ADELIA THOMPSON: ONE OF US

This just in...Andrew and LaShel have decided to name their darling baby girl Adelia which happens to be a Thompson family name. LaShel discovered it in our geneology and I think it's darling.
One important question with any new Thompson baby is, "do they have the eyebrow?" The "eyebrow" is a family trait born from such a strong gene that all my siblings have it and have managed to pass it on to their children. Abby, Sophie and Olivia have it passed on by my sister. Hugo has it passed on by my brother. And Andrew says that although Adelia's eyebrows are still pretty dainty, it appears that she has it, too.
To describe the Thompson eyebrow: The edge nearest the nose tends to fan a bit. Most eyebrows will all grow in one direction so they look organized. The Thompson brow has a momentary freak out before it falls in line. It's typically occurs with the left eyebrow.

Thank goodness for tweezers and eyebrow trimmers and Anastasia! But it is a good way to determine if a new offspring is one of us! It appears that Adelia is, indeed, one of us.

CRIMEFIGHTERS AND SUPERPOWERS

A little over a year ago I overheard my youngest brother Andrew {then 21} ask another brother Ryan {then 24} who he would want as his partner if he were a crimefighter. After they had discussed the topic for a bit they both decided they'd choose each another for different and compelling reasons. But this question got me thinking. If I was a crimefighter looking for a partner, who would I choose and why?
Would I choose Jack Black because I'd always look better in spandex? Or John Travolta because he knows how to dance? Would I choose another woman? Maybe someone like Drew Barrymore so we could go undercover as two thirty-somethings just hanging out.

Who would you choose and why?

An episode of This American Life, called Superpower got me thinking about what kind of superpower I would want if they existed and I could have one. John Hodgman does a great segment in the episode where he interviews people about whether they'd like to fly or be invisible. I'd have to say, I think being invisible would come in more handy. Or would it? What powers would you wish to have?

CARTIER LA DONA WATCH: SIGH

I don't really have a lot of expensive jewelry. My wedding ring is the only thing that surpasses the $1,000 mark. That being said, a lot of expensive jewelry wouldn't really suit my lifestyle so I'm not too upset by my reality. If I could, though, own something gorgeous and extravagant, it would be this Cartier watch. It's rose gold which, if you know me, is my element of choice.
Does anyone have $22,600 I can borrow and never repay?

SUN AND SANDALS

I was at the Sasquatch music festival last weekend and got a hint of a tan line on my feet {albeit from my chacos}. Once the tan line begins to form, I embrace it whole heartedly. Unless it's in a strange place like across my bicep {aka soccer mom tan} or around my eyes {aka the "racoon"}.

For $38 plus shipping I think these cute little sandals would give me a perfect tan line.

RED + PINK = LOVE {thanks to andy warhol}

"Art is what you can get away with." Andy Warhol

In highschool {circa '85-'89} I recall specific rules about dressing. What was acceptable and what was not. Molly Ringwald was a real trend-setter although I never quite had the guts to pull off some of those genius ensembles. Until now.
In the informal formal 80s and 90s, there were particular rules that, if broken, brought immediate shame; colors that should never be worn together {pink with red}; distinct fashion lines that should never be crossed {hemline of a skirt and the height of a heel}; panty hose vs no panty hose {um, you should never wear panty hose}!
2007 brings total freedom from all these lame restrictions. Expressing yourself meets more applaud then it used to; finally and thank goodness.
Yesterday I wore lavendar and green. Today it's pink and red. I think I'll try and take many of my color cues from Warhol since he seemed to know what he was doing.

