Jessica + Seth

my other job

2012-01-10T17:57:00.000-08:00

all photos and food styling by me.

food provided by Savory Event Catering

Also check out their BLOG

mocha cappucino mousse cups in milk chocolate tea cup

crab cakes w/ sweet chili sauce

Turkey Foccacia Bread

Home made fruit tarts.

These aren't your normal parfaits. Guava Coconut Creme Parfaits. Seriously the home made coconut cream is sooo decadent. I like these more than the chocolate ones!

Risotto cakes with spinach emulsion

Bacon-wrapped shrimp

Tenderloin steak. Now I don't eat red meat, but boy this looks soooo gooood.

Christmas Decor

2012-01-02T21:35:00.000-08:00

I love modern Christmas Decor.

If I'm gonna buy a Christmas Tree to re-use, then its gonna look fake. I hate when people try to make fake things look real. Its fake, might as well make it a little whimsical and fantastical. I think the white Christmas tree looks really cool against our orange chevron accent wall. We are slowly adding in ornaments every year. I like to go after Christmas and get ornaments on sale, and to thrift stores for vintage ornaments. I try to stick with the turquoise, lime, blue color scheme. Hope you all had a great Christmas Holiday! Happy 2012!

rodeo

2011-11-03T15:56:00.000-07:00

So I grew up in Spanish Fork but have never been a cowgirl...

My work had an event at the Oakley Rodeo. The South Summit High School kids put on a full rodeo. It was entertaining!

Oh my goodness, these girls jump off a galloping horse to tie up a goat. Cahrazy!

umm yes, hahaha this is me trying to rope this cow thing. ha!

Barrel racing has always been my favorite. I have been to a few rodeos before. We used to go to the Oakley 4th of July rodeo all the time when I was younger! Spend the day at the cabin, watch the parade, then go to the rodeo and watch the fireworks at the end.

they let some employees here ride steers, but they all had to sign a waiver. CAn you see why? This guy landed on his head!!
Overall it was a great work activity, entertaining and fun to be out of the office for a few hours.

Seattle

2011-10-11T15:51:00.000-07:00

excited for a trip to Seattle!
I have never been to the Emerald City.
On the agenda: work, visiting my work's Seattle Factory.
You MUST check out this video, it is so inspiring. It reminds me why I love my work.

Also, looking forward touristy stuff pike place market, shopping, visiting walking around university of washington, trying new restaurants (fresh seafood, hello!) AND a huge plus hanging out w/ my bff and her adorable family.I know I will be laughing my ass off because its just one of those friendships that you pick off exactly where you left off. Yes, I am so looking forward to this vacation. I am taking my camera hope to get some fun shots of the architecture and scenery there.

the reason i blog

2011-09-30T11:45:00.000-07:00

the only reason I blog now is to win giveaways.
seriously I can't stop entering them!
I keep thinking my vegas odds will go up if I enter more than one giveaway a day. ha! I have never been good at gambling.

camping, current creek peak

2011-09-05T09:24:00.000-07:00

camping w/ the Crossleys

we arrived around 11pm after driving around for about 3 hours! All we were working off was a hand-drawn map and an explanation "go to Heber, turn at center street, you'll go up a windy road, follow the signs to current creek. You'll pass a stream called Red Rock Creek, turn up that road and we'll be right there!"

When we got to the windy part, we had no idea how long we were supposed to be driving. 15 mins? an hour? We passed a sign called "Red Creek Mountain" and Seth is like, should we turn there? I say no, keep going, its close but not exact. He says, no we should turn around, so we turn back and start down this road and we're like, no way! this is not a road, this is an ATV trail, no way would they make us drive up this road, they know we only have our Mazda sedan, so we turn back and keep going for another hour.

Well we're about out of gas and completely lost, its dark so we have to go back down the mountain. We're irritated and tired, we can't believe we drove all night and we'll just have to go back.

On our way down we see this guy on an ATV, and we pass him. Seth says something like "who is driving a 4-wheeler at 11pm at night?" and I look and I'm like "wait! thats your dad!" so we try to catch up to him, flag him down and Roger didn't even notice it was us. He was like, oh, yeah I was just going for a little night ride! ha. So we follow him back to camp, and it was the "Red Creek Mountain" road we had gone down and then turned around! oh, the irony.

jack is at home out here, he loves chasing the birds and squirrels.

our campsite. Our tent is the orange one, its meant for backpacking but we haven't actually used it for backpacking yet.

wildflowers were so beautiful this weekend!

sydnie, Jeff and Eli

seth and roger

sarah

lake powell 2011

2011-08-22T20:07:00.000-07:00

gourmet chef dinners, courtesy of chef Lou

my baby!

moon rise (above)

testing out the fish eye lens

me + seth

in the kitchen... I swear no lake powell trip has had such great food! Seriously, one night home made pasta + lasagna, grilled tri tip steak with chimichurri sauce, tilapia with mango salsa, grilled asparagus with hollandaise, so many yummy things! Thanks mom!

seth testing the zip line!

zip line from one end to the other. hold on tight!

my bro on the sea doo

haley babe + friends. We went with our family friends the Clarks.

sllliiiiideee

seth

skiing every morning

so this one morning I could not sleep because of a mouse! We all sleep on the top of the houseboat, and I woke up to something cold and a little heavy on my legs. I immediately sit upright thinking "its a tarantula or its a mouse!" and I turn on the flashlight and see these big black eyes and huge ears staring at me. "oh its a mouse. oh! its a mouse!" I tried to get a cup and get it to run into the cup... but no luck. I tried to go back to sleep, but I just kept thinking about it running across my legs... no good. So I think I'll go down into the houseboat to sleep.

so by this time it was 12:50, and I go to the bottom bedroom, and shut the door. I tell myself "at least it won't get in this door, I'm safe here." So I go back to bed... then I wake up again a few hours later and another mouse runs across me! ah! no way! well now its 2:30 so I figure I'll lock the mouse in the bottom bedroom and go and sleep in the top bedroom.

back to sleep until I wake up and something is on my neck so I instinctively brush it off and it runs across my FACE! Thats it its 4:30am and I'm not sleeping any more!

but if it weren't for the mouse I would not have gotten these fun sunrise morning shots!

and yes, end w/ a waterskiing picture!

exxxtreme lake powell

2011-06-28T17:08:00.000-07:00

so looking forward to THIS in about 5 weeks!

canyoneering + lake powell= AWESOME!

this was a simple rappel we did 3 yrs ago, simple because it was just one, but scary because it was sooo tall! maybe about 200 ft? This year we are planning on doing more intensive canyoneering part in a slot canyon only accessible by boat. We missed the annual trip last year because of Seth's finals. It is definitely one of my favorite vacations, I don't care how cliche it sounds!

dreaming of p-a-r-i-s

2011-06-08T13:14:00.000-07:00

oooh I would love to win this giveaway!

