life chronicles with stacy

:: Weekly Update ::

2012-01-17T18:03:00.000-07:00

I've always wanted to do weekly belly shots, but I wasn't disciplined enough during the 1st & 2nd trimester. But now I am going to do it, despite the realization that last weeks picture looks exactly like today's picture, haha. Oh well. Anyways, it will be fun to look back on and see the subtle changes. I know some girls wear the same outfit to do this, but I tried it and it looked weird. Like I had bummed around all week in the same outfit or something.

Anyways, hope your week is going lovely, despite the freezing/snowy quality the world has taken on. *tear*

-S

:: Pretty Little Things ::

2012-01-13T13:57:00.002-07:00

Every once in awhile I get really inspired to be crafty, but being frugal-crafty is the best! This little Thank You Box was so inexpensive but really cute.

Box: Michaels, about $1.00
String: Joanns, about $4.00
Thank You Card: Designed by me and printed from home! $0.00
Inside: Whatever you want!

:: And Counting... ::

2012-01-10T16:47:00.001-07:00

Here are the latest girth details! It's crazy, but I still have a few weeks to go and I have no idea where the rest of the baby weight/length will go! I feel like I look 40 weeks already! Funny story: When I was younger, I would always play the "I'm Pregnant" game with a pillow, except little Stacy never made her pillows this spherical! My childhood games have left me unprepared, lol.

Anyways, we're almost there - Woot!

In other news, the nursery is almost done! I will post some pictures when it's perfected by the crazed nesting that will occur soon. Yeaaaahhhhh for Richard! Haha.

Loves

:: Sophisticated Ladies ::

2012-01-09T22:27:00.000-07:00

Yes, I went there. For Christmas I got my kitty, Tooley, an engraved name plate with some very swanky cell phone numbers on the back in case she gets lost.

We keep it classy at the Deanski household. ;)

:: The Christmas Post ::

2011-12-29T01:01:00.000-07:00

***********************************************************************************

I hope everyone had a cheery little Christmas! Or big Christmas if you were completely spoiled with gifties. I always feel spoiled at this time of the year, regardless of the present quantity under the tree, don't you!? I feel so blessed during the year, and then super blessed once I snuggle down with some hot cocoa and the huz under the twinkling tree and realize what the Savior's birth means and how awesome it is that we can celebrate it.

This Christmas was blissful. We decided that since it will be our last chance to have a Christmas with just the two of us ever again, we would do it up right! That meant staying home for the first time and creating our own traditions for the holiday season like:

-Visiting a Danish Christmas Church Service. (For funzies. Richard served his mission in Denmark so we thought it would be neat to stop in. It was!)

-Christmas Eve Date Night. (We had a gift card to a luxury movie theater where they served us dinner in plush seats while we watched "Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol." It was SO cool. And not just the movie.)

-Reading the story of Christ's birth from the scriptures Christmas Eve night.

-Setting out milk and cookies for Santa. (He ate them! I saw the crumbs to prove it.)

-Christmas morning gift opening, of course!

-Golden Rod for breakfast. (A Dean family tradition that I have finally embraced thanks to my unending pregnancy hunger.)

As I took down our Christmas decor' today, tree included, I felt a little forlorn because this last month Richard and I have padded out into the living room every night to sit in the light of the tree and talk until bedtime. It was so calming and relaxing and felt like a little sanctuary from the world. I'm going to miss this last Christmas. It didn't snow or rain or fog, in fact it was sunny all week prior, but Christmas 2011 will hold a special place in my heart because it was the first time we felt like a real little family. With a little home and a little one on the way, kicking and flipping the whole time I was opening gifts. (I think she was on an adrenaline kick from all the excitement!)

On a side note, thank you to everyone who sent Christmas cards and/or little packages our way. We are truly blessed with wonderful friends and family. :)

Welp, hope everyone has a splendid New Year and that it isn't wasted seeing the new "New Year" movie because I heard and read it was awful. Just sayin. ;)

S

:: Tis The Season To Be In Love ::

2011-12-12T20:28:00.000-07:00

:: Oh Christmas Tree ::

2011-12-05T15:49:00.000-07:00

:: Welcome To Our Crib ::

2011-12-01T20:59:00.001-07:00

This is my lovely husband, letting me take pictures of him doing "Big Life Moment" things like assembling our first baby crib. :)

(Thank you Mom & Pooh-Pa for the beautiful crib! We love it.)

:: Halloween 2011 Party Video! ::

2011-11-20T15:24:00.001-07:00

So our great friends from here and here filmed and made this awesome Halloween Party video that we had in all it's merriment. We crafted, pumpkined, carmel appled, apple cidered and played all through the night! Take a looksie. (The game we are playing is "Musical Instruments: Halloween Edition." You have to pull a Halloween song from a bowl, then pull a slip of paper that tells you what instrument you play to get your partner to guess that song. I stole the idea from Jimmy Fallon and revamped it. It was pretty epic.)

(Please love how blimpy I'm looking this night. Lol. It must have been all the sugar.)

Loves S

:: Bump It Up ::

2011-11-17T16:06:00.001-07:00

:: Thoughts On Pregnancy ::

2011-11-15T21:15:00.001-07:00

These days I get asked quite frequently the question: "So how is pregnancy treating you?!"And I always find myself smiling a huge smile and replying, "Pregnancy is awesome!" I just can't get over how much I love the whole process. I wanted to write out my thoughts on pregnancy for those who might feel the way I used to about pregnancy. Which was border line terrified of the whole thing.

But I don't really blame the old me for the fears I used to have. After all, how many times have we all heard the horror stories about the morning sickness, the cravings, the weight gain, the stretch marks, the vericose veins, the "you'll never get your body back" warnings, the sleepless nights, etc. etc... It got so bad that whenever women would get together to discuss their pregnancy/delivery stories, I would have to vacate the premises. ASAP!

I'm not quite sure why it's so common for girlies to share horror stories and freak all the rest of us out, but I'm guessing it has to do with the "misery loves company" aspect of our life experiences. I don't know. But going into this pregnancy, especially after trying and failing for so long, I made a promise to myself that I would try my hardest to not give into any miserable feelings. I wanted to be the one girl who I had needed for so long to tell me how great, amazing and miraculous the whole process was. It seems silly, but that's just what I wanted. To see it all in a beautiful light. Even the difficult stuff.

A pretty big goal right!?

But the funny thing is, it has been so awesome! And I'm not sure if it's the goal I made in the beginning coupled with supportive friends and husband, or maybe it's been all the little things I've done to try to keep healthy and happy, but either way, it's been great.

Even in the beginning, when the first three months felt like I had a 24/7 flu, I still couldn't stop smiling at all the queazies and how that meant that the little cutie inside was doing just what they were supposed to be doing. It's weird. I know. I even wrote down in my journal with jubilation: "I threw up today!!!" Lol. That was my first bench mark of being a true pregnant woman for some reason. Puking. Haha.

And the cravings were bomb diggity. It was so so fun to be experiencing all the silly movie scenes like, "I need pizza! If I don't have pizza I will die!" (Richard obliged every time. It was so rough for him to have to get the occasional pizza and milkshake, let me tell you...*wink*)

I thought the weight gain would be rough on my female brain, but to my surprise it's also, so cool. Before pregnancy, us girls do the daily mirror of shame: Standing there and analyzing all of our imperfections. Sucking in and trying to imagine what true happiness would look like. Then making promises that we'll only eat one bowl of cereal and stay away from all sweets to lose those extra 10 pounds that just have to come off so we can have that flat tummy we've always dreamt of having. You know what I'm talking about. We all do it. No matter how we perceive other women and their "perfection." Even that girl who you feel is perfect in every way does the daily mirror of shame. Which we all know is sad, but that's another soap box day.

So the weight gain I imagined would be the hardest for me. But as the weeks and months ticked by, and the numbers on the scale went up, I couldn't help but be so excited for the "bump." And when it finally came, and got bigger and bigger, I just loved it even more. I loved dressing the bump in fun maternity clothes. I loved seeing the bump in reflections as I shopped. And then the bump started kicking and the awesome meter blew up ya'll. :) I would always play "pregnancy" as a little girl with pillows shoved underneath my shirts, and now that I have a true, melon bump...it's just so fun! I'm getting repetitive but that's okay. :)

And all of the other little stuff...the stretch marks etc...well, I'm a firm believer in staying healthy and active, and slathering on that cocoa butter, (which works wonders for the stretching and any itching!) and I've seen a beautiful body the whole time. But for those who are still freaked about the stretch marks, let's be honest...everyyyy one has a stretch mark SOMEWHERE. Perhaps a few. Perhaps a lot. Or cellulite. And they always fade and who cares, right? None of us look like Heidi Klum, even at our very best. So I say, "If you can dress it, don't stress it!" (I really came up with that, pretty great right?!) But it's true. There's nothing a great pair of jeans can't fix. I've never met a new girl for the first time and thought, "If she has stretch marks or cellulite under that outfit, she is ugly to me..." Of course not. We always think, "She is so cute! She is so kind, sweet, lovely, etc."

Like I mentioned, I really think staying active is so wonderful for the body. I have had a really successful pregnancy on paper, and I truly believe the little bit of yoga & pilates & walks that I squeeze into every week has made a world of difference for helping back aches, mood, blood pressure and baby being healthy. Eating good food doesn't hurt either of course :) And I'm not at all saying that if you had a difficult pregnancy it's because you weren't active or eating right. I know, some things just can't be helped. But I do believe it helps to transfer your pregnancy experience from "blah" to "booyah!" Someone wise once told me, "Your pregnancy can be what you make it." And I kind of love that. :)

So in conclusion, I am 25 weeks along, and have 15 weeks to go and so excited for it all! Yes, even the labor and delivery! It's cuhrazy what is going to go down that day, but I've got an amazing Doctor and husband, and modern medicine, ha! Not to mention a pretty incredible baby to meet, so I'm down. Let's do dis. Bring it. So if you see me and I say "I'm awesome!", I really mean it. BTW, I love it when people ask to feel my belly, so go on witcho bad self. Cuz I'm a weirdy like that. :)

And that is the end of my thoughts on pregnancy, for now!

Loves S

:: I Do Declare I Will Be Seeing This! ::

2011-11-10T15:26:00.000-07:00

Yeah... I wasn't prepared to give this movie the time of day. Except that the trailer came out this morning and I am SO impressed! Who knew Charlize could be so creepy and awesome?! And Kristen is pretty cool too. Although I hope we get to see better hair days in the movie.

What say you?! Next Summer: You, me, in line to see this baby?! Whoa...speaking of baby, next Summer I will HAVE a baby...crazy. Just crazy. Richard can babysit. ;)

:: Autumn All Around ::

2011-11-02T19:34:00.000-06:00

:: Halloween Overload ::

2011-10-31T23:41:00.006-06:00

This Halloween was pretty full with two very fun parties, (hilarious video to come soon) cards designed for family and friends, crafties and candies. Take a look!

Craft 1: "Bat Branches." Really simple to make. Just grab some artsy looking branches from a tree, paint them with black acrylic paint, find a Halloweeny vase to put them in, glue on some cutey bats and voila! *A special thanks to Richard for being a gentleman and collecting the branches for me while I stayed inside.* :)

Craft 2: "Candy Witch Broom Bags." This was inspired my the one and only Martha Stewart, of course. It is simple yet complicated, so the instructions are here on her website! But they are really adorable and make great hand outs for the trick-or-treaters!

