an orange pepper too)
1 bag frozen corn
2 T. white or golden balsamic vinegar

Serve with tortilla chips.

*Thanks to my friend Sarah, who originally shared it with me.

in the kitchen.

2012-01-10T18:00:00.004-07:00

When it's clean, our bright kitchen makes me happy. It's not too big, but not too small either (unless of course it's my turn to prepare our huge family Sunday dinner and there's 25 people waiting for food). It has just the right amount of old quirks like open corner shelving, a funny built-in desk that could only fit a small child, and the original 1940s milk delivery door.

There's also one of those narrow closets with a pull-out wooden ironing board. On a whim I decided to drill a hole into the door and add a knob, so I could hang up a cute apron, oven mitt and potholder. You know how it goes around here... the more color the merrier.

my favorite one in town.

2012-01-05T10:15:00.004-07:00

Last week during a quiet moment, it hit me how much I already love this baby, and I cried. Maybe it had something to do with this beautiful lullaby shared by a friend, or maybe it was because I've been sick for over a week and am really lacking sleep. But probably it's just because my heart was going to burst.

It also hit me how there's so much left to do to get ready, and we've done almost nothing. Aside from a few clothes and a crib that should be arriving any day, there aren't many signs of a baby coming home. Time to get to work.

That's my bump at 29+ weeks. An old lady at church told me it looked like I was blossoming... that's a nice way to put it. Oh, and how sweet is the vintage rocking horse? My sister-in-law Kathryn refinished it and gave it to us for Christmas.

go ahead go ahead, throw your arms in the air.

2012-01-02T14:00:00.008-07:00

2011 was a life-changing year for sure.

We bought an old house, moved in, and started what has become a never-ending project. I went through a stressful but rewarding career change. I saw a naturopath and took control of my health, ate 50% raw and kept longing to be a mother. We almost lost our patience a few times and then were surprised with baby news at just the right moment.

Plus there were a lot of great little things in-between the major events: like vacations here and there, hot air balloons and scarves in hair, that time Clint almost died or so I thought, exploring around town and loving our beautiful state.

I know 2012 will change our worlds even more.
(My two main goals are to have this baby, then lose all that extra weight :) And of course I'll be adding some work/project goals to the list as well.)

Happy New Year!

wish you well.

2011-12-28T10:00:00.002-07:00

What a week it's been. Full of chaos, but the good kind.

- I turned 27 years old and had a really splendid birthday.
- Successfully finished shopping and wrapping presents at the last minute.
- Celebrated Christmas Eve and Christmas day with both of our families.
- Hugged on every single one of our 14 nieces and nephews.
- Survived family photos at 7 months pregnant.
- Loved being with my huge family, who was all together for the first time in 5 years!
(The last photo is all 9 of us kids, youngest to oldest.)

Best time of year. I'm not letting it go quite yet.

better together.

2011-12-20T13:30:00.002-07:00

My dear friend Bonny got married last week. Here's the letterpress invitations I designed for her, combining some favorite things: fun typography, vintage flourishes, patterns, and a blind deboss impression.

Congratulations, friend. It's always so great to see people in love. I feel blessed to really mean it when I say that marriage is one of the best things ever.

Oh - and Clint may have included the potential name of our future daughter when he signed the guest book...

my heart inside of your hand.

2011-12-15T17:15:00.002-07:00

26.5 weeks along now, which is almost 27 weeks, which is pretty much 7 months, right? Because as of today that's what I've started answering when people ask me how far along I am. I'm big. I feel like a completely different person when I look in the mirror or see photos of myself.

Clint has started greeting me with "hey there, pregnant," and other funny things, but my favorite was when I was wearing yoga pants and he called me Humpty Dumpty. He can finally feel her kicks and punches, and likes to push on my belly or talk to her to get a reaction.

It's really sweet to think about a little person joining our family so soon. I keep imagining her tiny body curled up sleeping in my arms. Just a couple more months to go... that sounds like nothing and like forever at the same time.

with grace in your heart & flowers in your hair.

2011-12-13T16:00:00.001-07:00

Lately we've been talking about how happy we are in our current downtown neighborhood. Even though we get to deal with some interesting predicaments of owning a really old house, even though there's a nearby train and a rooster that wake me up crazy early in the morning, even though it's borderline sketchy in some parts... we love the culture, the diversity, and the history. It just feels like the right place for us.

For me, the greatest part has probably been some new friendships. We love our neighbors and friends in this area. A perfect example is my friend Beth who is a sweet, generous, beautiful soul. She's the kind of person who drops by with thoughtful gifts, sends handwritten notes in the mail, or brings over amazing artisan bread made by her husband. She's also a really talented artist. When I went over to her house for lunch a few weeks ago, I walked in to see some new oil paintings covering her kitchen table and fell in love with the above painting (my favorite flowers). I was so excited when she agreed to sell it to me. Nothing beats having original art in the house, and it's even more meaningful because of who created it.

Visit her shop, Le Petit Cheval, for some great illustrations and prints (including a print of that very painting here - and another of my favorites I Like You, Like You).

bring me round.

2011-12-09T16:00:00.005-07:00

The cutest thing happened yesterday: a sweet little lady who didn't really speak English walked up to me, pointed right at my tummy and exclaimed in a fantastic foreign accent, "Ahhh...baby! HAPPY!!!" I wish I could have recorded it to play back to myself whenever yet another item of clothing is just too tight (which happens almost every day).

Here are two vintage favorite finds that will have to wait a few more months to be worn: a striped skirt with bright yellow lining and a b&w patterned blouse.

repeat the sounding joy.

2011-12-05T14:00:00.002-07:00

The Christmas DIY spirit took over me this weekend while sick at home, so I decided to get crafty with my down time. I made the colorful felt ball garland I've been wanting for years. I started working on a yarn wreath, but it's yet to be determined if it will actually turn out cute. And then inspired by Emily's holiday special, I designed this Joy to the World map print and framed it to put on the mantle. (Sidenote: when I realized we actually have a fireplace and mantle to hang stockings from for once, it made me extra happy.)

'Tis the season for giving, so here's a free printable PDF of my artwork if you want to make your own.

DOWNLOAD:
Joy to the World
Peace on Earth

moving in elliptical patterns.

2011-12-02T12:31:00.008-07:00

Five senses for today:

--------------------------------

seeing
Lemons all over our citrus tree, plus a bunch of leaves falling from the big trees and covering our front yard.

tasting
Apple cider. It's been a cozy, cloudy day.

hearing
Birdy and her beautiful cover songs.

touching
Baby bump... I can't help it. She's over 9 inches long in there and she's almost the only thing we think or talk about.

smelling
Pine, because we're finally bringing home a Christmas tree this weekend.

--------------------------------

good tidings.

2011-11-28T11:15:00.001-07:00

And it's the best time of year again... which means finding a tree, pulling out the vintage ornaments and decor, decking the halls, and listening to the great Christmas playlist I put together last year.

Listen to it here (songs 1-20) and here (21-40).

streams of mercy, never ceasing.

