Just a minute... in December

Reading... blogs, lots and lots of blogs. And also Pride and Prejudice.

Drinking... Lots of hot chocolate. Yum. And water. I don't usually drink enough.

Listening... Devotchka... so good.

Wanting... to move into a new place... possibly in a new state.

Watching... Roman Holiday and Harvey. Isn't Jimmy Stewart a genius?

Loving... New opportunities!

Promising... Nothing. (But trying for everything)

You can visit August Street to find out how to join in the Just A Minute meme.

photo credit

thank you thank you

One more Christmas-y post because I'm so grateful. I got some really thoughtful presents from family and friends but I also got gift certificates. I getting LOVE gift certificates. I know a lot of people say they're impersonal or boring but not me!

You see if you give me a gift certificate you are really giving me TWO gifts - whatever I purchase AND the gift of shopping. And I'm sure you've figured out by now that I am rather fond of shopping.

I got a gift card to Anthropologie - YAY! These items are at the top of the list:

This stripey top, these pretty clothbound books: Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice and this gorgeous book.

And I really, reeeeally want this camera. Like I need another camera ...

And I also got a gift certificate for Southwest Airlines. I didn't know you could do that! So awesome. Another trip to Utah is in order.

Thanks for a wonderful Christmas! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas too. xo


(ps - someone asked me what I got Harlow for Christmas. I'll tell you but it's not much of a gift - she's getting spayed. :( Poor baby. But I am not ready to be a grandmother. Don't worry she'll get lots of love and kisses too.)

photo found via just be splendid

last day of primary

This was my last Sunday with my Primary class. Next week I'll have a new class and I'm excited but I am going to miss the ones I've had. One of them asked me as we were leaving, "You'll still be my friend, right?" Of course I will. As a special treat on Saturday I ordered some mini red velvet cupcakes from Crushcakes for them to take home after class.



But this is the cute part.

After our lesson I told them they could have a few minutes free drawing time. They could draw anything they wanted. This is what I got:





The last one is of the temple. And the sweet girl who gave to me asked if I'd invite her to my wedding when I got married. So cute.

What a great Sunday! What did you do?

1st photo

Christmas + new app

Christmas is very big when you are very small. I would have taken pics of people but we were mostly in jammies and Harlow is cuter anyway.

I took these using the Hipstamatic application for iPhone. I kinda like it!

Did you have a good Christmas too?

christmas morning stroll

It's very chilly out but now Harlow is sleeping in my lap while I finish up wrapping gifts.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.

Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son—of the Father because of me, and of the Son because of my flesh. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given

And it came to pass that the words which came unto Nephi were fulfilled, according as they had been spoken; for behold, at the going down of the sun there was no darkness; and the people began to be astonished because there was no darkness when the night came...

And they began to know that the Son of God must shortly appear; yea, in fine, all the people upon the face of the whole earth from the west to the east, both in the land north and in the land south, were so exceedingly astonished that they fell to the earth.

For they knew that the prophets had testified of these things for many years, and that the sign which had been given was already at hand...

And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was mid-day. And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again, according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born, because of the sign which had been given.

And it had come to pass, yea, all things, every whit, according to the words of the prophets.

And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word.

(scriptures)

bad blogger

I have totally neglected my blog. I don't even know why. I guess I've just been a busy little bee.

Yesterday while walking Harlow I was also writing little letters in my head.

Dear Harlow,
I'm sorry my aim is so bad when throwing your toys - I promise I'm not aiming for your sweet little noggin.

Dear heater,
Is there a reason you work in every room in the house but mine? I'm getting chilly!

Dear Primary kiddies,
I am SO sad this year is ending and we are splitting up. I am going to miss you a lot.

Dear blogger/twitter friends,
Thanks for making the work day fly by!

Dear friends having babies,
I am SO happy for you! I can't wait to meet your little ones.

Dear un-done laundry,
You are becoming a permanent fixture in my room. I'm only one person, how can this be?

Dear Utah friends,
I miss you a lot. A LOT.

Dear California weather,
I love you. A LOT.

Dear self,
Relax, it's almost Christmas!

