My Brother's College

As you may remember, I went to Prescott, Arizona a few weeks ago to keep my mom and brother company during the second half of orientation week. My brother is attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) and I was really impressed with with the campus, town, and above all, the intelligence and character of the students I met. Here are some pictures from that trip:

I love the high desert! It is so beautiful!

This is a plane that just stays here all the time. I think there's something special about it, but I don't remember what it is!

Mom and Joe in one of the campus outdoor areas.

Pathway along the side of the library.

View of the student center from the university library.

The hallway in the library mimics the look of a runway at night.

The library also has to-scale replicas of nearly every plane ever created. It was cool to see them all next to each other!

Even the dumpster-hiding-walls look good at this university!

My brother and me during our last errand together, which involved a trip to Costco to purchase a rain jacket. Rain comes sudden and heavy in the high desert, something us Nor Cal'ers are not used to! We didn't even think to pack a raincoat for him.

Sunset behind the dorms.

Path leading from the dorms to the student center.

ERAU is very supportive of the military. This tree is a memorial to all the fallen service men and women who are ERAU alums. The Army and Air Force cadets stop every time they pass this statue and salute in their honor.

Abstract Art - Yellow

The other day I was browsing etsy and ended up looking at abstract paintings (something I often end up doing). I usually tend to gravitate to art that is predominantly blues and greens, but on a whim I took a look at pieces with yellow hues - and was surprised by how much I liked this color palette too! I thought I would share some of the gorgeous pieces that caught my eye :)

I like the choice of shades of cool purples in contrast to the brighter yellows. I could see this in an entryway or sunroom.

artist's page

I think this moodier painting would look stunning in a master bedroom. Something about the slate undertones really draws me in and I think it would be restful - even though one wouldn't normally think of a yellow painting as restful :)

artist's page

This cheerful piece would look gorgeous in a living room. I could see this really brightening up a space.

artist's page

Although I like all three of these works of art, I find myself drawn again and again to the last two. What would  be your favorite?

Indian Summer by Emily Dickinson

These are the days when birds come back,
A very few, a bird or two,
To take a backward look.

These are the days when skies put on
The old, old sophistries of June, --
A blue and gold mistake.

Oh, fraud that cannot cheat the bee,
Almost thy plausibility
Induces my belief,

Till ranks of seeds their witness bear,
And softly through the altered air
Hurries a timid leaf!

Oh, sacrament of summer days,
Oh, last communion in the haze,
Permit a child to join,

Thy sacred emblems to partake,
Thy consecrated bread to break,
Taste thine immortal wine!

IKEA Wish Listin': Chiefly Functional

A few weeks ago I did a round-up of some decorative items I saw in the most recent IKEA catalog. I still haven't made a trip to IKEA (a real shame, considering there's one only half an hour from where I live!), but today I'm back with a list of some items that are primarily functional.

I'm planning to put a little sitting area in one corner of my room and I think the STRIND side table would work well there. Even if I don't get my sitting area, I may still purchase it and use it as a bedside table, since my room needs more round elements.

The TORSBY dining table has almost the perfect dimensions to fit in the corner made by our two couches - we would just need to shorten the legs somehow. We really need something for that area, not only as a place to set drinks, but also as a way to make the pile of shoes by our door less noticeable (if we had the table, we would keep a basket under it to hold our shoes).

I've wanted a hat & coat stand for a very long time and the PORTIS one is both minimalistic and pretty - not to mention inexpensive! It is difficult to find a stand like this for less than $70.

I really need to get over to IKEA soon...

Photo of the Week

Fiery Sunset

Photo taken at the parents' ranch

Weekly Round-Up #26

Wishing everyone a relaxing weekend!

These Wookie-the-Chew prints (inspired by Winnie-the-Pooh but with a Star Wars twist) are adorable!

a simple and sweet necklace

A funny video showcasing the latest fad, "batmanning" :) - because planking, owling and horsemaning are sooo last week!

atheist Penn Gillette's thoughtful provoking response to being given a Bible.

Baking for the Hubs

I am feeling in a baking mood today! And since I happen to have a free morning, I thought I would spend it whipping up some baked goods for the hubs. What should I make?

These cinnamon roll muffins look delicious - and would be an easy morning snack to grab on the run.

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These banana treats would be on the healthier side, and would leave room for me to use up some ingredients I already have on hand - plus it's been hot again lately, so a frozen dessert might not be a bad idea :)

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The hubs likes peanut butter cookies, and adding some chocolate and perhaps a few extra peanuts on top might be a fun take on this classic.

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Or should I whip up some of these awesome chocolate chip cookie bowls? We love us some ice cream, so I know these would be sure to be a hit!

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Ahh, sweet, sweet decisions!

Antiquities in the High Desert

Two weeks ago, I got to go to Prescott, Arizona and spend a few days with my mom and middle brother at said brother's college. While there, my mom and I had the chance to stop at a little roadside antiques shop (though I think it was more of a used furniture shop - I'm not sure how many things in there were actually antiques). There were quite a few things that I thought would look great in the right home. Here are some pictures of my favorite items:

I  thought this antique chair would look lovely recovered, in the corner of a bedroom or at a vanity.

