so many photos

to go through, will post soon.

love this

Thanks Ikea for keeping simple wood toys on the market! Get yours here.

my religious blog

Thank you My Religious Blog, for being eternally funny.

Hosanna Shouting / Righteous Anger

"No Priesthood holder should ever raise his voice and shout at his wife or children. Unless of course, it's a Hosanna Shout.

I Hosanna Shout at my family all the time.

It's a good way to let them know you mean business - and yet still set an example."

Bertha

There are few things I love more than finding a great old picture. This gem is my Great-Grandmother Bertha. The back of the picture reads: my new hair do is quite stylish. Yes it is.

pool shopping

Mr. Reece and I were trying to find a pool for the summer. We went back to some pools that we used to sneak into while we were in high school (you know the ones at the many apartment complexes around Provo.) Unfortunately they have all gone fancy with code locks and barbed wire. So, we thought we would try out Veterans pool.

This was a colossal mistake. This pool is more like prison, the pool chairs are a hard metal that burn your back (we both still have burns two days later.) Their rule list is a mile long and they interrupt their easy listening radio to read aloud all the rules. They also reminded all the patrons at the pool that if you have diarrhea to please leave the pool. They also have a mandatory clearing of the pool so they can fish out diapers, red vines and goodness knows what else and they encourage you to go to the bathroom and to not forget to wash your hands. Yeah, the experience was pretty much a disaster. The picture you see above is a direct violation of their no photography rule. Right, because this pool is so visually attractive.

So, we decided to take our business elsewhere and join the crowds at Seven Peaks. A vast improvement even with the Radio Disney that you are forced to listen to and the lack of space in the wave pool.

my office, ok our office

This is how I want our office to look, if I ever get around to organizing it.
(photograph by Annie Schlechter, via Domino's Deco Files, I found this on automatism.)

The 4th

I love the 4th, mostly because it's a holiday where you get to sit around and eat. It's what the founding fathers would have wanted right? I felt very patriotic myself.
This year was a bit different. My dear Grandma is not doing very well, and it was the first year she didn't get to come to the parade and the first year she didn't watch the fireworks. The upside was lots of my extended family and all of her children were able to be here, and we had a great time together doing what we do best . . . eating.
I am actually a little bummed at how few pics I have, but I spent most of my time in the kitchen cooking. That was so much fun I love cooking for tons of people, especially people I love. So here are the few from a great weekend!

Love this pic, me & my mom 4th of July 1983.
Of course, I am eating.

The parade was great. We have a prime spot on a shaded portion of Center street thanks to Miss Bonnie Jean Hayes Callis! The best part of the parade is watching the little kiddies. Pace had the best time with this little water mister.

My Grandma and her strapping grandsons.

We did have a small tragedy. This adorable little chick somehow wandered into the backyard and we assumed that it belonged to our neighbors who have hens. So, my cousins kindly deposited the little chick into the coop where it was promptly pecked to death by the hens. R.I.P. little guy. (I still stand that everyone should be equally as sad for the pig that we slowed cooked and then hungrily devoured without a second thought. But, being the family vegetarian pretty sure I am the only one to see it that way. Oh well.)

The family picture.

The downtown Provo fair, and a one pic of Stadium of Fire

4th of july polas

This vacuum one is just random, I liked the colors.

Happy 4th!

homemade ketchup

I can't think of a better weekend to try homemade ketchup.
Have a very happy 4th!

MAKES ABOUT2 3/4 CUPS
ACTIVE TIME:20 MIN START TO FINISH:3 HR (INCLUDES COOLING)
1 (28- to 32-oz) can whole tomatoes in juice
1 medium onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup cider vinegar

Purée tomatoes with juice in a blender until smooth.
Cook onion and garlic in oil with 1/4 tsp salt in a 4-qt heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 8 minutes. Add spices and 1/2 tsp pepper and cook, stirring frequently, 1 minute. Add tomato purée, tomato paste, brown sugar, and vinegar and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until very thick, 45 to 55 minutes (stir more frequently toward end of cooking to prevent scorching).
Purée ketchup in blender until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids). Chill at least 2 hours (for flavors to develop).
COOKS’ NOTE: Ketchup keeps, chilled, 1 month.

recipe courtesy Gourmet Magazine
image courtesy Romulo Yanes

little reds

We really miss these little girlies and their parents too! Can't wait to meet their newest addition coming in September! To see more of this immense cuteness go here.

love these

A Little Lark
Oh if money grew on trees I would buy all of these!


look at them here, buy them at Soel Boutique!

House Industries
Alexander Girard designs


This stuff is so great! Check it out here.

I must have this

Get yours at the newly opened Kantan Designs on Etsy! I am going to buy mine a.s.a.p.! Those Mildenstein's are a talented bunch!

alice in wonderland

I am so excited for anything that Tim Burton does, but this one looks particularly tremendous! I love these photos for the movie, the deep colors are amazing. I wish I could have found the photographer's name who is responsible for these great images, but you need to check out more about here. Thanks to Heather over at The Coterie for posting about this!

michael jackson

My top 10 Michael Jackson songs, and thanks a lot youtube for disabling the embedding all of his videos.

1.Billie Jean
2.Rock With You
3.Don't Stop Till You Get Enough
4.Remember The Time
5. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
6. Man In The Mirror
7. The Way You Make Me Feel
8. I'll Be There
9.Bad
10. Smooth Criminal

a lesson in amazing

I would give my right arm to attend this workshop (too bad they only accept major credit cards.) The Lyons are some tremendous photographers whose work is sublime. If you haven't seen their work check them out here. And of course if anyone wants to sponsor a little wanna-be photographer I also accept all major credit cards ; )

Image & photo via amelialyon.net

Tiek Built Homes

Our friends Steve & Allison Tiek remodel, consult, build and construct dream homes, and they are amazing at it! I had the opportunity this morning to photograph this beautiful kitchen that Steve (founder and owner of TBH) had recently remodeled into this stunning kitchen. I wanted to throw down my camera and start cooking away! For your very own dream home here is their contact info:

(801)234-0445 or email tiekbuilthomes@gmail.com for a free consultation and estimate. They would love to discuss ideas with you on how you can improve the feel, look and value of your home! And check out their blog here.