lets regroup / the woo & woe of blogging

photos by me // at the MOMA on our last trip to new york city.



as of late, admittedly, the blog page has not been wooing me in its usual sugary sensationally tempting way. in the good old days i felt like a bee headed to its hive; with tales dripping of tasty honey. but. i am in a slump. slumpier than slump. as it is lasting longer than a slump should. i'm sorry to say i have been going through the motions, trying to keep up here. waiting for the romance of blogging to return. surely it will. hopefully it will; it's one of the only things i know how to do these days. and with that, i've sensed an unwelcome resentful chirping in my ear, as i scroll through glamorous / clever / riveting / crafty / homey / lovely post upon post in my google reader. so many out there photographing, documenting, creating, doing, writing and making. goal-oriented and intentional blogging; the best of its kind. while i sit here flapping my wings with all my might and never actually taking off. my blog feels misplaced suddenly, due to my uneasiness.  likely it's only in my mind, i mean, who is really to say who belongs and who doesn't belong. still, there is a distinct doggy paddling happening here and i need to regroup and figure out what i want out of all this. i am somewhat chuckling inside because i know i have written seminars on why blogging is rad, which can be found in my archives. i should be my own best cheerleader on the subject. but i've been pondering this for months now and i haven't given myself the go ahead to find any real clarity. why do i blog. why should i blog. what is my message. what are my intentions with publishing my words for all to read. who is this for. where is it going. if anywhere. am i okay with a simple diary online or am i saying something more. what is the point of yet one more blog for people to scroll through. am i lending out anything with real genuine substance. i recently read something akin to: those who get what they want out of life have usually taken the time to figure out (precisely) what they want in life. why have i let the routine of it all cloud the vision of what i truly want.

one of my favorite things about going to an art gallery, aside from viewing masterpieces close enough to study thick brush strokes, is watching how people react. how people tango back and forth slowly from frame to frame, or wait and tilt their heads awhile or sit down on a bench and write or rush through to the popular pieces or whisper in corners, letting the artwork set the mood. i like watching all of us, so varied, enjoying the same art in our own very personal ways. for years now, blogging has been my platform to put my words, my heart, out there. for anyone to come take a peek; to stay as long as they please or to skip around like rain on a rooftop. now, more than ever, i see how valuable our time is (yours and mine) and i long to say something that matters; to you. to me.

i'll be back after i regroup.

p.s. i promise this isn't a pity party. thank you for reading my blog; so many of you have stuck with me for years and i love that. i am flattered and happy some of you have reached out. this year i've been able to interact with readers on a very awesome level; letters, emails and even meetings. i like to know who you are and what you're all about too. (somedays even i get sick of the one-sided conversation that a blog tends to be.) i've come to realize that i rather gain a friendship with a few of you than hoard the readership of the masses. i freed myself of wanting to be the biggest baddest best blogger out there a long time ago. letting go of the popularity contest is nice. a lot less pressure. still, there is something in me that is still trying to keep up. i hope to rid myself of those feelings to compare and just be me. and let it all hang out. but this takes courage. and intention. and guts. and time. i need to find out why blogging should continue to be apart of my life. what am i giving and what is it giving. and why is it worth the effort and time it takes. this is hopefully just the beginning of a year full of good changes and personal evolution. wishing you a happy new year and some quiet time to figure out exactly what you'll make of it. xo.

p.p.s. this post took me a little over an hour to write (and edit). but it was therapeutic and well worth it. i hope, if you're still reading, it will help you in some small way too.

recently / christmas 2011

here are a few of my favorite things.

+ the nativity scenes and christmas lights all aglow on temple square. it's my favorite way of getting into the true spirit of christmas. i love walking around the visitor's center (even with the crowds!) and viewing all the wonderful messages about Christ. the simple bible videos are something we watch every sunday morning before church.

+ we bundled up and even caught a choir performing downtown. (i have no qualms about wearing big furry russian hats in public, i deem it one of the best things dan brought into our marriage!) benji loved the giant nutcrackers and the horse carriages carrying families in the brisk night air. it was a thrill to feel christmas is coming.

