we interrupt these cancun posts for ... homemade pasta!

i love the fact that i can say to stephan:
hmm, it's been awhile since you've made homemade pasta. why don't we have that for dinner tomorrow.
to which he replies, sure. that sounds good.
then he goes a step further and puts lovely fresh herbs in it.
homemade stuff rocks!

cancun recap - post 2

day two in paradise. what bliss awaits me today? only the event i looked forward to the most, the dolphin swim!

i had no idea what to expect. would we be in the open ocean? how tame would the dolphins be? aren't all dolphins relatively tame anyway? will i get to ride on their backs? (yes, that was the ten year old little girl in me wanting that) i was giddy.

so we board another shuttle bus and settle in for a two hour ride to Xel-Ha. pronounced shell-ha - in case that was a burning dilemma for you, as it was for me. the ride was good. the anticipation was almost more than i could bear. my mom, however, was having a bit of anxiety over it. she is afraid of the water, especially water you can't see the bottom of. i did my best to calm her nerves, and applauded her in taking on her fear. bravo, mom!

Xel-Ha is a beautiful theme park. of sorts. you get wrist bands and enter in revolving gates much the same as you would at disneyland. but once inside you realize you won't be seeing costumed characters roaming the park available for photo ops. instead you watch where you step so as not to get in the path of a large kimono dragon. you look at each tree and try to spot a parrot. you gasp as you see the gorgeous cliffs and ocean before you. upon closer examination you realize that all those moving things in the water are droves of snorkeling tourists. identifyable by their bright blue life jackets (everyone is wearing one). this is perfect. i was afraid my glorious dolphin swim experience might be cheapened by occuring in a pool. no pool here. excellent.

this was what lie in wait for my mom and i:

but first we had to eat lunch. and go through a series of hurry up and wait scenerios. like, wait for the guide to take you over to the dolphin swim area. then, wait in the line to sign your, ' if-i-die-i-won't-sue-the-park' legal waiver. next you are ushered into a small arena of sorts, to watch a video on what not to do during your dolphin experience. we are told that the video is in spanish, but not to worry as subtitles will guide you through. um, unless you majored in speed reading, the subtitles were useless. it went fast! the only saving grace (and only thing stopping my mom and i from raising our hands with pathetic looks of "help, i seriously don't understand this") was that there were picutures. and whenever a forebidden action came on screen, there was a big red "X" drawn through it - with a swishing sound effect. it was clear. american-tourist-dummy proof. sigh of relief.

okay, now after the video, they haphazardly pass out life vests. many of us didn't get one, and there was a bit more panic. hands raising, looks of concern, all the standard 'don't leave me out' stuff. next you are sectioned off into groups of 6-7 and marched out onto your waiting platform (see above picture). and then, into the water you go.

the trainer (of both the dolphins and the humans) gives specific instructions, which the dolphins follow way better than the humans do. it's amazing how quickly intelligent adults can resort back to fifth grade behavior, and need to be gently reprimanded for. yep, that was us - all of us. they even made us do stupid human tricks disguised as dolphin commands. i have a video of the whole thing. it's hilarious, and the dolphins endure every bit of our stupidity. good dolphin.

no cameras are allowed, but for a mere $25.00 per picture you can have your dolphin memory for a lifetime. come on, how can you not purchase at least one?? yes, it stank of big business, but we all fell. hook, line and sinker.



brave mama with her triumphant smile!!! i think the dolphin was a bit proud of her too.
he rewarded her with a sweet (albeit a bit rubbery) peck on the cheek.

ah, this is the life!

cancun recap - post 1

my friend natalie gave me an adorable little travel journal before i left. so handy, and i did my best recording my thoughts. here is a bit from that:

journal - day 1 and 2

our hotel is gorgeous! amazing. it is better than i could have hoped for. the view could only be described as breathtaking. i woke up this morning to the gentle call of the ocean waves lapping on the beach. seriously?! the water is clear blue, oh so inviting. it beckons me. even from the fourteenth floor of this glorious hotel.

