Sara and Joshua Oehler [Ay-ler]

Happy 100 Arizona!

2012-02-12T19:35:00.001-07:00

After a grueling day of Spanish homework, Josh and I headed down to the Arizona Best Fest yesterday. There was a whole little carnival down by the Arizona Capital building. I was pleasantly surprised by the hoopla.

There was a stage on the front steps The Arizona Capital building offering live music surrounded by wine tasting, beer tasting, fried foods, rides, games, tents full of details about Arizona sports and history. There were even some lovely fireworks to cap the night off.

Honestly, Joshua and I probably could have gone home happy from just having one of these giant old-fashion root beer floats. Yum!

Did you know that Joshua is related to the Cracker Jack boy? Yep, it is true. The boy pictured on the Cracker Jack box was Josh's Grandma's Cousin. We had a nice chuckle to see his distant relative featured in the Arizona History Tent.

Halo Meets The Fagan Family

2012-02-11T16:18:00.001-07:00

We enjoyed a nice visit with The Fagans today. It was my first time seeing Halo interact with children and again he passed with flying colors. He still needs a little work on being calm when things get a little wild and he hasn't quite realized that if someone is holding a toy he should be careful to not bite their hand along with the toy. Otherwise, the boys just wore him right out. They really enjoyed playing fetch and trying to get him to "sit" on command.

They picked so much fruit that Kristen's youngest could barely carry the bag. It was pretty cute. Kids love picking fruit!

Speaking of fruit picking, we still have plenty of oranges and grapefruit. If you life in Phoenix, feel free to give us a call to stop by and pick some fruit for your family too!

Halo's First Visit to the Dog Park

2012-02-10T18:00:00.000-07:00

I think that one of the most nerve wracking experiences with a new dog is to see how they react to different situations. I was very nervous to take Halo to the dog park for the first time. All sorts of questions ran through my head. Will he get along? Will he be aggressive? Will he remember that I'm his person? There was no reason to worry! He did so well. I kept him on the leash at first to see how he would react. When I felt more comfortable, I dropped the leash and let him run with it on so that I could easily catch him if something went wrong. Finally, I took the leash off entirely and relaxed. He was so happy! He behaved himself so well! He ran. He played. And when he was tired he came and lied down by me. And, he remembered that I was his person. In the photo above he was playing with Winnie a chow mix who is about his same age and is also a rescue.

In choosing Halo, we really wanted a dog that could get along with everyone - people and dogs. It makes it so much easier for pet-sitting and traveling if the dog is easy going. So far....so good! He is definitely a puppy. He definitely needs rules, discipline and lots of exercise. Luckily, he is so eager to please us to get our affection, which makes him very trainable. Yay Halo!

Meet Halo

2012-02-07T16:19:00.001-07:00

We adopted a puppy today. He was formerly known as "Freeway", but I renamed him after the animal shelter where we found him - Halo. He is about 8 months old with the sweetest demeanor. He broke his front, right leg as a puppy. It never quite healed, so he favors that leg. He looks a lot like a male version of Honey. I struggled with whether we should get a dog that was similar to her or whether to try to get something completely different. In the end, I decided to not try to put rules on what could or could not be. When I saw Halo's picture on the adoption sight, I just knew that we had to meet him. So far, so good. He's been home for a few hours and thoroughly enjoyed a run around the yard. He is such a sweet and loving boy. I know that he will be a great family member for us.

Dog Therapy

2012-01-27T17:00:00.000-07:00

I think that Erin was a little shocked when I asked her to bring Cash over shortly after Honey passed away. I knew that it would be hard to see him, but I also knew that I often turned to Honey for comfort during difficult times and that Cash would eagerly fill in for her as best as he could. During their visit, Josh wondered if Cash might come spend time with me while I work during the day. Erin lives just around the corner from us. Cash is usually alone all day too. I have been really struggling during the day when I'm home all alone. I relied on Honey's companionship even more than I knew. We tried it today. It still was not a perfect day, but it was easily the best day I've had since she left us. I'm so thankful to have such good friends. Thanks Erin and Cash-y!

'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

-Lord Alfred Tennyson

I know that some people would never want to feel this terrible pain again. I can't say that I'd blame them. However, I personally feel that the years of joy and happiness far outweigh the recent pain of loss. I would do it again in a heart beat! I would give anything to rewind the clock and spend time with Honey, even knowing that I would have to go through the pain all over again.

