Snapshot #159: Nectar of the Gods

November 19, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  Today I discovered Zoi.  Greek Yogurt.  Wow!  The Honey Flavor is to die for.   This could quickly become the new bane of my existence.  It's like yogurt cream...and has the fat content to prove it. 

Snapshot #158: God Speaks

November 18, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  Today Dave talked me into going to his Ethics class with him on campus.  We had the great privilege to hear guest speaker, Robert Gay.  Seldom in my life have I been as personally touched by a message as I was by his today.  His message for me was:  

I must never forget that I am in the hands of God.  Nothing I have in this world is mine.  I was chosen and prepared before the foundations of this world for my specific mission.  If I am faithful to my covenants, maintain a balance in life, and keep myself from coveting,  I will always live according to the voice that guides within.  There is a voice that speaks.  I have to follow that voice.     

Snapshot #157: Recovery

November 17, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  I didn't "work" today.  I took a soul-searching recovery day instead.  Still, I had to go to the mall and return the clothing that I had bought for my supposed final interview with the church. 

Snapshot #156: Heartbroken

November 16, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  The long-awaited phone call from the Temple Interior Design Department came today.  Two candidates left.  One job.  They have decided to go with the other candidate.  Out of hundreds of applicants, I came in at the Number Two slot.  I am trying desperately to be grateful.

Snapshot #155: Utah Lake Sunset

 

November 15, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  I drive to Salt Lake City nearly every day to do my work as a freelance designer.  This evening on the drive home, I captured this beautiful image of the sunset over Utah Lake.

Snapshot #154: Making Friends

November 14, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  The Allreds invited us over for dinner tonight.  Great Couple!  Good food too.  They also introduced us to the game Blockus.    

Happy 60th Birthday Dad!

Snapshot #153: Errands

November 13, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  Post Office, Bank, Oil Change, Hair Cut, Bert Murdock Music, Home Movie, Family Budget, Practice Piano...a few of today's delights. 

Snapshot #152: Food for Thought

November 12, 2010.  Draper, Utah.  I had lunch today with Lela at Food for Thought.  What a treat!

Snapshot #151: Llangefni

November 11, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  Above is a picture of Llangefni, Wales; the home of my sister Jana and her family.  Today Jana left Idaho at the completion of her one month visit, and flew back to Wales with her two youngest.  I'm sure she's glad to be home with her husband and her two oldest.  We miss you Jana, Ashley, and Freya.

Snapshot #150: August Rush

November 10, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  This evening I curled into a ball, watched August Rush, and cried.

Snapshot #149: Playtime

November 9, 2010.  South Jordan, Utah.  Tonight I attended a seminar taught by my remarkable mother-in-law.  She has a private Wellness Coaching, Counseling & Consulting practice; and tonight spoke on the complexities of relationships.  To read some of her work click here;  find the article on page 30 titled "Playtime".    

Snapshot #148: I Own a Pony

November 8, 2010.  Orem, Utah.  His name is Lightning.  And like I was in third grade again, he made my day.  Silly adult.  Wells Fargo sure has figured out "Rewards." 

Snapshot #147: Paperwork

November 6, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  Today Dave went to the BYU vs. UNLV football game while I stayed home and did paperwork for my project with Lela.  Lots and lots of paperwork.

Snapshot #146: Lugano Restaurant

November 5, 2010.  Holladay, Utah.  Tonight we had a fabulous celebratory dinner at Lugano Restaurant with Dave's family.  The occasion was in honor of Dave and his acceptance of the Cisco offer.  Looks like we're headed to San Jose to live, starting August 2011.

Snapshot #145: Behind the Scenes of Morning Market Call

November 4, 2010.  Provo, Utah.  Tonight was the National Advisory Council (NAC) Conference with the Marriott School Students.  Dave had a very busy night interviewing top executives from around the world for Morning Market Call.  I got some great shots from behind-the-scenes.  To see Dave's interview with Tagg Romney (Mitt Romney's son) click here.    

Snapshot #144: Cash In Fist

November 3, 2010.  Riverton, Utah.  Today I closed the deal.  I have CIF along with approvals AND EXCITEMENT to start ordering the furnishings for Lela's Sitting Room.  At this point the fun turns into a lot of work...paperwork to be specific.  

Snapshot #143: Silver State Supply

November 2, 2010.  Salt Lake City, Utah.  I spend a lot of my time these days visiting two textile warehouses:  The Showroom and Silver State Textiles.  Time goes by way too fast inside these warehouses...there is just SO much to shift through trying to find what I'm looking for.  Before I know it two days have gone by and I have done little else.  (Yes, Dave is being neglected...good thing he knows how to prepare dinner!)

Snapshot #142: Textiles

November 1, 2010.  Salt Lake City, Utah.  The whole of today was spent in an attempt to finalize fabric selections for Lela's Library and Living Room.

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.