let me backtrack a moment to when we arrived in mexico. arriving in another country is truly something. almost as soon as you step off the plane, you are greeted by a series of long lines. the first of which is the longest - to have your passport checked and stamped. then it's off to your next wait...retrieving your luggage. this is where everyone is clearly waiting around with bated breath. will my luggage arrive? will it have been rifled through? deep breath. go to my zen place and recite a calming mantra. all will be well. ahh, there it is! my well-loved, slightly-worn, red bag. seemingly unrifled through. my mom had a less straight forward experience. the luggage gods made her wait a bit longer. but then, her luggage made it's appearance. all is right in the world. okay, off to our final line - customs. it's curious how this works. you stand in, yes another line, and when you at the front of said line a custom agent waves you to them. then you press an "oz-like" button and hold your breath. you want a green light. green is the color of freedom. green mean no invasive luggage search. red however...red is a different story. i don't want to know the red side of things. alas! once again, the travel gods have smiled upon us...we both recieved green lights. now what? surely we simply board our appropriate shuttle and are whisked off to our lovely hotel. not quite. what happens next is what i call my "celebrity experience". you exit the airport, step out into the humid cancun air, and are facing a large semi-circle of native faces holding signs and banners. it took us a little while to spot ours. once inside the shuttle, and a bit crammed in, it hits me that i am in paradise. we were handed ice cold towels that smelled of fragrant flowers, and a bottle of cold water. how refreshing!

our experience thus far has been lovely. truly enjoyable!

(i opened the drawer of the bedside table and saw a book of mormon. fabulous!)

breakfast on our balcony each morning. nice.


i had to take a picture of this "coke light". you ask for a diet coke, and this is what you get.

paradise found.

i *heart* stephan!

today, whilst preparing myself for my upcoming vacation, i saw this on the kitchen table: (click image for larger view)

it is the menu he has prepared (and corresponding shopping list) for next week. he will be cooking these fabulous meals. not to impress company. not to 'wow' a patron of one of the many great restaurants he has worked in. he will be cooking them for our three boys. i was a bit overcome by his efforts - and definitely appreciative of his stellar fathering skills!!




oh, and he also made four flavorful, gorgeous loaves of french bread. and a loaf of irish soda bread. last night. just cause he felt like it.

stephan, my sweet husband, simply put: you ROCK my world!!
happy valentines day.

four days and counting....

i leave for gorgeous cancun in four short days!!! my mom was chosen to be a part of the winners circle (with her job). an elite few get to go to this amAZING resort:
she was able to take one guest, and she chose ME!! how lucky am i?? i never dreamed i would ever get to go to such a place. ever.
these are actual photos of where we will be staying.


a photographers paradise, don't you think? maybe i will get in a blog post or two whilst enjoying the sound of the waves and the ocean breeze. ah, cancun.

happy birthday ben

as it was brilliantly stated on the office last night, on a banner designed by dwight: it is your birthday.


my oldest child, benjamin, is 13 today.
a teenager.
my head is spinning just a little bit. it's surreal at best.
i am so pleased with the person he has become.
ben is truly an amazing individual, with personality to spare!
he is caring, loving, funny, talented, smart, spiritual.
i am lucky to be his mom.

happy birthday, ben.
you are a brilliant individual who contributes to everyone he meets!!

thrifting bliss!

it's been awhile since i've shared the fruits of a trip to the thrift store (actually, it's been awhile since i've shopped!). the purpose of this trip (yes, i do usually have a purpose) was to buy some books. i was hoping to get lucky and find any one of the six jane austen books. i knew it was a long shot. i did, however, find two books involving jane austen. one is a biography, the other, is, um...well i'm not exactly sure what it's about, but i was intruigued.

the books are stacked upon a LOVELY - seriously lovely, cake stand. it is crystal, with a silver base (hard to tell due to the extreme tarnished appearance) there is a sticker that says italy. sigh and swoon! how lucky did i get? a cake stand, which i have been wanting, and with such a gorgeous vintage-ness to it. and made in italy, to boot? thrilling! oh, and the price? $5.95. that, my friends, is what they call the ICING on my gorgeous, thrifted, vintage cake stand.

then we come to the item behind the books. it is hard to tell, but it is a cabinet housing a few shelves. it will most likely reside in my studio space. on the wall, after the chicken wire is installed. details on that in a later post. the price for this? $3.20.

sweet sassy mollassy, that's what i call a good day of thrifting! not "original seatbelt bag" good, but good.



