Innovate, Don't Imitate

So this entry has been a long time coming. I have been out of the blog world for almost year. Don't get me wrong, I've still been checking up on all my design blogs- but regarding my own blog, I've been so out of it.

There is a reason; I sometimes feel that blogging is such an inaccurate portrait of myself. I can't possibly be as honest as I'd be if this was a private blog, and I also feel that what I do say leaves me feeling a bit naked. As much as I've been characterized as extroverted, I feel that I've grown into some type of hermit and I don't like people looking at my things and my thoughts.

Also, I am always first. :) Is that too bold of me? I always find things first, like things first, wear it first, hear it first. OKAY! Well I'm sure someone out there has done it, said it and heard it all before me... but I say this in regards to the people I know and the places I go. And you know what? I like that I'm an innovator! I feel like the internet has allowed everyone and anyone to be what they'd like. To show whatever face they want even if it isn't their own. I don't like these masks, that blogs and facebook have been handing out. It's easy for every girl out there to be a 'model', every tween a hipster, a love sick poet, every stay at home mom a photographer, every young dude a bada** tattooed cool guy... the new cliches. Whatever is the latest trend.. So lately, it's popular to be the artist. Now everyone is an artist. I just want to shout:

"NO YOU'RE NOT"

What's wrong with being good with numbers or having a technical mind? That's good, that's brilliant!

It makes me so frustrated. Which is another reason I've stopped blogging. I don't want to be another 'Betty' who blogs about my favorite designer, singer/songwriter, my latest art project, my newest idea. I feel like they're so many imitators out there, that I simply can't stand the possibility of being lumped in there with 'em. And to all the wanna-be's just so you know, I see right through you. :) (This, however, is not to say, that I don't know some incredibly talented and artistic people. I do, and I admire them. It's also not that I find myself the most talented or artistic, I don't.)

But I've decided these reasons aren't good enough. No one can do what I do, and I'll still be painting, creating and picture taking when it's not trendy to do so... and I want my kids to see what I was like at 24 or 25 or 32. To see where I've gone, and how I thought this or that was funny.

So my next entry won't be so critical, but I'll keep each entry re-cap of sorts, until we're all caught up. I need this outlet that allows me to articulate my thoughts, because all day it's baby talk, aboo boo boo.

The 4th- My Favorite

Honestly, the 4th is my favorite holiday! I know I haven't updated in awhile, but in honor of my most favorite day, I thought I would.
Lots of things have been happening!
WE'RE HAVING A BABY! A BOY!
He is due November 9th, but we'll see if he'll feel like he should be coming on that day or not. We are stoked!
We're spending the long weekend in San Diego and so far it's been fantastic!
This month has a lot in store for us and we are so excited! Next week we'll be in Florida for our 'Babymoon' and then my birthday, the week after that is my baby shower, which I'm sure will be fantastic because my sister Emma is planning it in a big way!
AND- we are moving into a new place right by the American River this Monday!

There's the update, and it won't be the last!

Marchin' into March

I can't believe we're already 3 months into 2009! This year holds a lot of changes for Nathanael and I. We hope to be doing a lot of traveling as we've been doing, but we also want to buy a house.... WHICH IS SO EXCITING! We're being really super conscious with our money, and we hope that the right house will come our way when we're ready! It's a big step but we feel 2009 is the right year, especially the 1st time home buyers $8,000 back, if the home is purchased in 2009. So if you are reading this blog, remember to keep us in your prayers- That we will let God lead us in this new venture.

I'm also stoked because I'll be going down to San Diego the last week in March and I just can't wait to see my sister and spend some time by the ocean... Since our first visit to La Jolla after our last cross country trip, when we had just moved from Atlanta to California, I've been noticing that if too much time passes by I really miss the ocean. Since Nov. we've been down the coast every month- I need that ocean fix. There's a freedom and a different and deeper way of breathing there.

Santa Cruz 2009

Light Sculpture

Multiverse, light sculpture created by artist Leo Villareal, may be seen and experienced by visitors as they pass through the Concourse walkway between the East and West Buildings of the National Gallery of Art. Commissioned by the Gallery and on view until November 2009, the work features approximately 41,000 computer-programmed LED (light-emitting diode) nodes that run through channels along the entire 200-foot-long space.


Villareal "Multiverse" National Gallery of Art, Washington DC from Walter Patrick Smith on Vimeo.

Big Love in Sacramento!

Nathanael and I got into Big Love when it first came on and have been following it (illegally) on the Internet the week after it airs on Sunday, ever since. So we watched it and this weeks episode the Big Love family were doing a road trip through Illinois to New York... and it was all shot in Sacramento and the Woodlands!

They shot a lot in Old Sacramento by the ferry boats (Bill Paxton has a shot on the show while he is on the ferry boat with the pyramid building in the back) and on the new and old bridge and on the railroads! It was so odd seeing 'my home' on TV like that!



Bill Paxton


The Crew

The Three

I tend to 'theme' things up. Recently, I've been thinking more and more of three places I want (and can't wait) to visit.
The theme: Flowers

The Lavender Fields of France
Photo: The Famous Lone Tree

The Tulip Fields of Holland
Photo: Aerial shot of the fields- abstract

Poppy Fields of California
Photo: Poppy Preserve- Antelope Valley, California

Guess which one we will be going to visit this spring? It's a hard guess...

Answer: The Poppy Fields of California

Blue Hue

I have really been getting into interior design and having been doing so, I've come across the most darling things!



These are both photos taken of Ivanka Trump's apartment! I love the blue theme throughout the whole house and the clean-ness of it! And I adore those lighted lamps! If this was my place I would def. change that bed cover to a textured white covering and remove that hairy pillow. i'd probably replace that headboard with a cushioned robin-eggs blue one and add some glassware and mirror wear to the side tables- and those nightstands wouldn't be cherry, they'd be espresso!

I absolutely love the hanging candelabra! I do weekly searches for colorful lighting pieces- so I loved finding this pictured. I would change the table to something more sleek in line and would have different chairs, with either different blue shaded cushions or just have the whole chair in different colors. I really like those vases in the back and the lighting of the room. I might have tinted this room in a light aqua or even and very pale olive. I think the wall art theme through the two rooms is precious but I am no Ivanka Trump and couldn't afford that. I'd just probably make my own. Make my own art that is!

I might be posting more finds.