8.30.2013

Friday Featured Art: Michael Albrechtsen

Michael Albrechtsen is an artist from Utah who now works at Hallmark.  He painted the murals in the Kansas City temple, and they are so beautiful.  He really captured the beauty of the landscape in that area.  I am really enjoying learning more about his work.  (The painting at the bottom is one of his field studies titled All's Well.)



8.29.2013

Thursday Text: Pretzel Making at Home

When we were in Missouri, we found this book at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis.  Pretzel Making at Home by Andrea Slonecker features fabulous pictures and great instructions for making soft pretzels, hard pretzels, and all kinds of dips.  I'm excited to try it out!


8.28.2013

Hopewell Quilts

Hopewell quilts were featured in the latest issue of Sunset magazine.  They are beautiful, simple quilts made by two friends in California.  They are very pricey, but you can always visit their site for inspiration!


8.27.2013

Family Proclamation Printable

I taught the lesson in Young Women's on Sunday, and it was about strengthening the family.  I was excited to find this cute printable of The Family: A Proclamation to the World on LollyJane.  It's available FREE in different sizes with brown or pink type.


8.23.2013

Friday Featured Art: Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

When we were in Missouri a week ago, we visited the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City.  We had only been there once before and just remembered that it was a small museum with some nice Asian art.  So we were pleasantly surprised to discover that they have a really great collection.  I'll have to share some pieces in the coming weeks, but many of you may already know some of their most famous works - the huge shuttlecocks that adorn the lawn.


8.22.2013

Thursday Text: I Remember Nothing

Our latest book club topic was personal essay, so I read I Remember Nothing by Nora Ephron.  I like her insight.  As with I Feel Bad About My Neck, there was a lot of name dropping - but she lived her life in New York City among many famous people (admittedly, I did not know who a lot of them were...).  I enjoyed reading her thoughts and stories.  I found it especially poignant since it was the last book that she wrote before she passed away.  The last segments are lists of things that she would not miss and things that she would miss.  I will miss Nora Ephron!


8.21.2013

Jhumka Earrings

In Chennai Express, Deepika Padukone is often seen wearing fabulous earrings.  I tried to find out more about them and learned that the traditional Indian style is called jhumka.  Below is a sampling of some from the Etsy shop Rumi Collections.  So pretty.



8.19.2013

The Big Snit

The Big Snit is an animated short from the National Film Board of Canada, and it's hysterical.  My late husband had a DVD with a bunch of their little cartoons on it, and we would watch The Big Snit and laugh until we cried.  Good times.


8.16.2013

Friday Featured Etsy Seller: Islay's Terrace

I saw this Paris print on the front page of Etsy the other day.  Isn't it lovely?  I love the movie Sabrina, and this quote is so true.  Islay's Terrace is an Etsy shop that features cute prints and fun embroidery.



8.15.2013

Thursday Tunes: Chennai Express

Last week we went to the opening night of the Bollywood film, Chennai Express.  It was a lot of fun.  Bollywood films tend to have bright colors and lots of music and dancing (that sometimes has little to nothing to do with the film...).  The third song (below) has a dancer who was not part of the film other than this song.  Oh, and the actors are all lip-syncing - but it's all so colorful and fun!




8.14.2013

Cream Patisserie Cake Carrier

I think I saw this in Country Living, but I think it's sweet: a French cake carrier from World Market.  My beginning French class is beginning in a couple of weeks, so this is some fun inspiration.


8.13.2013

Sky Lanterns

Sky lanterns are so beautiful, but they worry me.  I found some that are eco friendly, but I'm thinking that they would still pose a fire hazard...  They look so magical, though!


8.12.2013

Wisconsin State Fair Cream Puffs

I know I've mentioned these before, but the Wisconsin State Fair has the best cream puffs ever...


8.09.2013

Friday Featured Art: Jay Paul Bell

I recently learned of a local artist named Jay Paul Bell.  His landscapes of northern Illinois are spot on.  This is pretty much exactly what it looks like around here.


8.08.2013

Thursday Text: DK Eyewitness Travel

My favorite travel guides are the DK Eyewitness Travel books.  They have tons of pictures, of course.  Some of them are fascinating cutaways of buildings and other sites.  The information is not as detailed as other guides, but you can always go to the web after seeing something of interest.



8.07.2013

Chevron Cardigan

We had a couple of days last week that almost felt like fall was on its way.  (Now it's feeling like summer again...)  I was inspired by this cute chevron cardigan from Lands' End (until I saw the price - I'll have to wait for a sale!).


8.06.2013

Jaarsma Bakery

During my travels out West and back, I passed through Pella, IA.  It's a fun Dutch town, complete with an authentic bakery.  Jaarsma Bakery sells traditional treats like these almond crispies.  They also have gifts, like these cute Delft windmill earrings that I bought (I found this picture online - not sure why it's showing up sideways...).



8.02.2013

Friday Featured Art: Greater Love Hath No Man

I was fascinated by this painting when I saw it in the EnsignCasey Childs is working on a diptych of the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith.  This half is finished and is called Greater Love Hath No Man.  It depicts the scene in the bedroom of Carthage Jail.  The other half will show the scene outside the door.  I spent time at Carthage last month, so I find this portrait especially riveting. 


8.01.2013

Thursday Tunes: The Piano Guys

Have you seen The Piano Guys?  They are incredible.  I especially like the piano-cello songs.  I was going to embed the Code Name Vivaldi (Bourne Soundtrack) song, but it wouldn't let me.  So here's the link, and here's a picture: