Enjoy Project | Writing about Home

“i like to see people reunited, 
i like to see people run to each other, 
i like the kissing and the crying, 
i like the impatience, 
the stories that the mouth can't tell fast enough, 
the ears that aren't big enough, 
the eyes that can't take in all of the change, 
i like the hugging, the bringing together, 
the end of missing someone.” 
jonathan safran foer


I present to you, my blog friends, a paragraph or so about my man.  This very moment he is on the final leg of an 18-hour drive.  We've been apart for 492 hours.  Only six more left.  I've missed him so, I'm ready to be Home:

"They" say it's like "coming home."  They are right.  (If, of course, home is as wonderful to you as it is to me.)  When I picture home in my heart, flashes of kitchens, noise, fireplaces, dark nights, dad's screeching shoes (he ALWAYS has his sneakers on), mom working on homework with the little kids (or mom doing homework for the little kids), stories about the day, heating up leftovers, turning on the game or an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond, and happiness.  Reels of my home's messes flicker past the screen; I know they're there and I'm okay with them.  I know the comfiest chairs and couches, the best view to the TV, dad's end of day laugh and mom's "I have a great story for you" face.  I know the smells of my house.  I love the smells of my house.  If it's nighttime, and I drive up to my home, I see silhouettes going about their life.  In their home.  When I go in, I'll hear noises of consistency, familiarity and belonging.  My eyes will trace lines of comfort.  My people are here.  My things are here.  My heart is here.  My laundry is here.  Home isn't always glowy and it's never been "perfect", but when you first say the word I think "wonderful." 


Falling in love is like coming home.  Except, instead of entering a wooden structure wrapped in insulation and shingles, you enter… you enter… a soul.  But that's not even quite right.  "They" say that too.  "Soul-mates."  But you do.  You open and unlock and sometimes fiddle with the key to a dreaming, silly, precious, real, person heart, built on a foundation made up of Life Lived Thus Far.  


When you walk inside there isn't an entry way with a floral rug, a plant and frames on the wall.  But there is small talk, eye glances and flirting.  Sitting around a real family room, besides a crispy fireplace with feet on the coffee table is the relationship equivalent of that break-through conversation where the good impressions get kicked off and knocked under the couch and you see a head-turning look into a person.  Your mind is happy and curious.  Content, lazy and sparked.  Wanting to simultaneously sit long and conquer the world.  


Soon the making dinner together, doing dishes and just wandering into the kitchen ensues.  Daily, foodie, easy togetherness.  And before you know it, you're home.  Flopping down into the strength of trust at the end of a long day.  Opening the junk closets with a "whelp. it is what it is" attitude… knowing you are loved despite your mess.  Longing to just be there.   There with him.   Glints of security, coziness, laughter, easy going, delight, the blessed future, the blessed past, the blessed everything.  


I long to help him be the best man.  I'll get on my knees and scrub, and stand on ladders and drill, fold and fold and fold, and prepare and create and pour out my heart into him.  Calm his worries, spur his tomorrows, re-tell him promises of old, faithful and sure. Often times we don't even consciously know we have fears and secrets.  We don't even know whats up in the attic.  We aren't hiding it, necessarily, but it's been up there for so long we didn't even know it belonged to us anymore.  But then someone starts going through boxes.  Rearranging, pulling out old memories and unzipping your secrets.  They're in.  They know you.  He knows me. I know him. I know how our hands fit.  I know his smells - after work smell, date night smell, car ride smell.  I  love how he smells. I'm crazy about his strengths.  I know his messes and weaknesses.  Or at least some of them.  I will learn more someday.  And I'll still love him.  I'll love him because I trust him.  I trust that he can open my closet doors, and look under my couches, and see what is hidden and unpleasant, and get down on his hands and knees to help me.  To love me.  He isn't afraid of what I have to offer.  I'm not afraid either.  Perfect love does cast out fear and welcomes you home.

Enjoy Pinterest | Pencils

“until i feared i would lose it, i never loved to [write].
one does not love breathing.” 
harper lee -- slighty edited by muah ;)

Okay, we've all heard the "addicted to Pinterest" jokes.  We've gone through the "I'm SO over Pinterest" stage.  But deep deeeep down (or maybe not so deep down for most of us) we adore this new kid in town.  He came in last year as a freshman and hit the winning three for the title.  Now he's looking better then ever as a sophomore.  We love this guy.

Here is the plan for PinThursday:

1] I created a group board called "Enjoy Project"... follow it!

2] Every Thursday I will blog about a particular topic (today, for example, is pencils.)

3] Leave a comment with your Pinterest name and I will add you as a contributor to the group board.  Also leave a link to your favorite/rad find for the theme.  (So leave a link to some awesome pencils - colored pencils, mechanical pencils, etsy pencils, skies the limit!)

4] Once you are added to the group, you can pin your find right to the page.  If you would like to contribute to the group, but do NOT want to be an official contributor, leave your Pinterest name and link and I'll post your find myself, with credit for the find to you.

5] We'll collect ideas together! Sitting all alone on your computer, scrolling through pages and pages, waiting for pins to fetch, is very isolated ;) This way we can interact together! And get to know one another.

6] Once a pin is in the group you can (obviously) re-pin to a different board if you'd like more organization for yourself.

7] Be kind, have fun and enjoy one another, please and thank yaaaa.
8] When pinning on this board, use the #enjoyproject hashtag! It will make it ever easier to find when we have more and more posts.
9] My goal is to have the board available to the current topic for one week.  So you have from Thursday-Wednesday to post pencils! Then Thursday-Wednesday to post _______. (I'm not giving away next weeks topic just yet ;) haha).
10] Enjoy yourself. And the ideas. And the other people. 

Alright! You ready? Go pin!

--


Recently I've been in a "hand-writing" mood.  Typewrites and handwritten letters are "popular" again, but I find myself really enjoying writing out blog posts by hand, then typing them later.  Writing out brainstorms, then typing them later.  Writing out numbers for a budget, then typing them out later.  So unproductive, but so calming and "focus-ing" for me.  


My favorite tool to write with is pencils.  Really sharp ones.  Here are a few I'm pining after:

Aren't these colorful pencils gorgeous?!

I didn't think I would be able to love pencils more then the previous colored ones, but then I found these japanese flowered pencils. Un.BEE.LEAVE.UB.UL. They are like a Sylvia Weinstock cake: too pretty to use!

It bums me out BIG time that these luxury white pencils aren't for sale.  I would be 100 of them.  And write a novel that would make me a millionare.  Such a shame.  Someone sell these pencils!

But of all the goods in the land, these brilliant and creative To Kill A Mockingbird pencils are by far my favorite.  The etsy store (Bouncing Ball Creation) that makes these uses many other books, too.  From The Hunger Games to Harry Potter to Winnie the Pooh, they have it all! Including my heart!

Comment with your Pinterest name and your pencil loves!  I want to see! 

Enjoy Weddings | Glen Echo with Matt + Amelia

“I want to kiss you again, Tess.”
“Why?”
He chuckled, low under his breath. 

“Why? Because you’re beautiful, and because I want you. And I think you want me too.” 

lara adrian

Amelia was on.  Her witty one-liners and dry comments had everybody amused.  Her toothache-sweet father was feeling very sentimental and wanted to share with his Facebook world.  I think he did it because he knew Amelia would roll her eyes and have something funny to say.  Laughter always distracts (or helps?) when you feel full to the brim with emotion.


They laughed on and on.  They laughed about Cheez-its, Jay-Z, Spanx, pretending to know how to use a steamer and dad (still in the background taking pictures for Facebook.)  They danced (mom pulled out her spicy moves!) They tried not to cry ("DON'T. YOU. DARE. I. SWEEAAAR...")




Soon enough they went to church.  The yellow dresses, colorful heels, fresh flowers and pink smiles were the epitome of summer, of fun.



Dad and Amelia talked about signs on the wall, about not crying, about anything that came to mind.

But it was only a matter of time before that beautiful walk and pass-off occurred.

Only a matter of time before a new character enters the storyline of the day. 

A proud papa, with an air much like a pleased king, grandly and honorably handing his little girl off to another, to her best friend, to her favorite man.

This new character, Matt, married our funny and relaxed Amelia.  He promised life with her.  And she with him.

