simply blogged

project monday: the month of love

2012-01-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

1. Celebrate but keep it simple.
2. Plan dinner for the Mister and me
3. Send Valentines to the kids....I due iTunes gift cards. They love them.
4. Buy Valentines for the neighbor kids.
5. Buy or Make Valentines for the Mister....still looking for ideas.
6. Put up simple decorations

Done. Easy. Simple.

friday favorites

2012-01-27T08:00:00.000-08:00

*Our friends little girl is a "monkey see, monkey do" and Nutmeg has a bad habit of licking people. Perfect combination for trouble. Nutmeg licked and she decided to just lick her back. I had my camera near and I just snapped away. It still makes me smile when I look that this shot. I love when photography evokes an emotion.

*Game day recipes are always fun and full of flavor but I loved this post full of dips.

*This Wit & Whistle interview had me smitten with her personality and her organization skills. It is a must read.

*This card made me giggle.

*I thought this picture was so dreamy. I am always drawn to pics of unmade beds.

Have a wonderful weekend!

the traveling palace: entryway

2012-01-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

We move so often and I am not really the perfect girl for change so I decided to embrace it. I can't change it so what choice does a girl really have? In this quest to embrace it I decided to decorate one room, one corner at a time until the whole apartment is decorated exactly how I want it. We can't paint or do major changes so we have had to really be creative with some things.

I have this thing about where I enter my home. It sets the tone for me. If I walk in and see chaos I feel chaotic. I know what you are thinking, "It is the entryway!" I know that and so I allow some chaos even though I really do feel there are only two of us there shouldn't be. Life happens.

a. I added chalkboard tags on the front of each basket.

b. I bought each letter individually off of etsy after doing a search for industrial letters. We found a good piece of wood at a construction site and painted it with chalkboard paint. We added little hooks for keys and random items.

c. I love this print by Elle Moss.

d. I added a basket for each of us, the puppies, and guests. Adding one for guest helps keep track of their hats and gloves when they stop by. I even added a basket for stuff that people leave here or things I borrow.

Disclaimer: I would like to say that having a basket for each of us solves all my entryway woes. Wrong. My darling husband uses each and every basket. Every time I walk through the entry I take his stuff and place it in his basket. I gently remind him to use his basket. Then he started to do this on purpose just to watch me flip out. Currently he actually uses his basket and I rarely have to put things back in their place.

entryway organization

2012-01-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

I love the idea of everyone having their own cubby. In my house Gordon would end up using mine. Organization and him are like oil and water....I just keep trying because my inner self loves organization at all costs.

contemporary entry design by new york interior designer MuseInteriors

This one speaks to my absolute adoration of chalkboards.

traditional entry design by seattle architect knowles ps

I love the idea of making every space attractive and organized no matter where you enter from. Where you enter your home sets the tone.

traditional entry design by detroit media and blogs Just a Girl

I could not resist this one with a place for the puppies....love it!

traditional entry design

This feels so exotic and slightly funky.

traditional hall design

Small space with lots of cubbies.

traditional entry design by minneapolis kitchen and bath Nest Woodworking

Loved the idea with this frame.

eclectic home office design

"You will pose, I will shoot"

2012-01-24T21:46:00.000-08:00

I have been taking a an e-class from Kim Klassen and yesterday she asked us to write a six word memoir. So many immediately wrote in with their answers. I know this sounds simple but this actually was difficult for me for some reason....the reason is that I OVER think things. Duh!

I asked a guy at work to think of one for himself and within seconds he had his, "if you call I will haul." Gah! He transports prisoners to and from court and jail. I laughed out loud. How clever!

So, mine for today is, "You will pose, I will shoot." Clever...no. Completed a project...yes!

***The picture above is of my little neighbor and every time he sees us he places his hand to his mouth to sign "more" because he knows we feed him treats. LOL. Love this kid.

let's organize with etsy

2012-01-24T08:00:00.001-08:00

this would be so cute holding my favorite spices or in the bathroom for my beauty supplies

oh the possibilities....

wire baskets to be filled with all things cherished

seriously smitten

this would make an adorable catch all for the bathroom

project monday

2012-01-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

organize project: craft closet
zone project: entryway
craft project: inspiration journals
photography project: right now I am just focussing on the 366 project
blog project: finish labeling old posts to make it easier to search

This weeks meals
Monday: venison stew
Tuesday: chicken, risotto, and bok choy
Wednesday: cafe rio....I will share my version of this recipe sometime soon.
Thursday: chili
Friday: taco salad with leftover chili
Saturday : leftovers
Sunday: breakfast

I hope you have a wonderful week.

friday favorites

2012-01-20T07:30:00.000-08:00

*getting a weekly massage....angie is the best!

*i am slowly converting to glass storing dishes and i am i love with these.

*this year i have been trying to buy holiday place settings and i think this plate will be perfect for valentines.

*this retro tea set has me dreaming of herbal tea.

*etsy never fails to deliver all things awesome. where to put it all is the only problem.

have a wonderful weekend.
xoxo ~ L

dream big

2012-01-18T08:00:00.000-08:00

"In art, the hand can never execute anything that the heart can imagine." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

when i am dreaming big about my love of photography i only want one thing. i want to find beauty in all things with my camera. photographers have a way of taking the everyday mundane or forgotten and giving it life. whether it be a person, place or thing. we have all had these moments of greatness when you pull beauty out of something that is broken and lost its life. this is something that i think about often and look for in others photography.

i often have moments when i am faced with nothing to photograph and so i explore something forgotten like a broken down bus.

looking through my viewfinder i see something interesting but i do not see it as beautiful initially. then i come home and see it on the screen and i feel a sense of gratitude.

only if i could have these moments all the time. i have decided to not only make a conscience effort here but also put positive thinking to action. i am a true believer in if i think/dream it will be....it will be.

my creative story

2012-01-17T23:15:00.000-08:00

my creative story

when i was youngi read a book about a kid who lived n the big city with a big family and shenever felt like she had her own space. she finally decided to decorate her a window in her apartment, it washer own little space. she would hangthings in it or just gaze out at the people down below. she had found a place for her in her littleworld. she was complete.

at thisparticular time in my life i needed a story like that. my young soul yearned to have something of myown and to create something, anything actually.

i would findlittle spaces whether it be a window, wall, book, paper, and have my ownspace. as i grew i would write longletters and stuff them in old purses in my closet…..i guess i did not like theidea of a diary but in essence that is just what they were. purses full of diary entries. i would create every chance i could. from building forts in the nevada dessert orsimply just drawing in a notebook. creating became a happy place for me. a place to escape from the world around me.

when i was inhigh school i took a creative writing class and did very well and discovered alove of writing. i was a very averagestudent but would excel in creative type settings. an art teacher told me once,“you are a right brain girl” as he would hang my drawings on the "art ofthe week board".

later when imarried and had my kids we would create all kinds of things and i would chronicleour lives in scrapbooks.

in 2005, myhusband and i decided we were going to move our family from wyoming toalaska. he had gotten a job in a smallbush community in the bristol bay. we were excited for our new adventure. when we arrived we were humbled by the naturethat surrounded us on a daily basis. forchristmas that year my husband bought me a canon rebel xt. i was in heaven but had no clue how to useit. i had a full time job at this pointand three children to take care of. so i neglected that camera and my creativeside.

in 2007, myhusband took a job with the alaska state troopers and dreams of moving fromvillage to village quickly filled our minds. i spent the next three years as a stay at home mom while my kidsfinished high school. during this time ipicked up that camera and started to learn to use it. i would often fill a little guilty but it fedmy soul like nothing i had ever experienced before. one day my oldest son said, "mom, youare a happy person in general but i have never seen you as happy when you areholding that camera." even he couldsee it. it was something that connectedthe love of my family and my yearning to create something.

this creativejourney continues to take me to places i have never dreamed it could. my soul is full and i am complete.

stay organized. stay focused

2012-01-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

Every weekend I plan my week. I start with the meals. You know that food should always be at the top of the list. I have always planned my meals out. When the kids were home I would do a month ahead. And I actually stick to it. Now that they are out of the house I only do a week at a time. Mostly because I normally skip a day or two then I can just add it to the next week.

This week....
Monday: Pad Thai
Tuesday: Yakisoba
Wednesday: Risotto
Thursday: Halibut tacos
Friday: Pasta Italiano (just made that name up for you....it's just pasta tossed in a saute of tomatoes, and other veggies)
Saturday: Pianini
Sunday: French Toast

Then I have three things that must be completed each week.

organize project: kitchen
I try to organize something each week. I work on developing systems that will last and to last they need to be simple and efficient. My countertops are the biggest issue this week.

zone project: kitchen
I do not know if you are familiar with the Fly Lady but she is amazing. She has a lot of ideas about staying on top of the house. I take what I want from her and leave the rest. Zone cleaning is her genius idea. I clean a zone each week. This week it is my kitchen.

craft project: Table runners or something else but I really need to do some runners. I know that I may not get to these because I really want to make a felt cover for my iPad2 but it is on the list and I will see what I can't accomplish.

blog project: Where to start? Each week I am trying to work on a few things. I struggle with having a blog that truly reflects the me-ness that is simply blogged. A work in progress I guess.

photography project: I am reading, taking an online class, and doing the 366 project.

