Spent the afternoon with Cole and Jessie fine tuning our photo skills in downtown. Great experience using rented lenses from Pictureline to see what we can do with different kinds of glass. We had lots of great shots but whittled it down to 10 of our favs. If anyone wants to come along next time, we learned a lot from each other.
Installation Art
An American Institution
Hello?
Insert Actor Here:
Hot, Hot Hydrant
Wifey
A Moment
Boston Buildings
I heart Friends! "What do we live for if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?" - George Eliot. This is the role of friendship. I've been so lucky to have the greatest friends in the world. You hear that? In the world. My closest friends I've had for over a decade, and some even since elementary school. They know me inside and out and for better or for worse, we're still friends after all this time.
I was going to send you all on a trip (for free!) down memory lane and post a bunch of pictures from High School and Jr. High, but I forgot to get those pictures from my mom's house over the weekend. Now don't get your panties in a twist, because I realize that some BFF's are missing from my wedding picture and, no, this doesn't mean that I haven't forgiven you for not being there, it just means that I don't have a picture of you. These girls have been my saving rock time and time again. And they let me kiss and slobber all over their little babies which I am eternally grateful for.
Along the yellow brick road of my life I've picked up more friends, or bosom buddies, as I refer to them. Roommates, BYU friends (or friend, because really I had just 1), work friends, Salt Lake friends, you get the point. A new friendship is better than anything because it's one more person in the world who you can share your life with. 
Because let's face it, if I sent BD this link he would be like "what? is that cool or something?" And I would roll my eyes and think "ugh. you are such a boy." Which is why I need my BFF's. And if we were all together at this very moment, this is the point where I would request we all do the wave. OK, I'll start...
So, here's to you, friends of mine, (and you know who you are) I salute you. And I heart you all!
P.S. I wish I had a picture of us doing fun hilarious girl things, but I don't, so just pretend I do. Kisses.
I heart Making! By no means am I Martha you-know-who, but I do love making things with my hands because it gives me a small sense of pride to create something special and have fun while doing it. Ahem, we won't mention all those unfinished disaster projects lurking under my bed. I'm trying to forget about those in hopes that they'll just disappear and I won't feel guilty about the wasted money. Right. 
Tonight I made these yummy little Valentine's for some friends in my neighborhood. (Don't you wish you were in my neighborhood? I do.) This Valentine's craft was fast, easy, and cheap and therefore fit snuggly with my schedule, ability, and budget.
Here's what you'll need:
I heart Chocolate! Honestly, I was really really trying hard to avoid posting about chocolate. I think I've made it perfectly clear over the last few days that I'm overly and unfortunately passionate about all the wrong foods. This is why I need therapy. Lots and lots of expensive therapy.
It's a girl thing, chocolate. Case in point: I bite into a slice of something dark and sinfully decadent and a noise comes out of my throat that immediately brings shame upon my family. I come to, just in time to find a look of pure bewilderment sweeping across BD's face. So I put down the fork and touch his leg trying to rescue the situation by ESP-ing "no babe, I love you more" with my eyes. I'm not complaining. BD is a perfectly amazing husband who, after I have torn every last item out of the kitchen cupboards and still have found no worthy chocolate, will oblige me by driving nearly 20 miles to Dairy Queen in Centerville for a dipped cone because they have a drive-through and I'm refusing to wear shoes at the moment.
Today I witnessed dear friends bury their first-born infant son. So much sorrow. So much heartbreak. So much I don't know what to say. I wanted to hug them both forever to let them know how much I care. And how much I desperately want to know the right things to say. And how I know I never will. And through all my blubbering and tears while Alex held my hand I thought if I only had some chocolate to give her, then she'd know, and I then wouldn't have to say what I can't seem to say at all.
