My new Design Blog- Interiorologie!

Hi Ya'll! I just wanted to let you know that I created a new design blog! Mostly for the reason of emailing the link to future employers (as I'm looking for full time work). But also because maybe by having a design blog, I'll be more apt to design more! Please check it out at the link below and perhaps save it in your favorite blogs to visit ;)

http://www.interiorologie.blogspot.com/

I hope you enjoy!

Maybe the best idea. Ever.

Do you remember the cartoon, Lady Lovely Locks? Well, I used to be a big fan, infact, one of my favorite dolls was Lady Golden Waves. I found her spontanious ability to turn herself into a mermaid at her leisure and fancy quite impressive! Anywho, I think I may have done the unpardonable... It appears that I have successfully vacuumed up every Lovely-Lockian in the Kingdom. Hence the fact that my vacuum has been broken 2 times in the last 2 years! Ok, so the dolls are just an excuse- it's all MY fault! But, when you have bodacious locks like mine, you have to deal with the consequences! Well, at least my vacuum and Sam do.Just check out these taunting tresses people!!! (Yes- I'm frowning. Wouldn't you if your vacuum was broken?!!!)
So I had to get creative- there has to be a way to get MOST of the hair off of my floor before I vacuum, right? I got to thinking, if my coat has hair all over it, I use a lint roller! So- I have concluded to make my own GIANT lint roller. I know- genious! So I go to the hardware store to collect the following items:

A painter's extender...
and a roll of enormous duct tape.
I already had a paint roller at home, so I took that...

attached it to the extender...

wrapped it with the duct tape... (sticky side out!) and rolled around my house like a crazy person! Look how GROSS!!!! Well, my vacuum HAS been broken for a couple of weeks people. But it WORKS! I might just have to start doing a quick roll through before I vacuum every week once the old sucking broom gets fixed! Anywho, just a neccessary creative moment- I hope you enjoyed the awkwardness of my life!

Sam's Conference Weekend Suprise...

Last weekend was the 179th Semi-Annual General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I always look forward to Conference for the uplifting guidance from our church leaders, Apostles and our Prophet, Thomas S. Monson. If you want to listen to or read the Conference, go here:

http://lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,23-1-1117,00.html

Anyway, the fun begins here... I LOVED waking up and listening to Conference in my Pj's on our new sectional!

Sam loves it too- we're constantly fighting over the coveted end section, and during conference I won that battle! However, it didn't take Sam too long before he got really comfy and fell asleep. I kept trying to wake him up, but alas, the powerful low voices of our wonderful leaders were just the perfect lullabye...

I decided that if he was going to fall asleep during one of the most important times of the year- he'd have to suffer the consequences. I busted out one of my old tricks (for my old roomate Allie and my buddy Brett, this will bring back FOND memories)!

Yes, it's bright orange. Believe me- I could hardly contain my snickering laughter- and he almost woke up during his relaxing treatment!

You're probably thinking, "I can't believe she would risk getting wet nail polish on her new sectional!" Well, the sectional was fine- and it was WAY too much fun to worry about that! As for Sam's reaction? He woke up and took a nice long stretch... when he looked down- that relaxing stretch was abruptly ended as quick as a rubber band could snap! He demanded I take it off, but I kind of waited a while to bust out the nail polish remover. I think President Thomas S. Monson could use this in his next conference talk, what do you think?

The Purr of a Diesel Mercedes-Benz

I can hear the memories flooding back...Sam and I were at an intersection the other day and I heard one of my favorite sounds on earth... the diesel purr of a Mercedes-Benz. My Dad was always been (and I'm sure even from the clouds) a car lover. It's not like he would buy the newest model, but he loved to have a Benz to drive around in. I remember playing outside and hearing that lovely sound every time my Dad would roll up the driveway from work and I would run outside to get my big bear hug! In fact, my favorite thing to do with him as a kid was to go to the car wash on Marsh Street. He'd always treat me to an "Ocean Spray" Cran-grape juice. As I'd gulp to my hearts' content and look out the windows, we became engulfed in what seemed to me an underwater world of multi-colored soap suds and larger than life roller brushes. This is of course when I'd tap my feet and sing that song they used for the good old Ocean Spray commercial, "Don't worry, Be Happy" for I truly was.

Teenage Problem Solving Tactics

When I randomly saw this on the web, I HAD to post it. It reminds me of when I was in High School and I liked 2 guys at the same time. Why, you ask? Well I couldn't decide which one I liked more, so I had these 2 goldfish and I named them each after one of the two boys I liked. Well, since Goldfish don't last that long, I decided whichever goldfish died first, that guy would be off my "crush-list". So, I get home from school like a week later and they were both floating at the top of the bowl. I guess they both weren't worth my time- which looking back is definitely true!

Revenge of the Goldfish, Sandy Skoglund, 1981

Escalante Adventure

I want to re-cap what a splendid summer it's been! I'll start with our trip to Escalante, UT for a Checketts family reunion at my Aunt Sannette's house.

