the family pelton

Monday. Photo Day.

2012-01-15T23:06:00.000-06:00

Sort of.

You'll have to head over here for the full monty.

But here's a snippet of what is waiting for you:

Cheers,
A

Thursday Randomness

2012-01-12T09:52:00.000-06:00

Because it's Thursday

(my favorite day of the week)

I thought I'd share this random story with you.

My first class at North Hennepin Community College

(where I earned my AAS degree - with a 4.0 baby!)

was Physical Geography.

I can't, for the life of me, remember the instructor's name.

The class began at 7:50

in the morning!

which was, to date, the dumbest collegiate scheduling decision

I have ever made.

But I digress.

One morning, as we discussed the layers of the atmosphere,

I raised my hand and asked the instructor,
"At what level are you able to see the stars?"

The class erupted in laughter.

My instructor snortled, ever so slightly, as well.

My smartass self got annoyed.

Really, really annoyed.

Jackasses.

They were laughing at me.

Ugh.

The teacher replied,

"You can see the stars from the ground. At night."

The class laughed louder.

At this point I was about ready to punch said instructor in the face

with my chair,

but being the wielder of wit that I am,

I casually responded to her retort with the following,

"Obviously. I am neither blind, nor an idiot. My question was in regard to daytime. At what level of the atmosphere does the refraction of light stop, thus making it possible to see space?"

The teacher looked at me - her face blank.

A deadpan stare.

Deer, meet headlights.

"I'm not sure?" she said.

And on we went with our lesson.

Did I mention I graduated (junior) college with a 4.0?

Apparently I was smarter than some of the educators.

If I may be so bold.

The moral of this story:

There's no such thing as a stupid question,

only stupid people.

Cheers!

Freestyle

2012-01-10T20:39:00.000-06:00

Saturday I sewed.
When DRL and I went to Austin in December I picked up some fabric
at my favorite Austin fabric boutique, The Stitch Lab.
I had a half yard of quilter's linen in this great deep indigo color and it happened
to coordinate perfectly with the Erin McMorris' Summersault print I acquired on my trip.
The problem: I only had a half yard of that, too.

Oliver+S makes my favorite children's clothing patterns.
Almost everything I've sewn for my girls has been from one of Liesl's great patterns.
But they all require at least one yard of the "main fabric" for dressmaking.
I found myself on the horns of a dilemma.

I wanted to make Stella a dress.
I wanted to use these two fabrics.
I had no pattern.

Crap.

Except not!
I found a Gap dress in Stella's closet,
a hand-me-down from Elena,
that seemed exactly perfect.
I traced the body, adding extra width for the placket,
and a half inch all around for the seam allowance.
I relied heavily on the skills I learned making Liesl's patterns:
Sewing a placket,
adding a sleeve,
basting,
pleating,
hemming.
And I winged it.
I freestyled Stella a dress.

It's not perfect.
It doesn't lay flat in the front.
I accidentally cut the bottom (left) back piece.
I had to applique a patch there (I only had a 1/2 yard. I couldn't cut a new piece).
The pleat is slightly off-center in the front (It's spot on in the back!)

But I'm crazy happy with how it turned out.
Stella looks amazing in it.

Here's to trying new things.
To being brave and throwing the "you can't, no way" out the window.
Because the only thing worse than completely screwing it up,
would be to never have tried in the first place.

Cheers,
A

Theft of the Dial.

2012-01-09T22:15:00.003-06:00

If you live in Minnesconsin, you're probably familiar with 89.3 The Current.
If you don't you can stream it live and hear what all the fuss is about.

I spend two hours a day in my car.
I listen to the current as though it were the Gospel.
I owe Frank Turner and Blitzen Trapper to the Current.
I'm sure I owe most of the music Chud introduced me to
to the Current.

I owe my sanity
to the Current.

In homage to my love of all things Public Radio,
I am going to host my very own
Theft of the Dial.
Dear Jill Riley, Mary Lucia, and Mark Wheat:
If you happen on my playlist,
I'd be honored to hear it on the radio.

To the rest of you:
Download these songs if they're not in your collection.
This is not a complete list of my favorite songs of all time,
but rather the anthem of the year that was 2011.
The songs I played over
and over
and over
again.

Turned up to eleven.

•Down in the Valley - The Head and The Heart
•Landfill - Daughter
•I Still Believe - Frank Turner
•Sweet Disposition - The Temper Tramp
•Dog Days Are Over - Florence+The Machine
•Helplessness Blues - Fleet Foxes
•LDN - Lily Allen
•Make You Feel My Love - Adele
•Holocene - Bon Iver
•Love The Way You Walk Away - Blitzen Trapper
•The Girl You Lost to Cocaine - Sia
•Portions for Foxes - Rilo Kiley
•Wagon Wheel - Old Crow Medicine Show
•Big Time Sensuality - Bjork
•Fake Empire - The National
•The Edge of Glory - Lady Gaga
•Both Hands - Ani Difranco
•Hallelujah - k.d. lang
•Human - The Killers
•Gimmie Sympathy - Metric
•Starlight - Muse
•Sunshine - Atmosphere

As an aside, here is a list of the albums I not only listened in their entirety,
but did so again and again and again.
If you don't own these albums, you should.

Adele - 21
Bon Iver - Bon Iver
Daughter - His Young Heart EP
Florence+The Machine - Lungs
The Head and The Heart - The Head and The Heart
Metric - Fantasies
Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
The National - Boxer

Happy downloading, friends!

xoxo
A

Belated

2012-01-05T10:23:00.000-06:00

You turned two on Fetivus, Stella.
Two whole years we've known you.
Two whole years you've had to completely steal our hearts for life or longer.
You are daring.
Adventurous.
Wicked.
You love to laugh and run circles around Gramma's living room at approximately 6:15
every
single
night.
This past year has been a busy one:
Two moves, one across country.
Your first surgery. It seems your ears have an affinity for infection.
Your first pair of glasses AND your first box of disposable eye patches.
(Argh!)
Your last set of your baby teeth.
Your last bottle.
Your last cup of milk in the middle of the night.
Your last night sleeping in a crib.
Your last day as an infant.
You're a toddler now, child.
And with that comes great responsibility.

Run.
Explore.
Chase your sister until she screams "STOP IT!"
Tickle.
Dream.
Roll down hills and scrape your knees.
Sing.
Dance.
Let the music you create fill your soul.

I am so excited to be your momma, sweet girl.
I am so excited to continue to watch you grow.

I love you more than you know.
Forever and ever.

And still a day more.

xo

The Decemberist

2012-01-02T15:53:00.000-06:00

Seeing as how I basically skipped the month of December
as it pertains to blogging
I am going to blog
December
in January.

Stella's Birthday.
Festivus.
The Holidays.
The new year and all that I have planned.
Resolutions.

You know.
The usual.

Stay tuned friends.

xox
Athena

be bright.

2011-12-25T09:47:00.000-06:00

Wishing you all the best this holiday season.
Love.
Cheer.
Merriment.
Fighting over toys.
Temper tantrums.
That uncomfortably full feeling.
Pie.
Wine.
Awkward silences.
Sweet potato passing.
Dinner roll throwing.
Laughter.

from the family Pelton,
with lots of love,
Merry Christmas.

It's a Festivus Miracle!

2011-12-20T23:16:00.000-06:00

....that I posted.

I know that I'm awful at updating, and I know I'm a broken record about being awful at updating.
But here's the thing:
We moved home.
Hooray!
With that move came a two hour roundtrip commute to my job.
Seasonal Affect Disorder.
No snow for Christmas.
More photo jobs (the most recent can be found here).
Stuff.

Stuff that runs my time-in-the-day clock dry.
Before bedtime.
Every
single
night.

I think about writing.
I have a list, actually, of things I need to share.
Sewing projects,
Photographs,
stories.

And no time to share them.

I'm sorry friends. I hope my schedule gets lighter
and soon
so that I can get back to my old habits.

So that I can continue to share
all the worthless drivel and irreverence that brings you here
loyally
every
single
day.

I do promise you the annual "Airing of the Grievances" on Friday.
Maybe even Thursday,
since there may be an ode to a certain wee one
whose birth I will be celebrating.

While hoisting my Festivus pole.

And since no post is complete without a photo,
here is some snow.

Since mother nature won't send us any,
I've asked Elena to throw some your way.
Enjoy:

Cheers,
friends.

Love you.
Mean it.
A

fairies, flowers, and a fourth.

2011-12-11T17:33:00.000-06:00

Elena's best friend turned four a little over a week ago,
and in celebration of such a momentous occasion,
she had a fairy party.
Turns out her mom, my dear friend Rebecca
is one of the most amazing DIYers I know
so the party was filled with amazing details.

The cupcakes were the piece de resistance.
So.
Flipping.
Good.

I am thinking she needs to take up baking
as a profession.

hint hint, Rebecca.

Here are some photographs from the party
(in case you were doubting my claims of its awesomeness)

Between Rebecca and I
there are four girls between the ages of four and one.
Which means, there will likely be at least
one more fairy party in our future.

For which I am extremely excited.
Hello!??
Did you see those tutus?
(That Rebecca made!?!?)

I know, right??

Cheers,
A

A Gift Guide (For Me. Duh.)

2011-12-08T08:00:00.001-06:00

I like presents.

But, I mean, who doesn't?

Instead of a Holiday Gift Guide

recommending what to get for all those hard-to-buy-for people in your life,

I've compiled a list of what to buy

me.

I'm selfish like that.

First: I'd like to introduce you to my book wish list.

Known more commonly as my Amazon.com Shopping Cart.

Second: My top three OMIGOSH I NEED THAT IN MY CLOSET NOW items.
(Remember Fashion Week? These would help that come back someday. Just sayin...)

Top Left: TOMS Cordones in Grey (size 6.5)
Bottom Left: Free People Reyna Wrap Boot in brown (If you find this boot in brown in a size 6.5, buy it for me. Call me. Email me. Text me. I will PAY YOU. fReal. I DIE over these boots.)
Right: Madewell Polka Dot Sweater.

Third: I like stuff. Things. Trinkets.

Top Left: Owl Corkscrew (via RedEnvelope)

Bottom Left: Stila Lip Glaze

Instax Mini 7s Camera.

Know what else I like?

Jewelry. Especially the handmade variety.

Bottom: Sterling Silver Stacking Rings (found on Etsy)
Right: La Mer Collections wrap watch. (via ShopBop)
Top: Feather Bracelet (found on Etsy)
Left: Dreamcatcher Bracelet (listed here)

I'd like to thank you advance for your generosity.

hello??

you still there??

hello?

a

Craft Magic

2011-12-06T21:41:00.002-06:00

I went to Texas over the weekend.

I had to shoot a wedding near Driftwood

(home of the Salt Lick Barbeque)

(yum)

On Thursday,

I had a bridal shoot with the bride-to-be.

I wanted her to have a bouquet....

so I made one.

You know.

With all my craft-magic.

It's amazing how much I enjoy creating.

Choosing components

(yarn, fabric, flowers, words, etc)

and putting them together,

arranging them in exactly the right way.

It's not perfect.

But then, when is anything I make perfect?

There is so much beauty in imperfection.

Cheers,

Blue Spruce.

2011-11-30T21:33:00.000-06:00

The day after Thanksgiving is wrought with Tradition in my family.
We don't shop.
We don't pepper spray the masses in order to have the best pick
of Wal-Mart ladies' comfort tees.
We don't eat leftover pie
(We don't leave extra, silly. That pie gets eaten!)
The day after Thanksgiving is
always has been
and always will be
Christmas Tree Day.

