YUM!

    Hello Three twins' Dad's Cardamom ice cream, you are possibly the most delicious thing in my freezer.  Absolutely amazing. Keep it up Three Twins, excellent job.  And they're from Petaluma!

I think it's my dream to have white-washed wood floors.  If they were cheveroned that might be the best floor ever made.

I love to sit around with other members of the church who want to glorify God and who have been given creative gifts from God and together to craft plans and strategies for the church. I can walk away from such conversations with great anticipation in my mind and great zeal in my heart for God to bless our work for his name’s sake.

But there is a subtly deceptive, ultimately dangerous assumption inherent in doing things this way. The assumption is that God is somehow obligated to bless the plans we create. Yet nowhere in Scripture has God promised to bless my plans or anyone else’s in the church, no matter how innovative or creative they may be. Neither has God promised to bless us based solely on our motives. Sure, we are supposed to do everything for the glory of God, but that doesn’t mean everything we do for his glory is assured of his blessing.             

                            --David Platt, Radical Together

The Energy Bus

Sick and stuck in bed yesterday, I read this book   The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon. It's all about positive thinking and the power of the energy you put into the world and your life.  Focused on the workplace, and on managing a team, it was a great reminder of the importance of attitude, and has inspired me to get a little more personal at work, so I can “love my passengers.”

obsession: easy dressing

Obsessing over easy jersey dresses, like these from j.crew.  Every one is so simple and soft, perfect to throw on for a drive, for a plane-ride, for a walk, for a lunch, or add a jacket and some heavy jewelry and turn it into a little dinner dress.  Fluid and cozy, soft and drapey, they scream summer and I think some will easily transition to fall with a chunky cardigan or a pair of tights and an oxford bootie.  I want to wear one everyday.  I especially love the bottom one, that deep v neckline with the almost flutter sleeve is so romantic, no?

Funny how we use the word “mustache” to describe handlebars, and the word “handlebar” to describe mustaches, isn’t it?

How fun is that tee from Amos Bros?  You can get one here.

I am not bound to win, I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to the light that I have.
         --Abraham Lincoln

2000 Days of Matt & Audree

Stop Motion Wedding Invite 2000 from mattandaudree on Vimeo.


This wedding invite video is so fun.  I love it (and Hall & Oates, you just can't go wrong).  My gosh, people are just so stinking creative.  And talented! I just love it.

You can view their gorgeous Malibu wedding here & here via 100 Layer Cake.
ps. another video wedding invite

Mad Men, now streaming live on Netflix!

We started watching Mad Men this weekend. We plan to watch the whole series on Netflix, while drinking cocktails, and eating casseroles and Jell-o desserts.  

We're absolutely hooked and loving every minute of the few episodes we've watched so far.  Wow that dashing Don Draper.  It's hard to be so torn between loving and hating the era, but I, for one, think we need to bring back the pitcher of Bloody Mary's in the conference room, don't you?

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get my caboose into the kitchen to freshen up my husband's martini.

Ryan + Ezra

One by one, he's going to cover them all, or so he claims.

"here's a cover of "Oxford Comma"... by Vampire Weekend, second track on their first record. i am a superfan so forgive me."  --Ryan Adams

He does what he wants, and you just have to love the guy.  Ahhh married life.

Today is my grandfather's Birthday, or would be. At 92, he lost his battle with prostate cancer last year, the day before our wedding.  A man like they don't make any more, my grandfather was heroic.  He was noble, kind, generous, and full of integrity, and full of life. He was proud of his family: of his wife of his children, of his grandchildren, of his heritage, of the life he lead. He built homes with his hands, and a home with his heart. He served in the military, in the home, in the church, in the community.  
My life was spent learning from him: learning cards, dominoes, German, our family history, and all kinds of life lessons.  He paid each grandkid $20 to read Tom Brokaw's book The Greatest Generation because he felt it so strongly represented him and what he lived through, and was so important that we know about those times.  He cut articles out of the newspaper he thought we needed to read and mailed them to us;  we would have to initial them, and then send them along to the next grandchild to do the same. He cared so much that we make good decisions and do the right thing. He was an amazing father, and a terrific grandfather. We still celebrate you Grandpa, and are thinking of you today especially.

