3 B.C.

Baby Shower

2012-01-31T22:27:00.000-08:00

Late last year, I had the opportunity to throw a baby shower for my best friend, Katie. The moment I found out she was pregnant I pretty much told her that she needed to schedule a trip to LA because I was going to throw her a baby shower. I loved every second of the planning. And of course, the shower itself was a blast.

I love this picture for many reasons. The light is great. It includes many people I love. But for photojournalistic reasons, I think it captures that PV ladies get-together scene that I experienced so much growing up (Ticktockers, church functions, etc.). Sometimes I love these types of "ladies" get-togethers and sometimes I hate them. In this instance, I loved it.

Elise, Jenna, me, Katie. Elise, Katie and I were roommates at BYU. Jenna was an honorary roommate: the official hair stylist.

Several of my best friends from high school. Emily, Kathleen, Cat, Katie, me, Jenna. Thank you, volleyball, for bringing us together.

I made a Baby Bingo game to match the whale theme on the invitations. It was the perfect, casual game to keep people connected while Katie opened her presents: lots and lots of adorable, girly, ruffly baby clothes.

And thanks to my Mama for co-hosting the shower with me.

I didn't get pictures of the food, but it was delicious and gorgeous: Eggs with Cheese & Salsa, Raspberry-Yogurt Bundt Cake, Whole Wheat Apple Muffins, assorted Doughnuts from Mayer's Bakery, Sparkling Cranberry Punch, fruit and vegetables.

Katie is just a couple weeks away from delivering her little girl and I am beyond to meet the little sunshine. Katie, just a couple more weeks. You can do it!

Boomerang Beach

2012-01-08T21:24:00.000-08:00

This week, we randomly found a boomerang on the side of our house. We decided to test it out this evening as the sun was setting. Neither of us fully got the hang of it, but we did show some improvement by the end of the night. We definitely had fun chasing around this odd-shaped toy as it chose its own direction through the air. Oh, and the sunset wasn't bad either.

We have decided to re-name the beach in front of our house "Boomerang Beach".

♥

2011 in Review

2012-01-06T14:40:00.000-08:00

I stumbled upon this lovely zeitgeist video, which recaps news-worthy and culturally-relevant events of 2011. I love the optimistic and emotional feel it exudes, especially at 2:35. This is a great way to reflect on the current events of the last year and a time to re-commit to staying "current" with the news in 2012.

Christmas 2011

2012-01-02T11:54:00.000-08:00

Christmas was a great time this year in Highland, Utah. Bradford was a saint, driving through the night so we could get to the Browns' house on the morning of the 23rd and allowing me to get a good 7-hour sleep in the car. Many good memories were shared as we did lots of good cooking, drove around to see Christmas lights, ate a delicious dinner with a smoked turkey AND honey-baked ham, performed a Christmas Eve program, acted out the Nativity with kids in costume, had a white elephant gift exchange with the adults (I ended up with this), watched the kids open up gifts on Christmas morning, helped the kids learn how to ride their Power Wheels that Santa brought, attended church, lounged around, watched Mary Poppins, Cars 2, and The Help, lounged around, ate Christmas leftovers, played with the kids, lounged around, and visited BYU.

It was a great break and a wonderful time to spend with my family.

Utah sunrise, just outside of St. George on I-15; Natalie helping me make the rolls for Christmas Eve dinner

Driving around to see the neighborhood Christmas lights

Clockwise from top left: Me and Natalie on Christmas Eve; Dad alone at the dinner table with a napkin on his head; Natalie trying to sing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" as the boys collapse on the floor; Natalie and Brian

All the kids ready for the Nativity

This picture does a great job depicting the actual chaos of the Nativity: Natalie & Parker taking the whole thing very seriously as the adults try to contain their giggles and keep Chace & Dylan from running wild.

MaryClaire & Dyan; Chace & Dylan (it is so fun to watch these boys who are just 3 months apart in age play together)

On our last day there, we took Parker & Natalie (and Dylan) to BYU. We're looking forward to re-creating this picture one day when they're both attending as students.

Feast of Lights

2011-12-22T15:40:00.000-08:00

Clockwise from top-left: Christmas Tree @ Hermosa Beach Pier, Fireworks Show @ Manhattan Beach Pier, Christmas Lights @ Sharynne Lane in Torrance (aka Candy Cane Lane); the Big Wheel @ Irvine Spectrum

December is a crazy, busy month. It happens to be one of the busiest times at work for me so to combine that with all of the holiday festivities, it gets to be a little overwhelming. But I still love it. We seem to have a theme of lights with the things we've done to celebrate the season this year. Since the darkness of winter tends to get me down sometimes, I'm really grateful for the invention of Christmas lights to brighten up our evenings. I'm also really grateful for my church calling with the youth as it's allowed me to enjoy some other great Christmas activities like caroling at a convalescent home, wrapping presents that were donated for a family in need, and enjoying white elephant gift exchanges.

Tonight, Bradford and I are headed to Utah to spend the holiday at my sister's house and I'm so excited to finally put my focus 100% toward Christmas and family.

Holiday in Norco

2011-12-14T23:18:00.000-08:00

After my long Thanksgiving week in Utah, my parents dropped me off in Norco so I could be with my husband and spend time with the Fishbacks. The night I arrived, Brad and Rob returned from hiking Mt. Baldy. Those two both share a love of hiking and the outdoors and it's so great for them to be able to do those things together. We missed having Chad & Kristin's family with us, but enjoyed some fun times with the rest of the Fishback clan.

On Saturday, Rob, Brad, Emily, Taylor and I hiked down to the river. Bradford and Emily both had some fun exploring the moisture levels of the sand and got stuck in quicksand a couple times. At one point, Bradford was up to his knees and Emily had to pull him out. After spending a week in colder, mountain weather, it was so nice to be out in the sunshine, wearing only a t-shirt and cropped pants.

The weekend also allowed us to bond with Baby Lexie. Brad sure knows how to get her to smile, doesn't he? I'm so grateful for the wonderful family I was born into and the wonderful family I married into. The Fishbacks are really great at doing activities together as a family (like hiking or miniature golf or tennis or games) and it's always a good time.

Hey, It's Christmas! (& other FREE downloads)

2011-12-06T00:35:00.000-08:00

image via Bright.Bazaar on Pinterest

While we don't have a Christmas tree (yet!), we are decking our house with Christmas decorations and enjoying the lovely holiday music this season has to offer.

One of my favorite CDs has been "Hey, It's Christmas, Vol. 2", a free Christmas album available for download here. (Yes, it's really free!) The CD features up and coming musicians singing Christmas classics as well as some new holiday originals. My favorite songs on the album are "Wonderful Christmastime" and "Silent Night".

Speaking of free things, here and here are some links to download free (and cute!) printable gift tags. People are just so nice to be giving away these things! Just another reason to love this holiday season.

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-12-04T22:52:00.000-08:00

After Papa's funeral, I was able to enjoy a fabulous Thanksgiving with my family, hosted by Dave & Jill. I contributed to the spread by bringing orange rolls. One of my favorite memories of the week was having Natalie and then Leah & Jared (my 2nd cousins, I think?) help me with the baking. I could get used to having some little helpers in the kitchen!

While I was bummed not to have my sweetie there with me, I had a lot of distractions to keep me happy.

Gorgeous Utah sunsets and a 160-pound Newfoundland

Sliding down the stairs on air mattresses and playing Just Dance with the kiddos

car rides and playgrounds

And, last but not least...

Silly kids! (Natalie with a gummy bear on her nose, Dylan with his face on a balloon, and Chace with chocolate pie all over his face)

Papa's Funeral

2011-11-29T00:12:00.000-08:00

{Papa's grandchildren and great-grandchildren at the cemetery}

Last week, I drove to Utah with my parents to attend Papa's funeral. When my parents picked me up on Sunday afternoon, my Mom informed me that all the grandchildren were going to be at the funeral. I replied to her, "I'm not surprised."

The Poelman clan is such a close-knit family and I know it's in large part due to Papa's (and Grandma Claire's) priorities in raising their children. Papa was a very successful, intelligent, and busy man, but family was always the most important thing to him. After spending the last week with this talented, smart, and loving family, I feel an even deeper appreciation for the gift of family. Everyone in the world deserves to have a beautiful family. If you weren't born into one, you should create one of your own. Family is the best thing ever.

I've learned a few things about Papa since his death and all have to do with the fact that he was a talented, smart, and wonderful man. Papa was a general authority in my church, which means that at the age of 51, he voluntarily ended his hard-earned corporate career to serve in the Church. During that time, he spoke six times in General Conference. His most memorable talk, "The Gospel and the Church" was given in 1984 and can be viewed by clicking these links: Part 1, Part 2.

On Monday evening, we attended the viewing at the mortuary. Because of his service in the church, many church leaders and apostles attended the viewing to show their respects. The first hour was reserved for these church leaders and family members. I met the prophet of our church, Thomas S. Monson. He was talking to a group of people, then he turned around, looked at me, and said something to the effect of, "I want to look up to you! There are so many tall women here, it's great!" He then shook my hand, looked at my sister, and asked her to stand back-to-back with him to see who was taller. (He was taller than MaryClaire, but not taller than me.) What stands out to me about him is that he was a very charismatic person who strived to make people around him feel comfortable and happy.

The rest of the evening, while brought on due to sad circumstances, proved to be a time of happiness. It was literally a family reunion with endless amounts of hugs and smiles and love. At one point, I looked around the room and marveled at the loud volume and almost jovial ambiance. By the end of the night, I was exhausted, but it was great to see so many people.

The next day was Papa's funeral, which was probably the most memorable church meeting I have ever attended. Jeffrey R. Holland spoke along with Russell M. Nelson. Richard G. Scott was also in attendance. One thing Elder Holland said was that funerals are the best meetings in the church. They have the best music, the best talks, and the audience is extremely attentive. This was absolutely true at Papa's funeral. Every song that was sung and every talk that was spoken was perfect.

