ca c'est bon

Memorial Day - let's remember

2011-05-30T12:43:00.000-05:00

We owe our lives and freedom to so many. I am grateful.

Dandelions

2011-05-25T22:17:00.002-05:00

This is how a 3 year old blows dandelions:

And this is how a 1 year old does it:

Spring, where are you?

2011-05-15T09:32:00.003-05:00

I've been shut up inside all weekend due to illness. This nasty, not niceness of a spring is not making me happy. Although, I do love how fresh and green everything has turned.

Magical

2011-05-10T21:24:00.003-05:00

We went in February and it was magical. Sammy still talks about it. I love Disney World.

My mom

2011-05-08T21:49:00.000-05:00

She's pretty much the greatest ever.

No fear

2011-05-05T13:16:00.003-05:00

Jonny (17 months) has no fear. None. Zip. Zero. Ziltch. Needless to say this little guy has a new bruise, bump, chipped tooth, fat lip, or giant scab every week. Yet he is always smiling.

Doesn't make me a very good aunt letting him go down a big slide by himself just so I can get a picture, does it? I am happy to report that there were no injuries on that little trip to the park.

Oh, and the other week, he managed to sneak off and lock himself in a bathroom stall in the little boy's room at the children's museum. His 3 year old brother had to rescue him. Oh Jonny, we love you so.

God bless the USA

2011-05-05T12:46:00.002-05:00

This United States monument touches me in a way unlike any of the others. It is a glorious thing to behold at night, all lit up and serene. When you look at those huge figures with the Capital and Washington Monument off in the distance, you realize how removed those men who fought for freedom were from home and safety. They, like the monument, were removed from everything that was good and comfortable. And I owe my blessed life to their courage and self-sacrifice.

My running tree

2011-04-27T21:35:00.004-05:00

(taken with an iphone)

There is a tree at the top of a hill by my house. I visit it when I go running and look out across the place where I grew up, the place I call home. It transfixes me every time I see it. I have taken several photos of it as the sun sets in the background. I can't seem to get enough of this tree's silhouette, no matter the season. It must be because I know it will always be there and always be beautiful to look upon. A symbol of my home.

Baby Girl

2011-04-20T20:14:00.002-05:00

My work life has been meh. Kind of a busy month of March and April.

But with it came the best part of the year. I have a new niece! We snuggie together and take naps tucked together tightly. She is amazing and beautiful. Here she is at one week. I love being an aunt.

Jamie Riley, photographer

2011-03-02T23:11:00.005-06:00

I work with ridiculously talented people. One of my team members took these pictures of me and my eye. He just set up a light after a work meeting and started snapping away. Jamie takes incredible photographs and has had some of the most interesting jobs (like backpacking guide in Glacier National Park). I love friends.

Fresh

2011-02-23T22:28:00.004-06:00

It doesn't get much fresher than this. Well, picking it out of your own garden would win. But that's beside the point! The produce at this fruit stand is delicious. Especially their local Honeybell oranges. So juicy that they can't be peeled. You need a bowl and lots of napkins. Mmmm...

The lesson of sunscreen

2011-02-16T22:27:00.003-06:00

This little guy puts up the biggest fits when he has to get sunscreen put on. Poor thing has transparent skin so there is no getting out of it. He absolutely hates it. He tries to ask other people if he can get out of it, recommends that he'll just stay inside, & suggests that he will wear lots of clothes instead (he's a smart lil guy). As I was putting it on his pure skin at the beach last week, he asked through his cries why he had to get it. I said, "It's like a helmet for your skin." (ps: he loves helmets)

I can't think of one person who likes putting sunscreen on. Especially at the beach. But we have to do it. Some of us more than others. We spread that greasy stuff all over our never ending bodies while sand creeps in and sticks around uninvited. There is no winning in the war against sand. The whole thing is irritating and uncomfortable. But we have to do it.

There are so many things in life that no one likes to do that we have to do. Some of us have more uncomfortable tasks than others, but we all have them. There is no getting around them. Well, actually there is. We could not do them, just like we could not put on sunscreen. But oh how those consequences hurt. And possibly ruin an otherwise pleasant time in our life. Just like a burned lobster red back ruins a good night sleep or time at the pool on our vacation.