Love, Vanessa

photo credit

Waiting for Sophie

I don't quite remember how I found Shana Rae's photostream- I think it was probably this photo - "My First Love" but her beautiful photos lead me to her blog - "Waiting for Sophie" and I was touched. Her blog starts off describing the process of waiting to adopt their darling Sophie Lu from China. When they started the process they knew her name would be Sophie... and they waited.

While I was home sick a few weeks ago I was reading old posts on their blog and was moved by the love in each post and photo. How wonderful. Every child should be so loved.

My favorite recent post is Sophie's Christmas wishlist.



Photo credit: Shana Rae

Oui oui mon Paris!

I'm guest blogging today!

You'll find me over at HiP Paris (the blog for Haven in Paris ). I got to blog about one of my favorite books written by one of my favorite bloggers and of course it was about one of my favorite cities.

Photo credit: Pia Jane Bijkerk

Breathings of your heart

One of the most inspiring bloggers and photographers I've found is Pia Jane Bijkerk. I am always moved by her writing and photographs and adventures. If you haven't already you should take a minute and explore her blog house and I'm certain you will be enchanted with her world.

One of my favorite posts was when she did a self portrait. My first thought was "how brave". And then in her own special way she decorated her "self" with ribbons and a feather or two.




“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.”
William Wadsworth Longfellow

all images belong to Pia

Christmas card exchange

One of my favorite things about Christmas is exchanging cards. First I love getting mail and second I love sending mail. Also, I love each of you for stop by and taking the time to comment.

So if you would like a Christmas card I'd love to send you one. Just send me a little note with your address to joiebutter @ gmail.com (if you're not already on my list.) I can't promise anything handmade but it will be cute and maybe I'll through in something extra.

Yay for the holidays!

photo credit: jen gotch

gift guide under $25

I had so much fun "shopping" for the fist gift guide I decided to do a second.


A pair of beautifully simple earrings ($24)


The most amazing, unscented hand cream ($15.50)


A fun treat like chocolate covered corn nuts. ($15)


I love this one-line-a-day journal. ($11.53)


I Love Macarons ($14.95)

I LOVE this Come Along Weekly Planner ($16)


Darling little laboratory flower vases ($14)


Keep Calm bandages ($8)

What's on your wishlist?

imperfections

"When the Japanese mend broken objects, they aggrandize the damage by filling the cracks with gold. They believe that when something's suffered damage and has a history it becomes more beautiful."
Barbara Bloom

What a beautiful idea. I think that's maybe why I love taking Polaroids so much. Sometimes the film gets stuck, or you get funny light spots, or the image doesn't develop all the way... and that is what I love most. There are lots of happy little accidents. Thank you Polaroid for teaching me to love the imperfections.

Do you love imperfections too?



photo credit

Decisions

"People are never more insecure than when they become obsessed with their fears at the expense of their dreams."
Norman Cousins

I'm so ready for 2010. No offense 2009 but I'm washing my hands of you. You were a tricky little year and I fear that in many cases you got your way. But it's okay because 2010 has promised to be full of opportunity, inspiration and adventure. I trust you 2010.

This next year is going to be decision making time in quite a few aspects of my life. Oh decisions... and choices... I'm not so good at them

But this got me thinking about the decisions I've made that I'm proud of and have not regretted or second guessed. What made those decisions easy? They were the decisions that were 100% mine. It was when I was doing what I knew in my heart I wanted to do. Not what I thought I should be doing, not what my friends were necessarily doing, and not what was always the easiest or most practical.

When I was 19 I left home for the first time to live in the UK for a year. Why? Because I'd become obsessed with The Real World London reruns. I wasn't worried about whether it was normal to leave the country for a year after high school or that most of my friends were sticking around home, and it never occurred to me that it might be a "waste of time".

There are other examples of course: switching jobs, the decision to be baptized, leaving California to go to BYU, moving back to London the second time, getting a puppy, and the decision to go on a mission to name a few.

Maybe I'm not so bad at making desicions when I listen to my heart and to my Heavenly Father.

I need to remember that this year.

Photo via Pia Jane Bijkerk - she hit the self timer and ran. So awesome. If there is anyone to inspire you to follow your dreams it's Pia.

An Olde Fashioned Christmas

Every year in Los Olivos we have An Olde Fashioned Christmas and it is all kinds of small town cute

I got there late so I didn't get a ton of pics but I did get a before and after of our "tree". And forgive me but I am a wee bit obsessed with luminaries. I love seeing them lit up all over town. Aren't they pretty?

