Snapshot #141: Fallen Leaves

  
October 31, 2010.  Wendell, Idaho.  Mom and Dad's yard, covered with fallen leaves, was absolutely perfect for rolling around!

Snapshot #140: Spider Jack O'Lantern

October 20, 2010.  Wendell, Idaho.  Celebrated Halloween today with the family by carving pumpkins.  This spider has got to be the coolest jack o'lantern I've ever created!  Also" trunk-or-treated" in the church parking lot...ran into some old high school friends.  Fun.

Snapshot #139: Idaho Sunset

October 29, 2010.  Somewhere, Idaho.  I've nearly memorized the drive from Utah to Idaho by now.  Today's sunset however, was something else.  It was gorgeous.  And it seemed to last for hours. 

Snapshot #138: Marketing the Morning Market Call

October 28, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  In an effort to promote and bring recruits to Morning Market Call, Dave and his co-anchors created this very entertaining video.  Another of my favorites is the David-David Show. 

Snapshot #137: First Snow 2010

October 27, 2010.  Baby, it snowed last night.

Snapshot #136: Avacado and Cottage Cheese

October 26, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  Drafting, Drafting; hopefully only one more day of drafting for White Elegance...my right hand is sore.  Avacados and Cottage Cheese were the best break food I could come up with today.

Snapshot #135: View Outside My Window

October 25, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  It was another day of drafting for White Elegance.  Here is a picture of the view outside my window next to my drafting table.

Recipe Diaries: Snapshot #134: White Bean Soup

October 24, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  This week's soup turned out extra tasty.  I'm going to document the ingredients so I may refer back and re-create at a later date.  One pound White Beans, 10+ cups Water, 1 bunch chopped celery, 1 green bell pepper, 1 red bell pepper, small yellow onion, 3-4 cloves garlic, 1/2 bunch cilantro, salt, pepper, cumin, and marjoram, & chopped pastrami and 2 cubes Knorr chicken flavored bouillon (last two ingredients added for last hour of simmering).    

Snapshot #133: Hand-Drafting for White Elegance

October 23, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  I wonder when was the last time The Boyer Company built out a store from hand-drafted documents.  Of course they're beautiful, but the time it takes to put them together can get very tedious.  I have to find a way to finish this complete set by mid-week.     

Snapshot #132: Furniture Shopping with Lela

October 22, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  Lela is my Cinderella-Girl.  If she approves, one day I will share her story with you.  As for today, we went furniture shopping.  I found this elegant high-back bench for her hallway.  It's totally her.  Can you tell from the smile on her face?  Oh by the way, she quickly latched on to all the non-conventional furniture layouts for her home.  Easy sell.  I was thrilled!  Evidently that's why she chose me as her designer...she loves that I'm non-conventional.  Can't beat that.

Snapshot #131: Space Planning for Lela

October 21, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  Lots and lots of running around.  I have always worked under someone else's umbrella and never had a need to finalize the details for my own business until now.  I've been getting the Articles of Organization for StudioRed, setting up the business bank account, setting up my vendor accounts and categorizing my discounts.  As well as doing the fun stuff...my favorite part of design...Space Planning.  The new furniture layout for Lela's House is really going to create impact...if only I can get her to approve some of my non-conventional ideas.   

Snapshot #130: Lela's House

October 20, 2010.  I can't stop thinking about Lela's House.  Today I met with her and got approvals on the the fabrics seen above.  She loves the concept just as much as I do! 

Snapshot #129: StudioRed

October 19, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  My dormant freelance interior design business, StudioRed LLC, has just been awakened from a deep sleep.  I have been commissioned by two clients for two really great projects. #1--I will be drafting the construction documents for a new retail store, White Elegance.  #2--I will be furnishing a 5000sf personal residence.  Yippee!!    

Snapshot #128: Fall Colors

October 18, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  Just can't get over how beautiful the mountains are.

Exploring Idaho: Snapshot #127: Logging at Smiley Creek

October 16, 2010.  Sawtooth City, Idaho.  One of my favorite places in the world is the Stanley Basin found in the heart of the Sawtooth National Forest of central Idaho, where there are rumored to be 27 lakes within 27 miles.  Sawtooth City is an area 40 miles northwest of Sun Valley--on the other side of Galena Peak--consisting of the Smiley Creek Airport, Smiley Creek Lodge, Alturas Lake, and some cabin getaways.  

This Saturday we loaded up the family and headed to the mountains for the annual "gathering of wood" for winter.  I thoroughly enjoy working alongside my family.  It was a gorgeous day, as evidenced by the photos.          

Snapshot #126: My Nephew

October 15, 2010.  Wendell, Idaho.   Spent a day of shopping with Mom and Jana.  Neither Ashley nor I love shopping, so we did our best to play all day while they got the shopping done.  He is now my little buddy. 

