Almost 1 more year has gone by!

Ok... I'm not promising to post super often, but at least once a year ;)

Updates on life:

+ Baby boy is not such a baby anymore. He's 2 yrs + 3 months
- He bites us when he's excited when we wrestle
- His cheeks are still so, so soft and kissable. He got all the white peach fuzz back from when he was a baby and his leg hair is blonde.
- He loved nursery with the Fabis family and is now getting used to new leaders. Bless their hearts! I'm already tired by the end of church, I can't imagine how tired they must be!
- He's talking a bunch and is now in a toddler bed. He comes to our bed at night. It's so nice not having to get up to get him!
- He understands everything in Spanish but seems to have a preference for speaking in English.


+ Spring 2018
-  In April, I started a quilt! I'm following this pattern! I've been looking at it for more than 2 years and I finally committed! Choose colors is the hardest thing because I wasn't patient enough to order the same ones in the pattern. I wanted it gender-neutral. The whole purpose of this quilt was to grieve. It sure has helped! And I've gotten super frustrated, too, when H runs all over what I lay out on the ground! I have to finish it this Fall because it got too warm to sew!
- I got the drive to launch a website for Clayton Photo + Design once and for all. It's been eating at me and it just had to get done!
- We added another lens to our gear! It's a wider, zoom lens, so now we can take better photos of our family and other families :)

+Summer & Travels
- We got to go to Rexburg, ID for baby brother + wife's graduation at BYU-I!
- We got to stay with D's family for a few days. It was so hot but we tried to stay outside doing things, like a long walk/hike by the river, walking by the lake/dock, and driving up the mountain to Lake Cleveland.
- We got to visit H's great-grandma and had a little birthday party for him and I at the park in Boise. - - We weren't sure about housing for the graduation, but ended up staying in a really pretty place near Beaver Dick on Henry's Fork.
- This trip was weird and fun.
- We finally got out West in the summer (we always go Nov/Dec when it's cold) and got some Karie Anne's gelati! So good! The last time we had it was in 2014. And of course, got our Apple-Peach Martinelli's, Broulim's New York Crunch Sushi rolls, and splurged on Jamba Juice (there's only a couple back home and they're far away :(
-OH!!! And the BEST PART of this trip was going to the Rexburg Temple to do sealings (marrying a wife and husband, and their family, for time and all eternity) on July 24, 2018, one day shy of our 6th wedding anniversary! My parents were in town long enough to watch H and it was so special. I love Rexburg and the temple and all the special memories we have there!
- I made my first naked cakes for my sister's baby shower! They turned out pretty yummy.

+ Fall 2018
- We have a baby niece! My first niece ever! She's super cute and we can't wait to meet her in person. When L came to town in the summer to visit and for her baby shower, H acted all weird and didn't want to be close to her. We think he sensed the baby!
- D & I signed up for a photography class online to improve and grow our business! It's been so nice learning together and doing more of it together. It takes us back to being in school and doing design work for our classes together!
- We also signed up for a self-reliance class that Church offers to grow our businesses. It's been great so far, but another night away from home.
- ConfettiDots on Etsy is growing :)
- M is still serving the Young Women at Church and D is still Elder's Quorum president. That keeps us both busy and H restless after Church... we've lost him twice and it was the scariest thing ever.
- M is still working from home, while H is awake :( If he does nap, it's at like 4pm.

Hello... again!

It's been another while since I've popped on here! Every time I scroll through all the posts that document everyday happenings in life and I ask myself why didn't I keep posting?

Part of it is privacy on the internet. I never know who will read it, but then I think about the possibility of uplifting someone or the record that it can be for my posterity. It's nicer to read through this blog than it is to read through a written journal with no photos. I told myself I'd print lots of photos and put them with their corresponding journal entries... but that's another project!

I'll just pick up where we are now!

+ Baby boy is 16 months and every Sunday EVERYONE in church comes up to us and asks "When is he going to nursery?" or "Does he like nursery?" H might be tall for his age, but no, he's not in nursery yet and we don't mind! We're still able to learn in our classes!