Ugh.....I just remembered I have jury duty this week. I would not mind it so much if I did not know they are just going to kick me off. It happens every time.

simple saturday breakfast

2012-01-14T15:44:00.000-08:00

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every saturday i make breakfast. my weekdays are so busy in the morning that i can never find the time to fix breakfast other than oatmeal, green smoothie or grab a yogurt. i love eating breakfast and so i look forward to saturday mornings.

skillet breakfast
potatoes
onions
eggs
homemade salsa
cheese
throw potatoes and onions in a hot pan with olive oil. i cook on high until they are golden. then i turn it on medium until the potatoes are tender. then i add the eggs until they are done. then top with cheese and salsa.

smoothie
fruit
frozen fruit
no sugar added apple juice
blend ingredients and then you have a yummy nutritious smoothie.

oven bacon
lay bacon flat on a foil lined cookie sheet.
preheat oven to 400* immediately place bacon in oven.
set your timer to 20 minutes.
walk away.
come back when the timer goes off.

fun fact: you can add a little brown sugar to the bacon for a kick of sweet.

friday favorites

2012-01-13T08:30:00.000-08:00

to their sources

ABC of important things.....

2012-01-09T20:46:00.000-08:00

A is for Alaska. When we moved here seven years ago we were only coming for an adventure. We only planned on staying two years. We fell in love with everything about it (except the cold) and can’t imagine not living here right now.

B is for Blogging/Blogs. A few years ago I discovered the love of blogs and eventually blogging myself. I have found new friendships, interests, recipes, outlooks on life, and the ability to know that how I feel and how I express myself is so very important. It has been such a healthy outlet in my life.

C is for Challenge. My focus word for the year. I am so ready to challenge myself this year.

D is for Decorating. I am addicted. There. I said it.

E is for Explore. One of my favorite things to do. Grab a camera and head out to explore and see what I can find.

F is for Friendships. Once you win your place in my heart you are there forever. Not many make it there but when they do it is a huge blessing in my life.

G is for Gordon. I have been happily married for over 20 years. When I see him I still feel a little flutter. No relationship other than that of my savior will ever compare.

H is for Happiness. Some days I have to work at this but I am very grateful that I can say I am happy.

I is for Inspiration. With all the great and inspiring people around me I never lack for Inspiration.

J is for Journals. I have been known as a Moleskine addict. I love my journals I only wish I was better about writing in them.

K is for Kindle. I love my Kindle and the ability to fill it with thousands of books that I do not have to move every couple of years when we move to a new location has been a blessing.

L is for Light. I love light and I live in Alaska, I know. I think I appreciate it much more now.

M is for Martha. I want to be her when I grow up.

N is for Nature. Nothing completes me more than being in Nature.

O is for Organizing. This is what makes my heart tick. LOVE it.

P is for Photography. There are many things that fill the gaps in our lives. This is one gap filled for me.

Q is for Quiet. I love my quiet time. Just me and my thoughts…..we go wild.

R is for Rodney, Raquel, and Rusty. That happened my accident actually….the naming the kids with “R’s” when it came time for the youngest everyone said they should all have an “R” and so we did. Love these kids and I can’t imagine life without them. I am so lucky that I am their mom.

S is for Simplicity. It's as simple as that.

T is for Tender mercies. This is a tender mercy. Checking your mail and finding a card from someone who was thinking of you at the end of a very long day.....that is a tender mercy. Having the flu for a week and someone brings you a hearty pot of soup because they were thinking of you....that is a tender mercy.

U is for Understanding. This comes back to learning for me. If I don’t understand it I have learned nothing. Understanding is essential.

V is for Vegetables. Thank goodness for Full Circle Farm to bring me a basket full of goodies. It would be devastating to have to eat local veggies.

W is for Whimsy. Just a little bit will go a long way.

X is for relaX. I enjoy my down time hanging at home.

Y is for Yucatan. I dream of the Yucatan Peninsula this time of year. I can't wait for May....Cancun here I come.

Z is for Zen. For lack of a better idea I stole this one. But I tend to like it....who does not love a little zen?

More ABC's over here....

challenge

2012-01-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

my focus word this year is challenge. i have been feeling like i have been coasting lately and so i thought challenging myself this year would be exactly what i need. i also think this year will come with its challenges and i am here to overcome them.

i do have some areas of focus this year....

1. challenge my photography--i have been reading scott kelby's books, understanding exposure, visual poetry, expressive photography, and the art of iphoneography. i have also started a 366 project this year.

2. challenge my spirituality--i would like to go to bed at night knowing that i have done all i could to be spiritually sound.

3. challenge my health and fitness--this is a big one for me this year. i really would like to focus on food as fuel as well as taste. adding activity is a must for me this year. alaska winters can take all the energy you have just to get through the day and i really would like to improve my life in this area.

4. challenge my education--eternal learning should always be at the top of my list.

5. challenge my journal writing--i am such a slacker in this department...maybe i should add blogging here. =]

2011 highlights part 2

2012-01-01T01:58:00.000-08:00

This was a big year for us sending the kids to college. We made a road trip out of taking my son to college. I have never been to Fairbanks and I was dying to see it. The drive up was beautiful and Fairbanks was a fun little town. Most of the shots above are drive by shots because my daughter was driving and refused to stop unless I begged like a two year old. It actually worked because she even posed with her brother next to the sign above. My father in law was named Jack so we took a picture of the kids by the Jack's River sign in his honor. He would be so proud of the kids.

We made a mini vacation of seeing my daughter at school. I have not been to Washington since I was 15 years old....it was in the 80's. Yikes! We went on the ferry and seen some of the sites but we mostly hung out with Raquel.

2011 highlights part 1

2011-12-31T00:05:00.000-08:00

winter break

2011-12-27T20:38:00.000-08:00

Even though I am back to work I have been taking a little break. I am relaxing with my family and enjoying these short days and long nights. I continue to go to work in the dark and come home in the dark BUT we are gaining light everyday. I am a happy girl.

back to school

2011-12-27T00:15:00.000-08:00

We spend the day washing clothes then we stare at stacks of clean clothes not wanting to place them. We know that once we fold them and place them in the luggage it will be real. Real that she will be leaving soon. Going back to school. At least once she will say, "I am not ready to go back yet." I try to stay tough and not break down into a pile of tears. I speak of how soon it won't be long until we see each other again. I know when she arrives at school she will be so busy with studies and basketball that she will be fine. The time moves so slowly until the last half hour and then the time flies by. And then, she is gone. Darn college sports that make our vacations so short!

Each time they go back it is a little less harsh on this mothers heart. Every bit of growth I know only makes us stronger.

One a happy note my son is home until mid January. I am so happy he does not do sports so I can have him a little longer.

dressing the men

2011-12-24T14:09:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas Eve!

chrismtas mix

2011-12-22T09:25:00.000-08:00

1 lg bag of peanut M&M's
1 lg bag of pretzels
1 lg bag of almonds
1 lg bag of dried blueberries
1 box of cereal (I used Quaker Oatmeal Squares but the brand does not matter just use a chunky cereal)

Place all ingredients in a HUGE bowl mix it up and place in bags or a container of some kind. Easy neighbor, co-worker, or teacher gifts.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-20T19:39:00.000-08:00

what's for dinner

2011-12-13T22:37:00.000-08:00

It's Tuesday and you have no clue what you are going to fix for dinner. You have holiday obligations, the kids are pulling you from every direction.....no dinner planned. Uh oh!

Say a prayer and take out the crockpot. Defrost your chicken or pork, puree some apples, throw in some barbecue sauce, onions and garlic. Cook on low until dinner time.

When you get home from work start some rice.

Pull the brussels sprouts out of the fridge.

Don't say ewwwww.....you have not even tried them yet. Ina Garten has made an art form out of icky vegetables. I swear you will not be disappointed. They are so simple....sprouts, salt, and olive oil.

Throw the meat on some rice and if you are feeling adventurous have some brussels sprouts.

See that was not so difficult was it?

toast inspiration

2011-12-07T21:06:00.001-08:00

I found myself at Toast today looking through their Christmas items and falling in love. There are few online stores other than Etsy that I really love the items I purchase. I have learned with age if you are not going to love the item a year from now it is not worth spending the money on....I have gotten quite picky. Toast always has the items that "speak" to me. I thought I would share some of their holiday items that have inspired me.

crackled glass bulbs

smitten with this stocking

I would find endless uses for these

paper bunting

bratzeli cookies -- christmas traditions

2011-12-05T22:01:00.001-08:00

My husbands family is from Switzerland and they have a lot of fun traditions and recipes. We have incorporated them into our family traditions. Every year at Christmas we make these cookies as a family and it actually takes the whole family to make them.

The girls roll the dough into walnut size balls

The boys work the cast iron bratzeli press

And this is the result

They are a light wafer like cookie....they are delicious

Grandma Durtschi-Slaughter’s Bratzelie Recipe
7 to 9 eggs
2 Tbsp cream
3/4 lb butter
1 3/4 c sugar
pinch of salt
Juice of 1/2 lemon (about 1.5 tsp)
1 tsp cinnamon
6-7 cups of flour

Mix and chill. Roll into balls about the size of a walnut and bake in bratzelie iron. Med heat for 30 seconds on each side. Makes about 12 dozen.

unlocking the spirit of christmas

2011-12-04T12:55:00.001-08:00

In our house there are several things that unlocking the Christmas Spirit.....