Growing up, we'd go buy one from a lot.
When I moved out after high school,
it became the day I hauled the fake tree out of the box
(turns out I'm allergic to fire-retardant used on commercial lot Christmas trees).
Now, for my mother and my step-dad
it's the day they go to the Tree Farm and cut down the perfect
Blue Spruce.
Or was it white pine?
Boston fir?
Something evergreen-y.
With needles.
And a general triangular shape.

I digress.

This year marked Elena and Stella's first trip to the tree farm.
And we bought two trees.
One for Grammy and Papa,
and one for our little nook inside my mom's house.
(Which is currently skirted with a handmade tutu from a fairy party. More on that later).
Mom and the girls picked out the trees,
Papa manned the saw,
and I, of course,
took photos.

Cheers,
A

Wednesday.

2011-11-22T22:29:00.001-06:00

I promise I'll post an update

or something of value.

Soon.

But for now,

here are a couple photos

of Elena.

Cheers,
A

Five Long Days

2011-11-13T22:45:00.002-06:00

I got a new lens last week.
It is
without a doubt
the best thing since sliced bread.
Since the internet.
Since Essie nailpolish, and pinot noir, and coffee, and, and, and....
Since this blog! That's how amazing it is.

I bought the lens nearly a week ago,
five
full
long
days.
Five days of it staring at me,
begging me to shoot with it.

It got its wish on Saturday.

Thanks to some great weather
and the two most beautiful girls I know.

Cheers,
A

Happy Halloween

2011-11-08T21:40:00.003-06:00

Because being nine days late is the new punctual.

Cheers,
A

Hatchet

2011-11-03T22:47:00.001-05:00

At some point during my educational tenure I read the book Hatchet.
For those of you who aren't privy,
it's a story of a boy whose plane crashes
into a remote lake
in the boundary waters.

He's forced to live off the land
eating grubs, building camp, attempting to survive the cruel wilderness.
Eventually he is rescued and retreats back into his life of modern convenience
and comfort,
but he never forgets his time in the wild.
It sticks in his craw,
and takes up permanent residence in his soul.

That's kind-of-sort-of-I-know-it's-super-hard-to-believe-trust-me how I feel about the great outdoors.
Believe it or not,
I grew up camping.
Hunting.
Fishing.
"Roughing it."
I spent summers sleeping under the stars in a giant teepee.

In my front yard.

And I've always
always
wanted to spend a week(end) in the boundary waters
with my dad.

Just us
two kayaks
and a couple of backpacks
an old FG and an endless supply of film
(my dad has been a hobbyist photographer for years).

Someday, Dad.

It'll happen.

Cheers,
A

NaBloPoMo

2011-11-01T16:39:00.002-05:00

It's here.
Starts today.

I'm debating whether I have the cajones to participate this year.
The time.
The material.

The interest.

(That's your cue...
tap tap...
this thing on???)

Cheers,
A

In Keeping With Current Trends:

2011-10-26T23:29:00.000-05:00

Dearest Holden:

I will spoil you rotten and I will love you more than you can fathom until my dying breath. I can promise you ice cream, dump trucks, swirly slides, cotton candy, cartoons, and a place to hang out when Mom just won't get off your case already. Though, I can also promise you that if mom is on your case, I probably will be, too.

I will watch you play football or baseball or soccer or ballet (yes, Jeff, ballet, if he's so inclined). I will cheer for you and yell "Go TEAM!" at the top of my lungs. I will embarrass you, but not nearly as much as your parents will. I promise to be the cool "aunt" and to always have little secrets -- just for us (like that sip of root beer before bed, or the extra sugary marshmallow cereal, or how you are just a little afraid of the dark even though you're a boy and can totally fight monsters, man!).

I will give you horrible advice and be totally out of touch. I'll tell you stories about when I was a kid and you'll roll your eyes and say, "yeah right, Athena, like you were ever that cool!" And I'll assure you that yes, believe it or not, your mom and I were, like, totally rad.

I can promise that you'll fall for the wrong girl, at least once, but that falling in love is worth every bump and scrape along the way. You will break a heart once or twice, and have yours broken, too, and I'll always pick up the phone if you need to talk (or need a sober ride home, you got that!?!) I will cry at your wedding, partly because you're getting married, but mostly because I'll be old enough for you to be getting married, which means so will my daughters. Maybe you'll marry each other. But not all three of you, mmmkay? I want my girls to share, but let's not get crazy, here.

I will demand that you honor love and respect your mother from this day forward because, goshdarnitdiddilyhoo she's your momma and she birthed you and that whole birthing thing is no joke -it's hard. I will expect that you respect your father, and learn from him. He's a great man and an amazing person for you to aspire to be just like.

I'll write annoying letters like this to you from time to time, and I'll take your picture more than you can stand. Especially when you find yourself in humorous and/or potentially future reputation ruining positions (e.g. the bathtub, smashing your first birthday cake, wearing mom's heels).

And I'll hug and kiss and cuddle you.

Forever and ever.
Amen.

Aunt Athena.

(PS: Go check out Holden's birth story here)

First Lord, No Tattoos.

2011-10-25T21:53:00.001-05:00

May neither chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches. May she be beautiful but not damaged, for it's the damage that draws the creepy soccer coaches eye, not the beauty. When the crystal meth is offered, may she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half and stick with beer.

Guide her, protect her when crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.

Lead her away from acting but not all the way to finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes And not have to wear high heels. What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking you, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.

May she play the drums to the fiery rhythm of her own heart with the sinewy strength of her own arms, so she need not lie with drummers. Grant her a rough patch from twelve to seventeen. Let her draw horses and be interested in barbies for much too long, For childhood is short – a tiger flower blooming magenta for one day – and adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait.

O Lord, break the internet forever, that she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers and the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed. And when she one day turns on me and calls me a bitch in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.

And should she choose to be a mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back. “My mother did this for me once,” she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.”

And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a mental note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with your God eyes.

Amen

~Tina Fey

Cheers.
A

PS: I mean it, girls. All of it. Minus the part about tattoos. I can't say no to you there. But that part about dry humping and laying with drummers? Totally mean it.

A Photography Prize Package

2011-10-19T17:42:00.001-05:00

Remember that grammar quiz I had a few weeks back?
A classmate of mine from high school
wowed me with her grammar prowess
and won a photo shoot with yours truly.
(A dear blog-reader, Faith, won a prize, too,
which I am currently making.
Did you read that, Faith?!? It's coming! Promise!)
We met last Friday,
when the wind was whipping
and the sun was hiding.

Here are a few favorites from our session:

Thank you Kristi,
for being amazing at grammar,
and sharing your family with me for the briefest of moments.

Cheers,
A

Owl. Party.

2011-10-16T22:20:00.000-05:00

Saturday was Elena's birthday party.

Her owl party.

I spent hours making feathered masks,

wooden bead necklaces,

gift jars,

pretzel sticks,

cake pops,

owl donuts (that turned out like chickens)

and owl lanterns.

I finally threw a DIY birthday.

It.

Was.

A blast.

The kids in attendance thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

I am still thoroughly enjoying the cake pops.

Elena is asking how long before she has another birthday

so she can be five.

I told her not to be in such a hurry to grow up.

Here are some photos from the day:

(Owl babies and Owl Cake are courtesy of the amazingly talented Rebecca Weber)

Cheers,
A

quatro

2011-10-13T12:34:00.000-05:00

This girl right here is four years old today.
You hear me, Laneybug?
Four.
As I try to say it, the words get caught on my tongue,
unable to come out audibly without significant effort.
The time, as they say, goes extremely fast.

I remember the day you were born so clearly.
The pain. The exhaustion. The triumph.

Most of all, I remember the love.
The swell of it that rushed over DRL and I the second you arrived and were placed on my chest.
The way the air was different
changed
somehow, in that split fraction of an instant my world was reshaped
reformatted
forever.

Life was different.
Whole.

I want to remember you, forever, exactly as you are today.
Daring.
Shy.
Bossy.
Nosy.
Precocious.
Silly.
Thumb-sucking.
Whining.
Candy loving.
Rio soundtrack singing.
Gorgeous.
Inquisitive.
Obsessed with frogs and lizards and princesses.

Being your parent isn't always easy,
I am far from perfect,
but being your parent is the best thing I've ever been in the whole of my existence.
I am so amazed by you,
every single day.
I wish there were more days where we could be silly and play from the time the sun wakes up
until it's time for sleep.
But on the days when I am not there,
know that there is no one on this earth (except for your daddy)
that loves you more than me.

I'm so excited for this next year of your life.
To continue to watch you grow,
learn,
explore.

To see you eat at dinnertime.

So here's to you, my darling sweet daughter.
A story from your third year of life that
when told
made you squeal with laughter.
I'm certain that there is no better sound on this earth
sweeter than your giggle.

Elena Bedaina, the tooter of Tut,
Farted and a smell wafted from her butt.
It drifted through the city and down to the town,
the nasty butt smell made the cityfolk frown.
But Elena Bedaina didn't stop that root-tootin'
she kept on eating beans so the farts would keep shootin'
And then one day Elena caught a whiff of that stuff
and Elena Bedaina shouted "Enough!"
"I won't eat more beans, you can't make me I say!
I don't want to fart all night and all day.
I'm a lady! I don't want to be gross!
Tomorrow for dinner, all I'm eating is toast!"

All my love
forever and ever
(and then one day more)

Mom

Someday Her Prince Will Come

2011-10-09T23:00:00.000-05:00

Someday.
A long long long
looooooooooong
time from now.

You hear me, Prince?
A looooooong time.

Happy Monday, loves.

Cheers,
A

Wednesday Wisdom

2011-10-05T07:00:00.005-05:00

Should I mention how much

I completely suck

at consistently blogging?

No?

Why?

Because you already know how awful I am at it?

Oh, right,

you probably do.

Since you come here

to read and all.

Only to find lack of new material.

Sorry.

Life has been insanity lately.

Welcome insanity,

but insanity nonetheless.

Work.

The actual one with the paycheck and health insurance and 401(k).

Photography.

The one I actually want to be doing full-time

but lacks the (steady) paycheck,

the (company supported) health insurance,

and (employer matched) 401(k).

I'm planning an Owl party for a little girl who is about to turn four.

If you know me,

(which, I mean seriously, by this point, dear readers, you know me better than I know myself)

you know that I'm DIYing the crap out of the party.

Yay Time Suck!

But it is going to be well worth it.

I hope.

If you want to keep up with the photography happenings,

check me out here.

If you want to keep up with my snark,

friend me on facebook or follow me on twitter.

I think I need another Rant Zone post.

I can feel it brewing.

Also, I'd like to hear from you.

You know,

in the comments section

as to what you're missing on TFP.

Photos?

Regularity?

Does my blog need a healthy course of Activia?

Humor?

Snark?

Pointless pontificating rants?

Or,

keep silent,

dear readers,

if you must.

I will consult the Magic 8 Ball for answers and hope the reply isn't hazy.

Happy Wednesday!

Cheers,

PostScript: Happy First Day Overdue to my super pregnant best ever friend Nadia, and Happy First Day of Life to my dear friends John and Terri's little girl, Lily. Babies are awesomesauce.

Family Fun Day.

2011-10-03T12:22:00.001-05:00

Last weekend DRL and I took the girls to Cascade Falls.
It was amazing.
A full day, with my family.
No noise.
No obligations.
Just us.

I'd like to do it again.
Every.
Single.
Day.

Cheers,
A

These Are The Places I Will Always Go.