And all of a sudden the scene is different, there is a new man on her arm in the aisle, a new air in the land!  From sentimental, teary and sweet we have gone to rejoicing, whistles and cheers!


I love Matt and Amelia (like I mentioned in their engagement shoot) for their kind-hearted, playful, not-too-serious, very low maintenance friendship.  She's not a diva and he's not a brat.  They are friends, happy, sarcastic, good times, friends.


(Can I get an "amen!" for her dress?)



I never become bored or weary of shooting at Glen Echo Park.  It has my heart in a way no other venue has ever matched.

I say climb, Amelia says "How high?"

I saw "Do you mind sitting on the bench?" they say "We actually want to swing."

But let me break these last two pictures down for you: The ran to the swing set because they wanted to swing.  This helps describe them to you readers.  When I say they are easy, fun-loving people, I am not exaggerating because I have nothing to say about them.  I don't blame most friends for not being comfortable doing anything in their dress - I fully understand.  But Amelia ran around in her sandals, walked through the woods, climbed on tables, pumped hard on the swings, played on the carousal.  And Matt led the way.  That attitude and 20 minutes of pictures perfectly describe them.  To a tee.

With windblown hair and hearts full of joy, they loved watching their guests enjoy the famous ride.

These are relatives of Matt and Amelia, ooooooobviously.

I just love all the faces. So fully happy.

We had more fun before the reception started then most receptions ever have! But guests were met at the party pavilion with maraca's, cracker jack, and tickets to ride! How fun. 

The lively group lit-up when Matt and Amelia were welcomed.  It was not a polite, regal tap-tap of their hands.  This was homecoming football game kind of energy.

Dancing on the sun:

Laughter continued through the evening with toasts from Dad (no Facebook either ;) I was very proud of him!)  Amelia and her dad have a friendship that reminds me of me and my dad.  They are close and "get" each other, but it's not a frilly foo-foo relationship ;) I love it.

After the funny best man toast, my favorite part of this wedding occurred.  The maids of honor presented the new couple with a gift.

Before the wedding (during the bridal shower, I believe) the girls collected photographs, letters, fabric squares and craft supplies from guests of this wedding.  They went ahead and handmade a quilt for them.

Amelia was blown away, and the quilt was phenomenal.  They left the quilt out with more fabric and markers for guests to add to it in case they hadn't already.  Isn't that a wonderful and kind idea?! Bridesmaids for the win!

The rest of the evening was spent enjoy the partyrockers in the house ta-night ;)  Boy did everyone have fun.

And that's a wrap for just another PERFECT Glen Echo wedding, with a couple of my dreams!

Congratulations, guys!

Enjoy Making Things | Glossy Watercolor Tabletop

“in creating, the only hard thing is to begin; 
a grass-blade's no easier to make than an oak. ”
james russel lowell

Good moooorning, Blog Faaaamily! Thank you so very much for all the kind feedback and general excitement regarding the blog and my latest posts.  It helps me stay motivated to press on!  (What kind of terrible person am I that I could lose motivation after only two days? I don't know.)  But truly, your comments and such bless my heart (said in a Southern Mama Cass voice.)

MAKING THINGS! You ready? Today we are making things!  A new glossy, happy, colorful, shiny, fun tabletop to replace a dingy, busted, drab tabletop.

This cute little table is an oddity.  It's perfect for parties, maybe for a breakfast nook... but not much else.  At least that I can come up with.  It's too big to be a side table, to small to be a desk, too cute to be garbage, and too banged up to really, really fix.  If this little guy is going to be mostly used for parties and cute meals, I decided to kick up it's personality a notch. 

I started by sanding down the table top and legs.  Nothing beats that smooth, fresh surface for paint.

After sanding, Sweet Table received two new coats of bright white matte paint.   This is where the fun begins.  All the other stuff is boring and mandatory.  Now we get to add some cuh-lllllah!

I googled around for a homemade watercolor paint recipe.  The one I used is as easy as they come: mix together three tablespoons of baking soda, three tablespoons of corn starch, three tablespoons white vinegar, and 1.5 teaspoons corn syrup.  When fizzing stops, separate into containers, add drops food coloring and wa-la! You have made your own inexpensive paint!

The paint is a little but gritty, which worked perfectly for this project because it seemed to settle into the wood and not slide around on top.  It probably wouldn't be the best watercolor to use on paper (I'm only guessing though). 

Before I began painting I had already planned what I wanted to do: a colorful thatched pattern!  I definitely wanted it to be "imperfect" and casual.  That look was also easier then making it perfect and very straight.  I love it when my design taste and laziness work together ;) (ps.  I painted with eye-shadow brushes! They cleaned up just fine when I was done.)

The next step to the project was adding an epoxy glaze on the tabletop (I used this brand... and it was $10 cheaper at my local Home Depot!  And I used about 1/3 of the product for this table).  I didn't want the white matte paint to scratch or the watercolor to peel off, so after so research I ended on the hard plastic glaze look.  It'll be easy to clean and I think gives the old table a bit of a modern edge - kind of like those snazzy clear lucite chairs? Hey? (Don't you like my lackluster photography job? I poured the glaze at night, my iphone was right there... I caved to temptation.)

After I let it dry overnight, I had a fun new table!  I decided to give Sweet Table some props... maybe for a small ladies breakfast? This is, after all, the perfect party and breakfast table! I've never seen such a cute mimosa bar ;)











Make sure you let everything dry really well!  I did this project over a couple of days, one little step at a time.  Fresh white paint: dried over night.  Watercolor paint: dried overnight.  Glaze: dried over night.  I would love to try this with other objects! Maybe wooden frames or shelves?  I simply adore the shine and the color! You think you'd ever give this idea a whirl? :D

Enjoy People | My Three Sisters

“when will you learn that there isn't a word for everything?”  
nicole krauss

Katelynn, my bunk bed buddy, my stylist, my dare devil, my "all the world is a song" sister.  She's the girl who loves everyone and everyone loves.  She is a state-champion soccer player, practically straight A student, adorable sense of humor, stunning singer, a whoa-kind-of-beautiful and a little teeny bit "dumb blonde."  But don't worry, it just make her all the more fun.  I love her.  And I'm so proud of her as she finishes up her last year of highschool.

My particular inspiration for this shoot was my favorite Grace Kelley photograph. Sigh.

Lauren, my baby baby girl, the bearliest bear, the wittiest, quickest, funniest person in the whole family, lover of snuggles with the prettiest blue eyes this side of the Mississippi.  She is sociable and gregarious, yet extremely sensitive and affectionate.  I love this beautiful and youngest Snyder girl.  To quote her: "Shake it, boo!"

Shannon, my fierce athlete, who usually scores by implementing a reign of terror regime on the other team; she's fearless.  She's confident, involved.  As my dad likes to say "Must be hard to run the world, huh Shannon?" But she's also incredible with babies, children and animals.  She's responsible, gentle and truly kind.  I love my beautiful Shady.

While they are only 15 months apart, sometimes they seem closer.  We all agree they don't look alike and that they are complete opposite personalities (not to mention have opposite interests! and giftings!).  At the same time, they are never more right and themselves then when they are enjoying each other.  I love to watch them play.  Take a little look into life with them:

Feet, feet, feet.

As different as they look, I love their similar "Snyder" profiles.  They, as well as Katelynn, have that perfect button nose.  Always been a little jealous of it ;)

Laur.En's.Faaaaaace.  If you ever need someone to cheer you up, send me a line and I'll have Lauren get in touch with you.

Shannon looks so grown up and mature in these.  What a lovely lady she is.

I've posted these images before, but I am continually inspired by the move "Like Crazy."  I finally got to use that inspiration in a shoot!

I hope you enjoyed the visual story of my sisters today.  Sometimes there aren't words for everything, for every day spent with people you love.  Today there are pictures; pictures of people I deeply love and enjoy.

I Enjoy Videos | Introduction

"...where everything was discovered, and everything was possible. 

A stick could be a sword, a pebble could be a diamond, a tree, a castle.

They made up a thousand games.

She was queen and he was king.

