one week away... until my summer is considered finished

Next Wednesday is the start of another semester... how do I say this, I don't feel prepared... So for the cure I am going "school shopping" for myself after work. I remember when my mom use to take me, torture (for both of us I'm sure). But today I plan on going by myself -- the only good way to shop if you really want to accomplish anything. bible. Picking up some paper, folders, color-coded sticky tabs.. I happen to be an incurable collector of good pens and pencils so I have plenty of those. Also to celebrate the new school year I may even look for some stylish clothes. Although, I do have plenty of clothes sometimes it is good to get something new; somehow it gives me confidence to feel I have nice clothes. Trust me I need all the confidence I can get for this semester.

Fun to note, I have completed all my 'elective' courses... sounds like me doesn't it; onto the 'hard' classes now. And it's just the beginning. *grin

Yesterday... was amazing.
The morning started late, I woke up around 9:00 and slowly got ready for the day. I started by trying to replicate my successful poached egg that I did the day before (apperently it's easier to do on a gas stove)... not as good as before but still tasty enough to eat. I watch part of the swimming Olympic tryouts on TV... and started getting ready for the day. For some reason my makeup wasn't working for me... I think my skin was a little too dry and just looked patchy. So I washed it off moisturized some more and tried it again. turned out good, not great though. I quickly straightened my hair and finally around 11:00 I was ready for the day. A half hour later Chad and I were out the door and on our way to Salt Lake City. Chad got a gift certificate to Braza Grill from our friends Laine and Elyse for his birthday last month. We ate there for lunch... it was delicious!! seriously! I think it was better than Tucanos... seriously amazing. We had a great time talking, laughing, and enjoying great food together... magical like.
The place must have been way more busy than they had anticipated for that day, because there was a single server and the place was almost full. It gave us plenty of time to have conversation while waiting for our food.
We finished at Braza Grill not too extremely full (thankfully) and drove ourselves to temple square. First we decided to visit the Church History Museum where we walked three floors of amazing things. My favorties were probably the death masks of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. Seeing the handwritting of the prophets as they displayed their journals and letters to loved-ones. I enjoyed seeing Joseph and Hyrum's pistols that they had and fired in Carthage jail trying to defend themselves. I had gained a stronger sense of the pioneers and their incredable spirit and dedication to creating Zion. It's amazing and testimony building seeing those things of the past.
Next we went to the conference center and took a tour! Very fun.... it's just so massive! The art work is all original. We spent over an hour looking at everything in there.
Then we went to dinner... it was 7:30 and we were hungry! We had done so much walking around it was nice to sit for a while. We ate at The Lion House... Chicken, potatoes, gravy, salad and the famous rolls. Very YUM! Then in just in time, we were able to get a tour at The Beehive House. It was so beautiful too! and to see it is amazing! Just to think about what their lives must have been like after crossing the plains and finally being in the Salt Lake Valley and building Zion and helping others come to Utah too... they were so busy with the Lord's work.
The sisters who gave us a tour were great as well. One was from India and the other from South Carolina. Both so beautiful and friendly. My favorite rooms in the house were... all of them!
After that we went to temple square and saw the replica model of the temple and the rooms inside. By this time we were very tired. We went to the car and guess what.... it didn't start! ahh.... we tried and tried and tried.... I was getting worried but we kept the faith and finally we got it running and we were fine the rest of the way home.
We arrived home around 10pm and couldn't wait to shower and get to bed (at least I couldn't). slept soo goood..

Rooms...

I was looking for some decor ideas for my niece who wants to re-do her room... and I found these from hgtv.com. super cute and some good ideas!

Houses I love!

marvel at life with me.

Just in case you haven't seen it already; there are some amazing videos at http://www.lds.org/

They are such good, inspiring videos. I especially love the one on the Book of Mormon. It's been a long time since I have felt so moved by anything. I use to be easily moved by anything to the point of tears, but the last few years have been so much fun I've forgot to stop and really marvel at my life blessings in the ways I should have.

lovely!

Simple clean lines....

wish, hoping, praying... as always

I love these pictures sooo much! copied them from http://mysweetsavannah.blogspot.com/

I want my bath and bedroom to look just like this someday! (I'm always dreaming.)

A Girl Can Dream... a lot~

I enjoy reading everyone's blogs or comments on facebook, I think that it makes me feel closer to the family I never really get to see. I loved looking at Starlee's Miss Utah pictures. They were so beautiful. And to see Angie's cakes and all the cool things she experiences in her life. And to read about Emily's projects and home decor magic... I just love feeling like I know you guys.

I have a dream...

of our someday family...

and our someday house...

with our someday dog, an akida of course...

I dream of the parties and family gatherings we will have.

The backyard gardens... roses, vegetable, and a forest of climbing trees because no matter how old I get I'll always like climbing them.

We dream of our dojo where Aikido and Yoga will be practiced.

Our children will be free to play and make "believe".

I want to give our children a full childhood so they will be confident adults knowing that their parent's loved them....

and I want to write this all down now because I know I'll forget to make the days count later if I don't keep a note of it now.

I want to raise my kids like they did 'back-in-the-day' :

family meals every night, home-made and healthy. (friends are always welcome, young and old)

Have family prayer in a circle holding hands... because I love that even though we didn't do it growing up.

And Chad will teach them all how to shoot a gun, even me... I have yet to learn.
Chad has also promised to paint little fairies on our 'someday' baby-girl's bedroom walls... he is such a good artist.

Music and laughter, I hope, will always be present in our home. I hope that sweet smells and cosy blankets are always present in my home.

I hope that the tire-swing gets more use than the computer or tv... (if we even have a tv that is)

reading the local newpapers will be a daily event and 'night games' will always be welcome in our yard...

at my house...

winters will be made warm with hot cocoa, and summers will be made cool with homemade lemonade. I hope for the simple life with friends across the world and an open door for anyone in need of a hug, a meal, or a bed for the night.

so much love. Life is as beautiful as you allow it to be!

the bench that will someday be done....

This is my current project! Seriously, it has been giving me the hardest time.. The one thing I have learned is that using good-quality high-end products is 110% worth the cost! I bought some cheap primer that just ruined my whole project... :(
So today I started over with some great primer and it is already looking so much better. Although my hands are so sore from sanding this bench that I could hardly spray the primer on afterwards.
I have worked so hard to make this bench shine again that I can't wait to show you "after" pictures. since I'm not close to being done yet, I'll just have to post my "before" pictures now.

This is what the bench looked like the first time sanding it down. What had happened is as this bench sat outside, the varnish got all crusty and no one liked to sit on it. sad.

The other morning I was outside drinking my morning smoothie *soy milk, frozen blueberries, and half a frozen banana with a splash of flaxseed oil. blend. enjoy.
I saw this beautiful bench covered in dirt and old varnish... I didn't even finish my smoothie. I started washing and sanding this bench early in the morning while my smoothie melted in the morning sun.

I look forward to showing the finished product, complete with throw pillows n' all.

xoxo have a fine day.

the day

So much going on....
already trying to get school in order..
trying to throw my husband and birthday party...
trying to earn enough money..
hoping I have what I need...
but I guess,
even if I don't,
everything will be okay.
I put so much on my plate sometimes.
I love life so much that I make too many plans :)
then feel burnt out trying to make it all work...
I'm so blessed,
I'm so tired.

lil sam-ers

love this boy...

before & after

I found this beat-up night stand at a yard sale.... showed it some love... and tada!

I love it...