2011-11-23T00:30:00.007-07:00

I taught a lesson in church a couple weeks ago about prayer. As I was preparing it the realization came that I'm quick to ask for help or peace whenever needed, but it's not often that I just pour out my heart in thanksgiving for all my blessings. So I'm making an extra effort this week to think about and express gratitude for the many, many things I have to be thankful for.

(Just to name a few: my incredible family, inspiring and thoughtful friends, the tiny miracle growing inside of me, a creative mind, and a world filled with beauty.)

Happy Thanksgiving!

listen to: Sufjan Stevens - Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

---

update: The talented Melissa Esplin is teaching some last-minute calligraphy classes this weekend in Phoenix. Her lettering is beautiful and I've got this print she made me to prove it. Calligraphy has always been something I've wanted to learn, so I'm really excited to be going. If you want to join us at a special Saturday class, just put SATURDAY in the notes to seller. More info and sign-up here.

hands in the sky.

2011-11-20T16:15:00.004-07:00

It was definitely worth waking up way before the sun to go to the Arizona Balloon Classic. Hot air balloons are magical, especially when you're standing in the midst of them as they launch all around.

You know what else is magical? Feeling a little baby inside of you kick and wiggle around.

your days in one.

2011-11-15T11:02:00.012-07:00

Working from home is pretty great. Although sometimes I get stir crazy and a little lonely, and other times I'm so overwhelmed by to-do lists that it's really easy to procrastinate. Also it feels like I'm in a time warp... how is it already Thanksgiving next week?

There are some fun projects on my plate right now: branding, book design, websites. The card above (from here) is a bit of color inspiration for one of the wedding invitations I'm designing and might be my favorite palette of the moment.

5.

2011-11-10T11:00:00.000-07:00

Five years!

I got a little choked up this morning while telling Clint how much I love him. He is the happiest and brightest part of my life.

Anybody who knows him would agree that he makes life a party. Can you imagine what it's like to live with someone like that? Here's an idea: he jumps out of bed in the morning and starts dancing (really), he comes home and chases me around the house to tickle me, and he can always make me laugh. Then there's all the other good stuff on top of that: brilliant, hard-working, handsome, loving, and understands me like nobody else could. Even during the hard moments in our marriage he's my favorite person ever.

Happy anniversary, husband.

when everything around you's changing like the weather.

2011-11-07T17:00:00.005-07:00

This time of year is always an adjustment for me as the amount of daylight diminishes. It might be weird how much I enjoy watching all the different shadows around our house, and how the light bounces off the walls through our windows.

The past few days couldn't have been better - complete with a long walk around our neighborhood in the rain, Vietnamese dinner plus crepes for dessert with friends, and bundling up in sweaters and blankets because our house is now 60 degrees (I'm not turning the heater on until Clint makes me).

there will be snacks.

2011-11-02T09:00:00.004-07:00

Pomegranates are awesome. They're a bit of a pain to de-seed, but their little burst of flavor is worth it. I picked some up the other day and decided to combine a few things to make this simple and delicious snack.

pomegranate berry salad
pomegranate arils
strawberries
raspberries
cucumbers
mint leaves
feta cheese

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I thought it would have been funny to announce the good news by photographing my raw food meals as usual, and instead of the typical healthy things there'd be the only stuff I could keep down during the first few months of pregnancy: Taco Bell, Sour Punch straws, In-N-Out, crackers, macaroni and cheese. Gross, I know. I'm SO grateful to be enjoying fruits and vegetables again.

caught in the middle.

2011-10-31T14:15:00.001-07:00

I'm just over 20 weeks pregnant, which means I'm officially past the halfway mark. My belly is getting round and so is my face. It's definitely a strange, humbling experience to see and feel your body change so much. But few things are better than thinking about having a little baby in my arms to show for it.

Happy Halloween!
Clint recorded a cover of the classic Monster Mash song, which you can listen to here... I'm still laughing.

let's turn the page.

2011-10-27T16:00:00.007-07:00

It's finally time to share the other huge change that's been going on in my life for the past while. If you know me in real life, this is old news. Or maybe you already read this article or this goodbye post. After over four years of growing SeeSaw, we've all decided to go our separate ways.

I'm so proud of the business we built and the accomplishments and success that we experienced. It was more than winning awards, being featured in newspapers, HOW, Print, Martha Stewart — it was feeling satisfied by the work I was doing and realizing that I was living my dream. So in that sense, it's sad to seemingly just let it go. But at the same time, I'm beyond excited about this change and new opportunities in store.

What does this mean for me? I'll continue working with some of my current design clients and taking on new clients as a freelance graphic designer. I'll continue doing letterpress — wedding invitations, prints, possibly stationery. I'm also going to explore textile design, prop styling, and other various creative pursuits, along with being a mother. I know that's a lot. All in good time, of course.

Here's to change and new endeavors!

left waiting outside your door.

2011-10-25T14:30:00.002-07:00

This vintage croquet set has found a new home on our front porch. I love its classic, colorful design. If you come over, you just might be challenged to a croquet match.

I really like having a porch — especially this time of year. When it gets a little colder, I'm sure you'll find us sitting out there, wrapped in blankets and sipping hot cocoa.

it's a...

2011-10-20T11:00:00.005-07:00

We found out this morning and I couldn't keep it quiet for very long. Looks like the tiny person growing inside of me is a GIRL!

Secretly I've always wanted my first little sidekick to be a girl, but we had ourselves pretty convinced it was a boy and I was so excited about that too. Now that we're 90% sure, it's time to start really thinking about names and the nursery AND start doing some shopping (who am I kidding, I've been buying vintage baby clothes here and there for the past two years).

We're so happy.

it takes an ocean.

2011-10-19T11:30:00.003-07:00

I took a quick trip to California with my sister Anna and her two little ones, Clara & Hazel. There's never a dull moment when you're with Clara (here's a little proof), and it was really great to spend time with my oldest sister Emily and her family.

Plus, Clint always likes me better after we've spent a few days apart.

start again.

2011-10-16T08:15:00.002-07:00

For years I've been wanting to compile my favorite recipes in a book. (I've tried going digital, but I just prefer a hard copy to reference while I cook.)

When I found this vintage recipe folder, complete with gold foil and separate compartments for each category of food, I decided to use it to organize some of my favorites. So I'm slowly transferring recipes onto cards that I designed with matching illustrations. I'm not sure it's the best system, but I'm going to try it out.

How do you organize your recipes?

in its right place.

2011-10-12T08:44:00.012-07:00

Here's a few things happening in our lives right now:

I am taking advantage of feeling better and being extra productive, anxiously awaiting next week when we find out the baby's gender so I can start buying clothes and decorating a nursery, and getting ready for a weekend trip to California with my sister.

Clint has suddenly taken an interest in all sorts of home improvement projects, learned the first three piano chords from Radiohead's Everything in its Right Place and plays them over and over, is starting to buy and sell houses for people, and found a new old guitar to love.

----

I'm featured over at Emmadime today as part of her Lovely Lady series.
Also, sharing a few thoughts on my love for color at The Color Issue.

the sound will bring me home again.