2011-09-26T22:50:00.000-05:00

I know there's California and Oklahoma
and all of the places I ain't ever been to but
down in the valley
with whiskey rivers
these are the places you will find me hiding
these are the places I will always go.

These are the places I will always go.

I am on my way
I am
on my way
I am on my way back to
where I started.
~from Down in the Valley by The Head and The Heart

Cheers,
A

Pinwheels!

2011-09-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

This photo was taken in June:

The day after DRL and the girls piled into a car and headed to Minnesconsin.

I was alone for two weeks and occupied my time by sewing aprons.

A whole lot of aprons.

Which reminds me, I need to make more aprons!

After the above photo was snapped, I added a back to the queen-sized quilt top

and it became a duvet cover.
I threw it on our guest bed and didn't look back.

Until I did.

I looked, and I did not like what I saw.
It just didn't look...finished.

So I tore some seams and folded the quilt top up and packed it in a box.

After we moved back home,

as I unpacked our little studio of space,

I came across the pinwheels and knew I had to finish it.

It just so happened that Elena liked it,

and needed a fun, kid-friendly bedspread.

So the queen sized duvet was converted into a twin size quilt

with a fun, coordinated, turn-down-the-bed-in-style pieced back.

I absolutely love how it turned out.

Fabric: It's A Hoot by Moda, Kona Snow Cotton, It's a Hoot Home Dec for the binding.

Cheers,

Sisters.

2011-09-16T07:06:00.000-05:00

I adore the heck out of these girls,

and I wish I could spend more of my time with them.

They truly are remarkable little people.

I am so blessed to be their momma.

Cheers,

Anatomy of a Fabric Shop

2011-09-15T07:06:00.002-05:00

I like shopping for textiles.

Yarn, fabric, thread.

I like walking into stores and seeing color, vivid, muted, soft, vibrant.

Patterns. Textures.

Most of the time I go into a fabric store just to look.

See what's new, if anything inspires me.

I almost never go in with a plan for what to purchase.

I yarn shop like that, too,

and I really like the organic nature of it all.

Letting the textiles speak to me,

as it were,

and beg me to take them home and make something wonderful.

But I am a nerd like that.

*pushes taped glasses and adjusts pocket protector*

For those of you who've never ventured into a fabric store

this....

this is the magic that it holds:

Especially if you're lucky enough to find yourself in a store with bolts upon bolts upon rolls

of Echino and other Japanese imports.

And the thread wall?

My favorite part of almost every single store.

I long to have selection like this at home.

Special thanks to the Common Thread in Austin for allowing me to photograph their amazing store.

Cheers,

Amber Waves of Grain

2011-09-14T12:08:00.000-05:00

Happy Wednesday.

Cheers,
A

Chasing Tails

2011-09-09T15:00:00.000-05:00

I snapped this photo of Jennifer a couple weekends ago while the girls and I had a tea party in the shade of a tree on a perfect Sunday afternoon. The portrait of a perfect pet. For the past eleven years, Jennifer has been another extension of my mother, a shadow, a constant presence in all our lives. She has been there. Loyal. Playful. Bright-eyed and mischievous, Jennifer was everything a golden retriever should be.

Was.

Jennifer left us on Wednesday evening. Suddenly, and without warning she was gone. The house, though still occupied by 5 adults, 2 children, 2 cats, and a 3-legged beagle, feels empty. Hollow. As if the pivotal piece of a magnificent puzzle is missing.

I can't help but feel like a complete idiot for blogging about the loss of my family dog. How profound an effect it has had on me, my brother, most of all my mom, who has a cavity in her chest where her heart once was. Empty. Aching. Threatening to hurt for the whole of her existence. Jennifer was a dog, not a human. Not a child or a parent or a sibling. A pet. Four legs, shedding fur, stinky breath.

Except she wasn't. She was as much a member of our tribe as any of us. Another of my mother's children. My dog-sister. And I ache as though that is exactly what I lost. A sister. A best friend. Gnarly breath and all.

I'm sure the ache of her absence will eventually dull, and our hearts will heal. There will be a new puppy who will fill the space that Jennifer once occupied, her barks echoing through the now silent halls, her nails clicking on the hardwood, her nose wetting our faces. She will fill our home, and our hearts, without ever threatening to replace Jennifer in our memory. Instead, she will serve as a constant reminder that time heals all wounds, that love carries on, and that pets hold a place in our lives of immeasurable value.

I love you, Jennifer.
I'll remember you always.
A

Wednesday Wisdom

2011-09-06T23:02:00.000-05:00

I had a family photo session on Labor Day at one of my favorite locations in Osceola.
A photo preview will be up on my photography site shortly.
Or right now, depending on when you're reading this.
Ah, the wonders of technology.

I've been sewing a lot lately.
To show for it I have a finished quilt,
another one in the process,
a gift for my bff's soon-to-birthed baby boy,
and a Festivus dress for Elena.

I've been knitting, too.
I'm working on a cowl (that I'll likely never finish because it's hat season),
and a baby blanket for an upcoming newborn session
(see above comment about a bff's soon-to-be-birthed baby boy)
as well as a hat (for said session. Man, I'm a great bff....)
I also have some hat orders that have come in
that I have to get crackin' on.
Oh, and one for Faith for being so amazing with grammar.
Or an apron.
I can't decide.
Neither can she.
Turns out we're perfect for each other.

But I digress.

I don't have any photos to show of my craftiness.
Please keep your disgruntled disdain to yourselves thankyouverymuch.
Photos are coming.
Promise.

I made a half dozen felt flower headbands over the holiday weekend.
The girls hate wearing them.
Super.

I painted my nails dark grey.
Essie's new fall grey.
I love it.

I'm addicted to Spotted Cow beer.
Thanks to Anda, and my trip to Madison in July.
I want it on tap,
but I'll settle for it in a bottle.

Lucinda has been on vacation for two weeks.
We've barely talked in that time
and I miss her like crazy.
I feel bad for being glad that her vacation is up today.....
Sorry, Luc.

College football started over the weekend and I bet on Georgia
even though I knew Boise State was going to win.
Good thing I didn't bet anything of any real value...
Sorry, Noel (aka, my brother).

I found myself missing Texas the other day.
Was sort of weird.
But not.
We'd have stayed if some of you would have been there with us....

That's the news for now.
What I can remember of it anyway.

Cheers,
A

One Year Later

2011-09-02T09:45:00.001-05:00

I wrote the following post a year ago (tomorrow).
It's still all completely true.

Except the part about the shoes,
they're not so new anymore.

Obviously.

But the part about hats?
Completely, wholly, fully, without-a-doubt true.
I mean it.

......
09/03/2010

Because this is my blog.

Because it's Friday.

Because it's a three-day weekend.

I thought I'd share my favorite things with you

dear readers.

*{new} Spectator Shoes.

*Deep Red Nail Polish.

*Ecco Domani Pinot Noir

*80 degree weather.

*My MacBook.

*Mac's iPhoto Booth.

*Messy Hair. Especially when used to disguise short hair attempting to go long.

*Yoga.

*Uninterrupted sleep.

*The hum of my sewing machine.

Wait! Wait just a minute.
What did that say?
The one about sleep?
What was that one?

Un-in-terrup-ted?
What's that mean?

*The promise of crisp fall weather.

*The return of knitting season.

*Hat orders.

Seriously. I LOVE hat orders. You should place one.
F'real.

I'll make you a kickass hat.

Promise.

Have a great holiday weekend!

Oh, and go check out my first ever quilting tutorial.

Cheers,
A

The Fabulous Faces of Feske

2011-08-29T21:14:00.001-05:00

I adore this girl.

She's one of my longest friends.

She just got a fabulous new librarian job in a big town in southern Wisconsin.

She is moving away.

I am soooooooo happy for her.

But I'm gonna miss this face.

I only just got it back....

Cheers,
A

Test You're Grammer Knowlege! : Answers (and Winners) Edition

2011-08-24T19:53:00.007-05:00

This quiz was so much fun to write, and to grade! I loved every single minute of it.
Two people managed to achieve the elusive Grammar Nirvana, and being the giver that I am, I feel they should both win. So, without further ado, congratulations are in order to Kristi Ryman who is the winner of the photo session with Athena Pelton Photography, and Faith, who is the winner of a hat (or, being that you are also a knitter, I'd be happy to upgrade you to an apron!) Both of you lovely ladies, email me at athenapelton (at) gmail (dot) com to claim your prizes!

And now, by popular demand, the answers:

1) ______ so kind for letting me use ______ unicorn bicycle.
a) Your, your
b) You're, your
c)You're, you're
d)You're, youre

2) I promise, ________ I am finally going to read James' first draft. Maybe.
a) tommorow
b) tomorrow
c) tomarrow
d) tommorrow

3) I wish _____ house wasn't all the way over ______.
a) they're, there
b) their, there
c) there, there
d) they're, their

4) It's just ___ far away.
a) to
b) too
c) tooo

5) I've lost so much weight all my pants are _______. And I live in a land of make-believe.
a) lose
b) loose
c) still way too tight because I'm still jiggly and won't buy bigger pants. (I will accept this answer as well. Jerks.)

6) Which is correct?
a) For all intensive purposes.
b) For all intents and purposes.
c) For all in tents with porpoises.

7) My patience for insufferable Grammar usage lasted ________ 2.7 seconds.
a) less than
b) fewer than
c) less then
d) fewer then

8) Which is correct?
a) Lay, lady, lay.
b) Lie, lady, lie. (Bob Dylan has been released on probation after serving his sentence in Grammar Prison)

9) I _________ need to have more quizzes.
a) definitely (Tip: There is definitely no A in definitely.)
b) definately
c) defanately
d) defenitely

10) That lady I sit next to on the bus is so ______. In a good way. Sort of. Maybe.
a) wierd
b) weird (Tip: WE are all weird.)

11) The _____ my liberal vitriol has on my father in law's patience _______ my ability to keep a straight face.
a) affect, affects
b) effect, affects (Effect is to a noun (thing) what Affect is to a verb (action).)
c) effect, effects
d) affect, effects

12) The opposite of "on purpose" is:
a) by accident
b) on accident

13) _____ should we invite to the party?
a) Who
b) Whom (Tip: If you can answer the question with 'him,' use whom. "We should invite him.")

14) It depends on _____ is going.
a) who (Tip: If you can answer with 'he,' use who. "He is going.")
b) whom

15) We _____ going to read Himbokal's blog, but _____ too bored by its content to bother.
a) were, were
b) we're, were
c) were, we're
d) we're, we're

16) Which sentence is written in the second-person narrative?
a) If you think this quiz was fun, you're obviously delusional.
b) I think this quiz was fun, and am obviously delusional. (First Person)
c) DRL thought this quiz was fun, and is obviously delusional. (Third Person)

17) _____ cheat on this quiz?
a) May I
b) Can I

18) I'm so _________ that I didn't post this at exactly 7:30.
a) embarrassed
b) embarassed
c) embarrased

19) ______ you sure _______ answers are correct?
a) Are, you're
b) Our, your
c) Are, your
d) Our, you're

20) Which is correct?
a) I can run farther than you.
b) I can run further than you.
c) I cannot run at all. I hate exercise. Duh.
d) Both a and c (I will accept this, too, because, duh. I hate exercise.)
e) Both b and c

Good Luck!

EXTRA CREDIT:
Correctly retype the title of this post. Test Your Grammar Knowledge!

Thank you, all of you, for playing along and taking the first ever Family Pelton Grammar Quiz. As a token of my appreciation I am going to give away another session with Athena Pelton Photography.
I have selected the winner from all who played using the random number generator at random.org.
***drumroll please*****
The winner is:
Amanda Renner!
Contact me at athenapelton (at) gmail (dot) com to claim your prize!

