Thursday, July 29, 2010

A little something just for you!!


My good friend Heather posted this on her blog today and so I signed up for one of her homemade gifts! I'm excited to see what I will get! I also thought it would be fun to be creative and make something for 5 of my friends too! The way it works is.....the first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It'll be done this year. That gives me a good five months to get it done!
4. You have no clue what it's going to be. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange (don't worry, I don't think it will be anything too strange).

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! *Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!*

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Daddy Daughter Campout

Tyler is the world's greatest daddy! If you need evidence, you will find it in these photos! He took our two year old on a hike/camp out, and she had the time of her life! I think he had a pretty good time too!


There were frequent stops on the hike, for snacks and drinks and relaxation in the shade. Apparently it wasn't the fastest hike Tyler has been on, but no doubt one of the most memorable.

Good friends make everything more fun!!

Gathering Pine Cones to bring home for mommy!

Muddy and wet after the rainstorms!


Giddy about the sleeping bags! This girl loves anything to do with tents and sleeping bags!

Good Morning Sunshine!

Headed home!

Friday, July 16, 2010

Put a smile on your face


I'm always looking online for good photographers! I love the ones who can capture life and emotion, especially in children.

Today on Design Mom, I found photographer Stephanie Rausser and her charming slideshow of Kiki and Coco in Paris.

Go check it out, it will put a smile on your face!!

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Soaking it up

It does something so good to me being outside in the sunshine, watching my child run, jump, and squeal through the cold sprinkler water.

Seeing her so alive, makes me feel alive.

Friday, July 9, 2010

101 things I love


1. NYC
2. the horchata at betos
3. emerald green
4. pumpkin ravioli
5. campfires
6. giggling babies
7. chocolate cake
8. "business time"
9. Bombay House
10. pretty shoes
11. rosy cheeks
12. soccer
13. long lingering kisses
14. hamburgers
15. sleeping in
16. my mom's scrambled eggs & cheese
17. love letters
18. jamba juice
19. blogging
20. "You've Got Mail"
21. feeling healthy
22. night swimming
23. date night
24. Tyler's cooking
25. cheese
26. long showers
27. fall leaves
28. twinkle lights
29. sunflowers
30. warm sweaters
31. nice smelling sheets
32. C.O. Bigelow lip gloss
33. moon rise
34. nutella
35. everything cozy
36. vintage luggage
37. shopping
38. my husband
39. sleepovers
40. mountains
41. starlight
42. foot rubs
43. good music
44. pasta
45. Jesus
46. weddings
47. my babies
48. LOVE
49. books
50. candle light
51. good news
52. day dreaming
53. Anthropologie
54. long eyelashes
55. writing
56. visiting family
57. Schwan's chocolate peanut butter ice cream
58. creativity
59. Def Leppard
60. honesty
61. power naps
62. girl's weekend
63. laughing really hard
64. jalapeno cheetos
65. motherhood
66. temple square
67. parties
68. happy people
69. lots and lots of pillows
70. tea pots
71. traditions
72. freedom
73. beautiful rooms
74. road trips
75. feeling pretty
76. donuts
77. bubble baths
78. Italy
79. cinnamon rolls
80. integrity
81. art work
82. good photography
83. soft grass
84. dancing
85. children's books
86. romantic get aways
87. chocolate milk
88. home grown tomatoes
89. travel
90. Food Network
91. card games
92. Ingrid Michaelson
93. feeling safe
94. picnics
95. "It's a Wonderful Life"
96. flower gardens
97. purses
98. alpine slide
99. spirituality
100. home
101. knowing who I am

photo taken from here

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Bacon Brownies, Elephants, Fireworks and a 5K

My 4th of July weekend was wonderful! It was a good ol' fashioned memory making weekend......and I loved everything single second.

One of the highlights was the bacon brownie. Amber brought it back from her business trip to NYC, and as I was eating it, I thought how funny it is that I would be eating a dense chocolate treat laced with caramelized bacon. Who comes up with this stuff? It is choices like this that give clarity to my "battle of the bulge". I do have a serious thing for chocolate and I am in deep trouble when there is bacon around, but to indulge in both at once, and admit that I actually thought it tasted good.......well, think I might need help!

This was going to be the weekend where weakness and triumph would embrace and be friendly, for my sake and for the sake of family.......This was the weekend of the much anticipated 5K. But I'm getting ahead of myself here.