2011-10-07T12:37:00.017-07:00

I haven't been sleeping very well lately. And if I wake up early there's no going back to bed. I'm a bit sleep deprived, and when I told Clint "I'm super tired" he responded with, "Dang, that's a crappy superpower."

So happy it's Friday. Here's five senses for today:

--------------------------------

touching
My growing baby bump. Every time I walk past a mirror or window I'm surprised at my reflection. It's not very cute right now; I just look like I ate too many donuts.

hearing
Beirut's latest album. So good.

seeing
A house that desperately needs a deep cleaning. (Though I have decided making messes is a sign of creativity.)

tasting
Tzatziki on the veggie pita sandwich I'm eating for lunch right now. Also, apples and peanut butter.

smelling
Fresh air. The weather is incredible here right now.

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Oh and if you live in Mesa, be sure to check out the new Fall Guide from I Heart Mesa.

on the other side.

2011-10-03T16:30:00.004-07:00

Oh, October, so glad you're here. I'm celebrating your arrival with a freshly baked loaf of pumpkin bread and some new good music.

listen to: Wilco - Whole Love

eyes so mild and wise.

2011-09-29T22:30:00.001-07:00

Today was my dad's birthday, so a group of us took him out to lunch here. Other than the always amazing food, the atmosphere, and being with some of my favorite people -- I think the best part was watching his granddaughters surround him and climb all over him like usual. (Dad, you are really loved.)

how my heart behaves.

2011-09-25T17:00:00.006-07:00

Thank you so much for all of the congratulations!

It's pretty neat how much you can care about a tiny little human you've never met. At the ultrasound a couple weeks ago, baby did some flips for us. I'm sure it will be awesome when I start feeling it move inside of me. Clint keeps calling it a boy, I keep calling it a girl, but we'll be thrilled with whatever we get and cannot wait to find out in a few weeks. We like to laugh at my growing belly (I can push it out pretty far at night) and constantly talk about names. Everything is so new the first time around so we're soaking that up.

For the first trimester I was pretty out of it. Every evening I would get really sick, so a lot of time during those 12 weeks was spent in bed or standing over the toilet. A crazy amount of carbs were consumed and a few too many pounds put on right away. It's true; growing a human is hard work.

All this to say I'm so grateful to be feeling (mostly) better now and cannot wait to get back in the swing of things.

!!!

2011-09-20T00:00:00.006-07:00

We've waited a while for this. Now it's a different kind of waiting — the happiest kind you could ever imagine.

so inconceivable, often i barely can speak.

2011-09-12T19:00:00.000-07:00

A few days ago Clint went to Flagstaff for work, and I decided to tag along. I pretty much spent the whole time wandering around in pouring rain and loving every minute. That's when I realized how much I've missed being outside lately. So yesterday I took a blanket and a bowl of ice cream out to our yard, laid down underneath a tree, and watched a few clouds roll in. I've been feeling better ever since. (Nevermind that it only lasted as long as the ice cream was there to keep me cool.)

This is going to be a good week, including a dream show on Thursday (Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, The Walkmen) and some laughs with Demetri Martin on Friday.

new soul.

2011-09-06T11:09:00.007-07:00

Even though I had been wishing for a quick vacation somewhere, we had a nice long weekend at home - simple, quiet, unplanned. On Saturday we ventured out to Phoenix and met my dad for a delicious lunch at St. Francis, then did some vintage shopping. It's always so nice to spend a whole day with Clint, even if we're just driving around looking at old houses and neighborhoods.

So happy that September is here. When fall comes around, I think a little part of me comes back to life. And this year I'm especially looking forward to that renewed spirit.

pick up every piece.

2011-08-30T10:30:00.002-07:00

The other day I woke up and wanted to sew something. Then I remembered this thrifted red striped fabric from my stash and decided it would make a fine blouse. Needless to say, it still hasn't been started; but I figured if I set it out on my desk it might happen sooner rather than later.

Unfortunately that's my thinking behind a bunch of different projects, which explains the myriad of messes in this room.

little arrows of desire.

2011-08-23T18:00:00.008-07:00

Forgive the silence around here. I've been consumed with Very Important Things, like handling business matters and making plans and watching way too many episodes of Lost (I got sucked in after all these years).

Maybe one of these days I'll take my camera out with me and photograph a few snippets of life. For now, here's my pretty new jewelry from Ayofemi, a recent design client.

p.s. SALE time - 30% off everything in the vintage shop.
p.p.s. Also, thank you for the sweet encouragement on this. You guys are the best.

drawing crazy patterns on your sheets.

2011-08-18T14:00:00.003-07:00

I have a lifelong dream of being a textile designer.

When it comes down to it, that's the main reason I love vintage fabrics and dresses and Vera scarves and envelope liners and old books with great covers. Prints and patterns (and color, obviously) inspire me to no end and leave me wanting to create.

I'm not sure when or how, but someday I'm going to do something about that dream. Hopefully soon. Perhaps some tea towels or some fabric to start with...

a lot of bright.

2011-08-12T07:59:00.004-07:00

I've been working from home a lot lately and all the days are starting to blend together. My goal for this weekend is to get out of the house, away from the computer, and have some fun. Ambitious, I know.

Five senses for today:

--------------------------------

touching
Neon pink twine! Find out more in my guest post over at You Are My Fave.

hearing
Happy birthday songs to two amazing people: my dear mother and my father-n-law.

seeing
Those comfy colored v-neck shirts I've been wearing on heavy rotation.

tasting
Hopefully some yummy Indian food tonight. I want naan.

smelling
Spices, for a fun project I'm working on.

--------------------------------

a mouthful of diamonds.

2011-08-08T19:30:00.001-07:00

A little list of some great things:

- Anthology and Kinfolk magazines in print
- salt water taffy
- incredible close-up photos of sand (tiny treasures!)
- yoga at home in our sunroom
- this song on repeat again

slow motion.

2011-08-05T11:30:00.002-07:00

Here's the truth: it's been a bit of a rough week. The kind of week that has you wanting to crawl under the covers and stay put for a while, that has you convincing yourself it's okay to have ice cream for every meal, or to avoid every phone call... you know the kind. But here's another truth: it's also been a week filled with underlying peace and happiness and even excitement. It's funny how change can cause all those effects at once.

Enough with being vague... it's been a while since I shared a favorite find. I picked up this vintage black dress a few weeks ago and I just really love it. Especially the subtle stripes, and the buttons and bow in the back.

Happy Friday!

sheer simplicity.

2011-08-01T13:00:00.002-07:00

I haven't been taking many photos lately. But I have been enjoying a simple life: waking up early to make small feasts for breakfast, loving some laid-back weekends and summer storms, watching Shark Week and standing by my opinion that the ocean is the scariest place of all time, and trying to get serious about planting a garden soon.

part of the pictures once taken.

2011-07-28T10:00:00.001-07:00

There's been a lot of good things in my mail lately, but these were maybe the best of all. I ordered prints of my Instagram photos from PostalPix, and I love them! Little 4x4's of memories that I can hold in my hand. (And a reminder to get photos printed more often.)

if you shake her heart enough.