And last but not least, our resident Vet, Dr. Richard Dean and his patient lurking in the background. (Please forgive the poor quality photo, I was in a hurry!)

We got a lot of kids for our first Trick-or-Treat year, so I was pumped. I wanted to take pictures of all the kids but Richard said that would be weird so I settled for blogging about every other little detail of Halloween instead!

Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend and Halloween! If you received a card from me, I hope you liked the little Halloween Riddle! I thought it was pretty hilarious myself, ;)

-S

:: This, That and a Scaredy Cat. ::

2011-10-25T23:11:00.009-06:00

We bought our first baby outfit the other day. It's pretty adorbs with the awesome font and huge heart on the butt! (The little beanie was made by my talented and awesome friend, Lizzy.) In her entire lifetime of outfits, this is the first she'll ever wear. Whoa. That's pretty serious...maybe I should give this some more thought...Or maybe I should get crackin on finalizing her name, cuz that's pretty serious too. :)

And in recent news, I discovered something hilarious about Tooley: She is terrified of everyyyyyything in this new house. Especially when she see's objects outside the window of our bedroom...like Richard doing yard work for example...

*Smile Richardddd!*

Well, after noticing that she'd been missing for awhile since he'd been out there, I searched and searched and couldn't find our Tooley anywhere! *Gasp!* But then I thought..."Hm...where would I go if I was terrified and needed to feel safe?" I came back into the bedroom and sure enough...

What the lump?...

It's a...

Tooley! Hahaha. Oh man she is weird sometimes. She literally wouldn't come out all day. Poor, sheltered kitty.

The end.

P.S. 3 points for my clever post title right?! I always award 3 points to clever rhyming titles when I come across them in the blogosphere. Holla.

:: Jingle Belly ::

2011-10-24T15:17:00.002-06:00

I haven't done a video in a hunddddreeed yeaaarrrrrs! I dedicate this little jingle to our little one, since the guitar bumps up against her anyways! I hope she's gettin some serious acoustic vibes. :)

:: A Breather. Sort of. ::

2011-10-21T21:39:00.000-06:00

So I'm giving all you peeps a breather from "Stacy's Baby Stuff" and posting about something else tonight. *crowd goes wild!* I know. It's okay. I used to think the same thing, "Don't these pregger people have anything else to talk about?!" :)

So I thought I'd show you I have cool thoughts still! You know, like music, movies, politics, hilarity, etc. The cool stuff. Not the "Mom" stuff ;)

Music: Lately I have been playing guitar a lot and listening to just a jumble of music from Shania Twain to weirdo indie bands that sing about strolls through the woods and eating ice cream cones. Mmmm.....Ice cream.....

Movies: Since getting rid of Netflix in protest of their ridiculous new business model (which they revoked! ha!) I have been more into the new fall TV shows such as:

Terra Nova - nerdy dinosaur show that's Jurrassic Park meets Avatar. It's awesome.

The Office - of course.

Parks and Recreation - of course.

Once Upon a Time - Okay, it hasn't come on yet, but it looks AMAZING and it's from the creators of Lost. So we can do no wrong with this one right?. Hopefully.

Politics: For the first time in my life I have been keeping up with politics. We've been watching the Republican debates and laughing hysterically at the appropriate ridiculous parts. But I like keeping up with the haps of the world. It makes me feel like if I wanted to hang around a water cooler, I'd totally have something to say. Like, "Why do people still have water coolers? Why don't we just bring bottled water to work?" By the way, did you know I'm a Republicany type of person? Yup! Who knew?!

Books: I need some good books to read! I went to the library a few weeks ago and they were all lamespice. The problem is I can't really narrow in on what type of books I want to read. Pregnancy has done a number on my decision making abilities. So if you have read something PHEnomenal lately, share share!

Design: I need to get on designing and finishing my Etsy shop prints! I know I know, I. AM. LAME. It's just so crazy how pregnancy has shifted my entire world. My brain and body are in survival mode: Food, Water, Laundry, Baby, Food, Water, Sleep. Anything that can fit in between is a miraculous event. Srsly. But I do have Halloween decor, cards, and some fun stuff coming up on the blog, so that's something right?!

Richard: Richard is great and wonderful and amazing. He takes me on secret milkshake runs at late hours of the night and promises to never tell. Isn't he perfect? And he says I'm more beautiful than the day we were married. (awww) He has baby excitement blinders on, but it's the perfect thing to say anyways. :) He's working hard and rarely hardly working. We need a date night soon now that I think of it, we haven't had one in for evas! Hmm...maybe we'll use up our Movie Theater gift card this weekend...

Anyways. Sorry if this "cool" post wasn't actually very cool. Lol. But you'll love me through it of course. ;)

Hope everyone has an awesome weekend!
Loves S

:: Our Baby...Girl! ::

2011-10-12T15:14:00.002-06:00

Sorry to be going baby crazy lately, but you only have a baby for the first time once right?!

Here is our little girl. :)

She is so cute and precious already and SO fiesty! The ultrasound technician kept commenting about how every time she would push to get a better angle, baby would kick up at her and roll around to get cozier. Oh gosh, I am getting teary, but that is just so darn cute and miraculous and and and...*sigh.*

We are EXstatic. Can you tell? Lol.

All systems and fingers and toes are a go. She is healthy and happy and cozy in there :)

Life is pretty great today...

:: Morph Babies ::

2011-10-11T13:14:00.008-06:00

So tomorrow morning we go in for our "boy/girl" ultrasound, and we are exciiittted! (We'll let everyone know asap, we promise.)

But in the mean time, I thought it would be hilarious to show you our "morph babies." You know, that weirdy website that takes your face and your spouse's face and morphs them together to get creeper babies?! Oh yea.

You have to use really clear front views of your face, thus these creeper mug shots of us:

+ Richard:

= Morph Babies!

Weeirdd but fun! You should definitely make a morph baby at least once. :)

:: Just A Thought... ::

2011-10-10T13:37:00.003-06:00

*Tiny Bloggy Announcement*

I normally don't get on soap boxes. I usually smile, laugh, have fun and live what I believe. But the news has me more contemplative than usual and I just wanted to share this link for anyone wondering or confused with the information out there. Because peeps are mean sometimes, and that's okay.

But just in case some don't know, first and foremost I believe in our Savior, Jesus Christ. The Jesus who was born in a manger, died and raised again to atone for the sins of the world. Yup!

Link: Are Mormons Christians?

Anyhoots, we will return to our normal silly Stacy crafties and shananagins from here on out! Kk. :)

- S

:: Gettin My Nest On ::

2011-10-10T00:25:00.004-06:00

Because of my dear friends Heather and Rach-A-Roni, (she goes by this, call her as such) I have been able to have a sewing machine in the home and the luxury of sewing guru's just a Skype call a way! So this weekend I took out all of my scrap fabrics and sat down to come up with some cost efficient crafty items. I say "cost efficient" because, well, we are having a baby ya'll and saving is what all the cool peeps are doin.

So anyhoots, I am pretty nervous behind a sewing machine, especially all on my own with no one nearby to fix my bobbin winder thingy or get the needle thingy unstuck. See what I mean? There are a lot of "thingys" to this sewing bidnis. But I am pretty excited about how my little crafties turned out! There is something so awesome about taking nothing and making something you just think is the cutest. Even if it isn't. Sewing projects are like having babies: Even if it turns out ugly you still think it's beautiful because YOU made it!

So I made 6 burp clothes with cloth diaper backings and a nursery "envelope" pillow. Now I'm pretty sure I'm the last person on earth you'd ever want to know the details from, but if anyone wants a tutorial or "how to" just let me know! But like I said, I'm the last wifey in the world to jump on the "homemaking" bandwagon, so you are most definitely cooler than me. :)

Burp clothes:

Beginning Pillow:

Finished Pillow:

:) I'm not going to lie, there was some crying involved. Especially around lunch time when I screwed up my pillow border and I didn't have the BBQ chips I was craving at that precise moment. Things got a little scary. But Richard swooped in and "wife handled" me and all was well again. Pillow AND tummy fixed. Good man. ;)

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend too!
-S

:: Home Is Where My Bump Is! ::

2011-10-04T20:45:00.000-06:00

So as many know, Richard, Tooley and I relocated to a new abode that we love and are having so much fun taking care of. Here are some pictures of our new space as well as some 5 month bump pics as promised! (*Warning* A weirdy Stacy photo shoot happened while trying to get a good belly shot. Just sayin.)

Hehe! I love that little heart pic. So cute that tummy/baby is. Anyhoots, we find out on October 12th if the little Deanski is a boy or a girl! Yeah! Any guesses!?

Loves!

:: Be Gone ::

2011-10-02T21:34:00.001-06:00

Some days are really hard. But that's part of life, I guess. I just didn't know they'd be this hard. I'm being vague on purpose, but in general I feel achy and ugly. And in between there's a dash of despair that seems to be a constant companion when life seems harder than usual.

And sometimes you don't want to hear the bumper sticker advice.
You just want the awful and unfair to be gone.
And I want it to be gone.
But it isn't. And probably won't be for however long trials wish to linger.
But I just wanted to tell my blog about it.
And so I have.

To better days...

:: The Return of Tooley Tuesday ::

2011-09-20T14:20:00.000-06:00

I took my camera out the other day and had a little photo shoot with Tooley. She had mentioned that she hadn't made an appearance on the blog in awhile. So I said okay. :)

*Note* Please excuse my messy bedroom, we're packing and what not.

*Note* We noticed Tooley chipped her main canine the other day. I had a mild panic attack for my kitty, but she seems to be fine. So I took a picture of it when she was sleeping. Cuz I have that kind of time. :)

*Note* A few people have inquired about whether we will get rid of Tooley when baby comes, which never crossed my mind for a second. But I did talk to my doctor and researched a lot, and most of the worry is just old wives tales. She will be staying forever and ever. We love her so and know she'll love baby too.

Loves!

:: Bumps & Bliss ::

2011-09-07T15:31:00.000-06:00

Richard and I went to Multnomah Falls a few weeks ago and he happened to snap this suuuupper flattering random picture of me at 13 weeks. As you can see, I am totally bummin it with sweat pants and a weirdo dreamy gaze, but it's a bump pic none the less. :)

And here is a 15+ week bump pic. Forgive the crappy quality. It's deceptively harder then it looks to take a picture of ones tummy.

And to round off this post with some cuteness, here is Tooley snoozing on a towel I literally folded 7 seconds before she snuggled down for a nap. <3

Happy Hump Day!

:: A Baby Story ::

2011-09-01T20:34:00.002-06:00

It's about time, right?!

I've been pretty quiet on this blog for the last 3 months, mainly because:

A. I've had nothing but, "holy crap - we're having a baby!" thoughts.

B. I couldn't blog or talk about those "holy crap - we're having a baby!" thoughts because I wanted to wait until I felt it was a safe 3 months into the pregnancy, because...

C. Miscarriage rates go down considerably after that, and well, between infertility and miscarriage - a girl just needs to wait it out patiently and quietly until all feels well in the heart and soul department.

