I am passionate about the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am grateful to know why I am here and to feel the love of my Heavenly Father every day. I will be focusing my posts on the music, literature, family, fabric and travel that enrich my life. "If there is anything lovely, virtuous, of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."
My November issue of House Beautiful was all about entertaining for the holidays. I read all the interviews and was most impressed with a man named Alex Hitz.
This is him on the cover of his new cookbook.
Here is an excerpt from the interview I liked so much.
If you had to choose just one tip for giving a great party, what would it be?
Give guests what they really want: comfort food. Nothing pretentious, trendy, or precious. I hate nouvelle cuisine. I know that's not what it's called anymore, but that's what it is. All that experimental cooking, all those foams and dusts. Going to a restaurant and hearing about a dish that has 411 ingredients just wears me out. I don't want anything fussy. Anything worth doing is worth doing well, but fussing isn't going to make anything better. Like most things in life, simple is best. You'll never go wrong with mac-and-cheese.
So now we know we should serve comfort food at parties. What else should a host know?
Make a schedule; stick to it. Do everything ahead of time-do not leave anything till the last minute. Parties are about people, not about bustling around in the kitchen when they come. Don't punish the guests who've arrived on time by waiting for the ones who didn't. And never stop smiling, no matter what falls apart. There's a great quote from Horace: 'A host is like a general; calamities often reveal his genius' What you can be guaranteed of is that some sort of calamity will happen. The only time a party will be ruined is if you stop smiling.
This is a lesson I needed to hear. I have definitely witnessed the truth of what he is saying, but needed to be told it's not acceptable to actually change my practices. I will have a opportunity to prove myself next week. I will keep you informed on how it goes.
My Mom made Christmas pillowcases for the boys last year, and Henry took his to Helen's last month for our Thanksgiving holiday. "I want my children to have Christmas pillowcases" Helen said.
Okay, it would be my pleasure to make that wish come true. I decided to make some for my nieces over in England too and because I had to get UK gifts in the mail, their's are what I have to show you today.
I couldn't decide which fabric to use, and then the thought occurred to me, I could make them like mini quilts
I mixed in a little bit of the minky fabric that is so popular, and I love the soft pinks and blues side by side
Hopefully these will help produce sweet dreams of sugar plums
A few weeks ago my sister'n law Emily wrote a great post about essential items you should pack to feel your best when traveling. I have just a couple items to add to her list and it all has to do with regularity.
Before I read The Green Smoothie Dietand started drinking them every day, I didn't understand the importance of being regular. But now I do, it has become an issue for me when I travel.
Two obstacles stand in my way of being regular when I travel.
Diet and Location
When we go to England, we usually go for about two weeks. That's a long time to be without my smoothies. I try to eat as many fruits and vegetables as I can, but its never as many as I would eat if I were home.
Okay, I know this is too much information, but I first discovered probiotics because I was searching for a natural solution to female infections, and then realized they also help my intestinal tract. So that is a great option to take when traveling. The purple link above takes you to a help website where you can learn more.
Also I discovered when I went to Lake Powell this fall, that chocolate covered raisins will also do the trick. I can not stop eating them if there's a tub from Costco lying around, but I have decided they are worth the calories and need to be an essential item I pack for long trips.
Okay, now to solve the problem of location. Sometimes when I am staying in small quarters and everyone is feeling way too close to the bathroom, my body will not relax. Well, if I have Poo-Pourriin my toiletry bag, I am fine. Just spray the toilet water before you go and it cancels out any unwanted smells.
Hope these tips will help you feel your best on your next trip.
I just love the fairy tale of The Twelve Dancing Princesses.
Artist: Sheilah Beckett
Those clever young women. Out smarting every suitor that comes to discover they secret, oh that is until one arrives with a magic invisible cloak.
Artist: Elenore Abbott
And what a life they lead - forests with gold and silver trees, lakes with princes waiting to row them across to the dance hall, dancing until they wear holes in their shoes!
Ooo la la. This is my kind of fantasy.
I can't find the illustrations I grew up with,
but I have come across a very fun version illustrated by Kay Neilsen.
Here is Kay's page of other fairy tales she has published & available at Barnes and Noble.
There are four birthdays in the next two days. Arthur, George, Jaime and Brock.
Arthur and George are my seven year old twins.
They are like most boys their age. They have a weakness for tye-dye. They like all sports, all super heros, video games, skiing, swimming, hiking, the list goes on and on. So what makes these boys stand out in a crowd? Love. Arthur and George have so much love to give. These lovely boys can give so many hugs and kisses. They make the world a better place. To celebrate their birthday Let's have a song.
Brock is the husband of Sarah who I am always talking about. My brother n'law.
I appreciate that he is very easy to talk to. He going into his last semester of law school and I have been impressed with his diligence. I know law students have lots of horrible reading assignments and Brock is still working in addition to his schooling. The thing I love best about Brock is what a great uncle he is. He spends lots of his Sunday afternoons entertaining my boys - most often jumping on the trampoline and playing games. To celebrate his birthday Let's have a game.