+ We just came back from visiting family in Idaho... and the highlights include:
- H falling asleep on the flight there in our arms as a lap child (this never happens!)
- almost everyone getting a stomach flu bug or food poisoning
- our family shoot in Rexburg! (not shot by a family member!)
- being able to hang out for 1 hour with my two married siblings and their spouses

+ New responsibilities
- Dad is first counselor in Elder's Quorum at church
- Mom is first counselor in Young Womens at church (still trying to figure out where I fit in)

+ Still working
- Dad got a promotion and is "unofficially titled" the art director for a large/series of projects at work
- Mom works (as fast as she can) from home while H sleeps. Naps are getting shorter!

+ New words
- "Dada" has some new meanings! Almost everything is "Dada"
- "ma MA MA" is whenever baby boy needs help with something or wants something... anything.
- Signs words like milk, more, thank you (but blows a kiss instead)
- Totally understands like EVERYTHING when I speak to him in Spanish! I am in awe that a little human can learn a language and I can't (that quickly or that well!)

I have a talent...

I recently confirmed that I have a new talent! I seem to stop posting on accounts (this blog, my Etsy business Instagram, my digital journals, etc.) almost exactly one year before I stumble upon them and post again! Is that a talent?

For catching-up sake... Here's an update!

+ We have a happy, cute baby boy with the softest, squishiest and most gorgeous cheeks you ever did see (and 3 bottom, pearly whites and a little lunar on his left big toe)

+ Baby boy army crawls for speed, pulls himself up, stands up on his own as if he's daring himself to stand up without holding anything, sings and conducts music, is silly, and isn't fond of chunky food

+ It's been almost 1 year since we brought said boy home from the hospital! (How is this possible?)

+ Mom works from home when baby boy naps (I'm learning and pushing myself and truly have seen the Lord answer my prayers when I need help since there isn't another web developer)

+ Dad works at the office and less at home nowadays

+ Mom was Primary music chorister at church up until baby boy was born

+ Mom is in the Relief Society activity committee at church & Dad is the ward's finance clerk

+ Dad has had braces for a year and we can't remember life without them

+ Turkish dramas are great! 

+ Period dramas are also great!

+ Our photo business has managed to let us shoot here and there, but sure needs some TLC

+ The CD design & photography we did for Scott Rivers's first music CD has been sold at real stores!

+ Freelance work has showed up at the right time

+ We are researching and studying trying to figure out why our cookies always come out cakey

+ Also researching for yummy frostings that don't taste like pure powdered sugar

It's Finally Spring!

We were blessed to have a mild winter this year, and instead of snow on the trees there are white, pink, and purple flowers! It's so exciting to see the Earth kind of start all over in growing all the green. It makes me want to start all over again with goals and what I will do each morning to make life more beautiful.

What's been making life more beautiful is this little babe inside of me. He is moving a little bit different now since he's getting bigger and stronger! He's a whole 'nother person in our home and it's so crazy that we haven't seen him yet... only 2 more months. Or 10 more weeks to be exact :)

For future reference, these are good things to have done by now:

• Baby carseat purchased
• Baby shower in the works + completed registries
• Picking a doctor for baby
• Scheduling a hospital tour
• Taking a birthing class (there's some free ones online)
• Having a name picked out - or several :) 
• Getting a crib or what baby will sleep on
• Body pillows for sleeping are best to start using earlier on in pregnancy!

These last few months I feel like I've majored in "How to be a mom: during and after pregnancy". There are so many things to learn about the body, your baby's body and development, figuring out and preparing for what changes will happen in life, finances, family, etc., after baby comes and daydreaming about snuggling for hours. 

We feel like we have mostly everything down because we've talked about our expectations with each other or asked how we would react if baby didn't sleep all night or misbehaved... haha but sometimes it feels like seasoned parents are trying to scare us with things like, "Sleep now since you won't sleep later" or "Travel the world before you have kids", etc. But the thing is that there's two of us. We can take turns and work like a team. And the travel thing - we are sure there's more things to do when you have kids and more memories instead of just selfies of us now. We know the world is not going to end when our kiddies are here!