1. Decorating the home

2. Turning on the lights

3. Listening to Christmas music

4. Changing the pictures on my Apple TV to all our family and holiday pictures

5. Reading Christmas stories

6. Making our Christmas to do list

7. Watching Christmas movies

8. Cooking and Baking our favorite holiday recipes

9. Flickr....looking through the pictures that people take this time of year has become a tradition

10. Family gatherings

What unlocks your Christmas Spirit?

simply smitten -- christmas collection

2011-12-02T23:09:00.001-08:00

Click on the image to see the contributors

simply christmas -- trimming the tree

2011-12-01T19:43:00.001-08:00

so much to be grateful for

2011-11-26T21:11:00.001-08:00

I hope your day was full of family, great friends, and great food!

are you prepared?

2011-11-20T21:47:00.001-08:00

Somewhere on the web you can find a copy of Martha Stewart's calendar (I can't find it). She had a whole year of planning of when you should trim your hedges, polish the silver, rotate your linens, order Christmas cards, plant tulips, and so on. I had to chuckle to myself. I do not have hedges. Silver.....what is that about? As for tulips, the ground up here in the Arctic would eat them raw.

With all that been said I did learn a wealth of knowledge from her calendar. I plan things in advance and it makes for happier holidays, exciting birthdays, and almost stress free work weeks. The good thing is that you can test things out one year and change them the next. I think I have mine perfected now that the kids have all left home. =]

In general....
1. I plan my meals at least a week in advance and shop for my menu.
2. I set out ingredients for dinner the night before.
3. I fill my water and place it in the fridge for the morning, take out anything I need for work the day before.
4. On Sundays I plan my week and make a "to do" list for my husband and myself.
5. I do a ten minute clean up before bed just like when the kids were little. So simple but so worth it.

For the holidays....
1. I order Christmas cards in the early fall.
2. I purchase supplies for all my projects before Thanksgiving.
3. I purchase all my gifts before Thanksgiving as well. I used to wait for the holiday sales but it never seems to help my budget as much as just doing it ahead of time.
4. I plan something fun for everyday of December even if it is just watching a holiday movie or reading a children's book. I have it ready to go. If we don't get to it because of other plans I do not worry about it. It just means that something better came along.
5. I try to remember that the holidays are about the memories of being together and keep it simple.

As for Thanksgiving I just keep it simple and plan in advance. Every dish does not need to be fresh that day. Making a few dishes a couple of days before can make a world of difference.

I hope your holiday season brings you the simplest of joy that makes a memories for a lifetime.

P.S. Stay tuned in December I will be doing my Christmas Countdown again. Fun recipes, crafts, ideas, and simple advice.

alaska living

2011-11-17T20:45:00.001-08:00

We stood anticipating the 1000 head herd of caribou that we could see in the horizon. Would they find their way through town or would they stay on the frozen Chukchi Sea and avoid us completely.

As we watched I took a few shots from afar and I could barely see that they were caribou.....I really need a good wildlife lens. So, my husband decided to drive farther up the road to see if we could catch a closer look.

As we approached we could see them crossing the road.

And then they were all around us.

So were the hunters.

And then the end of the line.

Or so we thought...as we looked out across the frozen sea in the distance there were about 5000 more caribou making their way towards town. I did not know this but I guess this is only a small portion of the herd and there will be more to come in the next week. I can't imagine seeing this again but I am not complaining.

{wish}

2011-11-16T08:34:00.001-08:00

Everyday I have a wish/prayer in my heart that my kids will be, not only healthy and safe, but good to others. I wish that they will be successful daily and have a sense of accomplishment when they go to bed at night. Knowing that everyday is not perfect I wish for them that they can go somewhere for peace even if it is in only in their head....you know, a happy place. Their whole lives I would hope and pray that they would have a wealth of happy memories of places and times that would enrich them for a lifetime. The picture above was taken one day when we were out four wheeling and we could not help but stop and gaze at the scene in front of us.

I hope/wish you all have a happy place you can go when your days are not as perfect as they should be.

fall table decor

2011-11-15T08:45:00.001-08:00

I want to decorate my table for every holiday this year. I would like to do this for little or no money. For Thanksgiving I decided to use plates that I already have. I bought the pumpkin plates from Wal-Mart, the napkins from Kohls, and the table runner from Bed Bath and Beyond. The sunflower centerpiece I already had. I through them all together came up with this.

On the big day I would like to do little name cards. I think when I add that with the flatware and the glasses it should look presentable.

I will take a picture on the big day to share the final look.

I have been finding fun ideas to add inspiration for my Thanksgiving table and possible ideas for future settings. I love the internet. I am never alone in my quest for inspiration.

simply smitten

2011-11-11T17:40:00.001-08:00

(this weeks favorites from the flickr group Gratitude Project--30 days click on picture to find sources)

happenings: surviving the burricane and getting two free days off of work because of it. yay!

blog post: i loved the cute arrangements in this post.

pinterest find: this cabinet is so stinking adorable. i want it.

book: i am in love with the novogratz and their book does not disappoint.

movie: i laughed until i cried while on a plane with many people around, embarrassing but it was a funny movie i could not help it.

etsy find: this nativity is so unique and cute i had to buy it.

enjoy your weekend!

warm fall decor

2011-11-08T19:05:00.000-08:00

traditional entry design by other metros media and blogs Centsational Girl

Great decor that could work for Halloween and be left up through November

traditional living room design by los angeles interior designer Zuniga Interiors

Small touches make a big difference

traditional entry design

Simple but perfect

traditional exterior design by other metros interior designer Seaside Interiors

Cozy and cute

dining room design

So simple that I could handle this

Click on the pictures to take you to the sources.

gratitude day seven: empty nest tacos

2011-11-07T14:46:00.000-08:00

When the kids left for college this year and I became an empty nester one of my worries was, "What the heck am I going to cook for us?" Going from a family of four to just the two of us was kind of alarming. At first I thought I would just cook as I always have and cook less often. We were wasting food or we were eating the same thing five nights in a row. That was not going to work.

You know that saying, "Keep it simple stupid"? I finally took that one to heart.

Now I am a foodie blogger wanna be. There are a couple of problems with that.
1. I like to edit my photos in funky ways.
2. I normally do not know the measurements....I just throw it in and hope for the best.
3. Everything I cook is either to simple to share or to complicated for me to explain.

I have decided to share even if it is simple and even if I do not know the exact measurement and continue to edit my photos in funky ways.

Empty Nest Tacos

My husband loves red meat and I usually lean towards the chicken, fish, pork direction. I like my food spicy and he likes it more mild. These tacos were so easy that I cooked two versions and we both were happy.

1 caribou steak
1 chicken breast
(I can take a package of each and use them all week for various recipes)

Onion, red pepper, and green chili sliced and diced
Salt and pepper
Chipotle spice blend (this seasoning and turned me into a RAWK star on more than one occasion)

I cooked these babies up in two egg pans.

Top with cheese and fresh salsa. I have one major rule in my house that I will not eat salsa from a jar.

This has been my favorite part of being an empty nester.....quick cooking, easy cooking, cooking what I want.

I did buy a couple of cookbooks for cooking for one or two and I am learning to modify my favorite recipes but mostly I keep it simple. Cookbooks for cooking small meals by Judith and Going Solo, these have been great for inspiration.

Pin It

weekly countdown

2011-11-06T16:47:00.000-08:00

(seagulls--shot with 50D processed with Shades of Mediocrity actions)

10. Work....sounds crazy but I am actually looking forward to it. I have a new clerk in my office and we have a great time.

9. My son is graduating this week, I am not able to attend buy my husband is flying down to attend the ceremony. I am so excited and grateful that at 22 years old he knows what he is going to do with his life.

8. Listening to new music. I downloaded the new Florence and the Machine and Kelly Clarkson.

7. Creative show and tell. A friend and I are getting together once a week to share our creative accomplishments for the week. It is a nice way for me to focus on all the projects I want to do. We are also reading this book together.

6. Catching up on Unravelling--Living in My World. I have neglected the lessons while I was on vacation.

5. Taking pictures.....I am actually excited about taking pictures again!

4. I love finding a new blog/website to get lost in and I am a huge fan of Zooey Deschanel this one is a keeper.

3. I have a standing weekly appointment to get a massage. Since I was on vacation and she has been on vacation I have not had one in a while. She comes back this week and I can't wait.

2. Friday is a holiday and so I get a long weekend. That always makes my week.

1. Joy has started and continued a tradition of posting pictures to a group on flickr called 30 Days of Gratitude Project. There are some really great shots and insights. I have been having a great time looking through them at night.

the little things

2011-11-03T22:25:00.000-07:00

I love autumn. The smells, colors, the cozy corner days, the food and most of all the family time that accompanies the season. I have never really lived somewhere with a "true" four seasons so I always use the calendar to guide me and create the season. One of my favorite things to do is to burn a pumpkin candle. I try to only buy or use these scents in the fall. This year I also decided to create an autumn table. I am not finished. I will post the final look later.

P.S. On a side note has anyone ever heard of the rule that you only space once at the end of a sentence? I have always done two.....a habit that is difficult to break.

30 Days of Gratitude

2011-11-01T22:11:00.000-07:00

(my daughter and two of her room mates)

Those of you who follow my blog know that I am not an everyday blogger. I have come close to blogging everyday when it comes to blogging Christmas. I love the holidays and blogging about them holds me accountable to follow through with some of the traditions that I can let slide by.