So how do we get around these irritating and undesirable tasks? We don't. We just do them and learn that sometimes a little sacrifice of comfort for a short period leads to a better life in the long run. I will still hate putting on sunscreen, just like Sammy. But I'll do it because I know the pain otherwise. And isn't a tan so much more fun than a burn? Thanks for the lesson, sunscreen.

Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T21:28:00.003-06:00

I returned from a wonderful vacation yesterday. It was wonderful because I got to spend it with my family in a warm fun place.

Today was one of reading lots of emails, being told all the million changes that happened while I was on vacation, reorganizing messes, and waking up from a nap that turned into a 14 hour nights sleep (in my clothes).

Today I got to celebrate Valentine's in a wonderful way. I got to meet Loraine, Flo, & Elaine. I got to hold their hands, help them with frosting, and hear about husbands. I got to look into their eyes and see the longing for health and love. I got to give love to those who have no one left. It hurt to see their loneliness. But warmed my heart to know that for one hour, I was able to help them remember what it feels like to be loved.

I hope you were able to help someone feel loved today too.

My imperfect perfect life

2011-02-09T20:35:00.002-06:00

I don't have a perfect husband.

I don't have 5 perfect kids.

I'm not a model, movie star, or intern for the President.

I'm not rich.

I'm not crafty or trend-setting.

I'm not an Olympic athlete.

I'm not a ballerina or world famous ballroom dancer (goodness, I can barely touch my toes I'm so inflexible).

I don't live in an exotic place or big city.

But...

I've been to some amazing places.

I love to dance with friends.

I am game for some soccer or a run.

I love reinventing my own style.

I invest what I can and try to save up for the future.

I get to work with fun people and learn something new everyday.

I have 2 beautiful nephews and a niece coming soon.

I know the importance of marriage.

Most importantly I have an eternal family and I know that my Redeemer lives.

Life is perfect.

Go Pack Go

2011-02-05T18:22:00.002-06:00

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Thanks to mom for snapping this beaut.

Blizzard 2011

2011-02-03T22:14:00.004-06:00

Tuesday night we were let out of work early because a giant storm was on the way. That night it snowed and snowed and snowed, but the worst part was the wind! It was hard to tell how much snow we were getting because the snow was blowing sideways. Through the night we heard the wind beat against the house and in the morning we woke up to 15+ inches of snow. Everything was shut down: schools, businesses, governments offices. Everything. All anyone could do was try and dig themselves out of their houses.

I didn't have to go to work because we were closed. Snow day! It was an awesome day.

Boden Family

2011-02-02T18:14:00.005-06:00

3 sweet little boys who were so obedient and kind to each other.

TCM Scene-it?

2011-02-02T10:05:00.003-06:00

Being a TCM junkie, I had to snatch this when it was on sale. It's a lot of fun but really hard. My dad, of all people, was the best at it. You may be subjected to play if ever in my house, so be ready.

Carl Bloch: The Master's Hand

2011-02-01T20:03:00.003-06:00

I was in Utah for a wedding in November. I visited BYU, my alma mater, for the first time since graduation. The very day we were there, this magnificent exhibit opened. It is on the sublime works of Carl Bloch, a Danish painter who painted depictions of Christ's life and other religiously themed altarpieces.

Walking into the exhibit was as if we had stepped out of the Wasatch Mountains and into a Danish museum of art. My eyes feasted on the fineness of the paintings, but my heart was brimming with love for the Savior. Seeing art in person touches you in way no reproduction or print can. It penetrates and humbles you. So when I sat and stared at these pictures of the Savior, I could barely move or look away. I wanted to sit and stare for hours and not leave the warmth I felt in the presence created by Carl Bloch.

The two images above are my favorite prints. If you are in Utah, please go to this exhibit. For yourself. It runs until May 7 at the BYU Museum of Art.

Mautz Family

2011-01-31T21:50:00.007-06:00

These kids were so well behaved and cooperative. We took family pictures for their Christmas card.

Their littlest girl is friends with my 3 year old nephew. She says she is going to marry him. :)

Pretty children's books

2011-01-31T18:35:00.001-06:00

I saw these whilst Christmas shopping and love the colors and pictures on them.