And now, fingers crossed, all feels well! So I feel up to talking about our little journey, thus far. Now I know how some bloggers divulge a lot, some not at all, and I hope I fall somewhere in between. But mostly I just want to be honest because I think sometimes us girls can feel alone in our girly struggles. So here we go.

(Ahem)

In the beginning, I wanted no kids. Yup, that's right. I wanted to be a career girl and kids were scccarry business that I knew nothing about.

Then I got married. And said...hmm...maybe 1 kid. Maybe. But not now.

Then a few years went by and I felt weird tugs in the heart area every time I glanced around our little life. And then those tugs grew to aches and I knew that Stacy was coming out of the "Mommy Closet."

And then I got sick. And the Doctors said, "Hmm...this Endometriosis business looks like it's going to be tricky for you to be a Mommy. You might not even get to be a Mommy. But we'll see." (Not verbatim, mind you.)

And I cried. And cried.

Now many people know what infertility feels like and there are no words to describe how much sorrow and heart ache goes into the experience. Let alone the feelings of inadequacy at being a woman. There shouldn't be. You should be able to separate biology from self-worth, but you can't. And it sucks. But you keep trying, because let's face it, what else is there to do really?

And then a miracle happened that shouldn't have happened, because every piece of paper said it shouldn't have happened. But on my 25th birthday, (how cute is that?) that horrible little stick that had been my enemy for so long inexplicably said, "Guess what yo? You be pregnant! So go buy some bigger pants." (The stick could have seriously said all that since I was in such shock.)

And that's how it happened. Our little story that took a lot longer than I thought it would. And I'm not going to lie, there are some days where I feel terrified of something going wrong and not having the privacy that maybe I would have, had I not announced anything. But even so, I have faith that everything will turn out the way it's supposed to. And we are so excited and blessed. I personally think Motherhood is the most important and sacred thing in this life, so I am pumped. And terrified. But definitely ecstatic.

So to wrap up, I am almost 15 weeks now. The first 3 months were icky. 24/7 nausea and all that jazz. But these last few weeks have been pretty blissful. I am a normal, definitely bigger tummied, girl again so this blog should spark back up in no time with bump pics, adventures and random Stacy thoughts!

Speaking of our next adventure, we are MOVING! Hallelujah. No more apartment living for us! We are going to rent a house a few blocks away that is super cute. It's going to be a lot bigger, and will give us lots of practice on taking care of big back yards, cleaning gutters, and all around home owner stuff that everyone loves to do right?!

Welp, I'll post lots of pictures soon. I promise. Now that you all know my little secret. :)

Loves to you all.

:: Life, Lately. ::

2011-08-08T15:51:00.002-06:00

A post full of pictures is long over due, so here we go! Lately...

Tooley has been keeping her spirituality up and reading her scriptures every night like a good kitty. :)

Richard and I took an anniversary trip to Cannon Beach and met a handsome sea captain. Richard got a boogie out for him -- so nice.

Richard and his friends went crabbing in Tillamook, then feasting at Cannon Beach. (I cannot show the actual murdering of the crab due to my liberal heart.)

We visited the Portland Saturday Market and spent 7 bones on this cutie little oven mit from Lady M Designs. She literally made the cutest aprons/baby gear/etc. you've ever seen. I guess my heart's not that liberal if I bypass all of the stained glass art and drug paraphernalia and go straight to the house wife stand. ;)

And last but not least...the hair cut! Before & after:

Like my posing?! So chic right? BTW, my "Before" picture was not my actual before picture. I did my hair that way ONE time, otherwise it was frizzy and blah. I'm not good at the sexy luxurious look anyways. I'm more short, fun and cute. You know?

I know you know.

Well, there we are folks. That's the Deanski life lately! Hope you enjoyed!

Toodles.

:: Good Day ::

2011-08-04T01:55:00.001-06:00

Today Richard went crabbing at the coast with some friends, and I was a little crabby about him killing crabs. Haha. But he had fun. And came home with a farmers tan. He is cute.

Today I stayed behind to do some errands and chopped off my hair. It's blonde now too. Was it impulsive? Probably. Do I love it? Yes ma'm. (pic to come.)

Today was a good day.

:: Four Years, Four Lessons. ::

2011-07-21T02:45:00.001-06:00

Today, July 21, 2011, is our four year anniversary.

Cuh-razy right?

You know how people say, "the years fly by, don't they?!" Well in my experience, four years has felt like four years. Which I love. I love taking my time, meandering and being in the moment rather than swept up in all the chaos of life. That's just me. That's how I roll. That's how I play it homies. :)

So in honor of today, I thought I'd share the four most important things that I have learned thus far, being a wise sage of marriage now for four years! Let's roll...

1. The Husbands Manual to Happiness is a lot shorter than The Wife's Manual to Happiness. Theirs is actually just 3 things: Food, Sleep, and....Something else. Ya'll know what I'm layin down! Wife Manuals are more complicated than chinese assembly instructions for a jungle gym. It's true. Husbands, we need you to read minds, read body language, adjust to mood swings in accordance to climate, elevation, bad hair, good hair, fat days, even fatter days, etc. It's tough. I wouldn't want to be you. But after four years, and with the years to come, it all gets easier. It becomes this seamless dance of actions without thought once you figured out to smile and nod and get to a food source ASAP when the Huz has turned into a monster behind the wheel. Or when he silently disappears and reemerges from the kitchen with your favorite snacky and puts in your favorite movie after you've snapped at him without realizing it.

Pretty much, mastering each others manuals is hard work, but it rocks. :)

2. Marriage is HARD work. Period. But I think it has to be, otherwise it wouldn't be called "Marriage", it would be called, "Two People Doing There Own Separate Things." Sometimes I marvel at how much work it is to keep peace and love constantly between two people. Faith helps the most. Faith and prayer. But still, I know sometimes it's daunting when you've literally spent all of your energy on trying to figure out finances or dealing with "I cannot get comfortable in this bed at 3:00 a.m. with you breathing in my space!" nights. BTW, those nights are the worst. When your bed randomly feels like rocks have been rolled into the stuffing and your arms get in the way of every possible position. (sigh)

Anyways. It's hard. And I never realized just how much work you need to always do. Every day. I always thought once you married "the one", fate granted you smooth sailing. Not so. But at the end of the day, hard work feels great. Even with a lumpy bed.

3. Friends are life savers. So see them often. Even though your spouse is naturally your best friend, friends rejuvenate you and keep you from being those weird people who never get out. :)

4. And last but not least, I've learned that after four years Richard is still the sweetest, kindest, most patient and loving husband I could have ever ended up with. He makes me laugh everyday at his food dancing and silly George Washington jokes. (Ask him to tell you, it's laffy taffy worthy.) I love him more than anything.

Here's to four years of lookin at you kid!

:: S ::

:: Comfort Movies ::

2011-07-19T01:14:00.001-06:00

Sometimes a girl just needs to express her love for her favorite movie, because it's the best movie in the world. It will always be there when she is sick and needs to snuggle down and get cozy with some wonderful characters.
(Dan in Real Life)

:: The Clever Fox Shop, Sneak Peek! ::

2011-06-29T00:31:00.001-06:00

So I've been working on my etsy site, The Clever Fox Shop for awhile now, and I thought I'd give you a sneak peek at some of my prints! (Don't mind the transparent "C", that's to thwart meanies from stealing the artwork.)

These are a few of the 5x7 prints that will be sold, as well as 8.5x11's and poster sized alphabet nursery prints. Holla.

Things are coming along nicely and I can't wait to open up shop soon! (I'm a little slow but I'm almost there!)

Hope you're all having a blissful week!

:: Rejoice! ::

2011-06-27T01:00:00.000-06:00

:: Sacrifice The Body Baby! ::

2011-06-16T22:47:00.000-06:00

Hahaha. Isn't this picture great? I put this up in honor of my first workout assessment with a trainer. Ever.

It was great!

If you like to die over. And over. And over.

It was so hard, and so hardcore, and soooo HARD, I literally lost my mind and said things like:

- Me: "How many more?! You know I'm a baby right? Like...I never do this. Are you sure this is the baby version?!"

- Trainer: "Come on Stacy! Do it perfectly or I'll start the count all over." Me: "NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!"

- Me: (Drenched & Gasping) "Do people ever faint or vomit during this assessment?! Because I could do both." Trainer: "All the time. Mostly men."

- Trainer: "Come on Stacy! It's nothing but your own weight you're squatting here!" Me: "WHAT!?!? I need to lose some weight then!!!"

Basically we assessed that I am a weeny. But I did everything he asked and for that I am proud! My first workout went like this:

Treadmill: Warm up for 5 minutes.
Squats: 500 million.
Machine Butt Shaper Squat Thingy: 600 million.
Yoga Ball Lift Your Core While Rolling Ball Into Your Butt: 400 million.
Weird Shuffle Squats: 300 million.
Calf Ballerina Lifts: 400 million.
Elliptical: 30 minutes on "Sweat And Look Like A Crazy Person" setting.
Cool Down Stretching: 10 minutes.
Falling Down The Stairs Because Your Legs Were Re-sculpted Into Jello: Priceless.

And that was just legs peeps! I don't care how much we loathe them, you've got to give it up for celebs who go through that evvvvvvverrry day or so for their "job." Worst. Job. Ever.

*slow clap*

Anyways. I'm going to be dead in the morning. Which I deserve for calling Richard a weeny these past few days as he hobbled around like an 87 year old man. LOL.

What goes around comes around... :P

-S

Sleep Blogging.

2011-06-13T05:52:00.010-06:00

It is really quite late at the moment. 3:53 am to be exact and I cannot sleep. Not even a little. Which is weird considering I feel physically exhausted thanks to our recent membership with LA Fitness. (More on that laterz.)

Anyways, I've decided to find exhaustion through chronicling our life on the blog. I realize that I never just sit down and tell everyone, "Today Richard and I did this. And that." But I will now, all in the name of "Go to sleeep." So love me through this. *thank you*

Okay.

Where to begin...hm...maybe it's best if I just start back with January. That seems like it will be a snooze fest for sure. Don't worry. I won't blame you if you come back to this post to help YOU get to sleep sometime too. :)

January 2011:

Surgery. I only remember one thing about this month and it's "surgery." You may remember that post. January was bitter/sweet, emphasis on the sweet. I'd needed surgery for my endometriosis since...birth, pretty much so this was a good month.

February 2011:

Fully healed from my surgery, I planned a pretty fun baby shower and finished up my first ever baby quilt just in time for the party as well. (I am fully aware that this was the month I could have de-throwned Martha Stewart had I wanted the crown. But I didn't because Martha is bomb.)

Also this month...Valentines Day. Richard did something really sweet I'm sure but already my brain has misplaced the specific details.

March 2011:

It rained. Annnnd...yup. No idea what we did this month.

April 2011:

Aha! I remember. Easter came. And we decided to start a family tradition of going to the zoo on Easter. Which was really fun. The weather was perfect; sunny but cool, which made the animals happy. Thus they actually came out of their holes and crevices to stretch and play so us humans could take crappy quality pictures of them from 500 feet away. :)

We did other things too this month like church activities, library, park, fun fun fun, but I can't remember that stuff specifically either right now. Stupid brain.

