Message in a bottle!

I have been doing a little bit of Interior Design the past few months and I have been researching on the Internet like crazy for ideas of color schemes, cabinet and trim designs, window styles and furnishings. Almost all the sites I have visited have bottles in their kitchens as accent pieces in order to add a pop of color and give the room a live-in feel.

The usual suspects are normally:

Perrier, San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna

There is nothing wrong with using these, but to me it’s a bit BORING! There are so many other choices you can go with so why settle with what everyone else is using. In my research efforts I stumbled upon a little place in Dallas called The Soda Gallery. They have 200 bottles to choose from and are from all over the world!

WOW!

If anyone has been there, please let me know, or if anyone wants to take a trip to Texas...

Below are some picks that I think would add a bit more fun to the design process and really add a punch of color to your kitchen!

I really love all the thought and effort that goes into the packaging from the shapes of the bottles, the fonts, the labels and the color combinations. They all look like mini works of art and for only a small few dollars a bottle, you can give your kitchen a mini-facelift by adding a couple of them. Also it is an added bonus because you get to drink them!

So I ask again, does anyone want to go? I definitely need to add this store to my 'places to visit list'!

Goodbye to You!

Emigration Market was a small neighborhood grocery store located at 1760 E. 1300 S. in Salt Lake City and has served the Yalecrest neighborhood since 1942. The doors to this magnificent specialty store closed permanently April 3rd, 2010 after a week of total liquidation and discount prices. The news of the closure was met with a lot of sadness from neighbors, family and employees. The last day to clear out the Market upon being sold to another company was July 23rd, 2010.

My brother-in-law JT Martin and sister Kimberly bought Emigration Market in 1999 and it was their pride and joy. They remodeled it, fixed it up and added a great-tasting restaurant to the front patio. Due to the financial state of the economy and the slow traffic flow of neighbors, Emigration Market was falling behind. After months of trying to pull itself out of the hole and getting steady shoppers willing to buy, there was no other choice to be made but to close its doors for good. Emigration Market will be missed by many!

It has been tough to watch my sister and her family the last few months pick up the pieces after losing their business they had owned for so long. I pray that all feelings will resolve and they can begin to get back what was lost somehow in a new business.

Get feeling better Todd!

We love all of you!

Dilemma...

"I eat because i am unhappy.

I am unhappy because I eat.

Its a vicious cycle."

For the last few months I have felt a little like Fat Bastard in Austin Powers. I am sure all of you know the part in the movie when he says this, and maybe some of you may have felt like this too in your life. For some reason, nothing is going right with my weight and body. I have been in training for 2 months now and I would have thought that I would have lost some lbs., but NO! I have even cut back on my dessert intake (a lot actually) and still NOTHING! I have limited my "nectar of the gods" to maybe 2 a week, and, NADA! It is frustrating!

I have to clarify. I do not eat because I am unhappy with my life. In fact, I couldn't be happier. I married my best friend, my motivator, my example, my competitor, my partner in crime and my perfect match in February! I (we) have have the most beautiful, intelligent, quirky, athletic, incredible and funny Golden Retriever whom I love and adore! I have been blessed with an amazing family who are my best friends, and an even better family-in-law than I could have ever wished or asked for! I have loving friends, good health and the gospel!

So what's the problem? Where is the unhappiness coming from?

YES! It actually stems from eating. Apparently it is true that you get curvy when you get married. Who knew? We have continued the same routine from our dating life to our married life so it really doesn't make sense. I am unhappy because of my weight gain...which is unexplainable, and because my efforts aren't showing a turning point...thus making me eat more to drown out my sorrows! HA- vicious cycle in the flesh!

If anyone has a kick off diet plan that would help me get going, please pass it along!

GOAL: to lose 10 realistic pounds by September 11

GOAL: fit into my clothes from last summer without ripping the seams

GOAL: love my body no matter what

The Joys of Design

Holiday Fun

We spent the weekend with family in Midway. My brother and his family invited us on Friday up to Strawberry Resevior to go on his sail boat. I had never been before, and it was awesome! He really new a lot about sailing and I was very impressed.

The sail boat

Moose at the helm of his beauty

A sweet pic as we sailed around the lake

Weston taking charge...WATCH OUT FOR THE ROCKS!

On saturday my family pulled out the 2 boats and headed to Deer Creek for some water action. We had fun with fam swapping boats, swimming, eating and doing various water sports. I can't ask for anything more than a perfect, windless day at the lake with my hubbs.

Clearly this was taken before we got in...

Way to go Susan!

Weston doing some surfing

Matthew pulled out his air chair and WOW did he do some cool tricks. I didn't get any pics of it but he is very talented.

Basically our weekend was jam packed with boats, water, BBQ, biking, games of buzz, family, chit-chatting, yummy sweet rolls and dogs!

FUNNER!

...one year "younger" and wiser too...

Happy Birthday to you!

My sister Kimberly and my mother both had birthdays this week. As a family, we celebrated them jointly last night in Park City at Ruth's Chris! YUM! The wee kiddies were not invited, for obvious reasons, so it was just all the siblings and their spouses.

We had a fabulous dinner eating lettuce wedge salads, filets, halibut, crab cakes, sweet potato casserole, garlic mashed potatoes, asparagus with hollandaise, broccoli au gratin and a slue of desserts etc. Holy cow...I don't think I have had more food in one sitting in my life!! But, I loved every bit of it. It was a great night being all together sharing many many laughs.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

As of Lately...

we have been up to a lot of things! Tahoe and I went to Sun Valley with my mom, sister and her kids, Weston biked the Tour de Park City with his brother, I went to a mock/training triathlon for the BAM, we went boating with my brother and his family, we also went to see Kings of Leon at Usana, and Weston finished up his softball season with a win! Work, play, vacationing and designing has taken up our days and weeks. It has been hard to find the time to relax this past week and to blog. Stay posted...there will be more coming later this week!

i TRI -ed and succeeded in echo!

I did it!

I finished the Echo sprint Triathlon on Saturday!

I didn't have too many issues, but I definitely can improve for next month's BAM tri!

Thanks Brooke for the fun event and Thanks sweets for the support!

Don't cha wish your car was hot like me...

Dress up your headlights with a touch of fashion and a twinkle of crystal!
FITS MOST CARS . ATTACHES EASILY WITH 3M TAPE
REMOVABLE . WILL NOT DAMAGE PAINT

Happy Birthday Tahoe!

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

He sure is my best friend and I love him very very much. He has brought much joy, happiness and adventure into our lives. I couldn't have asked for a better well-mannered and behaved pup!! He has been spoiled his whole life, and I am totally OK with it! He is a part of the family and deserves all the love, gifts, treats and vacations as we do! ha-