"frenchie" & some tangelos.

Gah, thank the heavens above, I have finally finished my second painting out of six for my abstract series this semester. Did you know that finals are in three weeks? I have to knock out four abstract paintings in three weeks... what have I done to myself? This abstract, which I call "Frenchie" was a real pain. It started off great, ending up with some beautiful milky pours, and then when I tried to forget my brain and slab some thick oil on the canvas with the pallet knife, I thought I butchered the poor thing. It's all about the process and not allowing the process of it to drive you up a wall until your painting is finished. Fortunately, I think I am having a love affair with "Frenchie" and I may like her just a wee bit more than my "Boulevard." Whoops.

It was hard forcing myself to stay inside and paint away when it was 60 degrees and sunny! But it wasn't too hard when I popped in "The Help" and distracted myself with all things southern. I am really excited that it's warming up, especially with Easter weekend coming up, and seeing things become more green and begin to blossom. It really is a sweet reminder of our Savior's resurrection which makes me so excited for Easter Sunday.

I guess you can say hard work pays off, and surprisingly this is the first time I have gotten on my computer today and it's 8:30 at night. Do you know how big of a deal that is? I need to lay off the computer time because today was proof with how much I can get done, how much more I lived, and how much happier I was today and felt so productive. I was able to finish my painting in no time because I had little distractions and the reward for doing so... yes, I laid out in my backyard wearing yes, my swimsuit in Utah during the month of March. And no, I didn't really glue myself to my phone, instead, I read about five chapters in my book (hallelujah) and snacked on my new favorite citrus, tangelos, which you can imagine by the name is a mix of an orange and a tangerine and by golly, it was sweeter than candy!

adding a little spring into my hop.

Utah randomly just purged out a few snow storms over the weekend. I do believe I jinxed myself running my mouth. The good news is, as it was snowing it was continually melting due to the fact it was still too warm out, so I ain't threatened. This week my chin is up as the weather will warm up again and the sun in shining through the clouds today.

When the sun is bright out, and the foliage outside begins to show it's green side, it gives me a little spring in my step and I can't help but get washed up into the whole hoolahhh of spring cleaning. My house is a mess. For being so small, it's a wrap when I clean it but it can get trashed within seconds. Not proud of admitting it, but I am in the mood to pull out the duster, some trash bags and bleach and go at it. The Glitter Guide is sharing their "Glitter Guide Spring Cleaning Checklist" and it's the go-to list if you're looking for one. Never have I ever been this excited to get down and dirty. It's free if you want it! All you got to do is print it off!

In other news, Easter Sunday is so close and I am realizing, I have done nothing to make it feel like the holiday. It's hard not having kids. Do the Zoo and I really want to put on an Easter Egg hunt for the two of us? I mean, I'd be down, but realistically, it's just not gonna happen. I would like to at least color some eggs, but we'll see what we are up for when the weekend rolls around. Luckily, I found this amazing tutorial from my friend Alison over at The Alison Show who is constantly blowing Martha Stewart otta the water. This was the cheapest holiday decor I have ever done with the help of paint chips! Holy moly, me oh my, how adorable is this "Carrot Chip Garland?" All it takes is a glue gun to get the job done. So I went to it and made my own garland for my brick white fireplace and spring has sprung just a hare in mine and the Zoo's home. It feels good to bring some light and color into our home when the seasons are blooming. So I sure hope you get your fill for the Spring Cleaning Check-list and your Carrot Chip Garland! Have a blast if you do choose to do so!

Happy Monday to you all!

a california wedding.

San Juan Capistrano, California was the perfect little spanish town for Kristi's wedding. The venue was gorgeous with all of it's greenery matched up to the starch white walls of the spanish villas. Kristi was stunning, I didn't doubt she would be, but she truly was glowing on her wedding day. We had the best of times being by her side and dancing the night away under the California starlit skies. My favorite little thing to her reception that I thought was such a great idea was her guest book. She had a polaroid camera set aside next to the book where her guests would take a quick snap shot and then tape it into the book next to their note. Genuis! Needless to say, all of us bridesmaids and the bride got all up in that polaroid by the end of the night and I took about twelve polaroids home for myself to remember the night. It was such a treat to be reunited with all of my collage buddies, it was bittersweet having to leave. Unfortunately, the Zoo couldn't come down for the wedding but it was the quickest trip of my life. I've been kicking my feet up on my couch all week long with how exhausted I've been.