So, we've been thinking about a new pet or even pets. We have a huge grassy yard and a lot of love to give, so I think that we will probably add new family members sooner rather than later. No one will ever replace Honey, but I have a big enough heart that it can fit lots and lots of pets and people. I am starting to feel a twinge of excitement when thinking about the possibility of opening my heart to a new animal. I am not pretending like this is what Honey would want. It isn't. She always loved having us all to herself. She thrived as an only dog and would probably selfishly wish to always be our only dog. But, I do think that she would understand that I have too much love to give to not open my heart and home to a new friend. I don't think that she'd want me to be lonely.

My Honey Bunny Bear

2012-01-25T14:06:00.000-07:00

I've been sifting through photos to create a photo book with pictures of Honey. I think it has been therapeutic to remember all of the good times instead of the end. She was such a character. She had a very subtle personality. I really think that she blossomed under our care. Anyway, here are a few of my favorite Honey moments.

Staring contest.

A cat used to always walk along the fence on our back patio. Since Honey was not always the quickest, I would cue her that the cat was there by "Meoooooowing" at her. She would jump up and run to the back door to watch with interest as the cat meandered by. It was a highlight in her day.

Enjoying the view.

We took many hikes together. One of our favorite places was the Nature Trail at Piestewa Peak. I think I might need to go there today. She loved exploring and loved to roam off leash. But, she'd never lose sight of me.

Torture.

She did not like bathing. At Wag 'N Wash, they offer a drying area where you can suck the water off of the dog's coat. Oh boy, that was the worst. It was like we were vacuuming her, which vacuuming might have easily been her second least favorite thing. However, she was always so good, even when she didn't like something. She'd grin and bear it.

Joshua.

She had such a special relationship with Josh. She would cuddle with him in ways that she would never ever cuddle with me. He was definitely her favorite petter.

Fall leaves.

She adored children. She liked all people, but she really liked kids. In this picture she was enjoying a visit from The Fagan Family.

The ranch.

Josh's parents ranch provided Honey with many days of entertainment. She jumped right in and joined their pack of dogs. In this picture, she and Kody were joining me for a brisk Winter walk. I think that this was the first day that she saw snow.

Wind in her fur.

Joshua and I loved to look at her when she had her head out the window. It was pure joy. She was always so happy to go somewhere. Then, she was always so happy to get home. Really, she just enjoyed being with us as much as she possibly could. Maybe it was her that never took a moment for granted.

Engaged.

This is not your typical engagement photo, but I wouldn't change a thing about it. Honey was there for some very important moments in my life. This was one of them.

Married.

Although Joshua wouldn't let me make Honey a part of our wedding party, I thought she's make a great flower girl or ring bearer, we both knew that it was a priority that she be there. She sat in the front row and watched us marry. She certainly got her fair share of sweets that day and enjoyed being a part of the festivities.

Lazy Sunday.

The best times with Honey were right here at home. She was always near me. She followed me from room to room to room. She kept watch over me like a little guardian angel. As years rolled by, she became more and more comfortable in her own skin. She blossomed.

Backyard.

She loved her new backyard and all of the grass. We spent hours working out in the yard together. I remember on this particular day, I decided where Josh and I would get married. I brought my camera outside to take photos of the side yard from different angles to see how it might look. She was patiently waiting and watching over me.

Monsoon.

She never liked getting wet. Joshua persuaded her out into the storm for a treat. I can almost picture her eyes squinting as she stood out there in the rain.

Mt. Graham

This is one of my favorites. She is laying by a creek on Mt. Graham. She was so happy and content...such a good dog.

Thanksgiving.

I think that this was the last picture of Honey and I together. We were taking a walk at the ranch before Thanksgiving dinner. I was freshly married. We were happy and living in the moment.

Honey Passed Away

2012-01-24T09:20:00.002-07:00

I feel so blessed that Honey chose me. Being that I found her when she was already middle-aged, I tried to never take a single day for granted. Both Joshua and I loved her about as much as anyone could ever love their dog. In turn, she was our constant, loyal companion. Thank you to everyone who sent out thoughtful wishes, prayers and comforting words.

Honey hospitalized.

2012-01-23T15:35:00.002-07:00

Some things in life are just not easy. I've definitely noticed some changes in Honey during this last year. You can see that she is a little more achy than she used to be which causes her to be more ginger when she walks and jumps. She's lost her hearing almost completely. And sometimes, I wonder if her eye sight is disappearing too. However, she's been happy. She started thyroid medicine which has given her an extra jolt of energy. I think that she really enjoyed having so many people in and out of the house leading up to and on the day of the wedding. She recently started chasing her tail. Something that she's never done in all of the years that I've known her. So, I can't say that I was exactly prepared for her collapse on Saturday night, but I can't say that I was not prepared either. I've been noting to myself that this is on the way. When she collapsed again on Sunday afternoon, we decided that it was time for an emergency vet visit. After a lot of poking, prodding, testing and observing, the vet has a strong suspicion that she has fluid buildup in the sac surrounding her heart. You can read about her condition on petmd. Tonight she will have specialist run an echocardiograph. This test will give a very clear picture of the situation and we should know more about how it can or cannot be treated. Needless to say, I'm a big weeping, bawling, crying mess. Joshua is a beacon of optimism and hope. We are crossing our fingers that it is just an infection that can be cured and not something more aggressive like cancer. Either way, I've come to realize that at some point I am going to have to say good-bye to my furry friend and it just seems unimaginable to me. I'm just utterly heartbroken.

