AY*

sea foam & brass.

2012-01-26T15:59:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've been inspired. Sad, but true. Hawaii kick started me back on track, and Pinterest always helps me along, but for whatever reason an early morning rendezvous with boyfriend and some friends to Half Moon Bay, with Birdie in tow, this morning brought me back. Something about the dense, white, foggy air was peaceful and mysterious. Sort of clearing in an odd way. And it got my creativity flowing. Anyway, if I were to buy beach front property in the misty coastal haze in Half Moon Bay TODAY, it would involve the following...

1. twin fin for the wall (& sharky waters) 2. ocean tonal geometric fabric 3. the worlds dreamiest wave architecture

4. brass casters 5. beautifully designed bubble bath (TokyoMilk) 6. elm bowls 7. brass & aqua pendant

*all found here.

PS. Can it be summer already?

The crisp air is refreshing, but I want a warm breeze & full trees!

kauai.

2012-01-17T16:32:00.000-08:00

I've decided it was HIGH time to share with you our Hawaiian adventure. That, and it's frankly slipping further into the past, which makes me sad. How time flies. The "Garden Island" as it's called, was more than we could have asked for. We ventured out the day after Christmas with Andrew's family, and enjoyed a week and a half of pure bliss. We swam in the warm sea, soaked in the sun, ate delicious food, snorkeled with the fishies, watched the locals dance, hiked in the jungle, drove to the north shore, shopped the tourist spots, and of course SURFED! Not to mention, squeezed in plenty of pool/hot tub time, CNN & surfing channel viewage, and other essential vacation-esque things. And honestly, what better place to ring in the new year, eh? I mean seriously. Best place, and best time we've had in a long time.

If we had it our way, Andrew would buy up farm land for us out there, grow us our food for the dinner table, and enjoy the hot sun! ...no but seriously, he wants to farm and be where it's always warm.. and you KNOW I'm not fighting him on any of that! Even if it means we'd be broke farmers. It would still mean I could surf, a LOT. Without a wetsuit. Sigh..

So look out future, the island might end up our destiny.

Until then, enjoy some snap shots of our recent trip. (:

aloha & adios.

2011-12-23T17:40:00.001-08:00

This has been the happs lately. We've been working hard and are now ready to play hard! BIG TIME. On an island in the sun. (:

We wish you all a Happy Christmas!

Love,
Air, Drew, Bird, & Hippo

banded sisters.

2011-12-13T09:12:00.000-08:00

Literally. Banded. This Christmas (which my family celebrated early this year when we could all be together) Abby scored with a really awesome gift to all of us. A ring with all of our nicknames on it! Purchased from a lil' Etsy shop. And you know, it's just so precious, that I wear it every day.

I miss those BFF's of mine, and wish they could all live here in SF with me to enjoy the AWESOMENESS.

*follow me on instagram @aricamalace

*Photos taken by Greg Neilsen in San Diego

GIFTAWAY: winner.

2011-12-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

A gajillion thanks for entering, my friends!
You wanna know who won?

LUCKY NUMBER 6!
Wait, you don't know your number do you? ...

That means LINDSAY RONDO, YOU WON!!

The ever awesome CD's belong to YOU!

High five!

Email me your address, girlfriend.

Thanks again, everyone for stopping by. I'll be sure to keep it real and let you know when another nifty gift might get thrown your way. (;

GIFTAWAY: holiday tunes.

2011-11-30T19:55:00.001-08:00

GIFTAWAY CLOSED. (:

I've missed you guys. I love you, I do. And what better way to say I love you in the month of December than with a gift, right?

That's right... time for another GIFTAWAY!

In the spirit of the holiday season, I would like to offer up a darling little gift to one of you homies. Even more relevant to the holiday season, it just so happens to be a FANTASTIC Christmas album!

None other than Mindy Gledhill's album Winter Moon!

Don't know how awesome it is? Well, here's a preview of the goodness:
Behold, Mindy's music video Winter Moon. ...featuring some puppet friends.

And the full album can be yours. All you have to do is:
Follow this here bloggity
Go 'like' Mindy's facebook page
Visit Mindy's website to see if she's got any charming holiday shows happening in your home town
And then be sure to leave a comment here!

BUT WAIT. The giftaway doesn't JUST include a copy of Winter Moon, alas.. you will also receive a copy of Mindy's recent album Anchor! ...because I love you, remember?

2 for the price of ZERO!
Giftaway ends Wednesday, December 7th.

Best o' luck to you my friends.
And Happy Christmas. (:

mermaid libations.

2011-11-18T08:04:00.001-08:00

You know life is honestly too awesome when you don't even blog about it anymore. Yes, I'm saying it's that cool. Awesome husband, awesome surfing, awesome friends, awesome cities, & awesome vibes all around. We even get 'season-ish' weather here. 50's give or take, and half of the leaves change. Occasional rain, but nothing too hearty. It's great, really. I mean, you all know I'm a summer year round kind of gal myself, but this isn't too shabby.

Which leads me to the following question.

Slurpee & sun, or cocoa & rain?

I'm the first type no doubt. And really wish it was slurpee weather. That said, I would like to thank 7-11 for meeting both of my libation needs POST surf, year round. Hot or cold. A mermaid needs a good bevi, and you definitely deliver. It also helps that you're generally located on every other block in hippie coastal towns. So thank you.

*slurpee

High five.

walnut or marble.

2011-10-30T22:25:00.000-07:00

Alright friends, on the last A or B (the light fixture over the dining table), you guys TIED! That said, I guess that makes me the tie breaker. (: What would I chose?

I just love the hammered texture and the metallic color of the first fixture so much, even though I also love the timeless look of the glass pendant. In case you haven't noticed, I always love BOTH choices, that's why I let you chose. (:

That said, this week you guys purchased a funky Jonathan Adler sectional. It's bright, mid-centuryish, and fun. So here's the question... walnut & square, or marble & round?

Which coffee table will you chose to place

A. Dwell B. CB2

surf shack.

2011-10-25T18:20:00.000-07:00

You know what? There's a little place in Montauk, NY called the Chandelier Surf Shack. It's a refuge for Chandelier Creative employees, and it is TO. DIE. FOR.

Whenever I want a little taste of inspiration/eye candy, I scroll through the images of this so called "shack."

It's a bar none favorite of mine, and if my home can resemble it in any way, shape, form, or VIBE... I'll be one happy camper. Make that a happy beach camper.

BEHOLD...

I am so in love.

via the CSS tumblr

readers digest.

2011-10-17T13:57:00.000-07:00

So, working in a showroom requires random accessories to fill book shelves, trays, and table tops. Luckily we have a surplus of books to fill our shelves (we have a lot of shelving units that require staging). So what did my boss do with some of the extra? Give them to me of course! Oh, well I mean I asked her for them, but still they're MINE and they're beautiful! And good reads.

I'm mostly referring to the vintage Reader's Digest Condensed hardcover books that came out during the 50's-90's. They're gorgeous, and totally trend worthy.

I grabbed an array of the blue and green editions. And I just love them!

It helps that Jaws 2 was in the first copy I grabbed, and that book was epic.

I love sharks. And books.

Buy your own here...

sweet water.

2011-10-13T20:38:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we went beach camping at Half Moon Bay. Needless to say, it was a stellar time. It all started with the tiniest dirt road onto the 'Sweet Water' camp site, which dumped you out onto the water's edge surrounded by the most inspiring trees you can imagine. The dogs came, and were the entertainment. Everyone ate Hippo up, and snuggled with Bird. The guys thought that using Hippo to 'tow-in' on the sidewalk with a longboard was the best idea ever. Hippo also thought it was the best idea ever. He loves skateboards.

After camping, we followed it up by traveling south with our new friends the Allens (Mike, Amy, & Audrey). They are keepers, we can tell already. They've really been hooking us up on the cool front as of late, and there will be more adventures with them in the near future. It helps that their 6 month old girl is one of the most amazing babies I've ever met (Beckett, you have her trumped, don't you fret).

They took us on a mini-road trip south on the CA-1. To paint a simple picture for you, imagine a cliff side drive surrounded by gorgeous and aromatic farmlands, and an ocean view that stops the heart. Our first stop was the Pescadero Country Store to buy some local artichoke garlic bread. Locally grown garlic & artichokes= garlic bread with artichoke hearts IN IT... holy. cow. was that delicious. If you ever get the chance to taste it yourself, be sure to enjoy it outside on a bench, with a hippie banjo musician playing in a local park behind you. You'll definitely savor the moment that much more, haha. Anyway, as we continued our drive down the 1, Mike took us to a little secret spot. We climbed down a small trail on the coast that took us to an absolutely stunning cove. Said cove was adorned with a legitimate hollowed out tunnel from the ocean's tides, and massive free standing rocks (the size of small mountains). Breathtaking. Drive a little further south, and you'll find a whole lot of kite boarders enjoying the swell & wind. It was a crazy show to say the least. We then topped it all off by stopping off at a "jam tasting" farm & store. This business was run with an "honesty till" which I thought was the coolest thing for a California beach farm. I would have high fived the owners right there, but you know... they weren't around. Old school at it's finest. We enjoyed some savory soup and a game of 1960's pick up sticks and then made our way back home.

The day was one that if a film crew had followed us around, and added some low key awesome music to the shots... they could have turned around and sold it to some company for a million dollars to make a commercial. If you saw this commercial, I guarantee you would feel the need to switch to their bank, insurance, or open their travel points credit card in a heartbeat.

It was that epic.
And it was all done in sweat pants. Every one of us. Again, epic.
Chuck Norris even joined us on Andrew's shirt.

Oh man do I love where we live.

reminiscing.

2011-10-11T09:38:00.005-07:00

Today I am missing the lazy days of summer that were filled with sisters, nail polish, and Mexican food. Love and miss you guys.

*All polishes are by China Glaze. Mine specifically was Electric Pineapple.

PS. Pay no mind to Andrew's "rigor mortis" hand. He does "rigor mortis" motions often for pictures. I'll have to point this out to you some other time. Don't know what rigor mortis is? Read here.

my aerins.

2011-10-06T19:32:00.000-07:00

One of my most cherished friends, Erin, and her husband, Aaron, came into town to visit their family. I was so unbelievably excited that my island dwellers were on the mainland, that NOT seeing them was absolutely out of the question.

