simplifying...part of which includes finally finishing off the last mini poppyseed citrus cake

it's always nice to have a reminder that there is a reason simplicity is my favorite.

thank you all for your support in my journey to simplify.

i did indeed drop that extra course, and maybe i felt bad for just a second, 

mainly because i was sad to miss a class taught by such a good professor.

but basically, i jumped for joy, whipped up a bowl of ice cream,

and watched an episode of the cosby show with ceej--

all in celebration of the restoration of a more flexible schedule.

i'm enjoying my remaining class so much more, 

and harbor no more grudges towards my lovely books.

phew. this is good. and to top it all off ceej and i have plans galore to go outside this weekend.

hooray for simplicity!

best parenting book i've ever found...not that i'm a parent nor plan on being one anytime soon

i found this makes-me-think-that-parenthood-might-be-survivable book

while browsing the "science & nature" section at my local bookstore.

glee is exactly what entered my little outside-loving heart as i flipped through pages

that told me how to listen to the heartbeat of a tree, find hibernating butterflies,

have a snail race, and on and on and on. pure joy. i bought the book.

i took it home. and then it hit me:

this is the best parenting book i've ever read {it's the only "parenting" book i've ever read}.

this is what will give me sanity as a parent: it will get us all outside, my favorite place to be.

and we'll all get to be curious and we'll get to have lots of fun, simple projects,

and i won't feel so isolated {one of my biggest fears of motherhood}, right?

yes, this book will get us all outside day after day...throughout all seasons...

at least, that's my idealistic dream right now.

if you are a parent and are smirking at my little dream right now,

please don't burst my bubble. i'd rather experience it when that time comes.

by the way, there's a killer website for the book that you could check out right this minute.

Storm Approaching!

At this very moment there is a dark and ferocious storm making its way across the Salt Lake valley. This is my kind of moment. There is nothing like a storm...you can feel the earth awaken and move with clarity. Nothing can stop a storm. It is so awe-some. Grateful to be here now.

photo: Neil Maughan, UK

Family In Town!!

Our family is fortunate enough to have a cabin to go to in the Uinta Mountains up the Weber Canyon. The entire family is coming in town to have a relaxing week away from the rush of every day life. I love this place. You can see stars here in numbers that I haven't seen anywhere else. I hope this place will still be a refuge when I have children of  my own.