Cheers!
A

A Grammar Quiz! Pre-Study

2011-08-24T10:49:00.003-05:00

I hope you've studied.

Brushed up on your participles, conjunctions, and spelling.

If not....

crack those books, kids, it's (almost) time for the first ever

Family Pelton Grammar Quiz!

But before I test your smarts,

which will happen at 7:30 pm tonight (set your clocks!)

I thought it best to go over the rules.

They are as follows:

The quiz will be open until midnight tomorrow (Thursday) and the winner will be announced on Friday! Submit your answers using the comment form (only one entry per person).

The PRIZE:
Is unprecedented at TFP.

It involves me, my camera, and you.
That is to say, the winner receives a photo session (up to one hour) with Athena Pelton Photography.

But if you're not in my area and want to play, don't worry! Your prize involves me, my knitting needles, and your hat-less head.
That is to say, the non-local winner receives a hat from Athena Pelton.....Hattery? Knittery? Yarngoods??
....

How to Win:

Answer all the questions correctly. I will randomly draw the winner from those who achieve Grammar Nirvana.

Caveat:
If no one answers all the questions correctly, I will randomly select a winner from all who play.

Which means:
any way you slice it, someone is going to win on Friday.

Which really is the best way to slice it, if you ask me.....

Happy Studying!

Tomorrow...

2011-08-22T19:41:00.001-05:00

Or at some point this week,

there will be a grammar quiz on this here blog.

You're.

Your.

It's.

Its.

Commonly misspelled words.

Affect.

Effect.

Use of hyperbole.

How to correctly spell tomorrow.

The usual offenders.

My big peeves.

I'll announce the particulars on the day of the quiz,

but the prize is going to be big.

It's not a hat.

Or an apron.

Or anything handmade for that matter.

It's way better....

Study up, friends!

Cheers,

Going Home

2011-08-17T12:18:00.001-05:00

I haven't been very good about blogging lately.
Or taking pictures,
returning phone calls,
emails,
or text messages.

I've been...

...otherwise engaged.

Packing.
Cleaning.
Loading.
Driving.
Unloading.
Cleaning.
Unpacking.
Organizing.

Life-ing.

We are here: Minnesconsin.
The move went well,
uneventful.
Easy.
We have officially traded 2400 square feet of house for a 15x24 foot studio in my mother's basement.
In the name of family.
Friends.
Dream chasing.
Life-starting.

Crazy as it is,
crazy as it sounds,
it's exactly right.
The refrigerator across the room from my bed,
the shoe rack next to my flat screen tv,
my laptop set up on a child size play table.
Comfortable.

It's not forever,
it's for right now.
And no matter what "they" say,
you can go home again.

You can always
go home.

Cheers,
A

Dear Texas:

2011-08-12T07:52:00.001-05:00

Goodbyes are always hard.
Even when you're prepared to say them.
Even when "goodbye" is what you've been working toward....

In 24 short hours I will back out of my driveway
in the city that sounds like phlegm
one final time.
I'll whiz through the toll lane,
and I'll watch the hill country disappear in my rear view mirror.

In 72 hours I will hear gravel crunch beneath my tires
as I pull into my childhood home.
I'll smell rain on the breeze,
and the promise of fall.
Friends.
Family.

Home.

Texas has been good to us, this past year and a half.
Well, except for the fire ants.
And the excessive heat.

We have seen the pink quartz of the Capitol building,
played at Zilker Park,
had lunch at the Trailer Park Eatery,
dined on the finest BBQ in the nation,
(that would be Salt Lick BBQ for those who aren't familiar).
We have driven past the sign for Luckenbach
and out to Fredericksburg.
Shopped the outlets at San Marcos,
and watched Shamu's show in San Antonio.
I even looked for the basement at the Alamo.

We have swam, outdoors, in December
and built snowmen in February.

I am going to miss this place.
Crazy politics and even crazier driving and all.
It is not home,
I do not believe it ever pretended to be,
but it sort of fits.
Like a pair of perfectly worn cowboy boots.
The ones that sit in your closet most of the year,
untouched,
but when you need them
they are there.
Ready.
Molded to every curve of your foot.
Perfect.

Thank you, Texas.
For being wonderful enough for us to enjoy our time here.
I'll see you again in December.

Cheers,
A

Unusual Circumstance

2011-08-09T08:36:00.001-05:00

Four short days from the big move.
My mind is a whirlwind.
Excitement. Sorrow. Fear. Apprehension. Joy.

I feel like there is so much still undone here in Texas...
but so much more to do back home.

It's a strange circumstance, really.
But a welcome one.
.....

One cannot discover new oceans
unless they have the courage
to lose sight of the shore.
~Gide
.....

We're embarking on familiar,
yet uncharted,
waters, the girls, DRL, and I.

As terrified as I am for what lies ahead
given the uncertainty and the risk
I'm horridly excited. Giddy, almost.

And the girls?
Can. Not. Wait to be back in Minnesconsin.

I'm kind of right there with them.

Cheers,
A

108

2011-08-02T23:16:00.000-05:00

That's the temperature today.
Actual air temperature.

Heat index adds about 5 more degrees.

The noon sun adds about a gagillion.

You'd think the fact that I'm moving to temperate
snow-in-the-middle-of-june
land of ten-thousand-weather-changes
Minnesconsin
would make the heat easier to take.

But it doesn't.
It sucks.
A lot.

I hate it.

I'd like to trade it in, please.
For one of these:

Size: Extra Freakin' Large.

Cheers,
A

All Access

2011-07-31T20:46:00.001-05:00

My dear friend Amie is a roadie.

She travels the world setting up VIP parties at concerts.

Megadeth.

30 Seconds to Mars.

The Vans Warped Tour.

And Saturday, she was here in Austin with Katy Perry.

She needed an assistant.

Naturally, I rose to the challenge.

Here are some Instagram photos

documenting our fun:

Amie: I heart you.
Kelly: It was amazing meeting you.
Katy: We'll meet next time, don't worry. I still think you're a firework.

Cheers,
A

Wednesday Wisdom

2011-07-26T22:40:00.000-05:00

Courage is a tricky thing, really. Being brave. Doing what you know is right even as a sea of voices is telling you otherwise. I am not good at courage; living life out loud. Being brazen. Individual. Me.

All that changes.

Right now.

Some say it took courage to move my family 1100 miles for a job. But it didn't. Not even a little, actually. That choice was easy. Money, career, big house and fast cars, designer clothes, blister-causing red-bottomed shoes, prestige, clout. All the trinkets of a trivial life that society tells each of us we must strive for. Pine for. Lust after. Taking steps to get all that was simple. Moving to Texas to fulfill a once sought-after, haughtily fought for, perfect career didn't take courage at all. Moving home? Leaving it all to pursue a life where I can spend all my time creating pretty things? Art? That is going to take some courage.

I'm scared. Terrified, really, but I am doing it anyway. Moving home, taking action, playing the lead role in my life. Even in the presence of fear. Regardless of it. Because of it. Because one of the marks of a gift is having the courage to fulfill it. I am moving my family back to Minneapolis. So that my kids will have a life outside of their parents. So that my husband will have his chance to find a career, a passion, and pursue it.

So that I can pursue photography.
So that I can be a photographer.
Every.
Single.
Day.

If life really is about the choices we make, I want to choose wisely. I want to choose what's important to me, and be guided by it. I want to think big and make things happen. I want to surround myself with people who believe I can, and more than that who, instead of asking, "why?" are quick to say, "why not?" People I don't need to impress in order to stand amongst them and hold my head up high. Friends. Family. You.

This decision, to uproot my life, leave a cushy job for my old one, making less money, working more hours, and sitting behind a desk all day so that I can focus all my extra energy on photography, was surprisingly easy. Making it was like choosing to breathe. Natural. Intrinsic. Still, I'm scared. Terrified. But in the most amazing way.

Money, after all, is just a thing. If I lose a little, make a little less, struggle, or even if it pours for a while, I don't care. I have every intention of setting fire to the rain.

Cheers,
A

Elena: Shades of Grey

2011-07-24T20:46:00.001-05:00

I don't take as many pictures as I should.

Probably not by half.

So today I got the camera out.

For no other reason than to take photos of life.

Everyday.

Monotony.

This afternoon, Elena was debating between play and sleep,

so we (read: I) opted for her to have some quiet time.

I cuddled with her for awhile

and as she lay there next to me

peaceful,

gorgeous,

I got out my camera.

And we played.

These are a few of my favorites:

Cheers,
A

"Fashion" Week

2011-07-18T22:23:00.000-05:00

Top & Pants: Gap
Shoes: Ross Dress for Less
Headband: Handmade by Athena

Dress: Gap
Shoes: Target

Top: Arttie
Pants: Gap
Shoes: Aldo
Belt: Target

Sweater: Gap
Dress: Blue Elephant
Shoes: Target

Top & Pants: Gap
Shrug: Banana Republic
Shoes: Dollhouse

Cheers,
A

Two Faced

2011-07-12T21:56:00.000-05:00

My bff Nadia asked me if I would make a quilt
for the little boy she is expecting in October.
"Of course, love!" I said.

I sent her a few links to quilts that I liked
or that I thought would be perfect for a little boys' room.
"I like the zig zag pattern," she said.
So I sent her some fabric ideas.
"Mmmm....Ummmm...Er...ah...How about just solids? It looks like a lot of work to put a quilt together,
and I don't want it to get too....busy."
"Um...yeah. Sure. Okay, Nadj," I told her.

But I knew better.
There was no way I was going to use just solids.
No way, no how.

We talked colors.
She liked grellow.
But she also liked turquoise and coral.
"They don't really work together, honey," I told her.

"That's okay," she said.
"We can have a double-sided quilt. It'll be perrrrrrfect!"

mmmmmkay.......

"Yep! You've got it! I'm exCITEd." I choked out.

I set to work. I zigged.
And zagged.
I pieced the turqcoral side.
Then I hung them on my design wall.
Side. By. Side.

Crap.
No good.
I can't do it. I can't do this two sided quilt thing. It's no good I can't do it. Too busy. Too much.
OHMIGOSH It's just TOO much!!!

So I took a photo with my phone.
And I begrudgingly sent it off to Nadia and asked for her input.
BEGRUDGINGLY.

"I love it! It's going to be perfect!" she said.

Mmmmmkay......

So I basted.
I quilted.
I doubted, and doubted, and doubted some more.

Then I washed it.
Put some binding on it,
and fell truly,
madly,
deeply
in love.

And so, too, did Nadia.

*phew*

Cheers,
A

Slurpee

2011-07-11T23:14:00.000-05:00

A person could get a free slurpee at the 7Eleven today.
Or,
if you were DRL,
you could get another year older.

I often joke about DRL's age.
Mostly because he's older than I am,
so I figure that if I tease him about being old,
by the time I get to the age he is at,
well,
he'll still be old.

And I'll always be young.

I'm super good at math.

So here's to you, DRL.
To your cheese to my macaroni.
Your Sar to my Casm.
Your Twins to my ugh!-is-baseball-season-over-yet?!

I love you.

Even though you're old.

Cheers,
A

Goings On

2011-07-08T17:11:00.000-05:00

This week has been a whirlwind.
Austin to Dallas to St Louis to Minneapolis.
To Wisconsin.
To Minneapolis.
And back.
Engagement session.
4th of July.
Family session.
An amazing head cold.
Worn out kids.
Good, good friends.
Wine.
Laughter.

I've been too busy to blog, and I'm sorry.
But you can head over to my photography site (here)
and see some of the fruits of my labor...