MENU PLANNING

Nate and I have noticed that we spend a significant amount of money each month on food. Not restaurant food, Harmons food. I blame it on the fact that we don't have a menu plan and therefore end up wasting stuff that we buy on a whim or left over ingredients we get for one recipe and never use again.
Lastnight I sat down and tried to put a plan together that repeated one ingredient atleast twice so we would waste less. Not sure I did such a great job. If anyone else has a good menu plan, I'd love to beg, borrow and steal it. Afterall, if I used this week-long menu plan over and over we'd get sick of the selection.
Here is what I came up with:

1. Sandwiches and green salad with bleu cheese
2. Bleu cheese burgers {use up left over bleu cheese and salad}
3. Tacos or spagetti with meat sauce {use up left over ground beef}
4. Pasta with zucchini ribbons and chicken {use left over pasta}
5. Jambalaya {use left over chicken}
6. Rice, steamed veggies and fish/chicken {use left over rice}
7. Thai {because it's a tradition on Sunday}

I still think it would be easier to just eat cereal for dinner.

THIS IS HER

This post title includes all three words my brother sent along with the phone pic of his first baby. "This is her."
She was born just after 5:30 this morning. Name: unknown. Congratulations to Andrew and LaShel and their healthy little fashionista {this girl already has a tackle box full of hair accessories}.
Birth weight: 7lbs 5oz
Birth lenght: 20"
Birth head shape: non cone

REMEMBERING JEFF BUCKLEY

Ten year ago today Jeff Buckley drown while swimming in Wolf River Harbor, a tributary of the Mississippi River in Memphis. NPR did a nice little story about him on Morning Edition and you can also listen to three songs off his one and only album Grace on the NPR page as well.
Rumor has it that the documentary Amazing Grace: Jeff Buckley will be released on DVD, but no official release date has been announced.

NOBODY PUTS BABY IN A CORNER

Three cheers for this British couple who learned the entire Dirty Dancing final scene and reenacted it in the form of their first dance as man and wife. Watch this to the end; it is darling.

It's all up to you to take this idea and run with it Kym...since I often live vicariously through you anyway. Thanks to brilliant Chelsey for enlightening us with this little gem of a find.

ADDICTED!

While I'm doing mindless work at work, I have become addicted to listening to archived episodes of This American Life. I feel at once smarter, funnier, more informed and yes, a little bookish in a snobby way. You can stream the audio to most episodes dating back to the 90s.

Go have a listen. You can start with the "Favorites" if you are overwhelmed and don't know where to begin.

I'm saving the episode called "roadtrip" for my longer then life roadtrip to the Sasquatch Festival with Nate, Julie, Tim, Brandi and Jamie. It's available for free download right here.






Also, what do you think the chances are of me ever getting on this show with some compelling story from my life?

HELLO HELIO {OCEAN}

I'm not usually one to woo on the latest and greatest technology. I carry this phone {made popular by the movie Cellular. Thanks for that stellar performance Kim Basinger!} which proves my point since that movie and phone debuted in 2004.
That's why I'm actually surprised to find myself with lingering thoughts of this phone. I like anything shape shifting and mysterious. Check out Helio Ocean here.

DATE NIGHT AT THE METROPOLITAN

Remember when I said Nate and I were invited to a night of fabulous dining with his employer picking up the tab? Well, the time has finally come. We'll be dining at the Metropolitan at 8pm tonight. Nate is a lot of fun to explore a new restaurant with. He's experimental and fearless {I still obey my strict rule of not being carefree enough to bite into a tendon or eat fur/feathers}.
I've only had one evening when all these rules were willingly tossed out the window. My last night in Africa. We went to a restaurant called the Carnivor and I ate the meat from Osterich, Wildebeast, and Crocodile. I had to take advantage of every experience on that trip because I didn't know when I'd be back. I'm currently trying to pique Nate's interest in becoming a humanitarian in Africa.
Kristin said that the Metropolitan offered her the best meal she's had in SLC. I can't think of a better recommendation. It calls itself "american, seafood, contemporary" and claims to be romantic. We'll see.

VICTORIA ISLAND IN TAGALOG

Nate speaks fluent Tagalog (one of the languages spoken in the Philippines) and has a few friends he stays in contact with since living there in the late 90s. One of them is currently working on Victoria Island in Canada so we are going for a visit in mid-June. Strangely, I've always wanted to see Victoria Island having heard it is so beautiful. Here are some facts about the place.