Anyways - enough of a rant. Hopefully you are all enjoying the beauty that is spring!

Little Update: 22 weeks

So it's no longer just two of us! It's three of us! We are so excited for July to come!

Life has had a few changes for us with a job and new life roles. But it's all been a blessing. I don't have to commute to the city any more and it's nice to be home and work in the comfort of home during this phase of life. The company I worked for wasn't doing so great so it's back to freelancing for now. It's fun to feel our little one move and to know that a miracle is taking place. I thought it would be many more years before we would have him and not having to wait anymore is a weight and sadness lifted off of our shoulders.

Our little babe is 22 weeks old (or so) and already has so much personality. It's so crazy getting to know him even though he's in the womb. When I think of meeting him I feel as if though it will be a reunion of having been apart for a long time. And then I think of how he is one of Heavenly Father's spirit sons and can't help but think there's a little bit of sadness and joy at the same time on the other side of the veil as this little one comes to join our family here on Earth. These last few months have taught me that nothing else in this world matters except family, the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, and living and working to get back to Heavenly Father.

Grateful

I am grateful for a good career job. It's so funny when you think about all the time you may have been in school and thinking, "Am I even going to do this and get paid for it in the real world after graduating?" Yes! You do! I am so grateful for an education that makes it possible for me to keep learning and to use a lot of what I was taught and for parents that motivated me and gave me that opportunity. Not being the primary provider for our family made me sometimes take some jobs for granted, but now I don't. I like that the work I'm doing has purpose in helping other people have better lives.

One year later...

It's almost 1 year since this little blog has gotten any love! Quick recap of last year's major happenings...

+ D & I both served in the primary at church and grew to love those kids so much

+ Share the Gospel with a family & had a baptism!

+ Successfully endured living under outrageously immature neighbors

+ Left that apartment spotless (still waiting for our full deposit, I hope!) #whitegloveincollegepaidoff

+ Moved with a better packing strategy (we used mostly all plastic totes and it was awesome!)

+ We love our new place

+ Traveled for work - D went to Denmark & Brussels, I stayed in the States

+ Successes and little "big" victories at work

+ Planned meals almost every week (this really saves time and mulah!)

+ Finally took official family photos

+ Drove to Nauvoo, watched 2 pageants & went to the Nauvoo Temple... it was so beautiful! and we camped for our anniversary

Right now we are...

+ Still unpacking

+ Making our new place a home

+ Crossing our fingers that we get called to serve in the primary again!

+ Trying to relax as part of the day; it's a really important thing to do.

+ Taking life as it comes...

Everything hasn't been dandy all the time, but when those dandy days do come around, it makes the hard days worth it. Or that's what I sometimes have to push myself to think.

What's your year been like? 

Family Photos

 

A couple of weeks ago we got to do a family session for a friend from a long time ago! Every time we do a shoot I tell D, "We really need to take our own family photos!" Growing up it wasn't something we did officially, but now I see that it's really important (for our family, at least). There are so many details that you forget about yourself years down the road that are nice to document.

$3 DIY Jewelry Box / Earring Organizer

For years now, I'm not kidding, I've been looking for ways to organize earrings. I hate it when one earring goes missing!

This box fits rings and both stud & drop earrings; it's the perfect way to see your options at a glance! The foam and felt cost about $5 and I had foam left over to make 5 more boxes!

Click through for all the details!

It's December!

It hit me today that 2014 is almost over! It's exciting that another year has gone by and makes me question, "Where did 2014 go?" We've learned a lot this year, especially with moving across the country! Some highlights up to now...

- 1 college graduation

- 2-year wedding anniversary

- 7 jobs

- 1 BFA show

- become debt free!

- lived 3 different places

- packed everything we owned and could bring with in 16 boxes

- driven a whole lot of miles

This is our month of reflection - it lets us see the Lord's hand in our lives! :)

DIY: Freezing Fruits & Veggies

Once upon a time I got to make freezer meals with some friends and threw in lots of chopped carrots and potatoes. A week or so later we noticed that the carrots and potatoes turned black :( Little did I know that you can't freeze some produce without prepping it.

