Milk Glass

The last couple nights I have been browsing some of my fave design blogs and realized how much I LOVE milk glass! I also realized that I'm also totally in love with white ceramic kitchenware. Martha Stewart (who is pretty much AWESOME and I don't care if she spent time in prison, dad) has beautiful white ceramic cake plates that come in 3 different sizes and in 2 different shapes. I personally think I need all 6 but at around $30 a piece I don't think Byron James would agree. Maybe I can start collecting them slowly..... Check these other beautiful pieces I found and I would love to add to my collection of kitchenware. I love the details on the plate and the simpleness of the footed compote. Did I mention I how much I enjoy anything and everything that has to do with kitchenware? Looking at all these things makes me daydream of when we have a house and we can through dinner parties and entertain. I can't wait!

Oh I almost forgot. My new ring came today and I couldn't be more in love with it, it has a mint green amethyst in the middle and the 4 prongs have 3 little diamonds each. It has a vintage feel and it's so sparkly!

Much Love, 

Busy Busy

As I announced earlier last week I was going to be going to Haiti, well it's turned out that I will not be going after all. Sunday morning I received a phone call from Carla (a girl I work with who was also going to go with me) that we needed to be on a plane to Florida that afternoon with supplies and be ready to receive the children at the Orlando Airport. After talking to her about it for a little while we realized that it made more sense to try and recruit people in Orlando to go. They have transportation, homes and it wouldn't take them 7 hours to get there. So after I got off the phone with her I called my sister in law Melyssa and explained everything to her. I didn't know much at the time but we knew for sure we needed 10-15 volunteers, supplies for the children, and a way to get money to them. After a couple hours of back and forth Melyssa was able to gather 9 other friends and head to the airport. While here in Utah we were able to raise $750.00 for Melyssa and Co. to buy what was needed. Melyssa was part of the first group to welcome the first set of children into the country and it has been decided that they will continue to be the group, along with Tonya (she is the wife of the attorney I work for) and Kim Hardman who is the director of the orphanage. Even though I didn't go to Haiti I am still happy that I was able to help in some way even if it was from a thousand miles away.

In other news we are going to Seattle on February 5th and I can't wait!! This will be the first proper vacation that Byron James and I have had. We didn't go on a honeymoon (we planned to but ended up losing our jobs... you know the story), and we have both been so busy since we haven't been anywhere, or really had a break. The holidays were insanely busy with family and moving that they didn't really feel like time off so the thought of leaving in 10 days is really all that is keeping me going. Oh and did I mention we will be going on a shopping spree!!! We received gift cards to our favorite store (H&M) for Christmas and also have some savings to spend, I don't remember the last time I actually went shopping. We will be spending time with Family Friday night and Saturday afternoon and then Sunday we will be going to the Zoo and most likely back to the hotel to watch the super-bowl (which I totally don't mind because that means time to be lazy and eat bad food)! It's pretty much all I talk about right now and I'm sure everyone is tired of hearing about it....buuut I don't really care I 'm REALLY excited!

I'm really trying to get better about updating my blog every few days instead of once every week and a half or so but it seems like every time I go to update it I get busy. It was doggy bath time this week and Byron James decided that washing them in the sink was a better idea than the tub because of the sprayer. It was, but neither of them were happy about it. I can't wait until we shave them in the spring time, less fur, less mess, much less brushing (they will be shaved to look like lions).

     

Much Love, 

Big News!!!

Most of you know that I will most likely be going to Haiti in the next couple weeks in order to chaparon orphans to the U.S. This was something that I decided to do in a matter of 5 minutes on Monday afternoon and felt like this was something I had to do. I overheard some of my co-workers talking about it and went to ask my boss about the details. The plan is that we will fly to Florida (this could change) and from there hop on a military plane to Haiti. Each of us going will be in charge of 5 or 6 with ages ranging from infant to preschool age. None of the children speak English and have never been on a plane, it is going to be a challenge but I have Jesus and with Him all is possible. We will be bringing the children back to the U.S. to either their adoptive parents or foster parents. After I found out all the details I called Byron James to see what he thought, I let him know that I didn't know when I was leaving or for how long and we would have to pay my way to Florida. He said ok, and within a couple minutes I was on a team of amazing women who were going to make the journey to Haiti. The more I think about it the more excited and nervous I get. First it's going to be an amazing experience and second I have never been to a third world country let alone one that in a few quick minutes was completely destroyed (the closet I have come is the Highlands in Longview, family and Washington friends you know what I'm talking about). This is the orphanage we'll be going and also how to donate to the relief fund. As more details become available I will be sure to let everyone know.