+ on christmas eve, we ventured into the snowy mountains for a winter walk (not enough powder to snowshoe!). but it was sunny and the snowy hills sparkled like diamonds; which makes all the effort worthwhile. my family gathered at my sister's for turkey and all the fixin's. everything was delicious. it was a classic family night with games and the nativity story, singing carols, little cousins, presents and togetherness. the best gift of all; opa was kind enough to patch up benji's bear! just in time for christmas. we all went to bed with sugarplums a-dancing.

+ christmas day was spent at home; cozy in slippers and cuddled in quilts. it was magic. santa pleased everyone. i attempted my mom's thinnies (swedish crepes) and rolled them up with sugar and butter for breakfast. wassail washed them down. it took me back to being seven. i was so glad they turned out. we played with trains and cars until church began and then came home to play some more. leaving the mess all the while. dan cooked up a mighty fine stew for christmas supper.

hope yours was so merry and bright.
wishing you a happy new year.
xo. m, d & b

p.s. dan gave me a night to the movies! we saw the new Sherlock Holmes and loved it.

five days away / thoughts twirling

today b and i have wrapping to do and folding to do and cleaning to do. we're kicking it inside the cottage. (yesterday was errand day. i seem to clump them together; we'll have a go-go-go day and then a restful day.) not that today will be much rest. it's five days away! i can hardly believe it. i have broth bubbling on the stove as we speak. and crumbs from breakfast on the floor for sweeping up. and a counter full of sweets; which i am rearranging and hiding from myself. i watched sleepless in seattle last night (christmas means meg ryan marathons for me) and loved it even more (is that possible!?) and then i saw this david archuleta special announcement today (sent from my sis amy) and felt completely happy inside. (p.s. i really like a man who can pull off plum-colored pants!) am loving danni's sweet thoughtful reflections too. and danyelle's christmas in a jar is pretty perfect. must remember for next year. randi's salt dough ornaments look so charming and i'm wondering if i have the energy to make one more batch of christmas cookies. these peppermint chocolate babies are tempting me. speaking of sweets, i'm in charge of dessert come christmas eve. am wondering if i should do something traditional like my mom's rice pudding or something surprising like a banana split bar. thoughts?! p.s. doesn't claire's dark chocolate bark look divine?! if i were to host a new year's party, i may whip up this gorgeous diy chandelier. it looks so frosty and wintery. and this foresty photo shoot by chelsea is stunning. everything little detail.

happy december twentieth. make your list and check it twice. then snuggle in.

a (candlelit) christmasy cousins party

a christmas cousins girls night. 
+ the sistas, cousins and aunts all gathered in the cottage for a night to remember. everyone showed up in comfortable clothes for a cozy night and a yoga class. i didn't have a stitch of makeup on. aren't all my relatives so cute?!
+ one boy was allowed. (i love that little slug phase.) baby josh is so darling, i loved cuddling him.
+ the best part of the night was a yoga session by whit! (who is also expecting her first babe! hooray.) down dogs and warrior ones by the twinkling christmas tree. exactly what we all needed.
+ a pot luck supper; so many savory and sweet choices.
+ red stripey straws and sparkling cranberry apple.
+ tons of non-stop chit chat and laughter.
+ utah truffles chocolate mint bars for favors (i love the gold wrappers).
+ ticket kitchen hot chocolate sticks (sadly, i was saving them til the end and was unable to serve our mugs of cocoa.. no electricity! am saving them for christmas eve instead).
+ during our second helpings of dinner, the music, lights, twinkle lights, and heat suddenly switched off! the whole street was dark and we hustled around (illuminated iphones in hand) for candles and flashlights. everyone was a good sport, but i was ill prepared! luckily i had a bunch of pillars on hand for candlelight and a basket of blankets. everyone huddled together for warmth, bundled up in quilts and we finished the evening with more chatting and a gift exchange. we kept the chocolate truffles going too. no one seemed to mind that all the lights were out! in fact, it created the perfect christmasy atmosphere. they thought maybe i had rigged it! we talked the night away. the power didn't come on until the next morning. it was fun for me to wake up to blasting holiday tunes and yummy leftovers. thanks, girlies for making the night so special.

recently / holiday happenings

+ just when i wondered if my card / wreath display was way too ginormous, it became the fave of the season. i got it on coupon at michaels and will likely be hanging it in the kitchen year after year. thank you for the christmas cards; isn't opening up your mailbox the best at christmastime!!?