Since I am a newly empty nester I am trying on some new traditions to see how they fit. Since it is Thanksgiving I thought I would focus on everything that I am grateful for everyday this month. There is the flickr group the Gratitude Project -- 30 days and instagram hash tagging #30daysofgratitude.

My goal this month is to post on one of these each day this month. Join me in being grateful for all the beautiful things that make our lives whole.

Soooooooo, this brings me to what I am grateful for today. I am so grateful for the time I was able to spend with my daughter a week ago. To top it off I was able to see my son for about 20 minutes. It was not long enough but I am grateful for the few minutes. I only have 23 days until I see them again. Yay!

a new look

2011-10-29T22:54:00.000-07:00

(picture taken with iPhone--Girdwood, AK)

I am away on vacation and Julie over at DeluxeDesigns has given my blog a new look and a new Facebook fan page.

Herbal Reusable Tea Bag Tutorial

2011-10-04T21:55:00.000-07:00

I posted the picture above on Flickr and some individuals asked about the reusable tea bags. I thought I would try my hand at a tutorial.....I am also thinking I may need a little practice at this. I had some pictures I took when we were making the bags and it is a good thing because my instructions might leave a person lost. It is a simple project and you should know that if I am at the sewing machine it is for strictly straight stitching.

My nephew and his wife stayed with us a couple of months this summer. She would have a mug of herbal tea (a mixture her mother gave her) and she used these little tea bags that her mom made. She told her mom that I would be interested in a few and she sent me a few. My son and I copied a pattern and this is what we came up with.

I purchased loose tea ingredients from here. I found a book on amazon and downloaded to my iPad that had herbal tea recipes. I am sorry to say I looked for it and it is no longer there but there are plenty of other books with recipes. Honestly I have to say I mostly use chamomile for my tea.

1. Cut a strip of muslin 8 1/2" wide (the length does not matter it just depends on how many you want to make.

2. Using the zig zag stitch sew the top length and the bottom length.

3. Then fold 3 1/2" over and iron

4. Fold the top piece (1 1/2") over and iron again

5. I sewed the end and then measured 3" and sewed again.

6. I spaced the next stitch about a half of an inch and stitched again.

7. Repeat #5 and #6

I love when simple meets brilliant.

If someone wants a sample tea bag comment and I will get you one. If in a weird twist a fate I receive a lot of comments I will randomly choose 10 of you to receive one.

Have a great week!

a simple story--abandoned

2011-10-02T10:53:00.000-07:00

{taken with iPhone 4 and edited with Typoinsta app}

I have a love for all things forgotten, abandoned. I really do not know what draws me to them. Maybe it is my untamed curiosity to know their stories. I even come up with my own possibilities of what the stories may be.

I love people watching as well. And my same fascination applies. I love guessing who they are, where they came from, what they do and what kind of life they lead.

Have you ever seen an individual and your imagination halted by the reality of their situation? We have an individual here in Kotzebue and he walks the street all day, everyday. He may not have caught my attention but he wears about twenty coats and sometimes a Buzz Lightyear backpack a top the coats. He does not have a walking partner and in fact I have never seen him with anyone. People appear to avoid him. I asked around and found out that he has a place to live and food to eat.

I often talk with my husband, Gordon, about this individual and what kind of life he must lead. He came home one day and said that he stopped and talked to this man. He just asked him how he was doing and went on his way. Now he receives a giant welcoming wave at every passing. I can't tell you how this filled my heart and so I have been doing the same. I also have heard of others doing the same. So now this man may choose to be alone but he has people that see him, smile, and wave. It is the simple things in life that make us whole.

NOTE: In this day and age it is sometimes to help those that are in need. And I would never suggest anyone approach someone they do not know unless there were people with you and many people around. At the same time I feel that we should be kind and charitable to those less fortunate. We do not have to do something grand but something small to brighten their day.

today's story--a branch in the bush

2011-09-21T22:41:00.000-07:00

Shutter Sisters theme for the month is STORY and I decided to participate in my own way and obviously on my own time table because the month is almost over. Maybe I will decide to do this every week....who knows?

Today my Honey and I, around here they call their significant others Honey even when they are asking you about your husband, boyfriend, whatever they say, "Is this your Honey?" I think it is too cute. So I am going to take this phrase for a test drive and see if it works for me.

So anyway, we took the dogs for a walk. We live in an apartment and so the dogs do not get to run and play. We take them down a side road and let them enjoy themselves. They love it. Sometimes, when we are lazy, we just kick them out and make them run while we drive. Nutmeg is a little stress ball and has a difficult time with this. I think she has a little separation anxiety. She will run next to my side of the window looking up at me with puppy dog eyes saying, "Why do you want to leeeeeave meeeeeeee???", just like the dad in My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

So, I normally cave and get out of the car and walk with her. We look ridiculous. My husband driving the car while I walk outside with the dogs. All the other families kick the dogs out and just make the dogs run, but not our dogs. Hmmmm, it just hit me. Maybe this is an owner problem not a dog problem?!

After our walk we picked up Little Mister C, our three year old neighbor, and we went on a four wheeler ride. He loves this and he always has to ride with me. It always fills me with joy and I am not going to lie, a little pride because kids love my husband (oops I mean my honey) and never want me over him. I think it is because I drive safer but in my head it is because he loves me more.

It was kind of cold so we just went to Tent City just passed the airport. Lucky for us the jet was taking off just as we went to cross the runway. Mister C was able to see this up close and personal. I would have taken a picture to show you guys but I already feel like I am breaking some major law because we cross the end of the runway. I have this big fear that men in black suits are going jump out and confiscate my iPhone. Does TSA have men in black suits? Maybe in this case it should be men in blue suits. I have irrational thoughts about stuff like this. It is probably the only reason I stay out of jail, off of drugs and alcohol. All because the men suits are going to come get me. Yes, I am 41 years old but my mind and it's crazy thoughts have gotten me this far.

Back to the runway, I have never seen anything like it. There is even a sign that says, "Look both ways for airplanes above before you cross". I am not making this up. I love this place!

We make it home in tact and I say to my three year old little buddy, "Tell your mom what we saw." Nothing. Silence. Crickets. Then I say, "We were able to see the jet take off up close and personal today." To this the smart little fart says, "NOOOOOOO, it was an Alaska Airlines jet!" I had to kiss his cute little face.

The End

digital images

2011-09-19T23:50:00.000-07:00

I have been cleaning out closets and kids rooms this week and I came across this polaroid I took a couple of years ago. I forget how fun it is to actually hold a picture in my hand. I had a stack of polaroids and I flipped through them while crouched in a corner surrounded by all the junk I had just pulled out of my sons closet. I got lost in the images remembering when they were shot, what we were doing, the weather and so on. I hardly noticed that I was about to be consumed by the mess in his room that he surprised me with when he left for college. I do not know about you but I do not print as often as I should......that and I really should clean my closets more.

I recently made my first Blurb book. It was so much fun and completely rewarding to look through after it arrived. It is a book of all my iPhone shots that I take. I was pleased with it but I might do things a little differently the next time. I am getting ready to do a couple more books after this bug has bit me. I will let you know how it goes.

What do you do with all your digital photographs?

embrace change

2011-09-18T10:13:00.000-07:00

I have a word that I focus on for the year but I also choose a word each month to focus on as well. I place it where I see it several times a day. This month is obviously embrace change.

As most of you know we move a lot with my husbands work and every time we move it is a big change. It is not only a change of scenery but here in Alaska it is a change in lifestyle depending on where you move. I have adjusted and done well with these changes (yes, this surprises me).

Now I find myself in the middle of one of the biggest changes of my life. I have three children and one is grown and has been out of the house for almost four years and I have finally found peace with the fact that he is a big boy and can live on his own (you, might think I am joking here but I am not....just ask him).

I had the other two very close together, they are 15 months apart. When the youngest was in 7th grade we moved him up a grade....he is a little brainiac. At the time I just wanted to do what was best for him and it was. Two weeks ago I dropped him off at college and today I put my daughter on a plane to college. Two in one month.....does that seem right???? There really should be a law against this.

It is silly how much this will change my life. My husband and I always shop in bulk. When you live in Bush Alaska it is the only way to go. We buy bulk chicken breasts and stuff like that. Then we bring it home and vacuum seal it into family size portions. Right now we have two large bags of chicken in our freezer. Neither one of us has been able to pull it out and make packages sizes with two chicken breasts. That is just the little stuff. I am grateful my husband and I have a great relationship because I can see how this empty nest thing could do a marriage in.

I tell you all this because I have decided to embrace this change in my life and try to find the good in it. I have set monthly goals or things to look forward to and I have decided to be a better blogger. I do not have a lot of time normally with a job and family but now I am thinking I will have a little more time. Idle time is never good for anyone.

Along with taking blogging more seriously I have decided to change a few things about my blog. Not only will the image of my blog change but some of the content too. So, I guess what I am saying is stay tuned and watch me grow this year.

Cheers!

10 things that is making my week....

2011-08-23T23:15:00.000-07:00

10 things that is making my week......