Those who know me know that I can be a crybaby. I really wanted to stay strong on Tuesday, but I couldn't help the tears from flowing. My cousins Greg and Megan started the meeting by singing "Savior, Redeemer of My Soul". Their voices are so gorgeous and while they sang, I was just filled with so much gratitude to be in that room surrounded by all of my amazing family and to know that I am a part of that family. My Uncle Ron gave Papa's life sketch, followed by a short talk by Anne, Papa's second wife. I have always admired Anne as a strong woman and her ability to speak so eloquently at her own husband's funeral is another example of that. I could never do that.

The highlight of the meeting was when my cousin's 11-year-old son, Jared, sang "The Baby Jesus", a Christmas lullaby written by Grandma Claire. My Mom accompanied him on the piano and it sounded beautiful. Toward the end of the song, Jared's eyes started to tear up. His voice started to shake, but he didn't stop singing. His whole face wrinkled as he struggled to keep his lower lip steady and teardrops literally fell from his cheeks onto the pulpit. All the while, he continued to sing the beautiful words of the song, ending with "A baby. This baby Jesus. Oh, the comfort I feel. I love him. Oh, yes I love him! My Savior dear." I really don't think there was a dry eye in the room.

At this point, I was feeling a little frustrated about not being able to control my tears, but then Elder Holland spoke and he said, "Tears are the price we pay for love in this world." It's so true. Whether it's happy or sad, a lot of the reasons we cry is because of the love we have for someone or something. There was a LOT of love in that room.

After the funeral, the family went to the cemetery where Papa was buried. It was a beautiful fall day. All of Papa's grandsons were the pallbearers and there was a bagpiper playing in the background as they carried his casket to the burial site.

Below are some more pictures from the day.

The grandsons as pallbearers

My mom with her siblings and Anne, surrounded by the rest of the family, with the mountains in the background

Sisters

The siblings: Ron, Dianne, Deborah, Laurel

Jared & Dianne

All of Papa's grandchildren (except Megan!)

A Beautiful and Sad Day

2011-11-19T21:22:00.000-08:00

Today, Bradford and I went on a hike in Palos Verdes. We had intended to do this hike on his birthday, back in October, but the weather and other things prevented us from doing it until today. The winter darkness had really been starting to get to us, so it was so nice to enjoy a day outside in nature and under the sun.

We started out with some LBJ to fuel us.

Then we made our way on the path.

The hike is really quite easy with gorgeous views of the Pacific. It was so nice to be out in the open air, enjoying the scenery of Southern California.

What I didn't realize as we were enjoying the beauty of the day, was that my Grandpa ("Papa") was taking some of his last breaths at his home in Salt Lake City. We've known he was going to die pretty soon so it wasn't a huge shock, but the actual passing of someone close to me definitely makes me think a lot about my relationships and family...both of which I am SO grateful for and feel EXTREMELY blessed. Even though my hike today was simple, I like to think that it is dedicated to my Papa.

Papa had some special ties to Bradford's family as well. Since Brad's Mom and my Mom grew up together, my Papa knew his Mom's family well and spoke at Brad's Grandpa's funeral many years ago. He also sealed Brad's parents when they got married in the Oakland temple.

Papa and my Grandma Claire created such a beautiful family that is such a wonderful part of my life. It's hard to explain the close bond I share with each aunt, uncle and cousin in the Poelman family.

Love you Papa!

11.11.11

2011-11-11T11:11:00.000-08:00

Best wishes to everyone!

This Weekend

2011-11-06T23:58:00.000-08:00

Here are five things I loved about this weekend:

1. The flowers that Bradford's company gave him for his birthday. Um, wow.

2. Sweet treats for breakfast (click here for the recipe)

3. The chandelier we scored at a neighbor's garage sale which now gives light to our dining table

4. Waking up on Sunday morning with an extra hour's sleep AND the rain falling outside! Hello, best sleep ever.

5. Quality time spent together as a couple

Pumpkin Patch

2011-10-30T20:33:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, on our way to celebrate Brad's birthday in Norco, we met up with the Grahams at their Pumpkin Patch. It was so fun to enjoy some fall activities (in 80 degree weather) and catch up with Duane & Emily. We also got to meet baby Lexie! We walked away with a perfect little, twisty-stemmed pumpkin.

Fun to see all the different colors, shapes, and sizes of pumpkins.

Playing with Taylor at the petting zoo and moonbounce.

Marc Antony & Cleopatra

2011-10-25T23:42:00.000-07:00

I have never been good at putting a Halloween costume together. The first Halloween Bradford and I spent together while we were dating, I dressed in all black, threw on a black cape and called myself darkness. Bradford wore some (very short) rugby shorts and a blazer and called himself a rugby coach. Anyways, this year we were invited to a costume party so I actually had an event to plan for in advance. Our costume still didn't come together until hours before the party, but I'm very happy with the way it turned out. In fact, I think this is one of my favorite Halloween costumes ever.

We had such a fun time at the party, chatting, munching, and battling it out boys vs. girls in a Battle of the Sexes game.

After the party was over, we, along with the Bells and Davenports, decided we weren't ready for the night to be over, so we headed out for some late night munchies and belly laughs. There were so many funny things about the evening that we basically didn't stop laughing the whole night.

The best part is, the actual Halloween holiday is still a week away! Haha.

Why I'm Excited for the Holidays

2011-10-21T15:56:00.000-07:00

I just booked my plane ticket for Christmas. When I was a kid, I used to love Christmas for the obvious reason of presents (duh). Now, that I'm an auntie, I get so, so excited to see my nieces and nephews. That's why I'm excited for the holidays this year.

Two weekends ago, Parker came to California to stay with my parents while MaryClaire had a girls weekend in Orange County. On Saturday, my parents, Brad, Parker and I spent the afternoon at the beach. We made sand angels, buried each other, and made sand castles and lakes. We also played soccer and volleyball. When we got there, the adults laid down our towels and sat on top of them. Parker, however, chose to rest himself, belly-down, right in the sand. He then just laid his head down and let out a big sigh. I loved it. There have been many a moment where, as an adult, I have done the same exact thing and it feels SO GOOD to lay on top of the warm, smooth sand. Mm!

October

2011-10-12T16:19:00.000-07:00

October is turning out to be a great month. Today it's 85 degrees in Hermosa Beach and even though I'm stuck inside working, I'm grateful for the beautiful weather. We've lived in Hermosa now for a year and I really just love it here. I love our friends, I love the salty air, I love the many opportunities there are to be outside and do active things.

Last night, I enjoyed a bonfire at Dockweiler State Beach (complete with s'mores and the biggest marshmallows I have ever seen, FYI). After the bonfire, I quickly drove home, changed my clothes and drove with Bradford and Brendon to play volleyball.

When I was in high school, I had two loves in my life. The beach and volleyball. One time, my sister asked me which one I would give up if I could only have one of those things. I had such a hard time deciding which I loved more. I guess my point is that I feel extremely lucky to still have these two loves making a strong presence in my life. Life is good and October is beautiful, what can I say.

Below are a couple pictures I've taken at the beach this month. Happiness.

Dockweiler State Beach

Hermosa Beach @ 5th Street

Photo Prep

2011-10-11T10:28:00.000-07:00

Remember this lovely picture from New York? Well, unbeknownst to us, our photographer, Cameron, was snapping pictures of us "prepping" (you know, the 5 seconds before a picture where you make sure your hair is in order and your clothes are straightened out).

Check it out. Bradford cracks me up.

"Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish."

2011-10-06T21:41:00.000-07:00

Apple's "Think Different"commercial has and will likely always be my favorite commercial. Steve Jobs absolutely fits in with the crazy ones. Visionary. Icon. Genius. He simplified complexity and he helped unleash human creativity. Thank you, Steve.

"The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do."

Credits: NPR

New York

2011-10-04T22:44:00.000-07:00

Bradford and I are starting to make a tradition of taking a trip each year to the East Coast. Last year, we went to Washington, D.C. This year, we decided to go to New York. We have both spent time there on separate occasions, but never together.

It was so much fun to just be tourists and have the freedom to do and see whatever we wanted together. We walked a ton, ate delicious food, and made some great memories with Katie and Cameron.

There's so much to discover in New York, you can never do it all.

Of course, we tried.

Some highlights include:

Walking the Brooklyn Bridge and eating pizza at Grimaldi's.

Visiting the UN and the New York Stock Exchange (along with lots of other banks)

Admiring the bright lights in Times Square

Playing on the Big Piano at FAO Schwarz and enjoying way too many delicious doughnuts at Doughnut Plant. (Side note about the big piano: I'm pretty sure I was the oldest person to play on it all day. Kid at heart.)

Aaaand, hanging out with Katie and Cameron. They found out they are having a baby girl while we were there! (We celebrated by gifting them an FAO Schwarz teddy bear in a pink dress.) Along with the late night chatter each night before bed, we ate at a delicious Afghan restaurant in Hell's Kitchen, watched a surprise lighted-ballerina performance at Columbus Circle, and went to a Medeival Festival in Fort Tryon Park (complete with costumes, giant turkey legs, and jousts).

And, of course, you just can't beat the skyline of New York City.

Hermosa Beach Open

2011-09-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

This weekend, Bradford and I were about to sit down to watch the finals of the Hermosa Beach Open on TV. Then we looked out our window, saw the sun shining, and said, "Hey, why don't we just walk down to the pier and watch the finals in person?" So, we did.

We were a little late, but we got to watch Casey Jennings and Pedro Salgado beat Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal. Casey Jennings hadn't won a tournament for over a year and he gave a really sweet speech after the win where he thanked his wife and got a weeee bit emotional.

Here you can see the winners of the tournament: April Ross and Jen Kessy on the women's side and Casey/Pedro on the men's side. You can see Casey holding his kid with the long, blond curly hair, and no, it's not a girl.

Thai Town

2011-09-26T15:49:00.000-07:00

On Friday night, we ventured out of the South Bay bubble and into Thai Town, deep in the heart of Hollywood.