May 2011:

We survived the end of the world! Haha. According to that crazy old fart who said we'd all die May 21, 2011. But we didn't so of course he meant October 21, 2011! Duh. So stay tuned for that one. Oh and give him all your money by then too! Just because you won't need it when your dead, he said. Niiice.

Spring came this month too! And I felt much happier and less blah. I started reading more, designing more, etc. Getting more artsy, while Richard was rocking it at work and being an all around amazing husband. :)

Oh and Tooley turned 2 on the 7th! Cute.

June 2011:

Finally a month I can remember. June has been pretty splendid. Richard had his 29th birthday on the 1st and like a terrible wife, I didn't blog about it. But I showered him with lots of love and gifties so it evens out.

I had a very surreal moment while we were at DSW getting new shoes to go with Richard's new birthday suits (don't be dirty.) I had him wear his entire suit ensemble to get the "full effect" and make a more correct shoe choice, because I'm smart like that ;) and he looked pretty spectacular. I mean really, I have a hot husband folks. Anyways, he's all spiffied up to the nines and has an array of beautiful leather dress shoes taking up an entire isle, when his Blackberry phone rings. (Someone from work.) So he takes the call. And I turn around, holding a new pair of shoes to go with the thousands already out, when I notice that Richard doesn't look like the Richard I walked in with anymore.

Four years ago we were starving students who could barely afford our books, rent and brand name cereal and here he is bobbing around in a power suit on one foot, leather shoe dangling, taking up an entire isle whilst talking to clients about big words on a Blackberry.

It was just, crazy. I took a mental picture because I always wanted to remember that moment where I could look back and see our humble beginnings, but look forward at the blessings all around us. Not that we are out of the clear or anything peeps. We're still representin humble beginnings with our trusty one car family jeep and reluctance to head to the dentist. ;)

It was funny.

But to wrap it up with the Deans; our marriage is great! In case anyone was wondering. Summer is here and not yet hot so we are happy campers. (Even though I hate camping and Richard INSISTS we MUST go SOON!!!) We just signed up with LA Fitness a few days ago and it was brilliant. We worked out like babies and then played racquet ball for the first time in 2.5 years, but then my arm hurt so we went to sign out only to be coerced by a beefy trainer to have a consultation with him. (AKA let him whip you into shape for a day like a drill sergeant.) Richard goes today for his beating and I go tomorrow. Yeah.

Welp, are you sleeping yet?! I am, mission accomplished so I'm outy. Please love me through all of my typos. I usually proof read but I'm nodding off on the keyboard. KK.

-Zzzz

Bored on a Friday.

2011-06-10T21:28:00.001-06:00

What's new with Tooley? You ask. I'll let you see for yourself. ;) P.S. I have a Youtube Channel! It will probably be dedicated to cat videos only. Just sayin.

:: Disney's, Brave ::

2011-06-02T12:18:00.002-06:00

So I don't know why I'm so excited about this film, but I just am! Here are some more concept images released from Pixar as well as an official description and release date. Looks like I know what I'm doing for my birthday next year...!

"Brave is set in the mystical Scottish Highlands, where Merida is the princess of a kingdom ruled by King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). An unruly daughter and an accomplished archer, Merida one day defies a sacred custom of the land and inadvertently brings turmoil to the kingdom. In an attempt to set things right, Merida seeks out an eccentric old Wise Woman (Julie Walters) and is granted an ill-fated wish. Also figuring into Merida’s quest — and serving as comic relief — are the kingdom’s three lords: the enormous Lord MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd), the surly Lord Macintosh (Craig Ferguson), and the disagreeable Lord Dingwall (Robbie Coltrane)." Release: June 22nd, 2012

:: Hairography ::

2011-05-26T14:05:00.000-06:00

The magical hair faeries allowed my hair to look this cool for 20 seconds. That's me casting a Volume Spell. Then it went back to this...

but Tooley loves me no matter what. :)

:: Not all those who wander are lost ::

2011-05-25T00:56:00.004-06:00

It's been awhile...

I feel like such a bad blog mother, I've neglected it so long. Truth is, I've been completely devoid of output of any kind lately. Mostly I've been sitting at the computer, staring out the window thinking, "Is there anything up there in this head of mine?"

And the answer: *Insert hollow wind sound effect*.

It's weird. I'm usually this ball of energy, bustling and clamoring to talk to the whole world every hour of the day.

Where'd that girl go? I'd like to know.

So in the absence of Thought, I turned to books. Beloved, wonderful books. And not just "I need an escape, bring me sexy vampire" books, but really deep, tough, lovely books. The kind you remember that crazy middle school teacher raving on and on about while you scribbled your crush's name in the margins of notebook paper. The kind you passed over because you thought them too boring or complicated to grasp onto.

You know, those kind.

And it's been lovely. Except now I find my mind over-flowing with all these new thoughts and notions that only twenty-five years of stumbling through life can bring. It's probably cliche', I know, but I just connect and feel so much sometimes that I wish I could visit those weird art exhibits with snobby people marveling about. I feel like I need to have a conversation with those who can blabber on about how a can of tomato sauce on a canvas has reshaped society, or started a revolution. (Warhol shout out. ;)

It's so funny how people are shaped and molded like clay over time. I used to stare at weird, enthusiastic teachers who proclaimed Shakespeare with such passion and, well, weirdness, and think "Who Cares?! Shakespeare is old. And boring. And lame. And you can't understand a word of it. What's on MTV?!"

And now, I get it. The arts are wonderful. And Important. So important. And I never really got it because it didn't reach out and grab me like it wants to do now. Or maybe it's that I want to reach out and grab it now. Either way, rock on teachers. Rock on.

Richard and I are an interesting duo to behold. We see the world so differently, but symmetrically at the same time.

Case and point: Walt Disney.

Richard see's his genius mind for business and strategy. His aspirations, goals and legacy. I see his heart and creativity. The magic and beauty that has come to life because of his dreams.

I know what your thinking: "Oregon has turned you into a bleeding heart liberal! And Richard sounds smart!" Richard is very smart. And sometimes I don't know what to do with all my gooey feelings because they seem to come out all jumbled and silly. Like some bad Bohemian Revolution banner: "Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love!"

Life is silly. Maybe in twenty-five more years I'll feel even wiser. Although I do think it is very wise to look back and realize ones ignorance quite plainly. Like, "Shakespeare is boring. Teachers are lame. Passion is weird. Hard books are for smart people. Twilight is the best. MTV is awesome. Politics are insignificant to me, etc., etc."

Well, this has been quite the stream of consciousness, considering there was nothing up there for some time. Until next time I'd like to leave this quote as a closer, because I'm still and always will be, a nerd like that.

"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king."

-JRR Tolkien

:: lovely ::

2011-05-15T19:05:00.004-06:00

Sometimes I don't feel like blogging.

Instead, I look at cute animal pictures!
(complimentary of Tumblr.)

:: Photoshop Magic ::

2011-05-11T16:31:00.000-06:00

this

+
this

Sparkly, pretty illusions.

:: goodbye michael scott ::

2011-05-03T11:31:00.001-06:00

I feel a tiny hole missing from my heart now. It's ridiculous but true :)

:: Today I... ::

2011-04-25T21:01:00.007-06:00

...was inspired by this and followed it:

I came across this on another blog and found it strangely refreshing so I decided to make it a weekly challenge to follow and see if life feels more inspired...or something. What the hey, right?

After one day I feel pretty great. I improvised here and there, but overall this was how my little day went:

- Woke up and smiled. Tooley bounded in to say "good morning."

- Went running before ANYTHING could change my mind.

- Listened to some beautiful, uplifting piano music while running in the sun. (Life & Death by Paul Cardall.)

- Marveled a little.

- Came home and ate fruit and yogurt. Took my vitamins. Lots of water!

- Played the same beautiful music on iTunes while I showered with girly lotions (as required) and towel dried my hair into a crazy knot/bun.

- Found 3 beautiful things about my natural self.

- Stretched.

- Cleaned, planned and budgeted with my cute new calendar system that I crafted together for our finances.

- Had lunch: organic creamy tomato soup with italian bread & pesto on the side. Lots of water!

- Went to the library and smiled at how large the pile of books I came home with was. (The Hobbit, The Road, The Grapes of Wrath, The Search, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, True Believer.)

- Read under a blankie with Tooley.

- Made dinner with Richard: spanish rice and peas stuffed in red, orange and yellow peppers. (I am so proud of how well we ate today. You have no idea how many nights we grab the Life cereal box instead of sitting down for a meal! )

- Went for a quick walk with Richard and saw the sun setting.

- Marveled a little more.

- You are now caught up to the present, with me blogging and shortly after this I'll get to writing "sweet nothing" letters to my family. (I live far away, so this will have to suffice for that part of the challenge ;)

I loved today. I didn't save the world, or make any money, or do anything substantially measurable to the world's standards. Sometimes a girl just needs to marvel once in a while.

<3

:: happy earth day! ::

2011-04-22T17:37:00.000-06:00

In honor of Earth Day I wanted to post my recent photography adventure. I call it "Spring!" Original right? I hope the Earth waking up is making you as happy as it's been making me. :)

:: hello darkness my old friend... ::

2011-04-17T00:22:00.001-06:00

...i've come to talk with you again.

This weekend was so blissful. Almost poetic in how happy I was. I felt light and airy. Like nothing could take me down from the Oregon clouds. This almost never happens; feeling this way. I usually feel very guarded and hermit-like.

Friday I got all dolled up to go to Costco with Richard. Yup. Costco. Sometimes a girl just needs to feel done up. While we were there, strolling through the outdoor patio and persian rug section, it felt cute. We weren't rushed or arguing over toilet paper prices. Just two people in love. That's all.

We meandered and tried out furniture. Danced in electronics. Kissed in the parking lot. Went to see a movie that rocked. Perfect sort of stuff.

Today Richard cleaned and vacuumed before I was even out of bed. I smiled a lot at the pretty carpet. Later on we went thrift shopping, running, ended up collapsing at a park and talked about life while gazing at the clouds.

I realized while taking in how pretty it was at the park that I am not a winter person. I curl up inside and never quite feel like myself until the earth starts to wake up and sprout colors and deep, fresh-cut grassy smells. It was perfect, sitting at the top of a jungle gym and really breathing for the first time in months. Or years. Who knows.

But I wish everyday was like this weekend. I wish that I could always feel like the best version of myself. I think I could astound myself if I wasn't my own bully all the time. Sometimes I even imagine what I'd be like, that best version of myself...

I think I would go on picnics a lot with blankets and sprawl under the sun with some uplifting book. And walk up to people at department stores and say, "I just want to tell you, you are so beautiful. Okay bye." And kiss Richard every time he walked in the door. And go running just because it was beautiful out. And leave anonymous packages on the doorsteps of those who looked like they had the weight of the world on their shoulders. And become interested in politics and those suffering around the world. And grow an herb garden. And smile all the time. And stay in touch with anyone who's ever touched my heart in some way...

It's not that I don't ever do these things, it's just that to do them always would be so beautiful. And I think life would feel wonderful. Even when it wasn't.

I think if I could be this person always, it wouldn't feel like Winter at all.

