Warm Yellow Summer Sound

Fun music is afoot.
Do you like the summer? warm nights? direct sun overhead and blue water to your knees? Do you like smelling coconut sun oil and lazy afternoons?
Take Panda Bear/Animal Collective/Deerhunter/Atlas Sound (same but different dudes & collabs) all balled up together and caught in a sun jar and you get this great song.
Not yet released by Atlas Sound until October (but leaked early) and so worth sharing, me thinks. Lucky us.
Now go listen to this while we have a bit of beautiful summer left and think happy thoughts. Always.


**And new albums on the right are worth checking

More UT

I know this doesn't interest many and, quite frankly, I probably won't need to remember much of this week because it was full of what summer vacay's are all about: relaxing and fun nonsense. But there are some things to note so I will do so briefly and to the point.
#1: Taxidermy is the shizzle. Thought about going to the zoo but guess what. It's HOT and I didn't feel like tromping around in the sun and 90 degree temps so instead Jess and I went to the classic Monte L. Bean museum. Dude. This thing has been around since I was a kid and I swear it has hardly changed. Air conditioned, FREE, animals are up close and there were lots of bugs. Luke was in heaven. (I also discovered that you can have a similar experience at Cabella's)
#2: For some reason the kids were very interested in the potato bugs in the front yard and occupied much of the week gathering personal collections in glass jars. They also gave them dirt, leaves and petals to make them "happy". Then my dad fed them to his birds. (yes, in front of the children)
#3: The neighbors disc rope swing. Hazardous, yes. Therefore, thrilling. Esp. when a car could come down the drive at any moment.
#4: Park City. Jess encouraged us adults to spend an evening doing something different and suggested PC. First we rode the scout up there which was a great suggestion because it was amazing to drive up the Provo Canyon without a roof above. Beautiful views. Of course, I neglected to get pics of this and only snapped this one of me in the rear view, hair whipping in my face. You should try it sometime. Then we ate and drove up to the Park City Mountain Resort and rode the new Alpine Coaster which was really fun. Unlike the slide that can whip off the track, this will not and it jerks you all around. Here I am riding up the track. That big bulb thing at the top is where you turn and begin coasting down super duper fast. Right before I arrived up there, I caught Marty on my right, on the brakes, creating space (from my parents in front of him) so he could let the dogs out and howl down. It was so fun but spensy @ $20 a pop but I now see why you should not eat for the month and spend that food budget on the unlimited $60 pass and go over and over. You may toss your cookies anyway, so why waste that on food? Give it a whirl!
So this wasn't that brief. Sorry. Sort of. Thanks Fams for the fun times!
**I should note that Scott had so many plates of things to juggle + scout camp so I took this tiny trip by me lonesome. So sad, yes- shed tears. I missed me mate. But he survived just fine. He had Le Tour!

Eat Me

Tired of cooking? Tired of grilled chicken/salmon/veggies over and over? Er... more like Lucky Charms/Cupcakes/Ice Cream....Yeah, me too. It is hard to keep up a variety of things when summer hits because all play and no work = no energy to work for dinner. :)
But please, take my word and make this salad. It is SO freakalicious. Balsamic/honey reduction drizzle, grilled peaches, prosciutto and fresh cheese? It's a taste sensation, I am telling you.
Plus, super duper easy and fast.

Courtesy of Cooking Light right here

PS- I substitute the goat cheese with feta. Lip smack.

J Really?

I really do have more important things to update on here. But there's nothing like starting off the day (week?) with a little procrastination. I will say though, that the UT was nice and I even wandered into creative mode which was refreshing to do again. So I promise: things of substance and circumstance to post here and in Academe SOON. Until then.... fluff, my dears... fluff.

I dig J-crew as much as the next girl but as many know, times come and go when they release something that does not make sense. I simply chalk it up to being some weird East Coast trend/culture thing that I shouldn't judge because I don't understand. I know we have them around here, too- like the bad t-shirt-under-a-halter thing that regrettably still exists. So when they embroider tiny crabs all over bright red chino's (for men, mind you).... I just figure that it must be cool in.. say... Cape Cod or somewhere or they wouldn't dump money into adding it to a new fall line.... right?
New fall goods are popping up and some of them are great- cool colors of their matchstick cords or sweaters.... but I need help understanding these and that is where YOU, my friends, can enlighten my short sighted fashion mind.
1) Lots of ankle length pants.... hmmm... they look cool, yes. But was a bit surprised there were so many. Is this a coming thing? (Anna & Kjirst- help)
2) These socks... oh these socks with shorts and heels.... please tell me they are not serious? Look at those pants. Is that all over Manhattan or something? Flourescent ankle sock/Blahnik combo's? Yikes.

