IT'S A BLIZZARD OUT THERE!

It's so cliche...but the weather outside if frightful. You can't tell but it's snowing and blowing; totally frigid!

HOT SUMMER GOES RETRO COOL

Imagine grilling up some steak, playing some Cat Power, lighting a few citronella candles and just drinking in the milder weather of Spring and Fall out on your patio.

Now imagine having these cute retro spring chairs and gliders available at grandinroad.com. The red is darling.

Our back patio is covered so I could risk getting these beautiful chairs, but if your patio isn't covered you may want to consider wood furniture as an alternative. I can't imagine how hot these would get just sitting in the sun.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

Hope you are off doing something fun today! BBQ, day at the lake, fireworks, movie...whatever it is, make the most of it! Here are some American flag tips courtesy of Martha Stewart.

FOR REALS?

A few days ago I heard about the impending storm that blew into Utah lastnight. Because I still innocently believe weather people, "winds getting as strong as 50-75mph", I brought our two new rocking chairs in from the porch. I didn't want to risk waking up this morning and fishing them out of the lake.
Well, for once, I'm glad I heeded the warning. The wind BLEW. I woke up this morning to the neighbor's garbage cans blown into a heep in our alley. I couldn't believe the dip in temp this morning. I could see my breath!! In June!! I don't think it's been this unpredictable since the early 90's when it snowed on my sister's June 1 garden wedding reception!
Did I mention there's snow in the mountains?

DEET OR LAVENDAR?

Mosquitoes don't bother me. I went to Africa in 2003 and didn't use any mosquito repellent {malaria?} because they just don't touch me. I didn't get a single bite but I had several friends who looked like they had the mumps.
Well, it's mosquito season again here in Utah. Apparently repellents don't actually repel the pest, they cover what we have that attracts them {CO2 and lactic acid}. I found an interesting article about mosquito repellents and it says the most effective way to repel is with DEET. However, if you want to smell prettier you could consider using lavendar, cedar, pine, peppermint, basil, rosemary {just to name a few}. This more deliscious smells might work for an hour or two, but if you plan to be exposed for a longer period of time {three weeks in Africa?} then go for the deet. It stinks, but it works if they tend to like you.
Find out how to stop the itch immediately. My mom alwasy made an X indent with her thumb nail, right across the top of the bite and somehow it seemed to help. Do you have a secret cure?

RUFFLES AND DOTS

After I posted about Kristin going to Hawaii, I got to thinking about the sun and summer and the smell of coconut suntan lotion. Ruffle suit is from Target and the polka dots are from dELiAs.

SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER

I think I have Seasonal Affective Disorder. We are in the middle of a huge snow storm and when I drove to work in the haze of of snowflakes and storm clouds this morning I felt like hurting someone.
Who can I hurt?

BEST VALENTINE'S DAY EVER!

When I was in grade school we celebrated Valentine's Day with a Tea Party. It was all anyone could talk about for weeks before the big day. Along with the usual box decorating and barbie valentine cards with Sweet Tart candies, the tea party required special attire, special manners, and special treats.
All kids were asked to wear their "sunday best". Some boys showed up in suits and ties {at ten years old!}, others wore sweaters and oxfords, and some even wore bolo ties {this is Providence, Utah, remember}. The girls wore pretty dresses, usually their Easter dresses, and sometimes they'd even wear little white gloves. Their hair would be curled and everyone was very polite to match their polite clothes.
Depending on what grade and class you were in, the librarian would invite you into the library for punch and cookies and this is where things got serious. This is where we learned the uncomfortable sensation, as nine year old girls, of having a boy pull out your chair and fetch your punch and cookies while you sat there feeling like a total weirdo.
The usual arrangement was that the girls would line up on one side of the room and the boys on the other. Then the first boy and the first girl would be designated as "dates", the second boy with the second girl, etc. Once we discovered our fate, we all shuffled around so we could be paired up with the boy or girl we had a secret or public crush on. This was the first time I felt rejection because I'd line myself up with Jim Crosbie or Mike White and then they'd go and line themselves up with someone else. First broken heart at nine, I suppose.
In highschool they upped the anti and let us buy roses for those we loved. I usually got a small bouquet of flowers {one from each of my darling girlfriends} while most of them would walk away with a few dozon, most of them from boys who skateboarded and wore Cure t-shirts. So cool.
Well, here I am, 18 years after highschool, sitting in my cubical at work looking at the pretty tulips and dreaming of my swedish massage {both from my HOT husband} and admiring a fabulous tampon purse, notebook and cute postcards from Amie. Could I be any luckier? I think this is my best Valentine's Day ever.