They collected the world in small handfuls, 

and when the sky grew dark, and they parted with leaves in their hair."

nicole krauss

This beautiful quote written by Nicole Krauss has captured my "special attention" (any Pride and Prej fans out there?).  The segment that starts this post is only a portion of her brief paragraph describing the love story between a little boy and a little girl.  Her one sentence is my new tagline for this blog.  A blog designed to collect the world in small handfuls.  Consider each day, each post, each new paragraph, image and thought, a little clump of dirt in your hands, an especially smooth stone, an antsy inch worm or a bottle cap.  Think of all the things you can do or try or imagine. Consider it fun, child-like, creative and happy.  May you part with leaves in your hair.

While at Alt Summit, during one of the sessions, I had a mad-wild-furious-scribbling-beads-of-sweat moment of clarity.  It all came together.  And my blog changed in an instant.  Within an hour I had taken new header photos, recorded the following video and made a blog calendar for the next month.  Within 12 hours I had nearly all the content ready and formatted for this next month of blog posts.

I joyfully present to you: The Enjoy Project

Don't worry, I can't even stay focused on this video to watch it all the way through. I won't be offended if you don't. It's almost seven minutes long. WAY TOO LONG. If you want to skip ahead to the end I tell a pretty funny story about meeting Anya from Project Runway.

Here's a re-cap of what I said in the video. New blog schedule. All based on the "things" in life I most enjoy. Blog posts every single day. (EVERY DAY!)

> > SCHEDULE < <
[I Enjoy...]
.Videos (On Sunday > These might be videos of myself + my life, they might be an awesome movie trailer I'm looking forward to seeing, perhaps a fun music video, inspiring vimeo find, slideshow or funny youtube clip. Videos.)

.People (On Monday > Here you will find new portraits or new friends. Either images of people or a guest blogger.)

.Making Things (On Tuesday > My love for all things "hands-on." Whether it be making food, paper crafts, home decor or Christmas ornaments ;) you will find how-to's from my world of making things.)


.Weddings (On Wednesday > I am committing to posting one full wedding a week! I have more then enough to show you lovely friends for ages.)

.Pinterest (On Thursday >  I'm so exciting about this one! I'll explain in more detail this coming Thursday, but we're going to have fun searching, pinning and sharing as a group.)

.Writing (On Friday > I love to write. I have seemingly endless little unrelated blurbs from minutes of "ah-ha!" where I wrote and then did nothing with it. I've never had a consistent place to share these thoughts. So now they have a home named Friday.)

.Instagram (On Saturday > A re-cap of my week + maybe some suggestions of people for you to follow!)

Hello. I'm Kristen. Welcome to The Enjoy Project, "where everything can be discovered, and anything is possible."

Alt Summit in Salt Lake City {Travel}

“it's kind of fun to do the impossible.”

walt disney

Alright alright alright.  See if you track with me on this one:

 Narnia, in the winter.  Trees and snow and castles in the distance?  Great.  Remember that.

Now go ahead and enjoy the Sultan's palace from Aladdin.  Lavish and layered and courtyard-y, snuggled richly into a valley by mountains.

Okay, so, now, put them together.  Narnia. Sultan's Palace. Narnia.  Sultan's Palace. Narnia Palace.  Chronicles of Sultan.  Palace of Nartan.  Narnia and Sultan.  GRAND AMERICA HOTEL IN SALT LAKE CITY.

 

Hey? Heeeey? Yeah, hey.  Do you see what I see?  A child, a child... er- a town, a town high above the sea, with a view as "whoa" as could be?  Heeeeey:

It even works at night.  Let's do this thang again.  Glowy, sparkly lights, tiny town:

Moody mountainous moonlit night? 

GRAND AMERICA HOTEL AT SALT LAKE CITY.

I've been channeling my inner Disney Princess by sighing to myself and saying "Ooooh Rajah!" as I gaze out my hotel room window, longing to experience the real world - beyond these walls!!!   But next thing I know I'm worried sick for my four-legged friends, hoping they don't turn into statues.  It's extremely emotional being a guest at this hotel, let me warn you.

;)

Obviously I'm kidding.  I'm really quite spoiled with the unreal quality of this town and establishment (great choice Alt Summit folks!), the stirring and sweet classes (good work Alt Summit folks!), the head-turning fashion of EVERYONE (nicely done Alt Summit attendees!) and the quality time with my Canadian bestie, Jamie Delaine (Also known as "Jamz" between 6:00am-7:30pm, or "Gramz" from 7:31 pm and on.  She jams hard, then turns into a one-woman-old-folks-home.)

 
Once I'm home and my conference brain has turned back to normal brain,  I'll tell you something actually helpful/interesting about this conference.  I probably won't even use a Disney reference.  Except that tomorrow I get to meet Anya from Project Runway (like how I said that so nonchalantly? Like I don't really care at all? It was smooth like the first shave of your life.) (Also, I care a lot that I'm meeting her.  I'm not even going to pretend like I just want her to have a normal life with normal friends, like I'm not some crazy fan-girl who just wants to touch her maxi dress.  I AM A CRAZY FAN GIRL.) Anyways,  it'll basically be like having a real-life Jasmine in a Disney Palace.  It was cool when I was five and in Anaheim, and it's still cool now!


Alright.  Good night.  It's been a long day and I am kind of feeling like I didn't give Narnia much facetime in this post, so why don't you read these last few words in a British accent and I'll feel better.  Cheer up, darling!  And go to sleep you blessed, blessed doll.  (And go to Alt Summit next year everyone.  You will truly love it.)

Six Weeks of Behr {Baby Photography + Personal}

This is the main man on campus, Behr.  He's large and in charge.  Known as BehrBehr, Behrly, Barely There, Son, Monk, Chipmunk and Little Dre.  He attracts fans in droves.  He is a big deal around here.  So popular.

Though we all fight for his heart, love and snuggles, no one can replace his favorite friend, his best friend: the bedroom ceiling fan.As Bedroom Fan dances, Behr waves hello! "Hey! Hey you! I like you a loooot.  A lot a lot!"  He coos, he  reaches, he kicks... ... he sneezes.
Thaaaat's embarrassing.  Don't worry Behr Man, you were just excited and got a little worked up.  It happens to the best of us.  Bedroom Fan will understand.  "But where did Bedroom Fan go?  I'm just a noisy, childish weight in this friendship.  And I party-fouled all over the place.  Humiliating."Look! Behrly...See?  Bedroom Fan is back!  Waving again! Bedroom Fan does think you are cool after all!  You have not been forsaken, you have not been left by Bedroom Fan.  Look up! Lift your eyes!A man and his Fan, it's a beautiful thing.  The end.
On a more gushy note, I love all of Behr's little self.  From his birthmark on his finger, to his Cabbage-Patch-doll arms, to his very strong legs, his fantastically shaped mouth, his stubby perfect nose, his neck rolls, his side rolls, his thigh rolls, and that big basin of a baby belly - I love it all.  I miss him in the morning before he is "up" and I'm addicted to seeing his new faces and skills throughout the day.

Hey you.
You are very cute.  And very loved.  And so silly.  And you probably will never love me as much as I love you (or as much as you love Bedroom Fan) but you make me smile a lot, so we'll keep you around.

Kyle + Sarah {Great Falls Wedding in Potomac, MD}

you're a part time lover and a full time friend
the monkey on you're back is the latest trend
i don't see what anyone can see, 
in anyone else but you
the moldy peaches | anyone else

"Our wedding will be quirky in 'us' ways.  For example, this is the wording for our invitation: 

1 Marriage

between 2 People

3, almost 4, years after meeting

at 5:06pm, 

reception following at 7:08pm 

on 9/10/11."

THAT is what I'M talking about. That's what's up. This couple is brilliant and adorable and dance machines and a little nerdy.  I love them.  Enjoy their story.

