I HEART REESE WITHERSPOON

I read an interview with Reese Witherspoon in Harper's Bazaar. The images of her were stunning; dresses were all so beautiful. I don't mean to brag, but I'm fairly certain Reese would be friends with me if we ran in the same social circle. And then think of all the fun we'd have playing dress up. And sharing crock pot recipes.

CATCH OF THE DAY!

Yesterday after church Nate and I went over to the lake. He fished and I read a magazine and enjoyed the nice weather. After only 10 minutes of fishing Nate caught his first fish on Oquirrh Lake; measuring in at almost 6", he couldn't have been happier!




















I tried a few casts and didn't see any action {although I almost hooked Nate chillin' on the bank}. With no nibbles, I gave the pole back to Nate so I could go back to reading the chilling interview with Dina Lohan in Harper's Bazaar {she sounds like an idiot}.

Nate and I couldn't believe the crazy diving birds out at the lake; it was so much fun to see them do their thing. Another ten minutes and I was deep into a much better article about Reese Witherspoon {she does not sound like an idiot} when Nate yells, "Tonia I think I caught a bird". I assumed he was lying because who catches birds, right? But sure enough, as he reeled in his line the bird floated closer and closer. I think we both panicked a little wondering what we were going to do when the bird was at shore. On the bank we could see that, luckily, Nate hadn't hooked him; the bird was only tangled in the line. Oh, and the bird was not happy so it kept trying to peck us with its razor sharp beak when we got close to it. Don't worry about the bird, we were able to cut the line in a few different places and it flew off without a hitch.



































Nate did about a dozen more casts and we called it a day. We were unexpectedly sunburned and hungry. And I had read my magazine from cover to cover. Sunday might be my new favorite day.

MEET THE PARENTS!

My parents are great. Both as separate individuals and as a united front. I've said before that my dad is a cowboy and my mom is the woman he was born to love. Though my dad may not always enjoy the unknown {read: driving a rental car to Chicago to visit me}, I think my mom thrives on it so a nice cruise to Alaska would be a great vacation for both of them. I'm quite certain it would be much more difficult for my dad to find his sea legs then his bow-legs, but I know he'd love being in a place more remote and reminiscent of home as he knew it.
Travelzoo has a nice and affordable half-price, seven-night cruise for the nature enthusiast and the woman he was born to love. See more details here.




















p.s. please take me with you. I want to see the ice burgs before they melt the way Al Gore says they will.

THE 75% RULE

Last year I was taking birth control and it made me a crazy person. I really thought my manic behaviors had caught up to me and I was officially losing my mind. As it turns out, it was just the birth control wreaking havoc on my hormones.
I paid a visit to a wellness center in Salt Lake City called "Web of Life" and met with a great Doctor who advised me to stop taking birth control. I did, and I found my mind; it wasn't lost after all but merely confused with all the contrary hormonal signals.
This wise Doctor also introduced me to the 75% rule which may directly conflict with what most of you have been taught. The 75% rule explains that before you do anything {work on a project or go to the gym for example} you decide what 100% would be and only do 75%. Of course this is really only a healthy way to approach life if you are suffering from mental or physical disturbance. If you are on top of the world then you better be giving 150%!
Hooray for the 75% rule! I keep it on my bulletin board at work to remind me to breath and take it easy.

BLOGTONIA

I've been thinking about this idea for a while now. Sitting back and observing some behaviors {in myself and others} has finally pushed me to take this post out of draft and publish it. What got me here is not a new concept or a new set of thoughts so I wouldn't pop any corn if I were you.
I was in church this week and noticed the difficulty that women, in particular, have admitting weaknesses and imperfections {I'm sure men have the same problem}. It's sad really; we are all imperfect in our own way - yet we tend to see ourselves at our worst and everyone else at their best. It's really a trend in most social circles or networks - even the blogosphere.
Bare with me for a moment. I read a handful of blogs pretty regularly. Most are owned by women. All of these women are well accomplished; they cook fabulous meals, keep a spotless home and always look perfect. Oh, and most of them have thriving careers as mothers, artists or business leaders. Or so it seems.
Clemantine has no tag for "disasters" or "things I suck at" or "absolute failures". And why would I want to spend anymore time even thinking about these things? They suck enough when I'm actually going through them; I don't want to come home and share them with the world. Having said that, I think there is real value in understanding that everyone has moments of failure and embarrassment and disappointment. And it helps when we are willing to talk about it.
This is where I come in. I don't think my concept is going to save the world or anything. But it might just help one or two people out there come to grips with their own flaws and be okay with them; they are in such great company, after all.

