On Colors & Festivals...

We drove as fast as we could from Indian Creek to Spanish Fork for the Festival of Colors...sadly, we were too late. As we approached the Hari Krishna temple people were walking back to their cars covered in bright colors...sniffle. I was disappointed, to say the least. We walked up to the festivities nevertheless in hopes of raising our spirits. As I walked around I was randomly attacked by a stranger possessing bright purple dust...my entire head and neck were now covered in holy dust. Next year I will be there for sure for the initial dusting extravaganza.

Note: the band really does sing over and over "Hari Krishna"

We're Off!

Ceej and I are headed down with a few friends to the desert. On our way home we'll attend the Festival of Colors at the Hari Krishna temple.
I only wish we had a moto like this to pile on. Happy Weekend!

Loving My New Picture Books

A week ago I picked up this irresistable book: Randolph Caldecott's Picture Books. It's absolutely delightful...need I say more? (Prediction: my mother will read this, and probably tell me that she's known about his wonderful books since before I was born...Moms are always ahead).

In My Window

Upon my window-ledge is a pot of hydrangea(s?). Ceej bought them for me last week, and they're still blooming! I love love love to look out my window to see my hydrangea and the park full of kids across the street. Oh Spring! Thou art so lovely indeed!

My Beloved

Five years ago this very month Ceej and I had our first kiss. Nine months later we were married. Below: a list of five things that I love about CJ.

01. He is genuine, real, and sincere

02. He appreciates the beauty of the earth

03. He is passionate about preservation and stewardship

04. He listens to my heart and lets me cry or sing for joy!

05. He loves learning and has an incredible memory

Love you, Ceej!

Weekend Part I: Bird Refuge

Now that I've learned how to get to the Bird Refuge and the Spiral Jetty it's not so intimidating. I will go often to take more photos, and to share the earth's beauty. Hopefully, the more people who enjoy these places will want to continue to protect them.

Weekend Part II: Falling & Jumping

Mo, Biff, Ash, Phil, Ann (Chris not pictured here, but he was here).

Weekend Part III: Sprial Jetty

This place is incredible and so other-worldly! Can you believe they want to drill for oil here?! Please, please, please write your representatives to stop drilling here. If you haven't been here, you must go. It is oh so beautiful. We're planning another trip soon when the spring green arrives...there will be live music at sunset. Stay tuned.

Oh, How Lovely!

Today my mom and I colored Easter Eggs. This is a tradition I hate to miss. I'm glad I was able to join in. But am sad that I will miss the hunt tomorrow with the nieces and nephews. So the only thing to do is to "let it go". I'll be sure to be at the hunt next year. In the mean time, I'll enjoy the pretty colors of the eggs we dyed.

Spring Brings New Things

01. A new apartment...same building, new unit, with more windows!
02. A new job (for Ceej)...Sacramento!
03. A new bike...it's old, but new to me, awaiting in my mom's garage.
04. A new outlook on life and dreams
05. Friends in new places...congrats to Ash and her new job in DC working for Nader! Ali and Curtis also going to DC...we will be out for a visit for sure!
06. New flowers on my window sill...perfect for spring
07. New rain today. Couldn't ask for anything more beautiful!

Re-Cap

(The Isle of Man)

Irish Night this year was a success, though more informal than usual. Our 60 second jig seemed a little long for some reason this year...perhaps because I had my ankles tied together in competition for the most ascetic prize: A Cuban Lily.

Hass read an original Limerick, Matt confessed his super-hero wishes to be Irish (which also meant being invisible), Arlo told of how his great-grandfather migrated from Ireland to Canada, and I sang a couple songs. The toasts for the night were wonderful.

Next year I'm determined to learn a real Irish jig to teach to the group.

Food Rules!

Last night Ceej and I went to hear the food guru, Michael Pollan, speak at Abravanel Hall. It was truly enlightening.

He started off by talking a bit about our (the United State's) food ideology and nutritionism. I could go on and on. Really you should just buy his newest book, In Defense of Food. He explained that in the 70's our beloved government ceased to require the food industry to label "imitation" foods...so now the food industries can label something "sour cream" without there actually being any cream in it at all. Ah! He also enlightened us on the 70's low-fat diet craze that has really made us fatter! Read the book.

The whole night was great, great, great. Here's some rules he gave us for our next trip to the hostile grocery store:
1) buy only things that your great-grandmother would recognize as a food
2) buy things that actually have an expiration date and will perish
3) do not buy things that "promote health": such as "no trans fats", "added omega 3's"...we should be getting our nutrients (another buzz word he kept jabbing at) from whole foods, and the original source. We shouldn't have to eat foods with additives.

Pollan urged us all to "vote with our forks." We often wonder how the lower class could ever afford to eat fresh produce and whole foods. If we create a demand, then we'll drive the prices down. So do it!

AND, it made me question my "health" reasons for being a vegan. I still think most animals are treated cruelly, but if I could find some animals who were treated with respect and stewardship, I might partake!

Blue

Our apartment...a mess...moving to #1 from #17.

A Must

If we end up remodeling a house we MUST have built-in shelves. We were invited over to some new friends' house to decorate Easter eggs last night...the house was BEAUTIFUL. It's a 1930's home in the Avenues of Salt Lake (just a block away from us). There were all sorts of hidden treasures and lovely details. That's me with the long pony tail (it's taken 3 years to come that far from my earlobes!), and Carrie is showing me one of those lovely details.