Snapshot #125: Big Day

October 14, 2010.  Utah/Idaho Border, USA.  Big day for me today.  I had a second interview with the Temple Design Department in the Church Office Building of Salt Lake City.  The interview was in actuality a "60-Minute Grueling Design Scenario/Competition".  Evidently I did alright and will be advancing to the final stage of interviews along with one other candidate.  The top two...out of hundreds of applicants...it's overwhelming, and exciting.

Then tonight, it was back to Idaho to spend the rest of the week with my family.  Jana came from Wales to help mom through chemotherapy...but now since she does not have to undergo treatment...it is a time for some work and celebration. 

Snapshot #124: Nervous Wreck

 October 13, 2010.  Utah/Idaho Border.  This morning I received a phone message from the Temple Department indicating that I am one of their finalists-which is a very short list-and inviting me in for a second interview/design session tomorrow.  Mom let me borrow her car, so I'm headed back to Utah for 24 hours.  I am a nervous wreck.

Snapshot #123: Sister from Wales

October 12, 2010.  Boise, Idaho.  Tonight my sister Jana flew into Boise from her home country of Wales.  It has been 3-1/2 years since she last stepped foot on American soil...and just as long since she last embraced Dad.  Many tears were enjoyed by all.  

Snapshot #122: Dreams Come True, Miracles Happen & Prayers Are Answered

October 11, 2010.  Salt Lake City, Utah.  We are in a state of rejoicing.  Today We Three Kings visited with an expert Oncologist in Utah to get the final word on Chemotherapy for Mom.  So far it has been expected that she would undergo treatment; in fact she had scheduled an appointment with the wig lady following the doctor visit.  We were all crying when she made the call to cancel her appointment with the wig lady.  Doctor Harker is 100% confident there is no real benefit to Mom by undergoing chemo.  She has been given a new lease on life.   

Snapshot #121: Yummy Crunchy Caramel Apple Pie

October 10, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  Sometimes the best things in life last only a few minutes.   

Snapshot #120: Saturday Night Football

October 9, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  Dave is happy.  Very happy.  The BYU Cougars beat the San Diego State Aztecs.  Very fun game to be in the stands for.

Snapshot #119: Searching for Home

October 8, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  For several years now, I have been searching for a place to call home.  New Jersey wasn't it because it was too far from family.  Utah has been a transitional landing place while Dave is in school.  (Which will change only if I get the design job with the Temple Department)  Our current apartment lacks sufficient room to unpack all the boxes.  Much to my own anxiety (as well as that of my sweet husband) I have put significant thought and soul into trying to decipher where we should settle, buy a house, and create our home.  These past few weeks I have had my heart set on Portland...only to find out today that Dave won't be getting an offer from Intel.  It was hard to erase the home in my head that I was already building for us.  Our thoughts are now back in San Jose...where homes cost 81% more than the national average...sigh.  

I fear, in my anxiety to find us the perfect home, I have failed to make our home as perfect as it could be now.  I've come to the realization that for me to be happy, Home has to be where we are, when we are, no matter what.             

Snapshot #118: Space Planning

October 7, 2010.  South Jordan, Utah.  I spent the day space planning (ie creating a floor plan) for a retail store that's going to be built at The District.  Space Planning is one of my favorite things to do in design.

Snapshot #117: "Y" Mountain in the Fall

October 6, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  Seldom do pictures capture the real essence of beauty..here I tried to capture the splendid fall colors on "Y" Mountain.  It is a wonderful gift to live in the shadow of such beautiful mountains.  The air was especially clear and vibrant after a fresh rain.

Snapshot #116: Hand-Drafted

October 5, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  My HP Pavilion (computer) finally died after 6 faithful years of service; with it, I lost AutoCAD and Photoshop.  So sad.  As a result I have dusted off the ol' drafting table and spent the day hand-drafting for some freelance jobs that I have.

Snapshot #115: Crazy for Pupusas

October 4, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  Tonight I talked Dave into taking me out to eat at a local El Salvadorian Restaurant.  Ahhhh the memories.  There's just something about Pupusas and fried plantain with beans and cream that is therapy for my soul. 

Snapshot #114: Great Gathering

October 2, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  Now that we live in Utah it is easy to watch General Conference on the local television channel.  We are comfortably sitting here basking in the messages of our living prophets and music provided by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Snapshot #113: Interview

October 1, 2010.  Salt Lake City, Utah.  Today was nothing short of remarkable.  I interviewed on the 11th floor of the Church Office Building at Temple Square for the position as Interior Designer for Temples around the world.  I was extremely nervous, excited, emotional.  Looking back I think of all the things I should have done or said differently; I spoke too fast; I didn't listen as much as I should have; I forgot to mention my experience doing Punch Lists; on and on.  Overall however, I think the interview did go well.  I have an advantage because I am young, yet experienced, I speak Spanish, also because I do not have children I am able to travel for extended periods of time.  They are looking for a designer to assist them in traveling the world to inspect each temple every 3 years; among other things.  Can you imagine?!  I rejoice at the very thought of such a gift for a profession!