A TRIP for two to PARIS!

SLR

2011-05-23T11:11:00.000-07:00

We got a new Nikon 5100 digital SLR!
I am loving it, it is fun to try new things and see how I can actually take great photos.
I realize this may be trendy, because it seems that many people have bought SLRs just to have them. Anything that opens up your eye to the world and makes you look at things in a more artistic sense is a good trend! I'm at work now but I will post some pics when I get back home to my hard drive.

*update, here are a few PRACTICE shots* can't wait till I am more confident in my abilities.

canyoneering subway

2011-05-01T21:13:00.000-07:00

my sister was canyoneering in Zions last week, and ended up rescuing 3 people who had spent the weekend stranded. She was explaining it and it sounded terrifying! I am so glad everyone made it out ok.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

kel is in the light blue helmet, blue backpack and wetsuit.

above is the actual "subway" part, look how fast that water is rushing! Kel was saying that it was hard to keep steady because the current was so strong! Plus, imagine if you hadn't eaten for 3 days, I would be pretty unsure of my footings too!

Above, the biggest challenge of the route. A waterfall with a very technical rappel. It took 1 hr 45 mins to get their entire group through safely.

A man spent a very cold night here in this alcove. It was between 2 difficult waterfalls.

above, there's my sis in the blue helmet. This was before they heard the 1st man whistling for help.

seriously, waist deep! Because of the diffuculty of the subway at that time, and because of the size of the group, they didn't finish hiking until 11pm. Seth was up watching the news and heard a story about 11 stranded hikers, he rushed in to the bedroom and was like: hey, wasn't your sister hiking the subway today? We texted her immediately and she responded: "yes, that was us, no we weren't stranded, we were helping others out. Long story but I'm ok. Just tired."

Interestingly, we had done this same hike in August and the water was a stream. Ankle deep, at most. It was still challenging in August because it is a lot of hiking; the subway is a very long route. And, most of the scenery is not that impressive. If I were to introduce someone to Zions National Park, I would say do the Narrows, bottom up. Its not technical, but it is fun and has some spectacular scenery. The subway is beautiful at the actual subway spot, where most of the photos are taken, but getting to that point is a long hike with lots of stream crossings and route-finding.

affordable fashion

2011-04-20T09:05:00.000-07:00

loving this spring look!
There are so many NOW trends in this outfit:
fedora straw hat, maxi dress, ruffles and tiers, pastel watercolor floral inspired prints, metallic gladiator sandals. I Love this outfit for Saturdays Antique shopping and brunches with friends.

Foley + Corinna Dress from Ready To Wear Collection
Styled by Atlantic-Pacific, seriously this woman has fantastic style! Love her blog for fashion.

similar dress found on Mod Cloth, for a much more affordable price. So cute!

gardening

2011-04-07T13:13:00.000-07:00

I love gardening.
I am excited to be preparing and planning for this years' season.

What are some of your favorite GARDENING blogs?
I haven't really found any that I like. I have found a few, but found the posting too infrequent/ too technical. I want a garden blog that focuses on Vegetables, organic gardening without pesticides, trouble shooting and recipes to make with garden fresh vegetables.

I found this post extremely helpful on how to create raised beds in a suburban/ urban lot:

cooking shows

2011-04-07T13:05:00.000-07:00

Love this cooking video from My New Roots:

My New Roots - How to Cook Quinoa from My New Roots on Vimeo.

event planning

2011-03-10T10:14:00.000-08:00

I have been browsing the web for party planning ideas.
I feel like all of blog land is filled with mason jars, apothecary jars, cupcakes, candy buffets, paper moustaches on a stick, chalkboards, birds, peacocks, and striped straws.

Sigh, how to make it unique? Sometimes too much of one repeated thing makes it a "theme" and I just want this particular party to be beautiful, not necessarily one particular "theme." For example, a circus theme wedding. Cute idea, but not for me. It feels too much like a little kid birthday party.

I hate hate hate giving into trends, but sometimes there's a reason its a trend: its a great idea and many others want to copy it.

So, here's what I know:
I love color. Color can be unifying. It can sometimes get crazy with all these different elements, but color can help to bring a sense of coherence to the design elements.
Yellow
Daisies
Stripes
Garland
Balloons

with that in mind, below are a few inspiration images.

images from: Confetti Systems, Shortcake, Designslnc, Hello Tenfold, Martha Stewart Weddings, The Party Fairy,

changes

2011-02-19T09:30:00.000-08:00

in the course of 1 year, I changed my hair color 3 times.
This is after NOT dying my hair at all for about 4 years.

This is my natural hair color.
P.S. look how adorable Jack is in the corner

Added highlights for Hawaii trip. My hair is naturally wavy when its humid.

More blonde in Oct 2010

December 2010

The day before I switched to Red. I get my hair done at Dexterity Salon in SLC and I lOVE them there!

saucy!

My brother and sis have natural red hair, so I figured I could pull it off too.
I love the change! But I feel like I need all new makup colors, a new wardrobe too :)

ski snowbird

2011-02-16T14:39:00.000-08:00

Just another PERFECT day at the bird!

I am so glad we splurged and got season passes this year. I have skied 10 days so far, and theres still 3 months left in the season!

My brother, Drew, joined us for one day. It was so much fun!

Seth just learned how to ski this year and it has been so fun to teach him and see him improve so much. He was previously a snowboarder and I think I converted him to a ski bum.

Every weekend you can find us at Snowbird--- I can't wait to go this week!

sandals

2011-02-09T10:42:00.000-08:00

socks + sandals.

I saw it in JCrew, have seen it many other places.

Is this one trend that should stay on the runway?

It looks good with model skinny legs.. but come on, I'm a woman. Is it going to make my legs look short and stout?