Built-in everything sounds good to me...it creates more space, and adds some charm!

Get Ready!

It's time for our 4th Annual "Irish Night". It will be this coming Monday, the 17th (of course) at our place. If you're around please come. The night usually consists of: traditional Irish food, story-telling/reading, fiddles, jigs, and singing.

Why Irish Night? My ancestors are from Ireland, and I'm quite connected to their spirits in a very nostalgic sort of way.

I can't believe it's been four years since we started our tradition! The first year was in Springville: there was plenty of good food, Ash played the fiddle, Jake made boxties & read a ballad, I sang, and we learned about 'silkies'. The second year consisted of myself, my mom, and 2 neighbors. It was a low year, but we enjoyed the Irish food and talked. Year number three (just this year past) we invited our lovely Irish neighbors(and many others who came)...so our party was legit. We listened to more stories, I and others played the guitar and banjo and sang, we ate the yummy Irish foods, and ended the night with a jig.

This year will be just lovely. Hope you can come.

Springtime Can Kill You

Nothing says 'Spring' better than Jolie Holland. Her voice goes hand-in-hand with deep cleaning my home with windows open. Some lyrics:

Roses all are blooming

Lilacs all aglow

Honeysuckle vine shine, shine

Oh get out, get out of your house

Springtime, springtime can kill you

Just like it did poor me

Don't you see we're all hurt the same way

So get out, get out of your house

Seriously Considering

This past week we've been leaning towards a move to Sacramento, CA ( I know, it's not as exciting as Australia, but it's a long story). We've been looking at homes for sale, and also considering buying a neglected home to remodel and make more energy effecient. But, last night we looked into some prefab homes...I'm in love. I never thought I'd go modern, but these are oh so great!

Adam Kalkin uses freight containers to build these lovely things...I love the "garage door" feature that allows you to have fresh air move through your home on nice weather days. It's a good way to re-use these containers that are polluting in too many ways as they sit on our earth's surface abandoned, doing nothing.

This little guy inspires me to create our own little commune where I can host some amazing yoga retreats. Wouldn't you love to come here, have your own dwelling outside to gaze at stars, and do yoga all day, every day?

Tonight!

Tonight Ceej and I will go get a pint of gelato from Dolcetti in Sugar House. Mmmmm. (Thank goodness the sorbetti are vegan!). Before my vegan days I probably would have ordered Amaretto with some crema di latte. Nowadays I usually go for the lemon, kiwi, or papaya sorbetto.

If we could go ANYWHERE in the world tonight for our gelato we would probably go to Padova, Italy...a gelato stand there is always packed with people, and for good reason. It truly was the creamiest gelato that has every melted in my mouth and slid to my tummy. Last time we were there we were shocked to see that at 11:00 PM the senior citizens of the town were also enjoying some sweetness! I hope to be seen at the age of 94 at a gelato stand at 11:00 PM.

But for tonight, I'd say Dolcetti comes pretty darn close. Plus, we get to figure out which kitsch object has been added to the table.

Dust Off the Ol' Dreams

Five years ago photography was my passion. Unfortunately, it's been five years since I've been really serious about the art. I've done a few weddings in the mean time, but I just kind of "winged" those, doing favors for friends. I'm hoping that photography finds me again...AND I wouldn't mind owning these lovely things.

C O M M U N I T Y & F O O D

As soon as my penny-jar is full enough I am buying THIS book. I browsed through it a couple of days ago, and I can't stop thinking about it. It's the story of the women who started Hell's Backbone Grill in Boulder, UT. What a beautiful story it is of community and food! These women put up "Hiring" signs, but no one applied at first, until a woman had pity on them and forced her daughter to apply for a job. After some difficult time, trying to find acceptance in the community the owners of the restaurant decided to host an Ice Cream Social for the whole town....EVERY SINGLE PERSON in the small town showed up. The town members now fully support this restaurant....even sharing food storage when the winter months and isolated location prevent any food being brought in. There is a story of a family who lives in a yurt and lives off of their own gardens...even the 6-year-old has her own garden.

Thanks!

Thanks to every one who shared their skincare knowledge...I hope that others will continue to advise. I've scheduled my 2nd-ever facial for tomorrow morning (thanks, Liz). I picked up some Cetaphil and Neutrogena SPF. We'll see how it goes!

Neglected

In my journey to connect body, mind, and spirit there is something that I have neglected in healing my body: skin care. Growing up amidst the brothers, and being quite the tomboy, skin care was never talked about. Now that I am in my late 20's I figure it's time that I nourish the skin that is holding me together, and protecting me. However, with all the advertising out there for different products it's hard to know what really works, and what is really needed. So I'm asking for any one's input here. What products do you use that you have seen real results? Toners? Foot scrubs? Anything! Maybe it's all in your diet? Do you drink lots of water and stay away from refined sugars? Here's to the beginning of healing the physical, yin side of me.

Union For Time and All Eternity

It seems that there is no other event in our lives that warrants such wonderful gatherings and parties. I am always over-joyed to receive wedding invitations in the mail announcing the union of two good friends, and then knowing what is to come: a beautiful dress, magical decorations, savory foods, dancing under the stars or a crystal chandelier, and laughing and crying all through the event. The goodness that a marriage represents is hard to resist-which is why I L-O-V-E looking through wedding magazines and websites. But nothing has pleased me more than HER blog. I think I will be visiting this place nightly, before I enter into my dreams.

Forgot

I forgot how absolutely lovely Rodney Smith's photos are.