Oh and please, like I didn't want to go downtown and browse some favorite stores, eat some good food, and ride a trolley for my first time on a day off with some of my favorite people anyway? They definitely weren't pulling my teeth. (:

Love you, Erin!

almost.

2011-10-03T13:27:00.002-07:00

Contrary to previous anniversary, birthday, and Christmas surprises... boyfriend really pulled through this time for our 4 year wedding anniversary. The surprise? My dream. Absolute dream... to ride in a hot air balloon. Over the beautiful rolling -vineyard covered- hills of Napa no less. The catch? The wind. The dream come true was cancelled.

But we got THIS close. Literally. In the gondola and everything. At 7am.
So what did we do? Go to Six Flags instead of course.

Andrew felt the need to help. Or whatever.

Such a breathtaking drive.

Oh yeah, in classic Andrew fashion, when a pre-show host asks for everyone to "make some noise" he went above and beyond. No one went beyond hooting and waving. But Andrew... he of course decided to act like whatever the present may be, it was worth a million dollars. So naturally we were selected to enjoy the show from Hawaiian Airline's special leather sofa.

Woo.

And after a soaking log ride, beautiful big cats, fair swings, bat rays, roller coasters, & a funnel cake later... we lived happily ever after.

hungry.

2011-09-27T14:56:00.002-07:00

I've been trying out a lot of recipes found on the ever handy pinterest. And man have they been tasty! Although the peaches & creme (or half&half as it were) were completely impromptue, they were definitely pin worthy.

In addition I decided to try out three different recipes for a Sunday dinner party with our friends Ariel, Mike, & Atlas. *A frozen, fresh lemonade, spinach lasagna rolls, & a cucumber salad. And even though our apartment is probably equivalent in size to the cupboard under the stairs that Harry Potter grew up in, our yard did prove to be more than appropriate for hosting said dinner party.

All of the recipes turned out to be delicious, and will be put on repeat soon enough. You can find them here.

My most recent trial was just pulled from the oven. No doubt with the history of quality pins, this one will be just as satisfying.

Happy fooding.
Air.

scandinavian.

2011-09-20T19:08:00.004-07:00

Work fact: A couple weeks ago a lady was in the store shopping for a sofa, and she told me that it was appropriate that I worked there, because I look Scandinavian. She was very sweet, but don't all of us Euro-American immigrants look mildly Scandinavian? This country was a melting pot once upon a time. Still is I suppose. Regardless, it is definitely appropriate that I work where I do... if for no other reason than I like it.

Here are some pieces (both typical, as well as possibly surprising) that I see every day that make me smile.

Some are on my employee purchase list for the future.

...I'd like to see you guess which ones. (:

I'll give you a hint, there are 4.

Oh yes. Crappy photo, serious glare, but this is a window display I've set up with our crystal chairs. There were some choice words used while getting them to 'tip & hold' just right.

MOVING ON. On the flip side, we've been exploring more and more. Never a dull moment to be had in such a massive and happening place. A quick visit happened from one of my favorite couples of all time (shout out entered to my Aerin's HERE! I LOVE YOU GUYS!). A trip happened down to Santa Cruz where I was hooked up with a pair of new sweat pants that are oh so comfy, thanks to my man who believes my old pair are not comfies, but 'crusties'. And although we drive to the coast nearly each weekend, I have yet to test the water... I'm still getting my mind wrapped around becoming BFF's with the great whites of Central California.
...I think I'm ready for that relationship.

That's it for now.
Adios muchachos.

lately.

2011-08-23T18:42:00.007-07:00

Work is demanding, exciting, and FUN.
Weekends are needed, filled, and FUNNER.

Aside from that, the last week has been intense! Worked my first week which included a day at the warehouse assembling furniture with our crazy build/shipping crew. Watched "The Cove" and was so moved by it that I now consider myself vegetarian (this is not their goal, just my own). Andrew's parents came to visit, and on Saturday we went for a bike ride downtown. Wiped me out! Birdie got sick, and now Hippo is sick. I'm telling you, I'm like a real life mother up in this place. The days and nights blur together with all the accidents and things I've been dealing with. Fingers crossed they get better soon.

That said, I'd like to take a moment and reflect on where I've been lately, because the time has just been flying past me!

Here's a hodge-podge collection of what I/we've been up to.
Three cheers for cell phone cameras... otherwise I wouldn't have proof that we exist.

Also, you may or may not have noticed that I have a fanny pack.
Best idea ever.
Adios. (:

chinatown.

2011-08-15T08:33:00.003-07:00

That place was legit. We plan to go back. There was some porcelain pottery that was to.die.for. that I dream to be able to afford someday for the home. Andrew really wanted some nunchucks & a sword. ...maybe next time.

Also, Andrew has a really good new friend who is Chinese named Ichia. ...so I think that alone makes throwing peace signs in Chinatown legal.

In other SF news, DreamWorks is pretty cool. When you first walk into their building here, you're surrounded by Madagascar native masks, and photos of all the actors in the booth doing their voice-overs. A cool vibe. Our favorite part about the job though (okay, ONE OF our favorite parts) is FREE FOOD FOREVER! Whaaa?? They cater breakfast, lunch, and the occasional burrito/dinner on your way out! EVERY DAY. A massive cafeteria full of fabulous foods... and I'm totally invited to join him whenever I want. Oh my goodness, Andrew is in food heaven. And my grocery bill has been incredible. High fives all around.

We have also learned since we've moved here, that since we are half an hour south of the city, our weather is COMPLETELY different than San Francisco. Even though we are so close to the coast, we are sheltered by some small mountains, that keep the marine layer out of our city. No joke a 10/15 degree difference from everywhere else. Every once in a while toward the evening, a beautiful fog cover rolls in over the top of the mountains, creating honestly one of the prettiest sights I've seen. A solid blanket resting just on top of the peaks. I'll snap a photo sometime. So yes, while you have to bundle up and layer here to visit downtown, we get to enjoy 75 degree weather all summer long... without a cloud in the sky. Best of both worlds. No doubt.

Three cheers for this place. Even though we don't know ANY ONE, we've found it to be quite enjoyable.

Oh yes, I also was so so blessed to find a job right when I arrived, designing the showroom for a furnishing company called Scandinavian Designs. I work full days, half of the week when the shipments arrive and go out. I start this week, and can't wait. (:

Until next time... I'll be eating some doughnuts, or something. Because they seem to be on my mind constantly as of late.

Cheers.

fine dining.

2011-08-08T06:36:00.001-07:00

For what it's worth, on the last A or B installment, B was the winner. But if you're curious to know, although I was a fan of both, I was pulling for A.

Next up, if you were the proud owner of a rustic reclaimed table, and these were your chandy/pendant options, which would you prefer?

A. Armand Riviera Hammered Iron
-or-
B. Reeves Polished Nickel/Glass

yurts & palapas.

2011-07-22T19:51:00.000-07:00

This week I'm going to be sleeping in this...

And this...

All to ride these...

AND I CAN'T WAIT!

Scorpion Bay. My heaven on Earth.

PS. I miss my husband. Thanks for working so hard, babe while I venture to Baja Sur! I love you.

potential.

2011-07-14T13:15:00.005-07:00

So we just went to Mexico, and it was awesome. I needed a break before getting on the interweb to show you what we've been up to. Anyway, here's our place. Be prepared to feel claustrophobic. It's seriously a cupboard under the stairs, but it'll work for us. It's got privacy (it's a cottage attached to the garage of the main house), a huge yard, laundry, the garage, (half of it is ours for storage.. you know to fit half our things that for sure wouldn't fit inside), and lots of potential. Oh, and a pear tree.

The details are charming. Parquet floors downstairs, and cork wood floors in a beautiful tone upstairs. The stairs themselves add quite a bit of interest to the place, and there's a skylight in the bathroom which also contributes to the list of good things. The superficial things that can be changed out, will be done soon. I plan to sew new drapes ("whaaa, you don't want to keep the high water's that came with the place, Arica?!"), paint our dresser, and bring in some shelving & an island for the kitchen. I've got some awesome small tables I brought back from my parent's house in Mexico that will work flawlessly for a coffee table and end table in the living space. So that's exciting. Also, never mind the hippie couch... It has a destiny that involves new fabric and reupholstering. There are quite a few items to buy when I get back, so I'll be sure to keep you posted on the progress as far as appearances go. Let's face it... it's got a ways to go.

Welcome to our pink trimmed front door.

Welcome to our kitchen/living room.

Welcome to our kitchen during mid-unpack chaos.

Welcome to the bathroom.

Welcome to the cabinet above the toitie.

Welcome to our stairs.

Welcome to the right half of our bedroom.

Say hello to our globe.

Welcome to our deck.

Welcome to our candle lit yard (to be grassed and gardened).

And say hello to Hippo.
Who loves the rug & the cute floor (he does, he told me).

Aside from that, the dogs are funny, doing well, love traveling, and like to bark & pee lots.

Cheers.
-Arica

packed.

2011-07-07T09:45:00.010-07:00

I kid you not that top Mexi bag was $3 at a thrift store. High five.

Half Moon Bay. In love with it.

Between moving, road tripping around the west coast, and vacationing with family back home and Mexico to come... our suitcases and time have been packed for the last few weeks and will be for sometime more. Our new place is hilariously small, packed with charm, and has a backyard bigger than the inside square footage. Not to mention, we have a redwood tree the size of a skyscraper! We love the area and can't wait to take it all in. Oh.. and you know, the beach is only 20 minutes away. GORGEOUS, freezing, and totally my new spot to hang out. Seeing downtown when we drove in took my breath away, so I know this is going to be good. So for now, I'm just getting my R&R on in my happy place of good ol' San Diego.

It's a lot to take in, but it's all worth it.
Not loving the cold I've gotten from all of the chaos..
But I'm loving every minute of this!

i spy.

2011-06-24T08:22:00.003-07:00

a Hippopotamus...
He is so funny. We love him.

via Wishmaker Images

summer solstice.

2011-06-21T12:12:00.003-07:00

It's the MOST wonderful time of the year!
(Christmas is awesome, but SUMMER HAS YOU BEAT!)

