Starvin' Marvin'

When Monday dawned I did what I have done a TRILLION times...I started a diet. Diets always have to be started on Monday for some silly reason. The HUGE flaw with this reasoning is that I invariably find some sort of excuse (be it a special occasion, a party, or a feeling of loneliness or boredom) to crack and toss the idea until the following Monday...even if it is only Tuesday.

I guess you could say I am a social eater. Nothing puts the "icing on the cake" so to speak, than a good meal, snack, or dessert amongst friends. Just hanging out with Jeff gives me ample opportunity to chow down on GOOD, but not so good for you food. He's got that "I can eat whatever I want and not gain a single pound" thing going for him. SO not fair! Oh, and it doesn't help that we are such partners in crime. We've often been known to say, "We'd be CRAZY not to" accompanied by animated facial and voice expressions and a finger pointed to the sky. And then there is the lack of social interaction that draws me to food. Call me Mrs. Snacki Snackerson at home.

It's safe to say...

I LOVE FOOD!

Who doesn't really? I've never met a single soul who has said, "I just HATE to eat!" But that is no excuse for overeating or binge eating or simply not eating correctly. Stupid MODERATION!!!

So, that's why I am in the place I'm in today:

• Out of my comfort zone with the way I feel and and look
• On a SUPER restrictive diet.
  
• Ready to "kill a fool" for a single piece of fruit.
  
• And in a battle with the devil on my shoulder.

All while clinging to the mantra,

"I'm giving up something good, for something better."

I know that if I can make it passed this week (Aunt Flow's timing is impeccable!) I can do just about ANYTHING. In a few weeks the "hardest part" will be over and I will have hopefully gained better habits and a deeply rooted desire to continue taking care of myself. I know that my body is a gift from God. It's time I began treating it as such. I am coming to know for myself that by controlling my bodily (or carnal) appetites my relationship with my Maker has strengthened. I have humbly sought His help and have felt comfort in my weakness. I have found new meaning in the scripture found in Ether 12:27:

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

{I happened upon this picture of my Mom's delicious crop of grapes and intended to write a diatribe on diets and have happily been lead in another direction.}

Somethin' Crafty

Last month I had the opportunity to go to a TRIPLE baby shower,
which included my sweet SIL Jamie.
I can't deny...
I'm getting a little baby hungry.
Grace is like practically grown up.
HA! HA! HA!
Well, at least SHE thinks she is.

Here was the shower cuteness I whipped up...

Sweet Gracie Face

This child is DAZZLING! That's why it bums me out that I have such a hard time getting her to let me take her picture. I resort to bribes...in the form of treats. This particular time it was gummies. Ah, whatever gets the job done...and puts a smile on her face.

(Jacket lovingly given by Mary)
{Circa July 25th}

Gypsy Boheme Voyage {Part 4}

{Saturday}

(Since it has been a little over 2 months since I took this FABULOUS trip and I have a GAZILLION and 3 more posts to write...I will have to fight the urge to doccument all of the tiny details and rely on the pictures to do most of the story telling...)

After a tasty brunch, we headed to the studio where the Lovely Tricia lead us in making our very own GBV scrapbook to document our flea market wishes, snapshots, and more. We used the VERY best bits, baubles and papers to give them a true "gypsy" vibe.



Mary served us a yummy lunch and once again didn't skimp on presentation!



After lunch, we took our caravan to the famed Abbot Kinney for some window shopping. All of the shops are to die for and a source of inspiration. (Oh, we also stopped by a local vintage flea market were we kicked off our weekend spending sprees.)


{The following 4 photos were taken at Tumbleweed & Dandelion}








Back at the bungelow, we put our creative juices to good use while making darling totes to carry our flea market treasures in. Tricia and Mary were so generous with their fabulous findings and the bags turned out beautifully! Oh, and to our amazement Tricia slipped in a handmade yo yo necklace! So CUTE!



Our next activity was "hands down" a good time...we each had one on one time with 2 REAL LIFE gypsies who gave us a tarrot card and palm reading. While I myself choose to not put a lot of stock into the this sort of thing, I did have fun with it. It helped a great deal that my forcast was bright!


After noshing on another of Mary's SCRUMPTIOUS meals, we headed to the Promenade in Santa Monica. There we found many live street performers and great shopping. (Think uber long outdoor mall meets SoCal electricity.) VERY cool.

With the night still young, yet facing an early morning, we took our little party back to Mary's. To my SWEETEST surprise I was presented with the YUMMIEST (no joke) red velvet cake I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. (This whole trip was my birthday gift and what a gift it was!) We burned off some of the calories by enjoying some serious dancing followed by a some winding down in front of the patio fireplace. (I totally built the fire!) It was the perfect close to a perfectly fun filled day!




{Thanks to Tricia and all of my gypsy gals for sharing their photos!}

A Tutorial for Your Tuesday

In an effort to purge the clutter from around our house I have been flipping through the gazillion magazines I couldn't previously part with and saving my favorite pages for a tips/inspiration binder. In this month's issue of InStyle this collection caught my eye and my feet began to ache for the comfort and beauty of a new pair of ballet flats.

