B & D

Welcome to Zion

2010-08-29T17:30:00.007-06:00

I'm completely behind on keeping this blog up to date, and considering that I'm depending on this to be my "scrapbook", I better catch up. This summer has been too amazing for words. Here's a trip we took to Zion with friends to do some canyoneering. It was an incredible and beautiful trip!

Send me your email!

2010-06-22T13:40:00.001-06:00

Hi everyone! I'm going private on my blog, so post a comment here with your email and I'll add you to the list! :)

Spring has sprung.

2010-05-23T09:43:00.007-06:00

We chilled with the family and some friends in M-ville last weekend. I would explain the pictures, but if it's true that a picture speaks a thousand words, I just won't bother. ;)

Mini Me!

2010-04-23T11:48:00.002-06:00

I'll soon be posting pictures from Brandon's Dad's memorial in Colorado. It was a bittersweet day, seeing family and mourning the loss of Kevin. While we were there though, I met our cousin's two sweet daughters and I was ECSTATIC to discover that one of them was a Mini Me! Why you might ask? Because if you remember me telling you a while back, I used to have a pretty odd stance when I was little. I would hold my arms up to my chest, relax my wrists so that my hands kind of hung there. Yes, like a rabbit. Or a velociraptor if you prefer. And yes, sweet little Julia has the same habit! So cute! All I can say is that it must be a sign of genius :)

2010-04-17T09:08:00.002-06:00

Last Friday morning, we receieved a phone call from Brandon's little brother with horrible news. Brandon's Dad had passed away in his sleep. It was sudden and unexpected, so everyone was in complete shock. Brandon's Dad was an amazing man. He was sincere, genuine, goofy, loving, compassionate and had a laugh that could completely fill up a room. His bear hugs were always there to greet me, although he and Brandon always gave eachother "knuckles" in place of a "man hug". There are so many great memories that we are left with of Kevin and his magnetic personality. He really was the life of the party and could always put a smile on our faces. As Brandon has been saying for the past week, although his Dad is no longer here, he lives on through his three boys who share his blood, his zest for life, his love of the Broncos, his passion for the outdoors, and last but not least, his unconditional love for his family. If this loss has taught us anything, Brandon and I feel a new appreciation for each new day. Life is short and fragile, so we must hug our loved ones, enjoy each experience and make every day worth every second. We love you Kevin and you will always be missed.

Soakin' it up

2010-04-03T12:45:00.004-06:00

We had a camping trip planned this weekend, but we got snowed out of our plans. So, instead, we took a day trip up to Fifth Water Hot Springs and soaked in the natural springs for a few hours. The hour hike up to the springs was a little chilly, but the snow was melting around us and all of the plants and animals around us were buzzing with the coming of Spring. It was a beautiful and perfect day.

So, this one time...

2010-03-25T18:58:00.004-06:00

...we made a fruit plate, drank wine and played cards. As usual, I thought the meal was pretty, so I took a picture :)

Then I played around with the djembe...

Then, this other time, we made the BEST dinner ever...

...and then Brandon partook. And it was good.

Oh man, I wish I could post the rest of his pictures that I took in this sequence. I wish. Brandon would not like it. I will, however, accept bribes and if the bribe is right, I'll sneak you onto our computer and show you. Shhhh.

Giveaway!

2010-03-25T13:10:00.002-06:00

I just entered this giveaway...and you should too. :)

http://papersquid.blogspot.com/2010/03/big-spring-giveaway-2-shops-2-giveaways.html

Fun with friends :)

2010-03-15T20:13:00.003-06:00

I'm so bad at taking pictures lately. SO bad, in fact, that I'm resorting to stealing people's pictures off of facebook. I'm SORRY! Okay, but we have had a lot of fun lately, just hanging out with friends and here is some proof...

I think these two could be like half sisters or something.

Two questions: What is Tamara pointing at? And who is Brittany giving the stink eye to?

Brandon: "When I die, I want to be stuck in this position."

We are sneeeeaky.

The two lovebirds.

Britt and Mikeypoo

Accepting donations.

2010-03-09T08:38:00.002-07:00

Photo: Germany 2007

"I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world." — Mary Anne Radmacher

This is what's on my mind lately. Travel. One of the greatest times in my life was the 18 days I spent touring Germany, Switzerland and Austria for my studio class. I thrive on new experiences, new tastes, new sights, new people and new places. I have a travel bug that's starting to itch and I would love to go back to Europe with Brandon and add some new countries to my list of places I've been. SO, I am accepting donations to the B&D Travel fund. Muchas gracias and have a lovely day.

?

2010-02-27T17:30:00.002-07:00

I have a dilemma. I had the urge to paint something again (or I was just trying to find anything to do BUT study for my A.R.E.) so I did and this is it...

My dilemma is this: I intended on painting the tree's root system reaching into the ground, but once I got to this point, I kind of like it this way. Brandon's vote is to let it be. You can't see it very well, but the tree has some red leaves in the branches, so the root system might add a new meaning if it seems like the roots are pulling the color/energy/life/fire from the ground. I need opinions before I decide whether or not to continue the painting...or to let it be. :)

Hmmm?

2010-02-22T08:53:00.002-07:00

Our conversation in bed last night:

*Chica yawns*

B: Do cows yawn?
D: No.

B: Do horses yawn?
D: No.

(pause)

D: Maybe it's a primate thing.

(pause)

B: Chica's not a primate.

(pause)

D: Maybe it's a mammal thing.

(pause)

B: COWS are mammals.

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." Benjamin Franklin

2010-02-21T20:41:00.002-07:00

We sampled Brandon's beer tonight. And it was good.

Photo + Quote of the week

2010-02-17T14:19:00.002-07:00

I've been a horrible blogger and a horrible picture taker, so I don't have much to post :( Life is good though and I'm looking forward to Spring. Until the weather is warm enough to do our outdoor stuff, I'm content staying inside and reading and playing my djeme :) I really need to start branching out and read some other authors, but I have to say that once you start reading Tom Robbins, he is addicting. He is a word magician and he never ceases to open my mind to a new level of thinking. Here is a taste of Robbins...and a taste of djembe...

"If you need to visualize the soul, think of it as a cross between a wolf howl, a photon, and a dribble of dark molasses. But what it really is, as near as I can tell, is a packet of information. It's a program, a piece of hyperspatial software designed explicitly to interface with the Mystery. Not a mystery, mind you, the Mystery. The one that can never be solved.

To one degree or another, everybody is connected to the Mystery, and everybody secretly yearns to expand the connection. That requires expanding the soul. These things can enlarge the soul: laughter, danger, imagination, meditation, wild nature, passion, compassion, psychedelics, beauty, iconoclasm, and driving around in the rain with the top down. These things can diminish it: fear, bitterness, blandness, trendiness, egotism, violence, corruption, ignorance, grasping, shining, and eating ketchup on cottage cheese.Data in our psychic program is often nonlinear, nonhierarchical, archaic, alive, and teeming with paradox. Simply booting up is a challenge, if not for no other reason than that most of us find acknowledging the unknowable and monitoring its intrusions upon the familiar and mundane more than a little embarrassing.

But say you've inflated your soul to the size of a beach ball and it's soaking into the Mystery like wine into a mattress. What have you accomplished? Well, long term, you may have prepared yourself for a successful metamorphosis, an almost inconceivable transformation to be precipitated by your death or by some great worldwide eschatological whoopjamboreehoo. You may have. No one can say for sure.More immediately, by waxing soulful you will have granted yourself the possibility of ecstatic participation in what the ancients considered a divinely animated universe. And on a day to day basis, folks, it doesn't get any better than that."

_Tom Robbins

A Non-Valentine's Day Post

2010-02-08T15:18:00.002-07:00

Valentine's Day is a little...well...cheesy, so we don't really celebrate it. So, this is me not making a cheesy post on Valentine's Day.

I always feel like Brandon and I have become the closest we possibly can and that we are the best of friends/lovers/companions in the world. Then, I am reminded that love grows stronger everyday when I wake up and realize that I love him that much more :) Happy UnValentine's Day!

I love this quote from Winnie the Pooh. It really captures the meaning of true friendship.

"Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind.
'Pooh?' he whispered.
'Yes, Piglet?'
'Nothing,' said Piglet, taking Pooh's hand.
'I just wanted to be sure of you.'"
— A.A. Milne

Photo: Honeymoon June 2004

Quote to live by...

