ALT TAB: 15/52

 My week has had a definite theme to it.  

I rode from my house to RC1's house and when I was just about there I came to a place in the trail where it stopped suddenly with friendly 'no trespassing' signs suggesting that I find another route.  Instead, I picked up my bike and crossed the rail road tracks anyway.  That experience loosely parallels my week.  Pushing forward, creating my own path... That or a silly rummycube analogy about switching around the tiles until they fit just right.  I like thinking in metaphor.

My week started out strong with a raise {hip hip!} and a fun drive to Oakley to visit friends who bought a ranch way ahead of schedule to fulfill their dreams of opening their home to families with disabled children.  I met their new colt, Sunny, and saw immediately why they fell in love with the place.  It's the perfect spot for them to live out this dream of theirs and they seem so happy there.  We made omelets from fresh eggs from their chickens and watched the sun set over the rolling pastures that are just starting to show signs of life again.  It felt like I stepped into the insides a cozy book.

My roundup seems to have a theme as well: copper, pink, green and grey.

photos from my week

Oakley, copper pots, flowering trees and my newest scarf my roommate brought back from Thailand for me.  She gave it to me as we were catching up in the kitchen after her trip. Me propped up against the sink as usual, and her perched on the cabinet as usual.  I was so excited about it I almost felt myself begin to hyperventilate a bit.  Yes, I do love scarves a bit much.

A tone on tone shot from my bathroom, more rolling hills at the ranch, some fresh herbs I planted on my lunch one day this week, and that cute kitty of mine snoozing with me yesterday afternoon as I finished the second book to Hunger Games.  I'm so sucked in to that story I'm dreading the day I run out of pages to read.

And then back to my bike ride Saturday.  It was quite the ride.  {33 miles, but who's counting?} I was a little chilled by the time I got there since the weather turned overcast and the head wind was consistently sneaking up my sleeves, but I loved taking in the changing scenery as I made my way from downtown SLC to West Point.  Next time I'll be faster because I'll know where all the trails connect.

"Money is just something to throw off the back of a train." - Norah Jones

ALT TAB: 14/52

 Something about summing up my week like this has given me this wonderful sense of structure.  I keep bits of thoughts all over the place like my planner and various notebooks.  But nothing quite captures it for me like taking snap shots of my life.  So often right smack dab in the middle of a moment I think about capturing it, then chide myself, and realize I am doing just that by being there.  Living the moment.

Captured bits from my week:

Blossoms and clouds

I'm not one for lots of word signs around my house but this one makes me happy because it reminds me of my mom.  I remember her singing this song when I was little.  One of my favorite songs she'd sing was the one about the ants go marching one by one as she'd bounce the flashlight around the rafters of the cabin as she tucked me in.  That was part of the nightly ritual of making sure there was nothing looming in the dark waiting to pounce on me.  She makes thing fun.

Some giant flowering bush in someones yard.  I caught a glimpse of it on a mostly gray rainy morning on my way to my grandparent's house and thought the contrast was so wonderful I turned my car around and went back for a closer look.

It's porch monkey season!  I washed the table off, the chairs are out, pots are ready for flowers.  Auh, summertime is almost here.  True that it is snowing right now as I type but it is just one of those spring flukes. "Things they are a changing..."

Some things in my kitchen.  The drying rack.  And my new bike.  Yeah, I only had my old new bike five months before selling it.  It was too small for me.  This one fits me perfectly and I've been out riding as much as the finicky spring weather has permitted this week and it is as fun as it is lovely.

A glimpse of a project I finished up for the twins.  Christi had her babies a few weeks ago and now that she's ready to start having visitors I had to get it in gear and get the artwork for the nursery done.  Other photos to come when the boys aren't napping of the funky wood lions I put together out of veneer scraps.

And a sneak peak at our team's fashion remix project.  The competition is in less than two weeks and our dress is looking a-maze-ing!  That's right.  A burlap and linoleum gown.

 "I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order." - Ray Freeman

I couldn't agree more.

ALT TAB: 13/52

I wish my first impulse wasn't to talk about the weather here.  I've been converting the old blog sushicat into a book recently and I can't believe how much gibberish I've shared over the years on one blog or another.  If this is going to be my legacy I leave behind I really don't want it to be my thoughts on the weather {no matter how much I'm loving the blossoms and rainy days} I just can't leave that as my stamp on life.

