my other day job

as my father would say, another book has been born. my dad is a historian and writes a handful of books every year. i feel fortunate to work side by side with someone i so respect and admire. i design the layout for each book. over the years i have come up with certain steps for putting all the pieces together. read more about my design process in this interview.

my main goal in designing a book layout is to enhance the author's work. the blood, sweat and tears. my father loves his work. he has been the perfect example of doing what you love. he puts in hours of writing, reading and resesarch. he travels the world to discover the histories of families, places and businesses. last year he went to Poland to piece together the lost stories of a family from centuries ago. he finds the roots of every family tree; he revives the forgotten and gives stories new life. i am the lucky one who places them on the page.


a look at my latest layout.


my dad with his cap in Yorkshire, England.

crunchy cool broccoli salad

goodbye fickle march. i hope your girlfriend, april is a hottie. i am more than ready to trade in my puffy coat for a jean jacket and my clogs for cute flats. when spring comes around the produce bins are just as tempting as the easter candy aisle (sweet stacks of strawberries sing my name, the avocados call out to me). here is a fresh fruit + veggie salad to munch for lunch. (broccoli salad is not just for grannies anymore.) my brother pete gave me this delicious recipe.








pete's fresh salad
3 cups chopped Broccoli
2 cups red Grapes, halved
1 Granny Smith Apple, dicced
1 medium red Onion (optional)
1/2 cup chopped Walnuts

Dress it up
3/4 cups Mayonnaise
1/4 cup Sugar
2 tsp. Lemon juice
1/2 tsp. Red Wine Vinegar

Combine broccoli, grapes, apple chunks and walnuts in a medium bowl. Slowly stir in the dressing and mix well until coated. Flavor is enhanced if prepared 24 hours ahead and chilled. Extra delicious when you add any of the following: shredded chicken, sunflower seeds, cucumber and/or craisins. Serve in chilled bowls to keep cool + crunchy.

enjoy.

your side story

this is a long one, so giddy up. write club is back. after my hiatus of all things having to do with writing, i am once again wanting to write. i have renewed my library books two times now so i can catch up. am taking making the time to read a fantastic book, Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. her words are motivational. to get in gear. to get in the groove. to create a habit. to write right now.

this week i want to focus on figuring out what story i want to tell. what words are worthwhile. what stories i want to leave behind. not that it has to be glorious and grandiose, but worthwhile. we are all such busy people, i want all this writing to matter. not necessarily to the masses, but at least perhaps to the future self. i want to say, wow. am glad i wrote that down. i would've never remembered it otherwise. tell the stories that only you can tell. because you know them in an individual way. and remember, no one else can see it from your perspective.



writing prompts | week 05.
storytelling. i want to be a storyteller. but for me, long ago and far away, trolls and gnomes and princess brides are for the tolkien-minded. (if you are one, i highly admire you and hope you'll email me with the secrets in portraying perfect descriptions of imaginary creatures who snack on round cakes and have hairy feet.) i will stick with the storytelling of what i know. for now i am trying to write about life. the things i believe in, the years i have lived and what i've learned, and the people that surround me and their beautiful quirks. i am fascinated with the way someone is recognizable. their voice. their walk. their hand gestures. i have a writing goal to detail my characters with such real life characteristics that you would know them if you saw them filling up their big gulp beside you.

in painting 101, i was taught that if you can see, you can draw. one theory is, you have never truly seen your spouse / friend / lover until you attempt to sketch him. that became our homework. and i learned every line on dan's face that weekend.

"It's on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way. So we must dig and delve unceasingly." - Claude Monet

"I know that to paint the sea really well, you need to look at it every hour of every day in the same place so that you can understand its way in that particular spot and that is why i am working on the same motifs over and over again, four or six times even." - Claude Monet

you see, writers are not the only ones who have to dig deep and take a lot of time to perfect their art. and it's really not in the perfecting. it's more about the doing. sadly i could not draw dan in the way i wanted him to look on my sketch pad. he resembled a person i'd never met. even though i could see him so clearly, i could not get it quite right. frustrating to say the least. my next idea was to write about him. about us. about our life together. so i began to sketch his picture with my words.

this week, write about something or someone who matters. tell stories. you can start small. bit by bit. word by word. here are some prompts to get you going.