We got some pineapple on sale for smoothies! To freeze it, you have to flash freeze it first. This is so that all the pieces don't stick together later when you want a small amount.

Freezing Fruit

1. Chop your fruit (wash your berries)

2. Lay out the fruit on a cookie sheet

3. Freeze it for an hour or two

4. Pack the fruit in a freezer bag or containers

Freezing Vegetables

1. Wash your veggies

2. Boil some water in a pot (enough to cover the veggies)

3. Put your veggies in the boiling water and let the water come up to a boil. This should take a minute. 

4. Drain out the water and place the veggies in a bowl of ice water for about 5-10 minutes. This stops it from cooking further.

5. Pack in freezer bags or containers

What makes me the happiest...

These last couple of days so many things have happened. A funeral for a family friend who has had a big influence in our family, pressure from people I don't know to take a job, really long interviews, lots of driving, freezing cold weather, noisy neighbors, doesn't sound like a lot... but we haven't had a whole lot of "free time". What has been comforting in every situation and given me the best perspective of life to get me through it all is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I haven't talked a whole lot about my beliefs on this blog but the Gospel is what has shaped me to be who I am today and explains a whole lot of other things :)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is pretty much the "collection" of everything that Christ has taught that can help us, and has helped me, live a more happy life. The teachings of Christ are principles of truth that can give us perspective about our lives - who we are, why we are here on Earth and why we exist, and what happens to us after death. I know that God lives and His son is Jesus Christ. I know they want the very best for us and that they can help us in any situation when we ask for their help! Knowing that they care about me fills me with joy. It's comforting to know that they listen to my prayers - that I can let them know how I feel! I'm just so happy to have that in my life.

To learn a little bit more about what I believe and why I live the way I do check out mormon.org! You won't regret it ;)

Working on...

Well! Since last time we updated this little blog we've moved to an apartment and are still in the process of "moving in." Having sold most of everything we owned before driving across the country made things easy, but time consuming in starting again. It reminds me of when we first got married and all the help we've gotten in moving in; it's humbling.We saved a set of pots and pans from our wedding and got to open them here! Things we're working on:

+ Polishing up & building an Ikea dresser
+ Finishing unpacking
+ Stop working from home?
+ Coming up with more lunch & dinner ideas (suggestions welcome!)

10 Productivity Tips for Working From Home

At the moment we both work from home! It's a lot harder than I first thought. I get to work in my pjs if I want and sleep in an extra hour since the office I work for is one hour behind our timezone (which is nice)! But sometimes it's hard to focus and not think of all the other fun stuff I want to do. If you're working from home here are some tips that have worked for us to increase productivity!

1. Set a time to get ready for the day & stick to it
The trick is to be consistent! I hold myself accountable if I am "late to work" by making up the time after everyone has gone home, just like you would in an office.

2. Dress for work.
As fun as working in your pjs can be, it's doesn't always equate to being productive or professional. The way you dress can really affect the way you act - last thing you want to do is get a Skype call in your pjs.

3. Eat breakfast
Otherwise you'll be snacking all day.

4. Have a workspace dedicated to work
Working on your laptop is nice for the first day, but your productivity will go up if you're at a desk. Make sure your workspace is clean and uncluttered, this will help reduce distraction.

5. Have plenty of (natural) light
I've noticed that I am happier with natural light coming in from a big window! I feel more awake, productive, and bright. It's a good balance for your eyes from starring at a computer screen all day, too. If you haven't tried this, I dare you to!

6. Plan your meals & snacks
Crockpots are great, but making a sandwich can be therapeutic, too! I love being able to eat real food on a plate and not out of a plastic container or baggy. Have snacks handy and measure them in a cup to make sure you don't munch the whole day.