Let me introduce you to BlogTonia:
My sister recently said to me, "I'm afraid to bring my girls to your house because they might break something." Now, it's important to note that aside from a few pieces of furniture and a rug, my house is empty. There is barely anything but a dish to break. But after reading through my posts, she assumed my house was totally put together, full of many of the expensive things I post about {er, dream of}. Without really thinking much about it, my sister has come to know me as BlogTonia.
BlogTonia is always in a good mood, sees the beauty in everything and everyone. She rarely if ever disagrees with her darling husband and usually has most things under control. Oh, she also moved into a beautiful home and knows exactly how she wants to outfit it. Did I mention she always has fabulous and expensive clothes and rarely worries about anything? Blogging has created lots of perfect women and BlogTonia is one of them.

Meet real Tonia:
Real Tonia often wakes up mean and ready for a good argument. She often wears a white v-neck Hanes undershirt {at least 2X per week} to work and never irons anything. Real Tonia has gained a few pounds so she, in truth, has about five pairs of pants she can fit into, barely. She's not happy about this and it's one of the things that makes her mean. Real Tonia picks at her cuticles, eats chips-n-salsa for dinner when her husband is traveling, currently has a sink full of dishes and wears Chuck Taylors more then just on casual Friday. She forgets people's birthdays, waits until the last minute for everything, and runs consistently at least five minutes late. She puts on sweats the second she gets home, sometimes sleeps with her makeup on and will admit at times to going to bed without brushing her teeth.

Well, anyway, you get the point, right? What I'm trying to explain is that what some of you have come to think is real, isn't. And while I'll probably go on thinking that all those perfect blogging women still exist, I'm bursting my own bubble.

What you can expect from Real Tonia:
BlogTonia will always be there because to write, always, as Real Tonia would put me more in the category of Plath's The Bell Jar and that's just not light lunchtime reading. But Real Tonia will try to be a bit more honest about things. If I try a project and it goes terribly wrong, I'll say so. If I have a mishap or crazy experience, I'll share it. The important thing is that I become a cohort and NOT an unrealistic girl with a house full of breakable things.

Update: What do you think of the idea of Tagging other bloggers to "get real"? Read more here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATE

Nate's birthday BBQ was on Saturday and it was a great success. We had many great friends and family show up which we really appreciate!

Five Things I Love About Nate:
1. Nate's friends are very kind and fun. You can tell a lot about someone by the friends they keep
2. I've noticed, lately, that if I look at Nate when I'm stressed, I feel comforted
3. He's the hardest worker I know
4. He likes to hug people, even if he doesn't know them very well.
5. The way he makes sandwiches

Happy Birthday Lips!

ANNOUNCING HUGO MOSES THOMPSON

Just after midnight on April 21 {Nate's birthday}, little Hugo was born. He's absolutely adorable at nearly 9 lbs and 20" long. He already had a deep, lovely tan and his coif of hair is dark and happened to be very nicely styled when Nate and I visited yesterday.
Ruth, of course, looked perfect with her hair done. I don't know how she does it. The "little taco" {they call him that because he likes to be swaddled really tight} and Mama are going home today. You know when you see a baby that is so pretty you just can't stop staring? Well, that's Hugo for you. I'm truly smitten!

GETTIN' OUR BIGFOOT ON!

If you asked Nate and I where we'll be on May 26-27, SASQUATCH Music Festival is what we'd tell ya! Since Coachella decided to go commericial and sell-out {literally, they sold out early this year}, we're boarding the Rose Family RV and driving it to George, Washington to sit at the Gorge Amphitheater and listen to the likes of the Beastie Boys, Arcade Fire, The Polyphonic Spree, Interpol, Neko Case, Bjork {to name a few}. Oh, yeah, The Dandy Warhols will be there, too. Yipee!
I'm definitely looking forward to hanging with this fun group and seeing a part of the country I've never seen. I wish it was May 25 today!

Not This:


















But This:

THANK YOU KINDLY!

Help us pick a restaurant!

Nate has been working so hard lately doing lots of speaking engagements and presentations in Texas and California. He's such a rockstar! His managers have been great to recognize Nate's hard work and extra efforts which makes it all worthwhile.
After Nate agreed to present at the Gelato ICE Conference yesterday, his manager told him that when he gets back he can take me to dinner at Salt Lake's finest restaurant {on the company, of course}. Now the real question is, where should we go? If you have any recommendations, please put in the comments section. We think we'll go the last weekend in April.

THE WILD TREES

I watched Richard Preston, author of The Wild Trees, on The Daily Show and then later listened to an interview on The Diane Rehm show (on Monday). Such an unusual and fascinating topic. I think a canopy trek would be so much fun, but obviously impossible to manage since it's some kind of secret society. I think I'll get this book because it sounds so interesting.
Nate isn't much of a recreational reader {he codes for recreation!} but maybe he'd read this one if I get if for his birthday.