01. start with a story. tell the story you've never told a soul. tell the funny story your friends beg you to retell at every reunion. tell the story of your first love, your first kiss, your first fight, your first car, your first day of school...

02. make a list of specific stories you think need to be told. the ones that are singing in your heart. about your childhood and the wallpaper that hung in your room, about your mom's crepes that are lovingly referred to as thinnies, about a day in the life of your current life, about someone who you miss dearly. keep your short story list in your notebook and refer to it when you wonder what to write.

03. tell stories of what you believe in (and what you don't believe in). and write paragraphs on each topic. i believe in heaven. i believe in creating my own happiness. i believe in to-do lists. i believe in eating breakfast. i believe in sending mail. i believe in seeing both sides of an issue. i don't believe in dieting.

okay there you go. am letting you loose with your wild tales. write like no one is watching. be brave. tell your story. because no one else will. no one else can.

club business. i've thoroughly enjoyed seeking out those who are actually writing. i see that you are seizing the moments and i love it. (i am so motivated by you. keep the pens moving!) click here, here, here and here to see club members in action.

quote wall 03

am a fool for dancing
on a saturday morning.

a dance-a-thon makes spring cleaning oh so much better. benji loves dancing cheek to cheek with me while papa piles up the pancakes on my plate. he knows i can't eat that many. but he likes to tease. and then he'll finish them off.

if i were to make the blogworld a mix cd with all of my new & vintage favorites this might be the rough playlist. of course i'd switch them around ensuring each song flows into the next. and sadly delete those that have to go. someday i am going to be more like our friend jeremy. who, if you know him you'll agree, has perfected the true art of creating a most memorable mix. which is why he dj'd our wedding.

so enjoy. and yes, mariah carey and george michael made the list.

mini mix.
viva la vida : coldplay
new soul : yael naim
today : joshua radin
1234 : feist
so what : pink
wannabe : spice girls
shake it : metro station
my hero : foo fighters
the sweet escape : gwen stefani
don't stop believing : journey
living on a prayer : bon jovi
falling slowly : once
warehouse : dmb
faith : george michael
a murder of one : counting crows
dan & marie picking hum : sondre lerche
i will follow you into the dark : death cab
when i grow up : pussycat dolls
sweet caroline : neil diamond
goodnight & go : imogen heap
trouble me : 10,000 maniacs
last goodbye : jeff buckley
least complicated : indigo girls
the end's not near : band of horses
i'll see you soon : coldplay
ramble on : led zeppelin
love is free : sheryl crow
big bad john : johnny cash
heartbreaker : mariah carey
1,2,3,4 : plain white t's
city of blinding lights : u2
perfect : smashing pumpkins

and of course,
the tune i put
on every cd mix :
ain't no mountain high enough

build-a-blog

80% of the fun of blogging is seriously the building and the playing and the changing and the revising and the making of the blog. making it look how it looks. it's pure power. it's what we control freaks love. it's like playing barbies and picking out her outfits and her itty bitty high heels. and playing with her hair. or chopping her hair completely off as we rebels liked to do.

so i made some subtle changes to m.writes.
because that's how i roll.
enjoy.

happy weekend.

p.s. thanks for all of the fantastic travel tips. looks like we should all give each other ziplock baggies for christmas. the random winning commenter was number 16. courtney of wunderbug, congrats. you will be receiving a pack of cinnamon bears in the mail. with love from me to you.

p.p.s. not to fret, another write club assignment is in the works. will be posting it on monday. promise, promise. am back on the writing wagon.

lemon love

lemon + sugar. what could be sweeter. this is a new favorite. especially in this tiny size because i never use up a whole bottle of perfume before i'm tempted by something new. light and refreshing and summery all at once. and if i spritz it in my kitchen right before dan comes home, he thinks i just mopped the floors.

one big ball of happiness

i have transferred all my very favorite blog subscriptions over to google reader and love the starring system. the blog world as i see it is a big ball of happiness. so much inspiration it can make you want to dance. here are the recent really lovely posts i gave stars to. click along, they are all delicious..

custom calligraphy
golden rectangle press
real wedding
paper love
belly pictures
message to bloggers
five things
letterpress invites

keep it up bloggies.
you're making my blogging world more and more beautiful by the day.