We kicked off our celebration of independence with a trip to the zoo! Which is kind of funny......celebrating our freedom and independence by watching a bunch of animals trapped in cages lay around eating veggies and picking lice out of each others hair. Oh but it was fun! Accompanying us on our adventure would be the lovely Marnae , the beautiful Bethany, the gorgeous Tynett and all of their handsome husbands! It was bound to be a good time! Unfortunately Emilee got sick on the ride up, and emptied her breakfast all over her shirt and skirt ensemble, so we did our best to give her a quick wet wipe bath, and set off in nothing but a pull-up and a hogle zoo souvenir t-shirt, courtesy of Nett and Adam (thank you). It wasn't long before her upset tummy was a thing of the past, and nothing but monkeys, tigers and elephants were in view. She ran here, and bounced over there.....snakes, penguins, giraffes.......and more monkeys! It was a two year old dream come true! Like I said, we loved every single second!


After a few hours at the zoo, we headed to a local park for a picnic. We ate sandwiches, home-made salsa, and fresh fruit. The weather was absolutely beautiful, almost a little chilly even. Perfect for napping, and relaxing. After the picnic we stopped by Nett and Adam's new apartment to check it out (very nice by the way), then we headed off for Springville.

That night we did the traditional eat snacks and watch fireworks. I must say it was magical, being there, watching Emilee and Adeline soak it all in. There is something so satisfying about passing on traditions, and seeing that same childhood joy you experienced in your own children as they feel the magic and excitement.

I must say my favorite 4th of July tradition is the when the fighter jets fly over the city. Seeing them race overhead fills me up completely with a combination of love, gratitude, patriotism and a sudden desire to watch Top Gun......okay, I'm kind of kidding about the Top Gun part. It gets me teary every time.

Sunday evening Tyler's sisters and husbands joined my family for a bbq at my parent's house. It was fun being surrounded by so much family. My grandma Wheeler was there as well. My favorite part was watching Emilee do the sparklers that night.


The grand finale to the perfect weekend, was our attempt at our first 5K! On Monday morning bright and early Tyler, my dad and I gathered with thousands of people in Provo Utah for the Freedom Run. We got to run down the parade route and it was so much fun! We were slow......and I mean slow. As we headed up 9th east, I started to curse the bacon brownie, and every other thing that keeps me trapped in my plumpness......why......WHY? I am too weak to resist, and a little too chubby and out of shape to really "run", so here I am shuffling and gasping for breath on the uphill wondering why I ever agreed to do this. The wondering only lasted a few minutes until I rounded the corner and saw the finish line. At that point my dad took off and I tried to pick up my shuffle until at last I crossed that line and crossed one of my goals off the proverbial list.

I did it!

I finished a 5K. And surprisingly, I can't wait to do the next one!

I kind of rushed through and left out so many details of our weekend, but I'm quite sure it was one of the best 4th of July weekends I've ever had.

Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness........How did I get so blessed?!

Friday, July 2, 2010

What would it be?


If my life were a movie it would be one of those epic love stories with lots of drama, but plenty of laughter. There would be an underdog to cheer for, a heroin to save, a villain to over throw, and lots of personal triumph. I know I would give it two enthusiastic thumbs up!

All this brings me to another thought I've had. Don't you think that life should come with a soundtrack? I mean, wouldn't it be incredible, if out of nowhere, music started playing before your first kiss, or during your first heart break. I would love to have a song for every perfect and gut-wrenching twist and turn of my life. It would make everything much more dramatic, and even more beautiful. Don't you think?

Right now my soundtrack would include:

Ingrid Michaelson
Mindy Gledhill
Paul Cardall
Allison Krauss
Switchfoot

Of course it changes from day to day!

What would your soundtrack be?

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Snapshot


I love it when a photo captures the essence of life. It holds a place and picture of the goings on of the season. It sums things up perfectly!! This photo does that.

Activities abundant in the Iverson household lately include:

  • Swimming in the kiddie pool out on the lawn. (Thank you Amber)
  • Lots and lots of stories.
  • Disney movies galore.
  • Youtube videos for children.
  • Making messes.
  • Playing with toys.
  • Snuggling in blankets.
  • And of course basking in the light of these two adorable faces!
(Pretty much the only thing missing is an otter pop in someones hand.)

As you can see, life is good.