Oh summer. Welcome. I love you so much.
-Arica

hex bracelet.

2011-06-17T14:49:00.000-07:00

When I first saw this bracelet DIY online, I knew it was for me.. twine? brass hardware? JEWELRY? You know I'm sold. So I made it happen. And I totally love it.

Do it yourself, here.

drum roll.

2011-06-15T13:33:00.010-07:00

Well, big news.
HUGE.
GINORMOUS.
We're officially done with Utah. Andrew's been made a pretty amazing job offer... and we're TAKING IT! We actually move in 2 weeks! GAAH! Kinda crazy. Kinda nervous. Lots of anxiety. But mostly extremely excited! Nailing down an apartment that's cool with 2 dogs, that doesn't cost us an arm and a leg would be fabulous.

Where shall we be going you ask? ...hold on to your butts.....

Is the anticipation killing you?

It was brutal on me for the last few months.. I can tell you that.

Like my anxiety was THROUGH THE ROOF with all the 'not knowing' biz.

Ok, here it is....

PS. You can look for Andrew in the Dragon II credits. (;

He's such a stud.

over the chesterfield.

2011-06-10T13:22:00.005-07:00

Hypothetically speaking, which would you rather have?

a. caribbean blue
-or-
b. abstract lanscape

rich mahogany.

2011-06-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

In case you needed some inspiration for your yhatt, that you'll be sharing with only the manliest of men, who has only the utmost taste for all things that coordinate with "many leather bound books" ...I've got you covered.

1. brian elston abstract 2. norwell light 3. arteriors brass lamp 4. modern modular sectional
5. west elm pebble table 6. dash & albert rug 7. ikea buffet 8. jamali garden brass vases

got navajo?

2011-06-03T18:07:00.004-07:00

I am in the process of working with my dear friend Lindsay on a redo of her and her man's living room. They already have a decent vibe going on reflecting a 'hunterly' style. Yeah, Jared is one of those types... and although such actions make me squirm, he's a totally rad guy, so I'll forgive him. (; Anyway, get to the point? Right. To marry Lindsay's love for the Native American style, and Jared's tree stumped, elk busted collection... I've collected some accessorizing options. And I'll let you have a looksie because I like you too.

1. glass table lamp 2. antler print 3. galvanized canisters 4. woven basket 5. gold infused vases
6. diy belt stool 7. ikat drapery fabric 8. ikat throw pillows 9. brindle cowhide

bubbles.

2011-05-25T14:33:00.001-07:00

1. Give Up- Postal Service 2. Groundworks fabric 3. Arteriors mirror 4. Wisteria fish globe
5. Arteriors wall frond 6. Zoya polish 7. Wisteria rug 8. West Elm bottle carrier 9. Marine light

I NEED SUMMER.

pin it.

2011-05-22T15:17:00.009-07:00

*all via Pinterest

Seriously, if you haven't heard of or gotten yourself an invite to Pinterest, you need to NOW. I've been 'pinning' for a little while now and JUST.CAN'T.STOP. What is this you might ask? Well, odds are if you like browsing the blog world for pretty images that inspire you, or make your mouth water and what not, then pinning is for you. I've gotten all of my sisters and some friends on board, and all are now addicts. As a designer, I've found it to be an ENDLESS LIBRARY of all things inspiration... and then find myself inspired in a hundred other ways as well. There's so much DIY'ing up in that place, it'd blow your mind. And the RECIPES... don't even get me started. Heavenly resource is what this is. Guaranteed ANY of you can find PLENTY of things you would LOVE to pin.

If you're already on the scene, you can follow my page at pinterest.com/aricamalace
Want in? Leave your email and I'll send you an invite.
You'll thank me for it.

PS. Is that little girl not the cutest human being you've ever seen?

celebrate.

2011-05-20T16:28:00.001-07:00

Seriously, I said this multiple times on the trip, Palm Springs was what the doctor ordered! ...if I had a doctor, I'm sure he would have. So many memories in just 3 days. Dinners, shops we couldn't afford, so much pool time, top down on the convertible, the inability to find a normal gas station on an iphone, sunburns, having a band sing me 'happy birthday' at a patio restaurant, pinterest, nightly hot tubbing, the ace & parker hotels (designer STEROIDS)... man, what a way to celebrate a 24th birthday! These girls are some of my favorite people, we had a BLAST.

I love Palm Springs.

palms.

2011-05-16T06:00:00.001-07:00

via flickr

I've already left. Myself, and 4 darling lady friends that I adore are headed to Palm Springs for the week! SO EXCITED! Let's just say I wont miss the rain that is scheduled to befall Utah. Rather, I'll be laying by a pool embracing the heat, eating dreamy food, and exploring all the mid-century beauty!

Goodbye dear internet.
Hello sun!

flowies.

2011-05-13T10:27:00.003-07:00

You know.. I think Carnations get a bad wrap.. because they're cheap and common place. But if you ask me, I think they're prettier than roses (gasp!.. not surprising, I don't like roses), and they smell SO GOOD!

So 20 of them for $9 post-mothers day? Count me in.

Now my front room smells like niceness.

un-birthday.

2011-05-09T15:31:00.003-07:00

I need to get outside. Rain rain, go away.

1. west elm pitcher 2. designers guild wallpaper 3. cb2 planters 4. tulip table
5. ikea sheepskin 6. west elm plates 7. wishbone chair

creative collaborative.

2011-05-04T14:31:00.004-07:00

This post is for YOU, my fellow.. Utah designers (graphic, interior, fashion), artists (film, technical, traditional, etc), bloggers (lifestyle, design, artistic), photographers, & so on! Basically any of you creative minds...

After a lot of arranging, Melanie of Fifth & Hazel has created a community called Creative Collaborative. A community geared toward collaborating and feeding off of each other's creative juices. Helping each other rather than competing with one another. 2 heads are better than 1, right? Because lets face it, we could all use some input and good ideas! The first meeting is TOMORROW, May 5th at 7pm. We will be hearing from Kirsten Krason, Dave Broberg, and Diana Palmer.

Melanie:
"I think we have so many talented artists in the Utah community, and I feel so importantly that we need to have a stronger artist community."

So come! Andrew and I will be there, and we'd love to see you!

website: http://collaborativecreative.com/

twitter: @createcollab

Can't wait!

saltwater room.

2011-04-30T07:33:00.000-07:00

The Saltwater Room is one of my most favorite songs by Owl City. Although you may only know a single or two from the radio, I'll vouch that he is definitely purchase worthy. That said.. this board was inspired while listening to this goodness...

"With your ear to a seashell you can hear the waves, in underwater caves, as if you actually were inside a saltwater room. ...time together is just never quite enough, when you and I are alone I've never felt so at home."

1. Groundworks fabric 2. CB2 vase 3. Stylehive ring 4. Jocelyn Warner wallpaper
5. Anthropologie swimsuit 6. West Elm tumblers 7. Tozai decor 8. Bentwood bench

Listen for yourself:

soul surfer.

2011-04-26T11:28:00.004-07:00

*the real Bethany Hamilton, and actress AnnaSophia Robb

Going to go see the movie today. I'm excited. I've always found Bethany Hamilton's story to be inspirational and I'm excited to get to hear a little more about it.. and watch some awesome surfing.

Speaking of watching awesome surfing and Bethany.. once upon a time I went to Lowers (a surf break in San Clemente, CA) with an old boyfriend. I often tagged along to watch this young man shred, and on this trip in particular he paddled out with none other than Bethany herself. It was chilling and so amazing to watch her surf, 1 arm and all, in person.

I'll never forget it.

And just in case you were wondering, I like to keep a cage between myself and the sharks. I'm on the right, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

we did it.

2011-04-22T11:59:00.007-07:00

Woohooo!
Get out of town, we're college grads now!
A Bachelor of Fine Art from BYU in Computer Animation.
And a certificate from LDS Business College in Interior Design.

Watch out world.
(:

ink.

2011-04-20T07:52:00.004-07:00

Let me preface by saying.. I will never have a tattoo. I have a grateful love for my body that is stronger than the love for beautiful artwork that can be placed on it. Alas, I also love my husband more than them.. he hates that I love them. Sorry, boyfriend.

I love tattoos. Did you know? OBSESSED. Good ones. If you ask me many of them are gotten for the wrong reasons, by the wrong artists, and are done without much though or quality.. leading to a crappy decision and hideous permanent ink. BUT there are beautiful pieces. Gems. I would have many in another life.

All of this has to do with the fact that a while back I found my dream tattoo. Found it. It's me. And I find myself daydreaming of it from time to time. It's not 'one of a kind', but it's me none the less. Placement, artwork, simplicity, sheer beauty that I can't imagine regretting so long as I would have lived (in this other lifetime of course).

Wanna know what it would be? Well, I'll show you. Controversial lust? most likely. Your taste? doubtful. But I absolutely adore it. All that said. Here she is. My dream piece of ink, gracefully wrapped around my forearm.

via

in. love.

replacements.

2011-04-16T09:13:00.003-07:00

You know. There was a moment when I was about to go gung-ho on our apartment and replace all of the items that I had not loved.. you know, initial wedding registry gifts, quick fixes, items that were needed and the lowest cost was the only concern. And I didn't do it. I'm actually glad I didn't. Whaa? I'll explain.
Well, in the last 4 years I have learned not only my style, but we actually now have NEED to replace some of these things. More specifically, 98% of the reason for making the change NOW has to do with Hippo and his mouth. Yes, his crazy cute wrinkly face has wreaked havoc on a few select items. The other end is also guilty of doing some damage. I'm glad I didn't make the switch a few months ago when I had the itch, because luckily the items needing replacing are the ones Hippo has decided to add his 'character' to. Namely the media cabinet, the bedroom drapes, and kitchen rug. The other items have just been on my list anyway.