seven months

the li'l boy who lives at my house has suddenly come into his own. benji is magically moving across my living room floor without any assistance. i pour cereal, he rolls four times in a row. i empty the dishwasher, he rolls. i open the mail, he rolls. again and again and again. i stand above him, cheering with a camcorder, he gives me a huge benji grin, kicks his legs with mischievous delight and stays right where he is.

benji has also figured out how to maneuver himself in his crib. i love finding him in all kinds of positions after his naps. i imagine him showing off his crib to mtv cribs... and over here we have the red appliqué elephant and blue zebra and above us is a dangly mobile that i just love and beyond these wooden slats are my toys.

our boy loves mashed fruit. he loves 'feeding himself'. he loves hearing dad's voice. loves board books. loves to turn the pages (we often read books backwards and forwards.) loves splashing. loves long car rides. loves to bounce. loves smiling. loves watching mama dance. loves gazing at the mirror. loves when we clap or snap along to music. loves giving hugs around the neck. loves when i sing someone's in the kitchen with benji or there was a mama who had a boy and benji was his name-oh, b. e. n. j. i. he is my sunshine. my sugar. my li'l love. this li'l babe makes me want to have ten more. all in good time.

life is so sweet with a seven month old sidekick. can't wait to see what new tricks this monkey learns next.

diary pre-order

thanks to a lovely lady who contacted me needing a batch of gifts for teachers, i am happily making a whole bunch of spring mini diaries. am starting the process as we speak. the cover paper is so pretty; an array of florals and polka dots, all bright and beautiful. i'll be posting the extras for sale once they are ready.
individual diary: $10 / 5 pack: $45.

if you know you'd like a bouquet of diaries in time for mother's day gifts, you can pre-order them now in my shop. they will be shipped on (or possibly before) may 1st. thanks again.

on to counting paper, cutting paper and printing pretty li'l labels.

week in review 02

my favorite photo of the week.

after church last sunday we walked around beautiful temple square in downtown salt lake city. we took benji to the top floor to get a bird's eye view of the city i love so much. the great thing about having offspring is introducing them to the important things in life. the things that matter. the small and big things that you have loved your whole life. and here is a brand new someone to share it with.

pack after reading

this book is jammed full of fantastic travel tips. my mom let me borrow it and i read it cover to cover in an hour. packed in this small pocket-sized book are hundreds of useful ideas on making your next vacation a complete success start to finish.

i loved the idea of putting all of your essentials (toothbrush, soap, shampoo, razor, etc.) in a nalgene bottle for a camping trip. i also liked the idea of using a gardener's tote as your airplane carry-on (perfect with plenty of pockets). keep your earrings in a film canister, keep q-tips in an empty tape cassette case, rebind your travel books with a spiral binding for easy reading, divvy up money in envelopes for each day to keep on budget...

do you have any travel tips? do tell.
a random winner will receive a bag of cinnamon bears.

just checking in

we're back. spring break is officially over. not only because i'm not having breakfast in my mom's cute kitchen, but because i woke up to idaho snow today. yes, i'm serious. after wearing flipflops in that warm utah sunshine, i'm shocked and appalled. am counting on it melting by noon. this li'l boy needs a stroll in the sunshine.

we had a wild good time last week. thanks to all of you who came around to say hello. i'll be posting photos as they upload. we came home with stuffed bags, full hearts, happy faces and two first teeth for benji.

now to unpacking and laundry and catching up on google reader and going grocery shopping and figuring out some new writing assignments and organizing a pile of pretty paper and bouncing my boy on the bed and planning a picnic. this week i'm spring cleaning and getting serious about spring training. the 5k is next month! i've signed up, sisters. hope you're still with me. and for the still hesitant, i promise crossing the finish line at any athletic event is a rush and so is hearing your fans cheering and so is receiving the plastic medal they hang around your neck and so is the big bad brunch you enjoy afterwards. because you've earned every one of those syrupy goodness calories. mmm.

week in review 01

the powderkeg 2009.

my mom is so tweet.