2011-07-25T09:30:00.000-07:00

We spoke in church on Sunday. I'm always so relieved once it's over... I walked in our front door and sat right down on the couch, with that box of sea salt and turbinado sugar dark chocolate almonds. And then I didn't move for over an hour.

That basically sums up the past few days, because other than preparing my talk (and making a grocery trip to Trader Joe's for said almonds and other goodies) I'm afraid I was positively useless.

Here's hoping for more energy and productivity this week!
If you have any pick-me-up music suggestions, I'd gladly take them.

walking in your landscape.

2011-07-21T10:30:00.009-07:00

Yesterday, SeeSaw took a day trip to Paolo Soleri's experimental town Arcosanti. The architecture and environment were really inspiring. By the end of the day, a little part of me — the free-spirited, hippie side of me — wanted to convince Clint that we should go back and stay for a few weeks.

if i had an orchard.

2011-07-19T04:00:00.006-07:00

Happy things*: cups full of crushed pebble ice, and lots of flavored water.

Raspberries, orange/lemon/lime slices and some fresh mint leaves make for a light and summery drink.
(Another good combo: strawberries and cucumbers.)

*a.k.a. things that are currently helping me find solace from another terribly hot summer

no one does it like you.

2011-07-17T00:30:00.007-07:00

This guy:

- is brilliant, capable, and witty beyond belief
- carries the conversation at every gathering and has people laughing nonstop
- questions and thinks about things in a way I really respect
- can make everything in the world feel right with his hugs

Happy birthday, husband. You're a riot, and just what the doctor ordered. I love you and I'm grateful for you every single day.

meet me by the water.

2011-07-15T10:44:00.014-07:00

It's hard not to be impatient when it comes to this old house. The list of things to do keeps growing. Instead of going into all the details, here's a good example: we're still sleeping on a mattress on the floor. So to stay sane while we wait a little and slowly do things the right way, I focus on little things I love. Like that old peephole on the front door and corner windows in the bathrooms.

We should probably spend our weekend cleaning all the dirty windows (the recent dust storm really did a number on this place). But watching Harry Potter and celebrating the birth of my favorite person sounds a lot more fun. Happy Friday!

golden haze.

2011-07-13T18:30:00.003-07:00

Did I mention we drove to and from Utah? It's a long but beautiful drive. On the way home, we took the Vermillion Cliffs Scenic Highway and made a couple stops at Cliff Dwellers and the Navajo Bridge. It was quite the welcome back into our home state... Arizona is pretty freakin' awesome.

(Next time I'm hiking a few miles so I can see this amazing sight.)

pour a little salt.

2011-07-10T22:30:00.005-07:00

This is a continuing visual documentation of my goal to eat 50% raw foods.

I've noticed a pattern — we eat much better in the few days right after a trip to the farmers market. It felt good to get back to the basics this week, since moving and traveling sorta messed up my eating habits.

Three thoughts to share: 1) Tomatoes are not disgusting if you buy the heirloom variety from local sources. 2) Homemade raw almond milk is the best and easy to make (thank you Rachel). 3) Roasted chickpeas will always make a perfect snack, and Clint loves them as much as I do.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Recipe Suggestions:

Black Bean Burgers
These veggie burgers were based off of Kenzie's recipe (I substituted quinoa for the bulgur). Will definitely be making these again.

Roasted Chickpeas
1 (12 oz) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt
cayenne pepper
note: I also added sesame seeds and basil to this batch. But there are so many variations to try, like the combinations on this list.

Preheat oven to 400°F. Dry chickpeas with a paper towel. In a bowl, toss with olive oil and season to taste with salt, etc. Spread on a baking sheet and cook for approx. 20 minutes or until slightly browned.

and we are all together.

2011-07-07T13:15:00.006-07:00

A little peek at the last few days, which were spent in Utah at my family reunion.

There was time in the city, an afternoon in the mountains, our own fireworks show, a day boating on Utah Lake, lots of late night visiting, and a fair share of mocking each other (out of love of course).

Clint and I had to come home a little early to get back to work. And now my two months of on & off vacation this summer are over... I have a lot of catching up to do.

it's no wonder.

2011-07-01T10:00:00.002-07:00

Five senses for this Friday, the first of July:

--------------------------------
touching
A new kilim rug for Clint's music room.

hearing
Telekinesis - Dirty Thing (hello perfect, upbeat summer tune)

seeing
A dear old friend for lunch, and all of my family soon.

tasting
Really juicy nectarines...mmm.

smelling
Clean laundry! I like my laundry room.

--------------------------------

local love: paletas betty.

2011-06-28T08:30:00.007-07:00

Best summer discovery so far: Paletas Betty in downtown Chandler. Handmade Mexican ice and cream pops made from fresh, whole ingredients. And aren't they cute? They come with a tiny signature "bite" out of the corner.

We bought a handful to try some different flavors. The key lime pie pop was perhaps the most delicious frozen dessert I've ever had, and I'm currently trying to resist eating another kind for breakfast.

Have you ever made your own popsicles? I've been wanting to experiment with some fun recipes, but until then — I have a new favorite place for treats.

in that dream, moving slow through the morning.

2011-06-26T21:30:00.005-07:00

By seven in the morning, our house is bright and glowing thanks to all the windows. Early this morning, before seven, there were a thousand birds chirping. When I opened my eyes and turned to look at Clint, he was already awake and mumbled that it felt like we were sleeping inside an aviary. Aside from the annoying factor, there's something kind of wonderful about being woken up every day by singing birds and natural light.

On another note, this evening we hosted a large family dinner. It makes me really happy to have kids running through our halls and climbing in the big trees out front.

Local friends... we're looking for renters for our other home. It's a nice place in a really great neighborhood in East Mesa. If you or anyone you know might be interested, email me for details.

blow your breezy charms around me.

2011-06-23T12:01:00.017-07:00

We made the annual family beach trip to California this past weekend, and soaked up some vitamin D while wearing dorky sunglasses. Clint might have gotten a little too much sun, as he's currently in a sorry state of sunburn.

sometimes i feel so happy.

2011-06-20T10:00:00.001-07:00

To brighten up a Monday: cheerfulness in the form of some striped paper yo-yos. (I handed them out to my nieces just for fun, but they would make for cute party favors or decor.)

Also, a belated Happy Father's Day! My dad is awesome. He's the right balance of brilliance and silliness, he always has the answer to everything, and he knows when to tease me or when I just need a big hug. Plus he leaves me funny blog comments. My father-in-law loves and serves others endlessly. Working with him this past year brought a light into my life and I will be forever grateful. And of course there's Clint, who will be an amazing dad someday. Let's just say our future kids are in for a real treat.

kin: reunion t-shirt designs.

2011-06-17T00:30:00.013-07:00

Today I'm excited to finally share a new project of mine that has been in the works for awhile... Kin: t-shirt designs for family reunions (or any event/gathering).

I've had so much fun making reunion shirts for our families over the past couple years. After a lot of ongoing interest from others, I decided to go ahead and make some designs available for customization with your personalized information. This is how it works. New additional designs will be added periodically.

