LIVING IN THE MOMENT

My Personal Superman

Some little boys play with trucks and cars...some with dinosaurs....and others still with guns and swords.  Ethan plays all of these things, but he is most passionate about dressing up in costumes...particulary super heroes costumes.  We literally have a closet full of costumes for him (this is where having a mother who is a costume designer comes in handy).  We have many super heroes, indians, gladiators, pirates, farmers, star wars characters, cowboys...and many more.  The kid loves to dress up.  His latest gig is Superman.  All he wants to do is watch Superman Returns and dress up as Superman.  But not just Superman.  Introducing.......Clark Kent (as a precocious, and incredibly adorable 3-year old).

Lately, Superman does not make an appearance without Clark Kent first making an entrance.  Full on suit, tie and generally he has the glasses on too.  My mom still needs to make the suit "easily sheddable" by adding velcro to the shirt, coat and pants. It's on the top of her to do list.  Ethan goes into full mode (I think he might be a good little actor).  As an emergency arises he begins to shed the suit (with superman underneath) so he can save the day.  He can unbutton and get it off pretty quick.  But then....I get the fun task of re-dressing him into the all the buttons on the shirt and coat (he does the shedding several times in a row).  But I adore him and love to see him do it so I continue to button him up time after time.  He is truly hilarious.  Ethan is a highly unique and special little boy.  Everyone just adores him.  He even makes me take him into town to run errands in his full Clark Kent/Superman gear.  This way, he can show everyone we meet that Superman is underneath if they need him.

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He may not be able to fly, lift cars and shoot fire from his eyes, but his sweet smile, tender little spirit and contagious personality make all of us feel happy and at peace...Ethan can always save the day.

My New Favorite Thing

So this darling metal dress form is my new favorite purchase...I bought if for myself for my birthday last week!  A good present don't you think?  I am not sure that it is intended for jewlery, but that is what I am using it for (at least for now) and I just love looking at it!  It really inspires me!  Lately, I have noticed a few things about myself....as I have grown older and become the mother of two busy boys, I have become even more of a girly girl.  I mean, I have always loved fashion, makeup, jewlery, decorating, etc., but I always felt that I held back a little thinking that I needed to toughen up.  I know...strange, and my family and friends would probably disagree with me.  Also, I have never been one for pink (green is my favorite color), but I have decided that I am going to re-do my bedroom and make it super fresh, vintage and pink.  Not lots of ruffles, lace, etc. just very feminine, soft and pretty...I guess more romantic.  So...with that said, I am looking for inspiration and particularly beautiful bedding to inspire the rest of my room.  I am thinking velvet, tulle, soft toile florals, delicate stripes and pretty trims.  If you come across anything great...send it my way!  I am really excited to re-do my room, I am in need of a girl sanctuary in my home!  Everywhere you walk in my house I trip over lightsabers, trucks, super heroes, balls, dinosaurs...you name it.  And don't get me wrong...I wouldn't have it any other way.  But it's time for a space dedicated to all things lovely and peaceful.

Spring Break Photos

Well I am only two weeks late posting photos of our spring break trip to St. George, but....better late than never right?  We had a great time hanging out with all my family and spending time with little Jack, Max and Chelsea.  Thank you guys so much for having us!  The boys and I stayed at a hotel a couple of nights so the house would be to rowdy...we had a good time just the three of us. I didn't get any photos of the boys and I together, but Brayden took a couple of me and Ethan.

We did a lot of eating...Chelsea is a great cook!  We swam at the hotel, swam at the local pool...did some shopping and then me and the boys went and spent the day in Zion National Park.  We didn't get a lot of hiking in...but we had fun driving and wandering around.  One of these days soon we need to do some camping and serious hiking there.  It was so beautiful!  Here are some more pics from the weekend.

   

Hoping for a Sunny Weekend....

Just a quick post....me and boys are heading to St. George for the weekend to spend some time with my bro, his wife chelsea and their darling baby boy Jack.  So excited, becasue my parents are also coming....along with my sister, her husband Vinny and sweet little Avah Lou.  Our whole family will be together!  The boys are super excited too.  The weather is supposed to be great, so we will catch some sun and play in the pool.  And I also hoping to do some scrapbooking with my sisters! (and my mom if she will participate!).  I am very much looking forward to just getting away from the stress of home at the moment.  Someday I truly need to write a book.  But nonetheless...I am a blessed girl and have so much to be grateful for and there is so much hope for a brighter future!  I was doing a little blog reading today and came across this awesome blog (among many others) but this one www.grandrevivaldesign.com really stood out today and I am so wanting to sew and create!  Check it out when you get some time.  Here are some pics from there that just made me feel happy today.