I've mentioned Scott on this blog before. Scott and I traveled together in Jerusalem back in 2008. After I heard a few of his comments in class, I knew that I would become a better, smarter person if I hung around him. So I did. And we made a lot of memories, the highlight of which was dining with Leila Sharaf at the Hotel InterContinental in Amman, Jordan. While I was in Jerusalem, I was dating Bradford and I knew that Scott and Bradford would get along great--they share a lot of things in common (a love of Thailand being one). It wasn't until this weekend, 3 years later, that I saw Scott again and he and Bradford were finally able to meet.

The three of us, along with Scott's roommate Rick, shared a great evening of amazing Thai food (Ruen Pair in Thai Town--it's the best) and great conversation. It's always good to catch up with old friends. Pair that with good food--what more can you ask for?

5353 FEST

2011-09-22T23:19:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple pictures I snapped at this year's 2nd annual 5353 MUSIC\ART\FESTIVAL.

What I forgot to take a picture of was my Spicy Angeleno Hot Dog from the Dogtown Dogs food truck. Tasty delicious.

It's really nice to work in a place that values and celebrates creativity among ALL of its employees. High-five.

PLAYlist

2011-09-20T22:20:00.000-07:00

Here are some tunes I've been digging lately. I've also been encouraging myself to "play" a little more lately, hence the picture, which I'm in love with.

Blood by The Middle East
Where You Go by Elden Calder
Let's Go Surfing by The Drums
Punching In A Dream by The Naked and Famous
I'd Rather Be With You by Joshua Radin

photo via

Signs of Friendship

2011-09-19T20:12:00.000-07:00

This weekend, I turned this...

...into this.

I might not be able to embroider a scarf, but I can make beautiful things with my hands. It's satisfying to make things that you can wear. And this is the perfect thing to add a touch of color and meaning to my daily outfits.

Friendship bracelet tutorial found here.

Jerusalem Scarf

2011-09-17T13:47:00.000-07:00

I wore this scarf the other day and someone asked me if I made it. Um, I wish I could make a scarf like this. But, no. I did not make this scarf. I bought it from a vendor in the Old City of Jerusalem back in 2008 and it's one of my favorite pieces. Every time I put it on, I am reminded of the 4 months I spent in Jerusalem, Jordan, and Egypt: the invigorating feeling of walking through the crowded old city, the deep, personal connections made with total strangers, and the smells. Ah, the rich, delicious smells!! When you add these awesome memories with the gorgeous design and colors, you can see why every time I put on this scarf, I feel confident and happy.

J'aime ma ville.

2011-09-15T08:50:00.000-07:00

The other night at about 2AM, I was woken up by flashing lights and the sound of people talking outside. I looked out my window to see a man passed out on the street. At first, I felt a little annoyed. I didn't like the fact that my neighborhood was a place where people passed out in the middle of the street. Then, as I started to notice his friends crowded around him, one of them performing rescue breathing, I felt concerned and invested in this stranger's wellbeing. While I didn't go outside to help (there were several people helping already), I did sit and watch as the police came, followed by an entire crew of firefighters. Several people helped him and he was eventually taken away in an ambulance. As everyone started leaving the scene, I noticed a girl talking to and then hugging a man and a woman. The man had been one of the "friends" helping the victim. After a moment, the girl said goodbye and sincerely said, "Thank you so much. That was so nice of you."

Then, contrary to the relationships I had assumed in my mind (that all people helping this man were his friends), the two groups parted ways and it quickly became apparent that this man had been a total stranger, a neighbor who had heard the commotion and came outside to help. This small interaction that I witnessed made me so grateful for nice people and it made me think twice about what I would do if faced with the opportunity to help a stranger.

This shirt says "J'aime ma ville" which means "I love my town" in French. I think it's so important to feel a part of your own town and feel connected with your neighbors (in big cities, this is hard). Even if it is just saying "hi" to your neighbors every now and then or developing friendships with people nearby who live within driving distance. There are many reasons that I love my town, but last night added another important reason. I am surrounded by good people.

Click here to view (and purchase) this t-shirt.

Pops of Yellow

2011-09-14T08:40:00.000-07:00

New York Fashion Week is bringing some lovely, colorful pieces of clothing. Now, we just need to get through fall/winter so we can wear these cute, bright spring clothes.

(left and center: Christian Siriano, right: Nicole Miller)

To view the full collections, click here and here.

Sexy Penguins

2011-09-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

We spend a lot of time in our house watching nature documentaries. Bradford has a goal to learn everything and he's slowly getting there. While I don't watch all of the nature docus, I do pay closer attention to ones involving ocean animals, including penguins. A researcher in France recently set out to find out what makes a sexy penguin. He found that males with brighter and larger ear patches were more successful in finding a female mate. Now that I look at it, those are some pretty rockin' sideburns.

2011-09-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

I can't stop staring at this picture. The lighting is insanely gorgeous, and the subject is unexpected, yet inspiring. I've been busier lately, but in a good way and by my own choosing. Work has been manageable, but I'm basically just trying to step it up a little in other areas of my life. Trying to make my life more balanced and trying to be my best self. I know I can achieve great things (anyone can), but it takes discipline and sacrifice. And things aren't always easy. Today, I was feeling a bit lethargic so I decided to take a run. About a 1/2 mile in, I felt "runner's knee" kick in, but decided to ignore it and just finish the rest of my 2-mile run. Well, it turns out, I can't just ignore it when my body hurts anymore, because now I'm limping around with an annoying pain in my knee. This nagging injury has been bugging me for a while (every time I try to run, it flares up), and up until now, I've ignored it and just avoided running. Well, no more. I'm taking this on as a challenge and I plan to conquer this injury that is making it more difficult to work out.

There is beauty in defeat, in failure, in challenges and I think this picture captures that. It's not how you fall, it's how you get back up.

photo via Rosie Hardy

Hair Idea: Ribbon

2011-09-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

My Style

2011-09-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

1 - Top: Target, Pants: Target, Scarf: H&M, Sandals: Lia Bijou

2 - Top: Forever21, Jeans: Zara, Sandals: Billabong, Belt: H&M

3 - Top: Target, Pants: Level 99, Belt: H&M

4 - Sweater: Banana Republic Men's Section, Jeans: Zara, Belt: H&M, Sandals: Billabong

5 - Top: Nordstrom, Skirt: H&M, Shoes: Zara, Earrings: Forever21

These are some of my favorite summer wardrobe staples that have been defining my style lately. I'm not sure if I can really call these summer staples because, let's be honest, do we really have seasons in California? When "fall" comes here, I'll probably just wear more boots and less white pants.

I've made a goal in the last couple years (since I've been married, really) to shop less frequently. Bradford probably feels differently, but I think I've done a fairly decent job. I try to be more "French" by filling my wardrobe with higher-quality pieces that will last a long time, but sometimes that can be expensive.

While I don't always have money for the highest-quality clothes, I do have one rule that I don't compromise on: "If it doesn't fit perfectly, don't buy it." For a girl who is 6' 2", this means that I often try on a lot of things I don't buy. Shopping with me takes patience (just ask my Mom). But it's worth it to find the perfect fit. As a lanky 14-year-old, I spent way too much time in shirts and pants that were much too short for me and I just can't do it anymore. Let clothing be comfortable (and cute!).

A Perfect Ten

2011-09-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

I live with a numbers guy. Bradford likes to look at receipts and make sure everything is properly accounted for. On the contrary, when I get a receipt, I usually crumple it up and chuck it in the trash before it has the chance to add even more clutter to my life. Not Bradford. He actually reads receipts.

Anyways, Friday was a very exciting day in the Fishback household because we made an incredible discovery that has to do with great food and even numbers. (This is actually something that the inner nerd in me is pretty excited about too.) The discovery began with the purchase of a Super Deluxe Burrito from El Burrito Jr. For those unfamiliar, El Burrito Jr. (or LBJ, for short) is an amazing Mexican restaurant in Redondo Beach and the Super Deluxe burrito is a ginormous smothered burrito that can easily feed two people. It also comes with chips and salsa. Like we've done many times before, we paid $6.80 for this scrumptious meal. After our meal at LBJ, we decided to satisfy our sweet tooth with frozen yogurt from nearby Penguins. We opted for a "pint flat top" serving of Fresh Peach, which we also shared. As the cashier rang us up with a total of $3.20, Bradford and I looked at each other with smiles. $6.80 + $3.20 = $10.00 EVEN.

Literally, a DELICIOUS dinner and dessert for an Alex Ham.

Labor Day Weekend

2011-09-06T08:00:00.000-07:00


Clockwise from top left: palms in front of the Beach House, trying on (totally radical) 'flip' sunglasses at Fiesta Hermosa, our newest addition to the family: a picnic basket!, Lindsay eating delicious fair corn, volleyball courts at 14th Street, Bradford checking the receipt at Hermosa Cyclery after repairing the bike

This Labor Day weekend was spent cleaning the house (we had been out of town the last 4 weekends in a row--it's amazing how dust and dirt can build up), cooking, walking around Fiesta Hermosa, hanging out with friends and family, playing volleyball, and eating BBQ. Saturday and Sunday were a bit cloudy, but the sun broke through on Monday and it felt so good to spend the entire day outside.

Can I get a "hallelujah" for holidays that were created with the sole purpose of giving workers some time off?

Pretzel Braid

2011-09-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week I wore my hair in a pretzel braid. I have pretty long hair right now, but I always seem to wear it one of two ways: down or in a ponytail/low bun. My friend and hair/makeup stylist, Katrina, told me something one time that stuck with me (she probably doesn't even remember this). She told me that the trick to having a cute hair style is just doing it! Simple, right? Well, I took her advice and went with it. I think it turned out pretty cute.

For directions on how to make a pretzel braid, click here.

LAX

2011-09-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Brad and I both share a fascination of airplanes and airports, especially LAX. I think, actually I know, it stems from our love of travel. When we lived in El Segundo (our house was literally less than 1/2 a mile from the runway), we would go up to this hill where you could see the runway and just watch planes take off. Soon enough, we got tired of the constant airplane noise in our home so we moved away, but we still love to watch planes take off and wonder where they're flying to.