Cheers,
A

Yesterday.

2011-07-04T10:32:00.000-05:00

Yesterday the girls and I went to Amery to visit with my Aunt Kristy.

The weather was perfect.

As was the company.

The coffee was great, too.

My cousins brought their pretty ladies with them.
This is Amanda:

"Pretty" doesn't even come close.

Amanda, you're gorge.

This is Chekelea.

Completely, utterly, radiant.

Gorgeous.

We ended the evening at my sister in law's house.

I am pretty sure I have the most adorable niece on the planet:

My nephew, Logan, is pretty cute, too.

Today's agenda: Pool party, laundry, and fireworks.
Not necessarily in that order.

Happy 4th of July!

Cheers,
A

Obsessed

2011-06-30T23:06:00.000-05:00

Five more aprons.
Because I'm obsessed.
I don't know when to stop.
I can't help myself.

These, however, will likely be going up for sale....

Cheers,
A

Letting Go

2011-06-30T07:00:00.001-05:00

Sometimes
giving up doesn't mean you've failed.
Sometimes it means
you're strong enough
to let go.

Cheers,
A

Kitchen Aid

2011-06-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

I can't exactly cook.

Okay, let me rephrase that:

I don't consider myself a cook.

In the kitchen, I need all the help I can get.

So this weekend,

while recovering from bronchitis and effectively quarantining myself in the house,

I decided to try my hand at making an apron.

I traced the outline of an apron my fabulous Auntie Kay made for me a few years ago,

and winged the rest.

I was really happy with the results,

and made Elena a matching apron, in case she needs help in the kitchen, too.

But I still had all this fabric laying around the house.

So I thought to myself,

"Self, you'd better keep on sewing."

This one was made using Anna Maria Horner voile for the ruffle and ties. I LOVE how it turned out. Vintage yet modern.

Grey+Yellow is a hot new trend.

And I am in love with this apron.

You may remember this fabric.

I made Elena a skirt using it (see here)

I had just enough stashed in my fabric bin to make this.

The question now is:

What do I DO with all of them?

Cheers,

Fashion Week

2011-06-26T18:40:00.000-05:00

Top and Skirt: Hazel
Belt: Target
Shoes: Liliana

Dress: laJoux
Shoes: Liliana

Shirt: Gap (outlet)
Jeans: Seven for All Mankind
Shoes: Payless

Shirt: Blue Elephant
Tank: Old Navy
Pants: Gap
Shoes: Target

Cheers!
A

Big Plans

2011-06-23T23:28:00.000-05:00

If any of you wonder what I do on the weekends,
allow me to put your minds
at ease.

Yarn.
Fabric.
Kids.
Camera.
Coffee.

Lather
rinse
repeat.

Cheers,
A

Keeping Busy

2011-06-21T23:34:00.000-05:00

I've been neglecting this blog lately,

it's true.

I am sorry. I have been busy.

On top of some ruthless sewing,

a nice batch of viral (read: the non-responsive to antibiotics kind) pink eye,

a chest cold that is threatening to turn into bronchitis,

and a severe allergic reaction to a few fire ant bites

me and Photoshop: We have become besties.

Well, kind of. It's still a tenuous relationship, at best.

Nonetheless, I've been up to my eyeballs in photo editing.

I've finished all of Reece's photos, and moved on to pictures from

Rachel+John's Wedgagement shoot this past weekend.

Below are a few of my favorites from the wedding portion of the shoot:

You'll have to check out my other site here for the rest.

Cheers,
A

Laugh, Out Loud.

2011-06-20T18:19:00.000-05:00

Lately I've been laughing. A lot. Out loud, even. Or, as some would say, "lol"ing.
Yes.
Me!
Such numerous lolcasions have caused some to wonder if something has gone wrong.
A few extra screws knocked loose, perhaps.
But no.
Nothing is out of the ordinary.
What has happened, I fear
is a gross misunderstanding of my discernible distaste for the use of LOL.
Allow me to rectify the situation with the following:
I am okay with the use of LOL.
When the user does, in fact, laugh.
Out loud.

Meaning, just in case this needs further clarification,
that when someone
even myself,
finds something humorous enough to cause one to make an audible noise
like a laugh, or a cackle, or a giggle,
it is perfectly acceptable to type "lol."
Because,
as it indicates,
you did just Laugh. Out loud.

I hope that helps.

Cheers,
A

Today Was Fun & Fun Is Good

2011-06-17T07:00:00.001-05:00

I'm writing this post at 10:20 pm.
This is when I do most of my blogging for "tomorrow."
You're reading this at some point on Friday.
Or later.

But today?
Today was fun.
Today, the girls and I played with sidewalk chalk on the driveway.
We drew.
We giggled.
We got graffitied.

Because that's what girls do.
Duh.

When we were all done getting dirty,

we got clean.

Allow me to be a total blubbering sap for a moment and tell you

how much

I simply adore

these two little girls.

Cheers,

Hat Season

2011-06-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

No. Absolutely not.
It's in the triple digits here,
with no end in sight.

But should Texas ever dip down into frigidity,
I'll be ready.

Extremely ready.

Cheers,

Gratitude

2011-06-15T09:12:00.001-05:00

I thought I should take a moment to let each and every one of you know just how amazed I am that you choose to come to this blog and read the trite, trivial, facetious things I write.

It means the world to me.

Cheers,

Reece

2011-06-12T22:34:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I had the extreme honor of photographing this little boy.
My uterus has betrayed me,
and is working hard at trying to convince me
that I need another one of these.

I don't blame it: He is crazy cute.
And small.
And he smells just wonderful.

New.

I'm pretty sure I'm doomed....

For more photos of Reece, please click here.

Cheers,
A

Priority Mail

2011-06-09T22:27:00.000-05:00

I've mentioned before that I like to craft, right?
I've also mentioned that I'm a top-rate blog stalker?
Okay, not really.
I mean kind of.

Maybe just a little.

I feel it necessary to mention that I only blog stalk people who I think are fabulous.
And who I think I could actually be friends with if ever given the chance to meet in person, properly introduce myself, and woo said stalkee with my real-life awkward charm.

Exhibit A: Jasmine Star.

Me and Jasmine? We're practically the same person.
Minus the whole dropped-out-of-law-school-to-become-a-world-renowned-international-wedding-photographer thing.
But I digress...
The other day she had mentioned her love of all things stationery,
and being the crafter
and ~~blog-stalker~~ giver that I am
I emailed her that I would be sending her some hand sewn blank notecards.
But she'd have to send me her address.

Then I promised I was totally sane and I have two kids and okay fine I go a little nuts sometimes but I mean who doesn't and don't worry I won't pull a Selena or anything like that I just want to send you something nice because I pledged to "Pay it Forward" in 2011 by sending handmade items to five people (who volunteered to receive them) but I don't care I want to send moooooooore. *deep breath*

So she replied to my email,
kindly as ever,
and let me know that I am her "favorite stalkerish friend"
and gave me her address.

So I sent her these:

But I didn't stop there.
I kept sewing.
Because I like making things.

Even more, I like surprises.
Especially ones I manage to keep....

Which leads me to a story about my dear friend, Anda, and a funny little thing I like to call
Serendipity.
I decided to make her a little journal.
A place to write her dreams.
Wishes.
Gripes.
Somewhere to play a game of M-A-S-H with a girlfriend.
Or tic-tac-toe.
As it happens, the day I finished the moleskine, I read the following on Twitter:

anda_marie Anda Marie

I bought these three awesome notebooks a few months ago. I guess they were so awesome I totally misplaced them. Story of my life.

31 May

I almost peed my pants.
But I did a kegel and took a breath.
Then I readied my thumbs and almost tweeted her back, "Not to worry, friend. Check your mail in a few days."

But I didn't.
I set those thumbs down and took twelve paces backwards.
Counted to seven.
Threw some air punches, just for good measure....

And quickly went to the post office to mail her gift.

I designed it to mirror the look of her blog.
Her amazing re-brand.
The launch of which caused her night sweats and stomach knots and oodles of worry.
Silly, I know, as it's basically complete amazeness.
I don't know that I did her vision justice,
but I sure tried.

I do love how the little hearts turned out....

I had two moleskines left, so I decided to make one for Gladys.
She had been under the weather for a few days.
Then Adele, her favorite, had to cancel the SFO leg of her tour,
leaving Glady with tickets to a non-existent show.
Since I couldn't console her with an actual cupcake,
her second favorite,
I sent her one:

If I could have fit myself into that envelope
I would be in 'Frisco right now.
Sitting in a pool of dreamy light,
or on the dock of the bay,
and standing next to Gladys to see who's taller
only to find out we're exactly even.
Except she's totally prettier. And younger.
And less jiggly.

....

I was so inspired by the use of the Heather Ross fabric on Gladys' notebook,
I made another for my greedy little self:

The spools?!? Of thread?!? The soft colors!?!? Purple?!?!
Swoooon!

But I think I might need to gift it to someone.
Or maybe have a give away?
Or maybe sell it?

Turns out that being a greedy little wench just doesn't suit me.
I can't bring myself to keep something that could bring joy to someone else.

But how much would one sell such an item for?
Certainly it wouldn't fetch a first born.
Or a sixpence.
Maybe two bits?
Does anyone know the actual value of two bits?

Anyone?
Anyone?
Bueller....?

Maybe I ought to just give it away....

Cheers,
A

Sneak Peek

2011-06-07T22:40:00.000-05:00

Cheers,
A

Fashion Week

2011-06-05T21:26:00.000-05:00

I upcycled this t-shirt. It had a stain on it.
I covered the stain with a necktie that has never been worn by DRL.
I happened to ruin it in the wash, but it was fun while it lasted.

Dress & Belt: Target
Boots: Steve Madden

Cardigan & Tank: Old Navy
Jeans: NY&Co
Shoes: Payless

Dress: Upcycled by me
Belt & Shoes: Target
Necklace: Hannah D's

Top: Old Navy
Skirt: Lauren Conrad for Kohls
Belt & Shoes: Target

I started out with the black tank (Lauren Conrad for Kohls) but it just didn't...work.
So I switched to a plain white pocket tee from the Gap.
Skirt: Banana Republic
Shoes: Payless

Sweater: Arttie
Top: Habherdashery
Shorts: Target (upcycled)
Shoes & Ring: Target
Bracelet: Silpada

And...just so you don't mistakenly believe I'm all fashion all the time,
this is what I wear almost every night when I get home from work.
Well...something like it at least.
Pants & Tank: Old Navy
White Tee: Nordstrom Rack

Sweater: Lauren Conrad for Kohls
Tank: Target
Jeans: Gap
Shoes: TOMS

Toes: Me.

Cheers,
A

Delayed Gratitude and Musings on Art

2011-06-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

Memorial Day has come and gone.
I enjoyed the day off.
Provided to me by men and women who went without rest
so that I could have mine.

I thought it better late than never
to share my immense gratitude to those
who have valiantly served this country.
Who have written a check that only deals in the currency of lives,
and walked, unafraid, into battlefields.
Of every shape and color.

Thank you.

Last night, I came across a paper I wrote in college
a reflective essay about a paper, authored by the artist Maya Lin, that I had to read for class.
Below is an excerpt.