So what else is there?  I could talk about how much I love my warm house, my friends, my family, my furry little creature...

I guess it really is about the simple things.  The moments that catch me off guard and I laugh out of real delight over something.  Like the way Grandma can brighten my day playing cards or the comfortable feeling of being right where I'm supposed to be.

Life is good.

About the photos:

We're not talking about the weather or the beautiful blossoms remember?  So, no comment.

That cool brassy thing on my back door has this subtle green patina on it that catches my eye every time I go in or out.

My dear friend Suzanne and her husband have chickens with perfect chicken names like Gertrude and Matilda.  These were a little gift from the ladies.  I hard boiled them and have had them for lunch all week long.

The trees on my walk to work yesterday morning.  

I tripped a little on the sidewalk because I've been looking directly up all week as I've walked under them taking in the new pink/wet bark grey and brown/sky blue combo.

Hyacynths - by far the yummiest smelling spring flower in my humble opinion.  I have some in a vase on my bedside table right now and it is a treat to wake up to that smell.

This is leaving the safety of talking about the weather and delving right into my comfort zone showing you a glimpse into my life like this.  The furball and I have a nice morning routine going.  Wake up, get in a good full body scratch, then she goes back to sleep while I get ready for the day.  At some point she gets up and starts pressuring me to go upstairs with her relentless meowing as she paces the hall.

Almonds and apricots - snack of choice this week.

So many caption possibilities here I can't pick one.
  {Maybe because I know what she'd say?}

Something catty though for sure.

ALT TAB: 12/52

 Is it spring where you are?  It is here {!!!} and I'm so ready for the weekend to spend as much time outdoors as possible.

We started the weekend a little early and stayed at a cabin in Park City last night with some friends.
I enjoy my usual walk to work but if I were to commute, Parley's Canyon this morning was breathtaking.

The weekly roundup:

The Canyons

{I have got to get up there and use my free pass.  The winter has been so mild I've biked every Saturday instead!}

A pretty meadow between here and there.

Lucky eleven

The summit

The newest plant at my house.

Breakfast this morning on the porch.  Even the weeds are pretty in the spring.

My handmade butterfly mobile that hangs above my bed.

It flutters just a bit making soft noises like pages turning in a book.  Or snow sizzling on the pavement.  Or critters in the walls.  Take your pick, I've mistaken it for all of the above.

Sweet kitty Vesper Lynn.  She says,

"OK lady, enough with the photos of me sleeping already." 

ALT TAB: 11/52

I knew there was something inherently lovely about this week.  It's the 11th week of the year.  I love elevens.

Not even bronchitis could take away from the loveliness of the week.

Yep, that's right friends.  I've been that person you hear coughing nearby and then reach for the hand sanitizer because you don't want what I have.

So I've been lazing about the house after work, reading books, watching movies, going to bed around 9 every night... really, it's not a bad life.  But when my roommate {a nurse} put her foot down and said no more biking until I'm not wheezing or coughing as much I decided I'm ready to be better already.  Taking some advice my mom gave me today out of context, waiting patiently for something makes you all the more grateful for it so next time I get to ride I'll love it all the more I'm sure.

Things I'm grateful for this week:
my health

nyquil and sugar free cough drops

sunshine and mindless books

wonderful friends and essential oils

my fur ball shadow and the way her warm little body works better than any heating pad

The view from my hotel in Huntington Beach.

"Sometimes it's the smallest gesture that leaves the greatest impression."

ALT TAB: 10/52

I feel like the last two weeks melted together and I can't believe the two trips I've been looking forward to for months are over already!

I'd like to put off my roundup of vacation photos until I've had a chance to go through my camera and include a few of my own.  But I don't anticipate doing that just yet so instead I'll share a few that were shared with me.

 These are just a few that RC1 sent to me from our trip to Southern Utah two weekends ago.