Last weekend, we found ourselves on top of a parking structure just north of LAX airport. It was the best, full view of an airplane take-off I've never seen. All those times I've been inside the airplane during take-off, I never knew how much distance I traveled or how fast I was really going.

I took a video that shows a plane taking off, then a plane landing. I was surprised at how slow (relatively speaking) the plane travels on the runway before it lifts up.

LAX photo via

Adding a bit of color to my kitchen

2011-08-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

Since we moved into our apartment 10 months ago, I have been searching for a large, framed bulletin board to put in our kitchen. Growing up, I always had a bulletin board in my bedroom and I love the flexibility, creativity, and utility it provides.

Well, I finally found a bulletin board at HomeGoods. And while the antique white color was nice, I needed a bit of color in my kitchen so I decided to paint it. I do not consider myself a crafter or a "DIY-er", but I got brave, picked up some aqua blue paint at Lowe's, and painted the frame of the bulletin board. I love the way it turned out and even more, I love that I can pin things up!

To add even more color, I'd pick up a rug like this.

Below are some more delicious kitchen accessories from anthro.

Kebaya Mug, Chef's Essential Apron, What To Eat Notepad

London

2011-08-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

In April, we took a vacation to London, and I'm finally posting pictures and writing a written recap. We were lucky enough to stay with our fabulous friends, Sam & Brittany, in their perfectly-located flat just off of Kensington High Street. Even though they had to work while we were there, we had an awesome time visiting with them at the end of each day and comparing our stories of London.

Our first day there, we walked off some of the jet lag by taking a stroll through Hyde Park and visiting the Peter Pan statue and Princess Diana fountain.

One of my favorite memories of London is High Tea at Richoux. We ordered the traditional afternoon tea for two and by the end, we were stuffed. The chocolate cake was some of the richest chocolate cake we've ever had. And so, so good. I also loved this lilac-covered house front that we walked by every day on our way to the tube. It looks magical.

The last time I spent a significant amount of time in London was in 1997 with my family. I was 12 years old and had just learned about the Rosetta Stone in school. On our last day there, we had planned to go to the British Museum and I was so excited to see the Rosetta Stone. That day, we walked up to the front of the museum only to discover that the museum was closed! Total disappointment. As you can see from the above picture, 14 years later, I was finally able to achieve my goal of seeing the Rosetta Stone in real life.

One of the highlights for Bradford was visiting the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. I have to say it was very cool standing on the Prime Meridian.

On our last day, we rented bikes and rode throughout the city. Other than the nerve-wracking 20 minutes when we found ourselves in the heart of the city during rush hour traffic (riding on the left side of the road, of course), it was a ton of fun and a great way to see the city. Here I am standing in front of Royal Albert Hall.

My favorite museum was Victoria & Albert and Bradford's favorite was the Natural History museum. The architecture of the main hall the Natural History museum is incredible. I loved it in there.

Some other highlights include: the National Gallery of Art (we walked through every single room), the National Portrait Gallery, Westminster Abbey, changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace, riding double-decker buses, Tower of London (the outside of it), Harrod's, St. Paul's Cathedral, river cruise on the Thames, the Tate Modern (where we saw Wei Wei's Sunflower exhibit), seeing Chicago in West End, visiting Lord's cricket grounds, and, of course, eating fish and chips.

Bromance

2011-08-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

I thought girls acted silly when they got together. This weekend, we hung out with the "Norco Boyz", aka Drew, Brendon, Karl, and Bradford. These guys spent their entire high school days together and, thanks to Brendon being in town for med school rotations, were able to organize a little reunion. It was so fun to watch these guys catch up, reminisce, and just act goofy. These guys have a funny, crazy, and wild side, but they are all really good guys. It was also awesome hanging out with the wives.

To counter my "Girlfriends" post from last week, I was going to title this one "Boyfriends", but it just didn't seem to fit right. However, after reviewing these pictures, I might just have to change that. They start out with "tough guy" pose, then they get a little cozy, then, the next thing you know, Karl is sprawled out on the couch with Bradford caressing his booty. Oh, boys.

Total bromance.

Scotland

2011-08-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year, Bradford and I made a trip to Scotland (and London). I made a video about our trip, but I never took the time to post still photos and write about our favorite memories. So I'm doing it now.

When I think about Scotland, it warms my heart. I have Scottish blood and have always wanted to travel there. In addition, I had always heard people talk about how beautiful Scotland is. Of course I always believed people when they talked about the beauty of the country, but I never really understood it until I traveled there myself. Scotland is a beautiful country. We were lucky to have gorgeous weather while we were there and experienced the countryside in all it's Scottish splendor. The air is clean, the grass is green, and the people are absolutely lovely.

When Bradford lived in Thailand, he developed a very close friendship with Eddie, who is from Glasgow (Loch Lomond, to be specific). So in addition to seeing a beautiful country, we also got to experience the lovely pleasures of staying with a Scottish family. By the end of the trip, Bradford and I both started to develop a bit of a Scottish accent from all the talking we did.

Right when we landed, Eddie took us to a Rangers Football match. Our first experience of European football was a great one. It truly is an experience. Every fan is into the game. The entire time. It was funny because this was the first time Bradford and Eddie had seen each other in about 4 years. You would have thought they'd be catching up during the game, but Eddie was all about Rangers. Luckily, there was plenty of time to chat over a homemade Thai dinner that Eddie's wife Neung prepared for us that evening. It was dee-licious!

The next morning, we walked around the University of Glasgow, or "Glasgow Uni" as Eddie calls it. It was a beautiful crisp walk on an amazing Harry Potter-esque campus. I always complained about the less-than-gorgeous 70's architecture at my college. How I would have loved walking to class at Glasgow Uni.

Later that day, we took the train to Loch Lomond with Eddie, Neung, and their kids Saphrina and Aran. Little kids with Scottish accents are the cutest! When I asked Saphrina what her favorite color was, she replied "paaynk". (That's pink.)

Our day at Loch Lomond was so peaceful. We walked and walked and walked, then ended the day with a spectacular dinner at Balloch House. It was the tastiest lamb I've ever eaten.

On our last day in Scotland, Bradford and I took the train to Edinburgh and visited Edinburgh Castle.

It was fun to play tourists and while the castle was a little crowded, we had a great time learning about Scotland's history. Edinburgh Castle has been around since the 12th Century. How neat it is to be inside buildings and imagine how many different types of people have stood there before me. It was also neat to see the Stone of Destiny.

Scotland, we hope to return to you someday. Thank you, Machins, for making our stay amazing!

Fresh Air

2011-08-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

I am a leader in the Young Women's organization of my church. Each year, the girls attend "Girls Camp" and this year I got to go as well. We stayed in cabins at Camp Arbolado near Big Bear, CA. I've always preferred the beach to the mountains, but I have to say, there is something to be said for waking up, walking outside and taking your first deep breath of crisp, fresh air each morning. It's a bit addictive.

In addition to many fun things like archery, making crafts and learning skills like how to use a compass and administer first aid, we went on a hike to Jenks Lake and went canoeing.

It was so fun to be a "teenage girl" again. I was quickly reminded how much giggling goes on when you get a group of girls together.

Thanks to the girls for making it such a great time.

Girlfriends

2011-08-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

My bestie, Katie, lives in New York. (It's sad, I know. And the really sad thing is, we're not even that good at talking on the phone regularly.) But she and her husband made a 2-week visit to California and it was so wonderful to see them just about every other day while they were here. It felt so easy meeting her for lunch during the week, hanging out on Sunday nights and getting together with our high school girlfriends at our favorite Mexican restaurant.

I love how you can get back together with friends from childhood and slip right back into your goofy, immature, giggly inner-self.

The husbands/boyfriends were really nice and took about a gazillion pictures of us outside.

Interesting fact about this group: Each person's name is a variation of Catherine.

From left: Katie, Katie, Catherine, Kathleen, Cat. Boo-yeah.

Transition

2011-08-22T21:38:00.000-07:00

From top left: Costine V-Neck Sweater $16.99, Merino Keyhole Popover $39.99, Chain-wrapped Pearl Necklace $39.50, Boy Shirt in Indian Voile $39.99, Stripe Costine V-Neck Sweater $39.99, Saturday Sweater $39.99, Blush Check Scarf $29.99, Suede Hook Belt $29.99, Dream Zip Henley $69.99, Lilibeth Leather Sandals $69.99, Lady Lace Popover $69.99, Swoon Skirt $39.99

I am a summer girl through and through, but I also like change. When I found out J.Crew is offering an additional 30% off all Final Sale items through Thursday, I started browsing. Dreaming about a fall wardrobe, the next thing I knew, I had about 25 tabs open on my browser. Above is a selection of 12 summer-to-fall transition pieces. The prices are pre-30% discount. Nice.

On the subject of J.Crew, here is a link to a recent article about the fab Jenna Lyons. If you look at picture #7 of the slide show, you'll see the house where I took piano lessons for 7 years. (Jenna grew up in my hometown and her mom, Mrs. Lyons to me, taught me how to tickle the ivories.)

Above & Below Water

2011-08-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

I can't stop looking at these gorgeous, intriguing photos that show the same exact space above and below water. It's one image (no photoshopping), but it looks like two completely different worlds. The ocean has always intrigued me and these pictures just add to that curiosity.

I actually posted one of these pictures a while back and it's such a treat to be able to see 20 more just like it. Wowzers.

Check out the rest of them here.

Dance!

2011-08-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

I mentioned earlier that the dancing at Kaitlin's wedding was off the hook. From the moment Brad pulled me away mid-conversation to dance the "married couples" song to the last song of the night, I spent the majority of time on the dance floor. I am so grateful I married a man who LOVES to dance. Because I do too. Sometimes we get caught up in the schedules of life, but I think I need to start instituting more impromptu dance parties. Brad did this one time when my niece and nephew were in town and it was so much fun.

Luckily, my aunt is a great historian and had the foresight to take a video of all my family dancing at the reception this weekend. It's a little dark, but you can definitely see some good white people dance moves.