Check it out here, and please spread the word.

p.s. Thank you Design Mom for the post!

birds of the summer.

2011-06-15T23:30:00.004-07:00

The second part of my Utah trip was spent in downtown Salt Lake with some beautiful women: Abby, Kate, Carla, Kera, and Shalynna. It was the first time meeting a handful of them in real life, but soon enough they all felt like old friends. I'm already missing our late-night conversations and rounds of laughter (I can still hear Kera's awesome laugh in my head).

Then there was a day to wander around the city by myself. I walked for miles, hung out at Temple Square, took a nap in a park, ate at the Beehive Tea Room, and learned that the easiest way for me to fall in love with a place is to explore it on foot with a camera in hand.

upward over the mountain.

2011-06-13T22:00:00.007-07:00

The first part of my trip was spent with my sister Rachel and her darling family. Utah in June is amazing; I was in constant awe at the picturesque views and perfect weather. We enjoyed a lot of time outdoors - parks, canyons, rivers, waterfalls, et cetera.

Things I don't want to forget: fresh-picked spinach leaves the size of my head and amazing morning smoothies, my 4-year-old nephew Lucas who didn't want to leave my side for one second and gave me endless hugs, joining Rachel for her writers group and reading the first part of her novel, and seeing my brothers Daniel and Steven with smiles on their faces.

in my mind.

2011-06-07T12:00:00.003-07:00

The lovely and gracious Reachel from Cardigan Empire asked me to share my thoughts on what helps me feel beautiful. If you've ever struggled with an inner critic (don't we all?), this one's for you.

p.s. Utah is more beautiful than ever. I keep staring out the window at the snow-covered mountains, and this morning we went on a long bike ride in some glorious weather. Follow me on Twitter or Instagram for little updates here and there.

far, but not too far.

2011-06-05T21:01:00.011-07:00

Tomorrow morning I'm heading to Utah for a week to visit family and spend time in Salt Lake with some friends, old and new. Packing is one of my least favorite things ever. Choosing that many outfits at once and trying to fit everything into a suitcase? Takes me way too long.

Based on the whirlwind my life has been the past several days (who am I kidding - more like months), it's going to be a really nice vacation. Clint is staying home. While he claims he is going to miss me after 25 minutes of playing his guitar at full volume, I'm betting it will actually take three days of eating baked Cheetos for dinner before he wishes I was around.

so i twist and turn.

2011-05-31T16:03:00.015-07:00

Maybe it's the summer heat, or maybe I'm just getting bored, but lately I've been wanting to cut my hair short. I actually like my hair long, but 1) it's not very healthy right now and 2) somehow I never quite learned to use bobby pins correctly so I end up with the same three hairdos: straight, loose curls, or just pulled up in a bun or ponytail. And usually the latter. Having it cut short and styled might be a little less boring and solve some of my perpetual hair predicaments, but it could also bring a whole new set of issues (110 degrees = sweat = wavy hair, and not the cute kind). Hmmm.

So I thought I might try something new today and rock a summer turban thanks to Liz's tutorial. Carmen recently sent me a surprise gift of some vintage Vera scarves for my collection, including this pink and red beauty. It's bright and long and perfect for this. I even wore it out of my house (the truth is, sometimes I'm not very brave when it comes to these things).

By the way, I have discovered that few things infuriate my husband more than when I wear lipstick. Apparently he likes to kiss me or something.

local love: mesa farmer's market.

2011-05-27T10:47:00.007-07:00

This morning I ventured over to the Mesa Community Farmer's Market, which is basically right around the corner from us now. Since I have Fridays off, this will probably become a weekly tradition. My bag was filled with red leaf lettuce, squash, heirloom tomatoes, shallots, mulberries, beets, red potatoes, artichokes, basil, and the cutest wild carrots. I also picked up some locally-made cilantro jalapeño hummus and a bag of yulu seeds.

If ever I'm feeling uninspired, all I need to do is take time to appreciate the beauty in fruits and vegetables. They're amazing.

Happy long weekend! We were planning on going up to the cabin in Pinetop, but there's still a little too much going on with our house and life in general... so instead we're staying home and I'm going to be ultra productive.

tiptoe through our shiny city.

2011-05-25T22:00:00.002-07:00

Lest you think I eat healthy all the time, here's a confession: the past couple of weeks have been a bit indulgent, but that's okay sometimes.

A perfect example are these pretty pastries we picked up from Scratch as part of SeeSaw's 4th birthday celebration. I can't believe it's been four years! I think that's really neat.

settling slow.

2011-05-23T17:40:00.003-07:00

We're officially all moved in. Our house is a disaster and probably will be for a couple months. We currently have no window coverings, internet or hot water... but we're smiling, as evidenced in this obligatory welcome home photo. A huge shout out and thank you to all of our friends and family for helping us move. And for stopping by with thoughtful welcome gifts, bringing us dinner, and just being excited for us.

There was also a welcome break over the weekend in the form of a fancy dinner party with Beth, Reachel, Stephanie, Alex, Lauren, Ashley, Aileen and all our husbands. Every detail was perfect and the food was amazing - if you don't believe me, read about it here or here.

Hooray for so many great people in our lives.

so sentimental.

2011-05-20T05:30:00.014-07:00

Another favorite find, another vintage dress with colors, pattern and material to adore. (Also, I'm still excited about our built-in closets.)

I enjoyed coming across all sorts of things while packing — notes and drawings from Clint in high school, funny photos with best friends, letters that tell a love story, binders of design work from college. Being so nostalgic makes the process take much longer. And seeing just how much stuff I own makes me wish I was a minimalist.

Have a great weekend! Ours will be a little bittersweet — saying goodbye to our first home and neighborhood, and then moving into the new place. I'm exhausted, physically and emotionally, but really happy.

i change shapes just to hide in this place.

2011-05-18T06:30:00.003-07:00

I like the mornings when I wake up with some crazy bedhead hair.
(My favorite is when it looks like I came straight out of an 80s hair band.)

I also like sleeping in Clint's old t-shirts. They're oversized and soft and perfectly comfy.
(So maybe I don't mind when I accidentally shrink another of his every now and again.)

p.s. Wondering if it's time to say bye to the plate wall for good.

there is joy.

2011-05-16T09:00:00.003-07:00

Here's the letterpress baby announcements I designed and made for my niece (that's what I was printing here). I think grey and pink is such a sweet color combination.

as we bow and swirl.

2011-05-13T09:55:00.014-07:00

There are piles everywhere around here. We've been pulling things out of all our drawers, cabinets and closets. How did I end up with boxes and boxes of books? Oh yeah, I love them.

Clint confessed that lately he doesn't get excited when I call him, because it seems like most the time I'm calling about a new problem at the house. Then I confessed the same, because it seems like most the time he's calling to add another thing to my to-do list. We will both be so relieved to finally move in next weekend.

listen to: Alexander - A Million Years
(I already shared it on Twitter, but this happy song has been on repeat all week.)

when everything's shining.

2011-05-09T19:30:00.004-07:00

This is a continuing visual documentation of my goal to eat 50% raw foods.