:: ten things i'm loving ::

2011-04-13T14:49:00.003-06:00

I haven't posted in awhile so I thought, "why not share what i'm loving" instead of what i'm worrying about lately. I tend to be a pro-worrier but focusing on things that make me happy makes me, well, happy! so here they are:

1.) Bach Cello Suite No. 1 Prelude. This is my favorite classical piece in the entire WORLD. It makes me feel instantly transported into the Jane Austin-esque English country side where life was a bit more romantic and magical. And it reminds me of my favorite cartoon, "Little Bear" from NickJr. Best.show.ever.

2.) This Article: Faith & Infertility

3.) American Idol's Casey Abrams performing "With A Little Help From My Friends." I have a crush on his voice and beard.

4.) Frozen Yogurt. When i'm down you make the world sweeter.

5.) These cats. It wouldn't be right without a little feline obsession thrown in the mix!

6.) Oregon summer pictures. I'm so tired of the cold, wet Spring.

7.) Practical Magic. It's impossible to get tired of watching this movie.

8.) Getting lost at Barnes & Noble.

9.) Botanical Prints. Extremely easy to make and they add instant charm to the home.

10.) Richard. Of course ;)

What are you loving lately?

:: practical magic ::

2011-04-06T00:51:00.000-06:00

:: digital illustration; alive at night ::

2011-04-04T01:41:00.008-06:00

Perusing my artwork I came across this digital illustration that I created as a birthday present for my Mom last year. I forgot how much I love it. I remember trying to get this magical moment from my head to paper and not really knowing if the execution would be anywhere close to what I had imagined. But after working all through the night I finally emerged with this finished product and I was pretty amazed at how close it came. I usually never get that "imagined" idea to come out as clearly as I would like. But this one is just so beautiful to me for some reason. I think I just love the mood and the moment. She's tinkerbell-esque for sure but she's sweet. :)

I guess I just find it incredible; what we can do when we dream something and then work at it. I go through these creative dry spells where I look at the world around me and feel like I've got nothing to contribute to this world; no passion for anything. And then I look back at what my blood, sweat and tears have brought to life and I just can't believe it. Or conceive of trying it again. Like it was just luck and to attempt it twice would prove that I really am terrible at this thing called "art."

I guess that's the great thing about "art" though, it's pretty subjective so anything can be beautiful to someone.

Speaking of artwork, I'm pretty sure these new images released from Pixar for their next animation film, "Brave" will convince everyone of their beauty. They are stunning. I fantasize about being .001% as good as these animators and illustrators. "Brave" is a mythical story set in Scotland and has this bomb diggity red-headed heroine in it and that's about all we know for now! I'm so excited, take a look:

:: the language of bumper sticker ::

2011-03-31T03:44:00.000-06:00

Tumblr (blogging site) has this strange yet alluring fascination with inspirational quotes paired up with random background photography. Sometimes I look at them and roll my eyes because I don't often swallow the language of bumper sticker well. But right now I relish the weird things. These are a few that resonated.

:: a little inspiration ::

2011-03-28T02:21:00.000-06:00

I could Etsy search animal prints all day. Don't these just make you want to write, paint, sketch, skip, jump, laugh...or something?! I love them. Someday I shall buy them all! For the whole world! *artist links provided beneath the artwork*

artist site

:: let's reminisce, shall we?! ::

2011-03-26T15:13:00.002-06:00

Yesterday I cleaned through all of my pictures tucked away in the hard drive of my computer (go me!) and in the process found some cute ones that make me smile. I love to look at pictures. They always reminds me of how extremely blessed and full my life is.

i could post tooley pics all day, can you tell? ;)

:: remember when there was music? ::

2011-03-24T16:39:00.001-06:00

i loved natalie. she got me through middle school, and now she speaks to me again...

Everybody's been in my face
Tellin' me I gotta make a change
All I ever hear day and night is
"You better hurry up and get a life"
I need some direction
'Cause the clock is tickin' away
Then a friend of a friend of mine
Says I've really been on his mind
And wants to go out and
check out what the feelin's about
Says we have a deep connection
Well it sure is news to me
And all I can say is

Intuition tells me how to live my day
Intuition tells me when to walk away
Could have turned left
Could have turned right
But I ended up here
Bang in the middle of real life

Then another one always says
she'd do anything to get ahead
She doesn't care if she has to scratch and
claw to get in the door
She wants her 15 minutes of fame and
20 would be nice
But I guess it's her life

'Cause Intuition tells me that I'm doin' fine
Intuition tells me when to draw the line
Could have turned left
Could have turned right
But I ended up here
Bang in the middle of real life
Should have turned left
But I turned right
But I ended up here
And I feel alright

You make it hard for me
Can't find the real you
You really think I can't see
What is that you're trying to do

:: baby mama drama ::

2011-03-23T13:03:00.002-06:00

i watch baby mama when i'm happy/sad/angry/bored/joyous/ or just breathing. here are my favorite parts, and they're moving!

:: 60's to the 90's awesomeness ::

2011-03-17T15:34:00.000-06:00

My family will probably get a kick out of these songs, but you should srsly take a listen to my child hood tunes! I used to listen to all of these in the the old farm truck, singing with Grandma and munchin on nutter butters. Oh memory lane, how I love thee!

Dr. Hook, "Sylvia's Mother." So gooooood. I had really good taste as a 6 year old.

Marty Robbins, "Strawberry Roan." Brilliant. Especially when you grow up on a horse farm.

Marty Robbins, "Big Iron." Loveit.

The Coasters, "Yakety Yak."

Joey Dee & The Starliters, "Peppermint Twist." The 60's rocked. Check out those moves...ow ow!

Then I got a little older and jammed to these hottie potaties...

Travis Tritt, "Trouble." CMT was bomb. Remember how cool that was?! Yup. This was awesome.

Garth Brooks, "Standing Outside the Fire." I have been in LOVE with Garth lately. I don't know why but I cannot get over how beautiful he writes his music. And 90's country music videos are Hil.Ar.Ious yo.

Shania Twain, "Any Man of Mine." Remember when every man wanted to marry Shania and every woman wanted to smack her because of this video?! Yup. I watched this video 20 times a day and dreamed of rocking high wasted stone washed jeans just like her.

These videos just kills me! I am going to watch them 100 times today. I hope you watched all of them too because it cannot be denied: I had some bomb taste in the music industry, LOL.

:: S ::

:: silly little pretty little things ::

2011-03-15T21:40:00.002-06:00

:: my little rain rhyme ::

2011-03-14T03:30:00.001-06:00

i love to listen to the rain

let it wash away the pain,

when it's quiet late at night

and there's nothing left to fight,

i hold onto the peace that comes

cuz it's here and then it's gone,

love is fleeting when it's given

from the voice that's deep within,

it's so cruel and then inspiring

i'm so happy, it's so tiring,

this world is big and i'm so small

people die and buildings fall,

songs will sing it

while others live it,

and the rain just falls and falls

quietly pitter-pattering off these walls.

:: my american idols ::

2011-03-07T02:25:00.000-07:00

I love American Idol. I just can't get over my rock star dreams I guess. These are my two very favorite picks from the show this year. Lauren Alaina is barely 16 and bombdiggity, and Casey Abrams is nerd sexy. I heart him. I hope they both win together, holding hands singing. And rainbows shoot out of their chests or something. They are amazing, so have a quick listen ya'll.

What do you think?!

:: clever fox ::

2011-03-02T02:11:00.002-07:00

Have I ever told you I love foxes? No? Well I LOVE foxes! Similar to the hootie owl craze that is hip right now, I sort of obsess over fox items. Which might seem weird, but it all happened when I had to do an illustration assignment in college. I designed and handmade a series of books that I called, "The Clever Fox Chronicles," and illustrated old Brothers Grimm stories.

I spent a lot of time studying the fox. Like...a lot a lot. And thus, the adorable craze was born. So that being said, here is the banner for my soon to be Etsy shop:

Sort of cute I think. And here are two items I recently purchased on Etsy that I almost fainted from excitment for:

1. 5x7 fox print

2. Fox Locket

Pretty adorable right?! I wish we were billionaires so I could support all of the starving artists on Etsy!

:: S ::

:: lately ::

2011-02-25T19:16:00.009-07:00

Sometimes I forget to blog about me. Not about my favorite books, shows or quotes, but just me. So without further ado...

Lately I have felt kind of lonely. Well, not kind of - but really lonely. I realized the other day that I spend more time with my cat than I do with humans. For realz. I added up the calculations and it just equaled weird amounts of time with my feline bestie, Tooley. Not that I don't love her. But, you know.

It will be really nice when Richard and I get another car someday and I can feel like I have a bit of wiggle room in the world. But cars cost moneyz. And we are saving, saving.

I wouldn't mind being home so much if I felt like I could even go for walks, runs or photography adventures by myself. But everyone is freaked about some girl getting attacked around here while she was on a walk and I'm pretty sure I'm no match for creepers.

I need some pepper spray. Scratch that, I need a taser gun. Or a dog. I think just a dog would work, right? Maybe a German Shepard or something. But then we'd have to get it shots all the time. And it would get flees and I want to barf when I think of flees...

*bleh*

So anyways, what was I saying? Oh yes - so I'm lonely.

I guess I just feel disconnected from what 24-year olds are supposed to be doing with their life. Maybe family helps you sort that all out. I think most people are surrounded by their families in some manner of fashion or another. Whether it's their own children or their extended family, whereas I am pretty isolated. Even from friends for the most part.

I really miss all of my family. I have all these wonderful family get-together dreams that just can't ever come to be. So maybe I'll have to save them for my own little family someday.

Maybe it's normal to feel alone when you're in that in between stage of marriage and children. Where you're kind of riding on the social interactions of hang out times with friends to get your "emotional need" quotas.

Who knows.

What else is new...

Richard has been working a TON lately. So that's left me a ton of time to start working on my Etsy store goals. It's been a lot of old school sketching and designing. Illustrating. Feeling incredibly ill-equipped because if you don't use it, you lose it.

And I.have.lost.it. I hate that I never mastered figure drawing which is the bread and butter of all illustration. If you suck at that, chances are your drawings suck.

My figure drawing teacher once asked me, "What do you want to major in?" To which I replied with jubilee, "Illustration!"

And he shook his head, twitched his mustache and said, "I think you'd better change it."

*crushed dreams sound effect*

Oh how the truth hurts sometimes. He wasn't being awful. Just truthful.

Anyways. Sketching is frustrating because I usually get what I want when I work HARD for it. Results come easy to me when I put my whole heart into something...except for bloody sketching.

But the Etsy digital illustrations are coming along nicely. I hope. When the shops up and ready, I'll announce :)

-In other news, the world makes me sick. It's horrible out there and at my fragile 24-year old state, I'd rather hide and keep thinking it's better than it is. Ignorance is bliss. Until it kills you. But everything will these days, so you know...

-I cleaned 6 months of food out of my keyboard today. Go me.

-I love American Idol and the new judges.

-I'm growing my hair long. Like a hippy. Sort of.

-I'm obsessed with Pottery Barn and baby stuff. Babies are so in right now.

-I went to a Soup Swap party and it's fed us for a whole week. Go Soup Swaps.

-I want to go somewhere warm and sunny.

Welp, that's me! The end.

::S::

:: nerd archives ::

2011-02-20T22:35:00.004-07:00

Just in case your dance floor moves were looking a bit stale, I dug into my nerd archives and found these clips for you to add to your repertoire. (oh snaps!) This was a year or so ago when I was blonde and bored. And Miley was not gross, but lamespice cool. Like the Hoedown Throwdown. Word.

nice!