Get Your Freak On

I've told you so don't play all coo and act like it's weird that I am already scouting Michaels Halloween section or giddy about Target's Back-to-School-goods-because-it-means-that-Halloween-will-get-stocked-next or anything like that... Don't get all weird because you know. You know how much I dig this here holiday. So Happy July with more new merch to checky check. Grandin Road has partnered with Martha (I know! Like...OM-Martha!) and added some cool goods to their seasonal fare. Is it weird that I feel I have some "gore" standards? Weird that the rubber/plastic super bloody, fanged eye-socket zombie with guts spilling out hanging from a chain is SO not spooky cool and yet.... I find this hanging cocoon man to be fantastic. There's a diff, yo.
I think those hands hanging from the wall would be great in the bathroom holding the toilet paper.
Oh my....have fun shopping!

Cool To The Max

I heard this was being made into a movie and imagined it would be pretty cool. But you never really know, you know?
Finally saw the preview at Harry Potter (more on that later) and got really excited. Was stunned at the style and originality. And to the sounds of Arcade Fire? C is for clevah. Creativity is freaking awesome. It looks pretty darn great. Another reason to anticipate October. Go watch the trailer.

July In Provo Pt. 2

Despite not having much of a plan, we ended up filling the time quite easily. Sometimes I get anxious when I am home because I am torn between relaxing like Dr. Chevalier or going non stop. Each make me consider the other. :) Having a plan usually helps me with this but this time we didn't have a plan so it did stress me out a little. I know. So hi-may...
A fun new destination this trip were some water parks. Since the community pool water slide was a success at home, we took the kids to Seven Peaks. I forgot that waiting, all wet, in a long line for a slide can be boring. And weird.... (mostly because you notice body details of soggy strangers standing with you in line). But the kids didn't mind and hearing them laugh all the way down was worth it.
We also went to Veterans Pool. An old location I went to since I was a wee kid that has lasted all these years and been added upon. Way back when there was a large painting of a friendly cartoon dolphin painted on the floor of the deep end. An image that gave me the eebie-geebies every time I dared to go off the high diving board and avoided touching with my toes at all costs. Why? Because it was going to grab me! So when we ascended the tall stair case for the water slides, my 34 year old self glanced over to that end of the pool to make sure IT couldn't see me. Whew! He's gone. All was good in the land again. (Dearest old mates from my past, do you remember this??)
We also visited Jess' home and swam in their pool. I love their back yard. After coming here a few times post 4th of July parade to BBQ & swim with her fun family, it's like a part of summer that must be done. It was quieter this time, obviously, and that wasn't half bad either. Scott napped in the hammock while Jess and I talked and surveyed the kiddies swim and chalk executions. Look at those trees and shade..... Ahhhh... (Hugh! Where are my grapes?!)
After lunch at the park one day, we went with Tracy + clan to the BYU Art Museum. This was GREAT. I recommend this to anyone who can go. Walter Wick, who does the I Spy childrens books, is currently featured there along with another amazing artist named Dan Steinhilber.
The images from that visit are a bit fuzzy (sorry) but you can get an idea of the fun. The WW stuff was great- half of his work using illusion, very M.C. Escher, so it was cool to explain some of the visual tricks to the kids. The rest were really cool models and sets for photos and stories. Check out the snappy mini village! So cool. I spy a vampire, a gate and moon...You push a button and the town lights come on. I took a pick with Luke & Grace and zoomed in for my own. Pretty neat, eh?
The Dan Steinhilber side was especially groovy. He uses every day items for his work. Big wads of balloons, garbage bags, sauce packets, etc. In a dark room he had floor fans aimed in a corner of packing peanuts. Every few seconds they would turn on and blow those peanuts in a contained whirlwind that we could not keep the kids out of. Really cool. Try this at home. Luckily, this exhibit was extended through August. So local buddies? I suggoost you go.
Another day we visited Uncle Cody Captain Fireman to see the station and trucks. The kids liked the ambulance best I think and wanted a ride on a gurney (Um, no). Elliet yeilded to our continuous encouragement to try item after item of Cody's uniform. The helmet was heavy enough! You put all his stuff on and it's 50+ lbs!
After all we did there were still a few things left to go do, so we'll hit those in these next days that we are back. Fun Fun in the Summer time...

July In Provo

Since we celebrated the 4th at home, we tossed many ideas around of what to do with the week we had free after the holiday. It still came down to going up to visit family and friends in Utah. It is so beautiful up there this time of year and we had fun filling in our days with impromptu fun.
These are some of the things we did WITHOUT the kids:
Bike rides. Mix and match the participants and days.... we rode with Rich, Shep and Jess up the beautiful Provo canyon to different routes. No matter which end point we head to, we usually ride the trail up and I LOVE IT. It's deeply shaded, along the river and so pretty. And if you're really lucky, you'll get a tasty gnat breakfast when you smile big like. As Richard grumbled when we rode through earlier in the week: "You must speak Elvish in these woods! On to Mordor!" I ate some from laughing out loud to that.
























