in honor of my muffin top

While looking around the world wide web today I stumbled across the short animated film works of Amy Winfrey. She has some very silly, funny stuff. We especially appreciated the Muffin series. These short films are dedicated to my lovely spouse and all of us who have done some overeating over the holidays and now have a "muffin-top" hanging over their belts. Click HERE to watch the muffin series.
Some of our personal favorites: #1, 2, 4 and 6.
Let me recommend #11 if you often find yourself pondering the question, 'why are foreign films so foreign?'

getting old

I was cleaning up my email when I stumbled into this silly list a friend forwarded to my last year, and in another email- some pictures from the 1977 JC Penney catalog. This list made me laugh, (and gasp- like someone had been stalking me throughout my growing up years) so I pass it on and hopefully- if you're old enough it will make you giggle.

IF YOU WERE A LITTLE GIRL IN THE 70'S......

You had that Fisher Price Doctor's Kit with a stethoscope that actually worked.

You owned a bicycle with a banana seat and a plastic basket with flowers on it.

You learned to skate with actual skates (not roller blades) that had metal wheels.

You thought Gopher from Love Boat was cute (admit it!)

You had nightmares after watching Fantasy Island.

You had either a 'bowl cut' or 'pixie', not to mention the 'Dorothy Hamill'. People sometimes thought you were a boy.

You had rubber boots for rainy days and Moon boots for snowy days.

You owned a 'Slip-n-Slide', on which you injured yourself on a sprinkler head more than once.

You owned 'Klick-Klacks' and smacked yourself in the face more than once!

Your Holly Hobbie sleeping bag was your most prized possession.

You wore a poncho, gauchos, and knickers.

You begged Santa for the electronic game, Simon.

You had the Donnie and Marie dolls with those pink and purple satiny shredded outfits, or The Sunshine Family.

You spent hours in your backyard on your metal swing set with the trapeze. The swing set tipped over at least once.

You had homemade ribbon barrettes in every imaginable color. (Oh yeah!)

You had a pair of Doctor Scholl's sandals (the ones with hard sole & the buckle). You also had a pair of salt-water sandals.

You wanted to be Laura Ingalls Wilder really bad; you wore that Little House on the Prairie-inspired plaid, ruffle shirt with the high neck in at least one school picture; and you despised Nellie Oleson!

You wanted your first kiss to be at a roller rink!

PONG! ('video tennis') was the most remarkable futuristic game you've ever heard of!

Your hairstyle was described as having 'wings' or 'feathers' and you kept it 'pretty' with the comb you kept in your back pocket. When you walked, the 'wings' flapped up and down, looked like you were gonna 'take off'.

You know who Strawberry Shortcake is, as well as her friends, Blueberry Muffin and Huckleberry Pie.

You carried a Muppets lunch box with a thermos inside, to school and it was metal, not plastic.

You and your girlfriends would fight over which of the Dukes of Hazzard was your boyfriend.

YOU had Star Wars action figures, too!

It was a big event in your household each year when the 'Wizard of Oz' would come on TV. Your mom would break out the popcorn and sleeping bags!

You often asked your Magic-8 ball the question:
'Who will I marry. Shaun Cassidy, Leif Garrett, or David Cassidy?'

You completely wore out your Grease, Saturday Night Fever, and Fame soundtrack record album.

You tried to do lots of arts and crafts, like yarn and Popsicle-stick God's eyes, decoupage, or those weird potholders made on a plastic loom.

You made Shrinky-Dinks and put iron-on kittens on your t-shirts!

You used to tape record songs off the radio by holding your portable tape player up to the speaker.

You learned everything you needed to know about girl issues from Judy Blume books. (Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret.)

You thought Olivia Newton John's song 'Physical' was about aerobics. (?? It’s not??)

You wore friendship pins on your tennis shoes, or shoelaces with heart or rainbow designs.

You wanted to be a Solid Gold dancer.

You drowned yourself in Love's Baby Soft -which was the first 'real' perfume you ever owned.