2010-01-31T14:12:00.003-07:00

"Our attitude toward life determines life's attitude towards us."

Photo: Brandon & Dave's latest hiking/canyoneering trip Jan. '10

Life is full of experience. Sad, happy, magical, devastating, exciting, beautiful, sombering et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

The greatest thing about life is that it is ours. We can wake up to a new day and do with it what we will.

Today, I am thankful for my incredible family and amazing friends that fill life with so much unconditional love. I love you all!

Happy 2010!

2010-01-02T13:07:00.006-07:00

We said farewell to 2009 and hello to 2010 with friends and family! Great night :)

Since we didn't send out any cards this season...

2009-12-23T18:31:00.002-07:00

...Happy Holidays from Brandon and Danielle!

P.S. Photo compliments of the annual ugly Christmas sweater party.

P.S.S. Yes, those are shoulder pads I'm wearing.

P.S.S.S. Yes, Brandon is wearing a woman's sweater.

When the moon is not full, the stars shine more brightly...

2009-12-20T10:26:00.005-07:00

Each month, on then new moon, we all gather for food, music and celebration :) Our first celebration was at The Ballard's, and I'll tell you, they set the bar high for our new moon parties.

We love you guys!

AhSushi!

2009-12-10T22:22:00.004-07:00

I believe that last night was the beginning of a monthly tradition. Okay, maybe bi-monthly. Okay, weekly. Downtown, there is an AWESOME sushi place called Ah Sushi, and on Wednesdays, we can get half price beer and half price rolls. Um....yes please.

P.S. Did you SEE the size of the beers?

If you ask for one water and one beer, this is what you get:

Robot! Robot! Robot!

It was gooood.

To Brandon...

2009-12-02T21:35:00.002-07:00

This is Brandon the day he was born exactly 26 years ago with his beautiful Mom and big brother Jason.

26 years later here he is...

Heeehee...okay, here he is...

Happy Birthday Bwandon. I think everyone who comes in contact with you recognizes that you are an incredible, funny, kind, honest, hard working, talented and beautiful person. I am the luckiest person to be not only your friend, but your wife. I'm so glad that you are you! :)

"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” - Dr. Seuss

Let us be thankful.

2009-11-29T13:27:00.011-07:00

Let us all be thankful for...

... cousins...

...for adventure hikes with Grandma...

...for nieces and nephews...

...for silliness...

...for chin faces...

...for kombucha and chocolate...

...for laughter...

...for making new friendships...

...for the earth and the sky...

...for bumcracks...

...for sunlight...

...for afternoon strolls and cowboy hats...

...for after-dinner drinks...

...for sistas...

...for fireside conversations...

...for cigar time...

...for pre-feast jam sessions in the sun......for learning how to play the djembe...

...for guitars......for music... ...for cameras and cute dresses...

...for doggies...

..for Chica's unfailing ability to find deer legs and bring them home...

...for childhood...

...for foooood......for a feast at sunset......for time spent with family and friends......Let us all be thankful for life.

Happy Thanksgiving!

T-Day!

2009-11-24T16:45:00.002-07:00

First of all, I am the worst blogger ever for the last few weeks. I'm sorry.
Second of all, I'm so excited for Thanksgiving because we will be spending it in Marysvale! Anthony, Jennifer and the kids are in town and I seriously live for time spent with friends and family. It's the best. Can I just say that my family is the greatest? When we are together, we have so much fun together. So, for the next four days, these are some of the things on my agenda: campfire, hot tub, talk, laugh, cook, eat, wine, kombucha, making music, listening to music, family videos, turkey, hugs, pajamas, pumpkin pie cheesecake, memories, inside jokes, laughing until we snort/cry, snow?, dogs, kids, stories, more food, more wine, more campfire, more hot tub and more incredible memories made in Marysvale! :) Here's a pic from last year...maybe we can expect another snowstorm in the hot tub?
P.S. Mike, Emily and kids...we misssss you! :)
P.S.S. Can Brandon take a normal picture?

Prost!

2009-11-08T17:00:00.003-07:00

We took our annual trip up to Snowbird for Oktoberfest last month and as always, enjoyed good beer, good food, good polka music and good company. Cheers! (Prost!)

These guys were kind enough to let us take pictures with them and their very large horns.

Cassidy and Isabella
Brittany and Meag enjoying a good polka

Brittany, Meag and Tamara - until next year! :)

FRA-GI-LE - Handle With Care

2009-10-29T11:29:00.001-06:00

Fra-gi-le...you know, like from A Christmas Story? Anyway, I forgot to dress up at work today, so I came up with something quickly. Neato, huh?

Salsa Chicas

2009-10-09T10:36:00.003-06:00

Last weekend, Tamara, my mom and I got together for a day of salsa making. We always had my mom's fresh salsa growing up and the last few years, we've totally missed it!! My mom brought some of Nani's old aprons and we wore them all day. I was totally taken by surprise when I put her apron on, put it to my nose and it smelled exactly like her and her kitchen. What memories...

We had such a fun day filled with laughter, conversation, loud music, empanadas and SALSA!

Here we are, bright eyed and bushy tailed...

Then, 8 hours later...not so bright eyed, or bushy tailed :)

Thanks Mamacita for teaching us everything you know about canning! Like Dad said, it is becoming a 'lost art'. :)

Squatternut Bosh

2009-10-04T10:41:00.006-06:00

Before

Have I told you how much we like food? Have I told you that sometimes I take pictures of our food? With yesterday's cloudy weather and a box FULL of autumn harvest from my Mom's garden, I couldn't help myself. It's a Butternut Squash Apple Soup, but we also added a pear, cinnamon and a little cayenne pepper. It was delicioso. (click here for recipe)

After

Good one...

2009-10-01T15:26:00.000-06:00

"Our individuality is all, all, that we have. There are those who barter it for security, those who repress it for what they believe is the betterment of the whole society, but blessed in the twinkle of the morning star is the one who nurtures it and rides it, in grace and love and wit, from peculiar station to peculiar station along life's bittersweet route." — Tom Robbins (Jitterbug Perfume)

A Summer to Remember

2009-09-26T10:09:00.005-06:00

This Summer has been amazing! After 7 years of school, I think I forgot what true relaxation felt like. We have made so many incredible memories this Summer, and all of our experiences have really reminded me how our friends and families mean everything to us. This is also the first Summer that I can say we really took advantage of the beautiful Utah landscape that's always at our fingertips. All I can say is that we used to seriously consider moving outside of Utah, but this Summer's activities have really made us realize why we love it here. The chilly air outside and the gradient of color that is beginning to spread across the mountains are both signaling the coming of Autumn. I'll admit, I'm absolutely a Summer girl, but I do enjoy the beauty of fall and the fact that I can start wearing boots again :)

So here's a tribute to Summer through a sampling of what I remember about it...or word vomit, if you will.