I think the key here is trying to match the socks to the color of your shoes, color of your skin. I am in luck because I have some a-mazing- sky high stilleto bootie type sandals. I'll give it a try and see how it looks.

All images from Lauren Moffit

sans lyrics

2011-02-01T13:39:00.000-08:00

I am home sick today.
I sat in the bathtub for nearly 2 hours.
This is my playlist, great for relaxing and concentrating on getting better. I find the absence of lyrics soothing, it makes you focus on the melodies much more. I am definitely not musically inclined but I love listening to music.

Nightbook: Ludovico Einaudi
La Petite Fille De La Mer: Vangelis
Jynweythek Ylow: Aphex Twin
Nostrand: Ratatat
The Winner Is: Devotchka
Where Is My Mind: Maxene Cyrin
Intro: The XX
Volcano [Instrumental]: Damien Rice
Les Jours Tristes: Yann Tiersen
Doug's Theme: James Mercer
Vuelvo Al Sur: Astor Piazzolla
Corcovado: Ugly Casanova
Reciting The Airships: Eluvium
Writers Block: Britt Daniel

cross country skiing adventure

2011-01-10T12:48:00.000-08:00

we had an amazing time at the cabin. We went back-country skiing (and Seth was on snow shoes) to this secluded natural stream. It was so peaceful. We even saw a moose and her baby under a tree!

my dad, the adventurer. I'm sure he loved that we had 1st tracks; no one else had discovered it yet.
natural cold springs.

above: Seth and below: me, crossing the river.

beautiful views at the top of the ridge.

above: that's Deer Valley in the distance!

when we got back to our cars, it had frosted over.

christmas morning at the cabin. Jack loves to play in the snow (above).

Noriko Ambe

2011-01-07T08:17:00.000-08:00

I am amazed at this artist's talent. More can be seen, here

Reminds me of the spectacular scenery we have out west: grand canyon, bryce canyon, zion, antelope canyon. I wonder if this artist has ever been to Utah?

Found via one of the most inspiring posts I have seen in a long time

MCM gingerbread house

2010-12-23T08:22:00.001-08:00

From here

cabin

2010-12-16T11:20:00.000-08:00

the Crandall Cabin is the best way to spend Christmas. I am so looking forward to lazy days by the fire, reading good books, cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing, sledding and riding snowmobiles. Plus spending time with the most awesome family ever!

Mom the chef loves to bake, and of course Dad is right there to taste test the batter!

kell bundled up like an eskimo!

Seth riding the snowmobile

sledding in the forest...

fresh snow on Christmas morning.

quintessential Christmas.

Every time I think of Christmas I immediately remember years and years of going to the cabin. Its sad to think it may not be in our family for too long, above any other place I think the Cabin holds special memories for me. Its small and quaint and just perfect for a winter getaway.

renderings

2010-12-15T12:21:00.001-08:00

gag....

These are real renderings from a professional interior designer. Seriously? If I had turned these in for design school, they would be promptly rejected. If there's one thing I learned about quick sketching, is always use a straight-edge to make the wall lines. Or, make it purposely wavy like a "napkin sketch".

The other thing my art classes taught me was never do the "zig zag line", you should always pick up the marker at the end of the line, instead of creating these zig zags. Wow, I still cannot believe that clients accept this. I get the value in a quick sketch, but would anyone be able to envision what the room is supposed to look like after seeing these renderings?

On a second note, head over to the ASID student design competition. GO USU!!!

books

2010-11-18T14:37:00.000-08:00

What? This is so creative. I love this:

http://www.doorsixteen.com/2010/11/18/tree-of-codes/

"Starting with Polish artist and writer Bruno Schulz’s book The Street of Crocodiles as a source, Foer cut away at portions of the text to create an entirely new story to be read through layers upon layers of windows within pages.

Working with London-based publisher Visual Editions, Foer was able (after a very long search and many rejections) to find an ambitious printing company in Belgium, die Keure, who were willing to take on the task of printing the book in large quantities. It took them a solid year of preparation and prototyping to actually produce the finished book. After all, it’s one thing to create a book like this in an edition of 5 or 10, and a whole otherthing to mass-produce it! "

A-mazing! truly great! I couldn't have said it any better than Anna at Door Sixteen, so I am copying her words:

"As a book cover designer and as a lover of books and an avid reader, I don’t see the act of reading as a purely word-based experience. Reading is also tactile. Reading should involve interaction between you and the text in your hands. The speed at which you turn to the next page (or flip back to the one before) matters. That accidental glimpse you got of page 273 (while still only on page 32) while fishing around for your bookmark matters. The weight of the book in your bag—that subtle reminder that it’s waiting for you—matters. The paper stock matters! The font, the letter-spacing, the margin width! It all matters! You know what else matters? The COVER. Yes, I’m biased, but how many times have you caught a glimpse of a book in someone else’s hands from across the subway and become curious about it just because of the cover? It happens to me all the time! Bah. And don’t even get me started on the smell of old paper and fresh ink! Even when you’ve finished reading a book, its presence on a shelf in your home matters.

(And by the way, the notion that eBooks will somehow cut down on environmental waste is nonsense. Where do you think all of those electronic devices will wind up when consumers feel the need to “upgrade” to a newer model every 18 months or so? What exactly are we trying to preserve?)"

For a preview of the book visit:

http://www.visual-editions.com/tree-of-codes#1

papyrus

2010-11-15T14:04:00.000-08:00

I kind of hate the papyrus font. You know the one I'm talking about? I can recognize it from a mile away and it makes me shudder. I never knew I was a graphic design snob too. hahaha :) I see it all the time with either religious sayings or advertising for spas. I just recently wanted to try a restaurant, went to their website, well they have the damn papyrus font all over and I'm not sure I want to try the restaurant any more.

I just googled "papyrus font" and these are a few images that came up....

fyi, there are many websites dedicated to hating Papyrus. I am glad I am not alone in hating overused design.

a photo

2010-11-02T16:09:00.000-07:00

me, mum, hay hay, kellz.