My wheels began to turn. I knew I was gonna have to create myself a pair. (Let's face it, it would be a creative outlet AND cost a LOT less) Imagine my elation when I came across this lovely pair of bronze ballet flats at Target...on SALE...for ONLY...10...DOLLARS!

J. Crew sells this pair at a whopping $125.
{Keeping in mind they are real leather.}

So I began rummaging through my bits and baubles and put together this final product:

This is what I did...

1. Removed the center from a set of flowers. (Free...swiped them from my Mom.)
2. Used sharp scissors to clean up the edges of the petals.
3. Applied Fray Check to keep the edges tidy.
4. Used a blow dryer to speed up the drying time.
5. Glued the petals together with E-6000.
6. Glued the flower in place on the shoe.
7. Added the vintage earring center (post removed, $2).

Tada! Very simple, chic, and inexpensive (only $12) for a classy pair of shoes with a costly attitude. I loved mine so much I made a pair for my sister's birthday.

I can't wait to wear them!

Sassy

This picture screams:

"I am SO your daughter, Mom...just wait!"

Gypsy Boheme Voyage {Part 3}

{Mary's Bungalow}

The stage was set for the arrival of our fellow Gypsy Voyagers...

Welcome

{The Living Room}




{Kitchen/Dining Area}



The Talented Tricia



{Powder Rooms}





{Guest Room}



{Master Bedroom}
Christi

Fran


{Back Patio}





The Studio is ready for our classes.

I will give you some time to catch your breath... Can you believe this place? Gorgeous, right?
Next time...How Gypsies Party.

Gypsy Boheme Voyage {Part 2}

{Friday}
The day started with a trip downtown to the Flower Market. On the way there we scoped out some spots to visit on the next trip. (Hoping that Trish and Mary loved me and want to adopt me into their gang...Hint! Hint!) We gathered arm loads of fresh flowers to add the "gypsy flair" throughout Mary's house.



Next, we stopped here...

...to have a pre-view of the shops we were to visit with the "gypsy caravan."
{Eye candy like you would not believe!!! Photos of the shops and displays to come.}

Isn't she a beauty? The fan...OF COURSE Mary is!

Afterward, I enjoyed an ice cold lemonade while my comrades sipped a glass of pink champagne at a little french bistro. Soooo tre chic!

I had the extreme pleasure of helping with preparations for the arrival of our gypsy sisters. Mary's home is just incredible! See for yourself...

{This is only a sneak peek. I'll have more photos of the finished product in later posts.}






{This is Mary's studio and shop - Sweetpeas & Snapshots}

We made it down to Venice Beach in time to see the sunset...





Our last stop of the day was for a nutritious dinner...Bavarian Pretzels. (At least I think that is what they were called!) We attempted to play darts, but the machine was broken...so we headed home.

The night wasn't over...Oh, no! That's not how we roll! We stayed up dancing and chatting at Mary's table. I know that the weekend was about crafting and shopping, but I consider my greatest "score" to be the friendships I was able to gain while pre-pairing for the festivities. I will forget what "stuff" I found in L.A., but I will always remember the fun, generous, lovely women I came to know there.

Until next post...Coming up, "Showtime!"

Gypsy Boheme Voyage {Part 1}

Finally, after many catch up posts I get to divolge the details from my L.A. voyage...

Let it be said here and now...I had a FRIGGIN' BLAST!

{Thursday}
I hitched a ride with the incomparable Trish. What a relief, because I would've hopped into the car with almost anyone just to get down there for the weekend! Okay, I am only playing, but it was so very nice of her to bring me along. When you consider that we were pretty much strangers, you can have an idea of the limb she went out on for me. Trish is so down to earth and sweet...it was a treat chatting and getting to know her.

Good Converstion + Old School R&B = Fun Road Trip

It was pretty late when we pulled into Mary's Santa Monica bungelow, but she and her cutie pie kids still gave us a warm reception. Mary has the gift of making you feel like you've known her forever...it is impossible to not be happy and comfortable around her. She does this childlike voice and says things like "good night", "good morning", and "love you." SOOO CUTE!

I woke up in the wee hours of the morning with a major case of the wiggles. Fearing that I would wake Trish up, I crept out into the living room and laid on the couch. I had the joy of watching the sky transform as the sun rose...

Stay tuned for the next installment and see what hi jinks 3 Gypsies can get into...

Birthday

Birthdays Rock! (Even if I am creeping ever closer to 30:) My day was filled with what I like to do best.

1. Wake up...Hang out with my little family.
2. Went to work with Hubby. (I LoVe just BEING with him.)
3. Lunch at Dilly's Deli. (They make the BEST gourmet sandwiches!)
4. Popped into the Scottsdale mall before our movie started.
5. Saw Easy Virtue at a little theater that shows small/indie/artsie films. (What a find!)
6. Had dinner with the family at My Big Fat Greek Restaurant on Mill Ave. (My Fave!)
7. Fell in love with a new recipe... a delicious made from scratch apple cake with cream cheese frosting. (Lovingly prepared by Kara.)
8. Watched my DVRed episode of The Bachelorette.
9. "Snuggled" with Hubby.
10. Fell blissfully asleep.