GRADUATION! - empanadas - chilean music - guitar - Vicky and Mom dancing - basque/chilean wine - laughter - fresh fruit - amaryllis - Austin's accident :( - hanging out with Austin :) - Nanny and Papa Jerry - pool - sunset hike - missing socks - running - microbrews - hiking shoes - Tamara's banjo - being able to open the windows - my 'summer' ipod playlist - missing Nani - Guinness! the new puppy - three day weekends - Powell Pirates - cliff jumping - night fishing - striper boils - dance offs - fresca and vodka - Laynee! - missing Oregon family - seeing Oregon family - The Baer's and their boats - tubing - cave swimming - Star gazing - philosiphizing -jumping off the houseboat at midnight in our clothes - sleeping under the stars - campfires - frogs - rattlesnakes - laughing - Cecilia by Simon and Garfunkel - fish tacos - laughing - crying - laughing - sand - HOT SUN - ice cream - chicken kabobs - barbeque - sunscreen - shade - Tom Robbins - Vonnegut - red rock - nieces and nephews growing fast - tanlines - layoffs - piano bars - salmon - peude..chilean salsa - politics - midnight walks through Daybreak - coffee - pink elephant pinatas - campfires - bigfoot - skinwalkers stories - singing around the campfire - 3.2 Marysvale Blues - Pinkalicious - baby shower - Rappelling off of waterfalls - The Brown reunion - The Fierro reunion - Mary's tamales - Reuniting with family I've never met! - The Wooden Nickel - mosquito bites - biscotti - laughing - cameras - flowers - farmer's market - fresh honeycomb - beevery - beet greens - fresh bread - Tata - Chilean Independence Day - avocado - lemons - watching Lucas - fresh tomatoes - architectural competitions - friends - setting up tents - horseshoes - breakfast burritos - headlamps - unexpected car expenses -sombrero - mosquitos - sunglasses - pine trees - canoes - mountain lakes - paddling - flip flops - fishing - relaxing - dog park - steak and clams - hiking - peeing in the woods - sleeping bags - 11 dogs - Moose watching - reading - lime rickeys - playing cards - making new friends - facebook - funnels - knives - park city - I'm taking videos! - dancing - singing - girls night - laughing - laughing uncontrollably - sleeping in - Indie flicks -fresh garden food - twilight concerts - Incubus - headbanging - sunburn - draft beer - Marysvale - hot tub - Napa Valley wine - good conversation - hugging - laughing - shed hunting - making jewelry - shopping with Mom and Tam - new boots - rockclimbing - chalk bags - garlic burgers - drinking beer on the patio in the rain - guitar - Iron & Wine - crossing the river - sleeping with the windows open - walking Chica - laying by the pool - margaritas - girl talk - crappy economy - movie nights - mexican food - more rockclimbing - more laughing - Wing Nutz - searching for karaoke bars - Woot! Woot! - Arts Festivals - dessert martinis - laying in the hammock - Chica finding deer legs - eating Brandon's yummy cooking - making butterflies with Cassidy - finding KRCL - finding Dexter - pillowfights - Rachel McAdams - the constitution - my birthday - Hippie Party - dreadlocks - darts - fireworks - our fifth anniversary!! - Ruth's Chris - ahi tuna - wine - more laughing - painted toenails - mudbaths - bubble baths - reggae - flowers - tequila - night swim at the pool - and best of all, spending time and making memories with the love of my life Brandon...otherwise known as Bwandon.

Farewell Summer and Welcome Autumn :)

Yes, we have a thing for bright orange and green...

2009-09-24T11:51:00.003-06:00

Three of us (Brittany, Benj and I ) got together recently to participate in an architectural competition. This one was an international competition for a new student housing design in Athens, Greece. We submitted two boards and shipped them off to Greece to be judged. There were 272+/- entries from around the world. Our goal was to create a flexible and modular design that could be easily reproduced in different arrangements on various sites throughout the city. The basic concrete "pod" is repeated throughout the project but contains different functions such as dorm rooms, kitchens and gallery space. We didn't make the shortlist, but had a lot of fun doing it and plan on doing more in the future! Here's a link to the competition website www.upto35.com

Have I told you that I love this guy?

2009-09-21T14:34:00.002-06:00

I just finished another book: "Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates" by Tom Robbins. He is truly an inspired writer and I am always stunned by his clever plots and perfect metaphors. I love you Tom.

"Reality is contradictory. And it's paradoxical. If there's any one word -- if you had to pick one word to describe the nature of the universe -- I think that word would be paradox. That's true at the subatomic level, right through sociological, psychological, philosophical levels on up to cosmic levels."

"In my friend, I find a second self." ~Isabel Norton

2009-09-17T19:11:00.004-06:00

I love that quote. So true. Girlfriends are the best aren't they? Especially mine I think :) It was...drum roll please...you guessed it...girls night, and this time we spent it in a condo on Main St. in Park City. It was soooo much fun and we always make the greatest memories on these girl's nights!!

Getting read to go out. The condo was so cool and a great deal!!There were 16 of us...watch out Park City!

No girl's night is complete without a bathroom shot.

Causing commotion on Main Street...

...And on the balcony...

I love you ladies!! Until next time...

Perfect way to spend a Sunday...

2009-09-05T10:58:00.005-06:00

Last Sunday, we went rockclimbing with Tamara, Dave and Cassidy. It was beautiful weather and we were able to hang out and climb for most of the afternoon. Rockclimbing is not as difficult as it may seem and it's the best workout and mental challenge! Sometimes you feel like you are stuck and there are no more footholds or handholds to progress up the cliff. Then, you realize, you are either going up or down, and if you don't want to give up you just have to find that next hold...and that's what you do! Even if it is the smallest little crevice, you dig your toe in, push all of your weight into it and reach for the next little ledge that your fingertips can grab onto. It really is so much fun. If any of you ever want to go, let's do it!!

Dave and Brandon are our official "lead" climbers. This is where they have to climb up first and take the rope with them, hooking it into anchors as they climb. They are still belayed from below in case of a fall, but I don't dare to do this yet, considering that if you fall, it can be up to a 12 foot fall. I'm just not that daring yet :) We are sure glad that they are good at it though so that we can climb up after them with a top rope.

We like climbing together, because we can have conversations as we climb. Girly conversations and the boys can't hear us because they are 50 feet below us. Ha.

This little monkey might be the best climber out of us all. She just scrambles up that cliff and her little toes and fingers can grab onto things that our big fat toes and fingers can't. Way to go Cass!!

Like mother, like daughter.

Yup, she made it all the way to the top!

Tamara and I tried belaying each other for the first time. We can't belay the boys because they weigh more than us, so we are perfect for belaying each other! Weeee!

Camping Extravaganzapalooza

2009-09-04T11:08:00.005-06:00

We finally made it out to camping with friends this Summer and had a blast! We were able to try out our new (well, new to us) canoe and we love it. We can't wait to do more canoeing in the fall! Camp was crazy and fun. We had ELEVEN dogs. Yes, eleven. We are dog people. The weekend was filled with dutch ovens, yummy drinks, horseshoe tournaments, girl pee parties in the woods, campfires, guitars, pinatas, horses, lakes, fish and great memories.

Camp. Or an XTERRA advertisement, you choose. :)

Mike setting up horseshoes with his old man pipe

Brandon setting up camp..sort of...

What is that you ask? A pinata. A pink elephant pinata.

Little Jack is the cutest!

This is Brittany. She makes me laugh.

Drinks @ Noon! Wahoo!

Meag & Britt

Mehuh?

Play that funky music white boy...

Camping is not camping without a fire.

We love our canoe!

Chica enjoying the ride

Relaxing day on the lake

Dave and his fish

The Thomas Raft

Cassidy and Isabella - Cute cousins!

Sean and his fish

Iron & Wine

2009-08-23T21:01:00.004-06:00

Iron & Wine is absolutely one of my favorite musicians. Sam Beam the lead singer put on a free concert at the Gallivan Plaza for the Twilight Concert Series and I was sure to be there WAY too early to get a good seat. Good thing I did though, because it was extra crowded. It was the most amazing show. It was just Sam Beam and his guitar under the summer sky and I was in heaven.

The picture below is of the singer for the opening band "Okerville River". The lead singer looks and moves like my older brother Anthony, it was almost creepy. Do you see it??

Here are the girls...Brittany is nestling me into her bosom. Or something like that.

Meag and I

Candice and Britt

Mike and Meag

Heehooohaaa

Click HERE to see some clips of the concert. You won't be disappointed if you're a fan :)

And HERE for another.

Two firsts of the Summer...

2009-08-14T17:48:00.003-06:00

Today, two things happened for the first time this Summer. First, Brandon caught his first 22 inch cutthroat at Soldier Creek. Look at his big smile! He's so pwoud.

Then, he let Chica have a taste. Look at his manly face scruff. Hey hot stuff. Rar.

Then, for the second first thing, I actually CLEANED OUT MY CLOSET. This may not seem like a big deal, but when you have a pile of clothes like this:

...on the bottom floor of your closet, then it is a big deal. I am not the most organized person, okay? Jeez. I took me approximately three hours to clean out and organize. Now I have three giant bags of clothes to sell to Plato Closet. Yippee!

While I cleaned, Chica slept all day. Dogs have the easiest life, let me tell you. Especially this one.

This is my closet now. Ahhhh. It feels good.

Okay, bye.

Some fun in the rocks...