last night my mom and i stayed up talking. and discussing the type of things you find yourself discussing at two am. like obama on jay leno. if we like this hot pink nail polish i picked for my toes. how springy perfect weather this is. making new friends in my neighborhood. baby proofing my apartment. bridal shower games. how great my mom's library is. i'd be reading a lot of fantastic books if i weren't so busy discussing the important things in life. like who twitters. okay so i'm new to this whole tweet business. in between all our chatting, i would interrupt with my twitter finds. oh, here's so and so. she/he twitters. it's true, on seldom occasion, i chat and surf. i do not recommend it when your boyfriend wants to have a heart to heart, but when you and your mom are waiting for her sleeping pill to kick in, anything goes. my mom is so cool.

for the record, i'm not that into twitter. or facebook. or myspace. or diet coke. a part of me feels like i should be. that little piece of me who is still a schoolgirl on the playground wanting to because everyone else is doing it. but to be honest, this little bird spends enough time tweeting tweaking her own blog in the rare spare time she has. but the big piece of me who relishes flipping through a juicy gossip magazine loves the celebs who twitter.

last night we tapped into some excellent twitters. martha stewart, ellen, ashton and taylor swift. mischa barton. dave matthews. rachel maddow. and jimmy fallon. and chewbacca. and NEIL DIAMOND. no way. yes way. oh dan, i hope you're reading this. a daily update on diamond. that's seriously good news.

happy weekend, people.

today

morning boy.
play time.
pear puree.
big smiles.
recognizing oma.
nearly nap time.

go time.
downtown sunshine.
busy little bees.
lunch bunch.
crunchy cobb salad.
and good company.

paper store.
fat stack of pretty paper.
and polka dots.
for a mini diaries comeback.
feeling satisfied.
in heaven.
like spreading them out for a fashion show.

a new beautiful bakery.
big smiles.
big croissants.
tiny pies.
round cookies.
beautiful business cards.

home again.
swim trunks.
chubby legs.
splashing limbs.
happy boy.

stories and songs.
one sleepy slug.
all tucked in.

friends and card games.
dishes and catching up.
the re-telling of stories about my life.
that make other people laugh.
because i am a hoot.
and mostly because i've done a lot of silly things.
that people love to remind me about.
and i've swallowed my pride.
in order to provide a good laugh.

am living a dream life.

m. here

hello. hello.

am enjoying a sunny spring break so far. the weather has been bright and breezy. and life is beautiful. family fun has already begun. it is a delight to watch my babe cuddling in so many welcoming arms. he has been a sweetie to smile at so many strange faces. he's a champ, what can i say. he has charmed my parents to the nth degree. it's pretty awesome watching your own parents tickle and tease and love your own little one.

today we played with an army of little girls, seven under seven. the cutiepies circled benj to see his tricks and sing him their songs. my nieces always teach me the best songs to sing to li'l benji bear. then i taught them the one about losing a meatball from atop your spaghetti. swapping songs is in my genes. we flew kites, chalked up the driveway, put the wee ones down for naps and chatted about good (and not so good) literature we are reading these days. i am so in the dark about such things. my sisters are always reading fabulous books, making delicious meals, discovering the best places and coming up with grand ideas. i learn a lot from them in one afternoon. am happy this week has only just begun.

mainly i wanted to pop in to announce the winner of the sunny weekend giveaway. congrats to amy of daily gnome. your comment was the lucky random winner. enjoy your happy sunshine poster from slide sideways.

hope you have a happy st. patty's.
thank goodness his new li'l swimsuit is green.

spring break

oh how i love taking my li'l country mouse to the big city. big plans. cheer loud when dan's skis cross the finish line. hang with mom and pops. benji's first swim. cable tv. visits with family (both sides). staying up late for movie nights. seeing my sistas. downtown strolls with whit. lunch bunch. lots of down time. scrapbook paper stores. cute cafes my mom always discovers. salt lake shops. cousin's club play dates. soaking in the sun & the snow. a big round chocolate chocolate dunford donut.

writing prompts | week 04.
will probably be posting sporadically next week. if you're participating in write club, the assignment this coming week is: write your heart out. whatever is on your mind, let it fill the page.

happy spring break, chickies.

giveaway: sunshine poster

this sensational sunny poster screams spring. i simply love it. the poster is hand screen-printed and 16 x 20 inches. let the sun shine in. amen. it's bright. it's beautiful. and my blinds always look skiwampus like that too.