The trip was planned because I decided to ride in an organized race from Hurricane to Zion National Park and I had a really great time.  Bailed out after 30 miles because I felt like I got out of it what I wanted and was ready to go play.  I wasn't there to prove anything to myself so I haven't felt one bit guilty for not going the originally planned 50.
Besides, I had even more fun off my bike playing with RC1 and soaking in my desert.  Why oh why do I love it so much there?

Then last Friday I flew to LA and spent most of the weekend with my friend Annie before heading to my cousin's place to play until Heather {and Miley and Xander}took me to my hotel in Huntington Beach so I could go to training with one of the manufacturers we represent.

These are a few of the photos Heather sent from our very fun {but way too fast} time hanging out together.

The view from Ruby's {only the yummiest place ever}

Gorgeous Kickbuttmommy Heather and Xander

Me and Miley feeding sweet potato fries to the squirrel

Hadley, Ella and me coloring

I'll get my life together{maybe??}and share some more from both trips. 

Until then, hope you have a wonderful weekend.

ALT TAB: 9/52

Changing up the usual format this week's Alt Tab since I haven't had the time to do my weekly photo roundup.

Instead I'll leave you with two really fun projects I've been working on lately.

The first is a poster for my Aunt Vicky{ers} women's conference next month.  I had fun playing with my markers again.

The second is a short silent film my roommate Shellie and I starred in with the great RC1 as the producer/camera man/editor/et al. 

{really, without him it never would have happened}  

We had such a great time doing this.  I really do think I was born to play the part of a table tennis obsessed wiggly mustached man.

I'm off to LA for the weekend to play then on to Huntington Beach next week for some training.  When I get back I'll catch up on photos, I've got some really fun ones to share from our trip to St. George last weekend.

Happy March friends!!

ALT TAB: 8/52

My doodles during a leadership training meeting.  I was thinking about what the speaker was talking - love and the ripple effect it creates in our lives - I didn't realize until I was about done that it went very well with my thoughts on the subject. To me it looked like the lines of influence you can have with your personal touch...yada yada.. 

Can't read too deeply into a doodle though, can you?

My view from my bathtub late last night as I chatted with my friend Adri. Gosh, I'm surrounded by wonderful people.  My life is so full.

{Photo recreated afterward.  It was one thing to have my phone in the tub, quite another to invite the ipad in as well.}  

I like looking up at the bottom of leaves.  Makes me feel like a grasshopper.

And this is me blow drying my hair, laughing my head off at an email.  It wasn't supposed to be funny, but it just struck me to the core.  I couldn't help but laugh.  That's multitasking of the best kind.

Quite the hand if I do say so myself.  For those of you who don't play golf you won't understand that five 2's is unheard of.  Those of you who play...well, you'll understand my joy.

Sushi 101 with Chef Bob and RC1.  What a fun thing to do on a Saturday afternoon.

Expecting the cat to be waiting for me to snuggle up for the night in her usual spot I looked around to find her in my suitcase instead.  Packing tips from my favorite critter?  Thank you dear.  If she were into it, I'd pack her along and take her for a ride on my bike with me this weekend.

66 degrees in Hurricane, Utah tomorrow. 13 MPH winds. 50 miles on my dear bike.

Hip Hip!!

"the world imagined is the ultimate good." -- Wallace Stevens {as quoted to me in the above mentioned string of emails that makes my inbox one of my favorite places to visit during the day.

ALT TAB: 7/52

It might have been the holiday, but I feel like my week has had a bit of rosey tint to it.

Photos:

pretty pretty tulips from the sweet rc1

my umbrella after walking to work in the snow

our neighbors were especially busy this week

a truck load of recycled hearts on the side walk {a favorite find this week!}

a spontaneous sushi dinner Valentine's night.

Remember how I told you last week that I like to believe I live in a romantic comedy?  Imagine being at work contemplating ditching out early to ride your bike when a tall, handsome man shows up with flowers.  You go for a walk in the sunshine, and find the truck load of recycled hearts on the side walk.  You are reminded that you are loved, and when you go back to work your boss is caught up in the moment and throws cash at you and tells you to go out and celebrate the holiday.  So you go walk around some more, and eat sushi and feel warm inside.  Would you feel like you lived inside your favorite chic flick?  I did.

the alley way by my friend's letterpress studio

one of my favorite views, but from a new perspective.  The mouth of Parley's Canyon from the bike trail overpass.