VALENTINE'S EVE

NPR did a great story this morning on the color red in honor of Valentine's Day. Very fun! Give it a listen here. {photo courtesy of Martha Stewart}.

VALENTINE IDEAS {FOR NATE}

I thinkvalentines day is a day most men equate to a lot of pressure and impossible expectations. I'm sure there are blogs everywhere suggesting great gift ideas which can become even more overwhelming to any guy looking for a break. Babe, I know it's late, but maybe these ideas will help.

{I was just telling Nate I'd rather wear a watch necklace then a watch. This cool guitar necklace from Kitson makes the PERFECT gift for me. Just $38}















{Love these "beauty and the beast" earrings but the price is a bit steep at $225}















{Urban Outfitters has this cute carved rose ring for just $16. Darling}














{Also available at UO are these pretty hair clips. I want these}




















If it's a fragrance you're hoping to receive/give, consider Rock-n-Rose by Valentino. If your valentine is described as a "rose on the outside and a rocker on the inside" then this is the perfect gift for her.



















Consider giving the gift of YOUR favorite book. Kym gave me an early edition Pale Horse, Pale Rider because she liked it so much. The great thing about giving someone a book you love is that it becomes something you can discuss with them later. It actually creates a bond between two people. Nate's favorite book is Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevski. Though I've read Crime and Punishment {and loved it} I haven't read this one. Maybe this is a good idea too, honey...

COLD WEATHER HOTNESS

I should have been wearing this skiing yesterday. But I don't have $500 to burn on cold weather hotness.

SNOW: THE SILENT PREDATOR

I woke up this morning with a few inches of fresh powder covering my car and the ground. I glanced down at my pretty, square-toed, brown suede Bisou Bisou heals and realized it really does benefit me to look out the window before I dress myself in the morning. Living in a basement sure doesn't help because most of the windows give a lovely view of a window-well. But I had plenty of chances to glance out by the back patio, and didn't.
A quick trip back inside for my Ugg look-a-likes {Costco, $35} and I was off! Traffic was terriblely delayed so I took a snapshot of the dismal day.










A Patch of Old Snow

There's a patch of old snow in a corner
That I should have guessed
Was a blow-away paper the rain
Had brought to rest.

It is speckled with grime as if
Amall print overspread it,
The news of a day I've forgotten -
If I ever read it.

-Frost

PRETTY IN PINK

This coat at Victoria's Secret is darling. Comes in additional colors but I like pink the best. Just $99 here. I like the tailored waist - nice twist on the traditional tie.

UTAH SNOW BLANKET

Salt Lake County was blanketed in snow all day today making for terrible driving conditions. According to ABC news, nearly 450 accidents happened today between Ogden and Salt Lake City with over 50 injuries.
With an average of 5" on the ground around the valley, all we can do is expect more. Looks like it will be another snow day tomorrow. IF I can find a good place, perhaps I'll go out and make a snow angel tomorrow. Isn't that what we did as kids? If I do, I'll snap a photo. Drive safely!

SKI LOVERS GET-AWAY

If you call yourself a skier, you may want to consider this affordable ski getaway. Available through March 28, this package includes a stay at the Ahwahnee Hotel {National Historic Landmark} in Yosemite and 2 for 1 price on lift tickets. I keep telling Nate I want to take him to Whistler for a get-away but I think this would be almost as fun and a lot less expensive at $249. Here are more details.

GET YOUR SUNDANCE ON!

Nate and I love movies. The more indie-esque they are the better. I met Nate in January 2005 just a few days before the Sundance Film Festival got off the ground. Nate took me to several shows that year including The Matador, Layer Cake, and Reefer Madness {at the end of this movie I knew I loved him - crazy!}. In 2006 we were lucky enough to see Little Miss Sunshine and The Night Listener.
This year we threw our name in the pot to buy tickets and actually received a fairly good day and time, January 10 {they make the selections lottery-style and we've always been assigned the last day when all the tickets are sold out...not this year. Yippee}.
