Books

2011-01-30T22:26:00.003-06:00

Reading books. Life is good.

Ballet, meet Oxford. Oxford, ballet.

2011-01-29T19:52:00.004-06:00

Got excited inside when I saw these.

3 1/2

2011-01-27T22:33:00.004-06:00

Sammy turned 3 1/2 yesterday. I told him he wasn't allowed to grow up. He looked troubled and concerned and put his hands up in question and said, "Why? I have to grow up! Why don't you want me to grow up? I want to be a man!"

I told him I liked him the way he was now, but that I would like him at any age.

"I have to grow up to be a man."

"What are you going to be when you are grown up then? A pilot?"

"No, an astronaut. But I want to be an astronaut now, a boy astronaut."

We love our little astronaut.

Life gets turned upside down sometimes

2011-01-26T19:24:00.001-06:00

But hey, why not smile with all 6 of your teeth?

One of this lil guy's favorite poses.

Beitler Family

2011-01-11T22:01:00.008-06:00

5 girls and 1 boy. This family all had piercing blue eyes. Isn't that little boy so handsome?! We stayed warm inside on the snowiest day this year and shot family pictures before this beautiful family moves out of town.

Visiting Santa

2011-01-10T22:40:00.003-06:00

Things were going ok...

Until someone decided to look to see who was holding him...

And then we had tears. :(

The past three years of Santas have been disappointing. They don't talk to the kids or even ask them what they want. So annoying.

But Sammy knew what he was supposed to do so he told Santa, "I want snowboard stuff & hockey stuff." He was so nervous while in line - it was cute.

Next year, I'm going Santa scouting.

Look who is growing up

2011-01-08T14:16:00.004-06:00

This little sweetie turned 1 just before Thanksgiving. He can say Baba (Sammy), Mamma (all the women in the family), Ba (ball), Wow, and Mimi (me?). He loves walking around and will not let you hold on to him so he doesn't crack his head open. He also loves whatever his older brother is currently playing with. We love him so much.

Phew. Now for a birthday hiatus.

Our family just finished 6 birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years in the last month and a half. We have another one in February then a new baby in March for my sister.

Christmas

2010-12-26T20:17:00.002-06:00

Worn out from all the Christmas fun? Me too. We had great Christmas here and I hope you did too.

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T12:58:00.003-06:00

I am grateful for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, my family, my healthy life, a warm house to live in, safe food to eat, a good job, and love.

Ellie

2010-10-05T20:17:00.006-05:00

How cute is she?! Sweet little Ellie was like a dream to photograph. She had a beautiful smile and loved being in front of the camera. Her little bunny Peaches was her new friend.

Ellie is turning 8 soon and gets baptized by her daddy this month. Congratulations to her!

Atlantic

2010-09-25T23:12:00.004-05:00

BFF Michael lives a block from the beach. And in a bike riding community. Not fair.

St. Augustine

2010-09-21T22:32:00.004-05:00

The oldest fort in the USA still stands. This quaint old town was quite a delight and full of life and history.

Thompson Family

2010-08-31T21:48:00.006-05:00

That little girl would not smile for me at all. But my goodness, she was the cutest little thing with her big blue eyes and long eyelashes and blond hair.

Zoo a la Carte

2010-08-22T22:29:00.005-05:00

How big is baby? sooooo big!

Got a new flash and did some trial and error.

Zoo a la Carte is where Milwaukee restaurants set up camp at the Zoo. Then you feast from the different tents while looking at animals. Well, when you go when it is dark, your stuck not getting to see the animals. But riding the train in the dark was totally worth it. Coolest little thing - they need to do it at Halloween.

Only a few mishaps for the evening... one nephew threw up :( and I lost my car keys in the dark. Said a prayer, went to the admin office and they had them!

Scratch it

2010-08-17T21:24:00.001-05:00

How awesome is this? A map where you scratch off the countries you've visited. Love it.

via A Cup of Jo

Horses

2010-08-08T22:18:00.003-05:00

Everyone loves horses.