1. make a couple of those recipes that i have been down loading off of the foodie blogs.....oh my goodness, yum!
2. having house guests from Idaho
3. fall into the pinterest hole in the internet and helplessly fight your way out.....not kidding.
4. take the dogs for a walk
5. get a massage from my favorite massage therapist....it is crazy that we have someone that good way up here. i fall into a puddle of mush when she is done.
6. knowing that i only have to work four days this week.
7. road trip weekend coming up....the kids and i are taking one last road trip before they go off to school.
8. reading my favorite blogs.........and then some more favorite blogs
9. shopping on Etsy only to buy the wrong size and having to order again......good thing i can find a use for them both.
10. taking pictures with my iphone every chance i get

he is the cheese to my macaroni......

2011-08-18T06:51:00.000-07:00

Every love story is beautiful, each one has a signature all it's own. I was reading a blog post by one of my favorite photographers and it warmed my heart. It is a must read.

The story had me thinking of my own love story. My husband and I have been married for 20 years and it seems like just yesterday that we had our wedding and at the same time I can hardly remember a time when he was not in my life.

We attended the same high school but we never dated while he was in school with me. It was the summer before my senior year and we went on one date. He took me to this beautiful place where you could sit on side of this small canyon and look out across to the other side. We were friends and so I was really comfortable with him and we just sat quietly looking at the landscape around us. Then he took me to Pizza Hut and to his sisters ranch. It was a fun date. He was such a great guy and later I even told my mom that I want to marry someone like him someday. It never occurred to me that he would be the ONE.

He left to college and I started my senior year we dated other people. In a way, we forgot about each other. It was three years later that we bumped into each other and started dating and eventually married.

I like other young girls struggled with my self esteem and since I married this man I have gained it. Not because I had a man in my life but because this man thought I was everything. He makes me feel like I am the greatest thing since macaroni and cheese.

What is your love story? If you do not have one yet, you will.

**Title quote is from Juno....love that movie.

adventure

2011-08-16T01:34:00.000-07:00

I have been enjoying the last few weeks of our summer...........my dogs too. I have taken the plunge and hired someone to give my blog a whole new look. I am really excited about it. All I have to worry about is taking pictures and looking for adventures.

august break--Aug 10

2011-08-10T08:23:00.000-07:00

10 things you can do with your Moleskine notebook
1. Clip magazine pictures that inspire you and fill the pages.
2. Write in it once a day by choosing random topics and letting your heart guide you.
3. Start a gratitude journal.
4. Sketch, draw, or paint
5. A book of many lists.....I am a girl that loves a good list.
6. A book of written inspirations, poems, words to your favorite songs
7. It makes a perfect journal.
8. Start a recipe book
9. Journal the cute things the kids say. Keep someplace that will be easy to access...like the kitchen.
10. Photograph it....seriously I am obsessed with these and I have many pictures of them.

family movie night--soul surfer

2011-08-09T01:30:00.000-07:00

we do not have many more opportunities for family time before the kids take off for college. tonight we voted to watch soul surfer. it was such a great movie. we enjoyed it.

we let nutmeg vote too.

would you believe i baked dessert for the occasion?

she actually put down the ipad for this.

now if we could just get dad not check his work email we could start....

apparently they were waiting on me to put down the camera and push play....ooops.

simply quote her: audrey hepburn

2011-08-08T07:09:00.000-07:00

"I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick. I believe in pink. I believe happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and... I believe in miracles."

"I never thought I'd land in pictures with a face like mine."

"You can tell more about a person by what he says about others than you can by what others say about him."

~audrey hepburn

simply enjoy

2011-08-05T21:50:00.000-07:00

Now that I work Monday through Friday I relish my weekends. I started making a list of "must do's" and a list of "want to's".

Must do
1. Clean house
2. Clean utility closet
3. Juice last weeks fruits and veggies
4. Plan weeks menus
5. Do laundry
6. Plan my lesson

Want to
1. Order succulents
2. Order cute pots for succulents
3. Build a instagram Blurb book
4. Take some pictures
5. Look for a comforter for my bed....first decide on colors....arghhhh!
6. Write my weekly letter for siblings and grandparents...I am trying to do better at keeping in touch.
7. Start a goody box for Rodney
8. Fill some pages in my inspirational journal

Enjoy your weekend! I hope it is full of "Want to's"!

photoshop blogging

2011-08-03T20:52:00.000-07:00

I am trying something new today. After using CS2 for five years I was finally finding my way around the program and even building my own actions. When I upgraded my computer and converted to a Mac I was forced to upgrade my software as well.

Victoria over at sfgirlbybay has been posting the most adorable creations after taking a blogshop class and so I bought a few books (layers and 101 CS5 Simplified) and decided to try my hand at this.

This is very simple but I am soooooo excited to plot my next post.

DISCLAIMER
I do have to make a tiny confession. This process of learning involved downloading the books digitally. Having my 18 yr old son sit right next to me through the whole process. I had to stop and reward myself with a new playlist off of iTunes and then continue on. BUT he walked me through it and all is well.

simple beautiful bedrooms

2011-08-03T13:50:00.000-07:00

I do not know about you but I like my bedroom to be an Oasis, soothing and simple. I have been looking for ideas because I think I am going to redecorate. I do not have a lot of space so I need to be a little creative here. My style changes slightly every couple of years but one theme holds true. I love simple country, shabby chic, organized with a splash of traditional. But I do find that I can gain inspiration from any direction. Creativity breeds creativity.

eclectic bedroom design by media and blogs Dreamy Whites

eclectic bedroom design by salt lake city media and blogs The Shabby Nest

eclectic bedroom design by media and blogs Dreamy Whites

eclectic bedroom design by atlanta interior designer Liz Williams Interiors

traditional bedroom design by charleston architect Christopher A Rose AIA, ASID

instaphoto

2011-08-02T11:16:00.000-07:00

Instragram has me hook line and sinker. I have been having a blast taking pictures with my iphone this summer. I figure as long as I am shooting life is good.

fireweed

four wheeling on the trails....so much fun!

I have been enjoying the beach from every angle.

friendly skies....this is our airport. small but we have jet service. =]

This photo and couple others were edited with lenslight....my new favorite iphone app.

summer fun

2011-07-31T20:08:00.000-07:00

Normally when someone is posting about Hannah*Honey & Jam it has to do with her yummy recipes or her stellar food photography. Today I was drawn to this beautiful self portrait. So light and fun. She is beautiful.

How fun is this?! I remember doing this as a child. I would wind up as tight as I could and then release my feet and spin until I was sick. Northpolemama has captured a wonderful childhood moment.

I thought this was a fun shot. It made me smile. Virginia Zuluaga

My dogs love the warm weather and car rides.

I hope your summer has brought you loads of fun and sunshine. I have been an absentee blogger....sorry about that. I am excited to be back and hear how everyone is doing.

smile

2011-07-20T10:40:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I come across something that just makes me smile. Today I was browsing this site and just smiled. I could not help it. You will have to take a look.

baby fever

2011-03-24T22:43:00.000-07:00

(My good friend Lindsay and her little angel)

I am at the stage in my life where I am closer to having grandchildren than having had little ones in my house. I have three children ages 21, 19, 18 yrs. That is just crazy to me but I am ready to move on to the next stage. . . . . sort of.

I am not saying that I am ready to have grandkids tomorrow but it would be so nice to know that my oldest was dating someone seriously. He has high school friends that are married or engaged. . . .one had a daughter last year! I think a couple of them are having kids this year. So, I am not too far off.

Last year, I sat my boys down and gave them the talk about finding that special someone and how she needs to be perfect for them but that she also should have good mom qualities or want to be a mom. We do not want girls that do not want kids. . . . EVER.

Then we talked about if they do not have any good prospects by the time they are 25-28 yrs old, then I am going to have to move in and help them find someone. I figured this would do two things. One, it would maybe get them to think about, at least start looking for someone in their twenties because what man in his twenties wants their crazy mom living with them. OR Two, they would want their crazy mom to live with them and spend some time cleaning out those closets and under the beds. Not to mention the quality time we would get with each other. AND I could find them someone really special.

I love living in a dream world. I am happy there.

Yeah, right. This is the irrational self talking, the half way kidding self talking, about this crazy stuff. But the funny thing is that I think my boys really think I would do something like this. I really would not.....at least I do not think I would. I bet old ladies do crazy things when they have no babies to hold during holidays?!

night lights

2011-03-23T22:23:00.000-07:00

It was after midnight and I woke up to . . . . . well ummmmm . . . . . to use the little ladies room. As I walked passed my bedroom window there was this bright light outside. I thought I was dreaming when I looked and lights were dancing in the sky. I have never seen them swirl and dance across the sky like that. It was breathtaking!

I debated about waking up my husband, for about two seconds and then started yelling at him to come to the window. Then I handed him the camera and sent him outside to get some pictures (it is like -50* below here....I am not crazy).

By the time he returned I was fast asleep. In the morning I had a nice surprise. Gotta love that guy!

giveaway

2011-03-21T18:53:00.000-07:00

Last month I reached 100 followers on my blog. I thought it would be nice to celebrate by doing a giveaway. I will be giving away a 11X14 print of the image above. (It is one of my best sellers.)

I am not the best blogger in the world but I love being apart of this creative blogging world. I love the people who drop by and leave me nice little comments....it brightens my day. That is why for this giveaway I want you to list 10 things that brighten your day.

I will randomly choose one winner April 2nd.