Home Updates

2012-01-18T18:00:00.000-07:00

We keep plugging away at making our home more and more comfortable. Here is our new and improved office....

Here is how it looked the last time you probably saw it....

It is now one of the most used rooms in our home. We set up my bead tables in there along with a second television and couch for lounging. This room still needs work, but we intend to use it and enjoy it until the Summer months when we'll strip it all down again to add molding and work on smoothing out the walls further. As you might remember, it once looked like this....

Next we worked on fixing up our kitchen and making room for all of the lovely new items that we received during our wedding. We are losing some shelf space due to the addition of a new dishwasher, so we decided to add shelves above the stove in addition to a spice rack (thanks Marietta) and a tool station. I think that it turned out great!

Here is what it used to look like when we bought our home...

Additionally, we added a kitchen island to give us much needed shelves as well as counter space. I love our island. There are chairs on one side and shelves on the other. We still have one chair to build. You can see our dishwasher in the far corner. As soon as that is installed, we'll move the island back further to fill the space.

Here is what this part of our kitchen used to look like before we moved in....

Much to Joshua's dismay I immediately started making my list for further changes that I'd like to work on in the kitchen: installation of the dishwasher, new cabinet hardware, lighting, cabinet shelves that roll out in the pantry, etc, etc, etc.

I do have to say, I am quite proud of how wonderful our home feels. It seemed like we would never get to this place. At times, it was really overwhelming but after touching almost every square foot of this house, I think we really own it in a much more deep and meaningful way than just paying the mortgage. It is ours.

Old Slide Show

2012-01-17T13:41:00.001-07:00

Josh's parents dropped off a treat for us this past weekend. They left a set of old slides and a 2-slide projector from Josh's Grandpa Oehler. It was really neat to flip through the slides to see images of our neighborhood from the 1950's. Josh's dad and mom both grew up within walking distance of our home. So their childhood photos often captured our neighborhood in the background. It looks like such a different world. Josh plans to convert the slides into digital photos so that he can share them with all of the Oehlers. Isn't the slide organizer to die for? I love it!

Show Your Colors... in person!

2012-01-12T15:46:00.000-07:00

It is finally here! It is finally here! And, it is beautiful! Kalmbach Publishing did such a nice job with our book. I am so proud of all 96 pages! Of course, one of the hazards of working at home is that I have no one to share my excitement with and also no one to take a photo for me. So I got out my tri-pod and took my own picture because this is a noteworthy moment and I don't plan to miss a second of it! And now, I'll share my glee with cyberspace!

PS. This picture would be a whole lot better with a colorful bracelet. Another hazard of working from home: turning into a "Plain Jane".

My New Year's Resolution - Busy Bees

2011-12-31T09:00:00.002-07:00

I've been so busy that I've hardly had time to spend in our garden. I was pleased to spend a little time out there recently and to find lots and lots of bees who were busily buzzing about. Sometimes it is the little, simple things in life that make me smile. Joshua and I did a good deal of talking over the holidays about what we want this next year to be like. We both seemed to agree that we need to slow down and take it easy and not be busy bees all year long. My New Year's Resolution is to find more time to rest, relax and enjoy. Along the same train of thought, I'd like to get back to yoga full time. I need time to breathe, to refresh and to rejuvenate myself.

Want fruit?

2011-12-30T18:00:00.003-07:00

There are ripe oranges and grapefruit on our trees just waiting for a happy home. Stop on by and pick a pile of fruit! Yum!

I love having fresh veggies and herbs right outside in our garden. I would like to branch out a little next year and try growing tomatoes, carrots, spinach etc.

Joshua watered a portion of our garden today during his lunch break today. When I walked out onto the patio a little later, I saw that he left a trail of rose petals on the patio. He probably didn't do it intentionally. (Note - I found out later that this was completely intentional and all together sweet. He left them for me to find!) He always picks rose petals and drops them. But, it sort of took my breath away because they were sprinkled so beautifully. It isn't everyday that you walk out to find a blanket of rose petals. I couldn't help but stop and recognize how happy I am these days! I love our life. I love our home and our lovely backyard. And most of all, I love my husband.

