Jewelry Solutions
Wondering how to display and organize your jewelry? Here are a just few ideas – from our family to yours.
Hang your necklaces on hooks in your bedroom and it becomes part of the decor. I got this fun idea from my sister. (side note **sisters are cool about you copying them as long as you give them credit for the idea…at least that’s the way it rolls with my sister)
If you don’t love that idea, here are a few suggestions from Ellie and Addison…
Hang your bracelets on your mom’s dresser drawer knobs…
If you’re in the mood to really show some creative flair, then opt for a more detailed approach by creating a jewelry ensemble on your stair case.



(side note **horsey’s perform much better after a kiss…and a carrot)
It’s a good thing Kenny is such a good sport.
And incredibly secure in his manhood.
Sweet Claire

Highlight 5 & 6
{PHOTOGRAPHY 101}
So another major highlight of my trip (yes – I’m still posting highlights. Hang in there with me…this will be the end of it!) was a morning spent with one of my mom’s (and now my) favorite people. Rex is an amazing photographer and when my mom mentioned to him that I was attempting to learn more about photography he offered to take me out for a little 1 on 1 instruction time. {I know – these shoes do NOT go with my shorts, but pants weren’t an option since it was over 100 degrees and we were doing some serious hiking – so – all fashion was set aside} Despite the hiking, and the heat, and the not so cute shoes, I had the most amazing time with Rex! He was incredibly fun and cool to hang out with and he taught me more in four hours then I learned during a two month photography class. I have had so much fun playing around with all the tips and tricks he taught me. We’re planning another little photography lesson for October to get some pictures of the fall leaves. Can’t wait. Thanks again Rex!



Highlight #4

Life is good. (Especially when you’re on vacation) :)
Highlight #3
{FRIENDS}






Another get together! We know how to party. An added bonus was meeting my new blog buddy Lainee. (Lainee, how did we not think to get a picture together…especially with that darling basket of fruit you brought by!) Thank goodness for blogging so I can keep up with all of my fabulous friends. I loved seeing you all!
Highlight #2
Highlight #1
So I’m back from my extended VA-CA in Utah and had such a fabulous time. I’ll be playing catch up all week…catch up on the unpacking and laundry, catch up on the house work, catch up on a to-do list that was happily set aside, catch up on So You Think You Can Dance (I’ve been missing it so badly!), and time to catch up on some blogging. There were so many highlights of my trip so I’m going to post one highlight each night until I’m all….well…caught up!
{PARTY TIME}
SAGE! (Austin and Dayna’s dog) Oh yes. We celebrated Sage’s one year old birthday in style. Not quite sure Austin loved that his hunting dog’s b-day decor was a princess theme, but that’s what you get when Ellie and Addison are the main party guests. :)

Fond…and not so fond
I’m fond of my new family doctor. He’s hip and nice and plays tennis and wears cool shoes. I’m not so fond of my old doctor. She wasn’t warm and fuzzy enough. I like warm and fuzzy. And I like hip. And nice. And cool shoes.
I’m fond of Addison finally giving up her afternoon nap. For the first time in five years I’m not rushing home in the afternoons to get the baby down. I feel free as a bird!!! NOT fond of the meltdowns that inevitably start around 4 o’clock.
I’m fond of the scales at the gym. They’re like big, fun toys. I like to move the black thing back and forth trying to get it to balance. I’m not fond of the way my i pod always seems to add at least seven pounds when I weigh myself. (It’s a mini, not a shuffle)
I’m fond of visiting my hometown of Santa Clara, Utah. I love the crisp, dry air first thing in the morning, running into people I know everywhere, good straight hair days, and the small town feel of the place. I’m not so fond of the excruciating heat that follows the crisp morning air, running into people I know everywhere (make-up is an all time must), and the drivers. Lots of slow drivers. Lots of big 4-wheel drive trucks.
I’m very fond of Australian accents. I think Australian accents are the coolest. I’m not so fond of Kenny’s sad attempts to imitate an Australian accent. Every accent Kenny imitates comes out Jamaican. If he’s trying to sound English – Jamaican. If he’s trying to sound Indian – Jamaican. If he’s trying to sound Chinese – nope – Jamaican again. It’s hilarious.
I’m fond of fruit. I love to eat it and to use it to decorate. Not so fond of the stickers. The stickers on fruit bug me. When I get home from the grocery store I immediately peel all of the stickers off of my fruit. It just looks cleaner. And stickers on fruit just bugs me. Did I mention that already?
I’m fond of beach days. I love to visit with friends while my girls splash in the waves and play in the sand. Not so fond of the way we seem to always bring the beach home with us. Sand in the car, sand all over the house, sand filling up the bathtub, sand filling my washer and dryer…
I’m fond of the spry, little bunny living by my roses in our front yard. He’s awfully cute and the girls love to see him when he peeks out to say hi. Not so fond of the way he is nibbling away at my grass.
I’m fond of my weekends…not so fond of how quickly they’re over.
I’m fond of organizing things. Not so fond of the way my mom takes advantage of this every time I come to visit her.
I’m fond of my new Tarte shimmer from Sephora. It gives my legs just the right bronze shimmer for summer. I’m not so fond of the smell of the stuff. Too coconutty. I read somewhere that Carrie Underwood loves using it so I’m thinking maybe if I wear it enough, my legs will start to resemble hers. Or come dangerously close to looking like Edward Cullen’s chest in the sun.
I’m fond of blogging about complete randomness… it gets all of my thoughts out of my head. Not fond of the fact that while this post could go on forever, I’m yawning and it is time for me to go to bed. Good night!
RECIPE for a great camping trip
When one is headed into the mountains many things are needed to ensure a great trip. Because I feel the need to cover each of my ‘camping necessities’ this might possibly be the longest post I’ve ever done. If you make it to the end of this post you are either a really good friend who truly cares about my family, or just incredibly bored. ;) Maybe this will at least make up for my lack of blogging lately.
{THE TENT}First on the agenda is to set up a tent and establish a place to call home. Kenny and Ellie had a great time sleeping in their tent. Addison and me? We enjoyed spending our nights in a motel just 20 minutes off the mountain. If you know me you know that I’m a “glamper” at heart. (Haven’t heard of glamping? Click here) My mom is also a glamper which is why she too joined us in the motel. I take a lot of flack for this. My family loves to tease me about not roughing it like the rest of them. They seem to think I’ve become “one of those d*&@ Californians.” They love to tease me and get in a good laugh at my expense. Well maybe I have become a little too “Californian,” but when I arrive at camp each morning smiling and refreshed after a shower and a good nights sleep, I’m the one who’s laughing.
{4-WHEELING}













it’s because the men are the ones doing all of the cooking that makes everything taste especially good. Yup…I think that’s it.
{FAMILY}



Our 4th




and rub-on tattoos from cool, friendly Harley riders? Gotta love Parowan.
After the parade we headed to the park for games and popsicles.
Then we spent the afternoon back home with my family swimming, BBQing, picnicing, and fireworking.

End of an Era for Ellie
Ellie and her best friend on their last day of school. Doing what they do best – acting silly. :)