2009-08-10T18:58:00.003-06:00

This last weekend, we went rappelling with Brittany and Mike up Big Cottonwood Canyon. I haven't been in a looong time so I was super nervous. It's always scary at the top in that moment where take your weight off of the ground and let your weight fall into the rope. Once the hard parts over then it's smooth sailing from there! Or I mean, smooth rappelling from there...

The place we rappelled is basically a huge fracture in a slab of rock that has some boulders wedged into the top of it. We scrambled over the boulders and then dropped down through the center of them into a 20 ft. free rappell and then down the cliff. Fun!!

One of the best things about Summer is...

2009-07-31T15:54:00.002-06:00

FOOD! We love food. Seriously. It is sooo good. This meal was a good one, so I took a picture. It's complete with beets, green beans and basil from my mamacita's garden, fresh corn on the cob, bread and honey butter from the farmers market, and a juicy steak. Yum.

Grr.

2009-07-31T15:43:00.003-06:00

Man, I've tried to keep my posts in themes but there are so many pics to dig through! I still don't even have everyones pictures! As always, it was a memorable and amazing trip with the family and I always look forward to the next time! Here are some pictures of the crazy Powell Party Pirates :)

Boys will be boys.

Michael and Elayna

Rar.

Huh?

Ze Captains.

Cheese!

Then we let everyone ride in our boat...

2009-07-31T15:35:00.002-06:00

Okay, fine. Not OUR boat, but one day we will be able to say that. It was a blast!

Cave swimming

2009-07-31T13:18:00.002-06:00

Another great Powell adventure was when Mike surprised us and drove us through some beautiful narrow canyons that led to a huge rock overhang that provided some great shade for swimming. We all jumped into the water to cool off and relaxed for a bit.

Jump!

2009-07-25T15:12:00.002-06:00

We camped next to a beautiful red rock that we could swim to and then hike to the top of it. Tam and I enjoyed the view then climbed back down. The boys on the otherhand...

Summertime, and the livin's easy...

2009-07-22T20:03:00.005-06:00

Of course, one of the best memories of the trip is just hanging on the beach. Nothing like digging your feet into the sand and soaking up some rays while listening to music and hanging out with the family. There is absolutely nothing like Summer.

Lorna (Otherwise known as Mike's lover)

Jocelyn, Cassidy, Corrine and Mason

Grandma and Layna...so beautiful.

Hunter and Mason

I love my sister!! We have so much fun together...I love you Tamwa.

This is Temily. Well...Emily, but we have an understanding that I call her Temily. I guess it's an inside joke, but whatever. You know how there's peanut butter?

Little Laynee just melts my heart :)

Roo and Cass fishing off the houseboat

Elayna Rae and Temily

Mamacita and sister

Brandon is our resident margarita specialist. If we don't look normal in this picture, that's because we're not. We are actually quite abnormal, I mean, have you met us?

The boys on the boat.

Oh. My. God. Becky.

2009-07-22T19:58:00.002-06:00

We had some a-maz-ing dance offs in the living room of the houseboat, complete with The Electric Slide and Emily's amazing solo to Cecilia by Simon and Garunkel. (Whenever I picture that dance again I can't help but giggle...Oh Temily, I love you...) Nothing quite compares with Big Butts though. You should see how us ladies can shake it to that one.

Mud bath, anyone?

2009-07-22T19:50:00.002-06:00

Now for a continuation of the Powell Pirates trip. We had a great spot with a sandy beach and with the perfect clay to give ourselves a mud treatment that would cost a ton at any fancy salon. It was so relaxing and our skin was so smooth after. Ahhhhhhh.

Sunset Hike

2009-07-16T16:00:00.009-06:00

After work on Wednesday, Brandon and I decided to hike up Mount Grandeur to see the sunset. We've done the hike a few times before and knew we'd have a good view from the top! The hike takes about an hour and a half each way. We hiked up in time to relax for about an hour, sip on a beer, watch the sunset and then we hiked back down with headlamps on. I must say it was a little eerie on the trail in the dark with just the headlamps! The hike was invigorating and an awesome mid-week adventure.

At the top!

This picture doesn't capture it, but the lighting was so peaceful and beautiful.

Cheers to Summer

You & Me Go Fishing In the Dark...

2009-07-12T14:02:00.009-06:00

Here is the first of many posts about the Powell trip.
One of my favorite memories of the trip was feeling a little tap on my foot by Michael, waking Brandon and I up to go early, early morning fishing. I really don't know if Mike got any sleep on this trip since he was usually sleeping on the back of the houseboat with a few fishing rods in the lake throughout the night catching catfish. Sure enough, he was our alarm clock that morning and we quietly gathered some drinks, jumped in the fishing boat and the motor slowly pushed us out into the middle of the lake. I have always heard my Dad and brothers talk about their memories of striper fishing at Powell but had never experienced it until then. Mike killed the engine and told us to listen for splashes of water. The large stripers are able to actually herd much smaller fish called Shad (or Chad?) and push them to the surface of the lake where they will have a feeding frenzy. This is called a "striper boil" and this is what we were listening for. We all sat in silence, straining our eyes across the calm water as far as we could see for any sign of a flipping tail or silver striper body out of water. My ears were straining so hard to hear any faint splash of water, that the silence itself began to make noise. The horizon was beginning to take on a gradient of light that barely lit the lake to the east but left it completely black to the west, so we had to trust our ears for any boils that might occur on that side of the boat. In this moment with my brother and with Brandon, I sat in peace and amazement as the sky was changing imperceptibly from shade to shade as our place on the earth slowly turned toward the sun. So often in our everyday, urban lives, we become so accustomed to two different conditions of time: day and night. Sitting motionless on the lake that morning, I was reminded of the eternal and constantly changing conditions of time. (dawn, sunrise, noon, evening, dusk, twilight...) Every minute seemed to completely transform the landscape around us. The constantly changing light began to slowly illuminate forms around us that seemed dead and gray just moments before. The black water started to turn a deep blue. the eastern sky began to turn a light yellow and then a dull orange. The color on the horizon became more and more intense until the cliffs to the west that seemed to be in hibernation were suddenly ablaze. The great ball of fire that rose over the horizon colored our skin the same glowing color of the cliffs the second it escaped the shadow of the eastern hills. This transformation of light and time all happened as we were chasing what we hoped were beginnings of striper boils and as we trolled the lake for stripers. I was lucky enough to wrestle two huge stripers, and I mean WRESTLE. They are not only large fish but they can pull and fight like crazy. Once the sun came over the horizon, it wasn't soon until we were interrupted by the occasional skiboat or wakeboarder, so we headed back to camp where everyone else was just waking up for breakfast. It was truly a magical morning on the lake.

Thank you for the memorable fishing trip Mike. It reminded me of the moments of beauty that are waiting to be discovered everyday, as long as we are present enough in the moment to notice them.

Happy Hippie Bday!

2009-07-12T13:58:00.002-06:00

For my belated birthday, we threw a "hippie" party where everyone had to come dressed to impress 60's style. It was a blast, complete with a playlist compiled of only 60's and 70's music. I have to say that Codee took the prize for best costume (see post below....) but everyone came looking pretty groovy. Peace.

Oh yeah...and I put dreads in my hair. Far out.

Summer!!!

2009-07-10T10:17:00.002-06:00

This Summer has been so amazing so far! I will post pics from our recent family trip to Lake Powell (Anthony and fam, you were greatly missed) and from my Hippie/Birthday party. Here are a few teaser pics :)

My Bwandon :)

2009-06-24T21:49:00.004-06:00

On June 25th, 2004 Brandon and I were married...but maybe even more importantly, on February 14th 2000, Brandon brought a dozen roses to my door. I have to admit that I was totally the smitten kitten the second I laid eyes on this hunk. On top of his beautiful packaging (wink, wink) Brandon is the kindest, funniest and most sincere person. I can't imagine a better friend, lover (triple wink), husband, future father or a more perfect person to spend my life with. I love knowing that we are together through life's biggest moments and life's smallest moments. We have changed so much over the last nine years but it seems like our love and our friendship grow stronger every day. I am so happy to be on our life's journeys side by side Bwandon. I love you.

"This is where I am..."

