March, sickness, vampires, gratitude

Holy smokes. Hello, March. Mmm. March. I love you.

Don't be too fooled by the above pictures. Only yesterday did I finally get enough energy back to take down valentine's and put up my green.

We have been sick. Rog and me. For three days we sprawled out upstairs doing nothing but watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (boys), reading about vampires (me), barfing, changing diapers, washing pukey clothes and blankets, and sharing cups of 7-up and Powerade. (Taylor was in Park City, UT, on business.)

On Sunday morning I called my mom and asked for a pep-talk. "I'm so tired. I was up in the night helping Roger throw up in his sleep and then Blaine was up super early. I can't stomach anything. I have no energy. I feel like a train wreck. What do I do?"

After watching her other local grandchildren, picking up an elderly man for church, teaching Sunday School, and fixing dinner for my dad, she swooped in to the blue house. She cleaned up all the play doh. She swept my kitchen floor. She did all the dishes. And then? She got on her hands and knees to wipe down my entire kitchen floor. I kid you not. Then it was upstairs. She cleaned up all the toys and helped the boys do puzzles and read stories while I lay (lie?) (layed?) (lied?) on the floor trying not to vomit. Then she took Blaine (my unbelievably hearty child who never catches these darn bugs) home for a movie, ice cream, and a sleepover. Angel mother, I know.

Saddest news of all. Now my mom has it. Where is the justice in that? So sad. I love you, Mom. I'm really sorry you got it.

Now here are some things I have to say.

1. I was pretty devastated to wake up sick on Saturday morning and find that Rog had thrown up in his bed overnight. So sad. I couldn't believe I was all alone and sick. How could I take care of a sick babe? But, even though Tay was gone, I was so not alone. Mary Anne dropped off powerade. Jessie took care of all my church youth responsibilities. Em held down the fort at Bloom. Melis called or texted me every day. "What do you need? What can I bring over?" Meds, movies, soup, popcicles. Melanie sent over 7-up, soup, juice. Charles and Tanner came to administer a priesthood blessing. Even though I wished for healthier times, I could not not feel love and gratitude through every minute of the experience.

2. I was also grateful that my boys were happy to watch Mickey all day. Because I sincerely couldn't.do.anything. And so I read Breaking Dawn, all 750 pages of it. It was the perfect escape. I get kind of embarrassed to admit that I like those books, because they sound so silly when you're trying to explain the plot to someone. "...And then she is torn between her love for the vampire and the werewolf, but she wants to become a vampire, and..." See? Silly. But it made my weekend bearable. So, thanks Stephenie M.

3. The best news of all is that Taylor is en route as I write this. For home. And he makes Edward Cullen look like chopped liver.

4. Cutest/saddest image of the weekend:

birthday love

My friend, Traci, and her children came over for a pizza party on Friday. She came bearing tall, red gladiolus. "These are for your birthday," she declared. "I thought they looked like you."

How did she know glads are my favorite flower?! (She didn't! Amazing!)

But any talk about my birthday week (this week?! Did I mention that?!) would be incomplete without some mentions.

Mention #1. My brother, Steven, celebrated his birthday yesterday. I could dedicate an entire blog (not a post, a whole blog) to his coolness. We could discuss how he is a jillion smart. How he is a professor. How he is earning a PhD in creative writing. Or we could talk about how creative he is. How he custom paints and upholsters old bentwood rockers and makes wind chimes out of vintage silverware. We could discuss his expertise in the garden or the kitchen. How he speaks fluent Korean. How his athletic, gazelle-like bod kicked all of our booties in the Pear Blossom 10 mile run. But you know one of my most favorite things about him? His sense of fun and humor. And here is the real kicker. He loved Tina Fey before she was cool.

Happy Birthday, big brother.

Mention #2. My sister, Kathryn, celebrates her birthday this Thursday. I'll mind my manners here on the world wide web and won't mention her particular age. Suffice it to say, she has five children and is, shall we say, middle-aged. But I don't see any mid-life crisis on the horizon, seeing as how she is hotter and skinnier than ever and workin' it. (See above link for evidence.) Happy Birthday, K!

Mention #3. TODAY is Emily's birthday. Emily is as good as family. We have been bff's since age 12, and she set me up with my husband. We did girls' camp and stake dances and EFY together (that was a lot of Mormon lingo all thrown into one sentence--all teenage activities for us squeaky clean Mormons). She took my wedding pictures, designed my wedding invitations, baby announcements, and this very blog for heaven's sake! She is a wonder. Talent and creativity and cheerfulness beyone belief. I love her. Happy Birthday, Em dear!

Pretties and links

This morning I am enjoying the pretty things and getting motivated to do projects.

I am still loving the simplicity of my May mantel, while getting excited for my state fair zinnias and glads to bloom so they can make up June's mantel.


I am making a wants list for my trip to San Antonio, which boasts some seriuosly spectacular shopping that I have been stashing money away for. On the list--peeptoes, a funky belt to wear with my trouser jeans, and a dress. In the meantime, I have been oohing and ahhing over this dress and these ones, too (no I am not pregnant, but I am really into maternity fashion, OK?).

And remember when I won a giveaway from Modern Myrtle? Oh man, she is the coolest. She sent me this fabric and this pattern to make a pillow...

and this fabric and this pattern to make Kimono Baby Shoes. I can't wait to get going on these! Thanks, Joni!!

And my friend, Jen, is going to help me make a skirt out if this:

Plus I'm headed to the fabric store to get fabric for a banner for Blaine's room. The repaint is finished (and thankfully I love it) and I can't wait to show you the completed room!