This is one of favorites from my childhood. You don't have to wait for everyone's turn. You just ring the bell and start shouting "Two, two! Three, three!"
Jaime is my bosom buddy I mention from time to time;
most recently, was when I visited her in New York City. This is her with her husband Allen.
We love each other and help each other. What a blessing to have a friend like that! Jaime has a talent for really wanting to know people and to understand them. She inspires me. She takes her responsibilities and her progression very seriously, and I have learned through experience that life will pass you by if you don't. To celebrate her birthday Let's have a story.
The morning I spent with Jaime in New York, we walked the kids to school, came back to the apartment for a snack, then went out again to the grocery shop. The rain had stopped so we decided to leave our umbrellas at home. That was silly, the rain started right back up as soon as we left.
The grocery store was fascinating to me - narrow aisles, an elevator and lots of foreign products. Next we stopped in at juice & sandwich shop, and then dashed through the rain, with Jaime pushing Ozzy in the stroller, back to the apartment.
"Well, that was fun" I said, as I looked in the mirror at my drenched hair and contemplated what to do about my wet jeans.
Jaime started unloading the groceries from the bottom of her stroller and then said "Where's my purse?"
I could tell panic was starting to kick in as I watched her dash to the kitchen, then the table, back to the stroller, and finally outside the front door.
I stayed in the apartment with Ozzy while Jaime retraced her steps all the way back to the juice shop. I said a prayer. "Please Heavenly Father, please help Jaime to find her purse. I know all things are possible, please bless her." I was surprised when Jaime returned empty handed.
Heavy hearted, Jaime began the process of notifying her bank and credit cards. Then right as she started to cheer up, telling me there were much worse things that could happen and she was grateful for what she had - her cell phone rang. It was the New York City Police. They had her purse! Someone had found it on the sidewalk and turned it in.
"You do not! What? How did you find me?!" Jaime was her old self again, full of spunk and shouting at a police officer.
It was pretty amazing. They had only been living in New York for three months, and her only form of identification in the purse was an old Arizona drivers license. We joyfully sprinted the twenty blocks to the Precinct where the purse was waiting.
Well, its like I said, with God all things are possible and now Jaime has her "lucky" purse to remind her every day of God's love.
I love love listening to my Josh Groban Christmas Album. The whole CD is excellent, but here are my two favorites, and they both have to do with Angels singing.
I am crazy about this duet with Brain McKnight
Photographer: Mark Mabry
This arrangement is amazing. Ooo its so good.
I've decided I want to sing in a choir of Angels. It must be the most beautiful & joyous music ever.
Once upon a time I was a lost college student, wandering around BYU trying to figure out what I should do with my life. Elementary Education? no. Music Education? maybe, with a Theatre minor? ok.
The next semester I took Beginning Stage Make-up and Costume Construction 1. They were small classes in the basement of the Harris Fine Arts Center, taught by one Janet Swenson and a Carolyn Smith.
Janet was funny. Her desk was in the middle of the room so we could all see her demos and then she could monitor our work in the mirrored classroom. In her central location, Janet would talk, make funny voices, and joke with all of us before, during and after class. She knew our names. I was shy, but Janet still paid attention to me. Never had I felt so comfortable at the 30,000 student university before.
Carolyn, a spunky, little grandma, who was the Costume Shop's Assistant Manager. She was so kind and always busy. Oh, did she work so hard. Her class was my first exposure to sewing, and the beginning of a life long passion that would rival my music.
That semester changed my life. I never wanted to leave the love and attention of these two women...so I changed my major to Theatre Arts for Costume Design. Thus embarking on my life of Creativity, something I didn't know existed inside of me before then.
It turned out to be a great fit for me. I really dig the psychology within each play, analyzing the characters' motives and interpreting their effects on the set and costumes. I enjoy researching different histories and fashion for each production, and then finding clothing and color schemes to match the personalities of my characters.
Artist: Alfrons Maria Mucha.
I was asked to use these and other paintings as inspiration for my designs in BYU's 2000 production of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.
I regret I was inconsistent in my homework. I didn't give it my all. I struggled with balancing my work and play. Or really, coming to grips with the fact that University life is mostly work. Despite my disappointing efforts I was always treated with respect from my professors and Janet in particular was always there when I needed a heart to heart talk.
Since I have left BYU, I have not been involved with the theatre. But I have had the skills and the confidence to create a beautiful home for my family. I have also been able to send my love to many babies, each with the gift of a one of a kind blanket. I fantasize about returning to the Costume Studio when I'm older. Whether sooner or later - I have Carolyn as my role model, with a career in her retirement years. And I have Janet as my inspiration, for the influence one person can have when she cares for Heavenly Father's children.
Anyone who has been in my home knows I am not afraid to hang up pictures.
This is a wall in Daniel's home office.
But every since the painter filled in all my nail holes and freshly painted the family room and the boys' bedroom, I have been afraid of hanging my artwork back up. Maybe I don't know if I'm in love with it anymore, and now's a good time to change. Also I want to be more responsible this time and try hanging most of my pictures in a stud instead of plain sheet rock.