I'm trying to stay on track with this goal. It's tough when time is limited, so these are all meals that can be pulled together quickly.

My favorite places to shop are Sprouts and Trader Joe's, but sometimes I just go to the local grocery store right around the corner. While there last week, the cashier was in awe that I was buying so many veggies and fruit. She was making a really big deal about it, and it kind of made me sad that doing so is such an anomaly. I mean, isn't that what we're supposed to be eating? It reminded me of this book and how so much of what people actually consume probably shouldn't even be considered food.

One thing I've loved about this endeavor is that I've tried a lot of new things, like hulled hemp seed (I coated the avocados above with it, and add it to salads here and there). My mom and sister recently went to a class all about grains, and I decided the next thing I'm going to experiment more with is amaranth.

Do you have any recent healthy food discoveries?

in the arms of all i'm keeping here with me.

2011-05-07T14:33:00.017-07:00

Last year, a little part of me hoped that it would be the last time I wasn't actually a mother on Mother's Day. But here we are. Still hoping. And yet, I'm so full of love for all the mothers in my life that there's not really room for sadness.

To my dear amazing mom, I love you so much. You've been a source of kindness, generosity, and support — all my life. I'm proud that I'm like you in many ways, though I doubt I'll ever be as sweet or selfless. Oh and I'm pretty sure you were right about everything.

To my mother-in-law: you are full of grace, beauty and wisdom. I feel so lucky that I get to be your friend and learn from you — and lucky that I got to marry your son.

To my sisters, sisters-in-law and my friends near and far: thank you for being shining examples to me. And thank you for letting me love your babies as if they were my own.

Happy Mother's Day, all!

photos above of my mom when she was pregnant with my older sister; the pretty m-day card is from Rifle Paper Co.

an impression.

2011-05-02T20:30:00.002-07:00

All day Saturday was spent in the letterpress studio, printing wedding invitations and baby announcements. It's been months since I've printed anything so it felt nice to get reacquainted with that huge, antique machinery. It can be a messy, tiring, and sometimes frustrating job. But there is something really satisfying about the process of sketching, designing, refining and then actually getting to produce/print the piece myself. Plus, almost nothing beats the end result of letterpress. I love it.

For kicks, here's a little video of the press in use:

happenstance has changed my plans.

2011-04-29T14:00:00.004-07:00

The problem with packing is that you find things you forgot you had, like this fabric purchased at Reform School on a trip to LA a couple years ago. And then instead of doing what you should be, you take a break to sew a pillow cover. Because even if you still haven't decided which sofa to buy, you can never have too many pillows... right?

Our new walls are being painted today and tomorrow, and then next week we're replacing the kitchen flooring and refinishing all the wood floors. Then it's time to move in! It should come as no surprise that I'm feeling unprepared.

you try to feel the beat.

2011-04-26T22:00:00.004-07:00

Yeah, I've been wearing a lot of skirts lately due to a recent battle trying to find jeans that fit right. I lost, by the way.

I went for a nice long run outside tonight. It was really windy so my pace was probably twice as slow. Then, about fifteen minutes in my iPod battery died during this song, right after the lyrics "you're using your headphones to drown out your mind." Ironic, much? I took it as a not-so-gentle nudge that maybe exactly what I needed was to focus on my thoughts, my breathing, and the comforting rhythm that comes with feet pounding pavement.

And it was. Actually, it felt amazing. As much as I love my music, I could use a run like that every once in a while.

be here now.

2011-04-25T00:45:00.001-07:00

For a few days, we were surrounded with family, food and treats. It made for a really beautiful Easter. Now I'm full of love and gratitude (and sugar...that carrot cake cupcake was as good as it looks).

Also, three different people told me yesterday that I looked sad. It kind of took me off guard, even though I have one of those faces that looks mad/sad when I'm not smiling. Note to self: smile more, because you are beyond blessed.

the earth asks you back.

2011-04-22T09:00:00.005-07:00

Happy Friday, happy Earth Day, happy Easter weekend! I suggest you pick up some bright flowers to properly celebrate it all.

Five senses for today:

--------------------------------
tasting
We're going to Food Truck Friday in downtown Phoenix for lunch, and I think I'll try something from the crème brûlée truck.

hearing
Jessica Lea Mayfield - Blue Skies Again

seeing
My sister Emily, niece Alexis and nephew Justin, who are here visiting from California. So so happy about that.

touching
The new tile we ordered from Heath for our fireplace. Fingers crossed our tile guy can install it perfectly spaced (being picky about details is proving to be a nightmare with all our contractors).

smelling
Heat. Summer has arrived and it's uncomfortably warm already. I hope I survive.

--------------------------------

i came to your window.

2011-04-19T20:30:00.008-07:00

"There are moments that I know I will long for,
even as I live them."
-Judith Katzir

This is us, waiting.
Sometimes patiently, sometimes not.
Part of me knows I'll look back on this time in our life and be grateful.
The other part of me just likes to pout.

(I'm really glad we have each other.)

local love: urban picnic.

2011-04-16T11:00:00.008-07:00

Yesterday we met up for lunch at Urban Picnic, a new little restaurant on Main Street in downtown Mesa. Beth told me about it (thank you!), and I knew I needed to go. Healthy organic food, white and wood interior, concrete floors, thoughtful design details... it's my kind of place. And the food was amazing! I had the grilled veggie and goat cheese sandwich with a baby green salad. This is exactly the type of place Mesa needs around. We will definitely be back, over and over. Next time I think we'll try breakfast.

After lunch I walked over to the Good Store Thrift, where I found a darling vintage dress and some mid-century candle holders. In case you couldn't tell, I'm so happy about our new neighborhood. We haven't even moved in to our house yet, but Clint and I are already on a quest to convince all our friends to join us downtown.

find it and shine it.

2011-04-14T12:30:00.012-07:00

When you were young, did you plan your outfit the night before and set it out so it was all ready to go in the morning? Sometimes I think it would be helpful if I still did that. I have problems getting dressed every day. Usually, I change my outfit at least three times. Clint thinks it's ridiculous and I have to agree, but I'm not sure how to do better.

The closet in our new house is about one-fourth the size of our current one. Maybe limiting my options is the key. Someone needs to come over to help me pare down my wardrobe and get rid of the things I never wear (or shouldn't wear).

your sun when there is none.*

2011-04-11T21:43:00.031-07:00

It was surprisingly cold here the past several days. I took the opportunity to wear tights and scarves and sweaters one last time before summer ensues. And I kept our heater off so I could wrap myself up in blankets.

My sister Rachel made this quilt for us. Stripes on one side, triangles on the other. I love it, a lot.

On a similar note, I miss my out-of-state sisters, a lot. I would probably cry about it except I'm fairly certain I've already reached my tear quota for the day.

*happy note: We're going to the Black Keys concert this week! I can't wait.

searching the world for what's right here.

2011-04-08T11:29:00.008-07:00

Every so often, I find myself really disenchanted with thrifting. But then, one trip will result in a handful of items like these in all their color-coordinated, retro typography glory. (Not to mention in the same trip I found a set of yellow Massimo Vignelli stacking dinnerware and a little black vintage Jonathan Logan dress.)