You glopped your lips in Strawberry Roll-on lip-gloss till it almost dripped off.

new snow

Today it snowed most of the day, and I couldn't have been happier about it. There is about 12 inches blanketing everything, and I think more expected tomorrow. I should be skiing it all, but I'm busy being a mommy/accountant. On the weekend when I head up to Sundance again perhaps there will be some powder left for me.

the clipboard

My list of New Years resolutions really includes just one thing and that is the job chart, and I'll tell ya why. I dread just about every weekday afternoon of the school year. I spent most the hours between 3 and 6 pm asking nicely, reminding, asking again, then begging and pleading my kids to get their homework and practicing done. It makes me crazy. I have tried for years to get on top of this aspect of life, but it seems bad habits prevail, this includes me. We make the charts, then they never get filled in by me and allowance never gets paid. The job chart meant nothing, constantly abandoned before it was really even started it's no wonder they never cared.
So, I have modified a few things and I am going to give it 110% and see if we can all change some habits around here.
First of all: The clipboard, magnetic and portable, enabling easy removal from the refrigerator to do a job check, or find me to "pass something off". This was a major part of the problem before, all of the responsibility fell on me to keep up with duties done, now it is the kids responsibility to get the chart filled in.
Then, my part again: to actually pay the kids their allowance. They each got an ATM bank for Christmas that keeps track of deposits and withdrawls. They are very excited to use them, but lack any income. (Of course I would prefer all the money earned to go into the real bank, but I hop this will replace the piggy bank (or misplaced plastic bag, pants pocket) and help teach them the value of money earned/ saved etc.)
Bottom line: Building good habits to last a lifetime. We'll see if this family can pull it off.

do you have the time?

I just saw these funky watches by Clare Crespo while pouring over the NY Times Style magazine, from December. With a little research I found Clare is mostly an author of some very cool cupcake and other cookbooks. Since I don't need to make cupcakes but just stick close to Stephanie of Confectionary and her most scrumptious cakes and cupcakes found in the whole world, (her delicious cupcakes can be found at Dear Lizzie if you live in Utah and are now craving one), I turn my focus back to the knit timing devices.
Ok folks, this is how I want January to feel in my life. What time is it? Oh I don't know, let me just check my cute knit watch... I really want to be one of those people who don't really need to know the time... for at least one month. I think I need one of these watches for my birthday. (hint, hint)
Recently I've been thinking about picking up the knitting needles (I hope I can still remember how to knit), I think I now have a reason to try again.

2008 Polar Bear Plunge

"Brave swimmers frolic in the water after jumping off the pier during the 10th annual Polar Bear Plunge at the home of artist Gary Price in Springville on Tuesday. At left, 9-year-old Fischer Olpin steams in the cold air after a swim. Participants start off the new year with a winter dip at the Springville pond, fondly called the Price Family Peace and Meditation Garden, on the Price family property. Price's tradition holds that plunging oneself into the New Year's waters signals a new beginning."

Here is the blurb from yesterday's Deseret News. The kids and Steve O did the Polar Bear Plunge for the 9th year running. I was skiing and missed the fun. The fun of watching and cheering but not jumping in, cold water, especially freezing cold water, is not my thing. The kids are amazing, I can't believe they want to jump in too. Wow. Following in their father's crazy footsteps.



And...on the front cover of the Daily Herald yesterday- just under the "Mob Burns Kenyan Church" headline is this picture of Steve O, crazy cold water swimming father and husband- exiting the water. Here is the link to the full article.

goodbye 2007

I must say I think every year gets better and better. That's not to say more and more crazy busy too. I'll just try and keep up. We just found fabulous cross country trails up Hobble Creek Canyon today and a wonderful sledding hill. This is what winter is all about.


The ladies, getting ready to catch some air.


Sledding kids

So, tonight we party, and think about resolutions tomorrow. Happy New Year!

the dog (and cat) days of 2007

ahhh, the days after Christmas, playing with Christmas toys, napping, watching movies, playing games, hanging around in pajamas, and of course big snow fun. We've gotten some skiing, snowboarding and sledding in so far, hopefully some more snow will fall here soon and increase the outdoor fun and excitement factor. But, beware of scary snow crevasses, and places where kitties wear parkas but baby polar bears do not.