Fair Oaks Academy was a small private school founded in Virginia, and with a junior class of fourteen girls and four boys, it was ideal set for true love.  A new "she" walked in, and a dark-eyed, moppy-topped, big-hearted boy noticed.  That scene would stay stamped to his heart for years to come, for it was the scene when he first met Sarah.This Sarah is quite a character.  Kyle tells me "She is not a detail-oriented person, she is more of... a big-dream kind of person.  But with me? She wants to know everything.  She cares about every single one of my thoughts."  That is an impressive statement.  Think about life with that sort of companion.  It's like life with a detective, collecting data, compiling clues and assembling conclusion about you.  Paying attention to the in-s and out-s of you... simply because they love, crave even, knowing as much as possible of you.  It's truly a breath-taking reality. "When she surprised me with a gift on my birthday last year, her imagination effected the whole day - not just the gift.  She puts an immense amount of creative thought... to effecting people for Christ. And she is adventurous!  But I think the thing I love most about Sarah is her dedication to the life that she lives.  She wears so many different hats - barista, fiance', Campus Crusade for Christ leader - and she gives all of herself." After reading about this all-there, creative dreamer named Sarah, I couldn't wait to meet her.  As the minutes rolled along on wedding day I grew more and more concerned.  We were literally minutes before ceremony time (at 5:06, remember?) and there was no Sarah yet.  No bridesmaids.  No dress.  No shoes.  So I waited while guests found their seats and milled about.  I waited while lovely ladies put finishing touches on the dinner tables.  I waited while the sun met the trees for dinner.  And then *WHOOSH!* there were cars rumbling, doors slamming, girly gaggles, honks and "huurrrriy!"'s.  I only managed to grab a shot of an adorable baby-faced bride's feet as she flew inside.   "What time is it? Ah! Hurry!  I need to put this on!" "Sarah, be careful of your hair. And someone is in here..." "Well, they need to get out! The bride needs this room!" "Did you leave the hairspray in the car? She needs hairspray." "WhAahhha. This is too crazy.  Oh goodness. KRISTEN! Hi! It's so good to meet you!" "Sarah, hold still."  "What time is it?"
A beautiful two-stall bathroom was raucous with one bride, her chiffon clad gal pals, an overjoyed photographer and someone else using the restroom.  It was hilarious.  It was fantastic.  Though the pictures may seem serene and posed, the wooden room literally echoed and roared with women.  I couldn't stop smiling. And all their scrambling payed off.  At 5:06 the ring-bearer, Woody and the red-wagon were ready to walk down the aisle. Grandpa and his tale-telling eyes were ready to be seated. Best friends were in place.

Complete strangers were even ready.

As was the lovely Sarah.  Lovely, lovely Sarah.  She was grinning, her dimples were deep and her man was ready to give her his name and life.

"He gets SO passionate about his ministry, and puts his whole heart into it. I LOVELOVELOVE watching him love people. I love watching him teach people, continuously discover God, and opening up those ideas right to me."

"To him, who wants to be a youth pastor, every nugget of truth he studies about God is never as good until everyone else knows it.  He cannot wait to tell the teens what he's learned.  He is bold in faith.  He is active in faith.  He aims to lead us in an honest and effective journey to spread and live the gospel...... and goodness do I love him all over again for it." Years after he met Sarah, he designed a brilliant and sneaky plan to propose to her.  He waited in the shell of the classroom where he first laid eyes on her, where to this day he remembers exactly what she was wearing, with two chairs arranged exactly as they were that day.  He waited for Sarah to come with a friend to explore the building where Fair Oaks Academy used to run.  He waited with the light on in a downstairs classroom.  She saw his shoe.  She saw him.  He asked her a question.  She said "yes" over and over.As the historical documenter for this day I want you folks to know something:  I love Kyle and Sarah.  Like, I actually love them.  I have only seen them one day in my entire life.  I barely spent six hours with them.  And I love them.  
I love their genuine and delightful way of enjoying their families.I love all of Sarah's girls and their witty senses of humor. I love Sarah's timely remarks and very, very quirky self.I love that they are just happy people.  They know who they are and what they have been given, so they are happy.     I love their awkward fish move.I love that they play together. A lot. I love that they get the fire burnin' fire burnin' on the dance floor. WhooOooa.

I love that Sarah was somewhat of a shy-public kisser.  And I love that Kyle just consistently went in for the kill.

I love their heart together.  Two of the biggest-hearted people I've ever met.  

I love how they felt like lifetime friends or family to me with minutes.  I love that God brought them together in Fair Oaks Academy and is now sending them out to the world. Together.

This wedding reminded me of some important life priorities.  This wedding blessed me.

Though it was truly very simple and not elaborate, it was fantastically heart-warming and meaningful, even to a complete stranger like me.  Guests chattered, dinner lingered, toasts were so kind, love reigned over all.

And Curly Kyle Kid married Quirky Sarah.

What bliss!  You party-rockers :D

Lightfoot Triplets | Baby Photography

"you better be prepared to  be surprised."sondre lerche | to be surprised
I don't care who you are: at some point in your life you've thought about what it would be like to have a baby.  Even if it was only for a split second.  Even if it was in disgust thinking "That is just WAY too much work.  I'm never having children."  Maybe your first thought went to the lifestyle and body changes: not having freedom to go out or travel, gaining weight and stretchmarks - you get the picture ;)
But for many people (particularly women) there is a natural, nurturing, full part of your heart that can't help but think fondly of that day when you have your own child.  Sometimes it seems bizarre to hold another person's baby, but what if this was mine? What does it feel like to have a person inside you?  Is it as magical as some women claim?  Is it as awful as other women claim?  Is it a healthy dose of wonderful and terrible?  Will my first baby be a boy or girl?  Will the child look like me?  Will he be a good baby? Will I be a sleep-hungry, smelly monster?  Will I spend hours staring at the baby counting it's ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes?  
Maybe that is just me.  I do have an extraordinary love for children, particularly babies.  But I'll tell you one thing:  I've NEVER imagined counting 60 toes and fingers after my first pregnancy.  Nope.  It hadn't crossed my mind.  I'm told that giving birth to triplets hadn't crossed the mind of my smart, sweet and glowing winter 2010 bride, either.  She was s.h.o.c.k.e.d.  SHOCKED.  How could you not be?  SIXTY FINGERS AND TOES INSIDE YOU.  Who prepares for that?  Jennifer and David, though completely surprised, have been equally thrilled.  They love all those fingers and toes.By winter 2011 this little lady and her kind man were holding Makenna, Noah and Emma, their firstborns. With an army of support, love, generosity, bottles, arms and adrenaline, these three siblings were welcomed into a Florida town.  Hundreds of friends have prayed, waited, given and helped mom and dad take care of their little lives.  And kiss all their toes. I've never seen baby triplets in person before.  It was a very, very odd feeling.  One baby gives me so many feelings and wonders in my heart.  But three was just... overwhelming and beautiful. Their lives, though in every way a surprise to this world, were planned long before this world had a chance to be surprised.  Their lives, like every life, entered this stage right on cue.  God wanted them, and He wanted them now, and He wanted Jennifer and David to raise them.  Not Katie and Bill.  Not Sue and Todd.  But Jennifer and David.  He gave these three to them specifically. And they are spectacular.

From their rosebud lips, to Noah's "hound dog" eyes, to their pink little bodies, to their double chins, smooth bald heads, grunts and kicks and rounded bellies they are beautiful and miraculous and "planned."  "As I have planned, so it shall be."  Spending just over an hour with this little/big family gave me such a needed vision of God's ability, kindness and power over us.  It's actually unbelievable that three humans grew inside one human, and now they are here: screeching, looking, breathing, wriggling, eating, learning and functioning.  They have been joys to friends near and far, they have been blessings in their neediness, happinesses in their dependance.  They aren't exactly productive or "useful," but they are people and are loved so much.  They reminded me to love people in my life: the inconvient people, the "surprise!" people, the difficult people, the family-people (who are easily taken for granted), the unhelpful people, the sweet and innocent people.  They reminded me to look at some wrinkly toes and see God.  And to praise Him.  In reality all people can and should do that to me, but there was something about touching and seeing three infants that hit that lesson home.

On that chubby, roll-y, soft belly note, let's call this post a day :D

Nicole + Kim {Weddings}

“she’s kept her love for him as alive as the summer they first met."

nicole krauss | the history of love

Enjoy the moving writing of Nicole Krauss brought to life by Kim, who married the boy she loves (a lifelong friend) five days ago.

"Maybe the first time you saw her you were ten. She was standing in the sun scratching her legs. Or tracing letters in the dirt with a stick. Her hair was being pulled. Or she was pulling someone's hair. 

And a part of you was drawn to her, and a part of you resisted--wanting to ride off on your bicycle, kick a stone, remain uncomplicated. 