{Circa July 6, 2009}

A Family Fourth

Tired of our usual festivities of BBQing and watching fireworks from the roof top, the Hunt clan packed up and headed to the woods determined to have a "small town" July 4th. Jen and Ken were visiting for the weekend and with the exception of our soon-to-be addition, Andrea, the whole family was together!

Arriving Friday, we set up our tent compound and shared a late night around the fire feasting on tin foil dinners. (We nearly headed for Denny's since our food took so long to cook!)

On the 4th we went to town for breakfast at the local diner and spent some time on the grass in the park were the fireworks were to be held that night. In the afternoon I made the rounds to all of the antique shops. (On my quest I found a lovely hat, vintage tablecloth, and a tin canister.) At night we snagged a perfect spot to watch the fireworks light up the sky right above us. Tragically, Jen lost a beloved flipflop, but otherwise the day was very enjoyable.

Kara made a delicious breakfast Sunday morning and we shared our testimonies with one another. It is a true blessing to be a part of this family. We are like a good patchwork quilt...each of us unique and stitched together with love.

Sale-ing Scores

As a self proclaimed yard sale-ing/thrift store/antique shop/flea market junkie, I find that some days are just better than others. Take this particular Saturday for example:

With the exception of the metal screen, EVERYTHING was from 1 sale!

I've wanted one of these machines for a while now. They're awesome! Remember those movies?

This wasn't a yard sale find. I splurged on this beauty at the Antique Mall on Main. (If you call $75 a splurge for a chandelier that is typically sold for hundreds) It matches the room so perfectly. Yum!
{Circa June, 20th 2009)

Dad's Rule

Grace and I are so lucky to have this man in our lives. Wanna know why? Cause he's the kind of man that shares his Father's Day candy with us. Now that's what I call love.

{Circa June 20, 2009)

Time Well Spent

Staying at home with Grace is a blessing. We share so many adventures together. On this particular day we took turns entertaining each other with puppets. Grace has a flair for the dramatic. Case in point:

Grace: Mommy, mommy come and SEE!!!

(I come rushing into her room thinking she has found a scorpion or has built an exact replica of the Eiffel Tower out of blocks.)

Me: What is it?

Grace: LOOK at MY BOOGER!

{Circa June 11, 2009}

Amazing

{Circa June 9, 2009}
Each year our summer gets kick started with a trip from the Tuckers. The highlight of their visit was a trip to Amazing Jake's. The kids (okay...and us kids at heart) had a blast pigging out at the buffet, playing games, riding rides, bowling, playing mini golf, and abusing the advantage of all you can eat ice cream.










A note of remembrance: Alex and Daxton were so sweet with Grace. They played along with her little games (Daxton allowing her to tuck him in and sing to him about 20 times) and giving her gifts (Alex used his own money to buy her a set of lip gloss and stickers). They will make a couple of girls very happy when they grow up!

Rub-A-Dub-Dub

2 cousins in a tub...
{Circa June 7, 2009}

Monday Moments

Of the many blogs that inspire me The Rockstar Diaries is a favorite of mine. I have fallen in love with the vintage style photographs that Naomi takes with her Polaroid, Diana, and Holga cameras. I have made a mental wish list of these cameras and much to my amazement I found a Polaroid at a yard sale a couple of months ago. It was a major score for only $2, and then I found out that Polaroid is no longer in business and film is hard to come by. I have been lucky enough to find two jackpots of film and am now happily hording them. Since each picture costs nearly $2 I've become very selective of when I use it.

I snapped a couple while on our reunion trip and Saturday at a friend's birthday party. The picture quality isn't great, but that is what makes each one wonderful. They are so nastalgic and unique. I love all that is vintage and these babies have that vibe. Enjoy!






(My birthday is in less than a month and I am asking for a Holga or a Diana...I can't decide. Maybe BOTH ;-)

Reunited and it Feels So Good...

Ever have those days when you feel sorta...well, dumb. I wish I could put together an eloquent description of the Hunt reunion, but alas...my mind doesn't want to cooperate. I'll post the pictures and call it good.

We roasted marshmallows and jammed by the fire.

Grandpa Hunt stole Grace's heart by taking her to see the animals.

A fun game of softball.

Grace rode a horse for the first time.

Couldn't get enough of the animals. She saw pigs, chickens, peacocks, llamas (she called them giraffes), goats, horses, cats, and dogs.

Three generations of Hunt men.

Absolutely Stunning!

Things I don't want to forget:

Before going to the reunion Grace had been watching a LOT of "princess moobies." It is a common occurrence in such movies that the maiden sing a song in the forest while little woodland animals are drawn to her in droves. This is certainly the case in "Sleeping Boobie," Grace's current favorite. It was no wonder that as Grace arrived at the cabin she walked onto the back porch and gave a welcoming call, "Ohhh ANIMALS!" I could see how she would assume that they would hear her joyful call and all scurry to surround her.

Grace to a pig: "Hello, Oink! My name Grace!"

Grace upon being asked what she thought of the inside of a tent: "Umm, I think it a short room!"