1. I have some beautiful linen fabric I've been saving for drapes. I've been waiting for a sewing machine, and am glad I have. Otherwise they would have been peed on and played with. Drapes make great toys for a crazy puppy. Our current drapes are ugly and were purchased just to fill the need. We have surprisingly tall windows and a really LONG window in our room and I just needed whatever I could find so long as there were 4 panels of the same style and height. Hippo likes to chew, twirl, and pee on them.. and I don't blame him. I'd pee on them myself if I didn't know if was a naughty thing to do. I'll probably be able to make these linen drapes when we move which will work out well because we'll hopefully be done with puppy teething and potty training. Can't wait.
2. This item is non-Hippo related, but you have known I've had the itch for this clock forEVER. See here. Best news was that I found out who produced it, and thanks to Walls it will be mine very soon!!
3. Hippo is not a couch chewer, thank goodness (we don't own the ones we're using currently), but he DOES shed. This item has ALSO been on my list for some time. The West Elm Baxter sectional is one of my favorites. You know it's worth buying if you haven't forgotten your love for it in well over a year's time. Also, I feel pretty strongly that it is worth investing some money into a fairly neutral sofa if you know you're paying for quality that will last. The fabric is a faux suede in their "saddle" herringbone colorway. I have a swatch and it's darling in person. That and the nice thing is that it hides the dog hair so well! I've tested out both Hippo and Bird's hair (even though she doesn't shed) on my swatches, and that is ultimately how I decided on the fabric. West Elm is kind to offer free swatches to anyone who is considering their furniture.
4. This is the inspiration for my painting. It's the panoramic I've mentioned before that Andrew is working on for me for our living room. It's a view of 2nd point at Scorpion Bay from the palapas. The saturation is perfect. It reminds me of the hot Mexican sun (Arrested Development anyone?), and makes me want a Sangria from the Cantina. (: The view from this shot is honestly one of my most favorites in the world. I cannot wait for that canvas to be hung.
5. This will be one of the best replacements. Our media center right now is one of Hippo's favorite chew toys. It's wood. Big no no. The bottom right corner is gnawed off, with bite marks along the middle shelf. And a chewed vhs player to boot. It was never my favorite piece. It's finish is a cherry color, which is not my style of wood, so the destroyed factor luckily does not make me upset. I've eyed the Ikea consoles for some time now, and have figured this one to be the best. First, it's METAL.. this is a much less attractive material to our chew happy fat man. Second, it has no open shelves! Also good for the biting pup. And third, it's low and long... my kind of console.
6. This is actually just a really fun Lee Jofa fabric I've fallen in love with recently. It would make for great additional pillows in my living room. Marrying my native american patterns to my industrial, coastal, modern taste. The triangles are actually a metallic silver! Cool stuff.

Most, if not all, of these things will happen 'post move' to wherever it is the wind takes us. Doesn't make much sense to invest in furniture while Hippo is still so young and chew happy. Also, knowing that it will probably get dinged up in the move and require a bigger truck no less adds to this decision. Waiting a few more months is a wise choice.

But still. CAN'T WAIT TO DESIGN MY NEXT DIGGS!

main man.

2011-04-15T14:50:00.005-07:00

My Andrew Boyfriend Husband Lover is one talented man. Seriously. What he does boggles my brain. Not only does he have to be a very knowledgeable realism artist, but a crazy technical one too. Here's his latest demo reel.

He's so awesome. He's got more stuff on his blog here.
This semester, and his Bachelor degree are wrapping up fast. Finals are this next week (he only has a couple), and the job interviews continue. This has meant many rushed meals to get him fed QUICK, a lack of date time over the last couple months, many hectic deadlines, lots of 3/6am'ers for the poor boy, and many nights going to sleep alone for me.

Something tells me post-college life will be a breeze for us.
Can't wait.

april showers.

2011-04-12T08:35:00.001-07:00

Last week of school. EVER. Exciting stuff. What's not exciting is the weather here. April showers are actually snow showers here. Good times.

So how do these two combine? Design inspired by gloomy skies. Hey, I'll take any inspiration I can get.. even if it shows up Eeyore style.

1 & 4. Arteriors 2. Ikea 3. Interieurs 5. Etsy 6. Thibaut 7. Designers Guild 8. Anthropologie

early to bed.

2011-04-08T04:01:00.007-07:00

Life has been pretty close to a literal roller coaster for us. So many things are happening, it's insane. So here are the crazy events. In order.

*GG is doing AMAZING. She is home recovering now, and her spinal doctor just gave her the news that she will only have to be in her upper body brace for a month longer, which is INCREDIBLE. A hundred thank yous for your concerns and prayers.

*My father's mother passed away a couple weeks ago. This, although sad news, is good news. Only because her health was so poor and it was high time for her to be with her hubby again who had passed over 20 years ago! So we are happy she's in a better place. Andrew and I were able to make it home for the funeral and got to visit with my extended family.

*Andrew and I are both graduating and are STILL figuring out where Andrew will work, where we'll live, and so on. With graduation just weeks away, my man has interviewed with Dreamworks, Disney, and Sony to name a few. He also has plans to possibly start up his own projects... so time will tell what will actually happen. And that time is fast approaching.

*While we were in California, visiting LA for some of the previously mentioned interviews.. Bird and Hippo were staying with my parents. And you know that saying.. it says something about how life gets going too good, so something's gotta give? Well, Bird ended up seriously injuring her back (not sure how, jumping off a couch can do the trick in a dachshund). She was found unable to use her back legs, or control her bladder/bowels. This temporary paralysis shook my universe. She's my baby. Adding salt to the wound.. I had been planning to go surfing that morning. My one and only chance to paddle out. Classic. We ended up having to spend the last day and a half of our trip at a Vet down there. Only to leave HOPING that she might regain control of her pottying so that BEST case scenario she would end up in a cart... wheeling around. Turns out, she's beating her odds like crazy. After steroid injections, oral pills to take at home, and LOTS of DOLLARS later.. she showed signs the very next day of being able to stand on her hind legs. HUGE. The vet was astonished. She is now walking (although wobbly) and can pee on her own! I don't have to squeeze her bladder. (We're still working on poo). TMI? She is truly a miracle. God must know. Wrong. GOD DOES KNOW how much I love her, and need her... and I thank him every day for letting me keep her, and for healing her little body.

You guys, all of your prayers have been so thoughtful and helpful.. thank you. I have grown a lot over the last month through all of these experiences, but that said, I am definitely looking forward to new chapters and having our life chill out a touch. And for Hippo to chill out a touch as well. Haha. (He's hilarious, we love him).

I woke up at 3am, and haven't been able to fall back asleep. So I consider this my 'midnight snack.' Hopefully it'll cause a cyber-coma. Back to bed I go.

surprise trip.

2011-03-28T13:09:00.005-07:00

*carlsbad jetty via flickr

We've dropped into the land of milk and honey for a quick family & business trip. How convenient for us..

I never want to leave this place.

Never.

drum pendants.

2011-03-23T08:28:00.001-07:00

I love pendant lighting! Talk about something that adds SO MUCH to a room. Not only does it play a part artistically, but this can affect the space dramatically through the ambiance created by the light itself. A lot of times if a space looks dingy, the best cure is through fixing the lighting. Most people do not realize that if they can't put their finger on WHY their space just doesn't look right, it's usually the lighting! So switch it out people, add more in, and jooshe it up while you're at it! And one thing to remember, large pendants are not JUST FOR DINING ROOMS. Use them over a master bed, over a bath, in a tall hallway, in an entryway... you name it. (:

A lot of my favorites are drum shaded, and so here is a little collection to tickle your fancy.

*all pendants found here.

winner!

2011-03-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Mrs. Kelsie Rae!
and THANK YOU. (:

Your cards will be headed your way soon.
Thanks to everyone who entered, love you all!

living fur accessories.

2011-03-22T08:20:00.001-07:00

On the note of pups...
I honestly believe that they can be one of the all time best accessories for your home. One of the things I love about Apartment Therapy is that most (if not all) contributors and readers are big time pet enthusiasts. HIGH FIVE! SO AM I! To the nth degree. So anyway, here are some canine's that have been represented on AT, and are truly rad accessories in their homes. The proof is in the pudding.

*all from the archives of Apartment Therapy

I think the pug on the poof is my favorite. Hahaha. So regal.
And of course tied for first is the baby dachshund. Doing Bird proud in a charming Eames rocker!

PS. Today is the last day to enter the giftaway!

Cheers!
-Air

hungry hippo.

2011-03-21T18:38:00.004-07:00

Many of you have asked how Hippo is doing.. and he's blending in quite seamlessly! He still thinks Birdie's a chew toy (she will only entertain him for short moments at a time before she gets fed up), he now sleeps through the night (11pm-8am), and is the HUNGRIEST Hippo you will ever know! Haha.. I sing the old slogan to him while I fill his bowl. He gets so excited and does what I like to call the "full body bulldog wiggle" ..it's typical to the breed. Without their tails, their whole body tends to sway from side to side when they are happy.. it's one of the cutest things about them!

Anyway, he's no longer allowed on the couch when we're out (we had a ramp of pillows set up originally) because he's had 2 accidents up there (washed and pee free), so now he's happily sleeping on the pillow he's claimed to be his own in his crate! So nice. Bird LOATHES her crate. Also nice, if we leave, he only whimpers for 30 seconds and then moves on to his toys or bed. HEAVEN.

We are just loving him and his cute droopy face. Also true to breed, he is the friendliest little thing, loves EVERYONE. ALSO true to breed, he chews EVERYTHING. This is very very slowly improving with the help of a water squirt bottle. The water has proven to be the only thing to get his attention and to get him to stop temporarily and thus, is now causing him to sometimes think before he goes for our clothes, feet, etc. But anyway we've had to pull up our shag rug (which is also rolled away for potty training purposes), tuck away our bar stools, and put up a mini dog gate to our bedroom (which has doubled as a barrier from the carpet and office room chords and a safe place for Bird).

All that said, he was definitely stressful for the first 2 weeks but now we've got a pretty good system established and he's still potty training epicly.

My favorite little quirk by far though is one of his sleeping habits. When I let him nap next to me on the couch, most of the time he prefers sleeping on his back. And the best part of this, is how he gets himself in the position. He usually sits.. tips his head up.. and then thrusts his body backwards.. as if he's trying to gracefully swan dive his fat self into a dreamy pool. Hahahhaa. It's a must see in your lifetime. I'll try to catch it on film for you so you don't miss out.

Here are some top quality cell phone photographs.. to give you a little taste of his lazy daytime routine...

..the evening is a whole other story.

ocean dweller.

2011-03-21T07:30:00.003-07:00

Can you tell mother ocean & the color blue have been completely absorbing my thoughts/creativity non-stop the last few weeks? Ok months. It's taken over the vibe of my front room as of January..and I don't even mind. I can't get enough, I'm DIGGING it. So enjoy some more water inspired finds, from yours truly.

1. & 3. Roost oil lamp & fish cutting boards 2. Anthropologie coasters 4. Driftwood Interiors paintings
5. Etsy seafoam mosaic tile 6. UO anchor charm 7. Romo Mimas wallpaper

And yes, I am secretly a mermaid.
Secret's out.

Love.
-Air

PS. Enter my giftaway here! (:

house proud.

2011-03-18T07:40:00.001-07:00

I watch the Nate Berkus Show. And about a month ago he featured this flawlessly beautiful home. I about poo'd my pants in envy!! IT'S MY DREAM HOME!! Alas, if only I could purchase a home, I would mimic so many things about this place! There are SO many things going on with it that are PERFECT. I would move in tomorrow. I'M OBSESSED.

twin beds as 'sectional'
nautical-esque guest room
white wood floors (i will have these)
texture galore!
tracked scrapwood door (i will also have this)
natural & modern dining/loft
Fitzhugh & Lyndsay's Brooklyn Home

I'm sold. I honestly will use this as my blueprint for the place we call our own.

Can't wait.

fifth & hazel..

2011-03-17T06:00:00.006-07:00

As a thank you for reading for the last few years, or for popping in as a newbie.. I'm hosting a giveaway! Or a 'giftaway' as I like to call them, of a set of Fifth & Hazel thank you cards! Fifth & Hazel is a graphic design company owned by Melanie Burk. She has EVERYTHING for all of your design needs.. posters, greeting cards, postcards, logos, websites and so on!

And goodness is she talented.

Here's how to enter to win a set of "the stache" thank you cards:
(one of my fav's!)

1. Leave a comment. Any will do. Just make it interesting. (;
2. Follow this here blog and get a SECOND entry.
3. Receive EVEN MORE entry opportunities by blogging, tweeting, & facebook status'ing it up..

((be sure to leave additional comments if you're shooting for numbers 2. & 3.))

**must live in the United States to enter. Hawaiian friends included. (:

The giftaway ends Wednesday the 23rd at 12:00am.

Best of luck to you!

Cheers.
-Air

whole wide world.

2011-03-15T16:26:00.004-07:00

So Mindy Gledhill (rockin' singer-songwriter, thrift fashionista, gorgeous landlady extraordinaire), is releasing her latest music video on Thursday. And I'm SO EXCITED. Ok, but guess what? PSYCH, you guys get to see it early! She's letting my readers get a first look at her official music video! So without further adieu I give you....

Whole Wide World, by Mindy Gledhill.
Enjoy!

Amazing. Now go leave her some love... here, here, or via iTunes. (:

sunset.

2011-03-11T17:13:00.008-08:00

Wishing I could paddle out right now for a surf at sunset...
BIG TIME.

Caroline Gleich

Since the tsunami was a false alarm on the west coast I wouldn't have any need to worry about being gobbled up. (Sincere heartfelt sadness and prayers for Japan) Surprisingly the nice weather here is making me really homesick for the water right now. When it's nice here, I know it's only PERFECT there. Surprising or not so surprising, either way I wish I was hitting up Warm Water's tonight, or Terramar, or who knows maybe an unusual trek all the way down to Scripps. I just wanna get wet and leave with some sand in the truck, and salty hair for the day after.

..soon enough.

Moving back will be a dream come true.
*Prayers for Japan.

the real deal.

2011-03-08T07:49:00.001-08:00

I've decided to share a board with you today that'll warm things up a bit. And it's actually one of things I OWN AND LOVE rather than things I only dream of. A real life recommendation rather than empty lusting. (:

1. Lollia Breathe hand creme- So I live in Utah. The driest state EVER. I've never really had a need to 'moisturize.' My body does a really good job at staying ..how do I say, oily enough? Ha. Anyway, my hands though this winter have been taking a beating more so than ever. So what did I do? Invest in the BEST creme of my life! This would have been nice to have for all the years I've been massaging previously. I usually just dab a bit of oil into my palms after my shift, but this would have been divine! That plus the fact that I am currently washing my hands a million times a day. I have a puppy, I clean up pee, I wash my hands. And now I MOISTURIZE! With the best smelling, best LOOKING, creme out there. Worth all the pennies. (:

2 & 3. She & Him albums- I've been bouncing around with my music genre's a lot lately, but this purchase I made a little while ago has still proven to be a worthy investment when my mood is calling for a little Zooey Deschanel.

4. Bath & Body Works orange ginger aromatherapy oil- This is a bitter sweet item for me. Sweet because I'm obsessed! It's the best smelling aroma I've ever used both in a treatment as well as in my diffuser at home. I first learned of it when I traded services and got a facial from my friend Shiloh.. she used this oil and it made all the difference for me. It's pretty much the definition of yummy. The bitterness because they don't make it anymore... and I'm literally down to my last drop. If you can find me some, we'll be BFF's! PLEASE!

5. Baker's twine- I just love this stuff. Packaging, decoration, kicking bad habits (which I must admit I am not currently text-driving sober.. eek!). You name it.. it's just so cute & handy!

6. Toms natural canvas shoes- I almost showcase a pair of Toms on nearly every board simply because I'll preach them from the mountain tops! I only have 2 pairs, but they are my most favorite things! (next to my Rainbow's of course, but those don't get much use up here sadly). My natural canvas' are so comfortable and versatile with so many outfits. Toms will change your life.

And of course a shot of one of my all time favorite plants..
A bougainvillea bush.
Reminds me of home, warmer days, color, and of course SUMMER.

Ahhh, happiness.
What are some of your current loves?

Cheers!

2011-03-07T12:28:00.006-08:00

Some of you only have a minimal idea of what my poor grandmother went through/is going through via my tweets & facebook. Well to clue you all in, here's a little bit of the situation..

**Warning: this is extremely graphic, disturbing, and possibly tear inducing.

My mother got a call. She was told that my grandma's neighbors were in their garage and saw my uncle Jared (who lives with her) walk outside of the house covered in blood. He got into his truck and proceeded to drive up and down the street multiple times. He parked, got out, and went up to the neighbors and told them, "my mom tried to beat me." The wife was sent into my grandma's house, while the husband stayed outside talking to Jared, who appeared to be high on drugs.

When the wife went in, she found my grandma hardly awake, covered in blood, and beaten until she was unrecognizable. She was rushed to the hospital by paramedics, and Jared was luckily detained immediately.

They found that my grandma had 2 breaks in the front of her face (from being beat with a chain wrapped around his fist) which caused her eye to be unsupported in it's socket, a chip in the back of her skull, 3 broken vertebrae, 4 broken ribs, a nearly chewed off finger, and her sternum was completely crushed (from being thrown around the room & from being pinned down and laid on). She is extremely luckily to not be paralyzed. I knew this was extremely bad, but it was really brought into perspective when my father sent me a photo. I would never share it with you because no one should have to see someone in that condition if they can help it.

She has since had her finger repaired (although we're still hoping the infection gets better so that they don't have to amputate at the knuckle), the cut on her face stitched, and the eye socket break repaired. The other surgeries will be done over the period of the next month, while waiting for the sternum to heal on its own.

Jared will be tried for Attempted First Degree Murder, and his bail was posted at $1million. Let's just hope that he ends up in jail for the rest of my grandmother's life, if not his own. Drugs are a slippery slope, and before you know it.. you could be on trial for murder. So if you or someone you know has even a mild drug problem.. get them help, immediately.

Aside from the injuries, she is dealing with a fair amount of post traumatic stress. Fearing that others in the hospital are Jared trying to attack her. Luckily this is less of a problem because she is now able to open her eyes and see who is around her. She is doing well after her first surgery, and the swelling has gone down significantly. So thank you very much for your prayers. She is doing well, but still has a very long road to recovery ahead of her.

The reason why I tell you all of this and share such personal and detailed information is because in soliciting your prayers, I feel it is helpful to know what it is you are praying for.

So please, continue to pray for my GG.
Thank you, all my family's love.

I'm Parched.

2011-03-04T23:00:00.007-08:00

...and I've been giving myself a visual fixing of blues lately to quench my thirst. And the Thibaut island ikat wallpaper has been inspiring me up the yin yang. I'm so obsessed it's ridiculous. I will be buying rolls soon just with the plan to use it someday. I'm very serious about this.

1. Thibaut wallpaper 2. UO George the Terrier 3. Etsy octopus 4. UO metal alpha
5. Anthropologie coasters 6. Zoya matte polish 7. UO bath towel

Reach & Unite.

2011-03-03T16:33:00.003-08:00

My very talented and very inspiring cousin Melanie Burk, of 5th and Hazel is involved in a very cool non profit fundraiser. Reach and Unite is in support of International Women's Day on Saturday March 12th. This service project involves assembling female hygiene kits for the many girls in Africa who drop out of school or suffer urinary tract infections due to lack of hygiene supplies and proper education. The event will include a lecture, lunch, African dancers, music, and art show.

If you would like to attend and live in Utah, simply go to UVU's Activity Center in the Pe Building March 12th. The event will go from 10am to 4pm. You can visit the site here for more information.

Here's to helping those wonderful women who need it!

Quickie.

2011-02-28T22:43:00.008-08:00

Sooo..
...we just love him! Andrew is smitten. He is just so much fun. A ball of sharp nibbles, clumsy struts, and endless naps ...and we wouldn't have it any other way! Ok, so I could go without the interrupted nights (up 3/4ish times a night with this bugger). Yeah, 'non dog people' don't realize that getting a puppy is like giving birth to a human baby, they gotta go potty all night long, too. And sometimes they're thirsty. And sometimes they get up and wont go back to sleep. So basically my first born wont be my first run around if you know what I'm sayin. But yeah, definitely not my favorite part considering I worship sleep from 12am-11am. It's definitely mildly brutal, but hey.. at least I knew what I was getting myself into. In other news, he's embracing potty training so well it's blowing my mind. Well sure he has accidents because he's not used to holding it in (that plus the fact that he's probably storing urine in his VEINS), but he totally knows that outside is for going potty ALREADY, and does it quick and even blesses us with double duties. Fur baby owners know that THAT right there is a golden ticket.