I heart my Grandmothers! Indeed, I have a special place in my heart for both of my grandmothers. Two amazing women who in retrospect taught me more about life than I dare to comprehend. Both led amazing lives riddled with hard ships and happiness just like the rest of us. But I think there is something about grandmothers that makes them the most important people you will ever care to know. I was lucky to spend ample time with both grandmothers as a child. My mother worked, so when we were out of school for the summer my brother and I were farmed out to the grandma's. I have such fond memories of these times. And I'm trying desperately not to forget them as I get older (gulp).
Grandma Muir (left) - swimming at the pool, fudge pops on the patio, scrabble-just the two of us, watching her put on her artificial leg, feeling her soft white skin, chocolate licorice, watching her crochet, ping pong, her charm and her unbelievable way of making me feel like the most loved person in the world.
Grandma Richman (right) - picking raspberries, working in her yard, playing in the canal, Oreos, making real mud pies, taking the bus to ZCMI in downtown Salt Lake, her cooking, her rose garden, her aprons and house shoes, her big blue car, her wit and always pushing me to do better because she believed I could.
I heart a low-key weekend
I heart Cake Pedestals! Because everything looks better on a pedestal (yes, even me). I'm a lucky girl to have received a couple plates for birthday gifts and I've managed to purchase a few irresistibles myself, shocking I know. My little collection of cake pedestals began imposing on what little storage space we have here...so I started trying to hide them into my decor. Now I've become so attached to my cake plates that my decor revolves around them. My new thing is seeking out vintage cake pedestals from antique shops and thrift stores. It's super fun to be on the hunt for something I'm sure to heart for years to come. 
I heart Baking! Tonight's sweet tooth craving: chocolate dipped homemade cinnamon marshmallows. Oh so yummy. (I realize that you don't technically bake marshmallows, but whatever).
Homemade Marshmallows
Ingredients
about 1 cup confectioners' sugar
3 1/2 envelopes (2 tablespoons plus 2 1/2 teaspoons) unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup cold water
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup hot water
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla
Preparation
Oil bottom and sides of a 13-by-9-by-2 inch rectangular metal baking pan and dust bottom and sides with some confectioners' sugar.
In bowl of a standing mixer or in a large bowl sprinkle gelatin over cold water and let stand to soften.
In a 3-quart heavy saucepan cook granulated sugar, corn syrup, hot water, and salt over low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, until sugar is dissolved. Increase heat to moderate and boil mixture, without stirring, until a candy or digital thermometer registers 240 degrees F., about 12 minutes.
Remove pan from heat and pour mixture over gelatin mixture, stirring until gelatin is dissolved.
With standing or a hand-held electric mixer beat mixture on high until white, thick, and nearly tripled in volume, about 6 minutes if using standing mixer or about 10 minutes if using a hand-held mixer. In a large bowl with cleaned beaters beat whites until they just hold stiff peaks. Beat whites and vanilla into sugar mixture until just combined. Pour mixture into baking pan and sift 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar evenly over top. Chill marshmallow, uncovered, until firm, at least 3 hours, and up to 1 day.
I added some red food coloring and cinnamon extract to the marshmallow batter. The color turned out brilliant, I love the pink. However, the cinnamon flavor didn't come through as strong as I had hoped. Run a thin knife around edges of pan and invert onto a large cutting board. Lifting up 1 corner of inverted pan, with fingers loosen marshmallow and let drop onto cutting board. With cookie cutter or large knife cut marshmallow into desired shapes. Sift remaining confectioners' sugar into a large bowl and add marshmallows in batches, tossing to evenly coat. Marshmallows keep in an airtight container at cool room temperature 1 week.
Dip the marshmallow hearts in chocolate to make them extra decadent. I used semi-sweet chocolate, melted in a double-broiler. Use a fork to dip and "drain" the marshmallows. Let them set up on a sheet of parchment paper. Top them with a candy red hot. Voila!
