Cupcake Mix

Last night my dear friend Ash Sanders showed me an amazing book of cupcake masterpieces. She then promised me a cupcake extravaganza before I leave to Sacramento. So, in order to remind her of her commitment, I have made her a Cupcake music mix entitled "Songs For Girls Who LOVE Cupcakes". Here's the play list:

01. New Soul by Yael Naim
02. Doralice by Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto
03. Let's Do It by Ella Fitzgerald
04. Mushaboom by Feist
05. La Maigrelette by Amelie-les-crayons
06. Minor Swing by Stephane Grapelli
07. April In Paris by Ella Fitzgerald
08. So Danco Samba by Getz & Gilberto
09. Paris by Yael Naim
10. The Girl From Ipanema by Getz & Gilberto
11. Tarantella Op. 18 by Grapelli
12. I Feel It All by Feist
13. A cause des garcons by Yelle

Best SLC Bookstore

This is by far my favorite place to browse and by for books. The employees here are amazing! They know everything, and are always so sweet. It's located at 15th and 15th. Go there. You'll want to stay all day.

I've Got An Itch

Paris. Never Been. Need to go SOON. It's been on my brain way too much these days. Today I bought a CD that will teach me how to speak French (so it claims). I'm in need of cobblestone streets, street vendors, foreign languages, great art, to-die-for cheeses and breads (so they say), and a little romance. My goal: April 2009 I will be in Paris. I'm saving my pennies starting today (I might want to save quarters too!).

Memory Grove

Memory Grove Park. There have been many a wedding party here, including CJ's and mine. It is located just outside of downtown Salt Lake City. A perfect and lovely location really. I quite think that the hill behind it makes it look as if it belongs somewhere in Ireland or Wales. One thing I will never regret about my wedding is having the party here.

The park is also perfect for picnics, strolling, and writing. Lots of people, brides, and dogs to watch. I love it. Will miss it.

Something Sweet Part II

I admit it. I have a serious psychological problem. Whenever CJ leaves out of town my sweet tooth switches into hyper-gear, as I've explained earlier. This time (CJ has already made the move to Sacramento!) I'm craving not just one square of divine dark chocolate, but a whole dozen sweet, sugary cupcakes. Good thing I don't have the ingredients to make such sweet treats. Instead I will settle for some whole grain-oatmeal-chocolate-cookie-like treats. I'm going to make them in about 2.4 seconds.

la primavera. 01.

Every spring I take pictures of the lovely blossoming trees...who doesn't? They are hard to resist. I will be posting now and then my favorite things about spring. Hope you enjoy the photos, poems, and thoughts. If you love poems, please continue reading this post.

In April
the ponds
open
like black blossoms,

the moon
swims in every one;
there's fire
everywhere: frogs shouting
their desire,
their satisfaction. What
we know: that time
chops at us all like an iron
hoe, that death
is a state of paralysis. What
we long for: joy
before death, nights
in the swale--everything else
can wait but not
this thrust
from the root
of the body. What
we know: we are more
than blood-- we are more
than our hunger and yet
we belong
to the moon and when the ponds
open, when the burning
begins the most
thoughtful among us dreams
of hurrying down
into the black petals,
into the fire,
into the night where time lies shattered,
into the body of another.

-Mary Oliver, "Blossoms"

Three Favorites

These lovelies are three of my favorite houses in Salt Lake City. I have dreams of moving into one of these someday. The first one is my favorite of the three. No matter how much I've taken to modern housing/decorating these days, I am ultimately pulled to the older homes. They feel oh so cozy and warm. I have only a few more weeks to take leisurely walks by these gems.

Which one is your favorite?

Earth Day

There is nothing better than a day to celebrate the Earth. She is everything. So grateful there is a day to celebrate her, and to remind us to take care. More care than we did yesterday.

She digs deep inside to my center
And plants her deep, dark secrets.
Whispers.
The mother of all is moving-
She is awake.

She lives inside. Quiet.
Moving to tell me deep, dark secrets
Older than the shells.

There is a tree alive
With roots in deep, dark places.
Shifting like the stillness of water.

Back From Sacramento

(above) dinner by the river

(above: us in Capitol Park)

Ceej and I were in Sacramento for a few days trying frantically to find a place to live. We found a lovely place in Midtown (which is very similar to the Avenues). The bathroom is my favorite part. Seriously. The house has old stained-glass windows, original woodwork and hardware, and other great historical treats.

Sacramento is a mix between Salt Lake and Portland. We love both places! We lived in Portland for a summer a few years back and absolutely loved it. Maybe the next job we get we'll look to relocate in that oh-so-hip city. For now, we're quite happy with Sacramento.

Mrs. Backer's Bakery

Mrs. Backer's Bakery has been around since 1941 (I think). However, CJ and I only started patronizing this place a few years ago. We used to live down south in Springville, and every time we would come to SLC we would make a stop here. I'd get a chocolate donut bear, and he would get a cupcake. Now we live in the same neighborhood, and I stop here often to get my grandparents a sweet treat and some meat pies. Love it. Will miss it.

Calling All Fashionistas...

Does anyone know where I can get a suit like this? I'd prefer one in black. I've done all the googling I can, and can't come up with anything worth while. HELP!