I also love these paintings by Louise Tidd. They capture the joy of dancing so well (and show that you don't need to have a male dance partner to have a good time).

Kaitlin & Doug's Wedding

2011-08-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, August 13, we headed down to San Diego to watch my cousin Kaitlin marry her best friend, Doug. It was a gorgeous day (not surprising in San Diego) with an amazing batch of people.

Kaitlin looked stunning with ribbons and flowers in her hair. She has such a classic look and the wildflower bouquet and lace-y dress just topped it off perfectly.

I can't get over this picture of my cousins (Kaitlin's sisters and bridesmaids), Margot and Lauren. The flowers, the hair, the colors. I love it. Before Kaitlin got married, the Nelson girls were quite the head-turning bunch of single ladies. One redhead, one blonde and one brunette. Watch out.

It's always so nice to get together with my family who I don't get to see often enough. My sister, MaryClaire, and I finally got a good picture together.

Nana Dianne, Natalie and me getting ready to walk into the reception.

Kaitlin and Doug shared their first dance together as husband and wife. And then they shared their first doughnut. (The cake was amazing!)

(Girl cousins with the bride)

The dancing at this wedding was off the hook and Natalie stole the show. Her signature move involved getting down on the ground and kicking her leg up in the air. By the end of the night, she was literally dragging me on to the dance floor. Between the dancing and the candy bar, this girl was in heaven.

And whenever weddings come around, I can't help but remember my own wedding day and the man who makes me smile everyday. (Kiss!)

**Update: Check out the professional photos from Kaitlin & Doug's wedding by clicking here.

Snapshots from Sunday

2011-08-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

Clockwise from top left: the whole gang chowing down at the beach, Natalie reading the "recipe" for her sand cake, Dylan running around with a giant smile on his face, Natalie practicing her headstand, family hang-out time at our apartment, Natalie and me making 'sand cakes'

This past weekend, my sister was in town to help celebrate my cousin Kaitlin's wedding in San Diego (more on that later). She brought along her two youngest kids, Natalie and Dylan.

On Sunday, after the wedding festivities were over and we were back in our neck of the woods, we made a picnic and took it down to the beach in front of our house. After we finished eating, the gang headed back to our apartment where our living room was magically transformed into a "carnival" (in the words of Natalie). Natalie was practicing headstands while Dylan was begging for more lap horse races. It got a little crazy, but there was a lot of love in that little apartment.

One of my favorite quotes from Sunday was when my best friend Katie asked Natalie, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" In the sweetest, most innocent voice ever, she quickly replied, "Still me!"

Move

2011-08-11T05:00:00.000-07:00

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

This video REALLY has me itching to get out of this country and travel. It's exactly one minute long, but after watching it, you'll feel like you've just traveled the world. In one minute. I know, it's crazy.

If you click here, you'll also see two very similar and inspiring videos called LEARN and EAT. I especially love the EAT one.

Summer Picnic

2011-08-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

On Sundays, we usually go over to my parents' house for dinner but this week, Brad and I decided to invite them over to our place for a summer picnic at the beach.

I made sandwiches (grilled chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, avocados and spicy brown mustard on toasted sourdough) and a cheese platter, while my mom brought a salad and frosted brownies for dessert. Of course, we also had a fancy beverage: sparkling Prickly Passion lemonade (so good, you have to try it!).

It was such a pleasant time, we're planning to do it again next weekend when my sister, niece and nephew are in town. I can't wait!

PS.. Check out these rad picnic backpacks.

Lovely Lemon Pop!

2011-08-09T05:00:00.000-07:00

I picked up this new bracelet from Anthropologie using a gift card from my birthday (Thanks Mama!). It's the perfect pop of color to complement jeans and a white t-shirt (which, as I mentioned earlier, I wear just about every other day).

SYTYCD

2011-08-08T05:00:00.000-07:00

Last week, I attended a Thursday night taping of So You Think You Can Dance. I found out at about 1PM that I would be going and I was quite excited!

Living in LA, I've been able to attend a couple show tapings now (Dancing with the Stars a couple years ago and a sitcom I can't remember the name of when I was a teenager) and I'm always surprised how small the studio feels when you see it in person. Cameras have a way of making everything look bigger and better.

The show I attended was the results show where they announced the four dancers who made it into the finals. While there wasn't as much dancing as there is on a Wednesday show, I did get to see each dancer perform a solo, which was awesome. I realized how much more you can see (and feel) when you watch a performance live. For example, I was really impressed with Tadd, whereas when I watched him on TV, I didn't feel as much of his energy.

They didn't allow cameras or cell phones in the studio (bummer!) so I didn't get any pictures inside, but I did spot myself on TV for about a split second when I re-played the show on my DVR later that night. I took a picture so I could prove it to all of you. (You know it's me because I'm wearing a white t-shirt, duh.)

6 Man 2011, Volley-Dorks and Good Times

2011-08-03T00:39:00.000-07:00

This was my 5th year playing in 6-Man. I still love playing but I am starting to feel a little old for all the "madness". Regardless, I don't think I can stop playing in this tournament anytime soon because it is the only time each year I get to hang out with certain past teammates, coaches or other volleyball friends. The volleyball world is pretty small and it seems like many, many volley-dorks*, whether they live in California or not, congregate at the Manhattan Beach 6-Man.

*A volley-dork is a person who is incredibly passionate about the sport of volleyball. He/She loves and may even be slightly obsessed with the game, the culture, the people, and the environment that surrounds the sport. Volley-dorks are known, at times, to be found holding a volleyball in their hand for no apparent reason (like when they are at home sitting on the couch). There are a lot of volley-dorks in the South Bay. I also know a lot who used to play at BYU.

With former Peninsula High School Panthers Nikki and Cat

While I loved being at the beach and smacking volleyballs in the sand, the highlight of the weekend was hanging out with my BYU teammates Erica and Lexi and their families (Erica just got married and Lexi just had her second child). We went out to dinner on Saturday night and enjoyed a Sunday rooftop afternoon feast at my parents' house. I am so grateful for these friends and I cherish the time we get to hang out with each other.


Unfortunately, this is the only picture I snapped while out to dinner, but it's a cute one. Erica is holding Guy, Lexi's newest little bundle of joy.

Two Lovely Things

2011-07-22T15:13:00.000-07:00

White Pocket Tee, Mint Basil Candle* - both from Target

There are few clothing items I appreciate more than a good, white t-shirt. This summer I've been wearing this white tee just about every other day, but I recently decided it might not be a bad idea to switch it up every once in a while with the white pocket tee from Target. While at Target, I also picked up this Mint Basil soy candle on the recommendation of a co-worker, and I love it!

Two simple things that help make my life lovely.

Added bonus: I walked out of Target having spent less than $20. That, my friends, is an accomplishment.

*I couldn't find an exact link online to the candle, but here is a link to the same candle, in a different size and different (but equally delicious) scent.

4th of July 2011

2011-07-07T10:29:00.000-07:00

I woke up on Sunday, July 3rd singing "It's the most wonderful time of the year". I know some people may associate that phrase with Christmastime, but I really believe that summertime is the most wonderful time of the year.

Last year, my 4th of July weekend last year was spent producing a congratulatory print ad for Serena Williams after she won Wimbledon, so I was really looking forward to a real, true 4th of July celebration this year and it did not disappoint. Our day was spent at the beach and filled with lots of sunshine, volleyball, good food, good friends, and everything that is wonderful and lovely about summer in Southern California.

I even baked a patriotic cake to celebrate the occasion. It melted a little bit in the warm weather, but we'll ignore that part.

We ended the day by watching fireworks from the rooftop deck at my parent's house.

I've said this before but I'm so grateful for the friends we've made this year. Good, fun people make everything better.

P.S. Thank you Whitney for all of these pictures!

How to Have a Lovely Birthday

2011-06-30T17:57:00.000-07:00

1. Eat fresh summer strawberries for breakfast.

2. Wear a striped skirt that shows off your booty and makes husband say, "You are a hot woman."

3. Have a facebook account.

4. Eat a giant funfetti cupcake (Thanks Whitney & Chad!)

5. Order a giant meatball with your dinner.

6. Take a walk to the beach and realize you are living your dream.

Dam!

2011-06-26T10:05:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we were in Las Vegas for a Fishback family reunion and we made a trip to the Hoover Dam. Neither Brad nor I had ever been there before and we didn't realize how close it is to Vegas and Lake Mead.

The whole thing felt very "1950s-Americana", like a perfect display of how America conquered the West. The magnitude of the whole thing was pretty incredible.

Rob was with us and was a great tour guide.

He taught us how they built spillways (left) on either side of the river to prevent major damage in case of flooding. Each spillway is 600 feet long and 50 feet wide. Looking down into it, it looks like a black hole. If you're afraid of heights or have vertigo, you might get a little scared looking down into hydro power plant (right).

In October 2010, the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge was opened to assist traffic and prevent terrorist attacks. The bridge is very tall and almost seems more impressive than the Dam itself.

(And P.S. if we look a little sweaty in these pictures, we had just finished a hike through the railroad tunnels at Lake Mead.)

Natalie

2011-06-13T21:48:00.000-07:00

My sister and her family were in town last weekend. I love love love every minute I get to spend with them. On Sunday, my cousins Danny and Lindsey came over. Danny was joking around with Natalie and trying to tell her something that must have been pretty silly! The series of pictures below show Natalie's hilarious reaction.

I love that girl.

(Thanks, Lindsey, for snapping these!)

1X

2011-06-12T22:37:00.000-07:00

{Abdulmajeed Aljuhani}

{Andrey Narchuk}


{Marsel Van Oosten}

I discovered an amazing site called 1x. It's an online photo gallery and social network for artists and photographers and it's chockful of beautiful, inspiring, stirring photographs.

Check it out here.

For more information about the incredible lion shot and how it was taken, click here.

"There's something magical about 3-day weekends."

2011-06-02T01:38:00.000-07:00

This is what Bradford said on day 1 of our 3-day Memorial Day weekend.