and speaking of miss jane, i am a bit obsessed these days. obsessed with all things victorian, romantic and "regency" themed. if i could i would love to step into a jane austen novel. for just a few days. i would miss my flushing toilet, and maybe my car. though i think i could get used to bumpy carriage rides. as a result of this recent obsession, i have taken up calligraphy. again. i dabbled a bit in high school. i love the feeling of the nib on paper. the smell of the ink. the slight raised appearance of the letters. so satisfying and tangible. the complete opposite of sending a text message, which frustrates me. don't get me wrong, i do text. but it is such an inferior form of communication - as far as i'm concerned. i don't like to waste words (which is why i am not a phone person, either). when you HANDwrite a letter or card, you are forced to think about what you are communicating. and the recipient feels special. really special. who doesn't like to get any kind of written word?? i have determined to hone my hand lettering skills and put them to good use. not sure what use that would be, maybe just sending letters to those i love and care about. that in and of itself would be well worth it. no?

art trading cards and a peek inside...

recently i have gotten into ATC's or art trading cards. i did a swap with some of the ladies at scrap n' art. it is something that has intrigued me for quite some time. and so my collection begins. here are the ones i have done:
(i haven't gotten the others from the swap yet)



and then, because it's been awhile since i've shown you my beloved mess...here's a glimpse into what i affectionately call my studio!!

overall view - kind of...my sewing machine and
a few other bookcases are not pictured

my desk - it is NEVER clean. if it was that would be a sign
that i'm not using it. and that would be sad.

various lovelies - a bit of this and that for projects

inspiration - okay, the twilight pictures don't necessarily inspire
me, but they are nice to look at.

fabric bins - a wee look at my growing collection. i get fabric from:
joann fabrics
flea markets
thrift shops
the paris flea market (happens during the summer)
vintage items (tablecloths, etc)
shower curtains (from target...they have fab. prints)
that is currently all i can remember, but i'm sure the list goes on...

also not pictured is my jewelry making nook. that is actually part of my sewing machine table. a situation that needs amending. it's comical to watch me sqeeze into the area where my beads and things are and make jewelry. but i do it.

a peek into the minds of a five and ten year old...

it's been awhile since i've noted cute things the kids have said. mostly because my memory is crap, and i don't write it down RIGHT away. so here are two notable conversations that i can recall:

last night on the way to pack meeting for scouts -

noah: "mommy will we still be alive when we're with Jesus?"
me: "well, yes, in a way."
noah: "so we will be able to walk around in jesus-town, with Jesus?"
me: "yes."


christmas shopping with kyle -

me: "ooo, kyle, feel this scarf! would you wear a scarf like this?" (it was fur, and i was joking)
kyle: "yes."
me: totally shocked and a little amused..." really? even though it's made of fur and probably for a girl?"
kyle: straight-faced...."well, it feels like the fur behind teddy's (our saint bernard) ears. you know that fur? i've have thought about a way to keep it with me all the time, and a scarf would be great."
me: "hmm." then thinking to myself, you are a strange and at the same time completely logical guy, kyle.



that is currently all i remember.
i hereby promise (to myself) to be better at documenting these "golden" conversations.

winter in colorado

today it's 70. by friday, snow.
colorado.
gotta love a place you can where shorts, but still need snow boots due to residual snow on the ground!

for good health, eat your colors!

have you ever heard that before? in other words, eat lots of fruits and veggies = color. the other night we did just that.

MENU:
marinated (in some delicious concoction) grilled chicken
steamed broccoli
red quinoa salad

tres bon.

a closer look at that "super" salad (quinoa is incredibly good for you. seriously good for you):

thank you, sweet, thoughtful husband for a delightful meal. you wowed me like you did when we were dating!
bravo.

blissful escape

things have been busier than normal for me. i have a deadline for scrap 'n art that is keeping my nose to the grindstone. i am excited for and loving the "work". i mean, really, could we call it work? i get to scrapbook and create with products sent to my door. brilliant!

i have a few upcoming blog posts brewing....things i want to document and preserve. sometimes i feel that the simple things in my life go un-documented, and as a great quote by Barbara Kingsolver states: "It's surprising how much memory is built around things unnoticed at the time." i am a collector of quotes, and that one is definitely in my collection now. i love it. it is profoundly true and poignant, no? in the spirit of documenting the everyday normal stuff i have a little tuesday and thursday morning tradition that i would like to share. noah has preschool on those mornings. those moms of you out there can appreciate how precious every moment we get "alone" is. so, i have a date with barnes and noble, a comfy chair, and stacks of books and magazines in need of purusing. there i sit, in my happy place, getting some very important needs met. i am inspired, refreshed, comforted, recharged, swept-away, and transported to a world of art-journaling and other such creative pursuits (as those are the books and magazine i am engrossed in). and the best part...it's FREE! not one dime spent on this blissful escape. who knew a book store could provide all of this? i vary my routine from time to time, but this is one of my favorites.

