Flashbacks

I first saw my wedding cake design on Maisie Fantaisie and I was in love, it was so pretty! I didn't think I would be able to have a cake just like it for our wedding because it was a design based in London and when I calculated the servings it cost well a crazy amount of £'s. I printed a picture and took it to a meeting with Diane Fairfield a family friend who said she could make it. I had no idea that she could actually make the exact cake and I was thrilled when I saw her bring it in the Steilicoom Town Hall on our wedding day... Thank You Diane for one of the greatest highlights at our wedding >>> the cake.

Peeking out of the drawing room to see our cake... my grandpa looks pretty excited ;)

Pretty Coconut Macaroons

Lately I have been obsessed with a cute little patisserie on Old Main Street in Bellevue, called Belle Pastry. When I go there it is just to get one of their coconut macaroons. I didn’t know I liked coconut until I tried one of these! So I thought I would make my own... and since I was making such an adorable little item I thought I would dress it up with a pretty display of pink and glitter. The recipe for these amazing things is below... enjoy!

Ingredients

• 3 large egg whites 
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 14-ounce package sweetened shredded coconut (about 5 cups)

Directions

1. Heat oven to 325° F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
2. Vigorously whisk together the egg whites, sugar, vanilla, and salt in a medium bowl until glossy, foamy, and the sugar is mostly almost dissolved. Fold in the coconut, stirring until evenly combined.
3. Using a small ice cream scoop, drop the batter in mounds (about 2 tablespoons each) 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake, rotating the sheets halfway through, until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes; let cool completely. The macaroons will keep for up to 5 days at room temperature in an airtight container.

Natural Scientist

Have you ever heard someone say that most of the time your dream job is the one that you decided you wanted when you were in kindergarten, when someone asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up? Well I have and I would have to say I somewhat agree. When I was five I wanted to be a "Natural Scientist." I didn't really know what a scientist was, but I did know that I loved the now closed Natural Wonders store in the Tacoma Mall ;) and that if my life could somehow include rocks, dinosaurs, plants, oceans, and animals, well then I would die a happy girl. I started a rock collection (which is to this day horded away in my grandparents tool shed), I started collecting every kind of animal figurine and nature books. I made an "office" in my bedroom between my bed and the wall where all these things were organized and I dreamt about traveling the world and making new discoveries.

Why am I telling you this? Well maybe to inspire you to follow your dreams or think about how you can fit them into your already established life. I know for me art has somehow filled this role through imagery, history, and passion.

Below is some photography taken on our recent Oregon Coast trip. I would say a certain “Natural Scientist” and her husband took them.

So here is to your kindergarten predetermined occupations whether it’s a firefighter, ballerina, or vet...

Heartlines

Everytime I take a trip with Paul I end up refering to it as the "best trip ever!" this is starting to become a problem because we have taken many trips from San Francisco, L.A., Kauai, and Yachats, to Leavenworth and Vashon Island. I guess they all can't be my favorite, but, this last one to Lincoln City was pretty amazing.

It's becoming apparent that we like to wander... not sure what that says about us, but I am so happy that the person I married is as equally intrested in the art of the beautiful world around us. I have plenty of stories, ideas, and images to share from our trip. But for now all I really have to say is sharing another adventure with Paul again has shown me how truly blessed I am to have him in my life. I cannot wait to travel the rest of the world with him in the years to come.

Date Night in Seattle

I am so excited that today is September 1st Fall is on the horizon! Paul and I have been "house hunting" and searching for city's that we would like to live in when I finish school in the spring, with another quarter about to start I am getting even more excited that the next chapter of our lives is right around the corner. That being said... We realized that Seattle is pretty amazing and that if we are only going to be here a little longer we should start exsploring it while we have the chance.

So this evening Paul and I walked along the Seattle Waterfront and through the Seattle Art Museum's Sculpture Garden I started thinking about how great it is that there is a place with public art that is kept so beautiful for people to enjoy... I know some individuals do not approve of public art but I really think it does so much to create a sense of community and city pride. Not sure where I am going with this thought other then I just would love to live in a place that is as submerged in the arts as Seattle or even more so.

P.S. The image above is Paul sitting on a house sculpture that was built in the Sculpture Park you can check it out >>> HERE

Well thanks to my mom for letting me borrow her AWSOME camera and Paul for teaching me how to use it, I am hoping to have some better quality photos on this blog (pintrest worthy even) hope you enjoy and if you live in the Seattle Area I would definatly reccommend taking an evening as the summer comes to an end and visiting the Sculpture Park!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!... and I don't mean Christmas.

Ok first off I aplologize for changing the format of my blog ALL the time... I am a little OCD and I am trying to teach myself how to design a blog, so again I apologize and I think it is going to stay this way for now.

Today I am officially feeling it... It's fall time and I am so excited! Fall in my family starts when the Puyallup Fair opens. My Mom said that was the beginning of fall and would drag all of the horse blankets from the tack room and bundled the horses all up at night when we brought them into the barn. I don't have that to look forward too anymore but some of my favorite fall things now are: pumpkin spice latte's, colorful leaves, cozy sweaters, boots, and movie nights cuddled up with Nemo and my love.  

One of my greatest memories when I was little is my grandparents taking me and my brothers to the Key Bank near their house. We would park their big van under the huge colorful trees and climb up to pick them and fill our grocery bags full, then we would go home and make art projects. My grandma would help us iron them in wax paper. (Thinking I might do this, this year!) Stay tuned for DIY leaf projects... Paul and I actuallly made our own art project a couple years ago, we were inspired by Artist Andy Goldsworthy.

Well it's almost Fall Time and I couldn't bee more excited! Stay tuned for DIY fall projects and recipes oh and check out this one >>> Pumpkin Chip Cookies

Oregon Coast Engagement 2010

3 years ago today Paul showed up at my apartment early in the morning with his Art Institute backpack and told me to get up we were going somewhere. Me not being a morning person was pretty grumpy about this… I threw on some old comfy clothes, and jumped in the car. Paul drove and drove and when I finally started to wake up I realized we were on our way to the coast. When we finally arrived near Cannon Beach Paul parked and we walked along the water until we came to a quite clearing where there was an old shipwreck of some sort. Paul got down on one knee and nervously pulled out if his backpack a beautiful ring that he picked out all by himself… I had no idea. I just remember immediately dropping to my knees, giving him a huge hug saying YES!!! and then putting on the ring. We sat on the beach and watched the sunrise and then drove into a cute little village and spent the day together. It was amazing! One of the many best days of my life since Paul has been in it.