Yesterday's Sunshine Was Just What The Doctor Ordered

Too bad I had to work all day yesterday. 77 degrees.. Sounds perfect to me. I wanted to play so bad..

I am going to bring the sunshine here! These photos are by Amanda Pratt. An extrodinary Photographer.



On my Weekend..

My adventures lead me to:

There is something about going to a place that you grew up going to as a kid. Something that is hard to explain.. I feel connected to Sisters, Oregon. I grew up going to a place called Jack Creek Park, and camping for weeks at a time with one of my old friends. It was what I looked forward to all year, and once it passed is all I ever talked about. The prestine-ness was out of this world. Or very much what this world used to look like. It was so full of life. Wild flowers everywhere, deer, beaver, butterflies. There were islands in the creek where we would play. Shave our legs in the freezing snow melt waters. Swim every day in nearby lakes, buy 1 cent candy, and ice cream at Camp Sherman. I could go on for days! Anyways Wayne has never been there so we ran there while my mom was at work(we were visiting her). The entire area burned in a fire about 8 years ago, and I think about what it looks like now pretty often.. It looks burnt. The park looks nothing like it used to.. We did the hike to the head of the creek. I couldn't have been more dissapointed. I know the forest has to "renew" itself. I get that that is a process that nature has to do. But I've never seen beauty like that, and it is gone now. Just a sad thing to see something die..
This is one of the only things we did pick up in sisters. It is a fan for smudging ceremonies made of feathers, rabbit fur, and an antler. Wayne picked some sage and made these smudge sticks for him and his mom.
(Smudging is a ritual way to cleanse a person , place or an object of negative energies, spirits or influences. The smudging ceremony involves the burning of special, sacred plants and herbal resins, then, either passing an object through the resulting smoke, or fanning the smoke around a person or place. The spirit of the plant then purifies whatever is being smudged. )

We also went to my aunts house for my cousins graduation party.- He just graduated from high school! CONGRATS!

While there a baby bird fell from a nest in front of my aunts house. Such a cutie. We tried to let it go in a safe place. :/ It was a good and eventful weekend!

It is an Inspirational Sunny Friday Morning!

Geninne Zlatkis is one of the most talented people. She does beautiful stamp carving, painting, drawing, photography, illustrations. She does everything! I am extremely inspired by everything she does. She even decorates her house perfectly. She gets so much stuff done.. It is as if she never makes a mistake. She is so inspired by nature.. It is beautiful. Watching her videos of the grass blowing in the wind, or hundreds of thousands of migrating birds in the sunset.. She is everything I aspire to be. YAY A GOAL!

Here is a little "how to" video she made. After watching this video I spent over $100 on supplies to get started. Even Wayne wanted to start carving! I'll post pictures of what I have carved soon. I bought the wrong ink. The kind I got is oil based.. Once you stamp with it-you can't change the color ever again.

Stamp Carving from Geninne D. Zlatkis on Vimeo.

Sunday-Suppers Grape + Rosemary Jam Recipe

I found a simple jam recipe at Sunday Suppers. Only 4 ingredience! Grapes, sugar, lemon juice, and rosemary springs. I think I could handle that! See the recipe here. Enjoy!

Grape + Rosemary Jam (link)



It is time for a trip!

My soul is screaming for a vacation! I am thinking it is time for a trip. It doesn't have to be too far.. I just want to see something new, and take a couple of extra days off work. Maybe the lodge at Crater Lake? Camping? Seattle? Maybe a train trip to Canada? or San Francisco? The Rip Curl Pro Search is happening in November from the 1st-11th in San Francisco. We could do that. Watch the surf in the rain for a week.-tehe I know Wayne would have a blast. He would probably know half the people there.. At least we can get employee rates for a hotel. It is going be be a bustling city, and very expensive.

Symi, Greek Island photo shoot.

Marie Claire Turkey July 2010

Shot by: Cihan Alpgiray

Styling by: Duygu Hamdioğlu

Hair & Makeup: Elif Girgin

Models: Patrisha Petrová & Isabella Strandell

I Am Starting My Countdown To Summer!

June 21st is the first day of summer.

Can I introduce you to RUE Magazine?!  Their photo shoots look like so much fun.. Outdoor dinner parties, Champagne, Bubbles, Giving toasts, Ice Cream & Cupcakes!