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas. I didn't mean for it to be so long since I last posted, but things sure got hectic here that week before Christmas. I tried really hard to get it all done and keep all the balls up in the air, so to speak- but, I'm afraid the blog ball got dropped, then kicked under the table and forgotten about.
Anyway, we had a great Christmas. It was just about right, not too much or too little. Everyone worked hard on their handmade gifts, and they were well appreciated. My 11 year old made hats for everyone (wow!), original collage art by M, and school projects by all the kids were some of my favorite gifts. I love seeing their faces light up when you open what they have made for you.
I made quite a few gifts myself, and had load of fun working at it. Here are some of the things I gifted out to all my people.

I finished this quilt for my Mom. I really liked the way it turned out, I hope she likes it too. It will hang on the wall in the Hole-in-the-Rock room in her bed and breakfast, Slot Canyons Inn in Escalante Utah.

A gal named Shantel at Corn Wagon Quilt Co. in Springville did the machine quilting. She does such a good job. She comes up with all the quilting designs herself. I request her every time and have never been disappointed with the finished product.

The big wool reveal...I made numerous little trees for lots of my ladies. Here are just a few. I will put the rest up on my flickr page. I got the pattern from some blogging ladies out there.
I even managed to bust out some flannel pajama pants for all the kids, sorry no picture, they have been wearing them virtually non-stop since they got them Christmas Eve. I guess that's a pretty good sign they like them.

party time

On Saturday night we went to the Liechty's house for a open house/party. Their house looked so fabulous I found myself snapping a million pictures. I am always inspired by Hailey and Christopher, every time I see them they are up to something super clever and creative. Here are some of my favorite bits about their house. Here is the top of their extremely beautiful Christmas tree.


I never new vintage wallpaper could look so good actually hung on the wall.


Snazzy mantle, Hailey where do you find all of these fun Christmas things?


The evening was perfect when Stephanie arrived with one of her scrumptious cake creations. You know I would probably crawl over broken glass for a piece. Just looking at this picture is making my mouth water- chocolate with butter cream frosting...yum. Girlfriend, you got it goin' on!
Hailey and Christoper thank you so much for opening up your home to all of us gawkers, it looks amazing. It is always such fun to visit with you guys, your family and friends.

wool

I just picked up some wool for some Christmas presents I'm making. I love this stuff, it feels so good and the colors are amazing. The final product is, of course, top secret for now; but I will share it later when it won't spoil the surprise.

my stoop

Here is my new wreath. Christmasy? some may say no, but I really like it, especially with the new green door. I love the new green, before it was this burgundy color- mostly because it matched the brick- (for like 8 years...) but the outside of our casa really needed an update. I also painted the shutters and aluminum garage doors the same color of green. The change is so drastic it's been hard to get used to. I still might paint the garage doors a shade darker... in the spring. But I do so love my front door.
This is Pedro. Steve O gave him to me for Christmas a few years ago. I think his sculpture type is supposed to be adorning my garden, but I just can't bring myself to take him off the front porch. He is about the height of a 9 year old and occasionally startles visitors- even me from time to time, especially when he's dressed up as a mummy at Halloween. He needed some holiday cheer so I made this silly little collar for him last year- a truly crafty project.

snow

...and the rain finally changes to snow. This picture doesn't do it justice, it is breathtakingly beautiful.

gallery stroll

Ahh, gallery stroll in downtown Provo. I got to stop by for but a moment between swim team drop off, then pickup. But what I saw I loved. Mode boutique featured the art of Molly and Duane Call, an extremely talented duo and good friends. Way to go dudes. Here are a few more pictures...


some of Duane's groovy artwork


my favorite painting by Mrs Molly Call

Trimming the tree

We finally got the tree up and decorated, and all of the other Christmas decor in it's place. This is quite a job, 2-3 days of pulling out tubs of Christmas goods, putting it all up, rearranging furniture, cleaning, and then putting back away all tubs and other stuff before it makes you crazy.
Being the Mom at Christmastime is a special job, very busy indeed.
So, here she is this year... the tree. We couldn't cut our own this year. Oh no, we got to find out first hand that the last of the cut-your-own Christmas tree farms (that I know about) just turned into a subdivision. Bummer.
The lot where we got this tree swore up and down this one was just cut a week ago- so far she's holding up nicely, smells great, drinks tons. So today on this rainy Friday (please change to snow, please!)I spotlight just a few of my favorite ornaments I've collected over the years.