7. Eat lunch at the dinner table
Or wherever you have meals at home. The goal is to get away from the computer.

8. Have a notepad
If you like multitasking (but find that you're not super productive), write your tasks down and break them up into realistic tasks. Notepads are great for jotting down things you remember you have to do later. I like writing down big things I have to get done that day and sometimes prioritize them with a number.

9. Block out social media
(Ignore this bit if your job is social media.) If you're online for work, opening a new tab to get on Facebook or Instagram only takes a second! Use a site blocker that blocks those sites during certain hours. Another easy thing to do is sign out of all those social media sites so that if you want to get on them, you have to go through the hassle of signing in!

10. Go home after work!
Just like you did at your office job, it's good to treat your time at home like you're at home. Turn off your computer and unplug.

We want to know how you get things done at home! Let us know in a comment below.

3 YEARS AGO TODAY

(^ This photo was a tender mercy... or that's what I call it! It was taken by a photographer for the school paper the night we met! It was published in the school paper the following Tuesday :)

Three years ago, today, is one of our favorite days! It's the day we met three years ago! I remember it being an all-around, great day! So many exclamation marks!

Every Sunday evening, students at BYU-I gather to sing hymns under the stadium. It was a great way to end the Sabbath and to start the week for me.We both walked in, one after another, and stood near each other and made small talk in between songs. It sounded like we liked everything the other person liked! I remember being a little shy and feeling like I had to turn my head up so high to see D's face because he's way taller than me.

Three years ago, today, I happily walked to my apartment with the biggest smile on my face. My roommates asked if I had met someone special because they saw me smiling the rest of the night. I told them I had just seen "a friend from last semester" (and "all semesters of life to come!" ;).

Three years ago, today, I met my husband.

ON A JOB HUNT

We love freelance work! We keep making notes of things we want to do when we have our own studio someday. There's just so much variety and it's nice that people trust what you're doing. We've been blessed to have people ask D to work for them even though they've never met in person. The more I think about it the less it makes sense. We truly feel that the Lord has been watching out for us during this whole post-grad transition!

Today's interview went really well - and it was in a really nice location close to the lake.

LIFE HAPPENS...

I used to think that when someone says "life happens" something bad happened or something that wasn't in their plan of how things should work out. But now that I'm sitting down and thinking about it... life happens because it just does! Life can be good and not so great other times!

Life for us has been busy, happy, stressful, exhausting, scary, friendly, nerve-wracking, exciting, not-so-exciting, and everything in between... just all in a really small amount of time!

We made the big trek eastward to Chicago! It not only took 2 days to drive... but almost a month to pack up. I thought I had it all planned out and that it would be a breeze... but life happens and you're not the only one with a plan! We ended up selling everything we could possibly sell and packing everything we possibly could! It was stressful - but we both felt so relieved and achieved at the end! We both learned a lot about ourselves and each other - and for that I'm grateful because it wouldn't have happened any other way.

Things we miss most about Rexburg: late summer light, the Temple, mountain air, the calm even when there's traffic, the stars

More updates to come before this post becomes a novel!

PATTERNS 11: PEOPLE

It's fun to come across pattern with people in them! These are some of my favorite that I've come across. See more on my Pattern board.

1. Hawaiian Hula dancers | 2. Skiers | 3. Swimming pool | 4. Spanish dancers | 5. Synchronized swimmers | 6. Space people

PATTERNS 10: STRIPES

Stripes will never go out of style... I hope! I love stripes on clothes, stationery, stamps, wrapping paper and almost everything! The possibilities are endless when you add a pop of color.

1. Orange Pink | 2. Rifle Paper Co. wrapping paper | 3. Vertical black & white | 4. Pink | 5. Vintage | 6. Hot pink

See more patterns on the Pattern board on Pinterest!

PATTERNS 9: WATERCOLOR

I've always loved watercolor! It's something really hard for me to do (or even trying to paint with watercolor). I love how delicate the colors can be... and my favorite: how you can layer color! Check these patterns out!

1. Balloons | 2. Triangles | 3. Rose | 4. Abstract Yellow | 5. Flowers | 6. Diamonds