+ the dessert buffet with my in-laws: apple cake, cherry coconut joys, lemon chex mix, peanut butter & chocolate cookies, soft gingersnaps, caramelitas, sour stars and more. david brought a homemade pumpkin roll(!) which was the star of the show.

+ the best part of hosting a dessert open house is having enough leftovers to take to neighbors!

+ not only has santa come to town, but H&M too. hip hip hooray. we hit it at ten a.m. and quickly zipped out. will have to do a thorough visit without toddler in tow. i texted dan and told him i was very much in my happy place. the kids section is surprisingly crawling with lightening mcqueen clothes, so benji was too.

+ i started wondering about all the crazy stories the mall santa has in his satchel when he heads home to mrs. claus. don't you think he must see it all?! benj hopped on his lap and started chatting it up like old pals. can i show santa my band-aid?

+ unexpected packages arriving. love the shredded paper packaging.

+ blowing bubbles in the bathroom; best indoor activity.

+ wrapping (and rocking) around the christmas tree.

+ chocolates all lined up for girl's night out favors. utah's truffles are the best; the mint and dark chocolate flavors are our favorites. they melt in your mouth. i saved a few for stockings too. the local company kindly sent enough for us to share with our guests! thank you, utah truffles. more party pictures to come. we partied the power out. seriously. it was kind of awesome. psst. the cute christmas runner is a gift from my quilting cousin! 

chiming in... and jennifer aniston's perfume

image via

hello hello. this post is going to be random and short. christmas is coming and my house is a wreck. benji came down into my 'wrapping room' and said, woah! mom, this is a gi-gan-tic mess. and the kitchen is no different. however i did just whip up an amazing pink poppyseed salad dressing for tomorrow night's girls night out. it's luscious and will be drizzled over a grapefruit avocado green salad. i'm excited to play hostess again; we're doing yoga, a gift exchange and eating lots of food. and serving up some chocolate to round out the evening.

but still this post is all about smelling jennifer aniston. sure i love her on friends. sure, her haircuts are amazing. her highlights, the best. and the way she keeps churning out sub-par movies and the public still woos over her is something to be admired. but i highly doubted her perfume, as i do all celebrity named perfumes (and was annoyed, as usual, at her scantily clad on the beach advertisements. how cliche can we be, jen?!). in my opinion, most celebrity perfumes are crazy money making opportunities and way too powerfully scented. while on the subject, anyone smelled t. swift's new fragrance? once i thought i liked kim kardashian's fragrance until i walked out of the store and couldn't wait to wash my arm. and i can never get over the pictures of the idol cozying up awkwardly to their bottle of perfume (see above). some of the nicer versions are better kept scenting my underwear drawer than my skin.

bottom line, i am delighted to report that jennifer aniston smells amazing. do you love it like i do? so light and refreshing that when the sephora employee sprayed it on a little strip of paper and held it up to my nose, i couldn't even smell it. which i took as a good sign. intrigued, i spritzed a little on my arms and walked around the mall, waited in line to see santa, browsed the new h&m, smelling myself all the while. it's light and clean. i can't put my finger on the exact aroma but i genuinely like it. so much so i texted dan about it. in the past, i've loved scents like fresh sugar and philosophy and romance and clean. so it's along those lines. as per usual, jen aniston has broken all the rules and is pushing a product to be proud of. it officially made my wish list. sephora has a rollerball of it for only $18. no scents (or cents?!) in paying a fortune for perfume this season. okay, that's all. happy weekend-ing.

p.s. am closing up shop soon. if you'd like some mini diaries for christmas, please place your orders this weekend! thank you.

positively swoonworthy / fifteen gifts i am smitten with

we went out on the town today. to all of my favorite little charming boutiques in salt lake city. the ones i love (and missed when living in idaho). they each have kiddie corners for small ones to play without fear of breaking anything. genius! whenever i have a good excuse to go to one of my shops, i usually stop and stare and swoon awhile and maybe pick up one or two things. i rarely buy, but it's always fun to browse. today i found a few perfect goodies for the girls in my life (and made a wish list for myself too). the shopping trip inspired my swoons of the season.