Some one asked me recently how many scarves I have. I don't know exactly, but a lot. I decided to round up a few favorites:

1. My Grandma Rix's favorite color was orange.  This was one of hers scarfs my parents saved for me when they cleaned out her things after she passed away.  The necklace was hers as well.

2. One I just got for Christmas that matches so many things and it is so soft.

3.  This one was given to me as a gift by a man in South Africa after I bought a bunch of hand made pillows and others things from him.

4.  Another gift from my brother and his family {which really means it is from Kwona}.

5.  This scarf was the beginning of my scarf love.  While visiting my parents in Africa, they took me to my first B & B.  Located on an avocado plantation with a hippo in the fields below our bungalow type rooms I thought I'd landed in heaven.  Our bungalow style rooms were in a lush garden separate from the main house that had a covered patio and cozy library, all oozing with charm and loveliness.  I was completely taken in by the place and have mentioned it on the blog before.  The woman who created this oasis wore linen and soft leather and beautiful scarves draped causally over her shoulders.  With her place fresh in my memory, I found this scarf in Cape Town and think of that place every time I wear it.

This was also the beginning of my search for the spicy geranium leaf she picked from her garden and left on my pillow.

"Winter must be so cold for those with no warm memories." 

Terry Mckay in An Affair to Remember

ALT TAB: 6/52

 Who loves Valentine's Day?  

I know, I know, single people are supposed to call it by some sad name - single awareness day - but I refuse.  Maybe my love for it goes untainted because I don't have expectations of the day to bring me any more romance than any other day?  Because I like to think that I live inside a romantic comedy so really, every day is valentines day.  Go rain on another holiday bitter people.  

{You can have St. Patrick's Day, I don't wear a whole lot of green anyway.}

A favorite memory of the holiday is the time my parents bought me a new day bed.  I was in 2nd grade and it wasn't a valentines gift {or maybe it was, my parents are sweet like that} but the way I remember things it just happened to be the day before that we picked it up and the wrought iron frame was shaped loosely like hearts so to me it was always my valentine's day bed.  I adored that bed.  So much so, that I wouldn't let anyone sit on it.  Oh yeah, I'm that girl.

But I've gotten a little better over the years.  And actually feel validated about my little idiosyncrasies after my boss shared an experience he had in South Carolina last week while visiting a factory we rep.  Barbara Barry {The Barbara Barry}designs for our newest line {can't name names right now} and she believes in having everything just so, like me.  So much so that during a meeting someone put their purse on the table and she politely went and moved it to the floor, casually saying the it was distracting from the overall design aesthetic of the room.  He was also told that it if you happen to go into her office with a big gulp type plastic cup she will take it from you, pour your drink into a nice glass, and hand it back to you.  She has the guts to do something like that, while I might only inwardly cringe and think about the day when everything will be pretty.

It's in the details people.  The experiences you have shape your life and I firmly believe that those little details I like so much make things just a little more special.  So what if your brother still teases you about that crazy time in your life your bed was only touched to fluff the pillows. {I slept on the trundle to maintain perfection.}

Enough of that nonsense before you get the wrong idea about me.  The meager photo roundup for the week from left to right in usual fashion:

My parents.  They've been on my mind a lot this week.

 A couple little framed paper things I made this week for the holiday.

A shot from the top of Emigration Canyon from my ride last Saturday.  It was the perfect weather with the sun on my back and a brisk little breeze to make me grateful I was wearing two of everything.  Two pairs of socks, two layers of spandex, two pairs of gloves..et al.

The ongoing construction at the office.  The tangerine tango wall is new, the chandelier is about to come down as we start in on updating the lighting, and the other projects are shaping up beautifully.

And a special thanks to Sarah for giving me the liebster award on her blog last week, to pass on the love, my top 5 reads are:

adventure cycling

eating bird food

dancing brandflakes

genine's art blog

nat the fat rat

I broke the rules of the game.  {I should have only listed blogs with 200 followers or less} But I wanted to share my top reads this week - excluding stalking friends and family - and didn't want to limit myself.