2009-06-16T15:18:00.003-06:00

"The earth is moving through a position relative to the sun, similar to that on the day you were born. But, it's different, because eternity is fleeting and changing too. Welcome to your destination, you have arrived. This is where you are. I love the person that you are."
-birthday wish from my big brother Anthony

Can I just say that I feel so loved today? I've received so many great birthday wishes from friends and family on facebook and on the phone. My mom left me such a cute voicemail, singing me happy birthday...it made me cry :)

I love all of you. I feel so alive and I absolutely love life and everything it offers. The birthday wish above was from my big brother and it is the most beautiful thing I have read in a long time. I feel like I have arrived, yet at the same time I feel like I still have some amazing destinations ahead. Thanks for the inspiration Anthony!

My most exciting email EVER.

2009-06-10T12:55:00.001-06:00

Dear Danielle,

Congratulations on your graduation from the University of Utah. The following degree has been posted to your academic record:

Master of Architecture

Your diploma has been mailed to the following address:

4938 MIMOSA ST
RIVERTON, UT 84096
USA

...aaaaand.....I am now officially graduated and can join the real world. Phew.

Some exerpts...

2009-06-07T10:15:00.004-06:00

I'm reading Another Roadside Attraction by Tom Robbins, and I have a feeling that this is becoming one of my favorite books ever. Tom Robbins has a way or writing that becomes addicting to read. I'll come upon a few lines in the book that are written so comicly or beautifully or profoundly, that I have to stop and read it three or four times again. I can't stand not talking to someone about how great his writing is, so I figured to satisfy my need to express how much I love this book, I would post some of the great literary moments of the book so far :)

"...the fullness of existence embodies an overwhelmingly intricate balance of defined, ill-defined, un-defined, moving, stopping, dancing, falling, singing, coughing, growing, dying, timeless and time-bound molecules - and the spaces in between."

In this exerpt, he is describing the performance of an old American Indian:

"In the circus arena, lit only by a dry twig fire, the old Apache would commence a performance of calculated frenzy, identifying his bodily rhythms with the historical migrations of his people, recalling both their triumphs and their tribulations, insinuating their glories and humiliations, howling myths in the shadows like a coyote, clacking his peyote-stained teeth like a beaver, arching his back like a mesa, planting his toes like the dawn of agriculture, weeping like a long winter, laughing like the mouth of a river, stalking with his arrowed eyes some unlicensed prey in the faces of the audience. And the audience would sit chilled, bound to the stake of congenital guilt, its thoughts paddling along some quiet piney lake or spurring a pony around the bend of a canyon, all trails however clean and simple leading to the scene of slaughter...and when the drums suddenly froze and the hard mahogany Indian stilled his dance at the summit of its demonic power to shriek in perfect magpie Trickster, to scream in flawless American, "Hi'niswa'vita'ki'ni" - "We shall live again!" - the stoutest of mechanics coughed nervously and children and women were known to pee in their pants."

And finally...one of the main characters is inspired by her husband's rhythmic drumming...

"The whole universe is a complex of rhythms. We each of us feel a need to identify our bodily rhythms with those of the cosmos. The sea is the grand agency of rhythm. The grain-tops in the wind, the atoms in orbit are rhythmic. The uterus, which is a strong muscular organ, contracts with the birth of the baby. Actions, like sounds, divide the flow of time into beats. The majority of our actions occur regularly, lack dynamism and are unaccentuated. But occasional actions are accentuated due to their intensified stress. The quality of man's life depends upon the rhythmic structure he is able to impose upon the input and output of energy."

Quote + Pic

2009-06-05T17:26:00.003-06:00

For graduation, my cousin Stephaney and family gave me a beautiful Amaryllis bulb (or is it Amarylith??) You wouldn't believe how quickly this flower grows...it probably grew about 1-2 inches a day since we put it into water. We had no idea what it would look like so it's been fun watching it grow and bloom...it's so pretty!

“I believe in nothing, everything is sacred. I believe in everything, nothing is sacred.”

-Tom Robbins

Vonnegut Addict

2009-06-03T08:43:00.003-06:00

I just finished reading Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut as recommended by Anthony, and I absolutely loved it. It's Vonnegut's commentary on..well...almost everything, but mainly on evolution, society and humans with our "big brains" and how much trouble they cause us :D It follows the events that happen on a "Nature Cruise of the Century" in 1986 that eventually lead to the ability for humans to continue evolving 1 million years after that...and you wouldn't believe what we evolve into. Here is one of my favorite quotes from the book.

"Mere opinions, in fact, were as likely to govern people's actions as hard evidence, and were subject to sudden reversals as hard evidence could never be. So the Galapagos Islands could be hell in one moment and heaven in the next, and Julius Caesar could be a statesman in one moment and a butcher in the next, and Ecuadorian paper money could be traded for food, shelter, and clothing in one moment and line the bottom of a birdcage in the next, and the universe could be created by God Almighty in one moment and by a big explosion in the next--and on and on."
- Galapagos

...and if that quote doesn't intrigue you...maybe this will?

"(Now, there is a big-brain idea I haven’t heard much about lately: human slavery. How could you ever hold somebody in bondage with nothing but your flippers and your mouth?)"

-Galapagos

Not all who wander are lost...

2009-05-17T10:39:00.004-06:00

See that point at the top? That's our destination...

Um...I'm not posing. This is just how I stand naturally.
Yeah...this is how Brandon smiles naturally too.

I don't really get this picture. I don't get why I'm the leaning tower of Danielle. Whatev.

Hmmm? I'm missing a sock? Hmm. I wonder where that went.

Oh, one more thing, we went to Marysvale to stain Mom and Dad's shed, picnic tables, etc. and Chica had another fabulous find. Yep. Another deer leg.

BTW, I wasn't done posting about my graduation. I mean gradutation. I mean Temily. I mean Delphinium.

2009-05-11T21:26:00.006-06:00

I know that post title meant pretty much nothing to most of you. But ONE of you found it hilarious and is giggling at your computer right now. That is until you get distracted by something sparkley on your computer desk. Ahem. Attention please Temily. Heeeeee. Ha.

Anyway, here are some more pics of graduation day.

Here are three of my awesome professors!

Of course we had to have a miniature model shoot in our gowns...

This one is my personal favorite. I mean...wow.

Is my sister beautiful...or is she beautiful?

Good thing there are only TWO crazy Llanos girls.

Best friends...best sisters :)

Tata y yo

We're...too sexy for this catwalk.

Me, Mom and Dave...thanks for the flowers Dave!

Mike and Bwandon...the proud spouses

My Aunt Khaki and Uncle Edweirdo :)...and Cass!

My parents and Tam and Dave gave me this gorgeous wine chiller...I love it!!

Cheers!

And it came to pass that I graduated. And it was good.

2009-05-10T20:43:00.007-06:00

It was a happy day!

Graduation day was so amazing. It felt surreal and incredible to have my family and friends celebrating all day! I missed the Oregonian family but we will see each other soon enough :) I'm excited to join the real world and continue my path towards becoming an architect. Thank you everyone for your support while I was a crazy college student trying to juggle work and school. Thank you Brandon for being amazing as usual...I promise now I can do more dishes :) I love you. These pictures are all out of order and I'm not going to arrange them in order. Hmph.

We were treated to some tunes by the dudes.

Auntie Joan and my cousin Bridgette...they brought me some wine, cheese and tequila. Do they know me, or do they KNOW me? :)

Brandon, Dave and cousin Frank...also a recent graduate!

Mom and Dad - they are amazing :)

Tata - I'm a little teary because we were thinking of our sweet Nani

Brittany and I

Los tres mujeres

Joan, Bridgette, Stephaney and the kids , Penny and Frank came to celebrate!

Mom and Vicky treated us to their favorite childhood song...with actions and all :)

Thank you Mike, Emily, Hunter, Corrine and Elayna for the beautiful flowers!!

Thanks Tami-poo for playing the banjo! I love it!

My beautiful Mom

Making a wish...

Mike and I

My favorite quote ever + Photo(s) of the Week

2009-05-09T16:17:00.001-06:00

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."
~Hendry David Thoreau

Does it get any better than this?

2009-05-03T18:13:00.003-06:00

This weekend has been amazing. Nothing to do but relax and do things around the house. We had a fabulous dinner while it was thunderstorming outside and I was able to get inspired enough to write a song too. Ahhhh....great weekend.