01 / apparently orla kiely has clothing too. i had no idea. (i may have been better off not knowing.) i saw her dresses all lined up at children's hour and almost fell down when i saw the price tag. still, they are modest and adorable and vintagey and comfy too. not that i tried them on, i'm not that crazy. someone out there, please splurge on a fancy frock for the rest of us.

02 / miz mooz bloom boots. these, i did try on. they are even prettier in person. (for you locals, i found them at hip & humble.) slouchy yet chic. flat yet fancy. a perfect rounded toe. swooning all the way home. i may have a new reason to save my pennies.

03 / jane austen 500 piece puzzle. i don't even like doing puzzles and this one caught my eye. so perfect for the literary lady in your life.

04 / this orla kiely purse is downright dreamy. and crazy expensive.

05 / cloud collector's handbook. the cover art alone had me swooning. i always feel like i've met a kindred spirit when i find out someone has a love of clouds. (it's hard not to.)

06 / little book of letterpress. this little hardback beauty caught my eye at barnes & noble. i know so many shelves that this book would be just right for. love that letterpress is so trendy right now. it so deserves it.

07 / have you seen these listography journals? they are so clever. perfect for yourself or a favorite list-lover.

08 / i love knock knock note pads. anyone could use this simple grocery list for their fridge.

09 / darling baby shoes. i did not take full advantage of overpriced and overtly darling baby shoes when benji was tiny. next time around i may splurge once or twice. saving them in a shadow box will give you a piece of art when they grow out of them.

10 / rosie flo's sticky coloring book totally would have been something my big sister might get for christmas and i'd be green with envy. i'd wait a week or two and maybe snag a page. because i was a total typical little sister. confession, sometimes i'd read their diaries too. but to my defense, how awesome would it be to have such a fan dying to read your middle school diary?! i guess this is why we youngests love to blog.

11 / maileg's noah's cruise ship might be the sweetest noah's toy i've seen thus far. and likely the most expensive. still, the charming pieces are magnetic and painted so simplistic and bright. sure to be a keepsake.

12 / stripey sweaters on tiny tots make me smile.

13 / i started letter writing when i was young and think stationery is a perfect go-to gift for any age. i can't wait til this girl scout mix & match set is available.

14 / shane the boogaloo boy is soft, a little smushy and adorable (just like my three year old).

15 / eloise wilkins stories. i had to include this favorite collection because we own it and love it. we take it to church and on long drives. i found it at tj maxx and scooped it up a few months ago. it includes the classic stories and images that were read to me when i was little. the stories are perfect for girls and boys alike.

favorite local boutiques in utah
hip & humble
children's hour
great harvest (this is a bakery, but still. i love it.)
jolly's gift shop & pharmacy
home again consignment
tj maxx home goods (not really a boutique, but still awesome.)

my favorite duo / peanut butter and chocolate cookies

am hoping to recreate these beauties for a little impromptu family open house we're hosting this sunday. am enjoying the giant excuse to whip out all my favorite sweet recipes. i created this one last year and hope they turn out as awesome. luckily i wrote down the recipe. have a dreamy weekend.

Peanut Butter Cookies dunked in chocolate

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1/3 cup smooth peanut butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 1/2 to 4 cups all-purpose flour (start out with less.. add more if dough needs it)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, reserved

Pre-heat oven to 375° F.

Beat butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in 2 1/2 cups flour, soda and salt. Check dough for consistency, it shouldn't be too sticky. Add more flour if needs be. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Melt semi-sweet chips, 1 cup at a time in pryrex measuring cup in microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring gently after each session (maybe 3 times). Stir chips until smooth. Dip half of cookie in melted chocolate or with ladle. Be generous so there is plenty of thick chocolate for each cookie. Place cookie on waxed paper to set. I put waxed paper on trays so I can put them in the fridge for a day. These cookies taste best eaten within two days or so. Of course, you won't have a problem with that. If you want to make them ahead, don't dip them and wrap the cookies to freeze. Thaw cookies and dunk in chocolate when ready for your event! When the chocolate is still wet you can sprinkle on edible white pearl 'cupcake gems' for an extra special touch. Enjoy.