An Oehler Christmas

2011-12-26T21:25:00.002-07:00

Well friends and family, I am officially an Oehler. I filed my paperwork upon our return from the honeymoon and have been working on changing my name in all of the nooks and crannies of the universe. I claimed my new name just in time for Christmas and was thrilled to see our cards addressed to Joshua and Sara Oehler. Being married is so much better than being engaged. I loved planning our wedding, but it was exhausting. It has been so nice to take our "to do" list down a notch. One good thing about planning the wedding was that it made Christmas seem very easy this year.

Erin and I took advantage of the holiday being over the weekend to create our own additional holiday this year, Christmas Eve-Eve. We spent the entire day baking and cooking together. I unwrapped all of my new and lovely crystal from the wedding.

On Christmas Eve we had some of my family over for the evening. We ate a ton, laughed, joked and played games. My cousin David's kids are adorable.

No Christmas is completely without Pepparkakors. I baked quite a few dozen of these again this year, along with some of my other favorite treats. The highlight was making fudge. I always love to learn something new each year and had never tried fudge. I had no idea that fudge contained marshmallows.

On Christmas day, the three of us (Honey, Joshua and I) spent the whole day at home. Honey wore her jingle bells, Joshua and I each in our pajamas and we thoroughly relaxed and enjoyed each other's company. It has been one terribly long and terribly hectic year for us. I don't remember the last time that we spent a whole entire day and did just absolutely nothing. It felt SO GOOD!

I hope that you and yours had a happy and restful holiday too.

Tree is Trimmed

2011-12-12T21:19:00.001-07:00

It is feeling a lot more like the holidays around the Oehler house this week. We got our tree up, stockings hung and are enjoying the soft glow of the holiday lights.

On our honeymoon, we collected ornaments from our favorite spots in Washington DC: The White House (a gift from a friend), Mt. Vernon, Abe Lincoln, The Superior Court, Library of Congress, The Capitol, MLK Memorial (not shown) and Ford's Theatre A Christmas Carol (not shown). It added such a nice sophistication to our tree. I think that they will be a nice reminder of our honeymoon and maybe we can even add to the collection each year.

Happy birthday, Erin!

2011-12-11T09:00:00.013-07:00

Dearest Erin,

We love you!

Happy birthday, friend.

Love,

Sara

Honeymoon: Occupy DC Protest

2011-12-09T02:00:00.000-07:00

On our very last day, Occupy DC converged on K Street and 16th...the corner of our hotel. I took a few last snap shots of the craziness.

Honeymoon: Holiday Cheer from DC

2011-12-09T01:00:00.003-07:00

Old Ebbitt Grill

Library of Congress

Mt. Vernon

Capitol Holiday Tree

National Christmas Tree

Ice Skating Rink at the National Sculpture Gallery

Union Station

Honeymoon: Ford's Theatre - A Christmas Carol

2011-12-09T00:01:00.001-07:00

Honeymoon: Mt. Vernon

2011-12-08T23:00:00.000-07:00

Honeymoon: The Supreme Court

2011-12-08T22:00:00.010-07:00

We had the extreme pleasure of sitting in on 2 oral arguments at the Supreme Court building. It was amazing to be in the highest court of the land, viewing the 9 most powerful justices while they were at work. I love that ordinary citizens can do that!

The staircase.

Honeymoon: Library of Congress

2011-12-08T21:00:00.012-07:00

Honeymoon: The Capitol

2011-12-08T20:00:00.021-07:00

A large recreation of the tip top of The Capitol.

Recreation of original Supreme Court room.

Rotunda ceiling

Statuary Hall

Capitol Holiday Tree

Honeymoon: The White House

2011-12-08T19:00:00.031-07:00

Honeymoon: Memorials and Monuments

2011-12-08T18:00:00.021-07:00

World War II Memorial

Vietnam Memorial with Washington Monument in background.

The DC monuments at night are absolutely beautiful and peaceful. It was the perfect setting for a few romantic honeymoon walks.

Thanksgiving Weekend

2011-11-26T19:43:00.000-07:00

We headed down to Josh's parents' house in Cochise County for Thanksgiving dinner. Two days at the ranch gave us a chance to really enjoy some wide open spaces, fresh air and time with family.