I Love Escalante's gorgeous red rock! Not to mention the picturesque western landscape! This rock is called Rattlesnake Point- It's in my Aunt's backyard, and buried at the base of it is an ancient Anasazi settlement! We hiked to the top- a quick little hike to a breathtaking view!

Sam and I basking in the glory of the view! I love the striations of the sedimentary layers... Wow- I think my geology teacher would be proud of my observations!

My big sister Hillary and I at the top of Rattlesnake point, heading down to explore the riverbed. I think we look pretty outdoorsy/adventurous! What do you think?!

Not sure what plant this is- but it was all along the dried up riverbed- made me think of the little rhyme: "Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? With Silverbells and Cockershells and Pretty Maids all in a row!" A little diddy I picked up in third grade, thank you very much... I think these could get away with being called Cocker Shells!

My aunt had these cute little fuzzy kittens- I really wish I could have taken this little fur-ball home!




Beautiful lake not too far out of Escalante. We did a special memorial service for my dear Uncle Dan. Sam and I want to come back and fish here sometime. It reminds me of a lake in some Nicholas Sparks novel!

The little road that lead to the Bed and Breakfast Sam and I stayed at.
The Slot Canyons Inn Bed and Breakfast in Escalante. We LOVED it! The owners are so nice and hospitible and it is such a cool, cozy place on a gorgeous property. Talk about getting away from it all!

Another awsome view of Rattlesnake Point. My aunt was taking us to the Anasazi ruins for a guided tour! She is so knowledgeable- she could upen a museum!

We're all getting the schpiel from Aunt Sannette- see the grey spots of dirt on the ground? That's layers and layers worth of the Anasazi fire-pits over the centuries!

Brigham Young University Archeology students came and dug up the settlement site and re-buried it when they left to preserve it. It doesn't look like much, but there's a whole lot of amazing history under there...

In fact, I found my own little piece of history nearby the site! It's an Anasazi button or bead. This little pebble just caught my eye- then I realized when I picked it up, it wasn't a pebble after all!

It's just a small little piece of the past.

On the way home, Sam and I couldn't stop pulling over to admire the gorgeous rock formations through Bryce Canyon. This part of the country is unbelievable!

I don't know- do they look like little castle towers to you?

Arches and ridges...

and Sam stealing kisses. That's what I call a good vacation!

There is Beauty all Around...

I have to admit- I was kind of annoyed that we ended up in Utah. However, the more I let go of my pre-conceived notions of what it was going to be like here, I've seemed to notice the more beautiful things about living in the Beehive state! I work right next to beautiful Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake and often venture there on my lunchbreak. I wanted to share with you how breathtaking Spring is at Temple Square. Take a look...

Tuilps "kissing" the Conference Center tower

Purple blossoms in front of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. My Grandparents on my Checketts side had their reception there back in the day.

The Salt Lake Temple. My ancestor John R. Moyle engraved on the golden tablet you can see set into the middle spire. An AMAZING feat- seeing as though he walked from Alpine Utah every week on a wooden leg to do it:

"John R. Moyle lived in Alpine, Utah, about 22 miles as the crow flies to the Salt Lake Temple, where he was the chief superintendent of masonry during its construction. To make certain he was always at work by 8 o’clock, Brother Moyle would start walking about 2 a.m. on Monday mornings. He would finish his work week at 5 p.m. on Friday and then start the walk home, arriving there shortly before midnight. Each week he would repeat that schedule for the entire time he served on the construction of the temple.

Once when he was home on the weekend, one of his cows bolted during milking and kicked Brother Moyle in the leg, shattering the bone just below the knee. With no better medical help than they had in such rural circumstances, his family and friends took a door off the hinges and strapped him onto that makeshift operating table. They then took the bucksaw they had been using to cut branches from a nearby tree and amputated his leg just a few inches below the knee. When against all medical likelihood the leg finally started to heal, Brother Moyle took a piece of wood and carved an artificial leg. First he walked in the house. Then he walked around the yard. Finally he ventured out about his property. When he felt he could stand the pain, he strapped on his leg, walked the 22 miles to the Salt Lake Temple, climbed the scaffolding, and with a chisel in his hand hammered out the declaration “Holiness to the Lord."

-Jeffrey R. Holland, “As Doves to Our Windows,” Ensign, May 2000, 75

The Lions at the base of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. My favorite place to eat on Temple Square is inside this building. It's called Nauvoo Cafe and I promise you they serve the tastiest toasted sandwiches! The Cranberry-Orange Relish Turkey Sandwich is my favorite!

http://www.diningattemplesquare.com/nauvoo.html

That's it for out tour folks! We end at the statue in front of the Church Office Building that celebrates Motherhood. How appropriate that there are beautiful purple floweres surrounding it- my Mom's favorite color! I love you MOM!