Free cookbook

2010-08-08T22:15:00.002-05:00

Don't forget to enter to win a free cookbook at itsstillgood.blogspot.com

And read the comment I left... you'll get a better idea of who I am.

People didn't live in black and white

2010-08-08T22:08:00.004-05:00

When I think about the past, I always picture it in black and white. I forget that people lived in color in the 1940's and that their lipstick was actually bright red. These color pictures from 1939-1943 show us what life was like in color.

Scroll through these images. I think you'll like them.

L.L. Bean Signature

2010-08-06T23:32:00.000-05:00

The new L.L. Bean Signature is worth checking out.

3

2010-07-26T23:35:00.004-05:00

This little boy turned 3 today.

He's 3. I can't believe it.

Sometimes you'd think he was 15 the way he talks about the speed of sound, orbits, Harrier Jump Jets, or the way he pretends to chew gum when he's up to bat, puts his finger outside his glove, and taps the base before getting ready for the pitch (in the living room).

He loves Family Home Evening, singing primary songs and conducting the music. He always wants to be a part of the conversation, make people happy, and squeeze his baby brother. He has all his books memorized, so there is no cheating on adding your own words to sentences.

He asked for shrimp scampi for his birthday dinner and had to be persuaded to open his presents before endlessly playing with each one.

He is loving. And he is loved.

He's our Sammy.

Football

2010-07-12T23:28:00.003-05:00

So there has been this little thing going on called the World Cup. It just ended and I thought I should post some pics Nick took of the football game we went to in England at Stamford Bridge to see Chelsea play. Yeah, home game, 4th row.

It may have been one of my favorite things we did. It was incredible.

We didn't take our fancy cameras because we weren't sure how drunk fans were going to get.

Oh, and Chelsea won.

Haymore Family

2010-07-11T00:31:00.004-05:00

cutie little girls.

Piece of pie

2010-07-05T23:28:00.004-05:00

Made with fresh picked black raspberries from our forest of a backyard.

I ate it for breakfast a couple of times.

Happy 4th

2010-07-04T22:48:00.002-05:00

Downtown Milwaukee fireworks 2010.

Porcelain

2010-06-18T00:15:00.002-05:00

Memorial Day - let's remember

2010-05-31T08:10:00.004-05:00

It was a sweaty, hot August DC morning before work. I hustled over to Arlington National Cemetery to partake of its reverence. I'm walking along when I see a car parked along one of the paths (rare - cars not allowed much). A very old man used his cane to get out of the car. I started to walk slower, hoping to be a part of whatever was next. He shuffled over to one of the hundreds of thousands of tombstones and planted some flowers, followed by some water. I didn't want to seem like a gawker or stalker, so I took photos at a distance. It was such a tender, sweet memorial. Seeing him stand all alone among the white markers of those who've past, honoring someone special to him made all my superficial concerns of my sweatiness subside. He was just standing there, leaning against his cane, remembering those who had served for our country, all alone. See him hidden among all those tombstones? It was a reverential moment that I didn't want to forget.

The American game

2010-05-26T22:38:00.005-05:00

Ryan Braun #8 hits a home run.

checkin' out his new hat.

Little boy loves baseball. He plays it all day everyday. "You be the catcher. I'm the pitcher."

He knows a strike, ball, out, slide, line drive, foul ball, pop-up, etc.

And he loves the Brewers.

Maggie

2010-05-18T17:18:00.006-05:00

Remember these two from two years ago? Well, Bergen was in town with their baby who turned nine months old yesterday. So we took some pictures of her =)

Bicycling in Paris

2010-05-16T22:15:00.006-05:00

When you have less than 24 hours in the City of Lights, you do everything you can to fit things in. Waking up early on a Sunday morning in Paris makes for a very quiet morning. We had taken the metro to the Invalides area to find my favorite patisserie for breakfast (btw, it was closed on Sunday...boo). Suddenly I stop, turn around, look at a row of bikes, look at Nick, and we both smiled.

Renting bikes for a day was my favorite thing we did in Paris. We rode all over the city. Travel is faster and you get to see everything as you ride along. I would recommend it to everyone who visits Paris.

Top two taken by Nick. He was riding behind and in front of me and would still take a picture while moving. Impressive.