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 

{2 Timothy 1:7}

ALT TAB: 5/52

 The baby shower last weekend was a huge success.  The happy mommy to be was in her element, the host was beautiful and so was her home, the sun was sunshiny, all around it was a really wonderful afternoon to celebrate the impending arrival of twin boys that we're all so excited about.

The background story to how our friendship began.  Christi {mommy to be}, Adrienne, Lorri and I went to design school together and stuck together through sleepless nights and all that comes with that high pressure program.  My experience in school wouldn't have been half as great as it was without these girls.  As it got close to party time we were joking about the many times we've worked together in those final moments before a deadline.  The only thing that was missing this time was the smell of hot glue, bleary eyes, and a pretty board representing all our hard work.  Instead, a magical room and the yummy smell of fresh flowers and treats.

Adrienne is a born party planner so this was her brainchild.  She has a true talent for the details and creating a fairy tale and we all know it's the little things that makes something truly special.

I have other stories for the week, but I think instead I'll save them for another day and leave you with more photos from the party and get back to a normal alt tab post next week.

'Drink Me' tags on the sweet ginger tea and 'Eat Me' on the carrot cake cupcakes.
"You mean you can't take less, it's very easy to take more than nothing." - the mad hatter

French macaroons from Gourmandise, quiche, pretty tea sets, homemade cake balls adorned with hydrangea petals and edible pearls, and finger sandwiches.

Have I gone mad?
I'm afraid so, you're entirely bonkers.  But I'll tell you a secret, all the best people are.
 Alice in Wonderland

ALT TAB: 4/52 {or 1/12 if you'd rather}

 One month into my alt tab project and I'm enjoying myself, are you?

A little house tour: the mantel right now {ever changing}I like minimal and clean after the holidays. 

My view looking in.  I sit on the sofa looking out so often that it was nice Sunday morning to turn around and look in.  There's a lesson there right?

My birthday frogs from Vickers - aren't they the coolest??

And the snowy view.

 Last Friday night I was a whirlwind of domesticity as I cooked dinner for myself, prepped a casserole for the next night, baked my favorite sugar free cookies, and made bread for church. The quinoa was boiling, the casserole dish was hanging out on the stove top ready for the curried pork wonder creation ingredients.
{Side note: the recipe I was inspired by, and my review for my revised version.}   

After a bit I noticed that I'd turned on the wrong burner, the quinoa was still stone cold while the casserole dish was piping hot. Typical day in my life, nothing new there folks.  I made the switch and moved the dish to the back burner to cool.  No sooner had I set it down, walked the two steps to the sink and turned my back to grab something when the thing exploded!  Not simply broke, or shattered, but full on exploded sending shards of glass all over the room.  I think I yelped, my roommate came running, and I stood there stunned for a moment eying the shards of glass all over every surface running through the timing of the event in my mind.  If I had lingered for a moment at the stove... I had the goosebumps of a the very lucky almost casualty of cooking gone wrong.  My guardian angels must have known this little miss uninsured would have been in a tight spot if this story had ended in stitches.

other photos:

a frozen leaf I found outside

a pretty fence and it's shadow

some lovely bowls I want to own

This week I'm grateful for the beautiful winter weather, smart advice, and music montages.

In anticipation of a very fun themed baby shower we're throwing for our friend tomorrow, my quote of the week:

If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense.  Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be.  And what it wouldn't be, it would.  You see?
Alice in Wonderland
{photos of the party next week!}

ALT TAB: 3/52

 My week in recap fashion, semi-supported by images for those who wish all stories still came that way:

A few lovelies came to visit us this week at work. The Mies van der Rohe day bed and pavilion chairs from Malik are out front looking gorgeous.  For real replicas.  I'd like to move my computer out to the showroom and work from there. {Yes, that's a sliver of the Eileen Gray adjustable table too.} Auh, Mid Century Classic, why do I love thee so?  I'm trying to keep the drool off all this great stuff.

The brick wall outside.  There is no way to capture in blog form the absolutely wonderful smell outside my office right now.  Fresh rain mixed with sugary bakery goods from our next door neighbors.

Welcoming home my money tree.  It has been living with my Aunt Michele and seems to love the new spot soaking in the sunsets from my big front window.

