Dear C1,

Remember how we were talking about what to do for Valentine's Day? And I said (with not enough regret) I don't really do anything for you for Valentine's Day, but YOU usually clean the kitchen and get me flowers? And how you said yeah, but flowers are ridiculous. And I agreed? Well, I have an idea for this year:

I saw on Robbie and Catilin's blog (hueandhum.blogspot.com) that Caitlin is doing an oh-so-cool Valentine "Pay What You Want" deal on some of her prints. She says whether it's a small or large donation doesn't matter--she just wants to share her art!

I love how she has a "friend-tine" and a valentine or "lover-tine" option--I think either would be great on one of the empty walls in my creativity room!! This would be the perfect replacement for flowers this year, don't you think?

I'm just trying to give you some suggestions...but don't feel too pressured to do anything...it's not like the whole Internet knows what I'm hoping for.

Love,
Your mean wife

p.s.
For those of you who don't know these amazing folks at Hue and Hum, Caitlin sells her art for screaming deals (obviously) and is always finding fun creative projects, and Robbie is a real live rock star and releases free songs on their blog. One time in High School Robbie and I performed a duet for our East High Seminary class. It's no surprise to anyone that HE is the one that went on to be in a band on tour.

your opinion please...

Would you hang one of these prints in your home or give it as a gift to someone who might? Which one is your favorite? Do you like the colors? Are they too sassy? Am I trying too hard? Are they just plain dumb? Please, oh, please, my Etsy shop (to be opened some time this century) depends on your feeback.

The sizes I have above are 8 x 10 and 8 x 8. I've been thinking about putting these on dish towells or greeting cards...would that be of interest to any one, do you think?

gifting strawberry jam

my sister made some delicious strawberry jam. and i'm helping her come up with cute packaging so she can use it as gifts...here's a sneak peak of what i've beeen working on for a label. Which do you like better?

Luck O' The Irish

Every little leprachaun deserves to have warm feet!

Especially if he is our cute neighbor and only a few days old!!

more hearts and hands

C1 knows I am going to try to win his heart with food. But I know that the real way to win his heart is through something University of Utah related...so I compromised with this cookie...

These bran muffins were inspired by my mom--heart healthy and festive! Oh, and delicious! Mom, don't you think this muffin has incredible crumb? I posted that picture just for you.

I went to an incredible "galentine" party on Friday night and left C1 home all alone...he was supposed to be catching up on homework. It turns out he was busy doing other things. I came home to this:

and this (really, is there anything better than clean kitchen?):

Isn't this birdie print so delightful? It will really brighten up my office, I'm sure of it!

I was definitely feeling the love, so naturally I had to share the love. I spent my Sunday morning painting these for some of my favorite people in my life. I'm really loving watercolor these days.

from my heart, with my hands

This past weekend we celebrated Sarah Grace's birthday.

I knew she wanted a ball...and I knew any old ball wouldn't do--it needed to be special. So I crocheted one, knowing that it's easier to give something from your heart that you build with your hands. But I couldn't stop with the ball...so I went to my mom for help, and soon I had this doll sewn up. Isn't she sweet?

Growing up, my birthdays and Christmas mornings were filled with handmade gifts...mostly clothes. Some for me, some for my dolls...some outfits even came in my size AND a mini size so I could match with my doll. My mom secretly slaved away for months, I'm sure. She made a comment to me about how I must have had really nice friends who didn't make fun of me for having homemade clothes instead of the ones from the catalog. The truth is, I must have had a really nice mom to put in all that time and effort for her little girl.

February Past

When I was in the 4th grade I wrote a poem called February Grump...I can't remember how it went but I know it involved an old man being upset about Valentine's Day. To prevent myself from turning into a February grump, I decided to look back on what February brought me last year...and I don't know February 2010, you have a lot to live up to...

baby Sarah Grace

baked oatmeal

crocheting hats like crazy

Ebay money and a roomier closet

making some sweet earrings (too bad that didn't last too long...)

2010 means...

3 years of marriage
C1 graduating and starting a job
running a race
turning 25
The Old Testament and Gospel Principles
more graphic design

more pretending to be Lois Lane
more exploring my favorite hobby (that would be food)
saying goodbye to The Village
Reading one more book than I read in 2009
dinners for C1 from this book and this book
Visiting Teaching
smiling, praying and scriptures

working with my mom on TheTableRunner.com
recording my grandparents' oral history
sending my baby brother on a mission to Michigan
lots of dishes

celebrations thus far

a birthday wish
(italian cream layer cake recipe here)


some fun fun friends
Have you all met J Me?


a humble birth
Thanks Mustini for this perfect little display for our not so perfect little apartment


some carolers with lots to sing about
they took requests...and even sang C1 happy birthday!


a white Christmas
C1 and I both gave white clothing items to each other...I suppose there could have been some subliminal messaging going on through the radio waves


a morning of Santa Surprises
paintings from our trip to europe framed, and "go utes" and "Little" in chinese Characters (because there's nothing like Chinese characters on Christmas morning!)


two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree
stockings I am still in love with that I made last year. no, I don't expect to have 10 children or put the entire 12 days of Christmas on stockings.

a quilt for baby Sadie & a Chinese proverb

A bird

doesn't sing

because

it has

an answer

it sings

because

it has

a song

The Pilgrims and the Indians...and Turkey

I got a little more rustic this year with place cards for my mom's Thanksgiving dinner. Instead of using my good friend Adobe Illustrator, I decided to go the old fashioned route and hand write and hand paint place cards. Just like the Pilgrims and the Indians would have done...if they did have place cards at their pow-wow.

Missing the Farmers Market Already