More importantly, how's Bird you ask? Well we knew it'd be a rough transition for the girl. She can be a diva, but we already knew that.. so we were preparing for the worst. Day 1- Excitement. Day 2/3- Jealously & annoyance (she didn't like that he wanted to 'nurse' on her, and eat her tail, alas he has never seen one before!), Day 4- Depression & hiding. Day 5/6- Acceptance & light playfulness. HALLELUJAH! We're still expecting set backs, but as for right now they're totally co-existing well, and mildly enjoying each other. Hippo likes Bird, but Bird is so not a fan of his sharp little teeth, but she has been realizing that she can be feisty back to an extent and make it fun.

So there you have it in a nut shell. Off I go to get a couple hours of sleep before his cuteness/fatness/feistiness wakes me up again.

Worth it.
GG, you'll love him.

Scorp.

2011-02-20T21:47:00.008-08:00

Guys, it's probably annoying to some of you how much I love me some Mexico.. but I can't help myself! And right now, given the current weather outside... well, I'm REALLY itching to get down there. I miss it so much! The culture, the food, the colors, the patterns, and of course.. the OLAS! The photo below on the left is a Flickr find of Rosarito (a city just north of my parent's beach shack).. and it nails so much of what I love about Baja.

1.Talavera Emporium dolphin 2.Mexican glass blue cobalt rim tumbler 3.Talavera tiles
4.Mexican blankets 5.Stone-washed twill Toms

PS. I actually own some classic cobalt rim glasses and I wouldn't have it any other way. Viva Mexico!

PPS. Countdown to bringing home Hippo = 13 days!!

Gloomy & Rosey.

2011-02-19T10:09:00.004-08:00

I have never really been a fan of roses (the flower in real life that is) but when it comes to design, I actually love their timelessness, and touch of whimsy. If roses came in that soft pale blue, or black.. sign me up for a dozen. (:

1-3. Watelet wallpaper by Designers Guild 4. UO faded rose rug 5. AT painted jar DIY
6. Zoya dovima polish 7. 18Karat marble bowls 8. Free People rose tights

Hippo.

2011-02-17T09:16:00.006-08:00

Just in case you weren't already madly obsessed slash in love with our new baby, here's a little "live action" sampler for you. (:

WE LOVE HIM OH SO MUCH!

Introducing..

2011-02-15T23:37:00.002-08:00

Since I KNOW the anticipation is literally KILLING YOU. You've had to wait less than 24 hours, but it's felt like ETERNITY, I JUST KNOW IT. (Odds are you've actually not even read the previous post yet, haha) I will now let you in on the most glorious gift I will be receiving in just weeks. This gift being a generous Vday/Helping hand/Bday gift from the man in my life!

WE GOT OUR BULLY!!

...and we are SO.IN.LOVE.

I give you...
Hippopotamus the Ist

He and I met today, and it was love at first snort. I seriously can't even believe how darling he is. He's the tiniest, softest, mushiest, sweetest thing I've ever held. And honestly is that brown tail not the cutest thing you've ever seen? And he's all ours! I can hardly WAIT to bring him home!!

Hippo & Bird

2 weeks and counting!

Fingers Crossed!

2011-02-15T08:42:00.000-08:00

a. Bear in Mind Ice wallpaper. b. Coy wallpaper. c. Best in Show wallpaper. d. Sea Life plates.
e. jaws sculpture. f. ceramic hippo.

Yesterday I helped Andrew all day with a school project. For his entrepreneurship class his group decided to sell roses for Valentine's Day. I couldn't care less about the holiday (for the most part) so I was more than willing to help make some cash flow. They ended up blowing their sale/revenue goal out of the water, and in turn my man plans to spoil me rotten with the best VALENTINE'S GIFT EVER! So who knows, maybe this holiday will turn into one I actually care about.

...but you'll have to wait and see if it happens. Odds are in favor of said gift, so I'll keep you on edge just a little longer until I know it's official. Wish me luck!

PS. The mood board's pretty telling. You're welcome to guess...

if you DARE.

Shmee.

2011-02-11T09:04:00.005-08:00

TWO BIRTHDAYS IN A ROW! But today's belongs to one of my ultimate best friends. My sis! Oh how I love her so. And not even because she gave me the cutest nephew alive. Ash, I love you.. and don't you fret, you still look like a hot teenager.

I LOVE YOU.

Linds.

2011-02-10T22:01:00.005-08:00

Lindsay has been one of my very dearest, sassy, fun, best friends since ...I don't know.. we were 10 or so? Anyway, Here's a small sampling of our lives together. Hawaii, Disneyland, Utah, Single's ward, Prom, you name it.. we've been there, and through it all. Love ya, Linds! Happy Birthday, Gee Eff!

Pillowies.

2011-02-08T00:10:00.000-08:00

I've revamped (aka: recovered) most of my throw pillows in the family room, KELSIE YOU'RE AMAZING, thanks for being my seamstress! But I couldn't help myself and made an addition to the bunch along the way. Thanks, CSN!

I've got a Mexi-Nautical vibe going on with the whole bunch, and I'm digging it. The pillows are jiving together and the textures make me giddy. (:
Pretty obsessed to be honest.

PS. In case you couldn't tell, I'm definitely not a photographer, and wont pretend to be either. So you just have to trust me when I tell you that they all look like a million bucks in real life. Because it's true. Maybe someday I'll be awesome enough to have a photographer follow me around everywhere and take photos of my life whenever I want. Haha. YOU want that job. We'd have an awesome time.

..Think about it.

Bohem.

2011-02-06T21:04:00.003-08:00

a+b.designers guild wallpaper c.kantha WE pillows d.dharma VZ's e.cola polish by zoya f.UO night&day sofa g.arteriors leather hurricane

Bakers Twine.

2011-02-03T09:01:00.005-08:00

I've got it wrapped around my right thumb.. To remind me not to text while driving. AAAH! I've been drive-text sober for 4 days now. It sucks. I'm having withdrawals. But I'm doing it. Andrew thinks I have a death wish, so I'm doing it for him. Ironically enough this photo is from the drivers seat, but I was parked, so there.

You should do it too, so I don't feel like the only bored commuter.
And yes, I'm aware that my thumb looks like it was smashed, or chopped off at the top. Gotta love my nubbs! No seriously, I love them... thanks, dad!

PS. The polish is Prince Charming, by Orly.

Tarp Surfing.

2011-01-31T10:35:00.004-08:00

This could solve my 'no ocean' problem. Then again, it's freezing outside and there's snow on the asphalt. Poo. Oh well, get a laugh from these 'serious tarpers'.

&amp;lt;/center&amp;gt;
via Mitch's

Stand Alone.

2011-01-28T16:42:00.006-08:00

So I have very seriously been in search of a classy and 'fits my exact wants' leaning mirror. The debate? White vs. Reclaimed. And in the search I found a home that was featured on YoungHouseLove that made their own reclaimed mirrors, causing me to lean heavily toward the latter. I'm sure you'll agree after you see these...

Aren't they beautiful?! Also noteworthy is the reclaimed gorgeous homemade chandelier. This home belongs to Jordan and Landon of LandonJacob (a gorgeous photography business btw). A yummy home for sure.

Now I need to get a hold of some old mirrored closet doors and a sexy looking distressed pallet of wood! Then maybe my furniture-making landlord would like to build them for me. Or you can. Any takers? (:

What do you say, white or reclaimed?

Frosty Summer.

2011-01-26T17:22:00.006-08:00

1.Darcy Wallpaper 2.West Elm Clock 3.Toms in Italy 4.West Elm Throw 5.ModCloth Necklace

Radiator.

2011-01-24T10:32:00.003-08:00

This is how Birdie does winter.

If this thing didn't exist, she'd hate it just like I do.

Just sayin.

Nailed it.

2011-01-18T10:50:00.000-08:00

I got the gig I wanted. And it's going to rock my boat!

I'm interning at Walls, and I am SO EXCITED!

*Via Kara Shurtliff Photography

They specialize in unique designer wallpaper, textiles, and offer beautiful design service. Brittney Wallman is the sweetest thing and is going to be a dream to work with, while the other girls seem just as fun. Can't wait. I start tomorrow. (:

Pictures to come of the adventures ahead.

Rome.

2011-01-12T13:52:00.007-08:00

Rome. Roam.. which ever. Ideally I'd be roaming in Rome right now, so both. I just watched Eat.Pray.Love. and had a decent idea of what to expect, however what I wasn't expecting was to have 2 of my top 5 places to see sometime in my life, to be a huge part of the movie (obviously I haven't read the book, but I should). Italy, and Bali (although I'd be content with the Eastern islands/Indo in general).

So on the blog, 'Endless Summer' continues via my mood board. Lets all pretend we're sitting in that summery-tangerine round chair, sipping a cool italian soda, under the warm breeze and Tuscan sun, with a good book. You down?

Ahh.. feeling better already. (:
Cheers.

1st & 2nd Point.

2011-01-11T22:43:00.011-08:00

It was a week ago. I ate crap and fell in my driveway on the most ROCK SOLID - I'm talking.. INSANE PIECE OF FREEZING SMOOTH GRANITE/LIMESTONE/WHATEVER - gnarly hard surface you can imagine, and landed precisely directly exactly on the smallest square-inch of my patella (knee bone). And in that moment I transported myself in my mind to my piece of heaven. The getaway. The 18 hour drive - WORTH it - sanctuary. The trip to the best tacos de pescado, y olas, y siestas (fish tacos, waves, & naps for you non-mexi travelers).. you could ever dream of. A place where the sun kisses your skin and leaves you feeling like melted butter. We'll pretend that feels amazing.

THIS PLACE..

via surfforcast

This is my heaven. I'm there in my brain right now.
If you've seen that first picture in real life... then you KNOW the breath taking feeling I'm talkin about. It's of "1st point", and the other shot is of "2nd point" at Scorpion Bay.. and they are both a dream come true. Eventually, Andrew is going to do a canvas oil painting of Scorpion for me. It's going to be jynormous.. and it'll live in our living room. I can't wait. But I guess I will have to... while I also wait for my bulldog. If they came at the same time I just may poo myself.