I think I've blogged this one before. I love it so much, I leave it up all year. I got it at Felt Club last year.


Reminding us the reason for the season, from Blue Cockatoo.


Nancy Drew, original artwork by my friend Edie, from the Beehive Bazaar last Christmas.


Voodoo dolly ornament made by my friend Molly, from the Beehive Bazaar a few years back.

Well, it's back to the sewing room. I took the handmade pledge, and I've got work to do.

workin' out

This is crazy- but, before October I had never done yoga, ever. I am not a gym girl. I have never had a gym pass, I don't do classes, not to mention I live 20 minute drive to the nearest gym so I would rather just run, bike or swim- leaving straight from my house and cherish that extra 40 minutes of sleep. Then when a friend mentioned that a tiny dance studio just minutes from my house was offering yoga a few morning a week- I decided to give it a try. Well...I LOVE YOGA SO MUCH. I feel fabulous, I wish it was every day for 2 hours. (I suppose I could do yoga at home with a DVD, but that sounds even worst than going to the gym) It's the whole mind- body- spirit thing that feels so good.
Steve O has even taken a few mornings off from swimming to yoga. The winter workout routine gets so boring so fast- we needed to mix it up. After so many years of just running, cycling etc. I am so happy to have added yoga. And, who would have guessed a non-class going gal like me would love my yoga teacher, but I do. Thanks Val.

We have had this book for a few years, the kids love it. Every time we read it the kids have to do all the poses as we go. Now, I finally know the poses personally, but I still feel like an elephant on some days.

while you were out

This is what happened while I was absent this weekend, working the Beehive Bazaar- which, by the way, was fantastic, better than ever.
Here is perhaps just a taste of how things roll on daddy's watch, a bit more 'freestyle' than when mommy is present and bossing everyone around.
When I saw it yesterday on Steve O's blog I laughed 'til I cried.
Here is the text that accompanies the picture:

I thought he was taking a nap or something.
I rounded the corner and there he was.
It appears that someone has figured out how to use PhotoBooth on the Mac.
We just found the evidence, 10 Jillion self-portraits.
(The photo: "The Doctor" 3 years old, December 2007)

Steve O you are such a fabulous daddy and husband. Thank you for supporting me in everything I strive to accomplish. I love you!

koyaanisqatsi

life out of balance....
so...all I do is sew- and here are some pictures to prove it. I am getting ready for the Beehive Bazaar coming up here on Friday- which- by the way-is going to be so great, if you live in Utah you have to go!
If you want to see a few more aprons, skirts, and what not look here.

hiking in Torrey Utah

Here are a few nature-ific shots from a super-fun hike we went on while visiting the grandparents for the holiday.


I finally got the super macro setting to work on ye old camera... I love that you can see the individual grains of sand that make up the sandstone in this picture.

I'm thankful for...

...kids and puppies. This is not our puppy, but a visiting neighbor puppy getting a little socialization. So cute, the perfect age and chubbiness for cuddling. I couldn't get enough, I took lots of pictures and the next day even begged the kids to borrow her back again. I could just carry her around in a baby sling all day.

book group

Last night I hosted book group. We had read Lord of the Flies, a very good re-read, it's been since high school when I read it the first time. It was surprising how much I had forgotten, other parts I still remembered all these years later, but quite different from an adult/parent perspective.
Anyway, as you can see...I got a little crazy with the treats. I went with the theme of the book. Fruit, and lots of it, pig, (pulled pork from Smokehouse...yummm) guacamole, mango salsa and- I had to throw in cupcakes- because if it had been girls on that island don't you think we would have figured out how to bake up a batch of scrumptious treats one way or another!?
We even had a conch on hand, although we didn't bother passing it around to speak, that might be taking it a little too far.
I felt like a Piggy (or the Piggy) after the feast. I lieu of a warm beach on a coral island to lay on, we basked in front of the fire on the couch. Good times- it's always super-fun to relax, eat too much, talk about a book (or not) tell a few stories, and chit-chat with my book group ladies every month.

little aprons

This is what I have been doing...making aprons.
Check out what else will be shop-able at the Beehive Bazaar, coming up here in a few weeks.