first project of 2009!

here is a lovely wreath that started as the little flicker of inspiration in my head. then, because i am not a very patient person - especially when there is an idea brewing, i had to gather my supplies and create. i will admit, it is a tad girlier in real life than it was in my head, but no matter. it works.


closer view of the middle:

the holiday season

so i know it's been forever since i have shown this blog any love. well, tis or was the holiday season, and with all the festivities and family in town, everything just sort of fell by the wayside. i've put together a few collages with some of my favorite holiday moments. (click on the image to better view the photos)







here's to being a better blogger in 2009!!!!!!!!!

some new lovelies...

i have a few new creations to share....
the first is a camera strap that i made out of a yummy fabric! i adore this fabric, and every time i pull my camera out to use it, i am so delighted to see this strap cover!!
(sorry it's such a weird angle in this photo. i had a heck of a time getting the strap OFF my camera, then getting it back ON my camera...well, let's just say that stephan had to do that! so i was NOT ABOUT to take it off again to photograph it)



then, we have these little wrist warmers. i guess they qualify as gloves...not sure though. it was my first attempt at anything other than a scarf or blanket. they aren't perfect, but they work. (nothing i make is perfect - i don't measure, count or make adjustments. i just fly by the seat of my pants and hope it turns out)

one more trial...

i have been going back and forth on whether to post this. but, as i have said before, i want this blog to be a record of our lives (among other things).
a few weeks ago, stephan found out that he would be laid off on 12/12. i think i have been in complete denial over the whole thing. it stinks. truly. no severence package, no holiday turkey, nothing. i know it's happening all over to lots of people, but when it happens to your family, of course the whole experience is intensified. right before christmas. ugh. he has been looking diligently for a job, but so are many other people and jobs are few and far between. i have been asking myself why. why so many things have happened over the past six months. i think part of the reason is to strengthen our/my faith. i have been praying now more than ever and turning completely to Heavenly Father. i don't know what else to do. i know that there is purpose in this. i know it is part of the plan. somehow, there is a reason. i am so totally thankful for my many blessings, and i can't remember being more thankful than at this time of trial. we are all healthy. i have an amazing marriage to a wonderful man. i have three awesome children that teach me daily to appreciate the simple things. we have a home. we have food, heat, running water, a washer and dryer. we live in a great country where we enjoy freedom - everyday. we have the best extended family. i have great friends that are ALWAYS there for me! it is christmastime, and the world is a joyous place to be right now. but more than all of that, i am so thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ. i am thankful for His Atonement. i feel His love in my life, and i know that we are going to be taken care of.

he tolerates him

i have a camera shy, pillow-esque, tolerant saint bernard named teddy.
i also have a high-energy, cuddly, somewhat forceful son named noah.
teddy tolerates him.
and my camera.
just look at that look on his face.
poor dog.

puttin' it out there...

did you notice the new look of my blog?? yeah! fun! and also, the thing i am MOST excited about, is the NEW link on the sidebar of this blog to kim cherry photography. woo hoo (doing backflips - if i actually could do backflips, so let's pretend!).

i am really excited, but kind of nervous too. i mean, when you put it out there you always feel kind of vulnerable and exposed. but it is time to do this thing - for REALS!!

new haircolor for a new era in my life

i feel like i am entering into a new era of my life. not like a mid-life crisis or anything (i'm not quite THAT old). just a new place. do you ever feel like that? like you've just ended a major chapter and are starting a new one - or an entirely new book for that matter.

so now my hair is dark....really dark. lovin' it this dark.



i was playing with photoshop/actions. this action really blows the color out of this photo, but i kinda like it. have i mentioned how much i **heart** photoshop?? seriously infatuated with it...and still learning. but that's the fun part, no?

saturday night scrapping!

i did a few layouts tonight! yeah!! it felt so good to be able to sit for an hour and a half and crank these out. a lovely saturday night indeed.