Who would have thought I’d be blogging about swimsuits? But I think
this one is pretty much the cutest swimsuit I’ve ever seen.

Too bad I’ll be avoiding bathing suits this summer!

Actually I’m starting a new eating/workout “program” next week which is sort of embarrassing to talk (blog) about but I’m kind of excited. I’ll maybe share more after I give it a shot.

But until next week I’m drinking lots and lots of Coke…. I know, I know.

Anyway, maybe I’ll save this bathing suit for next year!

Are you ready for summer?

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. I love Easter SO much. Plus it was General Conference weekend. Double win.

To make the weekend even better my cousin Deana and her kiddos (the bobbleheads as she calls them) were in town for Easter and an early birthday and of course my cutest niece and nephew are here now. Harlow was in heaven with lots of little toes to chase, I was up to my eyeballs in cake baking (and spatula licking) and the sun was busy shining.

My favorite things about the weekend:

General Conference talks

Little 3 yr old Paisley telling me, “Carlos is a pre coot little goggie”
(I may change Harlow’s name to Carlos)

Maxtin who’s 4 getting very excited at the thought of helping me clean my room and finally exclaiming, “I’ll be your hero!

Playing chess with my nephew Triston who’s 9 and awesome.

Alexis telling me she named her goldfish Aunt Vanessa.

Getting Harlow a pair of shoes and watching her walk (and admit defeat) in them. I have a video somewhere. It’s laugh out loud funny.

Realizing I bought my dog shoes… oh dear.

Yummy, yummy dinners with family.

A long talk with my dad.

Flowers blooming all over the place.

It was a perfectly perfect weekend.

ps – Sorry I am so lame at posting photos. I did take a few Polaroids but my scanner and I are fighting.

photo by FuturoWoman. Check out her shop

Dear lung infection,
I will not miss you even a little bit.

Dear Harlow,
Sorry I missed your birthday. Don’t be sad. I’ll make it up to you.

Dear sweet niece and nephew,
Thanks for moving close by. Being Aunt Vanessa is way better than being regular Vanessa.

Dear Kyle and Mark,
Thanks for coming to visit. I love you SO much.

Dear sunshine-y weather,
Love you!

Dear people who think it’s annoying when I talk to my dog,
It’s WAY more annoying when you answer for her.

Dear frizzy hair (mine),
Calm the heck down.

Dear self,
Calm the heck down too.

Dear Corey,
I’ll always miss you

Dear Facebook,
It’s the random notes from my mission President that keep us together.

Dear Impossible Project,
Can’t wait for the new film to arrive.

image found via You Are My Fave

I haven’t seen the movie yet. But… I have seen these window displays at Selfridges. So dreamy and pretty.

Sefridges is my favorite store to wander around when I’m in London because I swear it’s bigger than the town I grew up in. It’s insane. I love it!

images via Selfridges

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose.”

– Dr. Seuss

I mentioned several months ago that 2010 would be a year of making decisions and the time has come.

It’s funny – I sort of crave change with every fiber of my being and yet when the time comes I want to retreat, change my mind and keep things the same. Even if the same isn’t so great. Dumb, huh?

Lately (well, for the last long while) I’ve found myself sacrificing what I want and what I need and at times even my own happiness because I feel that, in some way, I’ll be able to help the people I care about by keeping things the same. I’m not saying this in an “I’m so wonderful, sacrificing for my family” kind of way. I’m saying in a “Stop making excuses for not doing what you want to do” kind of way.

So what’s my point? I’m not sure I actually have one. Sorry! I just feel like I’m ready to get on with things already. No more excuses, no more fear.

This means the upcoming months will be spent searching (for apartments and jobs and opportunities) and organizing (my life and my house and my head… oh and my blog!) and praying, of course, that everything comes together. I’m sure it will.

In other news my nephew Triston (who is the sweetest boy ever) asked me the other night, “Aunt Vanessa will you make one of your very, very good special cakes for my birthday?” Talk about putting the pressure on! Although I made him some toast with honey the other day and he told me it tasted like heaven so I think I might be okay.

I hope you had a wonderful weekend! xo

photo credit

“Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

This is my new philosophy. No more “old nonsense”.

What are some of your favorite quotes?

photo credit

My friend Stacey and her husband are looking for renters ASAP, so if you know anyone looking please send them her way. They’ve recently moved to CA and need to find renters quickly because paying two mortgages, well, has to stink.

If I were moving back to Utah I would rent this place in a second! I mean, come on… it is probably the cutest 3 bedroom townhouse I’ve ever seen. You can see the full listing here but all kitchen appliances are included (even a washer/dryer). It’s $1350/ month and that includes the HOA. Seriously, it’s a steal.

On March 22nd, The Impossible Project presented the world with it’s first, brand new instant film made for the original Polaroid cameras. Huzzah!

You can check out the project here

and the movie here.

And you should definitely read this article written by Sarah Gilbert.

It feels like a miracle that this crazy project that started with what seemed like a very high likelihood of failure has succeeded in saving the future of instant film.

A victory for everyone who believes in impossible things!

Two of our analog heros: Florian Kaps & Andre Bosman

“Don’t undertake a project unless it’s manifestly important and nearly impossible.”
Edwin Land
(inventor of Polaroid film)

image 1
image 2 & 3

I was shocked to find out Sunday morning that a good friend had passed away. I still don’t fully believe it. I just talked with Corey a few days ago – laughing at life, me telling him he still owes me a Phish bootleg that he promised me in high school. He was so very loved in life and death will not change that.

I feel your silent laughter
at sentiments so bold
that dare to step across the line
to tell what must be told,
so I’ll just say I love you,
which I never said before
and let it go at that old friend
the rest you may ignore.
-Robert Hunter
(originally written for Jerry Garcia)

image by Joshua Mcgowan