In other news, school started today and I am just not ready. I'm still squeezing the last drops from the fruits of my vacation time. I'm trying to pretend that Andrew really hasn't gone back to school (although I'm BEYOND MYSELF excited that this is the LAST TIME he will "start" school EVER AGAIN), and instead I imagine us building puzzles tomorrow with my sisters & brothers in law, doing the most retarded things to get the most beautiful human on the planet to laugh (the human also known as Beckett), playing ping pong, and going for a drive close enough to SEE the ocean. Seeing is enough for me. Every time I leave my parents home, my heart skips over the speed bump.. while I cross my fingers that the marine layer is non-existent for that moment, just so I can SEE IT. And I kid you not, the wet air got the memo this last trip, because the whole vacation I got to fill up my "ocean view from the hill" cup. And it is definitely HELPING.

It was wonderful.. but, I can't help but wonder when I'll see it again next. Until then, I'm going to enjoy the ice rink they called 'roads' here. Because this most likely will be our last.winter.ever. in Utah (shock & awe, followed by high fives all around). So I'll be sure to sneak a peak at as many 1am silent snow storms as I can (those are my favorite.. the ground SPARKLES!), and then file them away in my memories somewhere happily. Or in my Christmas boxes, to be pulled out each year from now on, to turn my house into a white-winter-wonderland. (:

So there you have it. My wanderlust self. Life just feels kind of surreal right now, and I'm trying to take it all in. Where we are, where we've come from, and where we'll end up. I've decided though that I'm going to try to just think in the now. Enjoy the journey, right? So what am I most excited for THIS DAY? These next few months? (that counts as now, right?) A design internship. A fun one. Wish me luck!

Oh, and I'll be sure to take advantage of my sorels while I still can these next few months. They definitely add to my love of winter.

I should have been wearing them the day my knee made out with the floor outside.
Most likely could have avoided that.

Santa.

2010-12-19T12:29:00.003-08:00

Chevron Knot Rug- 1. Bexley Aqua Lamp- 2. Chemist's Jar- 3. Embellished Fur Throw- 4. Amber Tumblers- 5.
Santee Sofa- 6. Deep Sea Dishes- 7. English Bulldog- 8. Linen Towels- 9.

Rococo & Neo.

2010-12-12T21:52:00.007-08:00

So for one of my final projects we had to create digital color boards (aka: a room presentation) for a historical inspired vacation home. We had to design by merging 2 styles and I chose French Rococo and English Neoclassical. This was a stretch for me since I'm not usually one to use any of these styles in my designs, however I think the combo turned out pretty nicely.. and I'm kind of a fan.

So, I decided to share my boards with you of the master suite. (:

Fah-lah! 4 more days!!

Thought of You.

2010-12-09T22:52:00.007-08:00

Animation can be magical. And make you cry. And touch parts of your soul that you want to be touched.

This one does it.

One of Andrew's program instructors made this short, and it.is.beautiful. He's worked in the 'industry' as a story board artist for a long time and BYU snagged him up to teach a few years ago.. because he GETS.IT.

You will love it. Watch it a 100 times. So worth it.

And if dancing makes you feel things inside that you can't describe, then this is for you. Next time I see him I will have to tell him how truly amazing it is. You should too. Go leave him comments. Unreal.

Enjoy.

And THAT is one of the reasons why Andrew loves what he does.

Insanity.

2010-12-04T19:21:00.006-08:00

via EvaDesigns

If you wonder why I haven't blogged in a jillion years it's because I have ZERO spare minutes (that's a lie, I just found a few to do this one). But you get the idea. After a wonderful Thanksgiving break at home, a sinus infection, and a full load of final projects going on.. I usually need to use these minutes for a shower (those have been rare lately as well.. sorry friends who walk in my stench).

Anyway, all I've been able to think about is French Rococo design, fauteuils, the Henry's, ormolu, Robert Adam and so on (this list in my brain is about 100 items long, kill me now).. so after Christmas I'll have more time to talk about my silly nothings.

Oh yeah, we've been planning on adopting another four legged child. Originally for Christmas, but now he'll have to join the family after we both graduate in April. Can't wait. We love english bulldogs... more than you know.

via Corbis

Cheers for now.
-Air.

Perspective.

2010-11-22T09:55:00.004-08:00

I've been meaning to share more of my drawings.. So here they are. (:

(click to enlarge, and enjoy in their full glory!)

Neptune Statue

Urban Courtyard

Alberto Sectional

And my favorite so far...
The Bedroom

I've made all of these up completely, and the process can be stressful at times, but when I get down to rendering them in the end, I always find myself enjoying what I'm doing. So I guess that means I like to draw. (:

Clock'n It.

2010-11-10T12:46:00.001-08:00

I want this clock! I've been wanting one like it for some time now. I'm not a fan of the one we have in our front room, so if anyone can find this one for me somewhere, that'd be awesome.

and the chandeliers..
and the mantle..
the chairs..
the table....

Give me this room, and I'll love you forever.

**update: i've found the clock!! and it'll be in my posession shortly! HORRAH!

Plates Galore.

2010-11-07T21:38:00.009-08:00

Guys. I LOVE PLATE WALLS!! One of the seemingly silly little designs I'm excited about doing when owning my own home someday is simply to put a plate wall in my dining room, or even the kitchen. Heck, maybe over the fireplace. Basically we might end up eating from the dishes hanging on every wall in our house.

Oh man, here are some reasons why I love them so...

You can be colorful.

You can be refined yet dramatic.
You can use just a few.. or build gradually.

You can focus on pattern.

You can focus on shape & depth.

You can group them in tight corners.

You can hang them in whatever direction you choose.

You can use them to unite spaces.

You can mix old with new. You can be organic or use symmetry. You can spread them out or keep them close. You can be comical or timeless.

Basically.. there's no wrong way to arrange one, and the key is in the selection.

Advice: Make it YOU.

I can't wait to make one ME. (:

Cheers.

Indiana Jones & Luna Lovegood

2010-10-31T23:11:00.004-07:00

Guys, this is the first year since we've been married that Andrew dressed up with me! It was practically a dream come true. And he made a quality Indiana Jones if I do say so myself. Thanks Kels & Cody for the rockin good time! Andrew loved scaring adolescent girls outside.. highlight of his week. Haha.

And not to tute my own horn, ok.. I'm going to toot my own horn. I made a pretty legit Luna Lovegood. The Ravenclaw, Hogwarts student herself. And at school I had Hermione (Wendy Young), Cho Chang (Jenner Truong), and even Hedwig (Lauren.. haha) to share in the Harry Potter festivities with me.

What a truly Happy Halloween. (:

Demo Reel.

2010-10-24T08:52:00.003-07:00

Do you want to know what my crazy talented boyfriend has been up to the last year or so? Well.. here's a quick reel of most of what he's done. Some of it looks simple, but that's only because he did so much math and coding and sneaky stuff in order for these shots to look believable.

I'm so proud of him.
PS. Stay for the credits..

(you just might be in them.)

isometric drawings.

2010-10-12T21:39:00.008-07:00

Since I'm getting really good at doing tons of homework and zero blogging.. why not combine the two again!? Here was my last big assignment (not HUGE, but big and fun enough to share).

I'm taking perspective drawing to learn how to convey ideas to clients. We started out drawing in isometric, or... drawings with 3-Dimensions. It's essentially the best way to show all 3 planes of an object. Don't worry, there's a butt load of math involved, which isn't my favorite, but wasn't tooo bad. Lots of scaling, angling, and whatnot.. but regardless, I actually really enjoyed it! Aside from the fact that my teacher is pretty intimidating, I've learned that so far I really love drawing! (:

So here they are, with the images that I used as reference..

Inspiration: via Southern Living..

Drawing: My iso rendered in pen..

Inspiration: via ArhZine..

Drawing: My iso rendered in pen..

Now.. to learn how to color render! I love coloring & I love markers, so this should be a killer good time.

Mom asked if Andrew helped me.. but I'm proud to say no he did not! Artist boyfriend let me go for it, and he's pretty proud of his wifey. We're merging worlds and it's fun to talk about the common ground. (: Granted, I can't paint a HUGE scene scape in photoshop, or build intense virtual models, and my artwork isn't in temple/church stained glass windows ((which reminds me, I need to take a picture of the Christ window that went up in American Fork at the Presbyterian church that Andrew designed.. it'll blow your mind)) ...but hey, at least we can talk about different ways to shade things. Haha.

The Bears.

2010-10-05T22:20:00.009-07:00

I just found these on Andrew's phone from our little trip to the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, and thought I'd share. Sometimes I worry our future children will have complexes because their parents are total goobs.

Ok I take that back.
We're pretty awesome.

Our kids will love the fact that we're super down with skateboarding in the house. I told Andrew when he buys me a house, he gets a huge fatty family room/garage to build mini ramps and rails for our own real life fantasy factory (I believe I've talked about this before). I mean, I want distressed hardwood and concrete floors anyway, so might as well let the fam enjoy it. Andrew got to do it growing up and I loved that about his upbringing. Our kids also get pillow fights galore, buttercups (don't ask), and sock bomb wars. Hopefully once we've bribed them with all the 'rad parental moves,' they'll freely forgive us for embarrassing them with our weird ways.

Then we can be a family of crazy bears together. Hopefully without head lice.
We're glad we didn't get any from those costumes.

The Whale.

2010-10-01T10:59:00.005-07:00

This is a true story. I was crying when I read it. Absolutely touching, inspiring, and beautiful in every way...

"... If you read a recent front page story of the San Francisco Chronicle, you would have read about a female humpback whale who had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines. She was weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat. She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso, a line tugging in her mouth. A fisherman spotted her just east of the Farallon Islands (outside the Golden Gate) and radioed an environmental group for help. Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was so bad off, the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her. They worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her. When she was free, the divers say she swam in what seemed like joyous circles. She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, and nudged them, pushed them gently around as she was thanking them. Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives. The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth said her eyes were following him the whole time, and he will never be the same."