Wishing everyone a wonderful and blessed day.

Two girls in Paris.....

Well here we are!

This pic was taken in front of Notre Dame...what an amazing place.  Everything here in Paris is just as you would expect.  Beautiful, full of history and just sensational.  We have seen a lot in the past two days.  Trying to pack it all in before I start working the trade show on Sunday....and it has been great! Yesterday we were very tired from the air travel...no sleep for over 24 hours.  We arrived in Paris to Amie's cousin Brocks apartment, where we having been staying, at about 8:30 am.  He works for the New Zealand embassy and he, his wife Mondy, and their daughter Ivy have an amazingly huge and spacious apartment right across from the Eifel Tower.  It is amazing!  Their view just can't be beat and we have been so fortunate to have this opportunity to stay with them and to get to know them and Mondy's parents (who are here also from Utah).  They have all just been so wonderful  Here are some pics of them and their amazing scenery here living in Paris.

So yesterday we toured Notre Dame and the Louve and also walked through some areas close by.  We found great little french side streets and really just had a blast observing people and taking lots of pictures.  I think between Amie and I we have taken about 800 pics!

Here is one of those cute little french side streets with this darling little restaurant all done up both outside and in.

And of course...the Louve was amazing.  We spent about 2-3 hours there...so not nearly enough time to see everything, but we saw the most famous pieces.  It was incredible.  I just love all the paintings.  I don't know a lot about art history, but what I can learn I find so fascinating and the emotions and the stories conveyed in these works of art are spectacular....some brought tears to my eyes!  I love that!  Same with the scupltures.  I will post more pics of the places and pieces of art...this post is just a quick recap!

 

Today we slept in a little bit longer than we planned...but still managed to make it out to Versailles by about noon.  Three words for that place.  OVER THE TOP.  No wonder they cut off Marie-Antoinette's head!  More pics of the extravagance to come...but here is us for now.

We rounded out the day with the Eifel Tower.  How amazing was it to walk closer and closer to this monument and then to be underneath it looking up.  I am a lucky girl to have this experience!  We rode the elevator all the way to the top.  There are 3 floors.  The most nerve-wracking was the final trek to the top....straight up...view of everything as you are moving...lots of people jammed in the elevator and in the silence of 30 people my dear friend Amie from across the elevator says..."what would you do if this broke?"  I of course being claustrophobic said in a somewhat panicky voice..."please don't say that right now"  but hey...guess it broke the ice cause everybody laughed and it made the rest of the journey lighter!  Okay...so here are some pics.

 

Well....Au Revoir for tonight!  Miss you to all of our families....xoxox.

Paris Je t'amie!!!

I am off to Paris tomorrow morning!  I am so excited I can hardly stand it.  I have been wanting to go to Paris for as long as I can remember.  I am so lucky to have this job where I get to travel internationally.  I feel so fortunate and so very blessed.  I have had some amazing opportunities and I don't take them for granted!  I am going to the European crafts trade show called SMAC.  Okay...so I know absolutely no french and am feeling a bit anxious that I haven't even taken the time to learn a few common phrases.  Oh well...off I go regardless!  Maybe I will learn a few while I am there over the next week.  I am the only one from MM attending the show, our distributor KARS, who is based in the Netherlands has the booth and I will be demo-ing our product.  My good friend Amie is coming with me also and we will have a few days before the show to sight see and take in as much as we can.  We are so lucky too...because one of her cousins lives 5 minutes from the Eifel Tower and we are going to stay at thier apartment as they will be out of town!  So grateful to them and to Amie for coming with me!  I will try to post as often as I can from Paris so stay tuned...I have my camera all ready to go....can't wait!   

Happy Birthday Brayden!