I love my sisters.

thoughts on family

2010-10-25T10:35:00.001-07:00

Change is good but at the same time it is good to have consistency. I love that although events and circumstances may change, my family is a great constant in my life. I really value my relationship with my immediate family, and Seth's immediate family. It is so nice to have in-laws whom you understand, respect and love. I also think its great to begin to be friends with siblings once they grow older. For so long, I felt like I was just the oldest sister, the one who had to be responsible, who had to set an example. I think it comes with being the oldest, you feel in some way like the 2nd Mom, its kind of natural to settle into a care-taking role when you get to babysit younger siblings. But, its fun in so many ways to just "hang out" with siblings instead of having to see each other. I look forward to continuing to develop friendships with ALL my siblings, and letting them get to know me as who I really am.

At the same time that my immediate family is becoming more stable, I feel like my extended family is becoming less so. Its a little strange, but probably completely normal. My dad's side of the family were all really close, with a total of 10 cousins, with a total span on 10 yrs, we always went on family vacations together. My mom grew up with 10 siblings, so she always draws the comparison that the Crandall cousins were as close as she was with her bros and sisters. Because of this I developed close relationships with both grandpa (Papa) and grandma (nana). Nana and Papa did a great job in always making time for the cousins and showing each one of us how loved we are.

This next part in our lives, I'm not sure I want to share all of it, but Nana and Papa recently got divorced. Divorced. After 51 yrs of marriage. Who does that? It seems like once you get to a point, you just want friendship and companionship as you transition into retirement and old age. Who wants to be alone after so many years together? But... who wants to be consistently unhappy when you're supposed to be enjoying life? I guess it was a decision that they couldn't be happy together. It is difficult for me, because as an adult grandchild, I feel like I SHOULD be happy for them. I SHOULD be mature enough to realize that an unhappy marriage is no better off than being single. The thing is, I have no idea about what the marriage really was like, I only have my own observances as a grandchild. Its not up to me to judge, and I really don't want to, I just accept what has happened and continue to love both of them. Although I'm not sure how I should act sometimes, I know that sometimes change can bring about great things. I really do hope the best for both Nana and Papa, that they will be able to find happiness and comfort in their decision.

Food Snob

2010-09-13T11:42:00.000-07:00

I think I have become a bit of a food snob.... I shudder when I have to go to the Olive Garden for family parties because it's a *chain* restaurant. I LOVE trying new places, and Salt Lake has some really GREAT restaurants. Below are some of my top picks:

Mazza
Pago
Copper Onion
Eva
Fresco Italian Cafe(owned and operated by same people as Pago).

And a few I want to try:

Good Design

2010-09-05T09:10:00.000-07:00

I saw the documentary, "Objectified" last night; LOVED it. It is all about indsutrial design and the design of consumer goods. It explored creativity, function, form and how designers have an added challenge of designing for sustainability. It is no secret that companies design for perceived obsolescence. They can make a product last forever, but they want you to purchase another one, so they market new products as better than your 1yr old version. I am always drawn to new aesthetic designs and sometimes it is a struggle to tell myself: "do you really need that? Is it going to add value to your life?"

In the film, they interviewed the man who created one of the very first laptop. Bill Moggridge said: "I like the concept of wearing in rather than wearing out." I wholeheartedly agree that something is not worth buying if it doesn't add value to your life.

Below is one of my favorite clips:

Principles of Good Design:

good design should be innovative,
good design should make a product useful,
good design is aesthetic design,
good design will make a product understandable,
good design is honest,
good design is unobtrusive,
good design is long-lived,
good design is consistent in every detail,
good design is environmentally friendly, and
good design is as little design as possible.

Zuhair Murad

2010-09-01T08:22:00.000-07:00

As I was browsing the best and worst fashion from the Emmys... I keep thinking Zuhair Murad is everywhere!
Below are some pics of Zuhair Murad found via google images.

Nina Dobrev (above).

Above is the same dress Miley Cyrus wore to the Oscars in 2009. I kind of hate that Miley Cyrus wore one of the most beautiful gowns. She is not even an adult yet! Why does she get to dress up like that?

above (JLO. couldn't care less about the celebrity) but the dress is pretty!
Pretty pink and lace details! Jewel (above).

I think this girl is on the Hills, some pseudo reality show on MTV. Again, I couldn't care less about the celebrity but the dress is HOT!

This blue color is everywhere. Our new product line at work incorporates this blue color. It's not turquoise, its not baby blue, its like a saturated Atlantic ocean color.

Olivia Wilde (above).

Image

2010-08-25T14:42:00.000-07:00

I have not been very good at keeping my exercise goals this week. I have not woken up for early morning runs since... oh? August 16. Blah. I need this to change, I need to find some motivation. Perhaps it has to do with the seasons changing, and it is no longer light and bright outside when I leave for the gym. There is just something about forcing yourself awake before the sun, it seems unnatural for me, and maybe a little depressing. I think the biggest culprit though is my work-load at my job. I have been about 4x as busy as I usually am. I know because I track the # of claims I receive, phone calls I make and orders I process.

I find that when I am stressed I eat MORE and exercise LESS,which leads to fluctuations w/ my body, which means I can already tell that my pants are just a little too tight this week, my double chin starts to show more, my belly is more noticeable.... which leads me to being more disappointed in myself and more depressed. I need to get out of this cycle.

Oh, and I had a doughnut at work today. Why?! Why did I do that? seriously, was I hungry? no! I was bored or stressed or it was just in front of me so I divulged. However, I would have much rather divulged in something more tasteful than a 69 cent doughnut. Gross. Where was my conscience to remind me: "do you really need that doughnut? Is it really going to solve your problem?" No, I just desperately need to get back on schedule for my sanity.

Jack Johnson Concert

2010-08-15T09:36:00.000-07:00

Seth and I both really love Jack Johnson. He puts on an AMAZING live show! We went to his concert 5 yrs ago as one of our first dates, and we have been back every time he plays in Salt Lake City.

These are pictures taken in 2005 at that concert. It was so fun!

Like always he plays at USANA, an outdoor ampitheatre, which is a great venue for Jack Johnson. This year at the concert, we arrived early cause we left right after work, which is in West Valley a few miles away from the ampitheatre.

They had different booths for different non-profit organizations. Jack Johnson has his own non-profit foundation, called the All At Once community. Seth is interning for a non-profit in SLC this year, and one of his co-workers was volunteering at the concert. We went to go talk with her before the concert, and then this guy comes up on this small stage (see above photo) and starts playing. It was G.Love, Jack Johnson and Zach Gill. It was a cool little impromptu show, very chill and relaxed.