31 years

2010-05-10T21:40:00.004-05:00

My mom and dad have been married for 31 years.

I would be nothing without them. I'm so grateful they got married. And that my dad joined the church and they were sealed in the temple. We are an eternal family.

I love them so.

These pictures were taken at my special day at the Chicago Temple in October '09. Nephew #2 was not yet in the world.

Represent

2010-05-10T21:22:00.003-05:00

Look what my friend Nick found and sent me. Yay Milwaukee.

Mothers

2010-05-09T21:39:00.003-05:00

"God could not be everywhere, and so He gave us mothers." a writer quoted by our beloved Prophet Thomas S. Monson.

Mothers sacrifice so much. Love them back.

I love my mother. So much.

Piano stairs

2010-05-06T11:10:00.002-05:00

Stairs that are piano keys. The main square in Milan, Italy.

Taken on a 7D in slow motion. Thanks Nick.

Nie Nie

2010-05-04T23:32:00.002-05:00

I hope you got to see the new Mormon Messages with Nie Nie. And I hope you are inspired by her as much as I am.

Nuns in the square

2010-05-04T23:13:00.002-05:00

One of the many in Florence. Nuns and squares that is.

Florence, Italy

(i didn't see that many nuns in all honesty)

Baby, baby, baby

2010-05-02T09:47:00.004-05:00

Big blue eyes. Loves his mommy. Loves loves loves watching his brother. Looks like the rest of us. Can lift his head all by himself. And rolled over for the first time during this shoot. Such a big boy.

5 months old.

Gelato

2010-04-25T00:49:00.002-05:00

I treated myself to some pistachio gelato the other day. It made me remember the last time I ate some: Italy.

We had been up to catch a 6:15 AM (!) train from Milan to Florence. Now we had arrived in Milan the night before at 10:30 PM - upon which we walked a half hour to our hotel, walked back to the train station to find food, then walked back. As you can see, this high math leads us to getting in bed at 2 am or so. Yes, we were tired on that train ride. But as soon as we got to Florence, we hit the streets and saw as much as we could.

Now, imagine it is getting later and later as night has fallen. Once again, we have put off food (the theme of our trip: no real meal just treats to save time). On my list of things I wanted to do was get some gelato in Florence. So we wandered around to find the famous and best place in Florence. There was much stopping on dark corners and iPhone-ing to find this place. We finally found it in a quiet part of town - and low and behold it is closed for the season. It re-opened in 2 days. We were leaving the next morning. Figures.

We finally settled down around 9:30/10 pm and found a place to eat dinner - we were proud of ourselves. But wait! We still were gelato-less. So again the search began for a place that was open until midnight. We went back to the busy part of town, now quiet, and saw one little gelato place still open. Nick ordered for us chocolate and pistachio to share while I sat down. Comes to find out, you have to pay more to sit down. So I got up.

We headed back out into the brisk, no, cold air and ate our gelato in a zombie-like stupor as we walked back to our hotel, all in hopes it didn't lock us out for the night.

All that for a little gelato. But guess what. It was delicious.

Le métro

2010-04-22T23:18:00.004-05:00

The metro system in Paris is my least favorite underground system I've experienced. The doors are hard to get open (yes, you have to open them yourself), the passage ways are harsh to all senses, and I've seen some crazy things under the city.

But, the system does have artsy entrances, pretty stations and a special typeface. All inspired from Art Nouveau and the lines expanded in between the wars.

Cowboy slots

2010-04-21T23:05:00.003-05:00

I will never understand two things: cowboy hats indoors and gambling.

MGM Grand Casino, Las Vegas.

I'm bad at maps

2010-04-19T22:18:00.003-05:00

I love iPhones. And friends who can read maps so I don't have to. Although I am fascinated by them.

Florence, Italy.

Monet

2010-04-13T22:23:00.000-05:00

Museé D'Orsay, Paris.

Telephone

2010-04-11T11:14:00.000-05:00

Pay phones are hard to find everywhere else in the world.

London.

Milano florist

2010-04-11T11:05:00.002-05:00

Fresh flowers and Italian man selling them. Love it.