One night a few of us hopped in a scout and went for ice cream and a DVD. Is anything more summer than a drive at 9pm with the sky still violet from a sunset, orange street lights and warm breeze? Yes - doing it with your favorite people. Fams!













Thursday night in SLC they have a free concert series going on for a few weeks. Last week when we were there, the performers were Jenny Lewis and Bon Iver. NICE! Rich & Randi, Marty & Jess, Scott & I all hit the town for some Thai, fun outdoor tunes and people watching. It was too crowded to see anything so we snagged a shady spot under the trees. Nothing like some pretty Bon Iver on a cool summer evening.... if you can hear it. So we split and got some fresh strawberry shakes and fries at Hires. The plus: everyone got to hear when Scott laughs so hard he sounds like he's crying.
We also celebrated Cody's Birthday and got in some Halloween shopping. Um, yeah!? Remember my friends? This is the month it all comes out! But there wasn't much up yet so hopefully I'll find more when we go back in a few days. Yes. Back. Yippee-I-yay.

July 4th

We did a little something different this year for our July 4th Holiday. Usually we are up in Provo which is packed with fun and activity. This year we stayed home while Scott's family gathered for his fathers 65th Birthday (on the fancy day itself). As much fun as we have in Utah every year, it was a nice change to relax and stay put. And I mean, really relax. We were at their home most of the weekend while the kids played with cousins and we sat around stuffing our faces and caught up with everyone.
Scott's Mom has had a Saturday surprise in store for Bob for months, so Friday night we had a fun family BBQ and exchanged gifts and had cake, all to convince him that was his official celebration. But Saturday at lunchtime many friends and family just showed up at the house to partake in lunch and well wishing. It was a nice surprise for him and was such a sweet effort on her part. And a success! (as far as he's letting on anyway...) :)
After the event was over we swam again, had snow cones (of course!), partook of some balance-board Wii action (who knew Todd had such hip swish capabilities?) and ended the evening with fireworks. After some loud snappers, spinning flowers and a few bottle rockets in the pool, I think the sparklers were the biggest hit of all.
It was great to be with the Leaver fam.
Hope you all had a beautiful, summery and celebratory 4th!

(Here are Luke & Sadie showing off their American tattoos. And Luke doing so with a ladybug friend)

June Finale

Oy Vey. What has it been...two weeks? I have lost track on when I last posted. Despite my idea that summer would be calm and I would have all this time to wax creative, relax and be fed grapes by Hugh Jackman, I swear the opposite has happened. I have come to a rude awakening that this will not occur until fall when school begins again. So we have jumped right in to playing like crazy. Gone to the free summer movies with friends, hit the library, played in the water at the park, etc. We have lucked out with weather this year because most of the month was glorious. The park? In June? Usually unthinkable. So we did as much outside as we could. One thing to note is I took the kids to the community pool which has a 'big kid' waterslide. Elliet was able to do it last year but the twins weren't. This year, they can. And they did. And for the first time I sat at the pool in a lounge chair and watched them from afar while they played and swam and went down that thing over and over again. It was a bitter sweet moment- no kids were hanging on me and I loved it. And....no kids were hanging on me and I realized this was the just the beginning of them not needing me. Gulp. So I am glad we are doing so much this summer. This is why I didn't enroll them in too many things so we could just hang out. And hang out we have!
The weekend before the 4th, our friends Shep & Tracy visited from Utah. It was so fun to have them come down. We stacked the weekend with swimming, bike rides, shopping, sushi and Transformers (er... thumbs down, eh?) and glorious crafting. Tracy is such a cool girl and is always so interested in groovy things. We talked about gardening, crafting and cooking and she did some of it with me! Luckeeeee. We made whole wheat manicotti from scratch and she helped me sew these skirts for the girls. I've had the fabric for weeks, waiting and waiting. There is no way they would have turned out as well had she not guided the geek (me). They are some dandy friends and we loveth them. Thanks for coming, guys!
On the heels of this visit, we prepped for the 4th. Scott's Dad's Bday is July 4th and his Mom was planning a su-preeez which I can now blab about. As it was his 65th grandiose Bday, we stayed in town and partied down with the Leavers. Good times were had and lets hope I can get pics of the rest of our happenings up soon. I've only got a week to do it before more good times roll again.
"See you soon, freaks!" - King Julian