Winner: Alaska Law

mango tango

2011-03-18T01:13:00.001-07:00

My husband normally works weekends but my daughter is home for spring break and he has taken today off. We are going to cook, watch basketball, watch movies, play games, and eat. I have a couple of mangos calling my name. I searched the internet for some recipes and came up with website full of mango recipes. I will see what I can find. I really do feel a smoothy might be in my future. I have some orange juice, mangos, coconut extract, ice cream......my mouth is watering already.

I hope you all are having a family fun filled weekend.

embrace your inner nerd

2011-03-18T01:13:00.000-07:00

My son is a nerd and proud of it. He is book smart, computer smart, all around smart. He is such a cool little nerd.

He has told me for years that nerds are cool. He will say, "It is not like in your day when nerds had pocket pencil protectors, now we rule."

So when he found out he had to get glasses recently he went all out and bought glasses that flashed his inner nerd. We decided to flash our own inner nerd and had a little photo shoot.

Did I mention we were playing Phase 10 while we did this?

Baby was a challenge. She did not like the glasses so we tried to do that thing where you take a picture of the glasses in front of her to make it look as if she is wearing them.

it didn't work.

She was not embracing her inner nerd.

growing pains

2011-03-14T19:24:00.000-07:00

As her game ended I felt tears well up in my eyes and my heart was so full it felt like a helium balloon. It was senior night and I fought to keep my composure and walk out onto the basketball court and stand next to her as they read various things that she had written for her team, coach, friends and to us. I think they even read the letter that we wrote to her. In fact, I know they did because I heard the words read over the intercom, "We are so proud to call you our little girl." To that I lost my emotional struggle and tears started streaming down my face.

Both of my kids graduate this year. We did this with my oldest son only three years ago. It feels like a lifetime ago. This time is a little more difficult because two are leaving at once. They both have been good kids. Easy to raise really. I could keep them a little longer if they would let me. We raised them to be self sufficient and be responsible. I am kind of regretting that right now. Well not really, it just feels like it.

They both know where they are going to school and I am so grateful they are staying in the western states. That will make travel so much easier. My son, the "has it together" kid, has known for quite sometime where he is going. My daughter however, just signed to play ball with a school today. I am so proud of them both.

Every stage in life has a little growing pains and we just have to work our way through them.

wilbur the little whale

2011-02-15T22:12:00.000-08:00

After taking sometime to figure out ways to keep myself inspired to take more pictures I decided that every photographer needs a mascot. Something that makes her smile. Something that she can make a subject of her photography when she can't come up with anything to shoot. So, I would like you to meet Wilbur. Isn't he cute?! I found him on Etsy.

On another note, I just noticed that I have 100 followers. I have decided that I will do a giveaway. Look for the post this week.

Happy Valentines Day!

2011-02-14T18:36:00.000-08:00

chocolate, tootsies and snow

2011-02-13T06:08:00.000-08:00

Lovely title, right? I have been struggling with getting back in the swing of things. I used to take my camera everywhere and since the big move I have not been able to pull the camera out of the closet. Yes, I am that bad. I store my camera in the CLOSET these days. After attending a meeting of "Hi, my name is Leaca and I have not fed my addiction of photography in 216 days" I have decided to fall back of the horse and become addicted once more.

I tried thinking of ways that I could feed this addiction and once again my inner self said, "Start a 365 project". To that I said, no way! I am a 3X 365 drop out. Yikes, I lack commitment. But I know that about myself and just need to move on.

I have decided to take a few steps to recover.....

1. Take my camera out of the closet and start bringing her with me everywhere. Even if I just use my iPhone to take the pictures at least I will have options.

2. Jump back into the Flickr scene. (I am already in the instagram scene and love it)

3. Buy some new actions. That always does it for me.

4. Start out slow. Take pictures that make you smile. For instance, chocolate or little baby tootsies.

5. Take the philosophy that you are going to have to shoot what is available around you and quit dreaming of Mexico (only 86 more days until our vacation getaway).

So, what is available to me.....snow and lots of it. I did a whole shoot of snow and airplanes. I could add snowmachines and four wheelers too. But for now I leave you with snow.

White Chicken Chimi Chili

2011-01-30T18:32:00.000-08:00

As I look out my apartment window I am reminded of where I am. I have dreams of beach chairs dancing in my head; I have snow drifts that line the roofs of the homes that surround me. Nothing warms me like a nice bowl of warm soup. We have been eating a lot of soup lately. One of my favorite recipes comes from a dear friend and I think of her every time I serve it.

White Chicken Chimi Chili

1 bag of white northern beans soaked/drained and ready to go

3 cans of chicken broth

1 lb boneless skinless chicken cut into cubes (you could cook and shred a whole chicken)

1 med onion

2 cloves of garlic

1 1/5 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp dried cilantro or oregano

1 lg can of green enchilada sauce

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup whipping cream

Cook the chicken and onion together. In a crock pot combine the first eight ingredients. Slow cook the ingredients eight hours. Salt to taste and add the sour cream and whipping cream.

I top with cheese and/or tortilla chips.

*I modified this recipe from the original.

hooked on Instagram

2011-01-24T23:26:00.000-08:00

I have not picked up my Canon 50D since Christmas. Thank goodness for my iPhone or I might not have taken a picture in weeks. I really do need to get out and shoot but for now my schedule is not allowing a whole lot that. I am changing jobs in a couple of months and I am hopeful that I will have more time to do the things I love. For a short time I forgot how important that really is. So, for now I will share some shots I have taken.

I got a new MacBook Pro. I love it.

Our little neighbor...he is so stinking cute.

I love a good full moon.

The village where we live is powered by big generators. These lines deliver our electricity....just like they do for most of you. When we first moved to Alaska we lived in a Bush community and it was powered the same way. It took me a while to wrap my head around this. I try to be more conservative, I am more aware of where my resources come from.

warm enough

2011-01-23T23:31:00.000-08:00

It has been so cold here lately. I have lived in Alaska for six years and I have never experienced this kind of cold. We would have little bouts of cold but it did not last long and was not this severe. It is -52* with the wind chill included. When you walk outside and breathe it is painful. People walk around here like it is nothing. They dress for it and they are used to it. So, in light of my weather I have been searching for cozy inspirations and thought I would share what I have found.

Photo by Bolot Bochkarev from eYakutia.com

MissMisoDesigns

photo by Peanut

Elysian Organics

Where I stand

2011-01-06T23:16:00.001-08:00

Where I stand
Originally uploaded by Leaca's Philosophy

I am not a huge fan of taking pictures of my feet. Right now they are always covered because of the cold. But I thought this photo best described where I am standing now. IN THE COLD. But not only the cold but with my husband.

This year our youngest graduates from high school. So, it is just me and my sweetheart. Kids grow up and leave and there are no more cute little feet pictures, just us. =]

Instagram

2011-01-03T21:26:00.000-08:00

Have you heard of it? It is an app for your iphone. I had never heard of it. I searched and searched the internet for a clue as to what it actaully was. Then I found it. Again, never heard of it.

I download the app and then go to sign in. It says that my email has already been used. Hmmmmmmm? So, I do the "forgot your password" thing. Sure enough, I even have a picture on there. Sometimes I scare myself.

I did finally deduce how I have a password on this site. I have the hipstamatic app and this is very similar and so I am guessing they are some how connected.

So, I decided to try it out. I think I like it. I may have to play with it and see what I can come up with.

If you are on IT let me know. My username is leaca.

cast iron bathtub couch

2010-12-11T13:03:00.000-08:00

If I was cool enough to pull this off, my little Alaska bush apartment would be sporting this brilliant idea for a couch.

I wonder what shipping would be Kansas to Alaska? My daughter would be the coolest girl on campus with this in her dorm.

working is wonderful

2010-12-09T20:33:00.000-08:00

I am just not finding the time to do the things I love anymore. I am not complaining because I know so many would really like to have a job right now. I do have a goal for the new year to at least take one photo everyday whether it be with my iPhone or my 50d. I am not saying I will post all of them but I do know that I will post more often if I am shooting more often.

I normally blog a lot during Christmas and this year I knew it was not going to happen so I have been shooting a shot with my iPhone everyday until Christmas. I have been placing NO pressure, just shooting. It has been so much fun.

This one is very blurry but I have decided to embrace the iphone blur.

daring

2010-09-25T11:57:00.000-07:00

I do not see myself as a daring person. I am not one that seems to take risks. I do not drive to fast, jump off of high places, or even say things that might shock people. I like to feel safe and protected. I like to be boring.

A few years ago I decided I wanted to take some chances. I wanted to not be so afraid of life or the world around me. I was a mother of three beautiful children and the wife to a husband who was in law enforcement, that was scary enough. But still, I wanted to turn up the heat and do something that would impact my family in a good way but at the same time took a chance. So, we moved to Alaska. That may not seem very crazy. Think about it. Most people live in the same area that they grew up in. If not in the same state, in the same part of the country. Look at a map. Wyoming is a long way from Alaska. It felt like I was jumping out of an airplane with just some backpack that may or may not save me during a long fall to the ground.

Now, look at me. I am living above the arctic circle in a village that feels like a third world country, literally. I can hardly believe it. I have a lot of things I would like to do with my life. I have goals. And living in these strange places in the US that no one really knows still exists is a part of my goals.