Milan, Italy

Patterns

2010-04-08T23:06:00.000-05:00

Outside a church in Milan, Italy.

Modes

2010-04-05T22:52:00.002-05:00

I love this picture because it shows the modes of transportation that are popular in Milan: trolley, walking, moped, and small white car.

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T21:29:00.001-05:00

See more inspirational messages here.

He lives.

Big day

2010-04-03T21:03:00.001-05:00

It was lots of fun at work today.

Sunset silhouette

2010-03-27T20:37:00.002-05:00

The two year old nephew is at a hard stage in his little life. He doesn't want to go anywhere, but then once he is there, he doesn't want to leave. Though I do think we all have a bit of that in us no matter our age. Cutie, sweetie boy.

Return

2010-03-27T19:49:00.002-05:00

A few years ago, my family was vacationing in Florida and my back got severely sunburned. My sister was kind enough to apply aloe vera to it morning and night. But she would call me "sunburned babers" all the time.

Well folks, sunburned babers has returned. This time on my arms and legs.

Now I'm going to eat some more avocado with lime, pepper and salt.

Four month babers

2010-03-26T20:24:00.004-05:00

Loves having a serious face. Loves his giraffe. Loves his fist. Loves having his chubalub legs free.

Cavallini again

2010-03-26T17:28:00.002-05:00

city guides

bought myself this notebook since i was just in a few of those places.

wrapping paper

frames from florence :)

flash cards

I never ever get sick of Cavallini & Co. Never ever.

(i know i've blogged about them before - but i love them!)

Liberty of London

2010-03-25T22:04:00.002-05:00

I hope you have a chance to check out Liberty of London for Target. Everything from bedding to swimsuits in Liberty floral prints. Kinda fun.

"Wait... I wanna take a picture"

2010-03-24T21:07:00.002-05:00

My close friend is an artist and can do a little bit of everything. He didn't mind one bit when I would want to stop and take pictures in Europe, because he would do the same thing.

Paris streets

2010-03-24T11:19:00.003-05:00

After a few hours of sleep we awoke to a quiet, foggy Sunday morning in Paris. It's a different city with shops closed and the streets empty.

Notre Dame

2010-03-23T22:49:00.005-05:00

Apparently the French celebrate Christmas for a while...

I would not recommend doing the tour of Paris I did this time if you have never been before. Give yourself time to do things like go inside Notre Dame and watch a service. Look at all the art and the stained glass and the confession booths. Climb the narrow stairs to the top to see out over Paris and make friends with the gargoyles. Don't be like me and just stop by again to say hello to the dirty pigeons and massive building and take pictures and wish all the people would get out of the way so you could take a picture of the entire building without people in your picture. Just sayin'...

MGM Grand

2010-03-19T22:28:00.002-05:00

This is where WPPI 2010 was held. And thus where we stayed. If you don't get the lion reference (they have real lion's inside as well) then go watch an old MGM movie. Or read here.

Dingy

2010-03-19T20:12:00.003-05:00

I'm taking pictures of Notre Dame with everyone else in Paris when I notice all the pigeons hanging out. They are the seagulls of cathedrals all over Europe. I couldn't help but take a picture of one sipping water off the freshly wet stone.

I snapped his portrait and looked up to see Nick smiling at me. He knew I had picked the dingiest bird on the square, if not in all of Paris. Just keeping it real.

Battle of Britain and Dover's cliffs

2010-03-16T23:52:00.004-05:00

The white cliffs of Dover where hiding almost the entire time we were there. We had to go on a treasure hunt to see them. The clouds were looming in such a way that one could not tell the sea from the sky or the cliffs. But you knew those famous cliffs were majestically standing above you all the same. With the sea air blowing as if it wanted to push us over, we went on a limb and found the Battle of Britain memorial by accident. We were the only ones braving the site with the British rain gently numbing our faces and our pants covered in mud.

I sat there and thought what it would have been like to be a coastal resident in 1940 England. Doing hard work at the docks or at a small house no doubt, when loud, low flying German planes come out of nowhere. It must not have been a pleasant feeling to see them suddenly above English soil.