MB ride

Today was absolutely gorgeous- sunny and about 70 degrees. After pretty much ignoring the great weather all week, today I put aside all of my duties, chores, and sewing that needs doin' and went for a long, super-fun mountain bike ride. We rode up on Mount Nebo around Payson Lakes, about 13 miles in all. I haven't ridden in that area all year, (I think) it was quite a late fall treat. As you can see there were no leaves left, it looked very winterish with the bare trees, no color left. There is nothing like a good ride, especially single track through the mountains, to clear my head and leave me in a peaceful, happy state of mind.
In case you were wondering about my tooth problem...it was tooth #30, and it was in some serious distress, almost dead and the beginning to absess (yuck). So, I got a pulpectomy- or something along those lines. I have to go back to my real dentist, get numbed all over again and have a root canal in about a week, yeah! But, today I feel about 1 million times better, and I shant be taking my good health for granted anymore.

what a week!

I am trying to think positive. I'm killing time. This sounds weird, and is just about the last last thing I should to be doing right now but, I have the worst tooth ache and I have 2+ hours to wait until I can get into the Emergency dentist (sounds a little sketchy and desperate I know, but my real dentist can't fit me in and I have reached the point of absolute desperation) Remember the scene in Castaway when Tom Hanks knocks out his own tooth with and ice skate blade? I can see where he is coming from. 800 mg of ibuprofen seems to be taking the edge off.
I type because I can't concentrate on anything else.



This little note gives you a brief look into how my week has been. This week confirms my theory that it is easier to parent toddlers and babies over pre-teens (in some aspects). This does not mean that I don't absolutely adore my children and love being a mother-'cuz I do. It only means that when kids get to a certain age they develop their own 'agenda'.
You can't just say, "get into the car we need to go run errands", because they won't go- it isn't part of their 'agenda'. (they are thinking "what's in it for me?") In these cases parenting isn't so cut and dried. I'm not talking about don't hit your sister or stay out of the street. I'm talking about issues that don't have an obvious right or wrong answer. Answers to questions like, "Can I have my own cell phone/ipod/bedroom?..."
How can you do the right thing as a parent when you don't even know what the right thing is. Do they need all of these things? How can you teach them about needs vs. wants without being the big-bad-mommy.

As you may know- my kids are note writers. Here is just some of the notes we have gotten this week from our oldest, Q. She wants her own room, and I would like her to have it, but it would mean that the toy room would become another bedroom and the toys would be homelessly squatting throughout the rest of the house- something I don't think I can handle.



Her clever tactics amaze me. On Monday she turned in a 3 page report called "My Research says..." with some charts and graphs on the hourly usage of the room in question as toy room vs. her bedroom, percentages etc.
We were treated to an oral presentation on Tuesday explaining the research. When we quietly remarked that giving her the toy room probably wouldn't work she left the room rather abruptly and these notes (and a few others) were posted to her door.
On Wednesday and Thursday she started cleaning up the toy room and making space for her things PROMISING the little ones can still play there (the- I just ignore my parents and do it anyway game plan).
Last night she even slept there. Steve O and I even joked about rustling some leaves outside her window or lightly tapping on the window- a few scare tactics- while it might seem kind of funny- especially in like 10 years- maybe not the most mature way to parent.
So we'll see how it plays out. When I get my tooth problem fixed or get my hands on some serious drugs to ease my physical suffering then I can likely bear the mental and emotional aspects of my life a little better.

camera club

this photo needs a good caption...

time to get serious

OK, no more costumes to make, but plenty of time at the sewing machine coming my way. It's time to get serious about the Beehive Bazaar coming up quickly- the weekend after Thanksgiving- yikes!
I am going to be making the usual fare: aprons, purses, skirts for little ones (not us grown up gals, but perhaps some tweens) and perhaps shirts with a bit of applique and some felt ornaments. We will see how the next few weeks pan out. Life seems to take over when I would really rather be sewing up a storm in my cute little workroom.