And so I'm reminded that it's a source of creative inspiration that I don't want to let go of anytime soon.

on the edge of the ocean.

2011-04-06T20:30:00.009-07:00

It's kind of impossible for me to sit and watch TV without feeling like I'm wasting time. My hands always have to be busy with something else. During conference on Sunday, I decided to occupy them with some mindless sketching. So I found a tiny 3x5" drawing pad in my stash of art supplies from college, and pulled out a brush and watercolor paints. In a couple hours I had filled over twenty pages with mini watercolor doodles.

It was fun and made me feel like a little kid. Maybe I'll even hang some of them up on our fridge with my pretty fabric magnets.

listen to: Fleet Foxes - Grown Ocean

every little thing is gonna be alright.

2011-04-04T00:30:00.001-07:00

Two small but favorite moments from the last few days:

-making crêpes with berries, lemon, and a touch of powdered sugar
-holding and squeezing my darling, chubby niece in that little cherry outfit

As far as weekends go, it was a pretty good one.

pull the wool over your eyes.

2011-04-01T12:24:00.013-07:00

Happy April! This morning Clint warned me that he's playing an April Fools joke on me and that I should be careful when I "reach for something." I have no idea what he's talking about but I've spent all day so far nervous every time I reach out my hand. I think it might have been a lie.

Five senses for today:

--------------------------------

tasting
Strawberries. I'm so happy they're in season right now.

hearing
LDS General Conference this weekend. I'm in need of some inspiration, so I'm ready to take it all in.

seeing
A friend of mine from college get married tomorrow! I love weddings.

touching
Hopefully my camera, a lot more than I have been lately. I've been wanting to start making videos too.

smelling
Cardboard. Let the packing begin.

--------------------------------

i wanna hurry home to you.

2011-03-29T21:12:00.020-07:00

The house is consuming all of our extra time.

It's funny how many little things slipped by us before that now we're noticing: missing outlets, peeling paint on cupboards, cracks in the wall, and so on. But I know that's what you get with an old house, and I kinda love all the funny little surprises. We lowered the baseboards in preparation for getting the wood floors refinished, and discovered tons of paint layers, including pink and seafoam green. That makes my greys and whites seem especially boring.

Clint has been telling people we're moving in two weeks, and I'm still trying to figure out how one month is even possible. We're making progress though (can you call staring at sofas and rugs online for days progress?), and getting anxious to be there. It feels more and more like home each day.

we keep what we hide.

2011-03-25T13:43:00.013-07:00

A recent favorite find: this vintage plaid dress with really bright red piping, coming to the shop soon. And by soon I mean maybe not for a couple months. It's happy in my closet for now and happens to fit me perfectly.

Happy weekend! I'll be at the AZ blogger meetup dinner with Kristine, Ashley, Lauren, and more. Will you be there?

to have touched the sun.

2011-03-22T05:00:00.008-07:00

One of the things we especially love about our new house is the huge yard. Of course, it's also one of the most overwhelming things. There is so much to take care of. But while we're working outside every single weekend for as long as we live there, I'll keep dreaming up the dinner parties I want to have in the front yard. Lights strewn above in the giant trees, pretty vintage cloth napkins, fresh flowers on the table... (Don't remind me that the blazing summer heat is just around the corner.)

This weekend we spent hours picking grapefruit, lemons and oranges from our citrus trees. Our whole house smells like it now and even though I gave away bags to family, there's still plenty. If you want some, let me know.

p.s. I don't usually cut my grapefruit that way. I just thought it looked like a Rothko in fruit form, and that made me smile.

kind heart, kindness.

2011-03-20T16:00:00.004-07:00

Sunday afternoons are for playing the piano (me) and the guitar (him).

Clint likes to sing in the craziest voices at church sometimes. Usually it's a really deep, bellowing voice. Occasionally with a strange accent. It embarrasses me so much, which is the only reason he does it. Today I leaned over and whispered to him: It's your goal in life to always make me uncomfortable, isn't it?. He laughed and replied in the affirmative, adding: and to make you happy.

all the worlds i could lift.

2011-03-16T22:00:00.002-07:00

I've been feeling a little discouraged. And a little bit useless too. Maybe it has something to do with how hard I hit my head the other morning (on a door frame...? because I'm clumsy/awesome like that). Or how I keep waking up for hours in the middle of every night, unable to sleep. I'm tired and I just want to curl up in bed and ignore the things I need to do.

This is an attempt to cheer myself up: photos of bright and happy colors around our house. It's working for the moment.

my roots are strong and deep.

2011-03-14T05:00:00.007-07:00

This is a continuing visual documentation of my goal to eat 50% raw foods.

Many hours were spent in the kitchen this weekend. I loved it. Clint didn't love the messes I made, but it was worth it. My new favorite thing is making my own salad dressing. It's so easy and tastes much better. I made a veggie salad based on one I've had from this restaurant, with a fresh herb vinaigrette.

Those pecans were straight off a friend's tree, and that dark chocolate almond milk is a treat I allow myself occasionally. By the way, can we talk about how there are still unopened boxes of Girl Scout cookies in my cupboard? I think I deserve a trophy for my willpower.

*Also...that roasted root vegetable salad was seriously delicious. I want to eat it every day. My sister posted the full recipe here.

when pressed about the rest of it.

2011-03-10T16:30:00.003-07:00

Anna, Clara, Hazel and I took an afternoon trip to the Queen Creek Olive Mill (which is really close to Schnepf Farms). It's a small place, but pretty cute. We had lunch and the food was really delicious. I love cooking with olive oil, so I was happy to pick up some that's made locally.

We also admired the little garden for awhile, which reminds me... Local friends, have you heard about the Backyard Farmer? I discovered them through I Heart Mesa and until I can actually plant and sustain my own garden, it's the next best thing. I'm excited to try them out.

impossible soul.

2011-03-07T05:30:00.001-07:00

This is what we look like after a much-too-long, three-hour nap on Sunday afternoon. I love when he wears that striped shirt.

On Friday, Clint decided he wanted to re-tile the bathroom floors at our new house. By himself. This came as a surprise because a) he has never done anything like this, and b) he's never even shown an interest in doing it when he could just pay somebody else to get the job done. Maybe he was motivated by looking at our long list of home repairs and expenses though. Because sure enough, he spent all day Saturday taking a hammer to the floors and ripping up the tile. I'm proud of him - but we're both crossing our fingers that the rest of the process turns out well.

I've been wanting to sell or get rid of practically everything in our house lately so we can start new. (It's a problem, because that's not actually realistic.) This weekend I sold our leather couches. Now our front room is really open and empty, which means it's starting to feel like we're actually moving soon. Which means I'm starting to panic a little thinking about packing up this place...

home is wherever i'm with you.

2011-03-04T11:00:00.003-07:00

There's almost nothing that could compare to this favorite find: a 1948 home in historic Downtown Mesa. We finally got the keys last week and are so, so excited! What we love: original wood floors in almost every room, the huge lot with enormous trees, tons and tons of original windows and natural light, that Arizona room with exposed brick and wall-to-wall windows, designed built-in closets, crazy tiled bathrooms, and more. It's a pretty large house, so there's also room to grow.