AND. Oh baby, Taylor's Grandma sold us this gem of a chair which is a perfect size for our living room which is in severe need of seating options. It is cozy, it rocks, it swivels. And it is a beauty.

"Make slipcover" has made its way to the top of my projects list.

Easter mantle!

My friend, Kate, did this last year, and I loooooved it. Thanks, Kate, for the inspiration!

I wish you could get the whole three-dimensional feel of it. It is so spectacularly fun! I also wish I could tell you that this was a fast project. It was not. But I just did a little each day, and finally finished it up the other night, with Taylor's help. (Have I ever mentioned how fun it is to have a husband who will do things like that with me?)

Some deets:

The bird template is available at bhg.com/paperbird (Better homes and Gardens, once again.) You have to create a login for their website, but it's free to be a member. The birds I used are actually 75% the size of the original template, and I am really happy with them. We took the boys for a bike ride last Saturday and cut the little branch from an unassuming tree (is that bad?!). In the pot is sand (gotta love having a sandbox) to hold it up. BHG spray-painted their branches white, but I decided to leave mine natural. The blown eggs are painted with acrylic paints, and the ribbon is attached with hot glue, with a small white button glued over the seam of the ribbon. (Does that make sense?) For the birds' wings and ribbon I just used a craft glue--Aleene's is a good brand. If you have any questions, let me know. It was totally worth the time it took. I love it in all of its pastelly goodness!

Springy

My flowers are blooming!

See?

And the spring is making me feel extra cheery. (Em, I know you think Autumn is the best season, but really? Even better than this?! Did you see exhibit A:Hyacinth and exhibit B: Daff??) And I have put that cheery energy into making up silly games with Blaine, taking more walks, and finally hanging up some things in this blue house I have now lived in for almost a whole year!

About a year and a half ago I bought this paper on the right and was so obsessed with it. I wanted to wallpaper my whole life with it. But I couldn't find just the right purpose for it, and didn't want to waste it on the wrong thing. But then I got the idea from my latest Better Homes and Gardens (where I get 99% of my ideas) to frame it. Simple as that. I found some corresponding paper (on the left), made a mat out of cheap white cardstock, and used some old frames my mom had given me. I like how one is matted and the other is not. How's that for a two-dollar project? They're in my eating area and tickle me all day long.

Then Taylor brought some of the spring inside. How incredible is that gradient color on the inside of a daff?!

And holy cow, if you think that mantle is sweet (albeit simple), just wait until I unveil my Easter mantle tomorrow. You might faint for its cuteness.

p.s. Oh my gosh, I am suuuuuuuper impressed by how many of you got Flower Drum Song (see below)!! I guess it's not as obscure as I thought. Put your cupcake orders in now!

Plus green is my favorite color

It is March and I, for one, couldn't be happier. March means Spring. I am sick of tights and scarves and wool coats. I am ready for short sleeves. March also means the celebration of St. Patrick's Day. Important to me because of my dear Nana and her Irish heritage. Important to Taylor because of the corned beef.

Now I just have to wait for my bulbs to come up (they are coming!) so I can put some daffs in my lovely collecsh of green vases. Taylor thinks I should just put corned beef in them.

I love Cookie

Dear Cookie,

Inspired by you, I hosted a Valentine's Party this year.

There were decorations,


cupcakes,


happy children,
pink shoes,

games,

and a lot of love.
The only thing missing, dear Cookie, was you.

XOXO,
Anne

10:26 p.m.

Taylor, treadmill, 24.

Me, Pink Martini, popcorn with brewer's yeast (leftover from Blaine's unconventional b-fast), reveling in life, love, family, peace, happiness, and a fresh weave and trimmed bangs.

The perfect setting to adorn a January mantel.

January. White. Sparkly. Perf.

Autumn mantel #2

And I like it so much I'll keep it 'til Thanksgiving.

Autumn mantel #1

So last December when our realtor took us through a bunch of homes my checklist looked like this:
-3 bedrooms
-2 bathrooms
-enough grass for kids to play
-good kitchen for Taylor
-cute mantel

You should see my notes from our house-hunting excursions. The blue house notes look something like this:
-smaller kitchen=bummer
-great bathtub!!
-CUTE mantel!

Nice priorities. I'm such a dork.

But hey, when I'm sitting on the couch nursing Rog (this is a lot of time each day--have you seen the girth of that child?), nothing makes me smile more than looking up at something like this:
Cute Mom totally showed up yesterday morning with some essentials for the weary travelers (us). You know, essentials like milk, cheese, eggs, and autumn colored tulips. Have I mentioned that I really like my mother?

These vases (also a la my mom) are from the Dollar Tree if you want to duplicate the look. I just love the simplicity. Who needs anything cluttering up that beautiful foliage?!

Anyway. Happy Autumn!

A beautiful mantle in honor of Nie

Well for any of you out there who care, I'm sorry I haven't written much lately. I have plenty to share, but who can find time to blog when there are hours to be spent cheering on the likes of Michael Phelps, Dara Torres, Nastia Liukin, and Shawn Johnson??!!

And ever since I heard about Stephanie Nielson yesterday she is all I can think about. For those of you Utah Valley folk who don't blog stalk like I do, this is Steve and Cindy Clark's daughter. I have never met her but respect and adore her family so much. Anyway, pray for them whether you know them or not, would you? And hug your family a little tighter tonight and don't sweat the small stuff.

Anyway, lots of people have asked me to start posting pictures of my house. This pic is of my mantle which I love love love. I especially love it when Taylor has work in Seattle and brings me home amazing glads from the Pike St. Market. And Stephanie (Nie Nie) always has a darling mantle in her home so I thought it appropriate.

Loves.
anne