I don't know why I feel the urge to take pictures of our dinner sometimes, but seriously?! Does it get any better than this? BBQ'd salmon, brown rice and authentic Chilean pebre (or peude or peda or pude depending on who you ask). So yummy. Not to mention topping it off with a pre-dinner shot of tequila. Or two. Or maybe three :)

Chica is spoiled enough to have enjoyed some of the salmon feast as well :)

Brandon modeling his milk - please notice the pinky raise.

Quote(s) + Photo of the Week

2009-04-28T20:34:00.002-06:00

Photo: May 2007 The Reichstag, Berlin

So...as I graduate and move back into the land of the living, I have been so excited to do normal things. You know, like cooking dinner. Doing the dishes. Cleaning a closet. Taking Chica for a walk. Getting my hair done. Chatting with a neighbor. Going to work. Washing the car. Reading a book for no other reason but that I WANT to. Ahhhhhhhh. I just can't wait to feel like a normal person again. So, my first thing on my agenda of things to do is to go buy some books that I have been dying to read. One of my favorite authors to date is Kurt Vonnegut and my next read will be Galapagos as recommended by my big bro Antonio. To get back into the Vonnegut frame of mind, I googled some of his greatest quotes and they reminded me why I love him so much. I thought I'd share a few....

"Say what you will about the sweet miracle of unquestioning faith, I consider a capacity for it terrifying and absolutely vile!"—Mother Night, 1961

"I want to stay as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can't see from the center."—Player Piano, 1952

“Just because some of us can read and write and do a little math, that doesn't mean we deserve to conquer the universe.”—Hocus Pocus, 1990

"I thought scientists were going to find out exactly how everything worked, and then make it work better. I fully expected that by the time I was twenty-one, some scientist, maybe my brother, would have taken a color photograph of God Almighty—and sold it to Popular Mechanics magazine. Scientific truth was going to make us so happy and comfortable. What actually happened when I was twenty-one was that we dropped scientific truth on Hiroshima."—Bennington College address, 1970

"Artists use frauds to make human beings seem more wonderful than they really are. Dancers show us human beings who move much more gracefully than human beings really move. Films and books and plays show us people talking much more entertainingly than people really talk, make paltry human enterprises seem important. Singers and musicians show us human beings making sounds far more lovely than human beings really make. Architects give us temples in which something marvelous is obviously going on. Actually, practically nothing is going on."—"When I Was Twenty-One," Wampeters, Foma and Granfalloons, 1974

"I was taught that the human brain was the crowning glory of evolution so far, but I think it's a very poor scheme for survival."—quoted in The Observer, December 27, 1987

Sloppy Seconds...

2009-04-23T20:46:00.002-06:00

Okay, so Brittany totally beat me to the punch on a post dedicated to our friendship...but I had to respond to her post. Brittany and I met in 8th grade and then lost touch but have become the best of friends since we both started the architecture program seven years ago. We have been able to go on so many fun trips together for school in that time...New York, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, New Orleans, Butte (haha) and Zions. We have the best time together and can completely be ourselves. Isn't that what makes a great friend? Someone who you can say whatever is on your mind and trust that they will listen without judging you and will be honest with you. We have the best times together...and we've gone through some very stressful times together in school. Can you believe it's over Brittany?? Seven years?! Wow. I can't imagine what it would've been like without such a great friend. You are a passionate and incredible woman...I'm priveleged to call you my friend. Thanks for your friendship and for all of the support through school. I love you!

Cheers to our graduation!!!!!!!

"The friend is the [wo]man who knows all about you, and still likes you." ~Elbert Hubbard, The Notebook, 1927

Exhale.

2009-04-20T12:58:00.003-06:00

Presenting my Thesis to architects from around the country....

....and my celebratory cartwheel in the grass. Yay!

Querida Nani, Te queremos mucho.

2009-04-15T10:55:00.004-06:00

Tata y Cassidy

Amor Eterno

We each placed an individual rose on the casket to say goodbye to Nani.

Pallbearers

Grandma explaining to the grandkiddies how Nani will be buried.

A beautiful spring day in tribute to Nani.

The Portland Clan

Amanda and Emily

It's hard to say goodbye...te quiero cincuenta mas Nani.

"Where there is love there is life."

~Mohandas K. Gandhi

A Celebration of Life

2009-04-09T16:22:00.000-06:00

We will be celebrating the life of Maria Ines Briceno Llanos on Monday, April 13th at the LDS Church located in Riverton at approx. 12476 S 2700 W.

An open gathering of family and friends begins at 10 a.m. Please pass along the information to all who knew and loved Maria (Nani) ♥

Nani

2009-04-07T16:30:00.004-06:00

I love you Nani. More than I could have ever expressed to you.
You are beautiful.
You have an amazing passion for life.
You have lived a long and perfect life.
Thank you for my beautiful mother.
Your life is an inspiration to me.
I will miss you.

Te quiero cinquenta mas.
~Nanelle

Two weeks to go on my thesis project...

2009-04-03T12:19:00.002-06:00

Photo: Site for my Thesis project in Springdale, Utah

"Emptiness in the desert is the fullness of space, a fullness of space that eliminates time. The desert is time, exposed time, geologic time. One needs time in the desert to see. "

~Terry Tempest Williams

An Unexpected Reunion

2009-03-31T16:33:00.008-06:00

Last week, Anthony, Michael and their families all came to Utah to visit Nani who is struggling more and more with her illness. It was an unexpected visit and came pretty quickly but it was so great to have everyone together for a few days. I don't have pictures yet of our time spent with Nani and Tata but I will post them as soon as I do! We spent the day talking and laughing with Nani and singing to her with our guitars. It was bittersweet and memorable.

We headed off to the "prop" for the weekend and had a great time with a BEAUTIFUL springy day. Here are some pics of our weekend together.

Um...these next pictures don't need much of an explanation. Duh.

Beautiful girls!

Amanda

Hunter

Tyler

Emily

Corrine

The birthday kiddos!

Mamacita and sisters

Run Daisy Run!

Cass and Grandma

Woo!

Guitar @ the campfire

Paisley Rose

Elayna Rae

Bman

A thought.

2009-03-11T18:52:00.002-06:00

Lately, I've been so so stressed out with everything. Everything just adds up to one big stress attack - I'm in my final semester of grad school, the economy sucks, my employer is not doing very well, I might get laid off, money is tight, my Nani isn't doing very well, etc. etc. etc. All of this stress lately has helped me come to realize how important the "little things" are. I start stressing about something as trivial as money or school - but then I look at the beautiful mountains or think about spending some quality time with Bwandon and everything else just gets pushed into perspective. What is life REALLY all about? Bank accounts? Thesis projects? Government? Or is it about love...happiness...family...friends...laughter...good food...good talks...great experiences. Take a deep breath. Look to nature. Life is good.

Livin' off the Lan'

2009-03-08T18:03:00.002-06:00

Last night Brandon and I treated ourselves to some delicious Coues Deer steak supplied by
my big bro Michael. Mom usually loads us up with food when we leave the prop and we are always excited when she gives us some of Michael's meat from his hunts. You would be so proud Mike, we cooked it just the way you did last year with the saltine crackers and rasberry preserves. It was sooo delicioso...thanks for sharing your hard-earned grub :)

Quote + Photo

2009-03-07T11:30:00.004-07:00

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

- Howard Thurman

Photo: Rock Art on the river in Zurich, Switzerland

Yes, it was girl's night again...

2009-03-02T12:44:00.005-07:00

...and it was a blast as usual :)

I always dance in my seat like it's nobody's business...this time I must've REALLY been shaking it because the backs of my knees are totally bruised from bumping against the chair. Not even kidding....I guess next time I'll just have to stand the whole time and dance :)

Mmmmmm

2009-02-15T17:09:00.002-07:00

For V-Day, Brandon and I have an understanding that NO GIFTS are expected and are, in fact, frowned upon. Instead, we prepared this gourmet meal together and savored EVERY LAST BITE. It was mmm mm mmmmm good. I thought I'd share the recipe since your mouth is probably watering right now after seeing my awesome food photography skills.

First, cut baguette into 1/2 inch slices and toast on grill or in oven for a few minutes. Cut a garlic clove in half and rub one side of each toast slice with garlic. Brush with olive oil. Top toast slices with the following mixtures (separately).