BREATHE

I've been so busy. Between work, the house, and writing another article I've been up late and not showering until it's absolutely necessary. AND, just to make sure there is no rest for the weary, Nate's birthday is this Saturday and we're having a little BBQ to celebrate. This translates into late nights spent unpacking {yup, we're still doing that} so our guests won't experience our complex labyrinth.
Perhaps I should take direction from the famous Lindsay Lohan who has reminded herself to breathe with a little white tattoo of the word on her wrist.

CAN'T STOP GIGGLING

I wish I could be friends with Alanis. Especially after watching this! The choreography is absolutely perfect.

I'VE FALLEN BEHIND!

I'm totally overwhelmed with work and life. I'm going to take a few days away from Clemantine. I'll be back on Friday!























{Patisserie image from MyClemantine on Flickr}

GETTING TO KNOW MY CROIX DE FER

The very next Saturday that I encounter a free hour and some nice spring weather, I'm going to get to know my LeMond Croix de Fer once again.There is nothing like a nice stretch of road and some good tunes on the iPod!

DOLCE VITA WEDGES

Aren't they cute? Finally...affordable.

WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND?

Jordan posted this cute note via Found. What a great idea to aggregate all the random notes and jotted down thoughts that must go missing every single day. I'm determined to find something.

LAY LADY LAY

I like the original by Bob Dylan, but this version from Magnet and Gemma Hayes is great. Sometimes I wish small band would crawl out from under my covers and play me a few ballads to fall asleep to. Later I'd want them all to leave cause two is company, more is a crowd!

IN LIEU OF A NEW EASTER DRESS

I scored this pretty little sweater in place of a full easter dress and I couldn't be happier. It fits well and the details make me feel incredibly feminine. Oh yeah, it also makes my teeth whiter and I look ten pounds thinner. It's actually some kind of miracle sweater well worth the $70 sale price tag at Anthropologie.

DARLING FLATS AT OLD NAVY

Yes, it's true. Old Navy has some really cute flats and they are quite affordable an average price point of $20.00.

AMAZING PLANET EARTH

I first saw the trailer for Planet Earth {Discovery Channel} about a month ago and froze in my chair, unblinking. I was mezmerized. This 11 part series narrated by Sigourney Weaver will have you scurrying around the desert sand with a sidewinder one moment and walking the crest of a dune with the bactrian camel the next. Mixing drama from one animal preying off another with the absultely edifying education about our amazing planet and all the animals that walk the dirt, swim the waters and fly the air; I love this show. Every episode!
After reading Ali's post about the series and some of the comments left there, I really believe this is a series to bridge the gap between man and woman TV viewing habits. Nate and I have been TiVoing the series from the beginning and both agree that the Great White Shark Hunt might have been one of the most intense things we 've seen on film.


Do you remember watching the nature movies in elementary school? This is NOT your grandfather's animal planet. This is the real deal and it took photographers and scientists sometimes years to capture one moment. You'll feel lucky!
You can buy the entire series for $80 here.

TRAVEL: WHERE TO START?

This week Travelzoo has so many great deals; I hardly know where to start.

1. Cruise the Caribbean for Five Nights in December. This is just $299 per person to sail from Miami to Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Imagine coming home just in time for last minute Christmas shopping to show off your golden tan!















2. Dublin B&B Package in June; Six nights, Car and Air. For $799 you can choose from over 450 Ireland B&B retreats. AND, if you are a big Waterford Crystal aficianado, there is a tour of their factory included!




















3. Spend $999 and visit Malaysia and Cambodia {maybe pick up your next child ala Brangelina style}. This vacation includes travel dates April 3-May 31 and August 16-Nov. 30.















4. Prague, Budapest, or Vienna {pick 2} for $699 is a steal with 8 nights and Air included! I've spent some time in Vienna and Prague and I'd absolutely spend $699 to go back! And who wouldn't want to go to Hungary?

YAHOO FOR BRANDI RICKS (late but meaningful)

Brandi and I have taken the RV trip to Southern California to enjoy Coachella - twice! In order to enjoy someone's company for a solid 12-15 hours in an RV requires they be happy, easy going and fun. All of which describes Brandi perfectly. Top that with her dry sarcasm and unexplainable love of Alien Fresh Jerky and you've got one of the greatest friends you could find.








Happy Birthday to you Brandi. I know I'm late and when it was discovered I felt terrible. And then I tried to find something sarcastic to say. But I'm not as good at that as you are so you'll have to settle for a sincere pronouncement of YAHOO! I miss you and I hope you are enjoying the gestation period of your pregnancy! Your little girl will be immediately cool; i just know it!

I HEART YELLOW CANARY

This color has been grabbing my attention all over the place. Here are some of the items that have made an impression.

1. Anthropologie Cleo Chair

















2. Anthropologie Snowflake Reversible Bath Mat {I have this and love it}








3. Cococare 100% Cocoa Butter











4. Seychelles Social Climber Flats













5. Forever21: Printed Circles Sweater