Yields approximately 52 cookies.

guest post / hue & hum christmas tunes

am welcoming caitlin to my stage here to promote their latest fantastic duo project. her husband plays music and she makes art. (i have her print hanging in the studio!) they teamed up and made a christmas album. it's has a good indie / artsy vibe and is just the right thing for your music maniac bestie. everyone has a friend obsessed with finding the coolest new sound out there. ours is named jeremy. he was the dj at our wedding. and still sends us mix cds every quarter. 


christmas album by hue & hum / check out this making-of music video.

Let me introduce myself, my husband, and our blog to you. I'm an artist, Hum's a guitarist. I met (and fell for) Hum when we were awkward teenagers in high school way back before I knew I wanted to be a hue and before he knew he wanted to be a hum. We got married a couple years after that, and now that we're grown-ups (well, not really) we create art and music for a living. I (Hue) am the pen and brush (literally) behind the Hue & Hum blog. I paint for a living and am an aspiring artist. Hum plays the electric guitar like nobody's business. He plays in the band Fictionist who, believe it or not, recently got signed to Atlantic Records!... and yes, we were very excited.

A couple of months ago Hum and I were playing a christmas carol called, "Were You There On that Christmas Night?", ever heard of it? It's one of our favorites. We had so much fun we thought, "Heck. We should record our own christmas album!" And so we did.

Hum oversaw the production of the album. He recorded guitars in our tiny bathroom at home, layered effects, and made sure everything sounded extra groovy. I oversaw the album art and production, and it would be easy to argue that I had a little too much fun. I felt like I was in 3rd grade again, I built a little diorama-like set up with fabric, cardboard, and ugly little plastic glittery snowflakes.

// You can pick up Hue & Hum Christmas via Hue's etsy shop.

Guess what!? Here's a giveaway you can all win!
// Follow Hue & Hum on facebook for a free christmas download!

pen happy / the latest and greatest of the season

here's the skinny. pens are important to me. i'm very particular about them and can't really put my finger on the specifics; but i will tell you this. i don't do well with your regular ballpoint pen. my handwriting sucks with those. my mom writes beautiful cursive (the same cursive she's had since her twenties) with her collection of ballpoint pens, so i believe they work for some people. they've just never done me any favors. i lean toward gel pens and liquid pens, i keep blotting papers at the ready as some can be a bit of a smeary mess. the ones pictured above are more 'marker-y' which is fun for large writing, fast writing and list taking. i make lists in bed (and sometimes at breakfast too). are you bored of hearing about pens yet? i hope not.

here's the line-up of my latest finds.

+ the colored pens are liquid flair, in medium by papermate. i loved them so much, i got a rainbow. they have a look of a fine sharpie, but i like the pen nib (if you can call it that) much better. you can lean it to the side so nicely. it does not smear and the medium size is perfect for jotting letters on smooth (or textured!) surfaces. or writing color-coded lists in bed. haven't done that yet, but plan to.

the black pen is my go-to for pretty much everything. pictured, from top to bottom.

+ pilot p-700, fine. this gel pen has been a longtime favorite of mine. no other pilot pens really live up to this one. and suddenly it is so hard to find. i hunt for it every time i am in an office supply store. i may have to resort to online shopping, which seems like an extreme measure. anyway, i am sucking the life out of the two i have left. i love this pen and am sad if i have to find another everyday black pen.

+ the zig vellum writer. two tips, i prefer the 0.5mm fine tip for letter writing, scrapbooking and other marking needs. it's a christmas card keeper.

+ the liquid flair, in medium by papermate. (see comments above.) these are my latest craze in pen addiction. they are excellent for journal writing too.

+ the pentel sign pen. love this one too. solid felt tip pen. creates a great medium-thick line; also available in awesome colors (seen in first photo). makes a bit thinner line than a fine point sharpie.