We had lawn seats, which are great because you have space to relax, but you might be next to some crazies (like the 2 middle aged guys in front of us who kept dancing like idiots! Seriously one of them was doing a version of the "bus driver"). I tried to get a video of them, but it was too dark.

Jack played for nearly 2 hours and I heard every song I was hoping he would play. He finished up his first set with my favorite song, "At or With Me" from his new album, "To The Sea"

I love these lyrics:

Are they laughing at or with me
Why can’t we just say what we mean
People are just trying to fit in
But is there something telling you
You can’t trust anyone in this town
Ah baby those are such great shoes

I think these words are a great commentary on our society. I love the irony of: "ah baby those are such great shoes." I have lately been thinking about materialsm and the negative affects of it. Maybe I'll share my thoughts on that topic in another post. I also love that the lyrics are serious, but the melody is up-beat and happy.

Charles de Lisle

2010-08-13T08:15:00.000-07:00

Charles de Lisle is a San Francisco-based designer/ architect. I viewed his firm's portfolio of work and found this home that I love:

Above is the family's little girl's room. Interesting use of a corner, usually these spaces are hidden or forgotten. In this instance it is made to be a focal point.

Look how tall the ceilings are! Can you even reach the upper cabinets? That step stool would have to be necessary. Also, I love how Dwell photographs real families in real situations. It makes the spaces seem so much more personal.

I love this master bedroom, it is so peaceful. Love the built-in bookcases, love the eames lounger rocker, love the leather head-board. In this home, most of the windows were above the beds. I would change the fan (yes, its modern, but a chandelier would look better, in my humble opinion).

It's no secret I LOVE all things mide-century modern. I saw this project, below, blogged on grassrootsmodern and I fell in love. This is definitely a way to make modern cozy and livable. The wood accents and hand-made custom furniture are so great!

What a great tile backsplash! They really use the vertical space on the walls well; I would think this is a necessity for such high ceilings. I love the light fixture, not so crazy about the cabinet faces though. Personally, I would like to see the cabinet faces in an ebony wood.

These chairs can be sourced at Magis Design. They are designed by Konstantin Grcic, a German designer.

If this were my home, I would add a soft silk, graphic and colorful floor rug to soften the concrete floors.

Look at the 1940-s danish wing chair near the fireplace. I love the shape, color and style of this. Also, I really love that green color furniture. It is the same color of sofa that I have, and it really acts like a neutral. I don't think it is too overwhelming at all. This is a great example of what to do with an asymmetrical split-level home, I think cladding the ceiling in wood and using beams helps to warm up the awkwardness that plagues split-level homes.

Look how they hung the art-- what a great solution. Love the texture on the rug-- it looks so soft!

Business

2010-08-12T08:52:00.000-07:00

I really like being in a business setting. Sometimes my creative self goes a little stir-crazy, but for the most part I love the challenge it brings, I love creating new solutions and processes, and my detail-oriented part loves delving into all the details. I started at my current company in 2008 answering phones in the customer service division. It took some humility to accept this position, when I had interviewed and even was offered a few design positions w/ local interior design companies. However, after weighing the decisions, I felt it was better to go with an established company that wasn't likely to fail with the slightest shift in the economy.

6weeks in customer service (it was challenging in its own way, mostly because I felt helpless but capable to do more), I interviewed for a position as a project manager. I got the promotion, and then 9 mos later was promoted as the project manager for the Northeast territory. I loved being a PM- loved the customer interaction, the satisfaction to see a job from start to finish, and the feedback I got. It was challenging because of the amount of work I had. Even though the rest of the country was in a recession, I was staying busy with 10 hr days, and STILL not keeping up with everything. Our factory was consistently running at 120% capacity both day shift and night shift. It made me extremely grateful for the decision to go with a job outside of my comfortable boundaries.

It took a while for me come to terms that I wasn't an interior designer any more. When I finally realized how great it was to be a part of such a forward-thinking, green-focused, design-savvy company. I really love where I'm at now, I loved their products when I was a student, and now I really support our company goals and vision.

After 18 mos, I was promoted to "Claims and Receivables lead." Basically I am the warranty department, dealing with product, process quality and client complaints. It is definitely challenging in so many ways, but I am up for the challenge! I've been in this position for 6 mos now and I feel more equipped than ever to really make a lasting impact. That's what I love about business- feeling like one person can create new ideas which really make a difference in the long run.

P.S. We have a few current job openings!

panhandling

2010-08-11T13:01:00.001-07:00

I get very agitated when people feel they are entitled to ANYTHING without working. thus, it follows that I get very annoyed with panhandlers. Some of my friends/family members may have heard my extended rant about panhandlers.

I cannot imagine what point you would have to get in your life in order to beg strangers for extra change. It is debasing and sad that someone would feel they have no other options but to stand and beg for petty cash. But maybe the worse thing is that they actually make money doing this! Yet, I continue to see the same people on the same corners day after day after day, and I wonder: where in the world are they spending money?

Anyone can get food for free: there are many religious organizations that offer food, homeless shelters, plus I have personally seen people bring food to people on the street. I have a hard time believing that anyone in America could go hungry with the abundance and excess that is so prominent in our society.

In any case, I don't think the true homeless people panhandle that much. All the documentaries I have seen regarding homelessness, it is usually drug addicts that beg for money. Since their lives are consumed by their drug habit, they will spend hours panhandling just to get enough to get by. I can't even begin to understand their situation, I've never dealt with addiction before, but at the same time I don't want to contribute to it. I will never give money to a random person on the street.

Salt Lake City Council is currently debating whether to tighten the panhandling restrictions, and give out citations for panhandlers. Obviously this is NOT the solution. How can you give fines to homeless people? They will just beg for more money! The problem has to stop with every citizen: stop throwing away your money and instead volunteer your time or finances to a Legitimate Non-Profit.

Links: CW Article

End Panhandling

evolution of interior design

2010-08-10T09:26:00.000-07:00

I have been reflecting on my career and where it currently is. In school, I would have never expected to be where I am right now. since I'm not currently practicing design, I feel I can offer some criticism of the industry. Interior design is such a specialty field; all classes were tailored around one specific niche market. The design market is a high-end luxury service that previously only the uber-wealthy, most discerning clients would pay for such a service.