This last weekend my little bro and his girlfriend came down for a visit. I didn't get to see much of them because of work/violin lessons/church so I'm hoping once we are settled again he will come back and we can hang out more. They arrived Saturday afternoon and that night we went to Gateway Mall and then to the Skybox for dinner (the original plan was Tucci's but we were already there and I figured it was the least I could do after dragging Byron James to a mall in the freezing cold weather). It was a fun night, even though the Ravens lost (sad). On Sunday I saw them for maybe 30 minutes when he came to figure out why the computer wasn't recognizing my new ipod and after that they were gone to explore Salt Lake. Sunday afternoon was my second violin lesson and this time I have a song to learn YAY! Every time I meet with Meredith it makes me so excited to go home and practice. I will finally be able to play an instrument (and no it won't be a recorder...Dad)!!

Oh one last thing I'm finally working on opening my own Etsy shop! My goal is to have it open by April 1st, which is totally possible as long as I can work on it gradually. I have all kinds of cute (well I think they're cute and I'm hoping others do also) things to make and hopefully this will one day turn into my full time job. That's all for tonight and as I get more updates on Haiti I will post them.

Much Love

1 Year

I can't believe that Byron James and I have already been married for a year! It's crazy to think about after everything that has happened, both losing our jobs while trying to adjust to being married. We made it through and this last weekend we celebrated by going to Ruth's Diner and then to see Sherlock Holmes. I finally got around to getting Byron James a 'real' wedding ring (many of you know what happened with the wood one) and also a TomTom. On Friday he had flowers sent to my work and then Friday night we were out to eat with his parents and I was, as usual, making a list of things that needed to get done the next day. He had to stop me and say 'before you go making all these plans you have a massage at 11 tomorrow morning.' I was so excited because my back/shoulders have been killing me recently due to the stress I put on myself. On Saturday I woke up ran some errands and then Byron James dropped me off at my massage, and when he came back to pick me up he handed me a new ipod! Flowers, massage and a new iPod...I love you Byron James! We were supposed to be in Seattle this last weekend for our anniversary but plans change and now we will be going Feb 5-8, and I can't wait!! That's all for now and I am still hoping to post more frequently on here but lets just be honest that might never happen.

Much Love

p.s. I also started violin lessons this weekend! The last couple years I have really wanted to start playing an instrument and now it's finally happening. I'm so excited to learn and I have to say thanks to my awesome teacher Meredith Salas and also my bestie Jamie Jo for letting me borrow one of her violins.

I've finally done it...

I have finally started a blog! It's been something I have been thinking about doing for awhile now but never got around to doing. My goal for the new year is to stay motivated and finish things I start so I will hopefully be updating my blog about our lives and my crafty projects a couple times a week.

With the holidays over and moving finally completed we can finally get back to our normal busy life. The holidays were great and it was so nice to get to spend time with Byron's side of the family and get to know them better. All of his sisters, plus our brother-in-law and nephews came to Utah for Christmas and were here for an entire week. Although I had to work most of the time we got to spend 3 days together with our trip to Boise. Once Christmas was over it was on to moving. I DO NOT LIKE MOVING! The packing and the actual moving of boxes…blah it’s awful. Luckily we have some awesome friends who came over on New Year's Day to help us move all of our stuff and it only took about 2 hours (we would still be moving had they not helped). Thanks guys! We love you! We are getting all settled into Byron's parents house, dogs and all (thank you so so so much to the Marshall's for letting us crash at their place for a few months while we get back on our feet).

Much Love,

Danielle Marie