the talented folks over at slide sideways are offering one sunshine poster to a lucky m.writes reader. leave a comment on this post by monday, march 16th to enter to win. and there's more. the shop is holding an exclusive saturday + sunday sale. simply enter marta writes in the notes to seller before payment to receive a 15% discount on your purchase (wait for a revised discounted invoice from PayPal before paying). thank you Scott and Jacqui!

visit the blog for updates about their unique arts + crafts.

bedtime boy

sixty guilty pleasures

01. taking too many photos
02. not listening to my voicemail
03. making up words to songs i insist i know
04. having seconds
05. saving letters
06. bubble baths and library books
07. chapstick
08. blogging
09. driving fast
10. friends reruns
11. easter candy
12. typing loud
13. pretty postcards
14. collecting blank notebooks
15. harry met sally
16. stacking dvds without putting them in their protective cases
17. saving big boxes that get delivered to me
18. emptying my garbage obsessively
19. there is nothing worse than overflowing garbage
20. not showering before noon
21. entertainment tonight
22. vacuuming up bugs
23. purchasing trinkety crap because it's on sale
24. i will be stocked if i ever host a carnival game of go fish
25. that was always my favorite and getting my face painted
26. going to the movies in time for the previews
27. i love it especially when the theater is packed and we get treats
28. pens and scotch tape and rulers and sharpies
29. paying my bills online with ebills
30. the best thing ever
31. it's really easy peasy to set up
32. but i still like writing checks. it makes me feel all grown up to write that number out and sign my autograph. it's real official.
33. thinking about benji. and what he'll be like, look like, sound like when he's older.
34. wearing dan's sweatshirts
35. rocking benj to sleep
36. falling asleep during a readathon
37. falling asleep during movies
38. baking sweets for dan
39. eating raw cookie dough
40. the anthropologie sale room
41. the jcrew sale rack
42. ripping pictures out of magazines
43. reading magazines at barnes & noble
44. buying a special drink at barnes & noble
45. studying clouds
46. writing lists
47. telling dan stories
48. watching hitchcock flicks
49. hanging out with family
50. staying up late chatting
51. playing card games
52. going out on the town
53. reading books to benj
54. cleaning mirrors
55. taking long showers
56. taking up all the hot water
57. having ice in my drink
58. and a bendy straw
59. overpacking my luggage
60. road trips

my new new york city penpal

our cinnamon bear giveaway winner turned out to be a sweet gal named victoria. she has fabulous manners, note the thank you note she sent back to me! and fabulous taste, note the fancy personalized stationery and fabulous stamp to go along! victoria, you've made my day.

when she emailed me her shipping address a few weeks ago, i emailed back an enthusiastic, ...i can't believe you live in new york, new york. it's my all-time dream place. i've always wanted to live there. i'd love to know what it's really like and all about the hidden local spots to eat and shop. if you have any tips about nyc, i'd love to hear them. i'll get these cinni bears off to you soon. xo. marta

soon after sending my gushing email, she kindly responded with a load of fabulous new york places i am dying to check out. therefore i have printed and filed away her favorite hot spots info guide. thought you might like to read Victoria's NYC insider tips as well.

Oh my gosh, New York City, one of my favorite subjects!

I have so many tips. Things are constantly changing around these parts, which is, admittedly, part of its charm, but also makes it so hard to keep up. Not to mention often sad. I'm still mourning some of the most lovely shops and cafes that closed years ago.

One of my favorite places is Podunk, a tiny tea cafe in the East Village. The woman who owns it is fabulous. She wears these amazing hand-sewn floral aprons and hats and makes the most delicious teas and sweets. My friend Jill and I meet there one Sunday afternoon a month, and we always stay longer than we should because we never want to leave.

The smallest public park in New York City, which is called Septuagesimo Uno, is also a don't miss. I stumbled upon it accidentally a few months after I moved here from my hometown in California. It's located on the south side of West 71st Street between Amsterdam and West End Avenues on the Upper West Side.

'Ino on Bedford Street in the West Village is a wonderful Italian cafe. They have a truffled egg toast that makes my heart pitter-patter just thinking about it!

Taim, also in the West Village, has the best fresh smoothies. You can get them with or without dairy, and the non-dairy ones are just as good as the dairy ones, if not better. All of their smoothies are super light and refreshing. It's actually a falafel joint, and the falafel is awesome, too, but, I tell ya, those smoothies are something special.