In school, we had many influential professors who did not offer alternative career choices. It was always this attitude: "You will work hard to prove you want to go into this profession, you will go on a fantastic internship, you must intern with a famous designer in New York City, and then you will practice design and be happy the rest of your life."

Alas, life is not that simple. Design is not that simple. Career choices are NOT that simple. Family life takes precedent and maybe one has to take an internship at small unknown design firm. Maybe you choose the career that pays well, but is not exactly design. Maybe you apply for the promotion that is tough, but you do it because you know it can offer more opportunities in the long run. Then you find yourself in a job that is not creative at all, not related AT ALL to what you studied in college. But, then one realizes that you are content with where life has progressed and how your career has evolved.

This reflection is meant to point how narrow-minded I was about "interior design." I had this elitist attitude that you couldn't be a designer unless you went to school and learned about the principles of design, learned AUTOCAD, practiced photoshop/illustrator/indesign, sacrificed way too many hours of sleep and became intensely competitive among your peers. Four years ago I would have scoffed at the following conversation:
"Oh what is your major?"
"Interior Design"
"Fur fun! My aunt/cousin/neighbor does that!"

I hated that response. I felt it undermined all the hours I put into renderings and creating logos and coming up with a concept for projects. I felt it was disrespecting my talents for drafting and understanding technical aspects of construction. Usually I didn't want to respond with a diatribe about interior design as a PROFESSION, not just a hobby.

With the decline of the economy, I have seen a rise in design blogs tailored for the do-it-yourselfer. The SAHM/apartment dweller/starving student can replicate the designer look for a fraction of the price! You can upholster your own furniture! Paint your own murals, sew your own window coverings! Then, post your favorite pics of your re-invented thrift store furniture.

But you know what? I LOVE all these design blogs. I think it is inspiring how people can transform their spaces after watching or reading a sewing tutorial. I think the world of design as seen through the blogosphere is an excellent medium for trading ideas, receiving criticism, and sharing talents. People may be exposed to many new forms of design, many more styles than they would have 10 years ago trying to pick a sofa on their own from RC Willey. 10 years ago you may have NEEDED an interior designer to show how proportions of a room can affect traffic flow, how a certain pattern may tie it all together, and how art can transform a space. Now, I feel you can go to the internet and find all that information yourself. Good design is so much more accessible now. I will always be a fan of good design.

Identity

2010-07-26T11:31:00.000-07:00

I love blog-reading, I really do. I just don't consider myself much of a blogger. I have wanted to be better, but the problem is, I'm not sure I know what my blog identity should be. There are many things I would love to talk about, vent, or explore through writing. But I worry too much about what people will think. Because my blog is open, anyone could potentially read it. I don't really advertise or encourage people to read; most of my known readers are friends that I've commented on their pages, they click on my profile and find that I have a blog.

What if my words are hurtful to people? What if someone is upset? What if I'm boring? At the same time, I don't really want to make my blog private. I love discovering new blogs, exploring others' styles and learning new tutorials. What if my words could actually help someone? If I don't share my thoughts, is someone missing out?

So instead I read every blog I can find, and yet, have nothing of mine to contribute with the world. Stay tuned and I may find it in myself to overcome this and actually post something. :)

Lust

2010-06-28T13:01:00.001-07:00

There are not enough adjectives to describe how lovely/fabulous/amazing /fantastic/ wonderful /dreamy is this Eames lounge chair. Someone is selling a VINTAGE one on KSL Classifieds. Hurry! Someone please please please buy it for the sake of great design!

Hello! I would die to have an authentic piece from Charles and Ray Eames. The pioneered bent plywood and I love that this is still a fabulous chair! Its still in style, which tells you that great style never is trendy. Classic modernism. *swoon*

It is made of Rosewood, which was shortly discontinued after this production run. Truly one-of-a kind!

Dolphins near Polihale Beach

2010-06-11T12:43:00.000-07:00

By far, the best part of our Kauai trip was the Na Pali coastline tour. The best part of that tour was swimming with dolphins. I was not expecting to see many, but in the early morning hours in this shadowed protected cove, they were peacefully swimming all around our boat. It was truly a surreal experience.

I was amazed how near we were to such beautiful animals. They are beautiful in the way they swim in the the ocean so effortlessly; their movements were perfectly synchornized with eachother.

In these tight pods, dolphins will surround others that are hurt, pregnant, or newly born. We saw a baby dolphin that was so small-- a body that was just about 3ft long, and a dorsal fin still curled over. I didn't get a picture of the baby, cause we saw it just for a split second before others came up around him.

In February, Seth and I went to a speaking engagement up in Park City to promote awareness of toxic mercury concentrations in our ocean's waters. Mercury is an element that is a by-product of many extraction and manufacturing process (mainly burning coal to generate electricity. It is an element that doesn't disappear; it is absorbed by fish in the ocean. Since dolphins are at the top of the food chain, their meat contains incredibly toxic levels of mercury. We heard directorLouie Psihoyos speak about his award-winning documentary The Cove.

The Cove is about a horrific dolphin slaughter occurring in a quaint fishing village in Japan. These whalers argue it is about culture of tradition, while the mayor secretly sells the dolphin meat to elementary schools for lunches with toxic levels of mercury. The film is done very well, in a way that is informative, exciting and outraging at the same time.

During our dolphin swim, the ideas presented in The Cove were are the forefront of my mind. We actually were able to put on snorkel masks and fins, dive in the water and swim with the dolphins. The most amazing part was hearing their sonar-- it was truly amazing to hear them communicate with one another.

In fact, our Tour guides Chris, from Na Pali Riders urged everyone on the boat to go rent The Cove from Net Flix so we could be aware and involved in the cause. Seth and I were the only ones on the boat who had seen the film.

I have a video of some of what we saw; I will try to post later. (seeing as I can't even get my html links to work correctly, I'm not sure how that will turn out!

This last photo is my favorite. By far.

Rae Gun

2010-06-11T10:58:00.001-07:00

I love looking at all the talented designers, crafters, creators and women out there. I am amazed that people have this much talent. Today is found Rae Gun on Etsy, and I love all the cute baby outfits.

I really would love to win this
give-a-way:

Also, visit Rae's Shop for more adorable baby rompers and ruffle bum covers. So Cute!