In the same breath you felt the strength of a man, and a self-pity that made you feel small and hurt.  Part of you thought: Please don't look at me. If you don't, I can still turn away. And part of you thought: Look at me.

Well, once upon a time there was a boy.  He lived in a village that no longer exists, in a house that no longer exists, on the edge of a field that no longer exists,...

...where everything was discovered and everything was possible.

A stick could be a sword.  A pebble could be a diamond.  A tree a castle.

Once upon a time there was a boy who lived in a house across the field from a girl who no longer exists.  They made up a thousand games.

She was Queen and he was King.

In the autumn light, her hair shone like a crown.


They collected the world in small handfuls.

Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl, and her laughter was the question he wanted to spend his whole life answering.
” 

Design + Alt Design Summit {Events}

"i've been amazed at how often those outside the discipline of design assume that

what designers do is decoration.

good design is problem solving."

jerffrey veen

I'll be the first to admit that I know barely anything about fine art, graphics and design.  I do know I like it.  And I do wish I knew more about it.  My mother has passed on to me her natural "taste" in design and her creative, ever-turning and imagining, mind.  This past year I've become more picky with what I like in visual arts.  At first everything on Pinterest seemed cute and special!  No.  It's not at all cute.  Especially (mostly) what is on the home page. Blah.  

With that in mind, my world-traveling friend Jamie asked me if I wanted to attend the Altitude Design Summit in Salt Lake City with her.  I usually always say yes when she asks me to do things.  She usually does all the researching, planning and take-action-ing.  I usually do all the showing-up and paying her back for the hotel she booked.  We're so compatible.  Anyways, I said "Yes!"  She had the hotel booked within hours back in October.  I just confirmed my flight this morning.  (But I have had my outfit planned for the Friday night mini-parties for six weeks.  The dress code is "sequins."  That is the kind of planning I can get into!)  

Though I did buy my pass to attend before I had read much about it, I was thrilled with what I found when I did do some research. "If you're obsessed with lifestyle, food and fashion blogs..." Um. Check! "...fantastic images, smart ideas and great design inside and outside — all wrapped up with a social media bow — ..." Yes, that's me!  That's me!  Where do I need to be if this is me? "...Altitude Design Summit is the place to be..." Yahoo! Now I know where to be! "Because we feed those obsessions."  Bingo.   Winning.  Wa-la.  Snaps.Yes.Lovely.Thank.You.

We've created a place where design and lifestyle bloggers in all their forms— foodies, photographers, travelers, fashionistas, interior designers, product placers, adventurers — come together, share ideas and connect with marketers.  Don't you want to come now too?!  I actually had to double check that I had indeed registered because I was afraid maybe it didn't all go through and that I wouldn't be able to attend ;)

The pot only gets sweeter.  This year's line-up of speakers looks simply hellacious (big word! used in context! ow ow!).  I'm thrilled to spend hours sifting through the creative minds of this people through their words, wardrobe ;) and presentations.  

Here is a sampling:

The genius and also down-to-earth blogger for the Jealous Curator blog is constantly inspiring me.  Her "about me" section sums up her blog well: There is one moment, in the first few seconds, when you look at a piece of art and know that you love it. It’s the moment when, if you’re an artist yourself, you look at it and feel a rush of uplifting inspiration… and total soul-crushing jealousy all at the same time. It’s when you walk away thinking, “I wish I thought of that.”

She daily(ish) posts an assortment of one particular artists' work.  I love her Amber Ibarreche post.  Amber is brilliant at making the "everyday" become very visually and creatively intriguing.

Or how about this piece from Marlene Vergara?  Never heard of her before!  But I'm a fan!  I would love to get my hands on fabric like this:

Any HGTV Design Star fans out there? Past season-winner Emily Henderson will be speaking it up!  If you don't know who she is, check out a quote from her site: "Lastly, I believe strongly there is always a time and place for fresh flowers, and that nothing is more important than simply being nice to every person, every day." 

Come'on.  Just try to not like a girl like that!  She and her husband are the sweetest pods.  I have a couple crush on them.   I love her blog greatly.  My favorite recent post of hers was about "weird color-blocking in rooms."  Deeeeelightful!

Are your design taste buds whetted yet? Mine have been for months.  Eeek!  Last but hardly the least is Miss Piper Toth of the online store One Sydney Road.   I always feel cooler just looking on their site, let alone owning anything from them ;)  To add cool-ness to cool-ery they were recently featured in Rue Magazine.  Big props, folks :D

  

While I'm in Salt Lake City I'm also hoping and wishing upon a star that it works with to meet up with Melissa Blackburn. Whoooo is Melissa Blackburn?  She is the "fine dressmaker and designer" most known for her Heidi Dress (shot by Amelia Lyon.)  I'm one smitten kitten when it comes to her work.  Go leave her some blog love or e-mail her and tell her she's amazing or do your own post about her.  Every artist needs encouragement, especially out of the blue, right?  Right.  So go go...!

Even if you can't go, you should follow their twitter, enjoy the pictures, get excited about coming next year? and be inspired!

Music + Times | Part 1 {Personal}

after all, my plans they melt
into the sand

band of horses | older

Have you ever noticed that music is strange and fantastic emotional time-travel?  Have you ever listened to just three seconds of a song and instead of driving on the highway to a meeting you are tan, talking to your best friend late at night, alive and well?  Though in reality approaching an exit in your frosty, rusty Corolla in a grey day, you instead smell warm night, tacos and fruity deodorant.  Instead you hear glowing laughter, you are having lingering conversation, you are with very specific people on a very specific night.  And the verse to the song hasn't even started yet! Am I the only one who has ever experienced this phenomenon?

Of course not.

That is why the world loves music.  I don't mean why "artists" and "musicians" and the "intellectually understanding" love music.  It's why all of us - even us who aren't trained in the art - love it.  Music makes us feel.  Music and smells take you back in time.  Music and friends get you through current times.  Music and dreams excite you for future times.  What an enjoyable gift God gave us in music! 

"Come into my arms, where a dreamer can meet the Lullaby Lady from Hushabye Street." Hushabye Street was playing on a cassette tape my entire baby and childhood.  I never remember not knowing that song.  When I hear it I'm laying on my back in my wooden, bead-cut, crib staring up to the dark ceiling.  Through cracks in the door I could hear the muffled voices of my parents and the dishwasher starting up. I could see a haloed glow.  And night after night sleep was victorious with me "till evening greets morning on Hushabye Street."

18 months after I was born, my brother Timothy entered my world.  The closest friendship he and I ever had was when we were homeschooled in middle school together.  Our "tradition" for lunch was to make a box of pasta with red sauce, eat half of it, throw the rest away, leave the dirty dishes out and then head to the basement for hand-stand contests.  Yup.  We were often in our parents pajamas, too.  (I have no idea why...) We would spend up to hours on end before basketball practices in the underbelly of a home on Boxberry Terrace trying to walk on our hands.  Tim always swore he walked 10 times when I went to the bathroom or wasn't looking.  I always blamed him for distracting me - "I have better balance then you! You just distract me!" - (like I didn't distract him ;) haha).  We got into a habit of taking our blue $14.99 boombox down with us, and we'd gymnast it up to Tim McGraw duets or Steven Curtis Chapman.  One particular day I grabbed a hairbrush and dramatically belted Faith Hill's portion of "Like We Never Loved At All."  I handed Tim a water bottle to join in.  He didn't accept my offer.  He just stared and shook his head "You are so weird." I sang the chorus alone.  But by Tim McGraw's part in the second verse my own Tim had joined in with me.  And we weirdly sang the rest of the song together.  It was quite excellent and breathtaking and probably perfectly in tune ;)

Maybe that's just your way of dealing with the pain/ Forgetting everything between our rise and fall / Like we never loved at all

Tim, if you ever read this, I love you and miss those times.  I've never forgotten them and would love to have more of them.  Just promise you won't push me over if I get to nine hand-steps?