Tuscan White-Bean Bruschetta

1 can white kidney beans rinsed and drained

1 T fresh lemon juice

1 tsp. minced fresh sage

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 T olive oil

3 tsp. minced fresh parsley

Lightly mash beans with all ingredients and save some parsley for garnish.

Goat Cheese + Tomato Bruschetta (this was our fave)

1 package (5.5 oz) soft mild goat cheese

1 tsp minced fresh oregano

1/4 tsp black pepper

Mix first three ingredients together in small bowl.

2 ripe tomatoes, seeded, chopped.

1/8 tsp salt

1 T olive oil

2 tsp minced fresh parsley

Mix last four ingredients together.

Spread cheese mixture on to garlic-rubbed side of toast and top with tomato mixture. Garnish with remaining parsley.

Chef B preparing the steaks.

Heehoohaa

2009-02-14T10:11:00.001-07:00

Emily's recent post totally made me think of these posters I saw one day....

Make Yourself at Home

Drink Coffee

Well-Behaved Women

Passionately Curious. This isn't what it sounds like...

2009-02-08T09:55:00.002-07:00

Photo: Yellowstone 2007

"I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious."

-Albert Einstein

I love this quote because I once remember my Dad telling me, "The majority of people in the world will only give about 50% effort into what they do. If you are willing to give 100% or even more, imagine what you can accomplish." After 6 years of college, I've discovered this is SO true. So many people expect some other authority to tell them what needs to be done or give them a pamphlet listing the step by step directions to a successful career. (...and sadly, many professors fall into the 50% category too) Those who have a passion and are willing to investigate and push themselves as far as they can go are those who truly get somewhere and seem satisfied with the final product. I'll admit that I fall into the less than 100% effort category when it comes to things like Law for Architects (sorry Anthony)...but I truly try to always push myself beyond what would usually be expected or accomplished. I'm comparing this to school...but this is all true in any situation. I hope that in life, we are all remembered as being "passionately curious"....

B and D

2009-02-02T09:39:00.002-07:00

Chica

2009-01-31T19:42:00.001-07:00

We took Chica to Katie Torriente photography for a free photo shoot and here are some of her shots...

She's not as innocent as she looks...believe me. Isn't this a great picture??
Thanks Katie!

B-Man

2009-01-24T12:45:00.002-07:00

Lately, this has been Brandon's attire around the house. I had to take a picture so you could all enjoy it.
He got this fishing hat from my Dad for Christmas and is so excited for Spring to come so he can really use it...in the meantime, this is how it's getting broken in. As far as the robe and his pose...no comment

Oooh...it was a good one...

2009-01-19T10:40:00.006-07:00

We saw The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons last night and I thought it was such a powerful and thought provoking story. A tearjerker too. Here are two of my favorite quotes from the movie.

"For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again. "

"I wanna remember us just as we are now. "
-Benjamin Buttons

B & D @ Rockaway

Quote o'the Week

2009-01-16T12:52:00.002-07:00

Brandon canyoneering in Shinnanigans.

"I don't wanna die without any scars."

-Tyler Durden

Fight Club

(One of our fave movies)

Oh...we'll miss you Georgie.

2009-01-12T20:05:00.004-07:00

"Sometimes you misunderestimated me."

-George W. Bush

During his last press conference 1.12.09

Um...misunderestimated you? Wait...don't you mean we OVERestimated you? I'm confused. I think he's confused. I'll always remember Dubya as the president who added many new words and variations on existing words to the Engilsh dictionary during his presidency. Um...thanks?

Sunflower Farmer's Market

2009-01-12T19:46:00.003-07:00

Okay, so a few months ago, Brandon and I decided to really start paying attention to what we put into our bodies. We started looking at the ingredients on things that we buy at the grocery store to check for things like high fructose corn syrup or msg (both of which cannot be digested very well by your body and get stored as fat or block other nutrients from being absorbed). We couldn't believe it!!! Our bread, yogurt, meat marinades, etc. all had high fructose corn syrup as the second or third ingredient.

Dis-gus-ting.

So, we've been buying the products that have ingredients that we can actually understand.

My BFF Britt told me about a store called Sunflower Farmer's Market nearby so I went shopping there and I loved it! I'm so excited! Not only do they carry products that don't contain high fructose corn syrup, but their apples actually looked like apples. You know...the kind that you pick off of a tree? That might have a little brown speck or two? One that is not polished so that you can see your face reflecting in the waxy film that covers the skin? All of the meat they sell is antibiotic/hormone free and from companies who treat their animals humanely.

The next best thing would be to have an entire elk in the freezer like Mike and Em...but we don't have that just yet, so this will have to do. :) The eggs/chicken products are also hormone/antibiotic free and from cage free chickens. Yay! I was just so excited today. We just ate a dinner that was completely organic and it was delicioso.

Just imagine if we all would pay a little extra for organic/real food and support companies who care a little about the effect their business has on the environment...then maybe every other company that doesn't would have to follow!

Oh...p.s. one of the things we found that had high fructose syrup? Our HALF AND HALF!! Wtf?

From John to Me to You...

2009-01-07T21:10:00.008-07:00

Switzerland

“You are all geniuses, and you are all beautiful. You don't need anyone to tell you who you are. You are what you are. Get out there and get peace, think peace, live peace, and breathe peace, and you'll get it as soon as you like.”

-John Lennon

Something new to do...

2009-01-01T18:44:00.005-07:00

When we took our usual trip to the antique store "The Wooden Nickel" in Marysvale over the Christmas holiday, I immediately fell in love with an easel that was for sale. I've always been intimidated by a paintbrush but I've always wanted to learn how to paint. So, I took the easel as a sign and bought it with some beginner paint supplies to explore a new hobby...

Here's my "artistic interpretation" of the Salt Flats sunrise. I can't wait until I have more free time after school so I can take some classes!

2009

2009-01-01T12:46:00.009-07:00

I wish everyone a happy and healthy year in 2009!!!

Happy Beer

Self Portrait w/B-man

Huh?

A night out is never truly a night out until Brandon does the robot.

Sisters

Hats and more hats

By request of the piano players, Mike went up to do a little booty-shaking on stage. Oh..don't worry, there's more to come at the end of the post.

Um.....huh?

Greg (Liz's boyfriend) modeled little furniture at the table out of his champagne bottle....wow!

Then Jim put his chicken wing on a miniature table and pretended to eat it. Silly Jimmy.

2-0-0-9

Um...Jeannie?! What are you taking a picture of?! I never found out.

I think our waitress had a little crush on Brandon. She kept bringing him free drinks. Saaweet!

Liz!

Brandon is...um...(I think dancing?) next to Dave

Jeannie and Jim

Peace in '09

Daveed

Midnight Kiss

On Facebook, my friend Mike set his status to "Mike is resolving to live life with fewer inhibitions in '09. :)." Well, here's proof that he wasn't kidding :)

When we were waiting to jump on Trax after the party, we were pleasantly entertained by these two gentlemen. I was laughing so hard I think I might have peed a little in my pants. It was totally worth it.

My new favorite song...

2008-12-30T12:07:00.002-07:00

Here is my new favorite song...written and performed by my big bro Antonio on his new ukulele...check it out.

grow from anthony burrell on Vimeo.

Christmas in Paradise

2008-12-29T17:37:00.010-07:00

We had so much fun in Marysvale for Christmas! We spent six days there and the time still flew by.

Grandma and Cass making a gingerbread house...sort of.
Brandon and Dave doing dishes. Um...yeah.

Brandon and Dave hiked all the way up to the mine to sled down and couldn't get the sled to go since the snow was so deep....dang it!

So they hiked down...

Yes, I can be sexy even when I'm shoveling.

Cassidy made the cutest game for us to play around the table after lunch...the Game of Niceness. We had to say something nice about the person's name that we drew.

Brandon and Dave entertained themselves for hours with their homemade kneeboard/sled thing and the fourwheeler.

Dad helped us out by plowing down a hill so we could sled down it...

Cassafrass and Aunt Dani

Go Tammi!

Here I am being very serious with my guitar, Tamara doing some foot stompin' with her banjo and Brandon being sexy with his mandolin. Word.

Ahhh..nothing better than the hot tub...under the stars...while it's snowing.

Tamara gave me the coolest looking globe...I love it!

Bwandon, we know!