On typical 2-day weekends, it's easy to feel like you are still in a routine, working to check things off your list and get stuff done. Even "relaxing" can feel like something you "have" to do. On a 3-day weekend, it feels like the whole pace of the weekend starts out a little slower, and makes the entire weekend so much more enjoyable.

The girls: me, Whitney, Madison

We took our first stab at entertaining and had some friends over for dinner on Sunday night. After dinner, we all walked out to see the sunset and found ourselves in the midst of a mini sandstorm. As you can tell from the top photo, the wind was blowing the sand and creating ripples all along the beach. Makes for a cool photo but you need to be careful not to get sandblasted!

The boys: Brad, Eric, Chad

The rest of the weekend was spent laying out, reading, surfing (Bradford), walking around Fiesta Hermosa (where we purchased a great framed photo to hang above our couch!), and enjoying a BBQ with cousins, friends and family. Can't complain. Not one bit. On Saturday, as we were watching our friend Chad play in a volleyball tournament and I leaned over to Whitney (Chad's wife), and I couldn't help but just express out loud with a happy, exclamatory sigh, "I love living here." It's true and I'm so grateful for living here. Most of all, I'm so glad that summer is here!

Kristen Moves to Paris

2011-05-26T18:58:00.000-07:00

A couple months ago, I received a text informing me that one of my best friends (and bridesmaids), Kristen, was moving to Paris for a new job. The next night I was celebrating her loveliness at a goodbye party.

I've just caught up on her hilarious and well-written blog and discovered that she has experienced many new things in the city of lights like learning how to make macarons, surviving driving around roundabouts (including the massive one that encircles the Arc de Triomphe), and searching, finding, and signing a lease to her very own apartment in Paris.

I just love this girl--always open to learning and experiencing new things and taking the effort to actually follow through with such plans.

The above picture is a good sample of friends that I grew up with. I love reunions.

2011-05-24T23:06:00.000-07:00

{love}

{passport}

{style}

Have you discovered pinterest? It's my latest obsession. A place to save and tag all of the beautiful and striking images you come across while surfing the web. What a great and well designed idea.

Above is a sample of what my "love", "passport", and "style" pinboards look like. I also have boards for food, interiors, just plain cute and more.

Click here to check out the rest of my boards.

Wanderlust

2011-05-17T12:18:00.000-07:00

I am in love with these images I found on the travel website, Celestielle. Tanzania

Namibia

Oman

unknown

"Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life."
-Omar Khayyam

Update

2011-05-15T22:22:00.000-07:00

It's been a little quiet on the blog lately, but not in life, that's for sure. I can't say I have many snappy/happy/my-life-is-amazing stories to share (aside from our lovely UK trip of course, don't want to sound ungrateful in the slightest), but in the last three weeks, my stories consist more of late nights at the office, workdays that are "go, go, go", and mental exhaustion at the end of each week. Sounds nice, right?

The one thing about being really busy at work is that you sure do enjoy your weekends. I LOVE MY WEEKENDS!!!!!

We're starting to take advantage of our beach-side bungalow, taking Saturday-morning bike rides to breakfast and attempting to surf. Yeah, I'm not sure we actually "surfed" on Saturday, but we attempted. We are currently 'babysitting' a pair of surfboards and wetsuits while my brother lives in Utah, so in an effort to keep them in use, we took them out for a session. Bradford was very close to surfing (we think we need a bit more wax for hand grip) and me, well, I got a very good shoulder workout as I tried to paddle through the endless choppy waves that Southern California beaches have to offer. We're gonna keep trying and hopefully we'll be able to stand up soon.

Some links to check out:

The cutest video about two kids who kiss on the lips.

The carmelitas I made this evening.

The United Kingdom

2011-04-24T23:42:00.000-07:00

We just returned from a lovely trip to England and Scotland. It was great to spend time with friends: Sam & Brittany in London, and Eddie & Neung in Glasgow. Above is a video that we created to document the trip. We also posted pictures on Facebook. Click here for London and here for Scotland.

Cheers!

Teahupoo

2011-04-07T23:07:00.000-07:00

We are kind of obsessed with this picture right now. Just thought I'd share.

And to go along with it, this awesome video footage of Laird Hamilton surfing at the same spot.

Chris & Amy's Wedding

2011-03-29T22:18:00.000-07:00

Wedding season is officially here. I've had two good friends get married in the last three weeks. My cousin gets married next weekend and another cousin is tying the knot in August. So much fun.

On Saturday, Brad and I drove down to Aliso Viejo for Chris & Amy's wedding. Their story is really special because they have been dating for 10 years (since they were sophomores in high school). I remember many conversations with Amy during our freshman year of college, talking about her boyfriend back home. They've been together this whole time and it was so great to see them both so happy on their wedding day. Amy looked gorgeous, as you can see.

John & Erica's Wedding

2011-03-20T12:05:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, Brad and I hopped into our car at 7PM and drove to Mesa, AZ for John & Erica's wedding. We spent all day Saturday and Sunday morning with our friends, then drove back home. We spent 12 hours in the car and less than 36 hours in Arizona, but it was so worth it to see all of our good friends and watch Erica get married!

My volleyball friends and I share a very special bond. It has been fun to be able to spend good, quality time with them in the last couple months. In January, we had more of a girls' trip, but this one was different because all of our husbands were there. It can be difficult to hang out as "couples" sometimes but everyone in this group seems to get along really well. I feel like Brad and I have been really blessed with our friendships this year.

It was such a great experience to be able to watch Erica get married. I'm so glad I was able to be there and support her. She and John were glowing all day and I'm so excited for their future together.

Below is a picture of the whole group (except Erica and John), husbands, kids and all.

And here is the happy couple.

Thanks to Lexi and Lolo for several of these photos.

Across the Pacific

2011-03-16T22:47:00.000-07:00

This image really, really struck me today. It led me to this slideshow where the fifth image had me fighting back tears at my desk.

On Friday morning, I listened to news about the 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami that had just terrorized Japan. As I drove along the ocean on my way to work, I noticed several crowds of people standing on the edge of the beach, just staring out at the massive blue Pacific. At first I found it quite entertaining because the ocean looked just the same as it does every other day. Nothing more than 2-3 foot waves. No stormy weather. Newscasters had already reported minimal damage to Hawaii, so Southern California was clearly safe.

Then I thought a little deeper about the people standing on the edge of the Pacific and began to acknowledge the massive structure that the ocean is. I started thinking of those figures on the beach, not as people concerned for their own immediate future, but as people mourning what Japan had just experienced, mentally crossing over the Pacific ocean to the coastal areas of Sendai, imagining the trauma people were going through at that exact moment in time.

My heart is heavy imagining the loss and terror people in Japan are feeling right now. Every time I look at the ocean, I can't help but remember that on the other side of the beautiful blue I see is a town, living in tragedy.

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

2011-03-14T21:54:00.000-07:00

image via

...Daylight Savings Time switch!

About a month ago, I told Brad that I had seasonal depression. To this, he laughed in my face. It's hard to blame him, given that the low temperature in Hermosa Beach in the winter is usually low-50s or high-40s.

The problem wasn't the temperature, it was the sunlight, or lack thereof, in my life. When you work a 9-5 and the sun sets at 5:30, you don't see much light in your life. Enter daylight savings time... hallelujah! As I drove home tonight at 6:30PM with my sunglasses on and this summer song playing on the radio, I was super, super happy.

Music and Running

2011-03-07T15:29:00.000-08:00

Temper Trap - "Love Lost"

Do you love the combination of music and running? Not that I'm much of a runner, but I love the freeing feeling of exerting physical energy (especially outdoors) while listening to an amazing piece of music. When I was in college, after frustrating volleyball matches spent watching my team from the bench, I would run my heart out to this anthemic song in whatever type of gym the hotel I was staying in offered.

I also love running to less predictable songs, like this one by the amazing Sarah Brightman.

Music and exercise are the best. And so is this music video.

Like diamonds dancing on the water...

2011-03-03T17:38:00.000-08:00

image via

Human Towers

2011-02-22T21:50:00.000-08:00

I did a little bit of climbing while I was in Spain, but nothing compared to the human towers these Catalonians fearlessly build. You've gotta love the Spaniards and their festivals. Aside from the more familiar flamenco dancing and bullfighting, there is tomato throwing, running with bulls, and human tower building.

Check out this video for some amazing tower building footage. And scroll through to the very end to see the best, passionate celebration shot ever--all to show excitement for a team's successful human tower. Gotta love the PASSION.

Remnants

2011-02-17T14:39:00.000-08:00

These are the remnants of our Valentine's dinner. Despite my love for cooking, the menu consisted of food carefully selected from the Trader Joe's pre-made food section. V-Day on a Monday makes it a bit difficult.

Isn't it great how simple candles and flowers can 'pretty-up' a room? I think I will be lighting those candles more than just once a year.

top image via

O Man, Oman.

2011-02-14T16:32:00.000-08:00

My friends Mark and Chris recently traveled to Oman. Even though Cairo just overthrew one of the most-hated leaders in their history (which is quite a long history), Oman seems to be in a very good place and is moving toward a promising, modern future. Read the below excerpt from Mark's blog.

"I have to say that from what little I have learned about Sultan Qaboos, I have to respect the man. 40 years ago Muscat only had a school or two, a hospital, and no major roads connecting the different towns. Today Muscat is incredible. When Sultan Qaboos began to rule Oman he promised his people he would turn their country into a modern nation that would restore the former glory Oman knew thousands of years ago. I have to say its probably the most beautiful city I have been to in the Middle East. It reminded me of San Francisco."

{pictures from Mark and Chris}

2011-02-12T00:27:00.000-08:00

photo via

lyrics by Keane

JimmerMania

2011-02-10T22:12:00.000-08:00

photo via

So my friend and fellow adman (er, adperson?), Johnny, made this website about Jimmer Fredette. It's pretty awesome. The best part about it is this story about a student at BYU who wrote a letter to the editor of BYU's daily newspaper, The Daily Universe.

This student was expressing how there is too much hype about Jimmer and people should stop talking about him and "worshipping" him so much. She also wrote in this letter, "Last time I checked, idol worship was very much frowned upon in the scriptures".