My first born is 12 years old today!  I can't believe he is turning into a teenager already.  I don't know where the time has gone.  When Brayden was born 12 years ago this day, my first thought at seeing is cute little baby self was that he was an old soul....I know I have said this before, but I just always marvel at that thought and I understand how true it is.  His heart and soul are so tender and grounded.  He has always been an anchor for me and I know that he will always be.  I love that about him.  He is such a sweet little spirit.  He is turning into such a wonderful young man and I am very proud of him and of how hard he tries to always do the right thing. (even though I may not always show it ;).  Here are 12 fun facts about Brayden!

1. He has such a fun sense of humor...he can be very witty and he loves to make people laugh.

2. He is MUCH more in tune with his surroundings and things happening around him than he leads on.

3. He has a bearded dragon lizard name Pokey and he just loves this little creature.

4. He is an AMAZING big brother to Ethan.  They do fight and they drive each other nuts....but he adores his little brother and Ethan adores him right back.

5. He is such a tender-hearted, sensitive and compassionate boy....just like his mama.

6. He is a pleaser.  He wants everyone to be happy and aims to please.

7. He is SMART.  His grades may not always show it, but he is smart and his potential is incredible.

8. His long-term memory is way superior to his short-term memory ;)

9. He loves little children and is such a great cousin to Avah, Jack, Kori and Lestat.  They all look up to him so much.

10.  He loves music (he must get that from me!....good man) He loves to listen to it....he can sing, although he won't admit it....and he definately has an ear for music.  We have slacked on his guitar this past year...but are getting back into lessons now.

11. He is a good and loyal friend. He is always kind, caring and considerate of others.

12.  He loves his cell phone!  No suprise there.  He already texts better and faster than me and he knows how to work his phone (unlike me).  So now I can go to him for help!

Oh how I love shoes....

Just a quick post...but want to share some shoes I am loving. Anyone who knows me really well knows how much I love shoes.  I covet them!  I love being a girl and I love how a pretty shoe (with heels of course) can make you look and feel so beautiful.  It really is the perfect pick-me-up when you are feeling blue.  There are many shoes I am loving these days.  You can find most of the shoes I like on Piperlime and Anthropologie.

Here in Cali at CHA...

What a crazy couple of days!  The show has been so amazing for Making Memories.....it's all about the slice.  I have been filmed demo-ing the slice several times over the past few days from random web sites and such.  It has been crazy! You can catch all the action on MM BLOG we have had lots of activity on the site...lots of giveaways and just fun times.  Be sure to go to the Feb. archives to catch all the postings over the last few days.  It is fun to watch how this thing has played out!  I think I have another video popping up tomorrow morning...I am seriously embarrassed...but it's out there now...so what they heck I say.  Here is a pretty cute pick of Margie and I from the first day.

The show ends tomorrow...and while it has been super fun and eventful...I am ready to go home!  Trade shows are a lot of work and my feet are killing me.  You think I can get Brayden (my 11 year-old) to give me a foot massage?  Maybe even Ethan will do it! (my 3 year-old).  I miss them so much!  Can't wait to see them tomorrow when I get home.  I just wish I could go home to the weather here in California...72 today...flip flops, no jacket....it was awesome.  Now I am headed up to the artic of northern Utah.  FUN TIMES!  Here are some more pics from the show. Enjoy...I need to try to figure out how to link the videos to my blog one of these days.

My mom made these cute quilts out of our baby line (it is called Animal Crackers...the boy is Jack named after my cute nephew!) They turned  out awesome don't you think?

I mod podged the inside of this suitcase with our new travel line...it is called passport.  I cut out all the butterflies in the below photo with our cool Slice machine.  I have a fun project in mind!    

I will try to post some more pics of the show tomorrow.  I probably ought to get to bed already!

My little sweethearts....

Just wanted to post some pics over the last month or so of my cutest boys.  They are so much fun and so adorable.  I am so dang lucky to be thier mama and I really hope they know how much I love them.  It is always such a sobering thought to me when I think that one day these boys will become men.  What an amazing responsibility I have.  If my only accomplishment in this life is to know that I have raised loving, respectful and honorable men I will have done my job.

Brayden and Ethan are so cute with each other.  Of course they fight like all brothers and like to tattle on one another, but they also adore each other and count on each other for so many things.  Ethan is such an independant little soul, but he looks up to Brayden for both guidance and assurance, especially over the past couple of months.  Brayden is so protective of Ethan and takes such good care of him.  It is so much fun to watch them together....especially when they think I am not looking.  They just love each other so very much.