Don't get me wrong, there are a few downsides including a somewhat sketchy neighborhood directly to the south (not to mention how sad we are to leave the great friends we've made in our current neighborhood!). But old homes like this are hard to come by here, and in the end all of the positives outweighed the questions. We know that it's the right decision. It's perfect for us and we plan on being there for quite awhile.

We'll be moving in a month or two, once we've had the chance to fix a few things up (like refinishing the wood floors, some electrical work, etc.). And then we're in for years and years of work, taking care of this place and making it our own. So many possibilities and so much potential.

Happy, happy weekend!

no one looks too surprised.

2011-03-02T20:45:00.008-07:00

“The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details...” William Morris

I love that.

You see, when Clint asked my dad if he could marry me, supposedly the response (besides yes, of course) was a fair warning that I'm like the Princess and the Pea. What can I say? That's the way I came - picky and particular. I care about every single detail. I notice the details. For me, it's the details that make or break something. Am I the only one who doesn't see that as a bad thing? Because I think there's something about it that's pretty wonderful.

I'm also continually inspired by details and I don't think that will ever change.

so i never wrote a letter.

2011-02-26T18:00:00.003-07:00

When I'm in full-fledged procrastination mode, I am really really good at wasting time. We're speaking in church tomorrow. So naturally I spent a good portion of my afternoon staring off into space, looking up new music, and thinking of all the other projects* I'd rather be doing than writing my talk.

*I have plans to photograph my collection of Vera scarves - and a few ideas of what to do with them - just to further document why she's my design idol.

uh-oh, it's morning time again.

2011-02-23T10:23:00.008-07:00

A juxtaposition of what our mornings look like around here:

i
sleep in - and consequently, work late
move slow and grumble a little until I'm fully awake
eat a breakfast of quinoa flakes and grapefruit
pull out a little sketchbook I keep telling myself I'm going to use
find a funny photobooth picture I forgot existed
take forever to get ready and change my outfit three times

he
wakes up early to play one of his guitars and watch TV
lets out a ridiculous amount of morning energy (jumping on the bed, push ups & sit ups, etc.)
eats a breakfast of eggs and orange juice
teases me relentlessly and calls me grumpy five times
searches the house high and low for something he lost
gets ready within ten minutes

p.s. Thank you so much for the kind and encouraging comments and emails about this... it means a lot.

it may be years until the day.

2011-02-21T18:00:00.005-07:00

To say the last year has been rough for my hair and my skin would be a huge understatement. I have easily had five times as many bad hair days as good, and my skin has been nothing short of awful at some points.

But now, my bangs are finally long enough to stay brushed to the side or tucked behind my ears. And finally long enough that I can part my hair down the middle sometimes and embrace my inner hippie. (Growing them out was ridiculously hard; I don't think I've ever been more frustrated with hair in my whole life. Remind me that next time I want to chop them off.)

And as far as my skin... sorry if all of this is TMI, I'm going to share anyway...

When I stopped taking birth control over a year ago, my body went a little crazy. I suddenly had a serious hormone imbalance that came with a whole bunch of fun problems: a major lack of energy, weight gain, a bad immune system, terrible skin, and more (including some even bigger issues, like the one that mattered most to us - an inability to get pregnant).

It took me a long time to realize what the problem was, and I'm super grateful that I went to see a naturopathic doctor when I did. It has made all the difference. Because of her treatment and suggestions (to name a few: cutting back on wheat, eating less sugar, detoxifying my liver, taking specific vitamins and herbs) -- I'm feeling way better, and it seems like my body is finally returning to a normal, healthy, natural balance (fingers crossed). Thank goodness! I will never take good health for granted again.

i will shape myself into your pocket.

2011-02-18T13:30:00.005-07:00

Though it's not quite spring yet (even if it feels like it here in Arizona), I'm ready to start some spring cleaning this weekend. I've just been feeling like I have so much... stuff. And I hate that feeling. While I work, I'll be listening to the new Radiohead album. Nice dancing, Thom.

Favorite find: My grandpa's old Polaroid SX-70 Land Camera, pictured above. My friend Nathan* gave me an SX-70 years ago and I experimented with it in high school. Somewhere along the way, it got lost. I was pretty bummed but then years later found my grandpa's, which made a nice sentimental replacement. I think it's beautiful (and so are you, if you didn't notice).

*Hi, Nate. How's New York? I miss you. Maybe Clint and I can come visit again soon.

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so now we're dancing through the garden, and what a garden i have made.

2011-02-14T19:00:00.006-07:00

Our weekend celebration included a trip over to Schnepf Farms to check out the Peach Blossom festival. And while the peach blossoms weren't nearly as pretty as I imagined they would be, it was so fun exploring the rest of the huge farm for a couple hours.

Our favorite part was being able to harvest our own vegetables! We picked spinach, romaine, kale, beets, radishes, broccoli, and turnips.* Then on Sunday we enjoyed some really flavorful salads. I've been saying it for years, but this further solidified the fact that I really want my own garden.

*Clint wanted the turnips, and then wouldn't stop referencing Super Mario 2. He may or may not have two-hand-hucked some over his head at me.

tangled in those dreams.

2011-02-11T15:16:00.010-07:00

These flowers are the only sign of Valentine's Day around our house - but I absolutely love them. Ranunculus are my all-time favorite.

Clint has been getting his real estate license and he's gone late three nights a week. It feels like college all over again (hardly seeing each other, late nights, off schedules) and I think we'll both be glad when it's over. Last night we got in a stupid little argument and it's been bugging me all day. Why can't I just be nice all the time? I'm looking forward to forgetting about it and celebrating February 13th and something else exciting (we made a decision and it feels good).

Five senses for today:

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tasting
Water. So much water. I'm trying to drink 2-3L a day and it's a chore.

hearing
Beach Fossils - DayDream

seeing
Less of the computer screen. I made a goal today to spend less than 4 hours on the computer (it's harder than it sounds when you are used to working on one all day long). I might continue this throughout the whole weekend.

touching
Verizon iPhone! This is so so exciting. I have a functioning phone again. It works in my house and hasn't dropped one call yet. (Good riddance, AT&T.)

smelling
J.R. Watkins dish soap, hand soap, and cleaner, after tidying up the kitchen. I love that stuff and the packaging is beautiful.

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Happy Valentine's weekend!

all alright.

2011-02-06T20:00:00.003-07:00

What a week. We're in the midst of making a big decision and I might be having a tough time. With all of this trying to see the big picture, dwelling on details, waiting and hoping for inspiration, and making sense of every thought that crosses my mind... I am exhausted.

Thankfully there were several bright spots over the weekend that offered some much-needed distraction: an evening spent with Clint's sweet grandparents, my good friend Bonny who stopped by to keep me company one night, yummy Vietnamese food and great conversation with Kristine and Matt, then visiting with family all day today.

Oh, and the moment that came while standing in a room full of windows and sunlight — a tiny reassurance that things will work out for the best.