*disclaimerL I also feel I must add that I am not planning any additions to our family, but my best friend Ash has an adorable baby girl that would look perfect in this creation!

Kauai vacation scenery

2010-05-30T17:39:00.001-07:00

Here's a few pics from our fantastic hawaii vacation. We went to Kauai again, but this time stayed in Poipu. 2 years ago we stayed near Kalapaki beach.

We explored the island by hiking, driving and going on a raft tour of the North shore.

View of Ke'e beach from the Hanakapai falls hike. The Kalalau trail continues along the entire Na Pali coast, but for an 8 mile day hike we stopped at Hanakapai beach and continued into the valley to some falls. It was spectacular scenery!

Hawaiian monk seal at Poipu. These are endangered species, one just decided to hang out with us when we were snorkeling one morning.

Wailua falls... there is Drew and Mckell at the back of the falls, for some perspective.

Waiahuakua Sea Cave
Ho'olulu Sea Cave

This beach (above) is only accessible if you're filming Pirates of the Caribbean 3. Otherwise, its illegal to land there.

Kalalau valley and waterfall.

Three giants, overlooking Kalalau valley. Native Hawaiians lived here until the 1920's.

Bali Hai.

Nuano valley.
Another hike we did... Awaawapuhi and Nuano valleys. At the end you are treated to views of 2500 ft cliffs straight down into the ocean. It was pretty scary!

Kalalau valley overlook.

Poipu

Sea Turtule! They were everywhere, but hard to catch on camera.

Hanakapiai valley from the ocean. This is the beach we hiked.

Swimming with dolphins! More on this later, it deserves its own post!

Resolutions

2010-05-03T14:18:00.000-07:00

Do we ever keep our New Years Resolutions? How many of us actually think about our resolutions? I would think that most think about it the first few weeks, and then either a) give up, or b) it becomes more of a habit so they quit constantly thinking about it.

As an Aries, I love to make goals and lists. I just wanted to follow up on my New Year's Resolution for 2010. What was my one resolution? To be more confident.

This encompases many different areas of my life, but I focused mainly on 2 areas:

More confident at work in my professional abilities

More confident with my self-image

Well, for the first one, I have made good improvement at work and I still have a long way to go. I applied for a promotion at the beginning of the year and got it! I felt great to see that my 18 mos had paid off and that management saw my potential. My new position requires a lot more responsibility and a lot more interaction with internal departments. I'm dealing with warranty issues, which is an incredibly stressful area because as a company, we pride ourselves with quality above anything else. It is highly emotionally charged from our customer's sides too because they are rushing to finish installations and often get charged penalties upward of $10,000 a day if they install late. Needless to say, this job entails much better stress management. I also am continuing to improve critical thinking skills. Before, at the bottom on the corporate ladder, I often felt that I was just transfering information and delivering news. Now I feel that what communication I offer are my ideas, not just passing information from one department to the next.

Well the next area, self-image, is something I think a lot of people struggle with, but are embarassed to talk about it. I know that sometimes I get upset with myself, I mean I'm a 25 yr woman, in a steady relationship, with a good job, why would I ever feel down on myself? I have never been one to have a consistent exercise regime (except in high school when I took dance classes), so along with the extra stress at work I started going to the gym in the mornings. I honestly didn't think I would be able to do it for very long, getting up at 5am and working out before the day begins. I mean, before then I would sleep in for as long as possible just to squeeze in enough time to shower, pull my hair in a bun and grab a frozen dinner to take for lunch.

But as each day went by, I felt good about myself for even getting up, and then little by little, I just built on that. My confidence grew just in the mere fact that I was actually sticking to a schedule! I have made huge improvements in endurance and strength. Before I started working out contstantly I was pathetically huffing like a rhinocerous by the first 1/2 mile. Seriously pathetic. Now, I wouldn't say that I enjoy running but I can get through 2 miles easily, which is QUITE an improvement. Plus I have noticed way more tone and definition and that translates to confidence to put on a bathing suit for my Hawaii trip on Friday!

Yes, I am that type of pet owner.

2010-01-03T10:58:00.000-08:00

I was editing my photos from December, Christmas and New Years and I realize that I take way too many photos of our pets. I always thought it sort of annoying when people would display photos of their pets in their cubicle, or on their facebook page. Well I am totally that type of person. I guess when you actaully own a pet, they really do become part of the family.

the above pic is Seth holding Charlie-- Roger and Susan's yorkie. We are totally a family of yorkies-- they are the cutest dogs ever. Charlie has grown so much since I last saw him! He is as big as Jack now.

Jackie snuggling with Seth at the cabin. Don't you love Jack's sweater? Someone said he looked like an old man-- but I would have to say a stylish old man, no?

Nana and her yorkie, Joey.
My mom's yorkie, Bella and one of her pups: Keah.

Rizzo, my mom's other Yorkie. He hates crowds and I found him hanging out alone upstairs waiting for my mom to get out of the bathroom. He is very loyal and loving.

The reason why all our dogs are wearing sweaters is that the furnace broke at the cabin. Again, one of those things that I always made fun of until my dog was actually shivering and we caved in to buy him a sweater.

Oh and Virgo has figured out how to scale our 6ft tall wardrobe. She sleeps on top of it now.

AKC Yorkie Puppies!

2009-12-26T15:41:00.000-08:00

We have three female yorkshire terrier puppies for sale. They are adorable! Yorkies make wonderful family companions. They are smart, easy to train, healthy, lovable and easy to care for.

We call them Lily, Piper and Keah.

Piper playing with Keah!

Lily is our active one-- always seeking a playmate!

Piper is our little explorer-- always curious!

Keah is our little sweetheart-- loves to cuddle!

Purebred, AKC registered.

Adorable Teddy bear faces
Blue (Black) and Tan
Born on Nov. 19
Shots, dew claws, tails docked
AKC Registered
Healthy
Fun personalities!
Mother is 6lbs
Father is 9 lbs

Call Lou, 801.423.7719 or 801.380.3793 to meet your new puppy!

3form is having a sale!

2009-12-21T13:46:00.001-08:00

Awesome! I love 3form and they are having a sale on the reclaim section. These are smaller and less-expensive sheets than ordering a full 4' x 8'. For installation ideas on how to use such innovative materials, visit: installation portfolio

Oh, I should also note that I work for 3form, but I have loved our products before I began working here:)

Today at our house

2009-12-13T12:35:00.000-08:00

This is Jack's favorite spot...