+ the fine point sharpie. my fallback for all thick writing. i love scrawling it across envelopes, packages and grocery lists. it's mighty and makes things feel extra important. i love all the colors, but tend to buy them only in red and black.

// now your turn. do you have a favorite pen i should know about?

christmas-ing is in full swing

+ dan hung wreaths and twinkle lights outside. my hero! they look so charming. i got my house decked out and dan (and benj) got an excuse to run to home depot. it was a win-win.

+ i do my hair in curls maybe twice a year. the firm christmas party seemed a perfect reason to bust out the hot rollers. my niece anne talked me into getting the gold sparkly bow (she got one in pink as she is having quite a glittery pink sixteenth year). i am not sure if it makes me look like i'm in middle school or not, but i decided to roll with it. (i even attempted a mini cat eye look, which someone has deemed as the kitten eye. i love a heavy top eyeliner with bare bottom lashes. funny the things we get excited about.) we danced the night away. we love dancing. admittedly, we are not terribly good dancers, half the time we are deciding who's leading. but still, dancing is one of my favorite things there is. am glad the season has already had a night of dancing under its belt. my curls had all fallen out by the end of the night as we waltzed into the snowy parking lot.

+ benji is in such a perfect little boy stage. everyday he says something worth writing down. he loves trains and playdates and playing make believe. he is so happy it's christmas and loves reading stories about santa and the elves. he is grasping all the merriment and make believe of the season. i love seeing the magic happen right before my eyes. we set our shoes out last night; lining them up just right. today is st. nicholas day!

+ benji and his little cousin, miles. these two are peas in a pod. they make anything into a game of chase and hide and seek. they love to pretend to run from ghosts; their imaginations are so active. since they are both car obsessed, red light, green light is also a huge (hilarious) hit. here, they are racing away from the mommy monster. how cute are little boys in plaid?


tune in tomorrow / am discussing pens.
if i got a stocking full of them, i'd be totally happy.

recently / thanksgiving pics and then some

+ i planned to make a sweet little video of thanksgiving in sun valley, idaho. it pretty much ended where it started. i have like four short clips. nevertheless, it was gorgeous and a little bit snowy and sunny and dreamy, just as a thanksgiving road trip should be. our memories of that place are so firm in my mind, it was okay that i kept forgetting my camera on all our fun little outings. (i prefer having my hands accessible for lots of hand-holding.)

+ dan is extra happy when prepping for a shooting activity. it's mountain man rendezvous come to life. p.s. i'm not sure if i've documented it in stone yet, but dan has my very favorite crazy hair ever. mine is never as rad. people spend big bucks to get their hair to do what his does. just sayin'.

+ i made a special creme brulee french toast to help stretch everyone's stomachs before our thanksgiving feast that afternoon. it worked. mine hasn't been the same since.

+ this year's tasty feast was one to remember. the food was lovely, as were the faces around the long table. everyone was happy and admiring their plates of food. admittedly it's a bit nerve-racking taking little children out in public to eat (ever), so i was delighted our little dude did so well on such a special day.

+ one evening my mother-in-law served chili. dan's brother dave made a special trip to the store for the avocado. these are my kind of people. he was right, it was delisch. (i ordered my chips on top in hopes they would not get sogg-ified beneath the chili. they thought i was a little bit nuts.)

+ stealing the sun on a late november day at the park.

+ a little christmas-ing around the house. here is the hand-wrapped wreath i made last year and my printable christmas poster (this is the 11x17 printed at fedex kinkos for $2.63). i am still obsessed with that greige paint color. it's benajmin moore, revere pewter. it's subtle and light, but still packs a pow.

+ my sidekick and i did some errands the other day and wound up at the mall. it was more fun than i imagined. who knew pb kids does storytime?! everything during the holidays is a big deal; the twinkle lights, the santas everywhere, even the christmas music. kids notice everything. he could've stared at this trolley scene all day long. here he is pointing out which ones he wants from santa.

+ merry christmas to my freezer. (this is very dangerous living.)

// am taking a little blogging break. i'll be notifying the winners on monday. am throwing a little advent together last minute, am thinking sheena's envelope idea is brilliant.