:: S ::

:: too cute ::

2011-02-15T21:21:00.002-07:00

this is so precious my little heart might burst. i heart abigail breslin.

:: babies, babies, babies ::

2011-02-07T17:41:00.001-07:00

I have had babies on the brain lately! So I'm excited to finally be able to post about what I've been working on these last few months that I had to keep under wraps. See, my bestie Amanda is having a baby so I got crackin on her shower and also a little surprise for her: my first ever baby quilt!

*crowd goes wild*

Yup, a baby quilt by yours truly - who can barely sew on a button! But thanks to my marvelous quilt guru bestie, Heather, I was able to make a pretty darn cute blankie, if I do say so myself! :)

So here is my life lately in pictures.

Baby Quilt - I picked out the quilt fabric online and came up with the design myself. The back is a soft flannel and the border was hand stitched. The tag on the back was hand stitched as well and I free handed the baby name with a permanent fabric marker. I'm not very knowledgeable about the technique's I used, sorry! I have had a few people ask more in depth questions and I was like..."um...I just followed my teachers instructions and it turned out pretty!" lol.

Baby Shower - The theme was hootie owls with a color scheme of yellow with accents of burnt orange and chocolate brown. All of the decor I designed and made myself. (minus the hootie owls, which I thrifted here and there over the past few months.) It was tons of fun and everyone involved was superb! Especially Richard, who is now the poof poof hanging King and pro cupcake froster. I love him.

Whew! Baby showers are bomb dot com. I heart them! And besties who are preggers so we can have them. ;)

:: S ::

:: 20 Questions! ::

2011-01-28T03:29:00.002-07:00

1. If you have pets, do you see them as merely animals, or are they members of your family?

Tooley is my kitty/soul sista. I think I love her like I would love my own offspring. I can't be sure since I have no offspring to compare yet though. But I love her enough to have birthday parties for her. Invites, presents and all.

2. If you can have a dream to come true, what would it be?

The dream of being so financially stable that we could afford to help others GREATLY and never feel inhibited because of money. I just love the thought of being able to travel at any moment to be with family/friends if they needed me.

3. What is the one thing most hated by you?

I hate...PMS. I just hate it. I hate that weird creeping feeling that lets all females know you're about to lose your public and personal cool. Those sudden bursts of hatred and loathing for the grocery clerk who doesn't seem to be scanning your red vines and BBQ chips fast enough. It's maddening to feel so mad and uncontrollable and awful. (sorry Richard and good citizens of the world over.)

4. What would you do with a billion dollars?

First, I would sit in shock for 30 minutes. Second, I would pay off all our student loans and any hospital bills. Third, I would go grocery shopping and drop $500 on everything we've ever needed to make awesome, well balanced meals. Fourth, I would frantically remember to set a huge chunk aside for taxes. Fifth, I would go out quickly and get my hair colored, (it's been 7 months! eek.) Sixth, I would sit down with Richard and hammer out a financially intelligent plan for our moola. I think being a billionaire would be fun, don't you?!

5. What helps to pull you out of a bad mood?

Dancing and hanging out with friends. Both are 100% effective each time.

6. Which is more blessed: loving someone or being loved by someone?

I would say loving someone. I think it takes a lot of faith, time, effort, humility, patience, etc. to love someone else. Because it's never a guarantee that they'll give just as much as you put in. It seems extremely self-less to truly love another. I think. But what do I know!?

7. What is your bedtime routine?

Procrastinate. Floss. Google something. Finish flossing. Watch an episode of something. Put toothpaste on brush. Google something else. Flop on bed. Brush teeth. Jump in shower. Wash face. Google something weird. Pajamas. Play with Tooley. Read scriptures. Pray. Try to sleep. Tell snoring Richard I can't go to sleep. Turn on light. Read a book for 1 hour. Get sore wrists from holding book. Sleep.

8. What is your perfect first date?

I've had lots of wonderful dates with Richard. But if I had to construct a perfect first date it would be as follows: The guy would be a close, handsome friend - thus eliminating awkward small talk. (Plus the pick up and car ride would be non-weird. I would hope.) Then we'd go to some fun nerdy arcade place with great food. Then we'd play even nerdier games and laugh a lot. And get lots of tickets for lame plastic prizes. Then we'd go see some movie that I had been dying to see. Then discuss it's awesomeness all the way home. Kiss on the cheek. Bam! Best first date ever.

9. If you could watch a creative person in the act of the creative process, who would it be?

I can't pick just one, but I would love to shadow JJ Abrams (director,writer,) Christopher Nolan (director, writer, etc.) Leo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep and Robin Wright (actors), Laurie Halse Anderson and JK Rowling (writers) and any interior designer will do, as long as they can teach me about paint.

10. What kind of books do you read?

I love fantasy the most - emphasis on stories with animal characters that can talk. I also love really strong female lead stories where the girl can fight/use various weapons/super-powers/change forms, etc. Nerdy stuff. But then I also love a good dramedy or depressing/hopeful story too.

11. How would you see yourself in ten years time?

Lets see...in 10 years I will be 34. I would love to have at least 2 little ones thus making me a stronger female and addition to society. I would also like to be more attractive. And an awesome cook. In a nutshell I want to be 10 times as awesome as I am now in 10 years. kk.

12. What’s your fear?

Same as Michael Scott's fears: Loneliness and friends not wanting to hang out with me all the time. Or the thought that my friends aren't thinking of me at least 30 minutes total a day.

13. Would you give up all junk food for the rest of your life for the opportunity to visit outer space?

I don't like space so I would just give it up for a flatter tummy.

14. Would you rather be single and rich or married, but poor?

Married and poor and lovin it baaabby!

15. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?

Go back to sleep.

16. If you could change one thing about your [mother] what would it be?

That she would sMother me more!

17. If you could pick a new name for yourself, what would it be?

I'd pick something cute and fiesty, like Gracie or Lucy.

18. Would you forgive and forget no matter how horrible a thing that special someone has done?

Yes, yes and yes. I have a huge heart and a terrible memory. So if you're loved by me you got it easy folks!

19. If you could only eat one thing for the next 6 months, what would it be?

Really fresh fruit salad. But it has to be fresh and crisp and firm every time! Otherwise I don't want to play.

20. Who are you going to tag in this game?

I tag no one, but extend the offer to play 20 questions to all who have narcissistic tendencies and time to kill!

;)

i am a lucky girl.

2011-01-26T03:12:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I can't help but marvel at how lucky I am; being married to such an adorable hunk of burnin' love. I have so many moments during the day where I smile and secretly take a mental memory snap shot of something he did. (It's really fun. You hold up your fingers like a camera and make a *chick* sound effect. Try it, you know you want to!)

It was one of my new years resolutions to document some of these cute moments, so here are some of the latest. (Don't be embarrassed Richard, you know you're too cute.)

1. Last Monday I was running around the house, chatting on the phone. Out of the corner of my eye I see Richard running around with weird items: Pillows. Crayons. No bigs you know? We're a random couple. We do random things. Well - when I got off the phone I walked into the living room to find tons of yellow paper stars taped to the ceiling and blankets laid out on the floor. He said, "It's been too long since we just talked and star gazed."

*chick*

2. We only have one car. Sometimes it gets hard being home alone while he's at work. Sometimes I miss getting to drive around and visit with friends. Last Tuesday I asked Richard if he could please drop me off, before he went to work, for a play date at a bestie's house. He smiled and said, "Would you like me to pack you a PB&J as well?" I jumped for joy and replied, "yes please!" After getting bundled up and ready to leave I looked on the counter to see a paper bag full of goodies, pb&j of course included, with a note attached that said, "love you, play nice."

*chick*

3. Last Wednesday I had to have surgery for endometriosis. I was nervous. I was scared. I was franticly running around the night before trying to pack for everything that might go into an over night bag only to realize I didn't have any cute comfy lazy pants that I liked. I cried. Richard dashed us over to Old Navy and waited for 30 minutes while I debated over gray or black cute comfy lazy pants. I picked black. I held them all the way home and he told me they were the perfect choice and recovery would definitely be better because they were now in my life.

*chick*

4. Wednesday morning I was cranky from my nerves and snapped at Richard for parking too far away at the hospital. He put his arm around me and walked me into the scary building, signed me in, waited for an hour and a half while I sat in a paper gown and got poked and prodded, holding my hand all the while. He told me I looked beautiful even though I knew those horrible fluorescent lights made me look even worse than I felt. He laughed at my "this stuff is good, what's the street name for this?" joke, while the anesthesiologist just frowned and wheeled me away. He held my hand and played with my hair while I slept and threw up all day long. He didn't eat, sleep or move until the nurses kicked him out and friends had to bring him dinner.

*chick*

When I felt horrible for having to stay over night, no doubt making our hospital bills leap, I sarcastically whispered, "Am I still worth every penny?" He kissed my hand and replied, "Every penny."

*chick*

He never once complained about the awful chair he had to sleep in at the hospital, or the horrible flu/cold he was right in the middle of experiencing, or the hundred different things I needed him to get for me.

*chick*

And he hasn't complained once about having to wait on me hand and foot while I recover, eat ice cream and watch six seasons straight of "The Office."

Okay. He did complain tonight when I had to have a dance party in the living room after watching Jim and Pam's Wedding scene, and realized I am not fully healed enough for clubbin just yet.

*chick, chick, chick*

I'm madly in love with my husband.

:: S ::

p.s. please watch this wedding scene that got me injured tonight from happiness. You watching it will help me heal faster :)

:: two thousand eleven and counting ::

2011-01-14T01:31:00.006-07:00

As of January 14th, 2011, I am loving 2011. I wanted to write down a few wish/goals of mine because that's just what you do with a new year; You publicly announce what you'd love to accomplish and forget all about it come March.

Awesome. Let's get started!

I want to be healthier by...

   - finally getting my surgery for endometriosis done and done on January 19th, 2011. (btw, I've had endometriosis since...forever. It's been fun. *heavy sarcasm* You can google it if you want.) So Woot x3 for that.

   - signing up for at least one of the million Oregon marathons happening this year. Preferable a 10K because I don't want to embarrass myself or anything. Srsly.

I want to enhance my inner brooding artist by...

   - taking LOADS of pictures, and framing two of them. Maybe three.

   - starting an Etsy shop to profit $5.00 for my blood, sweat and tears.

   - sending something, ANYTHING to several publishing companies, just for the fun and experience of getting turned down by all of them.

   - playing guitar so consistently every week that I get to keep my calluses forever instead of having to re-form them each time. (gross right?)

I want to work harder on the little things in marriage by...

   - posting more about Richard on the blog because it will train me to always be aware of cute post-able qualities and stories about him. (Aw.)

   - making Richard's lunch for him every day. Elementary paper bag style. Love note stapled at the top and all.

   - snogging (kissing) Richard more in public settings. I have this strange issue with public displays of affection and it's just silly. He'll flip when he sees this as a goal.

I want to turn 25 because...

   - of the foretold epicness that will occur. I don't know how to explain it, but turning 25 this year is BIG. Something amazing and life altering will happen and we'll just leave it at that. So watch out world.