This large mirror was $99 and my mom thought it would look great in her dining room. Unfortunately, we had no way of getting it back with us since we flew.

I loved this old-fashioned office chair. If I'd had the means, I would have brought it home with me in a heartbeat.

I liked the bold color on this desk and the lovely distressing. It was already sold so I couldn't find a price tag.

This piece was being sold for $299, which I thought was a bit steep, but I'm certainly no expert. The tag said it's a bakers' rack but the wine rack in the lower section makes me think it would be better as a drinks' station.

This bed was gorgeous and chunky. It would look great in a country or cottage bedroom.

I thought this cart would look so charming stained darker or painted and distressed in white. The large wheels in the front remind of a ship's helm and I think it would go great in a beach or nautical-themed house.

Cool Musical Idea

Isn't this a neat idea? I love when people make music with random objects!

Gravité (Gravity) from Renaud Hallée on Vimeo.

I thought this composition was beautiful...are you as surprised as I am? Both of these thrilled the music nerd in me :)

Sonar from Renaud Hallée on Vimeo.

Both by Renaud Halle

Photo of the Week

Dappled light - Point Reyes National Seashore

Weekly Round-Up #25

For your enjoyment....

The 13 shopping seasons

A cool necklace (for the music lover in your life)

longing for a pair of boots like these for fall

Ashton's favorite tea (the whole blueberries are what make it pop)

and finally, a cute video to lighten up your day. I guarantee you can't watch it without smiling :)

Have a wonderful long weekend!

Do Or Don't: Vibrant Chairs

Lovely Readers,

I was so inspired by Katie Bower's red chair makeover, I thought I would try it myself :)

Right now the hubs and I are using four mismatched hand-me-down chairs. They are nice, don't get me wrong, but they are all worn out and need a matching paint or stain job to unify them since they aren't identical...and since I stained the table two years ago (and it took forEVER), there is no. freakin. way. that I am going to attempt to sand and then stain every last crevice in those chairs!

So.....the dilemma is that I can't decide what color to pain them. The table is stained a dark walnut, and our dishes are various shades of blue - although right now we only have two shades, peacock and navy. I honestly have no idea what would be a good color. Especially since we live in a tiny hole, and even if we move, it would be to another tiny, slightly less sucky hole ;) So what do you think? Keeping in mind that for the next few years our "dining room" will be visible from the living room, should I go with something bold like this gorgeous blue?

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Something cheerful like this green? also it would appear from these two photos that I am drawn to bamboo chairs ;)

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Or something neutral like this pretty gray? I think I would rather steer clear of white, but I do like this gray tone.

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So what should it be? One of the above, or something completely different? I am open to any and all suggestions!

Point Reyes Backpacking Trip

This past weekend the hubs and I went backpacking at Point Reyes with two of our best friends from college (who are also married to each other :). We were all friends before any of us started dating - and I think it's especially cool that we ended up dating and falling in love (there was actually a group of about 10-12 of us who all ended up pairing up into serious relationships with each other by the end of college).

It was foggy when we arrived. We hiked in along Limantour beach to Coast camp - only about a 1.8 mile hike, but a nice starter backpacking trip since it was our friend's first time going on this kind of adventure.

The guys were walking together - nerding it up most likely - when Samantha and I spotted an odd piece of driftwood....

that ended up being a seal! I've been to Point Reyes numerous times, and this was the first time I'd seen one (well, an alive one that is - once there was a seal carcass that washed ashore).

The hubs and I have a tradition of taking his picture with wild animals. So far the tally is baby owl, lion cub, baby alligator, and now a seal. Too bad it wasn't a seal pup so we could continue the baby animal tradition :)

It didn't really want it's picture taken, so as soon as I started to take the picture it began waddling toward the water. But at least they are in the same frame!

Once we set up camp, the hubs took us on a day hike - which ended up being a grueling 9 miles round trip!

The fog had lifted, and it was gorgeous! This is toward the beginning of the hike while we were all still feeling peppy.

The adorable couple. Seriously they are so sweet! Still practically newlyweds :) We had such a fun time hanging out with them - there is nothing better than spending time with friends you've known forever! We have seen each other through so much of life's ups and downs. An added bonus? All of us are equally good friends with each other - so there were no awkward trying-to-get-to-know-you moments. We could all totally be ourselves without worrying what the others would think, which is so nice :)

some gorgeous scenery along the coast trail.

hiking along the side of the trail - too muddy to actually walk ON the trail - it only got muddier from here!

exhausted at the end - we arrived back at camp as the sun set - just in time to make a beach fire to cook and enjoy a dinner of hot dogs and s'mores :)

The next morning we awoke sore, but pleased with our previous days' accomplishments. It was freezing though!

The fog was thick

So glad we could get away with such good friends! Here's to more trips in the future (but we promise we won't hike them to death next time :)