• Ninth largest island of the world
• The island is named for Queen Victoria, the Canadian sovereign from 1867 to 1901
• The population of the island is 1,707
• It's called the Garden City {just like Jersey!}
• Sipping tea and tending elaborate gardens are popular traditions in Victoria
• Victoria has the mildest climate in Canada
• Home to the Swiftsure Yacht race {can't you just smell the ivy league?}

Does it matter that Nate's friend doesn't speak English too well and that I'll be surrounded by a lot of words that look like this {Tsong}? No way, I'm sure we'll have a great time and by the end of our weekend I may just know a little more Tagalog then I do now.

TIM AND BRANDI GO PUBLIC!

If you know Tim and Brandi or want to know Tim and Brandi, you should visit their super funny blog which chronicles the life and times of what could be the most hectic year of anyone's life {marriage, moving, pregnancy, building a home} and all of this has just been accomplished since September! And all with good humor.
Over achievers? Yes! Super fun, music snobs? Yes! Really tall and pretty to look at? Yes! Good writers who dare to tell the truth? Absolutely!
Welcome to the blog world Tim and Brandi! And thanks for remembering me in the naming of your blog!

FRENCH CANDY

Imagine walking down one of those streets in Paris. You know, the streets full of the sounds of dishes clinking from a late lunch rush, lined with the quaint looking shops you long to wander in for hours, and the smells...If the smell is sweet like a parisian confection, it might just be Marrons Glaces {chestnuts glazed with sugar or preserved in vanilla-flavored syrup}.
Here's the exciting part; even if you haven't yet wandered around the streets of Paris and even if you don't know the particular and heavenly smell of Marrons Glaces, there is still hope.

Two words: Laura Mercier.

Amie has been coming to work smelling so delicious; ever since mother's day I literally drink in the air as she walks by {she walks by a lot since my cubical is the last thing anyone passes before walking out the door and to the lavatory}. She confessed to buying Laura Mercier's Marrons Glaces fragrance {$50} which we discovered on a recent lunchtime sanity check at Nordstrom.

Today we went to Nordstrom and had yummy salads in the cafe. While we were there I sprayed lots of Marrons Glaces on all my pressure points and I've been smelling like Amie ever since. This scent is truly sweet without being too sweet. And it will make you long for that day in Paris, the clinking dishes and the lovely little shop.

MORE THEN JUST THE FOOD

I've always wanted to go to China. Yes, see the countryside. Yes, visit ancient ruins. And yes, walk down busy streets in Beijing and Shanghia and feel totally overwhelmed and a little scared. Now I can go in 2008 {for $799, see details here}, which should give me plenty of time to save up money. Instead, though, I'll probably end up buying dining room furniture.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TEGAN

Subtitle: Best Intentions

Have you ever thought about what would happen if your intentions were visible and known? I mean, I have the best intentions to remember every birthday, give the perfect gift, send thank you cards and give compliments, write fabulous articles, create perfect and meaningful marketing material...and the list goes on. I like the idea of having an intention meter attached to all things I do; if I fall short on something then maybe just seeing that the intention was there will make the difference.

That being said, Happy Birthday to Tegan {I know your birthday was yesterday, I have a card sitting on the table just waiting to be addressed. And I asked Nate to call Joel since I knew you would be with him - and then we both promptly forgot}. I hope you had a fun day and that Joel and Peyton treated you like a queen! I look forward to seeing you on Saturday.

I had the best intentions.

GET A FACIAL? OR GET THIS?

Flipping through Lucky Mag {Katherine McPhee on the cover, bug!} I read about something that piqued my interest. AVA MD: Radical Departure. It's a two week regime that prices about the same as a facial {or two}. With work stress, new house stress and my mid-thirties revisit to puberty {that no one talks about}, my skin needs an overhaul!
Their website says this:
"RADICAL DEPARTURE is a complete, self-contained, four-product fourteen-day regimen that helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and age spots, while enhancing tone and firmness, by exfoliating the surface of dulling, flaky and dead skin cells. The result? Sooner rather than later, you’ll be looking at great skin that’s all yours."