:: S ::

:: you're waiting for a train, a train that will take you far away... ::

2011-01-11T23:18:00.001-07:00

Just got done watching the mind blowing, "Inception" for the second time.

I hope this sucker takes the cake at the Oscars. It is quickly becoming one of my top 5 favorite movies.

Have you seen Inception?

"Of course!" most of you proclaim! "It rocked our socks too!"

But if you have not...my dear friends, drive now to the nearest movie rental/electronics store and bring Inception home. Turn up the surround sound as high as it goes.

And prepare your minds for something so bomb diggity, you'll sit for five minutes after the final scene fades to black.

And it did fall. Trust me, I am a genius...it fell. No seriously. Leonardo DiCaprio told me himself.

And for all you other Inception smarties, please ponder and answer these questions so I get some sleep tonight: (And for the few who have no idea what I'm talking about...don't worry, you can read all of this and still be spoiler free because it takes watching the movie a few times to get a grip on it all.)

1. How horrible of a name was "Mal"?! Ugh. Every time he called her name I thought "moth ball."

2. Exactly what was Arthur's (Jospeh Gordan-Leavitt) specialty? I couldn't figure out what he did besides tag along and be super cool.

3. Why did Ariadne tell Cobb about the secret air duct vents on the third dream level. Why didn't she just go stand by a tree so he was out of earshot and tell Eames about the short cut to the safe. Seriously. Then creepy Mal wouldn't have shown up and all would have been better. Right?! Right.

4. How did Leo and the old asian man get back out of limbo?! We saw him reach for a gun...and then wake up on the plane...huh?!

Ponder away...

:: swept away ::

2011-01-05T19:45:00.005-07:00

I love it when you feel a desire to accomplish everything you've been putting off for months.

When you get that itch to finally iron all those shirts in the closet. Finally. When those sinks will be scrubbed to perfection. That blouse will finally be reunited with it's long lost button. Taxes will be done early. The spaghetti splashed stove wall is going to be pearly white again. That dusty yoga mat will emerge from the closet. You're taking a machete to the junk drawer. You're finally going to sit down and send congratulatory emails to old friends and their new babies. You're going to buy that back up hard drive and save yourself from complete tech annihilation. You're definitely getting back to your sketchbook, photography, and meditating in the mornings for 15 minutes before the day begins. And the desire to do all of these things gives you this super-human purpose and commitment that nothing could break. Nothing.

And then you wake up one morning to do all of these things, and before you even open your eyes you silently curse because you know that none of that will be getting done today. Or tomorrow. Because your mind and body team up and announce "No. We feel sad/ lazy/ entitled/ cranky/ tired/ exhausted/ hungry/ icky or otherwise occupied with anything but accomplishment. Let's watch Kevin Costner in "Message in a Bottle" instead and get swept away in anything but daily drudgery, okay Stacy?"

And you say, "Okay."

The End.

P.S. That movie is sooo good.

:: I had a hot fudge milkshake after this ::

2010-12-29T02:51:00.001-07:00

:: pages + pages of goodness ::

2010-12-29T01:48:00.001-07:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and has a superb New Years party to attend! Our Christmas was great. I forgot to take pictures, so you'll just have to take my word for it. :)

But what I really loved about Christmas break was that I got loaded up with new reading material to nourish my parched and literary starved soul. *fist pump*

Take a look:

And the book I just finished in a record 2 days:

I'm sure you've heard of and probably already devoured "The Help." I'm usually really slow to get on the book club band wagons. But I really loved this novel. It was poignant and detailed, but still a meaty page turner. I highly recommend it if you want to open that space in your mind a little wider and fill it with goodness.

And for those of you who are already fans...did you know they are totes making it into a movie as I write this?! They've already got promotional pics and everything! Tell me if you feel like they cast correctly... I'm personally stumped by the casting of Emma Stone as Skeeter or Bryce Dallas Howard as Hilly, but I'll wait like a good little girl to see it when it comes out and judge then.

None-the-less, I am REALLY excited about this movie!

Anyone else excited?!

:: Life, Love & Horses ::

2010-12-17T01:17:00.002-07:00

Today is December 17th, 2010. That makes it the 7th year anniversary of my Grandparents death. (a car accident.)

(My Grandma made a brief appearance on the last post as the Elvis fangirl, remember?!)

As I sit here and write about today, I know that this post will not be sad. There is no sadness in my heart any more when I remember my Grandma and Grandpa; only happiness and warm fuzzies.

You see they were pretty awesome-spice Grandparents, and dare I say, the best! They made Betty White look lame. And Betty White is pretty epic.

Seriously.

They were cool. They worked hard. They were tough cookie parents but when it came time for grand kids - softies to the max! They raised horses. They rode horses. They laughed a lot and loved a lot more.

Grandma taught me important life lessons like:

- Always love Bob Barker. And Plinko, cuz it's the best on the show.

- Always love Elvis.

- Nutter butter cookies make everything better.

- Blonde is beautiful. (wasn't she?!) No matter the root, if you claim blonde, thus it is.

- Quarter-horses are the best. *represent* Make sure they have width between the eyes, don't let em push you around, and when riding - for crying out loud, "Get your butt under you!"

- Laugh always. Snickering is acceptable when in locations of silence or reverence.

- You'll never be poor if you have someone who loves you.

- Forgive fast. Life's more fun with others around.

- When bored play Solitaire, Dominoes or Crazy Eights. Nutter butters are required.

- The proper term for a bra is: Over the Shoulder Boulder Holder. (truth to that.)

- Dance and sing everyday as if you are the biggest broadway star to grace this earth!

- Work hard so you can sit back and feel great about it. "A clean barn is a happy barn."

- Always place tin cans outside your window when it rains. And don't get up to start the day until you've listened awhile.

- Cats live in the barn. Unless they are smuggled into the house, cleaned and put into cat clothes. Then they're cute.

- Love your children, spoil your grand children.

- Be kind and warm to everyone. Even those who knock on your door to talk about Jesus.

- Hug Grandpas often. Even when they're grouchy. Then they turn into putty and hand over the remote or candy money. :)

Grandpa taught me life lessons like:

- Early bird gets the remote first. ;)

- Chocolate tapioca puddings are off limits.

- There is no "tired" In retirement.

- There's no such thing as too much dancing or a bad polka!

- Treat Grandmas like Queens. Treat wives even better.

- Long showers mysteriously cause water heaters to shut off. Hmm... ;)

- Money doesn't grow on trees.

- Chocolate tapioca pudding doesn't grow on trees either.

- "Doonder et Lickten!" ("Thunder and Lightening." The only Polish he ever bestowed upon me.)

- Grandma's stew is the best in the world. *hands down*

- Snuggling is imperative.

- Say "I Love You" often.

- Say "Thank you" just as often. :)

Yeah... *smile* they were the best. My childhood and teenage years with them are vibrant photographs of hot summers, horseback riding, Sams Club shopping, hair coloring *blonde*, epic hugs, barn rock concerts, the smell of hay and perfume, cross word puzzles, garage bonding, bird house building, Old Blue tail gate dancing, laughter and love.

Always infinite amounts of love. And nutter butters.

Gram, Gramps – I'm sure Heaven allows blog stalking so I hope I got all the essentials down ;)

:: Love S. ::

:: loves of my life ::

2010-12-15T14:59:00.004-07:00

I've had a lot of loves in my day. The gift of eternal crushing runs strong in my genes. My Grandma used to sit me down at least once a week to watch "Elvis: Christmas in Hawaii."

She had some mad Elvis crushin to do.

Here's a quick look back from beginning to end at the men who have seen me through it all. At least from a poster.

1. Jason James Richter, "Free Willy." He was my first crush and I knew Jason, I and Willy would live happily ever. I just knew it. ( I had this exact poster. )

2. Leonardo DiCaprio, "Titanic." I defy anyone to claim they didn't fall in love with Leo. I would have carted his frozen popsicle body around with me everywhere, not drop him into the ocean like Rose did. *represent*

3. Devon Sawa, "Casper, Wild America." Devon was fleeting but memorable. I had a thing for floppy haircuts I guess.

4. Nick Carter, "Backstreet Boys." If you know me at all, you know Nick and I were soul mates. I saw him on the 1999 Disney Channel Concert and time stood still. Until I turned 16 and then we broke up. But it was epic whilst it lasted.

5. Ewan McGregor, "Moulin Rouge." He was my rebound after Nick. He sang like an angel and had floppy hair, what else can a girl do? (Gram had a major crush too. We knew how to pick em. )

6. Orlando Bloom as Legolas, "Lord of the Rings." Yes, I was in love with an elf. He had pointy ears and did awesome things with a bow and arrow.

7. Toby Maguire, "Spider-man." Not sure what I was thinking here, but I'm guessing I was wooed by sappy blue eyes and impressive guns.

8. Gerard Butler, " Attila, Phantom of the Opera, Tomb Raider." Gerard was my college love. He was super under-rated then and I felt I had claims to his awesomeness. But then he got famous and over-rated and we faded. But he was by far the manliest man I ever did crush on. No floppy hair here folks. Just a Scottish accent, a wig and eye liner and I was hooked.

9. Jimmy Fallon, "SNL, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon." Jimmy is the one love that has lasted. He sings about snowballs, had emo hair and makes me laugh all week long. If he grew his hair out again I think the universe would feel more complete - that's my only Fallon complaint. Otherwise, he's spot on.

10. Richard Dean, "Crush, Boyfriend, Husband, Love of my Life." Um, pretty much when I first saw Richard I forgot all of my other loves and thought my heart had stopped. *aww* He was tall, fair and handsome, carried a guitar around campus (for show) and laughed a lot. Yeah. Somehow I got this heartthrob to marry me. I'm a lucky girl. :)

*Merry Christmas!*

:: dreaming... ::

2010-12-13T21:41:00.000-07:00

Have I ever showed you my dream house? I don't believe I have. But before I do, I just want to say that it is "aesthetically" my dream house. I firmly believe that you can create the perfect home no matter what size or shape your abode comes in. All of our apartments have felt so cozy and perfect that sometimes I forget we are renters when people ask, "So when are you guys going to buy a home!?"

But I have always had a mad house crush for this little beauty:

This house was featured in the movie, "Bewitched" with Nicole Kidman. Anyhoots, if you've ever wondered, "What does Stacy look like represented through a house and it's accessories" this is it.

I think it's just perfect! (Taken with a grain of Hollywood perfected salt of course.) I absolutely love the size. I can't do the big huge house thing. I hate calling for Richard and not having him hear me!

I love the slightly overgrown but quant quality of the outside. I love the "fresh" look and the mismatched furniture. The whole vibe just reads memories and life instead of stiff and perfect. Although I won't lie - this place looks perfect. Go set designers!

Maybe someday...

Merry Christmas!

:: when your the best of friends ::

2010-12-08T23:33:00.001-07:00

Remember when I got my dearest Tooley and I loved her so and we had so much fun taking pictures together?

I do.

(this last one is hilarious. and i promise no kitties were squished in the making of these pics.)

and then we got bigger and brunetter...

I know what your all thinkiiiiing...

-You wish you had a bff kitty as cool as Tooley!

and/or

-You think I need to have a baby asap to distract from my cat lady tendencies. I'll probably have baby pictures with Tooley in every shot too tho, just cuz I'm Stacy. :)

and/or

-You think I should go back to blonde. Me too.