Jason Reeves came into my life a-la Colbie Caillat.  His songs were songs I loved before I felt.  I thought they were pretty and kind of edgy (give me a break. They WERE edgy compared to Selah and WOW Worship CD's).  I played his album on repeat for months.  Little did I know how I feel them.  This song doesn't take me back to one place like the previous song did.  This song takes me backs to a watercolor smear of years.  The first piano notes "dun dun, DUN DUN, duuundun" make me feel 14 and 20, confused and clear, empty and full.  And I have poetry and drawings of my life when you weren't on my side and I didn't know /

The person who introduced me to Band of Horses is now my "house-mate."  If you've followed the blog a bit you know that I live with my friends-turned-family, Dre and Becca.  You also might know that they just had their first child, little Behr.  Dre is obsessed with Band of Horses.  When this song plays I think about driving around in their blue SUV looking at townhouses.  I think about priming the walls with Dre will Becca sat on a cushion on the floor, trying to keep her pregnant self moderately comfortable.  I think about coming into a house with music already playing because other people live there - I don't live alone.  I think about cleaning their kitchen, waiting for them to come home from the hospital with Behr for the first time, scrubbing to "Dilly" and "Older."  I think about how "after all, my plans they melt into the sand." 

I think about how so many friends have dreamed with Dre and Becca about this little nugget of life.  I think about the Pinterest boards for his nursery, additions to his walls and shelfs from friends near and far, and watching that bump grow and lower as we imagined and talked about and analyzed what he might look like, what he might be like.  I think about the way Behr's neck smells.  I think about how he smiled right at me today.  I think about how someday I'll be strolling along in a store and Band of Horses will pop on the radio and I'll jump into the emotional time machine... I'll be taken back to August 2011 - January 2012ish.  I'll smile and love the memory.
If you find this post random at best, completely boring at worst, I do have a direction I'm going with it ;)  No, these are not my favorite music recommendations for you.  And if you listen to any of these songs you might think "Um. Okay?" I don't listen to these songs frequently at all.  But when they appear, they stop me in my tracks.  You have "those" songs too.  Go find one of them today and listen to it and remember why that song affects your body.  And then say "Oh, I see why Kristen posted those."

BUT.  Someday on this blog I'd like to tell you folks a story.  And I'd like to use songs in the story.  In the next few weeks and months, as I plan on blogging more, if "random" music posts show-up, bear with me, and find some little thing to enjoy.  And feel free to tell me about a song or two that takes you back in time.  I'd truly love to hear.  I'd love to know more about you.  It would probably even make me feel less scared about letting you know more about me ;)

Power to Enjoy | 2012

"...to whom God has given wealth and possessions and 

power to enjoy them."

1 timothy 6:17

If you take even a hasty look through Pinterest boards, texts between friends, advertising and status messages you can't miss the exploration for happiness, being happy.  "Life is to be enjoyed, not endured." someone re-pins the block-lettered yellow and gray typography art and "mmmm's" in agreement.  "K! Talk to you later. Have a good day! :-)" "Open Happiness!" we watch. "OMG. Best day ever. Class was canceled!"  


No one can deny, and everyone loves to note, how it's the little things that matter, happiness is lived in the daily moments.  We are a crew of creation who love laughing, feeling good, being supported by other crazies, and enjoying what we are doing.  I love that.  We should want more of it.  I believe that we were made to want the best, the happiest, the most satisfying things we can get a hold of.  I believe we should not starve those desires but feed them.  I also believe most of us go looking for happiness in all the wrong places, but I would never tell someone to stop looking.  Go forth! And look!  Look for happiness! Enjoy your life!

"Set [your] hopes on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy."  When Paul wrote the first letter to Timothy and used the word "everything" I believe he meant it.  Enjoy everything, for in God everything is enjoyable.  Enjoy a glass of cold Coca-Cola!  Enjoy your day off of school.  Enjoy pins and words and boards and art that just make you smile a little bit.  Enjoy conversation, texts and speaking with friends and people.  Enjoy grocery shopping!  Enjoy eating! Enjoy a change of plans.  Enjoy being tired because staying up late with people you love was happy.  Enjoy going to bed early and feeling great in the morning.  Enjoy. Enjoy everything.  

“And so taking the long way home through the market I slow my pace down.

It doesn't come naturally.

My legs are programmed to trot briskly and my arms to pump up and down like pistons,

but I force myself to stroll past the stalls and pavement cafes.

To enjoy just being somewhere, rather than rushing to somewhere.

I take a moment to just stop and look around me. And smile to myself."
alexandra potter

Enjoy being somewhere.  Actually enjoy it.  You have power to enjoy this world and these things.  And note a fizzy drink or heavy drink or healthy drink will not make you fully happy.  It will not satisfy you forever.  Note that an extra day of break in school is not the source of all happiness.  Note that being liked and feeling good and being productive won't eternally fill you.  There is a greater happiness then these things, they all point to something else, they are tastes of a better, lasting happiness.  But they are indeed happy presents for us!  In God everything is enjoyable. In God. 


So what is my point?  Well, on my first work day of the year I'm openly admitting a few things to readers and friends and anonymous hate-aaaz (who actually make me happy because they make me laugh and I love to laugh!)  Here's the deal:


- I enjoy good food and junk food and eating food.
- I enjoy being my ideal weight and fitting into a certain size.
- I enjoy the feeling after a run.


This year only one of those last three things were prominent.  I enjoyed food a lot.  But that leaves me today not enjoying my size.  I'm not depressed or downtrodden about it ;)  I'd just like to enjoy putting on an outfit and looking in the mirror.  I don't enjoy leaving my warm house and going into the cold to pound around on pavement.  But one of my favorite feelings in the world is to return to that warm home after a run.  I feel great, I genuinely enjoy the feeling.  So.  I am determined to find a way to enjoy all three.  It may mean prioritizing my enjoyment some, but I will enjoy savory food shared with friends, I will enjoy the way I fit in clothes, and I will enjoy that soaring after-run high this year.  

- I enjoy the relationship I have with my parents.  I don't just love them, I really really like them!
- I enjoy children, especially my siblings.
- I enjoy living on my own in Maryland and being "independent." It's fun.


Again, this year it seems that I have let one of the three of these categories take over to the point where I don't fully enjoy all three the way I'd like or think is right.  I miss my parents.  Yes, we text and talk and chit-chat.  But, as anyone could tell you, keep a long-distance relationship with ANYone thriving and well is hard.  I want a thriving, close, laugh-ing, fun, better relationship with my parents (and all those kids!) this year.  Don't get me wrong: It's not like all of a sudden we aren't friends.  But I want it to almost seem like they are here.  I want them to be a part of my days and weeks like they are when they are sitting on the couch or around the table after a long day.  That kind of involvement will take concentrated effort on my part, but I want it because I so enjoy and love and need them.  

- I love writing, journaling, letter-ing and blogging.
- I enjoy means to remember and share "happy gifts" of life.
- I enjoy talking to, meeting with and learning about people in person.


Surprise surprise, one of these "things" has outweighed the others.  The means we have this modern day of using Facebook, Twitter, texting, Pinterest, tumblr, Instagram, etc to share life with other people is good and enjoyable.  But you know what I realized?  I don't actually enjoy Facebook.  Sure, it's fun to stalk.  It's fun to get likes on statuses.  But for whatever reason for me I really don't enjoy it.  I LOVE Instagram. And Pinterest.  And I have a growing love for Twitter.  And I love love love love blogging.  But Facebook? Eh.  I look back this last year and don't think I wrote enough.  I don't think I blogged nearly enough.  I wish I had talked with more people - really talked with them.  I wish I had fleshed out my thoughts on a verse or lyric or statement instead of just posting it on my status.  For example, today I listened to a message and wrote this sentence down from it:
  
"He seems more bothered with complaining then self-indulgence.  
Self indulgence may be misapplying the goodness of God, 
but complaining denies the goodness of God."


My automatic thought was to post it on Facebook.  Even though I had already started writing this very post.  But you know what I would really enjoy doing?  I would enjoy writing about that sentence.  I would enjoy taking it to people and having a conversation with them about it - either in person or online.  I would love to engage that sentence and make it meaningful in my life, not just inspirational for a second.  Therefore, I'm getting off Facebook.  (I will keep my business page.) In order to force myself to do what I enjoy, to use the power I have to enjoy things, I want to just get rid of personal Facebook altogether.   The words and pictures I post on Facebook and the "likes" and interaction I get from there, I would like to move to my blog.  Or to person-to-person storytelling and enjoying.