Kee's Chocolates in Soho is wonderful, too. The truffles and macaroons are just incredible, but I also love the story behind this business. Kee is a middle-aged woman who got fed up with her Wall Street job. She quit and opened her own chocolate shop, which had long been a dream of hers. I love that, and consequently, I love supporting her business. She makes it really easy, because her chocolate creations really are just that good. The creme brulee truffle? Oh my...

Levain Bakery on the Upper West Side has the best chocolate chip cookies. I cannot stress this enough. The best.

Camp on Perry is a great little boutique that sells new as well as vintage items. Sundresses, handmade postcards, handmade pin cushions, sea shell earrings... always a fascinating assortment of goodies.

Kiosk Kiosk in Soho is a really interesting shop with a unique concept. Every couple of months the owners fly to a new country and find quirky items from that country to sell in the shop. Then for eight weeks the store will carry items from that country exclusively. Then, another trip, another country and all new items for sale. I always find the most intriguing gifts here.

Bu and the Duck is a children's clothing store with gorgeously crafted items in Tribeca. I love it.

Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks in the West Village on West 10th Street is one of those bookstores that just makes your heart sing! The hours are a bit funky though. They're supposed to be open 1 to 7 PM "most days," whatever that means. But if you happen by when they are open, it's a delight. So many old treasures as well as new ones.

Upstairs at Bouley in Tribeca has a really lovely brunch. The dining room is small but is surrounded by windows and the light is so inviting. I love taking out-of-town guests here for breakfast. Everything is delicious, but the blueberry pancakes and the cinnamon and vanilla-scented oatmeal are especially good.

Clearview's Ziegfeld Theater in midtown is such a treat. Go see a movie here if you have time. It used to be a Broadway theater, but now it shows one movie at a time. I saw the last James Bond flick here, which was a perfect film to see at such a beautifully restored and ornate theater.

Freemans is a wonderful restaurant. You walk down a dark alley to reach the entrance, and when you step inside, soft candlelight and warm, earthy color tones greet you. It's equally parts country home, mountain lodge and hipster haven. Don't miss the hot artichoke dip or the three-cheese macaroni. And if you fancy a well-made cocktail, ask the bartender to make you something to your tastes (tell him whether you want light or dark liquor and whether you prefer your drinks sweet or savory and let him do the rest.)

Ciao for Now in the East Village is a great little coffeehouse. Do not skip the muffins. Seriously. Muffins have no right to be this moist.

Fisher Landau Center for Art is a hidden gem. Of course, there are many, many fantastic museums in Manhattan, but if you're willing to take a short (I promise it's super short) subway ride to Long Island City in Queens you'll be well rewarded. No one, I repeat, no one is ever at Fisher Landau. I've been a few times, and each time my friends and I have had all of the art to ourselves. The collection is contemporary from 1960 to the present and includes pieces by Jasper Johns and Kiki Smith. After your visit, walk through Long Island City to the waterfront for a spectacular view of Manhattan.

The Staten Island Ferry is free and such a fun activity, especially when you're tired of walking and sightseeing. It's a nice breather. Hop on in Lower Manhattan and ride across to Staten Island. You'll get a great view of the Statue of Liberty as well as the Manhattan skyline.

My favorite card shop is Greenwich Letterpress. It's a small place, but I can get lost in there for hours.


thank you, victoria. and i thought my last trip to nyc was unforgettable. you've given me a lot of new new york information. hooray! i will be adding your not to be missed list to my own. will trade cinni bears for nyc tips any day of the week.

more manhattan ideas here.
and a chocoholics dream come true.

wedding bells

i have felt honored to be busy with bridal business.
i get a thrill designing for weddings
and all the lovely pieces that go along.
i just love invitations that coordinate.
a fancy affair deserves a custom design.

recent discovery

chapstick plus nars velvet matte lip pencil plus a dab of gloss.
this is my new favorite way to make a lovely lip.
perfect. that is until benji's cheeks come near.

the real deal.

writing prompts | week 03.
the real you. u be u. i'll be me. in high school i wore a red tee shirt with that phrase on it. i loved that shirt. i loved that shirt to death. i wore it til the seams frayed. oh how i felt like the real me in that tee.

