Cowboy Milk and Double Rainbows

Image by andysternberg via Flickr

Well, we just got back from our first official "family vacation." My husband Art and I took our two year old daughter, Lily and one year old son, Jack, to Park City, Utah for six days. WOW! It was quite a week. Tired? YES! However, we had a fantastic time and think we will some day (ha! ha!) take them on a trip again.

It was our first time to Park City and we looooooved it! We are definitely going back again and again. What a special place.

A few highlights from our trip:

1) Lily saw her frist rainbow and it was a "double rainbow." - A very hot topic!
2) Jack (remind you - 12 months old) managed to lock Art, Lily and myself all into one of the bedrooms - so we had to call security to "GET US OUT!"
3) We discovered that "cowboy milk" is much more special to drink than regular milk - who knew?
4) Jack stood up on his own for the first time.
5) Last but not least - my sister Ashley and her husband Lance had a surprise early delivery of their first child, Henry Louis!! No, they weren't in Park City with us physically but we were waiting by the phone during the entire experience!! Everyone is happy and healthy. Amen!

Wishing everyone a happy return to fall and may you have some wonderful summer memories to keep you warm this winter!!

Colorado Escape!

My husband Art and I recently returned from a much needed trip to western Colorado. We spent time in both Ouray and Telluride. It was wonderful to get out of the Arizona heat and relax in the beautiful San Jaun Mountains. We couldn't have asked for better weather or trails. We had some amazing days of running the mountain trails and enjoyed the local ambiance of both towns.

While in Ouray we stayed at a darling B&B called "The China Clipper Inn," owned by a gentleman named Earl. We were exceedingly pleased with the hospitality and the charm of the home. We would highly recommend it to anyone who was planning a visit to Ouray. Please tell Earl we sent you!!

In Telluride we resided at "The Hotel Telluride." What a great place! I loved everything about it. The decor was exceptionally tasteful IMO and I have to say they had the BEST BREAKFAST of anywhere that I have ever stayed. I have stayed at A LOT of places!!

I am excited to report that the trip helped rejuvenate my creativity and some great concepts came to mind from the experience. Stay tuned!

http://www.chinaclipperinn.com/

http://www.thehoteltelluride.com/

Black Is Back! Did It Ever Really Go Away?

'Fall focus' is front and center for most retailers, magazines, bloggers and my goodness even craft stores have HALLOWEEN for sale! I don't exactly have Halloween on the brain but I am getting excited for cooler weather (Phoenix high today 111 degrees), longer sleeves and something fresh and exciting to wear.

Running down all the trends (there are always a ton - but usually only a few that merit serious attention or comment. IMO), a must have staple item this fall is definitely an updated black jacket. Paris runways were showing them all over from Dior to Armani - of course, each with their own spin. Variations included special lace details, creative zippers as well as zipper placement, embroidery, rhinestones, slashing and pleating. Fabrications went from mohair to all lace. Construction went from very architectural to very fluid. Most had an enhanced shoulder (hgmm...yes, shoulders pads are sneaking their way back).

I am very enthusiastic about the revival of the black jacket (even though I doubt most women ever stopped wearing one). I love the idea of investing in this new and updated classic concept which is now more eye catching. It is going to work very well with Saint jewelry.

Above Photo By Giovanni Gianonni

Recently Enlightened!

We don't get very many dragonflies where we live. So I was taken aback a month ago when I looked out the window and saw a gorgeous red dragonfly briefly resting on an agave next to my window. In fact, it was the first time that I had EVER seen a red dragonfly in person. I lost my breath for a second, hoping that I didn't do anything to distract it from staying still.

It seemed to be eating lunch the same time that I was. It was doing loops around our swimming pool... whizzz... whizzz... whizzz... and then back to its spot on the agave.

The next day at the same time the red dragonfly reappearted resting on the same agave while I was eating my lunch. It had to be the same dragonfly - right? I had no way of telling. I sat there delighted to have such a lovely and elegant guest over for lunch.

Naturally, because of its reappearance, I took it as a sign of 'enlightenment.' Sitting there with my two babies, I knew that I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

Playing With Jewelry

Yesterday my daughter Lily and I were searching for something to do together while her baby brother was taking his morning nap. I remembered that I had a few large boxes stored in the garage of fun ribbons and wood beads and rhinestones. I suggested that we head out to the garage and make a necklace together.

Lily is only two, so when I try to explain to her that I am a jewelry designer it is very much "in one ear and out the other." She unknowingly takes for granted that every morning when we get dressed she gets to play in my jewelry box. Lily actually learned about the cross, the heart, the owl, the frog and the angel all from playing with my silver bracelets (I knew they had multiple purposes). She is on a big necklace kick right now. She has her own two dollar dime store South Sea pearl necklace that she loves to wear to the playground and her other favorite is mommy's special angel necklace which she is only allowed to wear in the bathroom with mommy.

So, this is a new project for Lily and me. We have done play dough, markers etc... I was really excited! Until...the first box opened up...wow. I don't know what I was thinking when I suggested making a necklace with a two year old! She dumped that box over in seconds flat! There were beads and string and plastic stones EVERYWHERE! Then after I finally made her a necklace on my own (she had no interest) I tied the pretty pink ribbon around her neck with the big, red, wood beads and she could have cared less!! Bummer.

I guess I don't really know where I am going with this. I just wanted to share that being a mom is totally the best!