After the letter was written and published, aforementioned girl mentions letter to the Daily Universe in her facebook status...

...which spurred the most hilarious facebook thread, defending "The Jimmer" that I have read in a while. You can read the whole thread in its entirety here, but here are some of my favorite comments, listed below:

What a great time to be a Cougar. I'm still a little cautious about predicting the team's success in the tourney (you never know what's gonna happen), but props to Jimmer for helping to elevate BYU basketball and BYU athletics, in general.

The Travel Bug

2011-02-09T23:37:00.000-08:00

Wouldn't this outfit be great for traveling just about anywhere? The covered sleeves and legs could take you anywhere in the Middle East, the bright green is great for the bold culture of Spain, and the whimsy, flowy pants would work well in any island setting.

I've got me an itch to travel. We're trying to save our pennies, but when we see screaming deals on TravelZoo every week, it becomes a bit difficult.

This week I've been working with some people from Berlin, Sao Paulo, London, Canada, and Mexico and it just reminds me of how much I love and appreciate different cultures. How can you be upset when someone you barely know greets you with a hug and a kiss on the cheek? LA is a great place to experience a wealth of cultures everyday, but there's no real substitute for travel.

Travel is great for seeing new things, but I also think it's an incredible excuse to act in a new way. Travel lets you be a bit of a different person, stray a little from your normal ways, and think a little broader than your everyday world demands.

I have to give a shout out to my cousin Allison, who is currently studying in New Zealand. She has basically taken on the mantra of "overcome your fears" while on this trip. In the last two weeks she went bungee jumping, sky diving, and rode a horse, all of which she had never done before. I couldn't be more proud of her.

We're a little busy right now...but good.

2011-02-08T23:32:00.000-08:00

I mentioned that Brad was working like a dog, but last night I worked until about 10pm too. Then this morning we both woke up at 6:30 to start the workday all over again.

Sometimes, work sucks. But mostly, I feel grateful for my job. I like what I do and while there are late nights, re-briefs, revisions, late approvals, and occasional weekend phone calls, I find satisfaction in the creation of a final, polished, powerful television spot (or print ad, radio spot, billboard, event, etc.). The creative process is beautiful. And it, for better or worse, isn't bound by 9-5 hours. The physical and monetary results of hard work are nice, but the feeling of good, hard work is even better.

I dated a very wealthy man one time and imagined a life where work (for money) would not be required. It was enticing, but there was a crazy part of me who loved the idea of building my own life with my own successes and my own hard work, alongside a husband who worked just as hard. There is beauty in work. And I love that kind of beauty.

Lovely, Sushi, and "Us"

2011-02-05T20:50:00.000-08:00

I took this picture a couple weeks ago and I really love it. Kinda peaceful, no? As you may be able to tell, I don't own a DSLR, but I do love to take pictures of pretty things.

Bradford has been working like a dog lately. Tonight I picked him up from work at 6pm and took him straight to happy hour at Sushi Studio. We had to drive through a sketchy neighborhood to get there and Brad was a bit skeptical about my choice but after we sank our teeth into the Yellow Submarine roll (tempura vegetables with mango and crispy goodness on top), he was sold. Also, the place calls it self "sushi with a Thai kick". Not sure exactly how the Thai kick is incorporated into the food, but there were pictures of Thai kings and the servers spoke Thai, so Brad felt at home.

On our way home, we were talking about potential Super Bowl plans for tomorrow and dinner plans with friends the following weekend when Brad said, "When are we gonna have time for us?" So sweet.

Pardon me while I go enjoy 'us time'.

LA Photography

2011-02-02T11:19:00.000-08:00

I'm currently searching for the perfect piece of art to hang over our couch. While searching, I discovered this great photographer on Etsy: Myan. I'm obviously biased toward beach-y, LA scenery, but this stuff just makes me happy inside.

Pictures from the Weekend

2011-02-01T20:31:00.000-08:00

I am so lucky to have these friends. We are a little crazy, really tall, and we have a whole lot of fun.

Good, good times.

Creative Genius

2011-02-01T15:38:00.000-08:00

I was smitten the other night when I watched "This Is It". with these lovely ladies. It was quite sad to see the rehearsals for what would have been Michael Jackson's final tour. It was going to be so incredibly epic. As you know, the tour never happened. This seems silly, but watching the movie inspired me to listen to Michael Jackson's songs and think of his legacy in a different way.

He was a creative genius. But he was also a believer of making the world a better place. Is there a more inspirational song than Man in the Mirror?

He used his talents for good.

I'm not quite sure what my talent is, still working on discovering it, I suppose, but I really hope that when I find it, I can use it for good.

For now, I'll just keep a picture of MJ on my desktop for inspiration. Owwww!

Arizona Weekend

2011-01-30T22:59:00.000-08:00

I just spent the most fabulous weekend in Arizona with my BYU volleyball teammates. My teammates are actually more like my sisters and we had such a great time hanging out. Even though many of us haven't seen each other in a couple years, it felt like no time at all had passed (except for the addition of a couple cute babies).

The reason for this trip was a surprise party for our coach's 40th birthday party. Click here to see his reaction when he walked into the restaurant. Success!

The Meaning of Palestine

2011-01-27T15:44:00.000-08:00

If you've ever wondered about the Arab-Israeli conflict, now is a really great time to understand it. Al Jazeera-English has recently leaked a wealth of files, including minutes, notes, graphs, and maps from private and closed-door sessions of peace talks between leaders from Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and the US. They are referred to as the Palestine Papers. And they are very interesting.

When I first arrived home after Jerusalem (in April 2008) and especially after the Gaza War of Winter 08-09, I had a yearning to share a deeper understanding of the word Palestine with friends, family, and acquaintances.You see, Palestine is known as the geographic area encompassed within the borders of Israel. (See map here for further clarification. Israel is orange and the Palestinian territories are grey.)

But the word Palestine means so much more than a geographical area. It is a complex word that means different things to different people. And I'm not sure it means a lot to Americans.

Palestine means "home" to displaced Arabs who were forced out of their country in 1948. It means "opposition" to newly-settled Israelis. It means "confusion" to Americans unclear about the Arab-Israeli conflict. It means "peace" to some and "violence" to others. It means "Philistines" or "Land of the Philistines". It means "frustration" to a lot of people. Palestine is a word that deeply touches the hearts of most Arabs around the world. To me, Palestine means "beautiful".

If you ever have a chance to visit the wonderful city of Jerusalem, you will discover the beauty that I speak of. Jerusalem is not easily forgotten. It is a place where smells and sounds infuse your memory and never, ever leave. It is a place where you can spend an entire day sitting on a balcony marveling at the history, beauty, and complexity the city represents. It is a place that etches it's soul into the hearts of 4-month tourists. I can only imagine the etchings on the heart of a lifelong resident. It is a place that should represent love, not conflict.

I hope the leak of the Palestine Papers makes these conflicts more transparent, lucid, and discussed.

I heard Alexis Ohanian speaking on Bloomberg a couple days ago and he mentioned the idea of "little brother". Instead of 'big brother' always watching, it is now 'little brother' (like Wikileaks and, now, the Palestine Papers) who is making waves and keeping larger entities in check.

In this confusing world of conflict, I hope that we're moving in the right direction. I hope that all residents of Ispalraelestine can live in peace. I hope that everyone can have a voice, and I hope that the world can increase in understanding and wisdom.

"Wisdom begins in wonder."

-Socrates

Big-Wave Surfing in the Dark

2011-01-25T16:41:00.000-08:00

There are some adventurous, risk-taking people in the world. Mark Visser is one of them. This is one gnarly ride. 30- to 40-foot waves. At night. Ca-razy!

In the LA Times article, he said, "It wasn't until I saw the pictures I realized how big it was. I had to go off feeling. It was the scariest but most exciting thing I have ever done."

The Birds

2011-01-22T20:06:00.000-08:00

This evening there was a large group of seagulls gathered right at the ocean shoreline at sunset. I've always wondered about how birds communicate. I often see large groups gathered on the beach in the mornings and evenings. Often times they are facing the same direction, as if they are having a big meeting, but maybe they just enjoy watching sunrises and sunsets because they are romantic. Katie, can you verify this one for me?

Oh, to be a bird.

Hip Hop Around the World

2011-01-19T10:45:00.000-08:00

Shake the Dust - Uganda Sneak Preview from Loose Luggage on Vimeo.

*Tagging Amy in this.--You will love this. Especially 3:06 - 3:10. You'll die at the cuteness in that shot.

I just learned of Shake the Dust, a film project that is currently being created about hip-hop and breakdancing around the world. The above clip shows a preview of the crew's filming in Uganda.

This will make you happy.

I've always felt very strongly about music and dance as a way to build happiness, bring people together, and create peace. There are so many documentaries out there that focus on social problems and offer little or no solution for how to combat them. This is a happy film. A film that focuses on the good aspects of third-world countries and spreads the message that there are good people and good things happening in places that we, because of large media outlets, typically associate with war and violence and corruption.

Discoveries like learning there is a hip-hop culture in Yemen are reasons why I love travel. I'm so grateful to the internet for helping make those discoveries more accessible and affordable. :)

Driving Home

2011-01-18T21:38:00.000-08:00

I am a very lucky girl. You see, everyday (well, unless it's one of those days I am working until 2 in the morning, of course), on my way home from work, I get to ride off into the sunset. I've been snapping pictures lately on my drive home because I am so obsessed with the beautiful views I get to enjoy as I drive home to my wonderful house and husband. Not only do I start the drive riding off into the sunset, it continues with a gorgeous stretch of road right along the ocean. And occasionally, I get to see planes fly right over my head as they take off from LAX. That is very cool as well.

Again, it's the little things to be thankful for. (Like 1/11/11.)

Redondo Beach Pier

2011-01-16T11:19:00.000-08:00

We've both been working longer hours this past week, so when we learned that it would be in the 70s this weekend and sunny, Brad and I agreed that we had to spend all day Saturday outside. We started with a friendly game of tennis, then decided to walk to our favorite Mexican restaurant for lunch. (It ended up being quite a long walk, but was super enjoyable, nonetheless.) On the way to lunch, we walked through the Redondo Beach Pier.