I suppose this is somewhat of a New Years Resolution, and I don't remember ever doing one of these ;)  Typical me.  But I feel very passionate about it this year.  I'm fanatical about enjoying life and people through God.  I have more to say on the matter, but I realize I have more time to say it.  So we'll close off the first blog post of the year right here.

With love and joy,
Kristen

Parade of 24 Fairy Tales | Weddings in 2011

“If I’m honest I have to tell you I still read fairy-tales, 

and I like them best of all.” 

audrey hepburn

It seems to me that vintage suitcases, Mason Jars, talking about getting a tattoo, tumblrs, and quoting Audrey Hepburn have become oh so current or "done" that perhaps they have lost some of their charm or special-ness.   But I'll be persistent with this particular Audrey quote.  I really agree... not just because it's the thing to do to agree with this Hollywood Classic.
I've been told far too many times that "life isn't like the movies." Relationships aren't as magical as they are on the silver screen.  Love isn't fairy dust and giggles and moonlit walks in a beautiful wardrobe.  We aren't princesses.  Lower your expectations.  Don't wait for "the movie moment."  Real life isn't a fairy tale.  Renditions of these phrases have spoken from preachers in a sermon, from well-meaning friends hoping that I was aware love is much more then how I write about it on my blog - it's not just cute, from anonymous commenters here and there, from the tired or the hurting who barely believe in happiness.
And I'm here to say: I just don't buy it.  If anything, life is most like a movie.  The beauty of a movie is that it happens in about 90 minutes, not 90 years.  Movies can be nowhere near as deep or as beautiful or as painful as real life.  But life is like the movies.  The rise and fall of characters, the great problem with the hunt for the great solution, the unknown, the struggle, the desire... it's everywhere, from Cinderella to my highschool aged sister to 500 Days of Summer to Thumbelina to Kim Kardashian to my boyfriends mother to Pride and Prejudice to Jim and Pam, Noah and Ally, Sandra Bullock and Jesse James to 20-something couples who hired me this year.
Any one of us could take our lives to a talented writer and be a "movie." We could strain our lives to the most prominent times and come up with a decent tale of humanity.  If I myself watched a movie about my life I would probably think "That did not do it justice.  The movie just did not convey how bad _______ hurt or how wonderful ___________ is."  No movie could quite reenact the guarantee I have that it will all be okay.  No movie could express who awful it is to cry about the same exact situation for an entire day. Then an entire week.  Then still be crying over the same issue a year later.  Years later?  Also, a movie can't show how boring most days are.  How regular life is.  "Normal life" looks so cute in a movie (and in a memory.)  But it's usually just... boring.  Then along comes something to make our life chilling or thrilling, terrifying or blissful.  Our hearts sink and leap and quiver and fill.  They flutter and empty and pause and yearn.  
I love movies. I love stories. I love fairy tales, I love them best of all.  I love them because they are like life.  No fairy tale ever goes "Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess with all she ever wanted, with a pure heart and kind spirit.  She fell in love at a young age, never felt any pain, and floated to heaven on a cloud at the end of her life.  The end."  Nor do stories go something like this: "Once upon a time there was a poor girl who was always sad.  There was no reason to ever smile or have hope.  Ever.  She died and everyone forgot who she was."
There is always hope.  There is always some reason to laugh and smile.There is always dissapointment.  There is always some unmet expectation and hurt.In both the fairy tales and in life.
This year I spent many hours enjoying other peoples fairy tales.  I spent time with Jim and Pam at Niagara Falls, with Allie when she shrugs her shoulders in the driveway and Noah knows she is home for good, with Him, with the skeptical Brittany who was relentlessly fought for by her too-kind-to-be-true policeman, with a girl who had to bake a cake to get his attention, with lovers separated by family and religious custom who made their way to each other at last.  I spent time with Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy huddled under a blanket beneath dark skies whispering desperately cheesy lines,  with two best friends who promised they would never ever date each other, with a girl running down the stairs with a glass slipper to present to the Duke, with a man who was locked to the world and found a way to trust one patient woman for life.  
Their wedding's aren't the story, it's just a part of it.  Maybe a line or two.  Maybe a full chapter.  Only a portion.  But their wedding's are real, happy, beautiful, delightful, treasured and good.  They had curls in their hair, they wore gowns, they feasted, they were surrounded by a crew of happy critters, they professed and promised love, they were married.
Enjoy a parade of their tales:

Christmas Activities | Personal

there's a quaint little town
not a clock has been wound
for over a century

buon natale | nat king cole

It turns out my 8mm app addiction lasted longer then a week.  As I was working on this little diddy last night, He suggested I make a "Sunday Series." "With a new episode each week!" He's smart, the Christmas Angel of mine.  You can watch this now oooor watch it after you read the whole post.  It might be a touch more amusing if you come back and watch after you read ;)

It's been about 10 days and our Christmas Activity Checklist is going strong!  I just can't bring myself to miss a day when he gets such a kick out of it.  It doesn't matter what we do - his little toes jingle all the way and his eyes sparkle like a silent night.  

We made a classic garland for his tree.  All we used was popcorn, cranberries, needle and thread!  

We also bought His first real Christmas tree.  He sat the tree in his lap and embraced it the whole way home.  What a green, tree-hugger ;) ba-da-ching.

We turned on some tunes, and gave the little tree a merry makeover.  It needed some bling.

When all was said and done, the decorations up, the stockings hung, He serenaded me with my favorite holiday carols.  Precious Angel.

The only part of this experience that was really sad was the next day.  He told me He had some "sad news." Uh-oh.  "My Christmas tree fell down.  I went in and it had crashed.  Balls were on the floor.  One ball broke.  Someone ransacked Christmas."  I tried not to laugh ;)

On a cheerier note!  We went to a local Starbucks one night where some friends from church spent two hours singing carols!  It was a happy memory to eat our chili and coffee-cake and watch the kiddos dance around.

Next up was the annual Remsnyder Christmas party with the ever intriguing Gift Exchange.

Christmas Angel took this very seriously.

He spent some time on his gift and ended up taking the present he brought home with him.

If you want to see what his gifts were check out the video

(one is cheap and weird, the other is expensive and... weird? ;) haha not weird. They are both fun!)

This morning I finished up last nights' craft: snow forest! This was another lovely Pinterest find.  

SO stinking easy: bleach bottlebrush trees in a tub for 30 minutes, let dry over night, stick in glass jars and dump as much or as little sugar/salt over them as you'd like!  I can't wait to see how these look with candles behind them :D

Only twenty days left and the fun has only just begun!

Audrey Turns Two {Child Photography}

'cause you've got personality!

walk with personality, talk with personality!

smile with personality, charm with personality!  
love with personality! 'cause you got a great big heart

lloyd price | personality

--

Meet Audrey.

24-months young, she tips the scales at barely 22 pounds.  And she likes to "go-go-go shoppiiing" and "go get stuff at Michael's" (the craft store), sing her ABC's to try to distract her mom from putting her down for a nap ("ELMOENOPEEE! DUBUE EX! WHY! ANZY!") and she always wants to help (help stir food on the stove, help my baby in my belly feel better [even though I don't have a baby in my belly], and help make your hair not be "eeeew! yuuucky!")This child is extraordinary; that is, she is "unusually great." She the daughter of close friends and she lives about 60 seconds from my house.  It's a sad day when there is no Audrey around.  It just doesn't feel quite right.  Everyone thinks their kid is smart and has an above-average personality, but this ain't my kid ;) And she IS so smart. And DOES have an above average personality.Just check out some of these faces:Accessories are the reason for the season in Audrey's world.  Shoes, jewelry, sparkles, undergarments, "mock-sins" (moccasins) are her girly-girl treasures.
These make me laugh. I picture her talking in Dug the Talking Dog from Up voice: "Ooooh shucks. Just shtop it. Seriously. Ooooh my."

We all love her. What a blessing.  What a joy.  What happiness put into our adult lives.  She cracks us up just by walking - because it's SO cuuuute! She snuggles up on your shoulders and dives in for a bear hug where she squeezes so tight it makes your soul just dissolve.Little Ham Chop.  What a goober.One of our favorite Audrey-isms is how she collects and hoards little things like coins, cranberries, candy, crayons. After she leaves we'll find little stashes hidden around where she left her loot.  Often she'll try to specifically put the coins in her pockets.  Then she'll stand up and, to her dismay, the money will come bounding out of her pants holes and she drop to all fours, scrambling to gather her change back up.  Oh it's precious.
"Eeeeew! Piggle! Eeeew!"Audrey spotted our daily visitor, Piggle the Squirrel. He's an obese rodent. And looks like a rat.