Have a beautiful weekend!

Even though I’ll be working tomorrow, I’ve been waiting for this weekend all month – Monday is August, and it means work eases up and calms down, and I start getting my Saturdays back. I think my whole company is holding their breath until then.
Andy’s been in DC these last few days, and flys home tomorrow. Casablanca is playing in the park tomorrow night, and if Andy's up for it, we might go with some friends! Here’s a little photo of Andy having his Birthday lunch at Town Hall last week. Have a great weekend!

A Breath Of Fresh Airline

I love Virgin America's ad campaigns. I'm desperately dreaming of a get-a-way weekend ASAP, whether it's camping in the mountains, exploring a new city, lounging pool-side, or eating on a patio over-looking the water (beach, sea, lake, sure), I'm hopped up on dreaming of summer weekends (two things that don't go hand-in-hand in my life) and looking for a quick August vacay.

Have you driven a Ford lately? I have.

Funny thing:  I'm somewhat afraid of ANY abnormality having to do with our car and driving.  One of the very first days I started my new job with my new car commute, (literally, like day 2 or 3) I had to drive down San Jose for a meeting. It was a stormy morning, I said goodbye and good luck to my dashing husband, walked up the street and found the car with a flat tire. Umbrella in one hand and coffee in the other, I ran back to our apartment, hoping Andy hadn't left yet, and could help me change the tire in the windy, rainy, messy, morning, and not ruin my tights or dress by kneeling in the muddy street.  Turns out, I had driven over a screw, which was slowly leaking all the air out of the tire. I think that day shattered all my confidence.
Since then, I find myself checking before I get into the car for flat tires and the like, and realized last night after dropping Andy at the airport, that I was nervous something might happen with the car while he was away.  Perhaps it's because I didn't buy it, perhaps it's because I spent four blissful years not driving, perhaps it's that marriage has made me seemingly less independant (before, had I a flat tire on my own car, I would have just changed it myself, and did a number of times). It's true that I know next to nothing about our car. It's a Ford; I've never owned an American car. I know that the gas tank is on the wrong side, the gear-shifter works differently, the windsheild wiper controll is goofy, and the headlights turn on with a dial on the left dash.  I just assume that under the hood is equally backwards, and live in constant fear that I will be stranded, late, scared, and in danger somewhere, sometime.
I much prefer to be a passenger.

Ahh the hatchback, her most redeeming quality.  We moved our SOFA in it.

Boys and Girls and Music!

While we were in Bend, we swung by the Bendistilery for gin-tasting (and buying).  They also make vodka, and you can taste for free in their little tasting room, or have cocktails and look out on the gorgeous landscape.  The building is on the same property as the juniper forrest that grows the berries they use for their gin.  We were super hot and so we didn't taste anything but the gins, of which there are now two.  It's interesting to note the different tastes, Cascade Mountian was more of a G&T gin to me, and I thought the Dessert Juniper (on private label) would be best for a martini.

"I say 'America', you say 'freedom!'"

We spent 4th of July weekend up in Bend with Andy's fam, giving us three full (and fully packed) days of Oregon-style F.U.N.
We spent the whole weekend out doors:  We went for a long trail run by the river, we bbq'd, we rode bikes, we picnicked in the forrest, we fed trout at the hatchery, we drank good Oregon beer, we went out on the town and danced until we were sweaty and falling over, we floated the river, we lit sparklers.  We saw the fam, the grandparents, friends, Mike preaching on Sunday morning, the brothers, the Fishers, The Christensons (who were also in town for the weekend!) babies, dogs and magnificent fireworks.

gearing up for the Freedom Ride through town. excellent.