I hope you enjoy:

I saw an aerial photo of Maya Lin’s Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial while I was still in high school. I remember thinking the sculpture was magnificent, and so uniquely unattractive. The monstrosity was large and black and menacing, and I was certain that it looked the way the soldiers who survived Vietnam must have felt: scarred. I had read that Maya had wanted it to look like a scar on the face of the Earth. That it was to be a reminder of those left on the dead, the wounded, and the veterans of such a horrific war. It was the first time I ever thought a scar was beautiful, and certainly the first time I ever thought of one as poetic or poignant. It was also the first time I realized what “art” actually was; that it was not a term used exclusively for gallery paintings and church ceilings, but that it is a feeling. It is the feeling that brews within your soul when something powerful happens; something rare and unexpected. It is the roar of thunder on a balmy summer’s eve as the storm erases the day’s hot sun. It is the rush of adrenaline that pulses eagerly through veins as teenagers plunge headlong into love for the first time. And it is the calm serenity, the gentle knowing, that washes over you at the very moment that you comprehend precisely what it is that you are yearning so desperately to say, and you finally find the media with which to say it. A voice. A brush. A shutter and lens. Song. That is art; it is alive in everything. It exists everywhere.

Here's to making art.

To creating something,
each and every day,
that puts breath to your voice
while simultaneously taking that very breath
away.

Cheers,
A

Knitty

2011-06-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

On the off chance that you thought perhaps I didn't do enough crafting over the holiday weekend,

I also finished a knit jumper I had been working on for Stella.

The pattern was sized for 6-12 months,
but since my kids take after me in the height department,
I simply added an inch to the pattern and called it even.

It's made from a super lightweight bamboo/cotton blend
so she can stand to wear a knit jumper
in the Hades heat of central Texas.

I'm thinking Elena might need one of these, too....

Cheers,
A

Yarn Eggs

2011-06-01T07:00:00.001-05:00

I have yarn.
Lots and lots of yarn.
Scraps.
Yarn balls too small to use in any real project.
I was at a loss as to what to do with them, when I came across a photo on Pinterest.
Decorations for a child's rainbows and unicorns themed birthday party.
They were, for all intents and purposes, yarn eggs.

So on Saturday, Elena and I decided to make our very own.

Add equal parts Elmer's Glue and water.
Cut 3 foot lengths of yarn.
Dip yarn in glue, remove excess, wrap around balloon.
Repeat until balloon is covered.
Hang to dry.

Allow to dry for a minimum of 24 hours.
Once dry, do not pop balloon!
Cut hole in top and let air out slowly. This is very important!
(Failure to adhere to this step cost us our blue yarn egg.)
String yarn or fishing wire through top, tie off and hang.

Next up: I am going to make some in all white and decorate the bedroom.
Helpful hint: Cotton yarn works the best. Wool is sketchy, at best. Acrylic doesn't work at all.
A little corn starch added to the glue mixture would have made the balls sturdier and the glue work better.

Have fun!

Cheers,
A

Grellow

2011-05-31T07:00:00.000-05:00

I did a lot of sewing over the long holiday weekend,

but my favorite out of all the items I crafted

was this dress that I made for Stella.

I've made this pattern before (here, here and here)
but this is my best, by far.
The construction is my finest, and I am in love with the fabric combination.

I happen to think the model is adorable, too.

Cheers,
A

Fashion Week

2011-05-30T10:17:00.000-05:00

I tried my hand at sewing clothes for me this weekend. This dress was made from a Gap tank top, a strip of elastic, and the bottom half of a dress from The Limited. I plan on wearing it tomorrow, so look for photos of me in it next week!

Top: Antrhopologie
Sweater: Target
Belt: J.Crew
Pants: NY&Co
Shoes: Payless

Dress: Arttie
Shoes: White House/Black Market

Tee & Pants: Gap
Sweater: Anthropologie
Shoes: Payless

Sweater: Target
Tank: Old Navy
Belt: The Limited
Pants: Gap
Shoes: Chinese Laundry
Necklace: Forever 21

Skirt: Athena Pelton
Shoes: White House/Black Market
Belt: Target

Cheers,
A

Moore, Please

2011-05-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

If you know me, you know that I am not above shameless self-promotion.
I am the finest hat-knitter this side of the Mississippi.
I make a mean meat-loaf, too.

I also have no qualms whatsoever about shamelessly promoting a product that I cannot
in any way
imagine my life without.

A couple of years ago, I was scouring the internets for a camera bag that was both form and function. Style and substance. I was looking for something that had a certain, je ne sais quois...
I tried Epiphanie, but they just weren't...me. I tried Etsy, but everything seemed so flimsy. I almost, I mean put-it-in-the-cart-and-was-three-point-seven-seconds-from-clicking-"place-order" almost bought a Shootsac. But something in my gut stopped me. I loved the idea of a lens bag, but I wanted something that would carry my camera, too. "I need to take more everyday photos" I told myself. I need a bag that will allow me, ahem force me, to carry my camera everywhere I go. Without looking like I'm lugging a camera bag around with me.

Enter Kelly Moore. My savior. My bag-making bff (who has absolutely zero idea that I actually exist).
The first bag I purchased (after cashing in my birthday, mother's day, and anniversary gifts into one fell swoop) was the Classic:

It fits all my wedding gear perfectly.

In the photo above I have a 60mm Macro, an SB 800 flash, a 70-200 zoom and a spare body..

Two front pockets usually hold my wallet, cell phone, and business cards.
The side pockets are perfect for pens, and Stila lip gloss.

And when I'm not using the Classic as a camera bag,
it nicely doubles as the perfect diaper bag.

Seeing as how I am a glutton in everything. I couldn't have just one. It came to my attention one day last winter, that I needed something smaller. Again, I almost bought a shootsac. But then I saw the Kelly B-Hobo, and it was all over for me. I had to have it.

Would you just look at it?!?!
S.W.O.O.N.

It fits all my gear, if I need it to,
including the most important accessory of all

Plenty of Stila lip gloss.

My favorite part about the B-Hobo is that it looks like a purse. No one knows I'm carrying a camera bag. The creepy guy at that booth over there has zero clue that I have a D700 strapped to my shoulder. And that cute-as-a-button infant hasn't the faintest either.

If you are in the market for a new camera bag, go see Kelly. Please.
You don't even have to tell her I sent you...she has no idea who I am. But you need to know her.

The same way I need the Juju bag.

So much, it hurts.

So scoot.
Skedaddle.
Get on over there and scope her out.

Her photography happens to be top notch, too.

Cheers,
A

Thursday

2011-05-25T22:47:00.000-05:00

This is technically a family blog.
I started it, nearly three years ago now, to keep family up to date on...well...the family.
Which I have been horrible about doing lately.

If the idea of this bores you, please, turn the channel.
Leave the room.
Navigate to another page.
Like this one, for example....

If you're still here, and I haven't scared you away, below, in list format, is what's happening with
the family pelton.

*Stella still doesn't sleep through the night. At a whopping 17 months, she wakes up at precisely the same wee hour each night. We've tried "Sleep-training." She cries so hard she causes herself to vomit. A condition our pediatrician tells us is completely normal. And un-curable. Like some airborne toxic disease or a bite from a brown recluse. "Wait it out," she says. I convince myself that some day I am going to miss ~~being horrible sleep deprived all of the time~~ snuggling my little girl for the better part of the night. Unfortunately for me, I am a horrible liar.

*While she doesn't sleep very well, she's the most amazing child. Ever. Already saying "Please" and "Thank you." She's a bruiser, too. Doesn't mind being knocked over. Walked into. Stepped on. Tripped over. Pushed. Must be the side-effect of second-child syndrome. I am taking advantage of her toughness and training her for roller derby already. Seems only fair to give the kid a head start as she's likely to have received the gift of my unimpressive stature.

*Elena is drawing every day. Just today she drew her first stick-person. Complete with ears, which is perfect. I'm not raising a Van Gogh: in this house we draw heads with all the necessary appendages. We also try to write letters every day. This usually requires a bribe of some kind. She wants to learn reading, and bugs, and everything about the universe, but she could care less about writing. Typical. This kid is totally a replica of me, even down to the tutu she wears on her head instead of her waist. Because, duh, she's a lion.

*It's currently hotter than a sweaty armpit outside. It was nearly 100 degrees yesterday, with the humidity up over 80%. In Minnesconsin, when the humidity gets stifling, it storms. Tornadoes, hail, fire and brimstone. Michelle Bachman is driven back into her crazy cave for fear of melting. Once the smoke clears, the air is left cooler, drier, less palpable. The only moisture Texas gets is in the form of humidity and beer. A Tornado Watch typically occurs in the middle of the afternoon when one would be about as apt to find a 1 in the Twins win column as they would a cloud in the sky. Needless to say, we don't exactly run for cover.

*I've become addicted to Pinterest. It's the most amazing place. Request an invite. You won't be sorry. Promise.

*I shot a wedding over the weekend in Port Aransas (a teeny town on an island just north of South Padre where the humidity there is just about 94% and no matter how hard you try you're never really dry). You can see some of my favorites over at my photography site here.

*I also took photos of DRL and the girls playing on the beach. Then accidentally I deleted them all. Because I'm awesome.

*I really don't like the word 'alright.' Mostly because I don't actually think it's a word. I just had to slip that in there.

*We are planning a two-week stint in the middle west come July. A sleepover with some friends in Omaha on our way to Minnesconsin. I'm still trying to get my hands of four pairs of adult-sized footie pajamas. We might have to settle for snuggies and bug spray. Nadia's baby shower. DRL's birthday. Time with Rebecca and her family. Some engagement sessions. A trip to madison to see Anda. Food. Family. Friends. Oh My God friends. And the new Harry Potter. Duh.

*I've given up gluten. Not forever, but for now. I've made it two days. I'm hoping it sticks. At least long enough for my body to decide to shed some of this baby weight. I keep telling it there is zero fear of future pregnancy so there's really no need to hang onto it. But, like my kids, it just doesn't listen to me. I think I need to have DRL give it "Mad Face." Everyone in this house responds to Mad Face.....

*I'm addicted to "The Hunger Games" trilogy and have just started reading the third and final book of the series. Read it. F'real. It's engrossing and perfectly paced. And unlike the Twilight series (which it is being compared to, for reasons beyond my grasp) (which I also read and devoured and aside from their horrid writing and complete lack of substantial main character, I fully enjoyed) the main character isn't a whiny wimp. She's got guts. And a personality. Of her very own!

*My brother is living with us now. It's great to have family in town. Even better, he's just down the hall. Can you say "babysitter?"

*Abby is coming to visit next weekend. We are beyond excited to see her. Elena thinks Gramma Abby is going to take her back to Mexico when she leaves. I don't have the heart to tell her that's not going to happen. She really wants to go to Mexico...

*Elena completed a six week spanish course at the YMCA. All she retained was a song.
(To the tune of Frere Jacques)

Buenos dias, buenos dias
como esta? como esta?
Muy bien, gracias. Muy bien, gracias,
Y tu? Y tu?

Although she much prefers to sing "Uprising" by Muse. Oh, no, wait. I take that back. Her current favorite song to sing is "Tik Tok" by Ke$ha. I love my kids.

That's the news for now.
Happy Thursday!

Cheers,
A

Fashion Week

2011-05-23T07:00:00.001-05:00

I do have to dress "business professional" during my day.

Though I love dresses with sandals and socks

and cowboy boots,

I have an "Ideal image" that I must "make every effort" to adhere to.

And this is what that looks like:

Top: Banana Republic (outlet)
Pants: Gap
Shoes: Payless
Belt: Target

Pants: Gap
Top: Lauren Conrad for Kohls
Shoes: BCBGirls
Necklace: Francesca's Collections
Sweater/Belt: (because let's face it, that photo on the left makes me look W_I_D_E): Target

Pants & Sweater: Gap
Ruffled Halter: The Limited
Shoes: Target
Child: My womb.