By the end there was yawning and "Hold you, Titi? Hold you?" and shivers, so we decided to be all done.  Who can resist a little girl with knots on her head and bows on her feet asking to go inside? Not I said the fly.

How fun it is to be a part of a little life.  She is so good for us all.Happy birthday sweet girl!

Caitlin + Scott {Maryland Engagement Photography}

and the gale that fills our sailand the lights that shine tonight have always been aliveoh, my soul, one hundred million years,yeah the lights tonight will burn on when we diem. ward | one hundred million yearsThe very best of friends.The classic funny guy + sweet pretty girl combination.The ones who have stood the test of time. 10 years time.The one who has seen all of him, not just the loud, quick exterior of him.The one who has taken care of her behind closed doors.They are getting married.He wasn't taking himself too seriously.So we didn't either.Caitlin just shook her head and smiled, the special smile reserved for "I love him but wow."He rocked the tongue.She laughed.
 He rocked the fierce.
 She laughed.
They made me think about comfort and security in a relationship.  Those are good things to have.He could be himself, she could just laugh and say "Yup, that's Scott."No pretentiousness.  Just togetherness.And simple, sarcastic, committed, real love.

I'm also happy, pleased and persuaded-by-the-quality to report that I edited this shoot with VSCO Film.If you are a photographer and have not made VSCO a part of your life,then please make this day your day of photography salvation.
The truth sets you free.

Christmas Crafts {Personal}

he puzzled and puzzed till his puzzler was sore. 

then the grinch thought of something he hadn't before. 

maybe Christmas, he thought, 

doesn't come from a store. 

maybe Christmas, perhaps,

means a little bit more! 

how the grinch stole christmas | narrator

--


He is an Angel.  Or at least that's His nickname around here.  All my friends love to tease Him for His super conservative personality, over-the-top honest and kind ways, and His naive precious demeanor.  They joke "don't taint the Angel's wings!"  Sometimes when we are all hanging out and He's sleepy everyone calls Him "Baby Angel."  Ladies and Gentlemen, we have entered a new season of nickname-ness: The Christmas Angel.  This handsome mister I am dating is obsessed with Christmas.


And since this is his first Christmas away from his homeland, I want it to be super-definitley-marvelously wonderful for him.  Beginning the day after Thanksgiving I've planned one Christmas activity per day.  We'll see if I can actually pull it off.  Since this blog has been a bit on the lonely side since He came along, I decided to show you some of our Christmas fun!


The 8mm Video App and ReelDirector App changed my life.  At least my video shooting and editing life.  We've been driving nearly every other Sunday to spend the day with some of our favorites, the Shorey/Baxter clan.  Elizabeth (Shorey) Baxter had her first baby a few days ago.  We spent the day driving, singing Christmas carols, talking, eating, watching football, holding a little guy, Muppet-ing and enjoying each other.

Then we got into craft mode.  I saw these yarn-wrapped letters on Pinterest a while ago.  I had the blessed idea to do this with a short holiday word.  Good idea, huh?

No. These letters were Christmas Purgatory - temporary and unusual punishment.  Word to those who think this looks fun: Use sans serif wooden letters.  Those horrible, terrible, curvy serifs really make your  throat tighten and pits warm up.  He saved the day with His newfound crafting skills - but it even took Him over two hours to complete just the N.  Boo to serifs. Booooo.
(This lady, however, took a different approach to serifs.  Might be worth a shot?)

Thankfully neither of us were ruined for yarn-wrapping crafts. These yarn wreaths have been all over the inter-webs and homes the past few years.  I decided to go ahead and make my first one.  SO easy.  So great.  Love it.

What could be better then a big wreath? Mini wreaths! Made out of shower curtain rings! These are actually fast to make, the options are endless, they are darn-tootin' adorable, and they make great Christmas ornaments!  We just had a ball working on them.

When you buy yarn and you can't knit, you must do something with it.  I spotted some cute yarn trees made from styrofoam cones a while back.  Even a gorilla could make these.  By far the easiest and fastest craft yet.

Happily I did experiement with a different textile: feathers! This photo caught my attention and I loved the little white, fluffy tree on the right side of the table.  I just hot-glued white feathers to the tree, sprayed some adhesive onto the feathers and shook glitter all over it! Eets maaaagical.

  On the fluffier side of things, I modified a pom wreath to make my own version!  I probably would have chosen to use the same size ball-puffs, but my local craft store only had bags with many sizes.  I still how it turned out, though I would like to try to copy the "original" again sometime.  This was also easy: hot glue, styrofoam wreath and fuzzy balls! (Restraining my inner Michael Scott...)Aaaaaand now we come to the best part.  We are only at the very beginning of this "doing something Christmas everyday" event and I've already used my Hail Mary.  We both got home on the later side of an evening because I had a basketball game (I coach in the winter).  My mind was buzzing with all things time-out, full-court press, foul trouble and winning.  When we got back to my house He said "What Christmas thing are we doing tonight?!" with His adorable, cheerful, eager voice.  Oh snap.  I forgot to prepare for the craft tonight. Shoot. "Let me run upstairs and change! Then I'll show you the special, exciting, um, awesome craft for tonight."  In my room I grabbed a bag of popsicle sticks, hoping for success though I knew the chances were small.  Popsicle sticks.  Jeez.  What a holiday wizard I am.  Poor boy.  He's used to multiple Christmas trees, home baked goods almost nightly, cozying up around the fire place and pretty ornaments.  Not popsicle sticks (plus a few scattered clothespins).  But it's all I had and I needed this for the win.  
"Okay.  SooOoooo.  We are going to make ornaments for your tree out of these!" I hoped I was selling him.  "We can make snowflakes! And letters! And we can paint them!" He looked at me.  He took the bags from my hands.  He asked "Can we put glitter on them too?" Touuuuuchdooooown!!!

But wait for it.
We spread out our sticks.  We start gluing away.  I'm all "Hey! Look, these could also be Stars of David!" like a first-grader making props for the Nativity Production where I have to wear a bathrobe and pillow case on my head.  I was making snowflakes and "J's" like a boss.

I look over and see Him in a trance.  Sawdust is everywhere.  Sticks are broken.  He has the hot glue gun in his lap, pencil behind his ear, tongue over his top lip.  Christmas Angel was assembling a to-scale North Pole Wonderland Fleet.

His Saint Nicholas Sleigh of Delight is not only aerodynamic, it has a roomy seat for a big tushie with safety rails for the long, busy flight.

We haven't painted the Yuletide Caribou Squadron quite yet.  But I'm sure Rudolph will have an actual red blinking nose and they will really be able to fly.

Psh. Popsicle stick snowflakes my foot.

I wish I could send you to a blog with a cute tutorial on how to make this Holiday Troupe for yourself, but, alas, I cannot.  It's all in His Christmas Angel head.  In a matter of minutes he can whip up the most sturdy, perfect, lovely crafts.  And I'm over there burning myself on the glue gun.

Oh well.

What would this world be if everyone was really good at crafts?
All I know is that I'm having the time of my life making memories this cheerful season.

Like the Grinch realized: 

Maybe Christmas, he thought,  doesn't come from a store. 

Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more! 

How have YOU been making Christmas time be "a little bit more"?

:D

Dre + Becca {Maryland Maternity Photography}

sail away with me honey

i put my heart in your hands

sail away with me

what will be will be

i wanna hold you now

david gray | sail away

My housemates, landlords, best friends, and just all-around wonderful Kless' wanted to get some pictures taken of these last few weeks (or days?) before we meet Little Man.  Though Dre made quite a mockery of my profession, we managed to have a great time ;)  I love every single member of this little family!  I just can't wait to meet all of them ;)


 Dre's mocking laughter.  Followed by Becca's loving correction.  Good job Becs.



Up next in the Baby Kless saga is his nursery reveal ;)  And then hopefully pictures of the day he is born!