It was a great weekend away, out of the city, and enjoying the slower life of Bend.  Being outside in sunny, warm weather, it felt like Summer.

Pick Ben F.!

I'm embarrassed to say how very into The Bachelorette I am.  It's more than a guilty pleasure, it's a guilty obession. I'm so excited  that I squeal through it, and am sad when each episode is over and I have to wait another week to see what will happen next.  

I am, OF COURSE, pulling for Ben F., the winemaker from Sonoma (who also grew up in San Diego!).

photos:  abc.com

Berlin, Prague, Vienna...Salzburg?

Andy wants to add Salzburg to our Fall travel itinerary.  What do you think?  Is four cities in twelve days too many? If it is, it Salzburg worth it anyways?

Who ever knows from the beginning?

"It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique.  It's not easy, but if you accept your misfortune and handle it right, your perceived failure can become a catalyst for profound reinvention."
        --Conan O'Brien in his commencement address to Dartmouth

ps. you can watch his address here.  (Via Colin Ryan)

Video Wedding Invite

How amazing is this wedding invite??  I can't even imagine how long that took, and I love every second of it. I wish I was as creative as some people!

(Via A Cup Of Jo  (Via Gangsta Bride))

ahhh fall Prada

Dying over this Prada bootie, especially in grey.  Rediculously hot, and feels amazing on the foot, I'm getting so excited for Fall.

And how sweet is this puffer bow ballet flat?  It just femmes up whatever you're wearing in a way I love.  These will be finding their way into my suitcase this Fall, as they are perfect for travel, don't you think?

Weekend in the Woods

Our dear friend's parents have a home and a dog in the woods, and while they were celebrating their daughter's wedding in Napa for the weekend, we took the house and the dog under our care.  What a treat to escape the city and it's chill for a couple days and be warm and relaxed amongst enormous redwoods and our friend Gus.

We hiked in Big Trees National Park, wine-tasted in darling downtown Murphy's, walked the dog in the woods, drank morning coffee and  BBQ'd dinner on the decks, and took Gus swimming in the lake nearby. 

Nothing to do with space after all

Last month we spent the weekend in Seattle to watch and celebrate my littlest brother-in-law graduate from college.  My two brothers-in-laws live together in Queen Anne in this darling little house, and the whole fam shoved in for the weekend. Tons of fun, we went out and shopped downtown, bought a bunch of crabs and cooked a big crab dinner, we went out on the town; we played and celebrated all weekend!  Congratuations Matt, and a big well-done. Next up: putting it to use.

(cutest ever, and taken by Sarah Mannus.)

Hooray for Zoo Zealand!

Remember that little penguin who swam all the way to New Zealand and officials were "allowing nature to take it's course" on?  Well, he was finally removed from the beach and given surgery to help him survive nature's course of mistakenly eating beach sand and driftwood, and is being housed in the zoo for now!

 Lost Penguin Perks Up After Surgery

I'm hoping that this means he'll be rescued for real from here on out, and I'm sure that someone will write a children's book about him and his valient little life story.

P.S. How in the world are the EXPERTS not able to tell if it's male or female?? Did anyone else read that?

NKOTBSB

OH.MY.GOSH.  How in the WORLD did I miss that this was happening??  Hello amazing, it's so nice to see you again, as you rock my freakin' world.

Oh Oh Ooohhh OOHhh, Oooh Oh OOH Oh!!  This could be the best thing you see or hear all day. Go ahead, squeal, sing along, we all are, I sure am.
If only I'd known...  THEY'RE TOURING!!!  Here this weekend, and we'll be out of town.

Upswept hair and a beige lace top seem the perfect re-entry to the week after a lovely weekend away in the woods.  This week will be spent in very un-sensible heels before doing it again in a different set of woods next weekend, but what fun it was to walk in the giant trees, wine taste in the tiny city, and take a dog to swim in the just-right lake, and be in love.