He loves watching the neighbors shovel snow, loves keeping an eye on our front door so he can greet guests, and he loves staring down other dogs.

Jack just wants to go out and play.

Our cute victorian apartment.

Virgo, on the other hand, has taken refuge in the warmest spot in the house: the radiator in the bathroom.

She sleeps here ALL day. What a cute kitten!

Winner!

2009-11-24T13:37:00.000-08:00

I am so excited I won this awesome give-away:

I love the simple letter-pressed design and the pretty packaging. You can order some here.

I first heard of Simple Songthru a link from another blog when I read about the birthday party Suann organized for her 3yr old boy's birthday. Brilliant theming and fantastic designs. Her son is named Ike, so she created an election-themed party after President Eisenhower's election campaign.

Made it to the Top (15)!

2009-11-13T14:33:00.001-08:00

One of my dress designs made it to the top 15 for the Shabby Apple Dare to Design Contest.

You must VOTE for me, #3.
Each person can submit ONE vote.

#3 is the best! Think how marketable it is.

In all honesty, I am kind of surprised the particular dress they chose. It is coincidence it is the 1st one I listed? I just listed them in alphabetical order. Click here for all the designs. I love the simplicity of the A-line skirt with a delicate bow detail on the bodice. Empire waists are flattering for so many different body tpes. It makes me sort of want to take up sewing. Hmm.. I wonder where my sewing machine is?

I want to go to there

2009-11-12T20:33:00.000-08:00

I love these old photos from Europe. My grandparents (Nana and Papa) took these on slides, yes 35mm slides about 1978-ish. I found them in a box when I created a memory book for my grandmother's 70th birthday.

This one above would look fantastic in an over-size print, maybe 36" x 24" as a focal point in my living room. I love the cars parked by the river. I think Papa said it was taken in Amsterdam.

Isn't Nana so fashionable? I love the trench coat. She has always been petite and slender and I love her simple haircut that goes so well with her features. Even now she is a stylish grandma!

I love this one above. Two figures silhoutetted against classic architecture.

The alley way above is a little lonely. I think the graininess adds to the meloncholy of the scene.

Dress Design for Shabby Apple Dresses

2009-11-03T20:44:00.000-08:00

Below is my collection of dresses for Shabby Apple Dare to Design Contest:

Presenting...

The Mid-Century Collection

This collection overall was inspired by mid-century designs with clean silhouettes. To keep consistent with the Shabby Apple Brand, there are fantastic floral prints, pleated details and bows. I was also inspired by these three colors:

The vibrant orange is a great color, contrasting with turquoise. The dark plum color acts as a neutral to ground out the intensity of the other two. Of course, these colors are quite bold, so there are accent colors which add variety.

Dress 1: Aalto

Inspired by Alvar Aalto and his vase designs, Aalto is a dress which is flattering to many different body types. To add feminity to the simple silhoutte, three pleated bow details adorn the bodice. An empire waist flares to an a-line skirt which ends at the knee. The sleeves end at the empire waist, continuing the horizontal line.

Dress 2: Bertoia

Inspired by Harry Bertoia diamond lounge chair, Bertoia is a dress which is flirty and affordable. It has a wonderful drape jersey knit fabric. The detail of contrasting patterns and colors adds interest. Notice the sublte ruffle at the elbow-length sleeves and knee-length bottom.

Dress 3: Eichler

Inspired by pre-fabricated designs by builder Joseph Eichler, this is a simple shirt dress. Eichler takes more design influences from the working blue-collar industry. The orange plaid is practical, contrasting with delicate pin-tuck details and turquoise buttons. The puff sleeves and button detail create a figure to balance out the straight simple outline.

Dress 4: Eileen
Eileen Gray is one style icon whom every fashionista should be aware. Not only were her furniture designs elegant, she marketed it to high-end society. Eileen is slim, sleek and sophisticated. The sweetheart neckline accents a curvy figure, or creates curves if there are none. Constructed from a pattered floral, the busy dress helps to disguise imperfections. In the back, a pleated pencil skirt is practical and completes the entire dress.

Dress 5: Florence

Florence is the dress which fully embodies the spring-time color theme. It has a patterned full skirt, simple top and pattern to tie both together. Although it appears as two separate pieces, Florence is one complete dress. Inspired by Florence Knoll, the Florence dress has a high-waist, pleated skirt, pockets for practicality. The jersey knit top is a simple neutral plum color since most of the interest is in the skirt.

Dress 6: Ray

Ray Eames may be most familiar as a household name. The Ray dress is a flirty color-block dress. It has a full circle skirt to add fullness, to disguise or balance full hips. The sweetheart neckline reminds one of classic 1950 fashion. This dress is versatile in many different colors, but I have sketched it in a flattering yellow, with plum and soft gray accents.

Now that you have seen the Mid-century collection , what do you think?

I have put a lot of thought into every one of these designs considering the consumer, price point and how each fit within the Shabby Apple brand.

Why blog?

2009-11-01T19:56:00.000-08:00

Hello!

I realize I am slow going in jumping on the personal blog trend. There are many reasons why I have NOT started a blog, but just one major reason TO begin one:

Shabby AppleDare to Design contest

I need a creative outlet.

You have to have a blog to enter.

Since graduating from college in interior design and currently working at a desk job I am seriously missing a creative outlet. I LOVE fashion and I LOVE Shabby Apple Dresses.

My current favorite Shabby Apple Dress is Bon Voyage

OrFifth Ave

Here are the design requirements:

Dress must adhere to Shabby Apple design standards. Dresses must have sleeves, hemline to the knee, no cleavage.
Dress should be appropriate for Spring season.

What is not stated is that the dress must also appeal to the Target Audience, fit within the overall product offering, be reasonably priced, and become a part of the Shabby Apple Brand.

All Shabby Apple dresses are made to be one complete outfit-- no adding a cardigan, undershirt or under-slip to make it modest. Most dresses have feminine details like ruching, pleats and ruffles.

The deadline is Nov. 3, and I am purposely waiting to upload my images. My designs to be completely original--there are (6) dress designs for Shabby Apple and I can't wait to show them off! Stay tuned for a collection of dresses which showcase patterns, pleats and silhouettes, all inspired by mid-century modern designers.