This pier was a primary location for filming of The O.C. We like to walk around it and marvel at the boats, fisherman, and mounds of live crabs and lobsters. There's something about being above the ocean that is really beautiful, relaxing, and freeing.

72 and Sunny

2011-01-13T17:54:00.000-08:00

You know, I really shouldn't rub it in, seeing as both of my siblings and their families live in Utah and my parents are there visiting right now, and I have a lot of dear, dear friends who live in Utah or New York, but guess what? Today it was 72 degrees and sunny. I ate lunch outside, wearing sandals and a light sweater, and it was beautiful.

The forecast for this weekend is looking lovely and I might just hop down to the beach with a book and stay for a while. Maybe add a seashell to my collection if I find any good ones.

On days when it is not sunny here, I like to look at this gorgeous artwork that you see above and think of sunny days at the beach. And then I feel happy. The artist of this fabulous piece is Serena Mitnik-Miller and her paintings are some of my very absolute favorite. This one in particular reminds me of kelp bulbs at the beach. Not to mention the colors, which are stunning. See more of her work on her website, here.

Shackleton

2011-01-13T10:59:00.000-08:00

"In memories we were rich. We had pierced the veneer of outside things. We had 'suffered, starved and triumphed, groveled down yet grasped at glory, grown bigger in the bigness of the whole.' We had seen God in His splendors, heard the text that nature renders. We had reached the naked soul of man."

-Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton

Sir Ernest Henry Ernest Shackleton. Have you heard of him? Aside from having a wicked-awesome last name, he is an unmatched and fearless leader who led a group of 27 men toward the goal of accomplishing the first crossing of the Antarctic continent. The men began their journey in 1914 and did not return until 1916. During this nearly two-year journey, they endured perhaps the harshest conditions that anyone has ever had to endure. If there was ever a story of leadership, comraderie, and morale, this is it.

Sometimes I find stories that I would reference to inspire myself or my team if ever I were to become a volleyball coach. 300 is one, but this one is better.

The power of survival and success is in the mind.

Brad and I watched the documentary, Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure the other night through Netflix, but I just found it available for free on Youtube. Click here to watch Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3

I'm told that the PBS version of this story is better and that can be found here.

Watch this story. And once you're finished, take a warm shower.

You'll never be the same.

1/11/11 and Photoboother

2011-01-11T14:06:00.000-08:00

I think there might be one other person who gets as excited as I do about dates and times with repeating numbers. Please note the exact time of this posting.* I know. It's silly. But it's the little things in life that create happiness. And I will gladly get excited about the little things until the day I die.

To make this day of "ones" even more exciting, my nephew Chace turns 1 year old today! It's quite an amazing feat of total luck that he gets to celebrate this first birthday (which he won't remember) on such a fitting date, isn't it? At least everyone else can enjoy it and think it's cool.

Remember how I tried to create my own photo booth montage with Brianna the other day? Well, I recently discovered an amazing site called photoboother that lets you create actual old-school photo booth strips from digital images. Am I getting old or does anyone else agree that the old-school photo booths that print black and white pictures in a strip are ten thousand times cooler than the newer colorful, fancy-border, sticker version?

Anyway, go to photoboother and check it out. I created the strip to the left from pictures we took over a year ago on our honeymoon in Coronado. Good, good times.

I hope you all are having a fabulous 1/11/11.

Enjoy it!

*I sadly missed the exact posting time of 1:11pm by one minute. At least my intentions were good.

Wanderlist

2011-01-10T14:30:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to create a wanderlist for some time. Part of me finds it difficult to dream of so many magnificent things and realize I don't have the funds to do hardly any of them right now. But then I remember that I am young and life is long. I'm lucky to have already crossed a few of these off my list and it makes me happy to realize all of the magnificent experiences and places this world has to offer.

Without further ado...

1. Skydive

2. Swim with sharks

3. Learn to speak Arabic and use it!

4. Walk the Great Wall of China

5. Attend Wimbledon

6. Visit Jerusalem

7. Attend a Christkindlmarkt in Europe

8. Hike Everest Base Camp Trek (Bradford)

9. Attend a circus

10. African Safari

11. Learn to sail and sail to beautiful places

12. Dine with a foreign dignitary

13. Eat Baja fish tacos in Baja California

14. Scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef

15. Live steps to the beach

16. Cinque Terra

17. Visit the Great Pyramids (and Karnak Temple)

18. Attend a rodeo

19. Attend a bullfight in Spain

20. Create a gorgeous library in my home

21. Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro

22. View the cherry blossom festival in Japan

23. Play beach volleyball in Rio de Janeiro

24. Travel to Antarctica and see thousands of penguins

25. Marvel at the Grand Canyon

26. Run a marathon? (Maybe a half?)--this one scares me the most

27. Explore Macchu Picchu

28. Earn my AAA rating in beach volleyball

29. Attend an English Premier League soccer match

30. See lava

31. Go to Thailand and gawk at Bradford speaking Thai to everyone

32. Participate in a Muslim prayer service in a mosque

33. Kiss my husband all over Paris

34. Experience "southern hospitality"

35. Attend an opera

37. Alaska

38. India

I fully expect this list to grow and grow and grow. As the old adage says:

"The more you know, the more there is to know."

Photo Sources:

Rodeo, Cinque Terra, Skydiving, Zebra, Sailboat in Ibiza, Great Wall, GBR Scuba, Wimbledon, Circus, Hermosa Sunset, Christkindlmarkt, Home Library, Kilimanjaro, Cherry Blossoms, Rio Volley, Penguin Love, Grand Canyon, LA Marathon, Macchu Picchu, ManU Soccer, Thailand, Paris Love, Georgia Home, Baja Taco, Opera, Bear, India Flowers

Everest, Jerusalem, Pyramids, Arabic Script, Leila Sharaf, Bullfight, Shark Cage, and Lava from me.

Photo Booth

2011-01-07T21:10:00.000-08:00

Sooo... My niece Brianna (the hip shaker) and I had a little fun with the camera on my phone over Christmas Break. She was so perfect at mimicking every single face I made. My favorite is the bottom left. I think she might be an actress someday. I mean, really, look at that face!?

^ That face, right up there. Oscar-winner for sure.

Tron

2011-01-06T14:59:00.000-08:00

Over the break, we saw Tron in 3D. Brad and I tend to average about 3 movies in the theater a year and we like to choose movies where the experience will undoubtedly be better in a large theater (like Avatar, Inception, Dark Knight, or, in this case, Tron Legacy).

The movie was entertaining and would make for a pretty killer ride at Disneyland. Also, I think I know what I want to be for Halloween this year.

Christmas Kiddos

2011-01-05T16:50:00.000-08:00

Christmas with kids is so much fun. It was so great to be able to spend quality time with my Fishback nephews and niece. Man they are just so cute and excited about Christmas. Here are some good shots of Christmas including the gorgeous flocked tree (with a bazillion presents underneath), a visit from Santa, and, of course, the cute kiddos.

Someone needs to tell Brianna to stop being so adorable. Here she is 'posing' her new outfit that we gave her for Christmas. She can bust that hip like no one's business.

Swimming with Sharks

2011-01-04T17:53:00.000-08:00

(photo by James Morgan, Bajau Community near Wangi Wangi, in the Coral Triangle)

Last year, I posted about swimming elephants. I don't know what it is about water, animals, and simple people that inspires me so much. I love this picture. The Bajau people are seafaring nomads, which means they live on or near the sea and depend on it for their survival (food). Bajau children learn to swim before they can walk and, apparently, the Bajau people intentionally rupture their eardrum at an early age to facilitate deeper diving and easier hunting (wow!). Click here to see more stunning images, like the one above, by James Morgan.

I would love to spend a year island-hopping in the Coral Triangle.

Paree

2011-01-03T17:24:00.000-08:00

Brad sent me this video a couple days ago and watching it reeeeally makes me want to travel to Paris. Just hearing the first few beats of this music calms me. For anyone trying to beat the first back-to-reality day of the year doldrums, this is a great escape.

Check out other 3D videos from Google Earth featuring Sevilla and Venice. But be prepared to have a longing desire to travel more. (Sigh...)

(photos above from my travels to Paris and Sevilla)

2011!

2011-01-02T17:39:00.000-08:00

Brad and I have been battling colds this week so we kept it low-key on New Year's Eve, toasting to each other with sparkling blood orange juice and walking down to the Pier at midnight for the countdown. On our way home, some of our neighbors were lighting huge fireworks right above our heads!

After a nice holiday break, it's now time to go back to work and make the most of 2011. We wish you a happy, healthy, and prosperous year!

(B & C, 12:01AM; 1/1/11; Hermosa Beach Pier)

Holiday Fun

2010-12-30T22:51:00.000-08:00

We spent Christmas Eve in Norco playing tennis and miniature golf. That's how it's done in Californ-i-a. This was followed by a delicious roast beef dinner complete with lots of Martinelli's.

This is me trying to add to our team talent with encouraging high-fives since my tennis skills aren't quite up to 'winning' level yet.

Brianna + Nana = BriNana

The kids loved playing on the "mini" buildings.

All the boys got a hole in one on the last hole--you know, the last hole where parks always make it really difficult to get a hole in one. Yeah, that one. They ALL got it. It was a Christmas miracle.

Lawry's

2010-12-30T10:55:00.000-08:00

A few days before Christmas, my family dined at Lawry's Prime Rib in Beverly Hills. We've been coming here as a family since I was a baby, and even though much of our family has moved away, my parents still try to keep the tradition alive. This year David, Jill, and Chace joined us and it was a great time. The restaurant is always decorated beautifully for Christmas and they even have old-fashioned Christmas carolers that come around to your table and sing your favorite carol. (We chose O Holy Night.)

Chace looked adorable in his corduroy jacket. Please notice the arm patches (you can see them in the family picture below).