That's us at Abravanel Hall waiting for funny man Brian Regan to come out and make us laugh last night.  That man is hilarious with a capital H.  Thanks for sharing your bday gift with me RC1, and thanks for hatching the great idea to crash the party at Grand America afterwords.  My eyes were peeled for all my favorite bloggers.  If only we were wearing all white to better blend in...

Frosted window panes.  Or windshields.

More money tree {what a terribly misleading name.}

A couple shots from my walk to work this morning.  Instead of my usual route down E Street I went down D instead.  It was a great choice.  I think I'll start going up and down different streets every day too add some variety to my short commute.  Even though it means I'm a little late I love listening to the bells go off at the cathedral at 8 am.  They played Onward Christian Soldiers this morning.

"Desires dictate priorities.  Priorities shape choices.  Choices determine actions."  

Dallin H. Oaks

ALT TAB: 2/52

I am 100% a fan of this year's Pantone color tangerine tango.  As I gathered my photos from the week I began to notice a trend.  You see it too?  This was an unintentional {or subconscious?}thing.  I love orange and coral and all the burnt moody versions of these hues.  I have high hopes that the year of tangerine tango is going to be a lovely one.

Photo blurbs from left to right - 

It finally snowed here last weekend.  It happened overnight, but when it started up again Saturday afternoon I took my books back to the library just for an excuse to be outside and smell the snow.

Behold - my first instagram photo!  The subject: my afternoon snack at work, a yummy grapefruit.
No, I didn't get an iphone, but I want one just for the instagram app.  Unless my phone meets an untimely demise {I've thought about pushing it in front of a train}I'll hold out for my upgrade in 9 months. {NINE MONTHS?!} Until then, I put my coveting on hold and had myself a life changing epiphany - the ipad at work is just laying around collecting dust.  It has been in the box untouched for the past three months I've worked here.  Waste not, want not.

The a fore mentioned tangerine tango.

A self portrait when I should have been doing any one of a number of other things.

A 'doily thing' I came across somewhere online that I will attempt soon.

Something that made me smile this week - The sunrise this morning through the window in my living room, with my cat on my lap purring away in hopes of bits of my scrambled egg.

Something I read this week that inspired me:  The Japanese word shoshin means openness and eagerness.  Zen teacher Shunryo Suzuki-roshi said, "In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few." 

the quote for the week that caught me Monday and I'm still thinking about the potential of it today.
"In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out.  It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being." - Albert Schweitzer

ALT TAB: 1/52

 I eluded to a new project for 2012 and I'm still playing with how I want to do it, but here is the general idea.

I'll post once a week with a recap of things that make me happy.
Categories might be {but not limited to}:
 
stuff I'm grateful for
random things that catch my attention
things that make me laugh
something I've learned
a quote for the week
colors I love
and some I spy stuff and other silly games

I'm calling it ALT TAB

So really, the same basic stuff I write about now, but in one succinct post.  This came to be from an idea I had last year to do 365 days of gratitude, but now it will include a few other things to hopefully weave a vibrant story for my year. I will still post design projects as separate posts whenever I have things to share.

ALT TAB: WEEK ONE
left to right, top to bottom

lots of elevens on the last day of my year 2011.
{purchased - cafe rio salad, yum! thnx rc1}

Over the holiday break I decided to try every squash available at my grocery store.  I've had spaghetti, butternut, acorn, and carnival so far on my little tour.  Any suggestions?  Hubbard is still my all time favorite, but they don't have it right now.

The Cat woke up from a nap to oversee the placement of a new fuzzy blanket that was given to me as a Christmas gift.  She walked over, sniffed it, tried to push it off the love seat {that is slated for a reupholster job this year}and when she couldn't get it out of her space she started pouncing and biting.  I take that as strong disapproval.  Maybe not to her aesthetic or maybe just one jealous kitty?

a pretty tree on my walk home from work

This is embarrassing, I shouldn't even publicize this info, but give credit where credit is due and all that.  Grandma Awesome would call it luck, but when she has beat me 9 out of the last 10 games of golf, I can hardly call it luck.  And as if winning wasn't enough, check out that last score.  -7!  I've never in the history of the game seen someone stay in the negative the entire game.

Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly.
paraphrased from a sign I saw standing in line at Barnes & Noble last night.