Well, Tuesday night we finished decorating the tree and Henry asked "is that it? Is that all the decorating you're going to do for Christmas?" Yeah, I thought. I have decorations in the entry way and kitchen, what else is he wanting? "Aren't you going to hang the pictures back on the wall?" He was right. The family room felt unfinished with the bare walls.
So yesterday I hung up my British flag and three of my pieces of English art in red, white and blue frames.
Disclaimer: I let the boys decorate the tree this year. But I am loving my wall of frames. Thanks for the push Henry. Now its time to tackle my wall of frames where I feature our extended family.
This is what I had before.
And this is what I would like to do now. I found it on Pinterest. I am just a little nervous about them all falling off the ledges when the door gets shut too hard or when a ball goes falling.
But I am excited thinking about it. Just need to shop for the shelves.
Here is what I have hung over my fireplace mantle.
And I hope you are enjoying your Christmas season.
I just received my first Christmas card and went to my first party.
Daniel and I returned to Lake Como this fall and loved our time there just as much as our first trip in 2008. Lake Como is right at the top of Italy, close to the Switzerland border.
We never got tired of eating pizza and pasta. Every meal was such a treat.
We loved feeling like we were exploring the lake on our own and not in the midst of mass tourists.
We rented an old Fisherman's Cottage right on the lake. Two bedrooms, one bath, kitchen and living room for 870 euros a week. We split this price with our friends Kip and Annette.
Here is the blog for our cottage if you are interested. And I also recommend looking on homelidays.com, click to have the language switched to english.
It was so nice to pop across the street, practice our Italian and grab some groceries for breakfast each day. That's the luxury of renting an apartment instead of a hotel, plus being able to hang out at night without having to sit on our beds. And it ended up being 62 euros a night per couple. Think about it. You would love it.
If you love women in the scriptures, I must introduce you to my favorite BYU Religion professor, Camille Fronk Olson. She has such a passion and shares her knowledge with a smile. Here is a list of all her books she has published: she has books on Eve, Mary and Martha, the Woman at the Well, plus a collection of all the women in the Old Testament. Right now I am in the middle of reading Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
I have always been drawn to Mary. Here is some artwork for the Christmas season.
I couldn't find the name of the artist, but I think this picture is gorgeous!
This is an interesting interpretation. Artist: Steve Nethercott
Fall is the time when Sarah takes photos of my boys to document their growth and show off their beauty. This year there was one little guy who wouldn't stay still.
The sunlight was going down fast because it was the first afternoon of daylight savings. We tried for twenty minutes and then had to call it good. Ted wasn't getting any more cooperative.
Later as Sarah was searching through the photos, trying to find which one would be my pick for the Christmas cards, she discovered the very first shot had been the best.
I decided to have it printed in black and white. I wish for everyone to have a Sarah! Pictures are priceless.
I am going to go back in time for a moment, back to Christmas 2009. We spent a few days in Paris before heading over to England. Geraldine, Tez and Daisy were our hosts.
This is how cold it was outside. Burrr
And this is how cozy it was inside.
We were spoiled with all their attention, hot chocolates and great food.
Geraldine had a stereo in the dining room and we would listen to Christmas music while we visited. It was on this trip Geraldine introduced us (me and Daniel) to "Fairytale of New York" sung by The Pogues, an Irish band from the 1980's. We loved it. The angst of the story, the full sound of the instruments, and passion we felt when we sang the only words we could remember "and the bells are ringing out for Christmas Day!"
Daniel soon got himself a copy and this song has since outed Nat King Cole from his number one spot. It has stayed in the CD player of our hot tub all year because it sounds so good when we turn it up really loud.
I found this version on youtube. It's great because you can here the lyrics
more clearly, though you do miss the full band in the background.
Hope you like. I decided to postpone Musical Monday for the month of December, and share some of my favorite Christmas music instead.
Here are more pictures from that 2009 trip. And if you missed it, here is my 2012 trip to Paris.
Daniel surprised me today with a new Christmas CD.
Ooo, I love learning new Christmas music, and James Taylor has several new songs (to me) plus a couple less used songs such as "Go Tell it on the Mountain" and "In the Bleak Midwinter". Mr. Taylor also has a fun version of "O Christmas Tree" in french and I have decided I really like hearing familiar songs in other languages.
Here is an example, I came across this last year and its so good. "Jingle Bells" in french is "Vive le Vent".
In closing, I recommend the James Taylor Christmas album. His voice is as good as ever and the instruments are so pretty. Great arrangements and nothing is better than Christmas music.
There was a quiet Irish movie a few years ago that is now catching people's attention with its Broadway musical adaption. Once is about the connection two people feel when they make music together.
This production was nominated for eleven 2012 Tony Award's and won in eight categories.
You'll see when you watch these highlights, many of the songs are quite intimate. I didn't get to see it when I was in New York last month, but I have seen the movie, and I think the musical must be at a whole level higher of greatness. To witness so many live musicians on stage in the midst of a story must be pretty special.
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