This town/village is very close together and there are not a lot of roads. There is this one road that takes you out of town and up around this 6 mile loop. I drive it often and when I get to the top I stop and look out over this place that we call home in disbelief. I won't tell you how many pictures I have taken just looking out over this place but I will tell you that in some strange way it gives me piece of mind that I am daring to do new things. (now if I could just figure out what to do with this blog....my perspective has changed)

Change is coming......

2010-04-16T17:28:00.000-07:00

(I marked Kenai on the map so you can see how far we will be moving to Kotzebue)

My husband has been informed we will be transferring to Kotzebue, Alaska in July. The state troopers are an agency built on bush/rural police work and so he is very excited to be going. As a family we prefer the bush to the road system because of the rich culture and lifestyle of bush living, so the move suits our family.

I have not been posting as often as I would have liked because, honestly I have been a little overwhelmed. I have a lot of preparing to do. I have no clue what direction to take my blog from here. I really would like to just have something low key. I would like to share the pictures I take and the life I will be living in Kotzebue. I will be a little absent while we are moving but I just wanted you all to know what was going on. If you have any questions ask away. I will try to answer them.

__________________________________________________________________

I also found a few links for you. If you are interested in the community I found a blogger in Kotzebue.

One of my favorite past times in Dillingham was their radio. It reminds me of Northern Exposure. My favorite time of day was open line when villagers would call in and wish family and friends "Happy Birthday" or just to tell someone who was traveling to another village to call home. Gotta love it! Kotz has their own version.

And last but not least a link from flickr with some random photos.

Alaska Oil Tanker

2010-04-01T15:27:00.000-07:00

Some of you have requested to see and hear more about Alaska. I did not know how to incorporate Alaska into my blog. I love all things feminine and pretty. Alaska is beautiful but it is really not feminine. I think that is why I started this blog...to capture some of that into my life. I am going to start showing more and more of Alaska but it will be in the middle of what I normally blog about.

Today I wanted to show you some photos that I took last week in Nikiski, Alaska. My husband found this place while he was patrolling one day. We often will grab lunch and go out and watch the boats, walk on the beach, or I just explore with my camera. I had never been down there when the oil tankers were docked and so this was kind of fun. I love boats. All boats.

I looked the Zaliv Amerika up on the internet and they describe this boat as medium size. To me, it was huge!

When I first moved to Alaska it felt like we had entered another country. The lifestyle here is very different to that in the lower 48. Fuel is a big issue here and I know it is in the lower 48 but the difference is that while some of you are paying $2.38 a gallon for gas, someone in Alaska is paying $10 a gallon.

A lot of locations in this state you cannot access by a road. You can't even get to our state capitol by a road system, it is by boat or plane. In a lot of these locations their homes are heated by wood or by heating fuel.

When you are in Alaska you hear "fuel" a lot and I always thought that fuel and gasoline were the same thing. When Alaskan's say "fuel" they are referring to heating fuel. My first year living in the "Bush" I worked for a fuel company and we had a rough winter (months of below zero weather) and our fuel went fast and we spent the last of the winter months praying the fuel would last until we could get a barge of fuel in. When it runs out, it is out.

The "Bush" normally receives their fuel and gas in the summer months so they purchase their fuel at the peak of the seasons prices and they pay those prices throughout the year. There is really no way to change this because the boats can't run in the winter due to the ice in the ocean. Some fuel companies can get a discount if they purchase earlier and then the fuel will come when the boats can run.

I remember being little and figuring out where I got my eggs and milk from. It gave me such a greater appreciation for the food I was eating, not to mention it grossed me out, but that is another story. I kind of felt like a little kid when I moved out and learned the time and process that went into fueling homes and cars in the "Bush". Someone could, and probably has, writen a book on the effects fuel has on Alaska.

Have I bored you? Sorry, I will only do this once in a while.

pretty displays

2010-03-25T08:25:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about book shelves lately. I would like to have a really nice one that I can display books, photos, trinkets, and do it beautifully. I want it to look clean and organized but also something creative too. In my research I have found some really fun shelves.

I have a gallery on flickr with more shelves and I also found this article about how to decorate book shelves that I thought was helpful.

spring break

2010-03-24T12:25:00.000-07:00

We had a great time with the kids this break. My oldest son was unable to make it home with us and it is amazing how you just don't feel right unless they are all with you. I am fixing to have an empty nest in a couple of years and I hope this feeling goes away. I believe there is a time and season for everything so I am sure I will mature with my kids in the next couple of years.

We attended the Alaska State Basketball games even though we did not make it. It was a lot of fun.

We also were able to see a friends baby while we were in town and she is absolutely beautiful.

The kids snowboarded and my husband and I watched from the car. It was a small resort and so the parking lot was at the bottom of the slopes and we could watch. The kids have not been in years and it is amazing how they have not lost their ability to snowboard. My husband wants to learn. I wanted us to learn when the kids did but all the resources went to them. I guess something to put on next years birthday list. =]

One of the days I went crazy with the iPhone and took a bunch of pics. They are here if you are interested.

She's a Rainbow

2010-03-16T10:36:00.000-07:00

I joined 57 other photographers to publish a book. Each of us have four photos that make up a 267 page book. Right now we are offering it at cost and Blurb is offering free shipping.

USD $ promo code: NEXTSHIP
GBP £ promo code: NEXTSHIP2
EUR € promo code: NEXTSHIP3

Spring Break....see you soon!

2010-03-12T13:02:00.000-08:00

My kids are on spring break this week so I will be taking a blog break. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and a great week.

Are you enough?

2010-03-10T13:22:00.000-08:00

Big question for a Wednesday, don't you think? As I have gone through my morning trying to catch up on all the loose ends that I have neglected this week, month, do I need to go on?! I started to feel a little down on myself. The busier I am and the more I have to do, the MORE down I become. Instead of thinking about all I have accomplished I am thinking of all I need to do and what I have neglected to do.

So, I headed over to Shutter Sisters for some inspiration. To be truthful, for a little pick me up and found this article. I needed to gain some perspective and that article really helped. I am enough and things might fall through the cracks but it is not life or death...so a little perspective is needed. I can't be all things all the time but I can be me and I can do my best.

I am not a negative person. I try not to complain and I try to be as positive as I can. I have to surround myself in positive thoughts, positive events, positive people. I hope this is a place that you can come and feel uplifted and inspired.

Tracey over at Shutter Sisters just posted an article , Self Talk. I encourage you to check it out. It has inspired me. Follow the links.......you will not be disappointed.

Good News Monday!

2010-03-08T11:56:00.000-08:00

photo by teresa

I have a morning routine that I do as I wake up in the morning. I don't drink coffee so to get my jolt I wake up, look through flickr, check my email, and maybe see what is going on in facebook land. This morning I came across this picture (located above....love it) and she mentioned something about free soulful actions. I do not know about you but I love free actions. You can download them here.

After downloading actions I hopped over to facebook and came across a shout out to my photography from the Female Photographers of Etsy. I am the FPOE member of the week.

Not bad for a Monday.

for the LOVE of COLOR week

2010-03-05T12:49:00.000-08:00

As I promised, my shots for the green day over at for the for the LOVE of COLOR week. You should all come and join us.

green inspiration

2010-03-05T12:27:00.000-08:00

It was green day yesterday for the LOVE of COLOR week group on flickr. I love these kinds of groups just for some forced inspiration. It always seems to help me out and this one did not come soon enough for me. My shots will be coming soon.

1. green party, 2. ~Free Texture!!, 3. miniature greens, 4. green day, 5. 66*366/green & white..., 6. green shutters, 7. for sarah, 8. how trees grow, 9. Sunlight through sheer lime green top, 10. 3 green apples, 11. unwanted number, 12. green columns, 13. green week, 214. Not available15. Not available16. Not available

breakfast

2010-03-04T00:03:00.000-08:00

I have a brother in law that wakes up everyday happy and he is a rancher! They wake up before the roosters. Shouldn't they by law be required to hate mornings?I love his optimism but I really hate morning people.

Around my house no one talks to me until I have been up for an hour or two and I sleep in. I am not a coffee drinker so there is not even the option of jolting me awake. When I wake up enough to eat breakfast it is almost lunch and yet I still love breakfast. I love everything about starting my day with something yummy, looking at a to do list, and just having quiet time to think.

It has not always been this way. I used to never eat breakfast and I somehow skipped my morning all together. And then, last year I fell in love with the book A Year of Mornings and since then I really love mornings. I guess I should say I love mornings a little later than most.

I started taking pictures in the morning while people are still afraid to even look at me. It puts me in a good mood, makes me think about how I start my day, and there is no better way to start your day than creatively.

I have started a set on my stream dedicated to breakfast photos if you are interested.

February 365

2010-03-02T06:31:00.000-08:00

I did not get every day in February but I have decided to continue. I really like this project if I keep it low pressure. I wanted to do this project to document what is going on in my life and put any pressure about every shot having to be a master piece.

The first time I attempted this project I learned a lot. I was just starting out in the "DSLR world" and had no clue what I was doing. I took 100 shots a day to get one picture. These days, well last month anyway, I have only had time to shoot a few.