01. seek out the real you. what inspires you? find books with passages highlighted and markings in the margins. start with the quotes and go from there. why does it speak to you? what about this statement makes you feel? who do you want to be? hunt down college notebooks if you have to. go to the place when you felt alive and write from there.

02. guilty as charged. what are you guilty of? spending days on the couch with a silly novel? careless about making your bed? what are your guilty pleasures? blogging / cookie dough / sephora / juicy gel pens / polka dot dishes / staying up late for letterman / bubble baths.. i have a million.

03. what is your motto? a cute gal interviewed me the other day for an essay she was writing. she asked me this great question. i came up with something pure and directly from my mind without thinking too much. it wasn't that great. but i suppose it was true and honest. so i went with it. now that i've whirled over her question, i have come up with a hundred more mottos to live by. what statements do you live by?



fantastic favorite passages from If You Want to Write by Brenda Ueland.


go big. be you.
the real you.
get some serious
genuine you ink on paper.

quote wall 02

happy things

an email from an old friend.
a good surprise.
homemade bread in our house.
edible but needs work.
hip hop class.
i'm now a regular.
petite yoga pants.
short people pants at target.
j crew and patagonia catalogue arrival.
too expensive yet still dreamy.
brand new cubs at bear world.
we're seriously going.
the bach is over.
i can reclaim my monday nights.
new green eyeshadow.
i know. i'm wild.
a roadtripping trio.
i have string cheese and books on tape.


we're off on a li'l getaway. one of the best things about dan finishing law school is tagging along on business trips. have a happy weekend.

spring on the short sleeves.

this is my one thousand and thirty-fourth blog post. which seems pretty amazing. have i really had that much to say to the big wide world. oh yes. and much more to come. i feel my best blog posts are born when i'm not blogging at all. when i'm driving on holmes and seventeenth or am singing in the shower or washing the dishes. i recently read that writers begin to form their words into the medium they use most often; poems, prose, novels, articles, etc. i fear my voice has completely formed itself into blog form. which i suppose isn't too shameful or despicable. blogging is something. and if my words want to be in a blog. so be it.

onto the post at hand. i noticed spring today. and not just a subtle spring feeling, but a full-on pow spring feeling. it was utterly fabulous. number one. my landlord was out cleaning the steps. which means he is back from his winter hiatus in arizona. old people flocking back to their real houses, that is a definite sign that frigid season is over. number two. the birdies are chirping. robins are covering the branches, it's a freaking family reunion out there. number three. the river is thawing out. the ice chunks are breaking apart, the water is moving. it looks like a frosty scene from the 1700s. no longer ideas of skating upon it. number four. i wore short sleeves today. all day. number five. i picked dan up for lunch and we drove with the windows down. seriously happy spring sunshine beaming in my windshield.

it was a very good weathered day.
now please tell me it's going to stay this way til may.

chikabird

tote and notebook.



am loving the little canvas goods
from chikabird etsy shop.

detail your days

"Original details are very ordinary, except to the mind that sees their extraordinariness." - Natalie Goldberg

this week i hope to lather up the details. because a fantastic story exists only because of it's fantastic detail. write the details of your days. here is a jumping off point.

writing prompts | week 02.
down to details. give the ordinary it's time in the spotlight.

01. describe your childhood home. give it life on the page. tell about the sugary cereals lined up in the cupboard and the red cans of coke in the fridge. the map wallpaper in the office and the van gogh posters in your room. the trampoline in the backyard and the card games around the kitchen table.

02. you have a plane ticket to anywhere. where would you go? what will you pack? what will you do? what will you buy? what will you have forgotten to bring? how long will you stay? what is the hotel like? or will you stay at a hostel, a lodge, a bed and breakfast? when you go on an imaginary trip, the details are endless.

03. describe the best sandwich you have ever had. will it be the reuben from carnegie deli that you shared with your mom on your first trip to new york city? or the grilled cheese and tomato soup your grandma makes every time you stop in? or what about the ham and swiss you shared with your hubby in paris on the metro ride home from museum hopping?

jot in the details. give your stories color.

"Life is so rich, if you can write down the real details of the way things were and are, you hardly need anything else." - Natalie Goldberg