design star!

the season premier of hgtv's design star aired on sunday night and i am so excited! i haven't watched it yet but i am about to go get cozy on the couch with my hubby and my dvr, so you'll have to excuse me for making this a short one...
happy tuesday!

happy birthday, shekita! happy birthday, mommy #2!

another dose of SATC goodness

my friend elysa can find anything on google. so when we found ourselves obsessing over a piece of artwork in carrie bradshaw's apartment in the sex and the city movie, she worked her google-magic and found it, naturally. turns out it's a wool-and-silk needlepoint wall hanging by paul smith worth multiple thousands of dollars (*sigh*)... but it is absolutely beautiful and i plan on trying to recreate it somehow and at some point because i do LOVE it.

costco

alan and i went to costco today. i love it there. there is so much stuff to look at. for some reason it so fascinating to me to see food items in ridiculously large quantities. we bought five pounds of organic carrots today (for $5!) and don't worry, we'll eat them all. we also enjoyed ourselves some delicious samples along the way. what's not to love?

five senses

i love the smell of coffee grinds, salty ocean air, and crayons; i love the smell of my husband's skin and the way it makes everything all right; i love the smell of garlic and onions and peppers being sauteed in a pan; i love the smell of chai and of changing seasons.

i love the sight of mountains in the distance, of feathers floating on a breeze; i love the way that light dances across the bottom of a clear blue swimming pool;i love to watch baby animals as they stumble through the first stages of life; i love the colors of dawn and i love the sight of fireflies against an evening backdrop.

i love the taste of cold cereal with soymilk; i love the complex flavors of very dark chocolate and the way it satisfies my sweet tooth in just the right way; i love the cold sweet burst of fresh citrus on my tongue and the effort it takes to eat a grapefruit; i love cinnamon and i love mushrooms and i love the challenge of spicy foods.

i love the feel of damp grass beneath bare feet and the feel of a perfectly timed gust of wind; i love the weight of a brand new empty sketchbook in my hands and the feel of blank paper; i love the feeling of safety and happiness that comes from being all wrapped up in someone's arms; i love the surface texture of an oil painting; i love the warm vibrations of the satisfied purr of a cat sitting on my feet.

i love the sound of rain falling outside and the thunder that goes along with it sometimes; i love the way that football noises just sound like fall; i love the sound of european police sirens and the sound of fireworks; i love the sound of ducks quacking.

happy birthday, clarence! happy birthday, j.r.!

the key to a happy life

"gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy -- because we will always want to have something else or something more."

- brother david steindl-rast

random silliness

so alan has a mole on the back of his leg and i only ever notice it when i'm walking up the stairs behind him, but every time i see it - and i do mean every time - i always think he has a bug on his leg! i get really scared for about a half a second until i realize for the hundred and fiftieth time that it's only a mole. it's kind of weird i guess but it makes me smile every time.

obama-rama

from senator (and now democratic presidential candidate) barack obama's victory speech last night (read the full text here)...

"all of you chose to support a candidate you believe in deeply. but at the end of the day, we aren't the reason you came out and waited in lines that stretched block after block to make your voice heard. you didn't do that because of me or senator clinton or anyone else. you did it because you know in your hearts that at this moment – a moment that will define a generation – we cannot afford to keep doing what we've been doing. we owe our children a better future. we owe our country a better future. and for all those who dream of that future tonight, i say – let us begin the work together. let us unite in common effort to chart a new course for america."

this man is fantastic. i get goosebumps when he speaks. it was an honor to vote for him in the primary election and it will be an honor to vote for him in the presidential election in november.

plus, check out the awesome shirt i bought yesterday to celebrate. this one and this one are cool too.

best friends animal society

everyone who knows me knows how much i love animals. which means i love people and organizations that love animals.

the best friends animal society is an amazing non-profit organization that is "dedicated to the simple philosophy that kindness to animals builds a better world for all of us." their utah sanctuary is home to thousands of animals, most of which have special needs and many of which are considered un-adoptable. they give these animals the love, attention, and care that they need in order to live full lives, and they also help to find them "forever homes." the network has also led some of the largest animal rescue efforts at home and abroad.

if you ever need a good cry, you can go to their website and read the stories of some of the cats, dogs, bunnies, horses, and birds that have been rescued. you can even adopt or sponsor one (or more) of them. i can't think of a better way to spend $25.

p.s.... the kitty image up in the corner is from the pawprints project, which sells art prints of actual shelter animals. 10% of the purchase price of each print goes to a local animal shelter.

cheesy email questionnaires

i don't always have time to fill them out, but when i do, i love them!

have you ever...

( ) gone on a blind date

(x) skipped school

( ) been to canada

(x) been to mexico

(x) been to florida

(x) been on a plane

( ) jumped out of a plane

( )been on a helicopter

(x) been lost

(x) been on the opposite side of the country

(x) gone to washington, dc

(x) swam in the ocean

(x) cried yourself to sleep

(x) played cops and robber

(x) recently colored with crayons

( ) sang karaoke

(x) paid for a meal with coins only?

(x) done something you told yourself you wouldn't?

(x) made prank phone calls

( ) laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose

(x) caught a snowflake on your tongue

(x) danced in the rain

(x) written a letter to santa claus

(x) been kissed under the mistletoe

(x) watched the sunrise with someone you care about

(x) blown bubbles

(x) gone ice-skating

(x) gone skiing

(x) gone skinny dipping outdoors

(x) gone to the movies

(x) been to a drive-in movie

1. any nicknames? bebia, liv, O
2. mother's name? deborah
3. favorite drink? non-alcoholic: soy chai lattes...alcoholic: mimosas
4. tattoo? nope i'm a big wuss
5. piercings? ears only
6. how much do you love your job(s)? L.O.V.E.
7. birthplace? washington, d.c.
8. favorite vacation spot? new orleans, paris
9. ever been to africa? no
10. ever eaten cookies for dinner? why,yes
11. ever been on tv? maybe
12. ever steal a traffic sign? oops
13. ever been in a car accident? yes
14. drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? 4 door
15. favorite salad dressing? balsamic vinaigrette

16. favorite pie? punkin or key lime
17. favorite number? 24
18. favorite movie? little mermaid
19. favorite holiday? christmas, of course
20. favorite dessert? warm chocolate cake w vanilla ice cream
21. favorite food? cajun
22. favorite day of the week? saturday
23. what do you do to relax? watch tv or sleep
24. favorite toothpaste? j/a/s/o/n organics powersmile - cinnamon flavor
25. favorite smell? alan :)
28. how do you see yourself in 10 years? living in colorado with my husband and child(ren) and working as an artist in some capacity
29. furthest place you will send this message? austin
30. who will respond to this the fastest? maybe kristmas, since school is out! ;)

someone to love the me that i love

"later that day i got to thinking about relationships. there are those that open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started, and those that bring you back. but the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. and if you find someone to love the you you love,

well, that's just fabulous."

- carrie bradshaw

i went to see the sex and the city movie this weekend with three of my very best girlfriends. we were pathetic with our tears and laughter and all the hugging but it was so great. the movie was perfect, and the whole time i just kept thinking about how lucky i am, and how thankful i am for all of the relationships i have and have had in my life. i have a truly amazing set of friends and family - not to mention an amazing husband - who have all taught me, supported me, cried with me, and laughed with me. they have helped me to find out who i am, they have helped me learn to love who i am, and they have all loved the me that i love.