Merry Christmas!

:: what's the haps with the deans? ::

2010-12-01T18:25:00.001-07:00

I'll tell you what's happening (haps - get it!?) with us lately!

Thanksgiving: Was amaaaazing! We drove to Seattle to see fam/fam and made it like Kings and Queens. The food was perfect. The laziness was divine. That 6th piece of pumpkin pie was heaven. Playing new "Wii Sports" games was, like everything else; bomb diggity. Richard and I are extremely grateful for all of our amazing blessings in this world. Especially friends who babysit our kitty while we're away ;)

The Forgotten Carols: While we were in Seattle we went to see the Christmas play, "The Forgotten Carols" of which I had never heard of – but it was really good. It's a play/musical about a Christmas story and stuff. Anyways, this was my favorite musical number that made me tear up. I looove it!

Skating with the Stars: I have just started watching this and it's AMAZING! Stars on ice, possible falling on their butts in latex and sequin – brilliant. You should watch too. It's on Monday nights, ABC.

Christmas Stuff: I have been a little off my game with Christmas. Granted it is only December 1st but still. I know there are those out there who are all done with everything. Tree up, house done up like a Macy's window display, presents all purchased and waiting to be wrapped...

Yeah. Ain't Happening.

I'm still debating whether to get a tree this year because I really don't like real ones. Anyways, I digress. I did get Tooleys Christmas stocking up...ignore the crappyness of the photo, I don't know what happened. The thing to focus on is her adorableness...she has a lot.

So cute. Anyhoots. That's they haps with us. Not too exciting. Still obsessed with our kitty and trying to survive the Christmas season with warm fuzzies and smore hot cocoa. (Which is amazing by the way! I had that over Thanksgiving as well.)

Merry Christmas!

:: to all us ugly ducklings... ::

2010-11-18T23:24:00.001-07:00

I watch this about 10 times a day. I need to hear it probably 100 times a day. I just love it :)

:: love, love, love ::

2010-11-17T16:39:00.000-07:00

This past week I took some of our wedding pictures and edited them, finally. After 3 years of our pictures sleeping in my hard drive, I woke them up for a little polishing. :)

:: the many expressions of tooley ::

2010-11-10T23:35:00.002-07:00

:: a change in the winds...::

2010-11-08T23:03:00.003-07:00

So I've had it up to here - *hand to forehead* - with pop culture.

Gasp!

That's why this post is titled, "a change in the winds." Because if you've known me at all, you know I begrudgingly love anything and everything to do with celebrities, tv, movies, fashion, gossip; the works.

Though for a long time I've been feeling nauseous from the amount of junk in the media.

I've been feeling horrible about the amount of self-loathing I see from girls around me and in the world who feel ugly and not pretty enough compared to the "beauty" of the actresses we see daily. Me included. It's like an epidemic, I swear. I am on a mission to find at least one woman in the world who sees herself as beautiful. I'm not sure I can find her.

I'm tired of the drug addicted Lindsey's and Charley Sheens. I'm tired of the weird, "have to make a statement" Lady Gaga's and I'm tired of the "Get Flat Abs!" and "How She Lost All Her Baby Weight in 2 Weeks!" cover taglines. I'm sick of having a front row seat to celebrities and their every flaw and mistake and downfall. I'm sick of those stupid naked Victoria's Secret commercials and mall posters that are practically porn.

I'm tired of little kids not being little kids anymore because everywhere we look, books and television are all about dating and finding everlasting love, rock your world sex and sunsets.

I used to roll my eyes at people who sound like me right now. Maybe I'm getting old. 24 is ancient these days, (i.e. Miley.) But I've noticed a trend with myself when I look in the mirror after being absorbed with the waif hipsters of the world today; I feel awful.

Like that gross feeling you get when you've eaten a lot of candy corn or too many skittles. Like that – but emotionally. It sounds retarded. I know. But it's a confusing world we live in when medals, awards and billions of dollars and praise are given to pretty faces who memorize lines, wear tiny clothes and come out with perfume fragrances.

Let me clarify: I love film and visual media, but I am merely sick of the idolization and worship and ridiculousness of it all.

So I have put down the People Magazines and other "junk" and replaced it with...........no laughing!..........

HGTV + Martha Stewart Whole Living + Yoga!

And it has been AWESOME! That sounds really lame, but laugh not my friends. I have never felt so happy and fu-filled in all my life then to pour my time into Home + Garden + Crafting + Yoga and just LIVING life instead of watching and reading others do it on a red carpet.

So what if I didn't fit into a size 0 pair of jeans or get a record deal (i wear sizes 3,4,5 if you're wondering - and proud of it!); I totally learned all about purchasing and renovating a home, how to make thrifty christmas presents with house hold items AND how to fix that pain in my shoulder with the Downward Facing Dog position in yoga! Not to mention I feel tons more beautiful on the outside and inside when I can DO things to beautify the world around me.

Go figure.

Call me lamespice, but Martha's got it goin on.

Anyways, that is my change in the winds. I'm 24 and I'm just starting to understand what is real beauty in this world. Not red carpets and glam, but real people and real life.

And on that note...I bid thee, night night.

Until tomorrow, cuz I have some awesome pictures of Tooley to share!

:: Love S ::

:: hallows eve happenings ::

2010-11-01T01:04:00.001-06:00

Now that it's officially the end of Halloween night, here are some of our festivities!

Handmade Halloween cards! (If anyone was wondering, I just made up the designs myself after buying some Halloween themed paper from JoAnns.)

I made this Carmel Apple Invite to our Harry Potter Halloween party! Includes Harry Potter Scene It, Sorting Hat, Goblet of Fire (for winners) and bookmark party favors. I also brewed up some yummy ButterBeer and Carmel Apples. It was pretty awesome and nerdy!

Richard is well aware that he married a super dork, but he wouldn't have it any other way – I asked! Hope everyones Halloween was magical!

:: S ::

:: i've been chipped ::

2010-10-25T19:07:00.007-06:00

This is me "chipmunked" in Garage Band! (recording program.) This is my favorite song to sing for Christmas and I LOVE when they chipmunk a pop song so ergo, I made one! (cuz I got that kinda' time) Basically you sing normal, then raise the pitch of your voice with the program. Pretty simple. I think I will do more cuz they are too fun!

:: princess material ::

2010-10-23T14:22:00.003-06:00

I've never been one for style. Not really. I've always been a t-shirt and jeans type of girl. But today I came across Kate Middleton, Prince Williams girlfriend, and have given her style my full attention and envy. Which I never do because fashion is like, *meh* to me. But Kate's wardrobe on the other hand – I would gladly raid any day!

Pretty much - I want to be a princess. Don't we all?! I even love that gigantic weird spidery poof poof on her head!

:: midnight musings ::

2010-10-23T02:57:00.003-06:00

Tonight I found myself feeling restless for no reason. Sometimes that happens to me at night.

Anyways, I was reading through some of my past creative writing exercises and found this document that I wrote almost a year ago when I was dead tired and incoherent. I find it amusing yet extremely strange and unclear. But I know it means something! It's like I left myself a secret clue from the past to help me out on nights like tonight. Weird.

********************************************************************************************************

I feel unsettled tonight.

Almost as if I’m caught in between carrying out an action and simply not moving at all. It’s very strange. It happens a lot when my imagination soars through the hours of the night–long before rest should ever convince me otherwise.

I wish I could capture this feeling in a bottle and study it. Analyze and memorize it until I have finally figured out what I am really capable of, what’s really bubbling right below the surface.

It would be so much easier that way, to actually feel like I have control over my life. But at the same time–I’m not sure I’d understand what was in that bottle or what I could even do with it. I wish when the morning streams through my window I could remember the world that consumes me at night. I feel better here, even though I don’t always have a grip on why it holds me captive in the first place. Or why it makes me feel like a poet, a thinker, a dreamer. Maybe it’s because of the quiet–or the knowledge that while the rest of the world is slumbering, for just a short moment, I am truly awake.

It always amazes me, this emotionally heightened version of myself that emerges now and again. I wish she would tell me more of her secrets. It’s like looking at a different you in a mirror – she copies your expressions and movements well enough, but if you look closer you will see the slight difference in her smile. A knowing sign that the reflection looking back is in fact, a completely different being.

It’s staggering. To know that in all of us is the capability to be something extraordinary, yet probably insignificant. To know that there might always be a different reflection underneath the familiar contours of ones self.

I wish for so much sometimes yet so little as well. I wonder if one is me and the other is her – fighting for what could be, while I stall just enough for comforts sake.

The ironic thing about all of this is the feeling that I am more like everyone else then I could ever imagine. That we are all feeling, wishing, wanting, loving for the same things, just in different ways. That even though we may literally be nothing alike, we are in fact, quite the same.

I’m not sure of any of this will make sense once sleep washes away the last remnants of expression. But I do so hope this with every fiber of my being; that I may uncover all that there is to uncover from within, and never be found wanting. That perhaps some small accomplishment or endeavor may fill up the emptiness just enough to contrast between the nothing, and an awakening.

*******************************************************************************************************

I'll figure you out someday...

" – every child in our world will know his name! " - pg. 13

2010-10-20T02:10:00.004-06:00

Nerd alert.

If you are one like me, you know I'm talking about Harry.

Arry Potta.

Oh yes :)

To gear up for Halloween this year, we are re-watching all the Harry's 1 – 6, as well as reading the books. (I have an awesome husband who puts up with a lot of awesome nerd stuff.)

So in the spirit of Halloween and the upcoming last film installment: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1, Nov. 19th, 2010, here's a look back on "the boy who lived," and hit puberty before our eyes. Enjoy!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (age 11)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (age 12)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (age 13) *stacy fav*

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (age 14)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (age 15)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (age 16)

*Sneak Peek Pics* Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (age 17)

Pretty much...Harry means bidnis in this last one. (If you can't tell from his coat and stubble.)

:: happy harry everyone! ::

:: around this house ::

2010-10-14T22:34:00.008-06:00

We've lived in Portland about 2 years now and it's amazing to see the evolution this little nook has gone through. From bare walls and no furniture (not even a bed), to cute zones everywhere! (a cute zone is a designated area of the home that has had extra crafty love and design put into it, deeming it worthy to show off or take a picture of.)

kk.

Here's a peek at some of our "cute zones" and some crafty Halloween projects i've been working on. i know, i know; i sound like a stepford house wife. But i swear i let my hair get ratty and forget birthdays to balance it all out.

That's my froggy beanie, by the way! The fact that he is sitting next to my crayons kind of sums up stacy, really. Froggy hat and crayons – what more could a girl want?

:: happy fall everyone! ::

:: snap shot chronicles ::

2010-10-13T02:17:00.005-06:00

Sometimes it's fun to take an image you shot and make it look like it came from Martha Stewart Whole Living.

Or take your picture and make it "retro." : )

Sometimes it's beautiful to get up in nature's bidnis.

Or once in awhile think in black + white and realize that's pretty too.

Sometimes it's fun to take pictures of strangers when their moment makes you smile.

Or snap your balloon heart nails because they turned out pretty darn cute :)

Or document how pretty your kitty looks with the accessory you made her, because not many would put up with that kind of love.

life has started to look different since photography + me have been seeing each other. fun different.

:)