After my daydreaming, I ran on the soft ground to see what was beyond the small memorials. I had found the treasure: a view of the cliffs. We explored a little more and found a great view right on the edge of one of the cliffs. You know when you see people overlooking cliffs towards the sea in movies? That's what it felt like. Rain wetting my face, the wind controlling my hair, and the clouds slightly breaking to uncover the grand white cliffs of Dover. Pictures do not do it justice. I wanted to stand there all day.

Dover Castle

2010-03-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

And we're back to Europe. So I do an overnight night flight to London and then stay up the day I get there. I slept so hard that night that I didn't hear the knocking on my door to wake me up. Needless to say, I slept half the day away. Once awakened, we ran to Pret-a-Manger (excited they are starting to pop up in the US) to grab lunch. You can't go wrong with anything you get there. We took it on the go and headed out in the cold rain for Dover, UK. The last time I was at Dover Castle it was sunny and warm and we spent a ton of time there exploring all the secret passages and what not. This time it was cold and rainy and since I had slept the day away, we had like a half hour to spend there. Whoops.

But it was still worth it (at least to me, I don't know about Nick).

Dover Castle is from the 1100 AD or so and was used during WWII quite a bit. Read about it here. You'll be a little bit smarter :)

Baby Ty

2010-03-14T12:38:00.004-05:00

This kid is a hoot. He loves to jump and drool. And he is adorable.

His dad is away at Air Force training and I was happy to photograph Ty. This way his dad can see his little 5 month old boy.

Twinners

2010-03-14T00:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday to my favorite twins in the world.

WPPI

2010-03-11T21:32:00.003-06:00

I just returned home from WPPI in Las Vegas. It was inspiring and motivating. And a lot of fun.

My mom & dad were kind enough to come with me and we basically ate our way through the city.

The trade show at WPPI was huge and all a-bustle. But the speakers and friends I got to see/meet and learn from were the highlight.

Here's a list of the people I admire even more after this trip:

Great people, great work.

Be inspired.

Portobello Road Market

2010-03-03T21:00:00.003-06:00

first editions of some Dickens novels

Borough Market food

2010-02-28T21:42:00.003-06:00

Burough Market in London is a place to get fresh food of every kind (as noted by the fowl and fish). It is also the place to eat delicacies and just plain yummy food. I didn't have time to wait in the long line and try anything (since pictures are more important to me, for shame, I know). But my goodness did I want a toasted cheese sandwich (imagine a giant wedge of cheese being toasted on one end and then cut off onto bread).

Borough Market flowers

2010-02-25T21:21:00.002-06:00

Some of the fresh flower for sale at Borough Market, London.

London Day 1

2010-02-24T19:44:00.011-06:00

every time i've been to london, my first venture out has always been to the westminster tube. you walk up the steps and this is what's facing you. perhaps my favorite thing.

you can kinda see the moon i was trying to capture on the right.

atop the London Eye.

back on the ground.

Buckingham Palace.

London Eye in the background.

I got into London- Heathrow around noon. I waited over an hour to be allowed into the country. Over an hour. Poorly run queues and such. When I got to the immigration desk, the guy quizzed me and scolded me because I didn't know the address of where I was headed. My friend and his mom were on the other side and welcomed me. I was asked if I was hungry. I just said, "I'm happy!" I was so happy to be back in London.

We drove to their flat right down the street from Victoria Station. I liked the sign into the parking garage "Dead Slow."

When Nick and I hit the streets, it was starting to get dark. We went straight to Parliament and crossed the Thames to go up the London Eye. This was my first time taking the half hour ride.

I think I've said this 100 times before, but one of my favorite things in the world is to see cities at night from high up. I was happy. Then we tubed over to High Street Kensington for some Old Dutch Pancakes for cheap. Then we tried to hit up Sherlock at the Empire (the sweetest movie theaters in the world are at Leicester Square) but we missed the last showing. So we walked home and past by St. James Park and Buckingham Palace.

Then we stayed up late planning for the adventures ahead.

Pre-nephew #2

2010-02-19T09:56:00.010-06:00

You see her babies a lot on this little blog. Here is my sweet sister before Jonathan was born back in November. (Yeah I know, that was several months ago, but I just sent in the film.)