This month my goal is to take some nice pictures but remember to take the shots of what is making me so busy. I go out with friends at least once a week and never once in this project have I taken a shot of that. We have friends over for dinner at least once a week, and I have not taken pics of that either. So, I am telling all of you so that I will stick to it. My goal is photography and photography it shall be.

inspirational thread

2010-02-26T10:31:00.000-08:00

There have been a lot of thread photos lately and they have me completely inspired. I even looked through my stash to see if I had any great colors....I figured out that I need to take a trip to Joanns. =]

by pretty life photography

by Karin A

by riot jane

by dawndh

by lynda*naranjo

polaroid love

2010-02-24T23:47:00.001-08:00

by Karin Elizabeth

by Citrushearts

by marika

by honeypieLiving

My philosophy

2010-02-22T19:52:00.000-08:00

These days it seems everyone is talking budgets and saving money. If you are like me home decor is the last line in my budget. I do a lot of my decorating in the summer because there are always yard sales and the second hand stores are usually full of fun items.

Here are some tips on how decorating on budget:

1. Know your style.

It seems too often people do not know what their style is. Look around Houzz they have each style listed and you can decide what style you are.

I used to buy all kinds of Victorian style items and I would bring them home and I would hate them. They looked so cute in the store but when I brought them home they just seemed out of place. You can waste a lot of money not know what your style is. It may be pretty to you but it does not mean you will love it in your own home.

2. Clear the space

Clear the space of all the items you are changing. Sometimes that only leaves you the furniture. It hard to create a new space with the old one staring at you. It also helps with incentive. It is easy to be content and lose your vision.

3. Budget

Now that you have the room cleared you have an idea of what your budget needs to be. Give yourself a budget and stick to it. You would be surprised how bargaining with people and saying "I only have $200 budgeted for bookshelves." will make them come down on a price.

4. Search for inspiration

Look around shops, search the internet, and check out decor books from the library. You will gain ideas and have a clearer vision when you start. Keep notes and even attach pictures. Inspiration boards are amazing for seeing your vision. You can attach textures, colors, and text to assist you.

5. Buy used

Ebay, yard sales, and second hand stores are your friends. That does not mean that you cannot find good deals on new items. Just be open to both options. I have painted so many pieces of furniture and saved myself a lot of money. I painted an old fridge and used it as a night stand. I wanted an item that was unique and I did not want to pay thousands for it. I paid $50 for the fridge and the paint. Here is the before picture.

happy monday

2010-02-22T19:25:00.000-08:00

photo by ellsojala

I had a busy day and just thought I would look through flickr for some inspiration. I came across this shot by ellsojala and I loved it and thought I would share. I found it in the Bench Monday pool.

simply inspired

2010-02-19T10:51:00.000-08:00

1. Untitled, 2. 34.365 // light, 3. paper thin heart, 4. For Kristin, 5. cookies, 6. Speak To Me Softly, 7. Nurture Openly, 8. Polaroid #32, 9. Teal Fondant, 10. pretty in pink, 11. Hello Weekend!, 12. I give you..... the Pink Moleskines, 13. Spring Blossoms..., 14. green with envy., 15. raspberry and pink peppercorn macarons, 16. Pancake Tuesday- don't forget!

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

TGIF

2010-02-18T20:37:00.000-08:00

This week has flown by and it is time to wrap up my week.

I had a great time with my family in Kodiak, Alaska and I survived the ferry.

I completed two weeks worth of assignments for BYW class. I kind of got behind. That included keeping up with my blog cleaning it up and making a new banner. I am happy with how things turned out. I am learning a lot and would recommend the class to anyone who is thinking of taking it.

Started a new series on my blog One Room Five Elements. I am pretty excited about this. I do not know if it will happen every week but you will see more posts in this direction.

I have discovered some new blogs that I really like this week. I have been searching for blogs that are very close to mine in one way or another. Some of them I have know about but not really taken a good look at them. Very inspiring.

I have thought a lot about redecorating my traveling palace but have not done much more than that. Maybe after my daughters basketball is over I can find more time in my schedule.

I hurt my back today just by bending over. OUCH. My workouts have been a little harder because we have been eating out so much and I think that may have contributed. We are away again this weekend too....in Sarah Pallin's neck of the woods.

How has your week wrapped up? Have a great weekend.

One Room & Five Elements--Andie Edwards

2010-02-18T10:23:00.000-08:00

Today I would like to introduce you to Andie Edwards. Some of you might know her by her beautiful photos on flickr, her art work, or even her blog. I have asked her to show us one room in her home and the five elements that make it special to her.

My favorite room in my house would have to be the bedroom I share with my husband. I know it’s cliché to call it our “sanctuary” but it really is and it’s the best way to describe it. I keep the décor really simple in here, clean lines not a lot of knick knacks or pictures and such. I love the fresh, clean and dreamy feeling a white on white decor creates which is especially perfect for a bedroom.

One of my favorite décor elements is lighting. This is number one in any room I decorate. Chandeliers, big windows, candles, lamps, sheer window coverings if any, all lend to the open, seamless feel I strive for. I even have strings of fallen, antique crystals that hang across the window behind the bed. They bring in even more light and add a romantic sparkle to the room on sunny days.

Another element I use to pull a room together is by using whites with various textures. The embroidered curtains play against the white bedspread which plays with the white, worn and chipped painted wood and brings interest into the room.

Flowers are another design element and look beautiful against white. They bring a pop of color and of course add a lovely garden scent to the room as well. Personally I think flowers are also incredibly sexy.

Lastly, I adore black and white photos. I only have a few in our bedroom, remember I’m trying to keep it simple in this room, but I have a few favorites that adorn a corner here and there. The picture I’ve shown here is my husband’s favorite and it simply rests on the table on his side of the bed.

I find inspiration everywhere. I’ve been doing this “white on white” thing for almost 11 years now and have read countless books and magazines on it. Thrift stores, flea markets are also a wonderful place to find inspiration. My dining room for example is completely decorated around an old vintage table I found at a local flea market. My best advice is to just play with a room. Bring in pieces from other rooms, switch things out, try out different furniture positioning. The rooms in my house never look the same from month to month…sometimes week to week, lol. I’m a bit notorious around these parts for rearranging furniture at all hours of the night.

simply shoot--Kodiak, Alaska

2010-02-16T21:16:00.000-08:00

My family and I took a ferry to Kodiak last week. I was so nervous about going into open ocean and I always worry when I shouldn't. We had a great time. I was not able to get out on the Island and shoot as much as I wanted because we had a busy schedule but I did manage to get a few shots.

My husband had to work while we were on the ferry. They let us and our car on for free if he works one shift. The captain invited us up to see how they run the ferry. The kids loved it and you would have thought my husband was a little boy riding in a fire truck (you know how little boys dream of that).

My son and the first mate...they both look so tired.

Everything was so high tech. We could see a boat ahead and their software could tell you how fast they were going, what radio frequency they were one, the distance between the boat and the ferry, and other stuff that is over my head.

My son shot this....he loves maps!

When we first moved to Alaska I would have these moments where I would just take it all in. There are landscapes so big and beautiful that it humbles you, making you feel so small.

simply smitten--nesting newbies

2010-02-16T21:00:00.000-08:00

The second issue of Nesting Newbies is now available. I am kind of a magazine fanatic and I have had a hard time converting to the webzine scene but I am slowly being converted. This webzine is a perfect example. Check it out......you will not be disappointed.

via Design Republic

creative spaces

2010-02-15T14:34:00.001-08:00

I really do not have one space that I sit and create. I used to in the old rental and it was a corner in my bedroom. I liked it but it was kind of difficult to use the space because my husband works all shifts and I could not always be in there using it.

I would really love to have a creative space/studio because I really do believe it is important for creative people to have a place to nurture their creativity by surrounding them with items that inspire.

I really like how this one is not a room but a corner in her living room. She has made it very cute and fun to look at.

by cottonblue

Maya has a simple but beautiful room for her creating. I like the shelf and the little splashes of inspiration around her workspace.

by MayaLee

I love the color all over this room. She has a bold variety of colors that I am sure inspire her creativity.

By *jenny b allsorts her blog

This one is completely adorable. I love the colorful elements and the organization. She has a comfy chair and I am sure that helps when you are in the creating mood...you are going to be there awhile.

by ishtar olivera

I like this desk...I have been seeing a lot of these in magazines. I also like the light that she has coming through those windows.

by Julie Alvarez

Ali is the queen of creative spaces. This shot is from her new set up but if you go to her stream you can also see the old one...both worth looking through.

by ali edwards

Do you have a creative space/studio? I would love to see it.

see you soon....

2010-02-11T18:26:00.000-08:00

I am hopping on a ferry with my family and going to Kodiak, Alaska. My daughter has some games there. Kids here travel by boat, plane, bus, and ferry to get to games in high school.

I am a bundle of nerves because I have never been on a boat in open ocean before. I heard that fisherman get sick on this particular ferry and it has made me quite anxious. I just keep thinking about all the pictures I am going to come home with. I have heard it is beautiful there. So, that is where my focus is right now.

Below is a map of the ferry route. We are going from Homer to Kodiak....12 hours total.

I will see you back here on Monday! Anyone have exciting plans for the weekend?

embracing the snow.....

2010-02-09T21:40:00.000-08:00

with a little help from flickr.

by pretty life photography

by Rebecca Tabor Armstrong

by [ r ♥ c e y t ♥ y ] {I br♥ke for bokeh}

by mainemomma

by Leaca's Philosophy

by Elle Moss

by IrenaS

by leslie*thomson

by rainingsheep