I heart Aprons! Indeed it seems very old fashioned, but I have developed quite a crush on aprons. I almost can't say that without blushing a little. And yes, I love to wear them too. I was lucky enough to win 2 beautiful aprons at....wait for it...Bunko! last year. Plus, I almost never leave home without my trusty oilcloth apron because you never know when you'll need it next. If someone told me that I had 30 minutes to pack and ditch town before disaster struck, I would grab my oilcloth apron as a bare necessity. It's probably the most bomb proof thing in my home. And seeing how it lives in my kitchen, it's had plenty of scares.
Which also brings up a good point about my sewing abilities. That thing, you know, with the needle and bobbin, and the foot contraption that either goes too fast or too sloooow...yeah that thing is considered the ugly step child of my domestic neglect. I should remedy this. Or at least ruin some exquisite fabric trying. I found this amazing apron pattern here, and so it shall be my first attempt to sew in years. Now I just need to find the perfect fabric and recruit the perfect person to help me pull it off.
Mom, if you are reading this, we should hang out soon.
I heart Good News! Often after watching/reading the news I feel as though the Big Bad Wolf has huffed and puffed all the rainbow colored sprinkles off the double scoop ice cream cones of my world. And then let the ice cream melt. Because what a real downer that would be. It's always good, like puppy breath good, to hear/give good news. 
Here's some of the good news I've heard as of late:
Oh cheeseburger, and a side of friesI heart truth! Especially with all the hubbub going on for the United States Presidential elections this year. I actually do like politics to a certain extent and the 2008 elections have been really exciting for any political junkie. But I worry about the real potential of the candidates. There is always a disconnect between what they say and what they do. This is frustrating and so typical of politics. How well can you really know a candidate? Can we really believe what they promise to achieve in the White House? Most likely not. This keeps me up at night.
Juxtapose my frustrations with politics with the peace I feel about the presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Polar opposites. I watched the funeral services of Gordon B. Hinckley yesterday and like so many others, I was overcome with peace. Peace in knowing that the Gospel is filled with truth. Peace in knowing that I don't have to vote for a prophet. Peace in knowing that I never have to worry about the truthfulness of what he says. Peace in knowing that the head of this church is literally God. Complete and total peace. I heart truth!
I'm off to a family baby blessing today!! So much truth to be thankful for.
I heart Children's Books! As a child there were several books that fundamentally impacted me and are etched into my childhood memories. Favorites include Pickle-Chiffon Pie, Quick as a Cricket, and especially The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.
I loved this story as a child. The story is so simple and pure and the message is timeless. Even as an adult, I cry when I read this book. If you haven't read The Giving Tree in a long time, do it.
My late mother-in-law, who knew me better than almost anyone, gave me The Quiltmakers Gift for my birthday many years ago.
I heart this book for many reasons. It was a gift from Judy and now that she has passed, every time I read this book there are bits and pieces of her in the story. It has become a treasure to me because the story exemplifies her in so many ways.
My mom started a wonderful Christmas tradition of giving a new children's book to each of us on Christmas Eve, and then we read it out loud as a family. This year she gave us Christmas Day in the Morning, a loving story about the true meaning of giving at Christmas time. Highly recommended.
For the past 2 years I've started collecting my own little children's book library. Brad and I love going to the City Library in downtown to play in the children's section. It's so fun and if you have little kids...it's a must.
Sparkle and Spin A Book About Words by Ann & Paul Rand is a new favorite book of mine! This book is so clever. The words create harmony and rhythm as you read them. But the best part about this book are the illustrations, witty and eclectic. I heart this book. Leave me a comment before I post again tomorrow and be entered in a drawing to win this book! Yes, even you blog stalkers out there.
I better start this thing off on the right track. Family is the one thing that I heart the very most. We are all different, have our own passions, talents, goals, struggles, and heart ache, but it is undeniable that we are eternally yoked, one to another. Simply put, I heart my family because they bring happiness into my life, even when I don't deserve it. Very excited and scared to death to have a family of my own...someday.
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