King Willem-Alexander

The Dutch have a new king today.  As you may have read, Queen Beatrix has abdicated, and her son, Willem-Alexander, is taking the throne.  The Dutch are fantastic at big celebrations, and I really love that their national color is orange (complemented by blue and white).  Look at these beautiful flowers!

Sunset Magazine

Have you ever read Sunset magazine?  It is a great resource for life in the West.  I picked up a copy in California and loved it so much that I started a subscription!  The May issue includes information about fun gear for camping and ideas for beautiful bouquets.

Friday Featured Art: Legion of Honor Museum

While we were in San Francisco, we visited the Legion of Honor Museum.  You may recognize it from the film Vertigo.  It has a nice collection.  I liked this Georges Seurat painting of the yet-to-be-finished Eiffel Tower.  (These are photos that I took - it was beautiful when we were there.)

Thursday Tunes: Young Blood

We just returned from a trip to San Francisco.  (It was my first time in California since I was 11 and my first time ever in Nor Cal!)  We discovered a great alternative radio station out there Live 105.3.  They play a lot of good stuff from the '90s (and today).  My husband is liking this song: "Young Blood" by The Naked and Famous.

I Still Love Calligraphy

I was looking for a calligraphy class and stumbled on the work of Melissa Esplin.  Her web site I Still Love Calligraphy includes some beautiful samples for sale as PDFs as well as an online course in modern calligraphy.  Beautiful.

Poppy Bakeware

I paid Anthropologie a visit recently and found all sorts of lovely things.  This poppy bakeware is so beautiful.  I want the square one...

Friday Featured Art: Michael Malm

I really liked the illustrations by Michael Malm in the latest issue of the Ensign.  He's an artist from Cache Valley, and his paintings are beautiful.  His work includes incredible portraits and ethereal landscapes.  This Utah scene is very nostalgic for me.

Missionaries

Today would have been my first husband's 36th birthday (he passed away 11 years ago tomorrow).  This year we made a donation to the General Missionary Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in his honor.  There are more missionaries serving now than ever before!

"And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work." -D&C 4:5

Landscape Pillow

I got a catalog from Crate & Barrel the other day (I'm not sure why...), and it had some lovely pillows in it.  I really like this Landscape Pillow.  Perhaps Joe could branch out into designing home decor...

Sis. Oscarson

Have you read about the new General Young Women Presidency?  Sis. Oscarson is on Pinterest!  I've been perusing her boards, and she has found some awesome and funny things.  Check it out here.

Friday Featured Art: April in Paris

The Art Institute has mini tours available as PDFs for self-guided, thematic tours of the museum.  One that will take you to some of the highlights is called April in Paris and includes Gustave Caillebotte's masterpiece, Paris Street; Rainy Day.  The next time you're in Chicago, print out a mini tour and enjoy some great art!

Thursday Text: 1776 (Illustrated Edition)

History was the topic of this month's book club, and it made me pull out this fabulous book that my parents gave me.  It's an illustrated edition of David McCullough's bestseller 1776.  This edition includes beautiful artwork and replicas of letters and documents from Colonial America.  I haven't read the whole thing, but I would say it's definitely worth browsing!

Waverly Fabric

I found some really great fabric for valances in our exercise/laundry room.  I'll have to post a picture when I've finished them.  I hung a collage frame with pictures of various national parks that we've visited, and I was looking for something kind of Southwest-looking.  I liked the Santa Maria (brighter one), but we decided to go with the Mayan Medallion.  It's made by Waverly.

Burley Clay Products

When we were at the farm store the other day, my husband bought me this lovely clay crock made by Burley Clay Products.  I'm not sure what I'll put in it yet, but I love it.

Russian Gingerbread

Have you ever tasted Russian gingerbread?  We found some at the Global Foods Market in St. Louis, and it is delicious!  I believe the anglicized name is pryaniki, and you can find a recipe to try here.

Friday Featured Art: Maria Sibylla Merian

Did you notice the Google doodle on Tuesday celebrating the 366th anniversary of Maria Sibylla Merian's birth?  Her scientific illustrations are beautiful.  I like all of the little creatures creeping around.

Thursday Tunes: Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise

When we were in Utah, we attended Music and the Spoken Word at the Tabernacle.  It was really great.  One of the numbers that the choir performed was Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise.  I couldn't find a version by the Tabernacle Choir on YouTube, but I found this one of a combined Institute choir.  (They often sing this hymn for General Conference, so be watching this weekend!)

Alexander the Grape

Do you remember Alexander the Grape candy?  They're now known as Grapeheads, but I don't think they're quite as potent as they used to be...

Twig Terrariums

I saw a book about Twig Terrariums at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis.  I think terrariums are a lovely idea.  You can get fun DIY kits from their web site (starting at $25), and some include little people!

Shane Confectionery

Did you have a great Easter?  This beautiful sugar rabbit is from Shane Confectionery in Philadelphia.  I read about them in Martha Stewart Living.  I don't know if I would eat it or just look at it...