I want that: less fine lines and wrinkles, enhanced tone and firmness, obliterated breakouts. Should I splurge on the relaxing spa experience of having another human's hands massaging my face OR should I buy the regime and have spa night every night for two weeks?

REBEL, BABY!

About eight years ago I was staying at Chico Hot Springs Resort and Spa (just outside Yellowstone National Park in the Absaroka Mountain Range) for my friend's wedding; um, beautiful. Along with all the amazing organic scenery {you should go there if you can} I was smitten at once with this charming little girl crawling around on the floor wearing cheetah print leather booties. Mighty smitten or I wouldn't remember it today.
Now, years later, little leather booties are everywhere and in quite a selection of patterns. Dayna led me to Me in Mind out of Las Vegas. They have some edgy footwear for the rebellious baby; cute enough that you forget about the awkward website. I bought a pair, but I'm not saying for who...
Look at some of the cute options for boys and girls. And then schedule a weekend at Chico.

BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB {BRMC}

It's about time Nate and I got some good live music on! Granted we'll get plenty at Sasquatch, but why not indulge when it's living and breathing right in your own city? Tonight Black Rebel Motorcycle Club is playing at In The Venue in SLC. I'm looking forward to the show by listening to some of their albums at work today. If you want to hear a few songs from their latest album, Baby 81, check out their myspace page.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club formed in 1998, taking their name from Brando's motorcycle gang in the film, The Wild One. The group was originally named the elements but after discovering another band of the same name, they changed to BRMC.
Influences read like a who's who of rock; Iggy Pop and The Stooges, The Ramones, The Doors, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Bob Dylan, The White Stripes, and John Denver. You should be able to hear a few tunes from each band on LastFM by clicking on the links.

LUCKY RABBIT'S FOOT

This commercial is both clever and funny. Yet, I can never remember what they are advertising.

DISCOVERING WILCO: DISCOVERING ME

Ali posted about Wilco's new album, Blue Sky Blue, and it got me thinking. Wilco carries a lot of meaning for me; a story worth sharing, I guess.
I was in a long relationship before I met Nate; it lasted ten years and we created many many memories during that time. We visited Vienna, Prague, Salzburg, Kenya, Holland Lake and so many places in between. We hiked many peaks {including Kilimanjaro}, swam in many lakes {even did a maiden voyage in our homemade canoe} and camped on many a mountain peak. Our preferences sort of mushed together, which happens in any relationship, and in the end I couldn't remember a "me" before the "us" came along.
After the breakup I was left to figure it all out again which seemed like an overwhelming undertaking. He was from Montana, liked fleece and country songs and bow hunting. After I shed my polartec jackets and the occasional Garth Brooks I started dipping my toes in the water of variety all over again.
Along with discovering that I liked getting facials and wearing heals {no worries, I still worship my chacos}, I rediscovered my love for indie music. Long ago, in the 80s, I was on the forefront of the music scene. I listened to many of the up-and-coming bands and disgarded them once they played one too many times on the local top 40 station. The first casset tape I purchased was The Cure, Boys Don't Cry {sigh}.
Fate brought me to Wilco shortly after our split and the sound really fit my approach to life. Their music bridged the gap between indie rock and folk/country {thanks to their Uncle Tupelo roots} for me so when I heard they were playing at University of Utah I knew I'd be there. I opened up the invitation to all my friends but with a $30 ticket price they were pretty discerning and, in the end, everyone turned me down. There was a pivotal moment when I was sitting at my desk at work, faced with the choice to go alone or not go at all. In a giant step toward trusting myself and becoming independent, I bought a single ticket and went alone.
Oh, and I've never looked back.










Ali, if you are reading, these are the only bird shots I have ever taken. I had stale bread and created a scene from Hitchcock's, The Birds.

I'M VIOLET

If you wanna find out what color you are, take the quiz here.

VIOLET

You surround yourself with art and music and are constantly driven to express yourself. You often daydream. You prefer honesty in your relationships and believe strongly in your personal morals.

Find out your color at QuizMeme.com!

LIQUID LIP SHIMMER

Origins has some great lip gloss called Liquid Lip Shimmer. The two best colors {colors you'll find in my cute gloss pouch which is always in my handbag} is mangotini and sangria. Unfortunately they don't taste like their namesakes. They have a nice minty feel that is both refreshing and relaxing.

COO COO

I adore this cute little coo coo clock from Urban Outfitter.

THE WORLD IS A LITTLE LESS LOVELY TODAY

If any of you know Kari Mason you'll understand why the world is a little less interesting and lovely with her passing. I'm going to take the rest of the day off from the blog but I'll be back tomorrow.

THE FOREVER STAMP

I'm sure most of you know that the price of a good ol' US Postage Stamp increased from 39 to 41 cents today. And I'm sure there are many like me who are now stuck with a bunch of 39 cent stamps that didn't get used in time. So much for being prepared and carrying a stash around in my cute little leather-bound pocketbook calendar.

Short Term Fix: buy 2 cent stamps and take the opportunity to make your envelopes look extra colorful.
Long Term Fix: buy the "forever stamp" being released as soon as next month.

According to the US Postal Service the "forever stamp" will cost whatever the going rate is for a stamp, but if you buy them for 41 cents and the price goes up to 46 cents you won't need to add any penny stamps to equal 46. They are "forever valid" at whatever price you paid. Nice huh? Read the full story here.

WEEKEND +1

We had a great weekend; we enjoyed relaxation time; watched a few good basketball games {go Jazz!}; caught some fish {bluegill, trout, and perch};did a little shopping {we got this and this}, watched a foreign film {bad movie but we couldn't stop watching}; made tomato, basil and white-bean salad for dinner and cupcakes for the new neighbors; and called our mom's on Mother's Day. Oh, and I took my gimp hand for a walk at the lake.

GONE FISHING!

Since Oquirrh Lake is just a block away from our house, Nate and I find fishing a nice way to wind down from the stresses of work. Here are some photos from Tuesday night - before I became a one-handed freak show. I got a few nibbles but nothing stayed on the line; Nate is clearly the more seasoned fisherman.

SHOUT OUT TO BRENDA!

Brenda and I go back to the 7th grade. She was the girl who always had the really cute Esprit clothes and colored her maps so perfectly in geography. I admired her then and I admire her now. Happy Birthday Brenda; long time no see!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATALIE!

I've known Natalie for something like 13 or 14 years. She's such a great friend and I'm grateful I wandered into the institute in Missoula all those years ago! Happy Birthday Nat!

WISH ME LUCK

I'm going in this morning to get the cyst removed from my hand. Admittedly I'm a little scared but I'm sure everything will be okay. I just have to remind myself that scars are hot and the more I have the hotter I'll be!

HOOTER HIDERS

Bebe au Lait has gone and done it. Revolutionized the art of chic covers for nursing mothers. Introducing HOOTER HIDERS.
I first saw this at darling Noelle's baby shower where I was bowled over by the name, the design and the functionality. If you know an expecting mother or a nursing mother this might be the perfect accessory to give her. The fabrics are so fabulous and at $35, you might want to get a few to compliment the urban mom's various outfits!

SKULLCANDY GOES PINK

Skullcandy is this progressive hipster shop that I can't get much information about because their website isn't completed yet. I discovered them at the USU bookstore during my mom's infamous graduation. I'm not one to demand pink accessories just because I'm a girl, but having them offered every now and then is a total treat. Skullcandy has some cute pink noise cancelling earbuds {complete with little skulls screen printed on them} called "smokin' buds" that also support breast cancer awareness. I bought them and have been enjoying them ever since.












They also offers other cool looking headphones - the kind you'd wear on long flights to Australia or if you are a DJ.



















Sometimes I wish I was a DJ or had the option to do a little spinning like Lindsay Lohan.