Lost Penguin

My heart breaks for this Emperor penguin who swam all the way to New Zealand from Antarctica!  Researchers won't take him home in worry that he may have caught a disease from swimming in the warmer water, and becuase the logistics of getting him back to Antarctica this time of year are too difficult.   Read the article in the SF Chronicle at sfgate.com here:

Stranded Emperor Penguin Won't Get Trip Back Home

Wildlife officials say the penguin has been eating wet sand, likely mistaking it for snow, and Simpson said its plight has sparked entreaties from around the world asking New Zealand to help the penguin get home since it was spotted Monday.
--Nick Perry, Associated Press

I wish they'd at least take him in at a zoo and take care of him. Don't you just love Emperor penguins??
Photo: Richard Gill / AFP/Getty Images

Kerry's Tequila Lime Chicken:

Rub [free-range, organic, happy in the orchard, bug-eating, of course] boneless, skinless chicken breasts [or Safeway frozen, defrosted in the microwave] with garlic, and drizzle (rather heavily, I'd say) with tequilla and lime juice.  Grind sea salt and pepper on top. Broil in a flaming hot broiler for 6 minutes, then pull 'em out, flip 'em over, and drizzle another bit of tequilla and squeeze the other half of the lime on. Go again with the salt and pepper and put back under the flame for six more minutes on this side.

Who knew chicken could be this quick and delicious??  Brilliant for summer dinner.
I wish I had a picture of how gorgeous they turned out.

Happy Father's Day to all the great dad's out there, especially to these two:

Mark and Mike, you have been incredible sources of encouragement, guidance, support, and love. We are who we are because of you.  

Thanks Dads, and happy Father's Day!!  Beware of banana slugs and barking spiders.  We love you!!

110,000 to 0

In October we will be heading across the seas for two weeks of adventure, starting in Berlin, then Prague before Vienna.   30, you're not what I thought you'd be, but you're starting to look up.

Scent of a Woman

I've been looking for a new fragrence, something to be able to mix it up, daytime vs. nightime, clean vs. sexy you know.  I described what I wanted and what I currently wear to the gal and she immediately brought me this Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey Cologne, and I am obsessed.  I don't know if it's sexy or nighttime, but it's delicious and I can't stop smelling it.  Plus, the packaging is all so gorgeous, of course.

promises, promises

I just found my vows to Andy in the handbag I used yesterday!  I almost thought they were gone forever, along with our guest book pages-- all those special words from friends-- and so many other things from our wedding that we never got back. I hand-wrote them and tore the page out from my journal (so was only carrying a single folded paper in the pocket of my wedding dress); I didn't have another copy.  I had resigned to the fact that I had said them, promised them, meant them, and that those words would live on in practice, if not in physical form, but I see Andy's every day hanging on our kitchen message board.  Now my words will join his again, in holy matrimony, in our kitchen. 

I love how this One-For-One thing is taking off

Warby-Parker, Spex club, and now this from Tom's:

These are my choice:

Get them here.

Way to go Team.

Daytime Sparkle

I wish I had these on today. I'm tired of boots and rainy weather, and in need of a little sparkle today. Really, everyday, don't you think?

Jerome C. Rousseau "Aizza" glitter pump from Spring 2011.

Boys > Girls

thumbs up buddy.

Top 5 Right Now Nails

1. OPI Dutch Tulips
2. Essie Geranium
3. Dior Electric Tropics "Aloha"
4. Essie Turquoise and Caicos
5. Essie Ballet Slippers

Hello June, if only you weren't so rainy.

Jewel Box

Mainly obsessing over jewels and lamps these days.
Finally caved and took home this deco-inspired coctail ring last week:


Have been lusting over this necklace from J.Crew, and think I may finally have a reason to add it to the mix:


And then today I fell head over heels for these two:






I die.

Hello Sunshine

Red lipstick and super high heels are the cure to most of life's little problems, including a gorgeously warm and sunshiny day forcibly spent in an office with no windows.

I most prefer this Dior, and these Jimmy Choos, paired with a sundress and pinned back hair.