Skirt: The Limited
Top: Gap
Belt: Unknown origin
Bracelet: Silpada Designs
Shoes on Left: Nine West
Shoes on Right: Target
(I went with the ones on the right. I had to attend a conference all day downtown Austin, and since I had to walk a few blocks from my car to the convention center, I toted these with me and walked in my yellow TOMS. S-T-Y-L-E. I was waiting for the Sartorialist to show up....)

Top: Haberdashery
Pants: gap
Shoes: Target

Cheers,
A

Princess Smarty Pants

2011-05-22T18:21:00.000-05:00

This weekend we went to Port Aransas so that I could shoot a wedding.
Today, we acted like tourists.

Elena climbed into the mouth of a giant shark that protected the entrance
of a local swim and surf shop.

This is the face I got when I asked her to
"Look at Momma and smile!"

As of right now, this is the only photo I have.

In my get-them-on-the-computer-and-separate-them-from-the-wedding-photos haste,
I accidentally permanently deleted all the photos I took
of DRL
Elena
Stella
playing in the sand and surf.

Or maybe, the photos were the weekends only victims of the rapture...

Here's to hoping this data recovery software works...

Cheers,
A

(PS: The wedding photos are fine!)

Anonymous

2011-05-18T08:03:00.001-05:00

Not so long ago, I was feeling a little down.
Uninspired.
As if the dreams I was so desperately after were never going to come true.

Then I happened upon my facebook inbox, and found the following message:

""It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." E.E. Cummings

The change, courage and strength that you have gone through have been inspirational...particularly for me.

Thank you.
For going after 'it' with a motivation greater than your fears.
Thank you.
For being transparent with us and making yourself easier to relate to, more than you'll ever know.
Thank you.
For showing, that when there's a will, there is a way.
Thank you.
For being the living example that the only boundaries that we have, are the ones we create ourselves. You do a magnificent job of showing us that you have set no boundaries and therefore continue to go further and further forward with your endeavors in which you enjoy to pursue.

As I "sit back" and watch you grow to become who you really are (again, from my cheap seat behind the computer screen), I am in such awe. I wonder what it's like to have such courage, strength, determination; persevering on the fronts in which you've gone after.

I do know this, though. While observing it all, it gives this meak and weak lil lady on this side of the computer the positive reinforcement and encouragement that with one decision at a time, I too, can be there."

It floored me.
Completely.
Wholly.

How can little 'ol me be motivating,
to anyone,
when I can barely motivate myself sometimes?

I re-read this message a gagillionty times.
The most recent of which was last night,
as the woman who wrote it to me is currently having a bit of a rough time.

A place with which I am all too familiar.

And to her,
to anyone who needs it,
and to myself, at times
I simply offer the following:

"Just because today is a terrible day doesn't mean tomorrow won't be the best day of your life. You just gotta get there."

You are not meek.
You are not weak.
You are not small.

Cheers,
A

From Rags To...

2011-05-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

A few months back,

I happened upon some clearance charm packs

at a fabric shop near our old apartment.

They weren't colors I'm traditionally drawn to,

but they were so inexpensive, I couldn't pass them up.

They sat in my fabric bin for weeks.

I had no idea what I was going to do with them.

I started sewing 1" strips of fabric to two sides of each square.

110 squares, total.

Then I started piecing them together, and realized I had erred.

Something huge.

And what I had envisioned was absolutely not what was developing.

So I ripped the seams from those white strips of fabric.

From all 110 squares.

And I started over.

Something easier, this time.

A rag quilt.

It came together in a day.

Literally.

One.

Single.

Day.

And while it is not something that is my typical color palette,

I'm rather pleased with how it turned out.

It actually matches my living room rather well.

A happy accident.

I really like how the back turned out.

I am happy I decided to use more than one color.

It sort of looks like a game of Tetris...

Cheers,

Fashion Week

2011-05-15T22:12:00.000-05:00

Top: NY&Company
Skirt: Gap
Shoes: Target

Sweater & Top: Arttie
Shoes & Belt: Target
Pants: Gap

Entire outfit: Target

Sweater: Arttie
Dress: Gap
Shoes & Belt: Target
Necklace: Blue Elephant

Sweater: Arttie
Boots: Steve Madden
Dress: Anthropologie
Belt: Target

As you can see,
I like dresses.

I also like a certain knit shrug I recently acquired.
It's sage. Olive. Basil. And it goes with everything.

Cheers,
A

Maybe She's Born With It...

2011-05-13T15:58:00.000-05:00

Maybe it's Maybelline?

Camera: Nikon D700
Focal Length: 60mm (Macro Lens)
Aperture: 3.5
ISO: 640
Shutter Speed: 1/160

Cheers,
A

We Two

2011-05-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

I've known him since I was 16.
We have been together an entire decade.
Almost.

In most ways,
we are polar opposites:

I'm a Packer,
he's a Viking.
He's a baseball fan,
I am a Twins fan.

There's a HUGE difference between those last two.
Ginormous.

I'm a tosser-outer,
he's a holder-onner.

I'm a talker
he's a thinker.

I'm flighty.
He's pragmatic and pensive.

Yet, in spite of all our differences,

we can get dressed in two separate places

without speaking

and come out matching.

Coordinated.

We have an equal obsession for shoes.

We finish each other's sentences.

We make the other half

of each other's

whole.

Wait a minute...

strike that,

reverse it.

Either way,

it's we two.

Who made us four.

And I'm quadruply blessed

Cheers,

A Hole New Look

2011-05-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

I'm very lucky that I have a husband

who likes to wear simple

plain

colored tees from the Gap.

His easy fashion frees up all the extra clothes money

for the girls and me.

A consequence I'm learning to cope with...

DRL also wears a belt buckle that tends to tear tiny little holes in his tees.

After much begging, pleading, and oh-dear-god-honey-can-we-just-get-new-ones-already-ing from me,

he eventually throws them away and we venture out to the mall

to ~~buy me new outfits~~ replace his wardrobe.

On Saturday, I asked if I might be able to

oh, I don't know,

maybe repurpose one of his hole-y shirts

into a dress for our wee babykins.

Um....okay?

Was the response I received.

And it was all the go ahead I needed.

As soon as these photos were taken,
I set off making one for Elena using a slate blue tee.
It took a few extra modifications since she's bigger
and, well, the T-shirt was the same size as the first
but it turned out equally as great.

I'm hoping they don't shred apart in the wash.

Cheers,
A

Fashion Week

2011-05-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

When I posted my Haute or Not photos last week,
a friend of mine suggested I post weekly fashion photos
on the bloggity.

I do not claim to be any sort of fashionista.
I'm not even sure what I'd call my style.
How I would define it.
I suppose it would depend on where I was going..

.....

Here are some outfits that I wore last week:

The get-up that started it all.
Dress: Blue Elephant
Sweater, Shoes, Socks: Target

Top and Skirt: Gap
Shoes: Payless

Dress: Francesca's Collection
Top: Gap Outlet
Sweater: Anthropologie
Shoes: Target
Knee fat: Pregnancy #1

Sweater: Adidas Outlet
T-Shirt and Pants: Gap
Shoes: DVS (via Ross Dress for Less!)

And there you have it.
A week in the life of me.

Almost a week anyway...

Cheers,
A

I May Be On A Rant Here...

2011-05-07T21:39:00.000-05:00

There are a certain number of things I simply don't understand.
Probably never will.
Most of the time,
I'm able to tolerate them.
I exercise patience.
But occasionally, I'm driven over the edge.

Turns out, I'm as good at exercising my patience on a regular basis
as I am my cankles. And jiggly middle.

The infrequency may be alarming.

The first of my many woes is shopping carts strewn haphazardly in parking lots. On curbs. Clustered on the outskirts of what must have been, at some point during the day, a busy shopping center. Is it really so hard to put them back? So horribly time consuming? I may be on a rant here, but I once watched a woman wrestle her half-sized Marshall's shopping cart up and over the giant Texas-height curbs so as to avoid putting it back in the corral. She nearly fell over. Twice. The cart return was 25 feet from where she was parked, yet she fought and wrestled and wrangled that cart up over the curb and left it lying on its side next to a drought stricken tree. And, while I am certain the shade of that decrepit little tree would have turned that tiny cart into a nice shelter for a very small homeless man, returning it to the appropriate receptacle would have actually saved her time. And energy. Of which she was apparently lacking.

I have said this once, maybe even thrice, but I cannot stand the constant, incessant misuse of contractions. Namely on social media sites. I admit it, I'm guilty of the occasional slip up. Generally when I'm sleep deprived and status updating with my thumbs. But unbridled use of your when the obvious usage is you're drives me up the wall. I may be on a rant here but what's the deal? Lack of qualified English teachers? Laziness? Sheer idiocy? You+Are=you're. Something you own=your. It's simple really. A baby could do it. Secondly, I get that you're on facebook, and probably don't care about your virtual grammar, but other people read what you write. If you present it poorly, you present yourself poorly (see? It's not you'reself. Therefore, it's not you're. Easy!) "Words are the dress of thoughts; and should no more be presented in rags, tatters, and dirt than your person should." ~Lord Chesterfield. That man was on to something. (No, he was not onto something...but that's another lesson for another time.)

Since we're (we+are) already on the topic of grammar, I'd (I+would) like to take another moment to mention that I especially loathe ex-specially. I may be on a rant here, but there is no "x" people. E+S sounds like "ess." That's the exact same way I explain it my three year old. Esssssspecially. While we're at it, I should also mention that there is only one "u" in nuclear, two "r's" in library, and the use of the word irregardless is redundant. And wrong. Moving on...

Automated systems. For the love of all that is holy can companies please go back to doing business the old-fashioned way? I may be on a rant here, but hire an operator. Or two. Or fifty. I'm certain that in today's economic climate there are a whole host of folks who would gladly trade their extended unemployment benefits for a job behind a mahogany-esque desk answering gagillion-line phones and playing Minesweeper on a computer older than they are. I don't want to listen closely in case the options have changed. I'm never going to por favor primo el numero dos. Give me a person. Now. And if you won't, I am going to dial zero until someone picks up the phone. Every. Single. Time.

Texas politics. And I'm leaving it at that.

People who complain about taxes, how high they are, how low they are, how unfair they are, and yet they vehemently oppose funding for social programs. I may be on a rant here, but how exactly do they think these programs are funded? Magic and wizards? Super-fruity unicorn juice? I really don't want to have to sit through another diatribe about how "I don't have kids, why should my taxes pay for education?" Because. Education benefits everyone. Dumbass. I would delve into this further, but chances are, if you don't believe in education, you are not reading my blog. Or reading at all...

The added layer of adipose that has taken residence on my thighs. Leave. Your services are no longer needed. I get that you were necessary when my mammary glands were working overtime, but now that I'm graciously endowed with the upper body of a 13 year old girl, you can be on your way. OkThanksBye.

Lastly: People who think they are better than everyone else. Really By whose count? I may be on a rant here, but for the sake of argument, let's say they're right. What do they win? Money? 3 wishes? A parade complete with ticker tape, vuvuzelas, and Ferris Bueller singing on a hijacked float? No? What then? A mere ego boost? A shitty attitude? Sounds to me like the title of "better than you" doesn't pay well. I'll keep my "just as good as anyone" and raise "Better Than" actual happiness.

*phew*

I feel better now.
Thanks for listening.

Pet peeves are just that.
Things that annoy me.
Sometimes.
These annoyances might not be yours,
and that's okay.

But this here?
It's my blog.
And I'm super happy you come to read
the place where I get to share
my opinions.