Chica, Cass and Tamara

Christmas Dinner

Sitting down for some prime rib...mmmmmm. Eventhough we're all not showing it, we're really as excited as Brandon is. Really.
Look at this delicious salad that Tam and Dave made! Thanks Brittany for the deliciousness recipe.

Hot Chocolate.

Mom with her prime rib masterpiece dinner.

Um...I can explain. Hmmm? I have slobber on my chin? Yes. I do. Because we went flying down this hill on a sled (Mom, Tamara and I) and I was in the front and had snow spraying in my face the whole way down. My face was numb. And I was laughing hysterically. My eyes felt frozen shut. And I was slobbering. Can we not talk about it anymore? Thanks.

Mom Tamara and I sledding

Dave getting pulled off a jump

B-Man getting pulled off a jump

Sugarplum Fairy

2008-12-20T21:43:00.006-07:00

We went to Cassidy's Christmas dance recital the other night and she did a great job! She was so excited and it was so fun to see her. Afterwards we went out for ice cream at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory...way to go Cassafrass!

At the ice cream place, Cassidy started showing Brandon some moves. Check it out.

Winter Wonderland

2008-12-18T11:11:00.003-07:00

Chica was begging and begging to go for a walk today although it's a blizzard outside...so I decided to take her - but not without the camera to capture her jumping through the snow that pretty much went over her head!

We have to speak in code around Chica because she's too smart and discovers the meanings of words really quickly. We have to spell out w-a-l-k or p-r-o-p (mom and dad's house) or else she gets so excited and if we're not going that minute, it's too sad to see her let down. So, we feed her peanut butter sometimes as a special treat but we call it PB because she knows the words. Last night Brandon said "I think she wants some PB" and she got super excited. She figured it out!!! Smart dog. Hmmm...what can we say for peanut butter now??

Uno mas...

2008-12-16T10:14:00.003-07:00

Okay, now for one more great experience that I have had. For my Visual Communications class, I had to visit a place and sit quietly, being present in the moment, sketch, write and photograph. I chose Muir Woods near San Francisco and it was one moment that I have never felt so close to nature. It was truly humbling. Here is a bit of what I wrote....

After walking the trail that led me to this place, I sit down on the soil and lean back against the trunk of an enormous redwood tree. The earth feels heavy beneath me. The air surrounding me is filled with moisture and is silent. I cannot comprehend how deep the roots must go and how many twists and turns the must have made to hold up this forest. Everything around me is grounded. It makes me feel grounded. I continually tilt my head back and lift my chin to look up the trunks of the trees and into the beautiful canopy of leaves above me. Each time I physically lift my head, I feel something internally bowing down to the ancient lives that surround me. I feel as though I have stumbled upon a great meeting of my ancient ancestors, standing together and discussing silently the wisdom of the ages. I try to listen.

Moments that define who we are....

2008-12-15T19:25:00.006-07:00

I've been thinking about how each individual is uniquely shaped by their experiences in life. I began to wonder what experiences have made me the person I am. I've touched on this a little before in a past post and I thought of another moment that I think of often. It's so important that we recognize the experiences in our lives that are life-changing. If we are truly present in the moment, I believe these moments can happen daily. Something as simple as a sunrise or child's smile can inspire anyone...we just have to be open to realizing the beauty of it.

“Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Here's a picture from Alcatraz when Dave, Tam, Brandon and I went canyoneering. This image is taken right at that moment when you have to lay on your stomach on the edge of a 160' cliff, swing your legs around behind you and trust your gear to hold you as you slip over the edge and let gravity pull you the rest of the way over. It was probably one of the scariest moments of my life but I have never been so proud. It's so exhilarating. The view was breathtaking. This was my first rapel ever!! Anytime that I feel a little nervous about something that I have to tackle, I think of this moment, and I can have confidence that when I make a decision to do something, as long as I give my full effort, then the universe will conspire to make it happen. ;)

Perigee

2008-12-13T10:11:00.006-07:00

No, this is not a word that I made up. Perigee is what happened last night. The moon was it's fullest and brightest that it ever is from our view on Earth. You know how weird things happen when there's a full moon? Like women having babies and crazy people robbing stores and stuff like that? Well, last night, it caused a group of us to gather together at Meag and Sean's house while wearing horrible Christmas sweaters. It's amazing what the full moon brings out in us.

Please notice the wing sleeves on my sweater and the beautiful pattern on Brittany's. Also the nicely detailed teddy bear on Mike's.Oh...what...this? This is what I call a turtleneck.

A nice touch is buying a sweater two sizes too small.

Here we are trying to be sexy....and not succeeding.

Here's Dave trying to be sexy...and succeeding exceedingly well. Rar.

The handmade sweaters were really a nice touch...

As hard as they try, they just don't look as manly wearing penguins and pearls...heehee

Tam and Meag

You can never go wrong with a nice sweater vest.

And if the sweater is just horrible enough...why wear anything else?

The scrunchie is a really nice touch.

I think Mike takes the award for the ugliest shirt. Check out the neckline...it's breathtaking.

And what is a Horrible Christmas Sweater Party without a little dancing?

It was a fun night and I think Meag and Sean have really started a great tradition with this one :)

Doesn't he just make you wanna?

2008-12-08T20:39:00.006-07:00

Doesn't he? Okay, I totally stole that line from my BFF Emily. Just in case you were wondering, I totally meant to link only part of her name. I'm cool like that. Anyway, I couldn't think of anything better and she just has the literary talent to come up with phrases like that one. This is mi esposo and sometimes I find random pictures of him on our camera. So, I'll repeat myself, doesn't he just make you wanna??

I sometimes wonder. What's going through that beautiful brain of his when he does these little photo shoots? I guess we'll never know. We'll never know.

Obama-nation!

2008-12-07T10:36:00.001-07:00

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

A thought about the seasons...

2008-12-06T16:53:00.004-07:00

"Spring passes and one remembers one's innocence. Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance. Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence. Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance."

-Yoko Ono

Photo: May 2007. The Great Wall of Berlin.

Okay, so this is my mood NOW...

2008-12-04T20:34:00.002-07:00

I just found out that for my Final Studio next semester, I get to be a part of a studio that designs a winery in Springdale, Utah (the town right next to Zion's National Park). Wahoo! Well, it's all pretend of course, but I can't wait to get started. What a great final project to officially graduate with! I'm super excited. Not only did I get my first pick for the studio, but I have my three BFF's in the class with me...Brittany, Mike and Dallas. We will have so much fun in our last semester together in the architecture building - it really has been our second home for the last four years. Oh, how I'll miss it. NOT. Okay, maybe a little. But not really. Just a tad. Now for a glass of wine to celebrate...

So...this is my mood right now...

2008-12-02T11:23:00.004-07:00

"If you're in a war, instead of throwing a hand grenade at the enemy, throw one of those small pumpkins. Maybe it'll make everyone think how stupid war is, and while they are thinking, you can throw a real grenade at them."

-Jack Handey

I don't know if I'm just sick and tired of school and tests. Or if it's just that time of the month. Or if I'm getting sick ( I think I am). Or if it's a combination of all of these. I think this picture captures my mood right now. Bleh. Meh. Puh.

A Thanksgiving Wish From B & D

2008-11-27T14:47:00.003-07:00

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we dont have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have."

-Frederick Koenig

I am so thankful for all of you...my friends and family. I hope that everyone has a cozy and yummy Thanksgiving filled with love and laughter. I love this time of year!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

More pics from the Salt Flats...

2008-11-21T17:15:00.002-07:00

"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known."

-Carl Sagan

Bachelor's Degree: $$$ Master's Degree: $$$$$. An Education: Priceless.

2008-11-20T09:08:00.006-07:00

"Don't let schooling interfere with your education."

-Mark Twain

Oh...this is so true. Lately I've really come to realize that school is so much more a rite of passage than anything else. Especially graduate school. They increase the tuition? For what? It's the same professors and the same building. It's so lame. Don't get me wrong, I've learned an INCREDIBLE amount while in school, but so many people depend on a "college" education to learn rather than viewing their entire life as a chance to be educated about everything. I've been a little melancholic thinking about school being over. I feel like the Architecture building and all of the students are a second home. I'll miss it, but it's always nice to know that the learning never stops :)

This photo is a flashback to my trip to Germany in 2007...one of the greatest learning experiences of my life!