I am in love.

Summer Lovin' from Floataway Studios on Vimeo.

She Did It! Jennifer Graduated!

Congratulations to my bestie who just graduated. Doesn't she look beautiful?!

I am very proud! <3

Summer Time Inspiration- Glamping!

Glamping. I just found out about this term last night! Luxury Camping.

Today's inspiration is the Resort at Paws Up in Montana. Luxery Camp sites! This glamping experience is situated on the banks of the beautiful and pastoral Elk Creek and features six spacious tent suites.

Check it out here.

Handmade Wedding Inspiration

Check out this handmade wedding. The couple made everything themselves. Junkaholique is their blog. They run a jewelry shop called RUST based out of England. Adorable couple.. Check out both their sites.

The personal touches on everything makes it so amazing!

 

 

Update On Jennifers Grad Party Decorations

These are the "Class of 2011" & "Congrats" Cake Buntings & Cookie/Cupcake Toppers,  Bunting and Dot Garlands I made for Jennifer's Graduation party.

The dot garland is extremely simple and versatile! You can do SO many things with them. (Hung in a doorway, on a chandelier, behind a bar, along a walkway.) It took 2 seconds to cut and sew the thing. The way it would twirl in the wind would be great. You could sew the little white paper doily’s like this for a wedding too! (I should have thought of that before!) I know I will be making them again.

I Want To Be More Thoughtful

How Wonderful is this gift?

At the hotel I work at a young girl brought in cookies she baked for her uncles arrival into town. And I knew instantly that I envied her thoughtfulness. I thought: "I want to be more like that!"

We should all be more like that..

Photo from NicePackageBlog

Live What You Love

Today's Goal is to Live What You Love.

 Photo 1. By Rodney Smith  2. By Corrie Bond

Walnuts Farm Is A Dream!

"Walnuts Farm is a film and photographic shoot location house in East Sussex. It is a traditional Wealden farmhouse built around 1800 with a separate two storey granary outbuilding, set in 5 acres of gardens, meadows and woodland, within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.They are located 54 miles from London."
The nature and beauty of the location is spectacular. It is everything I could possibly dream of. The owners make money off of its beauty by selling the idea and location to photographers.

Just brilliant!

I Long for Long Summer Nights.

I want to work less and play more. It is a hard goal when you want to save up for the "Modern Quiet Lifestyle". I want a place that everyone we know and care about can go to to get away from things. A place that is secluded but not far from everything. A place big enough to have movie screenings on a projector or a wedding in the back yard. A possible way to make income while living on this heavenly property. A renovated barn would be beautiful for receptions. I am getting rather good at making party decorations! A place we can harvest a big garden! Pick blackberries! A few fruit trees. Set up a stand by the road. A place where nature is alive! I want to take photos of everything. I want to bird watch, and make wild flower arrangements. Take long walks and wave at the neighbors.

A healthy stress free lifestyle is the "American Dream". Why is it so far away from most of us?

Photo credits: Corrie Bond, absolutelybeautifulthings Blog, The last 3 are fromWalnuts Farm.

This second batch of photos is by Photographer Ashley Ann. It is a Book Donation Party. All of the childrens books go to the local hospital to bring smiles on kids faces. A cute and thoughtful idea for a little boys birthday party!

Kristy Check This Out! An Airstream Traveling Bar

This Portland based couple runs a tiny business called Tin Cantina. They drive the Airstream to your Party and serve cocktails out of the window. A Traveling Bar! The bride can use the space to get ready, and they make personalized menus. The Couple that started the local company is featured best on this site.

An Airstream Wedding is a Beautiful idea!

Got Up Early This Morning

It is a cold morning. The alarm went off at 3:30am so we could drive Waynes mom to the airport. Her grandson is graduating from high school in Texas.
I had quite a few cups of coffee. Wayne gave up coffee so he was able to fall back asleep. Me on the other hand.. I lay awake thinking about peoples style, vitamins, cutting my bangs, getting a tan. Okay yep! Time to get up.

I havn't been feeling it lately. I don't spend very much time on myself. At least I found someone who accepts me for me. He is a good man. I am a lucky little lady.
Photo credit is James Moes a seattle based photographer. His Portfolio is really spectacular. Check it out.