-via Gina Rene's facebook

I hope your weekend is full of perspective and tender mercies, and encounters with inspiring animals (my dad already has, with pelicans).
PS. LDS friends, enjoy Conference! We get to feast on the word.. what a blessing!

Kitchen.

2010-09-26T21:57:00.006-07:00

Remember that one time college consumed my every free moment not devoted to new fabulous seasons of television shows? Oh yeah.. that's my life right now. Speaking of which, I've been reading so much about Egypt, Greece, & Rome.. that I'm pretty sure I'm going to start regurgitating columns. Yes... the ones that hold up buildings. The thing that has been most fun so far this semester is gray scale rendering. I also want to thank Autodesk, the wonderful makers of AutoCAD, for saving my life from hand drafting floor plans/elevations/sections.. etc.

CAD, we're just getting to know each other, and I know you probably laugh at the things I sketch up on your xyz axis' (pitiful I know, compared to what some engineers do with you), but regardless, I'm excited to get to know you..

A sample of what's been going on so far.
This is the floor plan and the north elevation of a kitchen I'm working on, gray scaled. It's "Kylee's Cottage Kitchen." It's slightly boring to look at, but very tedious to actually create. I would tell you all about the finishes that would be in the space as well as show you the real color scheme.. but I'm too lazy.

PS. Don't laugh at me. I'm new.

Now pretend I didn't just show you those..
Bashfulness aside, I'm really enjoying this side of the design process! Selecting finishes is my favorite, but who doesn't love coloring & seeing what you imagine in your mind come to life? Dually noted is seeing that what comes out is NOT what you imagined or aspired for at all.. Haha. I love when that happens. Well either way, it's a fun time.. ...intense, but fun.

Alright, I'll get back to my 6 chapters of the Book of Mormon that I have to read now for institute (I totally think that's legal Sunday homework, if you don't you can fight me!).

Happy Sunday!
(Is it even really Sunday anymore at 11pm? Curious.)

..or rather, hope your Sunday was happy!

Pollen.

2010-09-20T23:04:00.004-07:00

There is no longer any confusion whatsoever as to of WHY my allergies are acting SO HEINOUS as of late. Makes perfect sense now. But, in other news, do you see the small numbers at the bottom? Stoked. I'll blow my itchy nose all day if the forecast will look like that for me! Shoots.

Are you over my endless summer rants? Well, I'm not.. sorry. (:
ENDLESSSSSSSS.

We no Speak Americano.

2010-09-20T10:17:00.003-07:00

I have Justin Bieber and his tweets to thank for this.
..and now so do you.

Charley Harper.

2010-09-18T14:19:00.005-07:00

So, I totally have a copy of the above print on my wall in our office (I'm looking at it right now). And I stumbled upon it in the weirdest way..

Once upon a time, I was sitting with my mother at 2 in the morning in the Pomerado hospital, waiting for my best friend/sister to get admitted and whatnot to have her cute baby. Seriously, we were waiting for at least 2 hours to find out if they were even going to let her stay.. and so in the meantime we sat waiting in the silliest little family waiting room, with the lights off.. it was the middle of the night, and we wanted it that way! Mother and I tried to rest, but couldn't possibly do it with all the excitement and anticipation. So naturally, I grab the most relatable read in the room which was a "Bird Watcher's Digest Magazine." Haha.. awesome. It was that or parenting magazines galore. Anyway, being the animal enthusiast that I am, I was just looking threw it and I found the above image in a centerfold type situation in the magazine. Don't tell, but I tore it out because I thought it was beautiful, and it was doing the print a disjustice sitting in the lobby of a maternity ward. Bam. I now have it framed, and appreciate it more than any "aunts to be" at that hospital probably would. Well, I eventually found out who the artist is, and I just love him! Charley Harper sticks mostly to birds, but does a lot of nature scenes as well, and I think they're just fabulous! Oh, also dear mommy's, he has an ABC's book for the kiddos. Shoot, I would buy it for myself. Anyway, I think the talented man passed a couple years back, and so I will be sure to celebrate his life by using more of his prints with my future work. And of course I plan to own more myself when the home I live in needs more radical artwork. (:

These are some of my fav's..

This last one is my fav, but you're not surprised are you?

Pelicans on pier posts = endless summer continued! YESS!

PS. It's still hot outside and I'm IN HEAVEN! A big fat thank you for sticking around this long dear warmness. Please feel free to stay as long as you'd like!

Hers is 3.

2010-09-13T11:04:00.005-07:00

She wanted nothing to do with the ridiculous makeshift birthday hat, but it's true... our furry wiener child is 3 years old today! How time flies.

We love you, Turdling!

Round 2.

2010-09-11T13:56:00.006-07:00

I love the color palette and playful shapes in this back splash.
I love back splashes and painted ceramic tiles. Big fan.

Clever shelving.

I love organized exposure, so long as your kitchenware is attractive!

School starts Monday.
Fabric swatches, mounting tape, drafting, perspective drawings.. you name it, I'm going to be ENGULFED again. And I'm excited! The design world is pretty addicting and so I can't wait to create again. I promise this time around I'm going to do better at sharing my projects and what not.

Woohoo!

{images via Decor8}

Snaggle.

2010-09-09T08:52:00.004-07:00

Does anyone else out there want adult braces? Did you also have them as a teen and break your retainer and watched your chompers go to crap? Ah. Alas... I only had braces on my front four teeth (those that now need braces the worst), and I am now regretting my teenage negligence. I tell Andrew all the time that someday when we can afford orthodontics, I want braces. And no, I don't want to pay the billion dollars for invisalign, just give me the fastest & least expensive way to get rid of this snaggle tooth. Yes, I have one. My family loves it, or loves teasing me about it.. which ever.

Bleh. Isn't it crazy, I WANT BRACES.
Not this Kirsten Dunst look.. no offense to her, she's beautiful even with her teeth arrangement.

Also on the list of things to fix with myself, my eyes have been killing me, which is a sign I need to get my lens prescription up'd soon! My glasses these days aren't soothing the strain like they used to. Rumor has it that eyes get worse with age, and I totally believe that rumor.

While we're at it, I have a Quasimodo in my wrist. A cyst that is, from working with my hands so much. Time to get that drained.

Mmmm. You love reading my blog, it's full of ailments. Haha.

Deck Chairs.

2010-09-06T14:28:00.012-07:00

Endless summer on the blog continues, as the air outside thins and chills..
Gross. I don't want to think about it.

Moving on-- I love these deck chairs, they're the best I've seen. They're from a Canadian furniture company that I found, known as Gallant & Jones. What I love about a sling deck chair is the comfort of the fabric sling, the linear shapes from the crossing supports that contrast against the curved seat, the wood grain, the stain they used, the fabric selections, and of course just how all the elements combine to SCREAM COASTAL. (:

I'm definitely keeping tabs on these guys so that I can purchase a couple when we actually get to decorate a home! I would love to get my hands on some of these for a patio someday. Heck, I'd even put them INSIDE my house. For sure.

You know me, I love a good chair!

Summer,

2010-09-04T14:12:00.010-07:00

Don't go.

If you turn around and leave me in like a week... SO HELP ME, I'll miss you like crazy for a whole year! --goodness knows you don't show up until July as of late-- Sometimes I feel like I'm the only person living in Utah that doesn't really care for Fall.. but she's just not as wonderful as you are! "Yeah but, she's got all sorts of pretty leaves!" ..you know what I say to that? I'll take every shade of green on my leaves over orange and firey-fart colors any day! Granted.. those colors are pretty. I've digressed..

Dang, I definitely didn't get enough of you this time around, so hopefully you'll stick around indefinitely. I don't care if weather people and politicians freak out, GLOBAL WARM IT UP!!

WARM WARMNESS FOREVER!

I declare endless summer. Andrew and I want to move to Hawaii for this movement to be real for us. ..seriously debating it (well, I am at least, ha).

So in celebration of the best season ever, here are some nautical things I'd love to buy and wear for the next 8-10 months, assuming my plea meets reality of course.

1. Ella Moss 2. UO 3. J.Crew
(via CostalLiving)
4&5. Toms

Mrs. Dyer & I should start a petition of some sort to make this official. Or, this post IS the petition, and you can sign in a 'comment.' Do it. Pledge your agreeance! Or maybe I could turn into the "Blue Witch" or maybe a "Green Witch"..like in Narnia.. and make it Summer, but never Labor Day (Narnia clarification: the white witch makes it winter, but never Christmas). I'd prefer to be called the Blue or Green Mermaid if that's the case. That sounds better.

Summer, I love you.
And that's all I have to say.

Love, you're biggest fan-
Arica

Beckie.

2010-09-02T17:05:00.008-07:00

My future babies are in trouble.. because they have HIM to live up to. He's the best. baby. ever. Oh my goodness, if I lived in San Diego I'd be his live-in "auntie-nanny."

PS. He says my name now.
That's a soul warmer times a thousand.

Cuddles.

2010-09-02T12:27:00.001-07:00

Turd is such a good cuddler.

Paddling Out.

2010-08-31T09:58:00.002-07:00

{Myself & Ari Bird: Scorpion Bay '06}

I miss it terribly today.
I guess the remedy for this will have to be sporting my Mitch's surf shop shirt (thanks Lauren!) and maybe watch some Fuel later today, perhaps an episode of On Surfari or two.. ahh, feeling better already. Someday I'll be able to remedy the lack of surfing -by actually surfing- on a regular basis. And THAT brings a huge smile to my face, and happiness to my heart.

Andrew and I had to make a pretty hard life decision this last week, and the result of which will most likely put me in close proximity to mother ocean once again. It's really hard to pass up an incredible opportunity for your family, but when endless amounts of praying leaves you feeling like you need to have faith that God will provide another way... then it's time to show that faith.

The pros and cons were so neck and neck with this decision that it makes my head hurt each time I think about what we're passing up.. but looking to the sunny side of things reminds me that one of the 'pros' will be that I will be able to paddle out, and fill that cup.

Thank you for that.
Being adults can be hard, but I'm showing my faith.

PS. Pops, aka: my favorite surf buddy, thanks for the pic-messages of post surfingness.
They make me feel a smidge bit like I'm there with ya.

Nose drip, salty wet hair and all...