This year I'm thinking about several films {read synopsis here} including;

• Adrift in Manhattan {I love any movie about three stories converging}
• An American Crime {true stories always make for better horror}
• Angel-A {I'd see this just because it's filmed in Paris}
• Away from Her {I'm sure old Julie Christie is just as pretty as the young one}
  
• Black Snake Moan {this one stars Justin Timberlake}
  
• Chapter 27 {Jared Leto playing the guy who assassinated John Lenon}
  
• Clubland {guaranteed Aussie accents}
  
• The Good Night {a man happier with his dream life then real life - so familiar!}
  
• Longford {how can good and evil exist together...or come to terms with each other?}
  
• The Nines {claims to "make you ask questions"}
  
• Resurrecting the Champ {all about boxing}
  
• Trade {touches on child sex slaves}
  
• Year of the Dog {Molly Shannon rules}
  
• Broken English {Parker Posey - Yay}
• Grace is Gone {woman dies in Iraq and leaves a husband and two daughters}
  
• Hounddog {Dakota Fanning and "haunting performance" piqued my interest}
  
• Joshua {might scare me from having children}
• On the Road with Judas {written by a writer, played by an actor}
• Snow Angels {maybe}
• The Savages {i heart Philip Seymour Hoffman}

The way it typically plays out is that I make a big list of films I'd like to see {see list above}. Then Nate and I sit down and decide what days we'd like to see movies and at what theaters. I narrow the list according to the new parameters. On January 10 during our appointed 30 minute window, I buy whatever tickets are still available {only $15 each}.
On game day Nate and I get excited and feel quite artsy and snobbish attending our selected films. We use it as a good opportunity to sample a new restaurant and be the "first to see" films that only sometimes make it to theaters in the same calendar year.
The Sundance Film Festival is one of the perks of living in Salt Lake {or Bluffdale...beggars can't be choosers}. Things to avoid wearing at Film Festival {or you'll look like a foolish try-hard}: black north face puffy coat, any kind of ugg boot, high heels {c'mon, you're in Utah where it's snowy and cold}, and ANYTHING made of fur.
By the way, I'm NOT a star junkie. I'm there to see the films, not to watch in awe as Bill Murray walks across the street. The girls I know that spend hours "getting ready" for the festival - planning to go to parties and meet a producer or an indie actor and have a fling - are the definition of lame.

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

I like resolutions. I'm aware of the cynics out there who don't think a resolution is anything but hot air that dissipates over a few days, but I'm a true believer. I've taken some time to reflect what I've accomplished in 2006 and now I'd like to add to, or change, things in 2007.

1. Run Portland marathon, October 7
2. Read a book a month
3. Take a painting class {possibly from Jeff Hein}
4. Send birthday cards {e-cards and blog posts don't count}
5. Participate in at least one triathlon
6. Increase my income by 10% by the end of the year
7. Publish in two additional magazines
8. Have our new house looking fabulous by April 21 {Nate's birthday}
9. Spend more time stretching and paying attention to my posture
10. Wake up at 6:00 a.m. every morning

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM CLEMANTINE!!

There's snow outside, presents under the trees, and lots of family to spend time with. My wish is that you get to do something traditional and something completely new this holiday. I'll try to post a few times in the next few days but I will be quite busy packing and moving. Thank you for reading and Merry Christmas!
Love, Tonia

THIGHS LIKE FIRE!

I knew I was out of shape. But everyone gets out of shape at different times in their lives. Not so pathetically out of shape that they can only make about three turns in a fabulous amount of fresh powder before their thighs burn like fire. To achieve this kind of out of shapeness you have to sit idle for many, many days. Eat atrocious amounts of fattening foods and then sit idle some more.

As you can likely guess, the ski day was great. I'll take a cold, stormy day on the slopes over sitting at my computer any day. Nate introduced me to my "worst nightmare ever". Mogules as tall as me and deeper then the ocean. I stabbed one particularly large mogule right in the gut with my ski and shot out of it like a cannon after which I popped out of my remaining ski and walked down. Novice move? Maybe. But I successfully avoided any broken bones and kept explitives to a minimum! All in all it was a great day at Alta; the chili was delicious and I didn't miss the snowboarders a bit.

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

Nate and I have lots of these blown glass balls on our tree. I think they are so pretty and when you turn the lights on the tree they glow with rich, vibrant colors. I still can't bring myself to pay $20 for a tree ornament but I thought these were worth calling attention to. Quite pretty from Anthropologie.