All in all, it was a beautiful weekend and a great getaway and I feel so blessed to have been a part of it! Two more weddings to go for my girlfriends!

a saint barths adventure.

Ahh, the sweet lifestyle of a J.Crew Model. Something I would love to do, but you know, with my height and all, that really puts the damper on the dream. So, I dream and swoon through photos. A key place on my list of to-go-to's is the luscious St. Barths in  the Caribbean. They say it's the St. Tropaz of the Caribbean Seas, and the vast amount of pirates gold and treasure that has yet to be discovered really toots my horn of excitement. St. Barths is famous for it's secluded beaches. Legend has it, a French pirate buried his treasures of gold somewhere on the island in the late 1700's and it hasn't been found... yet!

I am a sucker for the Caribbean. Any island in those warm turquoise waters is my weak spot. To combine the oh-so classics of a J.Crew spread on St. Barths is like fireworks and I am obsessed with J.Crew's favorite shots they got throughout their adventure, while soaking up the sun in their new Spring Collection. I thought I'd share my favorite photos if you havent been on their site to see them yet.

viva las vegas.

Whelp, I got my fix for Viva Las Vegas! All it takes is just a couple hours or maybe just a day of strolling around the city of lights to fix my craving for Vegas. On the drive down to California, we passed through and decided to stop for about three hours since my friend Hayley, who was with us, had never been. The weather was perfect. In fact, I was sweating and actually enjoying it. It was clear blue skies, sunny with a high of 80 something. The streets surprisingly weren't TOO crowded as we went from casino to casino admiring vegas' attempt to mimic New York, Paris, India & Rome.

I think that's one thing I love about Vegas, it's a city made up of Disney World/Land characteristics where everything is staged to make you feel a certain way as if you were in another land far far away. Though it never compares to the real deal, I still adore the architecture. Now all I need is a day at Disneyland or even better, take a trip over seas.

On a side note, my parents spent their weekend in Hilton Head Island & Savannah, Georgia and the eeriest thing broke out on the news that just solidifies Savannah as a whole. A cemetery in eastern Savannah, was found with two graves dug up, the caskets out on the ground. One casket was damaged, while the other casket was found open and the body missing! Leave it to Savannah to go through all the trouble to create a mystery dealing with the dead! Can you believe it? My jaw dropped when my parents told me the news. I instantly became the inner Nancy Drew that I am, and I so badly wanted to grab my flashlight and magnifying glass and head straight to Savannah for some sleuthing. I can't stop thinking about this mystery!

Any hoo, wedding posts for my friend Kristi to come soon!

it's a birthday for the greatest woman i know.

Really, Friday is my mom's birthday, but I'll be out on that ol' desert road to California so I wanted to give her a shout out when I have the chance to. I love  my mom so much. She is one of my very best friends. She's one crazy firecracker, has the most youthful spirit and sets such a great example. She has so many talents and magnifies them in the most humble way. She is today's modern Doris Day and I'm pretty sure she would have been Lucille Ball's best friend back in the day. She is a riot, always down for a feel good time, always smiling, lively and giddy. She teaches me the power of youth, to age naturally and gracefully but contain the youthful spirit you had as a youngin' and maximize it by hundred. She is the life of the party, with a heart of gold. A friend to all, the most selfless wife, and the most giving mother. She is worshipped by her grandkids and goes out of her way to tell superhero stories, over and over and over and over and over again. 

I just adore my mom in every possible way. She really is my favorite person and I look up to her more than she'll ever know. Happy Birthday Mama, you're looking better than ever, Dad can hardly handle himself!