It's amazing to have sisters who trust you to take important pictures for them

Jonathan 2 month, round 1

2010-02-19T09:48:00.002-06:00

iPhone travel apps

2010-02-08T21:51:00.007-06:00

I used my phone everyday while traveling abroad. It was the perfect tool to have. If you are looking to travel, there are a lot of apps out there, so it is hard to find the good ones. I don't have all the answers, but here are the ones I loved the most (almost all of them free):

To check the price of things in the States and see if something is a commodity or not.

To spend 20 minutes on a train playing with a companion.

Perhaps a favorite, it converts everything to whatever outcome you need.

Great to check the current exchange rate.

Saving grace when you cannot think of the right word, or have no idea why they gave you a discount (did I look too young to pay full price in Italy?).

Most used app. A great way to take quick photos that look like toy plastic camera prints.

For those times you have to prove yourself right about who is in a movie.

I checked this multiple times a day before booking my flight to get the cheapest flight. Then used it to book hotels.

Didn't make it to the National Gallery this time, but there are a lot of great art apps that explain what's important to look for.

A mindlessly fun game to play with a companion while listening to music together.

So you don't have to carry around heavy scriptures, and not eat up precious data time while studying.

I used this to check the ski report in Chamonix. It has reports from all over the world.

A mini-journal tool and a great way to keep family and friends up-to-date on what you are doing on the other side of the Atlantic.

This is a magazine that I lived off of last time, but this time - I got it all for free! It lets you know what the best things to do around town are and when they end and how much they cost, etc. This is how I found out about ice skating.

Oh, how blessed an app to help you remember what stops and lines to take.

Helped me not be as bored on the plane.

Helped me check to see if there was any money left.

Tells you what is good around town.

Main source of anti-boredom. This and of course music.

Then the app we relied on the most was Maps. For obvious reasons. Yay GPS.

Candy

2010-02-03T21:55:00.002-06:00

When I have the time, I love browsing big cities supermarkets. London has the best ones.

Didn't have time this last trip, but I did try some new candy I picked up real quick at the airport.

We see these only at Easter. I brought some back and Sammers loved them. He keeps asking me for more chocolate eggs. Made by Cadbury.

A twist on Starburst that were much more flavorful and fun.

Europe

2010-01-30T14:56:00.004-06:00

I went to Europe for a few days. It was wonderful to be back there. Exhausting and edifying. I was able to go to some new places and revisit my favorites. Stories, pictures, finds, and fun are coming.

I shot all film except some pictures with my phone (above). I can't wait to see how they turned out.

Stay tuned...

Two babies

2010-01-20T10:35:00.004-06:00

I'll be missing these two little guys for a week plus.

Follow me on twitter here to read about adventures as they happen.

They've already started.

A little ad

2010-01-14T22:12:00.000-06:00

my awesome designer made for me.

High school best friends

2010-01-11T22:32:00.004-06:00

It's crazy but it really does feel like we should still be in high school.

Too bad we just get together when someone gets married or Christmas. Missing Jenny's face.

Really into...

2010-01-11T22:30:00.001-06:00

...this chubby face.

{taken with the Hipstamatic app}

'Twas a good Christmas

2009-12-27T22:39:00.002-06:00

My 3 (count 'em, 3!) days off in a row were bliss. Christmas was a delight this year with yummy food and family. I hope yours was wonderful too.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T23:51:00.001-06:00

Swedish celebration and a birthday

2009-12-22T23:23:00.007-06:00

"It's somebody's birthday!" as Sammy says. This time it was mine. We had a Swedish celebration and since my bday was soon, we celebrated that too. It was a tasty meal of Swedish meatballs (not the real horse kind), lingonberry sauce, cheese fondue, creamed spinach, boiled potatoes, pickled beats, pickled herring, and a normal cake :)

After being filled with yummy food, I got to snuggie babycakes #2.

Santa & nephews

2009-12-21T23:27:00.002-06:00

Sammy was scared and would hug our legs while in line. But he got over it and liked to just smile and stare at Santa. And give him hugs. We got done and he asked to see Santa again. So I got in line with him.

Baby Jonathan has chubbed up and is doing what he does best. Sleep.