See that "comment" button below?
That's where you get to share you'res.

Kidding!

I mean, yours.

xo
A

Macaroni Love Story: A Strip Quilt

2011-05-05T07:00:00.002-05:00

I finally finished the Heather Ross Macaroni Love Story quilt.
I chose the binding fabric,
stitched it on
and c'est fini.

I am so happy with how
the quilt that took me one day to cut, piece, and sandwich
and three months to actually finish
turned out.

For the back,
I made some wonky blocks using scrap fabric
and some selvedge pieces.
I also threw in a couple strips to tie front and back together.

I kept the quilting to a minimum and did straight lines.
I stitched in the ditch of every strip and then 1/4" on either side of each seam.
I love the straight, unevenness of it.

When I first started quilting this,
I was using a wavy stitch.
After I had about 16" finished, I realized I hated it.
So I cut the bottom of the quilt off,
and turned it into two doll quilts
for my two girls.

Waste not, want not.

I used different binding for each
so they could tell the blankets apart.
Elena's is on the left,
Stella's on the right.

Although it's difficult to tell in the photos,
I machine stitched the binding on this quilt.
It's the first time I've not hand-stitched the back of the binding
on a large quilt,
and it turned out rather well.

I have a few more quilting projects in the works.
I'm going to try my hand at a rag quilt,
and I'm going to make something using Aneela Hoey's Sherbet Pips line.
Which I was lucky enough to receive from my father
for my birthday.

(Thanks, Dad!)

Cheers,
A

PS: Happy Cinco de Mayo! May you have a very festive holiday-from-another-country-that-is-only-celebrated-in-America. Also, happy birthday to my dear friend George, and a belated HB to Lance Throttle, and Angie!

Haute? Or Not?

2011-05-03T07:00:00.004-05:00

It was a little chilly yesterday,

so I wore a sweater.

With a dress,

tights,

sandals.

And socks.

I recently read in Vogue

or Marie Claire

or In Style

about adding a pair of socks to strappy heels

for a pop of color.

Socks with sandals is generally a huge faux pas.

But this?

I think it's fab.

Thank you, fashion-magazine-I-read-that-one-time-somewhere.

Cheers,
A

New Directions

2011-05-02T07:00:00.002-05:00

I am so happy to announce the new face of Athena Pelton Photography.
Instead of being redundant, I am simply going to ask you to see it for yourself, here.

If the link gives you trouble, copy and paste this into your address bar: http://www.athenapelton.com

I've removed a couple pages from this blog, namely the wedding and child+family photography sections. Those will keep permanent residence at the new site and will be updated often.

Thanks to all who supported me on this journey.
Especially to DRL who put up with nearly a week straight of my face stuck in client packet materials or the glued to my laptop screen. You are amazing. Giving. Half of my whole. Thank you. Mean it.

xo,
A

Brand.

2011-04-27T23:10:00.000-05:00

I'm working on the beginning of a brand for my photography.
Something visual.
Tangible.
Concrete.

It's nothing major.
Yet.
That will take time.
And will require me to actually define myself
to myself.

But I am excited for this first step.

It's definitely the right direction.

Cheers,
A

Sunday Best

2011-04-25T21:47:00.001-05:00

You have to love a holiday

that involves a basket of candy

left overnight by a giant bunny,

and pastel colored eggs

hidden amongst emerald grass.

Little girls in pretty dresses.

White gloves.

Wide-brimmed hats.

This Easter the girls got "dressed up"

in dresses I made using the Ice Cream Social pattern

by Oliver + S.

They didn't exactly pose well for mama.

Not really at all.

Not even

a little.

Mmm hmmm.

See?

I'm sure if I somehow spliced all seven photos together

I'd end up with one perfect shot.

But that's not nearly as much fun.

Elena found the golden egg.

They both found pink Jellycat elephants in their baskets.

And candy.

Lots

and lots

of candy.

Excessive amounts

of candy.

This is Stella grabbing Nerds from DRL.

Handfuls at a time.

There's just something about these photos.

Save the bottom one,

she looks so...

almost...

grown up.

Like I'm getting a preview of teenage Elena.

Twenty-something Elena.

It's scary as hell.

Haunting.

And gorgeous.

We don't do fancy shoes.

They're just not little-girls-who-play-like-boys friendly.

Chucks.

Even with Easter dresses.

That's how we roll.

I hope you had a blessed Easter.

Free from fire ants,

unpacked Uhaul boxes,

cold pizza,

sciatica,

and the Coxsackie virus.

Cheers,

Spicy Tuna.

2011-04-21T21:49:00.000-05:00

I love sushi.
I eat it alone.

I sip my tea.

I take a photo.
Maybe two.

I get full.
Really
Extremely
Uncomfortably
Full.

Then I eat more.

The end.

Cheers,
A

Scenes From A Couch

2011-04-19T21:29:00.002-05:00

Cheers,

Easy Like Sunday Morning: Kevin+Liz

2011-04-18T07:00:00.001-05:00

I was given the chance to assist Jessica of Jessica Monnich Photography for Kevin and Liz's laid back Sunday wedding and as I watched the couple interact with those around them I knew that these were two amazing people. It was impossible not to smile when you were near them. Their wedding day was abuzz with laughter, smiles, and heart-swelling love. And best of all, it seemed effortless. Liz kept cool all day and Kevin couldn't stop cracking jokes. I'm certain theirs is an easy kind of love. Easy like Sunday morning...

I focused mainly on capturing the details of their day while Jessica worked away at portraiture. The styling was reflective of Liz and Kevin. Chuck Taylors. Apple computers. Tiger Swallowtails. Gorgeous colors. Laid back style.

Kevin, you're hilarious. I mean f-u-n-n-y.

Liz, you're stunning.

I mean g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s.

This shot is straight-out-of-camera and is by far my favorite from the day. Liz, I mean it. You're beautiful. This shot is so you. Pretty. Real. A little mischievous. Happy.

A tiger swallowtail landed in Liz's bouquet just as we were about to wrap shooting. A perfect moment, for a perfect wedding day.

Thank you, Jessica, for allowing my camera and me to tag along.

Thank you Kevin+Liz for being the amazing couple you are, and for allowing me to share in one step of the journey you two are now on. I wish you many blessings.

Cheers,

also blogged on my photography blog here.

le petit prince

2011-04-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

I first read this book at Abbey del Sol
while DRL and I were on our honeymoon.

I fell instantly in love with it.

I read it again
while I was in Mexico last weekend.

Yesterday,
I saw a gorgeous pop-up version
at anthropologie
and had to have it.

It's full of
big, thick pages,

gorgeous full-color
pop-out
illustrations

and
moving parts.
Like stars, and cards,
and snakes.

If you haven't read this book,
you should.

It's full of magic.
Wisdom.
Truth.
Wonder.

Cheers,
A

Help: Wanted

2011-04-13T19:38:00.001-05:00

Last night I finally
FINALLY
finished quilting my
Macaroni Love Story
strip quilt.

Yes. The quilt top that took me one day to cut and assemble
has taken me weeks
to quilt.

But that's beside the point.

I picked out two different fabrics
for the binding.
Because I'm about as good at making decisions
as I am at being patient.

I'd like your help.
Which do you prefer?

A:

Or B:

Or do you love them both
like I do??

Vote now.

Cheers,
A

Mexication 2011.

2011-04-11T20:25:00.000-05:00

This is the view from our table at Pelicano's.
A little beachfront restaurant in the heart of Puerto Morelos, Mexico.

Dayna, Nadia and I ate breakfast here on Friday morning.
This was our exact view.

The trip was amazing.
The weather was perfect.

And the company was quiet.
Easy.
Natural.

And full of laughter.

Thank you,
ladies,
for an unforgettable 30th birthday.

Thank you,
Raul and Cesar,
for your amazing snorkeling prowess
and insane knowledge of one of the most amazing
coral reefs
in the world.

Thank you,
Tiff and Abby,
for your unfaltering
and gracious
hospitality.

Thank you all
for enduring my absence.

Cheers,
A

Photo credit goes to Dayna for the black and white photo of me. To Nadia for the two color photos of me, and for the second black and white photo of Raul, our snorkeling guide and resident marine biologist, and also to James (aka: Jad Jergens) for the final photo. One of the few of all 3 of us girls together. Dayna, Nadia: Thank you for taking my camera and giving me the awesome gift of seeing myself through your eyes. I love you girls like crazy.

Silence

2011-04-07T07:00:00.001-05:00

You tell me that silence is nearer to peace
than poems
but if for my gift I brought you silence
(for I know silence)
you would say,
"This is not silence,
this is another
poem,"
and you would hand it back to me.

~Leonard Cohen

I'm headed to Abbey del Sol
with a couple of my girlfriends
for the weekend.

So I won't be blogging,
tweeting,
facebooking,
emailing
for a few days.

I'm going off the grid...

going to be
silent
for awhile.

And I'm looking forward to it.

Cheers,
A

30.

2011-04-05T07:00:00.003-05:00

Today,

is my birthday.

The big three-oh.

Here are some photos

I managed to dig up

last night

of the last 29 years.

I know this appears to be a photo of my darling
too-cute-for-freakin'-words
eldest daughter, Elena.
But no. You're eyes do not deceive you.

It's actually me. I must have been about the same age she is now...

One year,
just before Christmas,
I lost my two front teeth.
Yep.
Just like the song.
I was sooooo cool.

And had the best lisssthp.

My Granny Bananny.

Dearest Helen.

She gave the best back tickles.

And she hid candy in the fruit drawer of her refrigerator.

Which is probably why she was perfectly squishy for cuddling.

San Francisco. 1987. Pajamas purchased IN Chinatown.
You should see the shoes that I got with this outfit.
Beaded.
Glittery.
Heeled.
Bright-ass-pink.

Yep, I was only six.
But I had style.

I'm wearing deck shoes.
With a lavender sweatsuit.
Riding a bike with a banana seat.

S.T.Y.L.E.

One of the kids in this yearbook is me.
Can you guess which one?

Even I had a hard time picking me out.
Hint: Middle row. I look like a boy. Chubbly cheeks. Bad hair.

I, apparently, lost my sense of style.

Skip ahead. Junior year of high school.
Short hair.
Dyed blue in the front.

Yep. Blue.

Rebel.

The kind of rebel that obviously didn't own a set of Tweezermans.
Get a load of those eyebrows!

My cousin Nick and me.
Junior Prom.
1997.

No. He was not my date.
We grew up in Wisconsin, not Kentucky.

He went with my bestie, Allison.

This is our American Gothic impersonation.
Sans the garden tools.
And I apparently missed the memo on the whole
"don't smile" thing.

This is one of my senior pictures.
I'm dressed in my snowboarder attire.

Sidenote: When I was seventeen,
my mom asked me if I, uh, you, know,
liked,
uh,
girls?

I thought her question came out of left field.

In hindsight,
I now see it was a completely logical thing to ask.

I'm the short one on the right.
The one that looks like me.
Yep.
That one.
Right there.

With two of my best high school friends.
The girl on the left, Brett, and I were inseparable from 6th grade on.
I'm happy to say we are still friends.

Skip ahead to
the one and only professional photo shoot I've ever done.
And one of the few usable photos from it.
I was twenty years old.

An entire decade ago.

The day I found my wedding dress.
The second year of my twenties.

My tornado-ridden wedding day.

For a very short period in my life
I actually had a bikini body.

My honeymoon was one such occasion.

The last month of my twenties.
Seven years, two kids, two cankles, one marriage, one three-legged dog, and one big fat move later.

Thank you,
all of you,
for being a part of my thirty.

Xo
A