So besides luminaries and the lit up tree on the flag pole there are also delicious buttery, toasted walnuts, warm cups of hot cider, carmeled popcorn and there used to be a bonfire. But the best part I think is the Christmas carols! I must confess that I start singing Christmas carols sometime in September (usually just in the car, don't worry) and don't stop till at least the end of January. I love them. There are singers and music in the park and people passing out words to call the songs and everyone just sings along. Everyone sings. The people in the park and the people all the way down the street walking around. And the only lights are from the twinkle lights on the buildings and the luminaries and the "tree". It's dark and chilly but oh so cozy.

the sun came out for a minute...

... so I ran out side and everything was all sparkly.

Mary Poppins, Farmer's Market and Pinkberry

We saw Mary Poppins in LA and it was great. I have to admit it wasn't my first choice of shows to see but the majority ruled but I take back everything. It was a really fun show!

We also wandered around the Grove and Farmer's Market and of course got some Pinkberry. I highly recommend getting it with pomegranate seeds.

Now back to normal things like work, laundry and all that jazz.

(note:: I still haven't gotten 100% used to my SX-70 camera and sometimes she tricks me but mostly I love her)

Changing the World

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”
Anne Frank

I'm working on a post about an amazing non-profit organization called The Rohde Foundation which is bringing health care to rural Africa. I'm so proud of Jesse and the work he's doing. It truly is changing the world.

weekend!

I am so ready for a weekend. My family and I are going to see Mary Poppins in Los Angeles. I'm pretty excited. Do you think I can sneak Harlow in?

Lots of good stuff this week:

I love Chelsea Fuss's polaroid so much.

Suann found some awesome cookie cutters. I want to make the cookie tree!

A vintage polaroid commercial

Everyone should have these petit Paris calenders, don't you think?

My new music obsession-Devotchka

A beautiful, silly, rockstar thanksgiving

Can you have a crush on food? I think you can if it's truffled mac & cheese...

... or baked egg in cream.

And finally I'm going to spend my honeymoon in a treehouse. I hope my husband doesn't mind.

Have a beautiful weekend!

photo credit

is it worth it? let me work it

"Whenever I feel the need to exercise, I lie down until it goes away."
Jack Handey

I'm changing my ways. Instead of waiting until after all of the holidays to dig out my sneakers and dust off the treadmill I'm getting a head start. But first things first. I need a playlist that will get me through it.

Here are some of my faves:

Superstar

That's Not My Name

(More Bounce) In California

Just Dance

Kung Fu Fighting
(makes me laugh while the sweat stings my eyes)

Womanizer

Pump It
(perfect treadmill song I think)

We Used to Be Friends

So What

Evacuate the Dancefloor

Poker Face

Sugar, We're Going Down

Whew, that's a lot. As always if you like any of these please support the artist by purchasing the song or album.

Now, how do I get my puppy to stop peeing on the treadmill? Maybe that's just her opinion of treadmills... I tend to agree.



photo credit

snow globe envy

I never thought I'd be so obsessed with snow globes but these are amazing.





After looking at Anthropolgie's site I think these are actually just displays but how cute! I want to try and make some. What do you think?

gift guide under $50

I've spent the last several days pulling my hair out trying to figure out what to get for my family members for Christmas. They are hands down the most difficult people to shop for. But thanks to blogger and twitter friends I've found some great goodies. Here you go:


Gorgeous Max Wagner print- Joy ($25)


Awesome metallic zigzag scarf ($29.95)


cute flats ($28)


One of my best friends makes beautiful bracelets and necklaces. Love them. Love her. ($25-$44)


The prettiest polaroid calender ($25)


One of the prettiest stockings I've seen. ($14)
-and made by one of the nicest people I know-


This pretty headband ($23)


I've had my eye on this mug for awhile now. ($14)


Any of CiaoChessa's prints would make a great gift. ($10-$45)


This great made-to-order recycled cotton tote is perfect if you ask me. ($50)

This gift guide looks suspiciously like my wish list. Whoops! But I think all of these would make great gifts for anyone...

even my picky family members. (that I happen to adore)

Happy Shopping! xo

(top image credit)