Emigration Market

During my last few weeks in SLC I'll be randomly taking pictures of my favorite places that I'll be missing and sharing them with all of you.

Emigration Market. 1300 South 1700 East. I love how small and intimate it is. I love that sometimes they're out of what I need. I love that they sell the BEST licorice of all time: RJ's. I love that there is a small selection...that way I never overbuy. I love using my Emigration cloth bags. I love their hummus. CJ loves that they carry Virgil's Rootbeer (no corn syrup here!). If you live nearby I hope you take advantage of this little place. BUY LOCAL!

From Snow to Blossoms

Salt Lake City, this morning.

CJ and I went skiing together for our last time in the Wasatch a few days ago.
Our new home. Sacramento last week when CJ made a visit.
Oranges in the park!
I bet these blossoms smell wonderful!

R E V I V A L

Over the weekend I hosted a Revival at my mom's house. There was music and a pie contest. This is another example of one of my theme parties where I force all in attendance to do as I command. The pictures below will demonstrate. Sorry for the large amount of pictures...I had a hard time choosing which ones to omit.

(above) Pies: Banana Cream (Holly Jo), Apple Pecan (Mary), Lemon Blueberry Cream (Ann), French Apple (Britnie), Cajun Apple (Katherine), Lemone Cheese (Philipe), Pumpkin (Janette), Strawberry Orange Cream Tarts (Beaux)

(above) Katherine & Beaux

(above) Hasenpfeffer taking a cowbell solo

(above) Philipe, Beaux, Matt, Jesse

(above) the judging of the pies. judges: Chris & Hasenpfeffer

(above) The Pie Contest Winners: Ann & Beaux!!!

Something Sweet

I was in need of some sweetness this morning...and I'm not just talkin' tastebuds. Ceej has gone camping, and I have to admit, I'm a little lonely right now. Usually when I need some comfort I go for Charles Chocolates...the dark kind with rice. Mmmmm. I just treated myself to a square. It was oh so yummy. But I'm still a little put out. Ceej will be happy to know that chocolate will never take his place! I learned about the square-of-chocolate-per-day from this lovely little book below. If she thought a square of chocolate a day was good for the heart, then so do I.

It's Official: Sacramento, CA

So Ceej was just offered the job officially at Gregory. It's the perfect job for him...no, MORE than perfect. We feel very blessed at this moment, and very excited for that matter. I'm excited to get back to work myself...in order to support all the travelling we've planned for the next couple of years. Ceej leaves April 18th...yes that's in 9 DAYS! I'll be following the weekend of May 16th.

Ceej visited the area a week ago, and said it was a combination between Portland, OR and Salt Lake City. I like that combo.

However, I must say that I will miss my family and friends terribly...you guys better come visit us or ELSE!

Within an hour or two are the following places we'll be visiting often I'm sure:

Yosemite National Park

Lake Tahoe

San Francisco

Who's In?

This AMAZING English country estate is available to rent as a vacation home. It's only $22,000 per week. That sounds like a huge amount, but here's the good news: there are 16 bedrooms. That means the cost comes to about $230/night for one room. So now I just need 15 of you to sign up for a room. What fun would that be?!

Oh, the Places I'll Live:

In an old, remodelled, farmhouse in New York.

In the center of London.

In a row of houses in Iceland.

Thanks be to Dwell for their always inspiring living spaces.

Claire de Lune: irresistable

Is it just me, or is Claire de Lune on the soundtrack for just about every film released these days? I guess I'm really not complaining...I myself can't get enough of this lovely song. It instantly whisks me away to some European garden, and I'm wearing the dress of my dreams. So here's to more use of Debussy's beauty!

The Annie Anthology

(above) Annie Peck

(above) Annie Thayne

(above) Annie Peck...me with Celia Jane.

Surprise!

One of the best things about having your spouse gone for a couple days is you can plan for a great surprise without any worries of getting caught. When Ceej got home from his little trip I had these awaiting him:

A Girl's Night Out

Ceej went out of town for a couple of days...so I did my own little night out. It was oh so perfect.Rented and watched 'Atonement'. It is an absolutely beautiful film. And oh! Her green dress! Ceej would never watch this with me as it stars Keira Knightly...he thinks she looks like the neighborhood bully when he was growing up. The movie was fantastic. I want to watch it again.
Bought myself some Dianthus.

Went shopping.

I N C R E D I B L E !

Last night Ceej and I went to see the Alvin Ailey Dance Company perform at Kingsbury Hall...it would be an understatement to say I was "moved." These dancers and the choreography are like nothing I've ever seen before-those dancers truly dance from the heart and with soul. I came to tears more than once. Watch some clips on YouTube for a taste. Watch this one for sure (Wade in the Water...I really love when it gets to about minute 3).

My favorites were 'Fix Me Jesus', 'Wade in the Water, & 'Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham.' They're performing again tonight...I would highly recommend going if they're not sold out.

Too CUTE!

Remember when I told you about a 6-year-old girl who opened up a bakery in my neighborhood? Well, CJ put in a mighty difficult order: he wanted a pizza cookie! Just tonight we were delivered the pizza cookie, and it was HUGE! Ingredients: fruit roll-ups, dots, coconut, and others I can't remember. How cute is that?! CJ got his order!