Wedding Photos by Meredith Moore

2011-11-25T09:00:00.039-07:00

Meredith handed over 300 photos from the rehearsal dinner and wedding on a flash drive yesterday. I am in love with her photos. I don't know how I am going to narrow it down to a bite size amount to share here. I'll just have to try to do my best. I cannot thank Meredith enough for her help at the wedding. Not only did she take 300 beautiful photos, she also helped set up the treat table. She is just such a wonderful, caring, kind spirit.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T17:36:00.000-07:00

My homemade pumpkin pie

I sure hope that this tastes as good as it looks. I also made lemon bars, using Kristen's favorite recipe. Now those I tasted. Yum! And, I got to use some fresh lemons from our new lemon tree.

Fresh Lemon Bar Recipe is from the cookbook 365 Favorite Brand Name Cookie Recipes.

Crust:

1/2 cup butter, softened (although I usually add another 1/4 cup)

1/2 cup sugar

grated peel of 1/2 lemon

1 and 1/4 cup flour

Lemon Layer:

4 eggs

1 and 2/3 cups sugar

3 tablespoons of flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

grated peel of 1/2 lemon

juice of 2 lemons (6 tablespoons)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

confectioner's sugar

To make crust, in a bowl blend butter, sugar and lemon peel. Gradually stir in flour to form a soft crumbly dough. Press evenly into the bottom of an aluminum foil lined 13x9x2 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, to prepare lemon layer. In a large bowl whisk eggs well. Stir together sugar, flour and baking powder. Gradually whisk sugar mixture into eggs. Stir in lemon peel, lemon juice and vanilla. Pour over hot baked crust. Return to oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. Cool. Using foil on two sides, lift out the cookie base. With a wet knife cut into bars or squares. Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar.

We hope that you have a wonderful holiday. Enjoy!!!

Wedding Photos from Joel and Denae Lassen

2011-11-12T23:37:00.000-07:00

More beautiful photos from my cousins! Yay!

Wedding Vendors in Phoenix, Arizona

2011-11-12T09:00:00.014-07:00

Here are a few great companies that helped us out with our wedding. Every single one of them did an excellent job.

Wedding Invitations, Programs and Thank You Cards - Creative Stash

Rehearsal Dinner - Ajo Als

Rental Equipment - AtoZ Equipment
Dress - Dolly Couture (located in NY and CA)
Tailor - Valentina's Bridal and Tailors

Wedding Favors - Cotton Country Jams

Wedding Music - Sweetwater Strings

Flowers - Phoenix Flower Shop
Plants - Baker Nursery

Cleaning - Arizona Clean Pros
Jeweler - Coffin and Trout

Wedding Photos from Greg and Connie Gibbons

2011-11-09T21:50:00.001-07:00

Josh's Aunt Connie and Uncle Greg are always quick to offer their help or a kind word. My bridesmaid Marietta made a point of mentioning to Josh that he had a wonderful aunt. She only spent a short time visiting with her but was very impressed by her their thoughtful conversation. I think that just about anyone who meets Connie would feel that way. She always has a smile to spare and a fun story to share. Here are some of my favorite pictures from Connie and Greg of our wedding. They were kind enough to come down from Washington to be there for both our Rehearsal Dinner and Wedding. Yay Greg and Connie!

Wedding Photos from Alexa Bloom and Chris Lindhal

2011-11-09T18:00:00.010-07:00

Alexa and Chris hold a special place in our hearts for many reasons. One reason that I will always remember was when Alexa spared Chris to help us move last year. His helping hands made moving so much easier. Being that they have twin boys, they have their hands full. It meant so much to us that Chris was willing to help. They posted beautifuli wedding photos on facebook. Thanks Alexa and Chris!

Wedding Morning - David and Jessica Rosenfeld

2011-11-08T20:37:00.000-07:00

My Mom and I stayed the night at Hotel Valley Ho the night before the wedding. So, it was convenient to grab breakfast with friends at Cafe ZuZu in the morning. Two of my favorite people flew in to Phoenix from San Francisco for the wedding - David and Jessica Rosenfeld. They hitched a ride over to the wedding early with Marietta. I was stowed away in a room so that Josh wouldn't see me before I walked down the aisle, but I heard that Jess and David dived right in without being asked. They are such good friends! Since it had rained the night before, everything had to be wiped down. When I think about them wiping things down in their wedding guest attire...I feel so fortunate. Where some people may not have helped as expected, others unexpectedly helped right when we needed it. Thank you Jess and David. I love you both so much!

We picked up our flowers and even some loose stems from Phoenix Flower Shop on our way to the house. The flowers looked exactly as we had discussed in my consultation. They were beautiful!

The Details - Photos by Marietta Tartaglia

2011-11-08T20:16:00.000-07:00

My bridesmaids were the best! They really were. Both Erin and Marietta chipped in and worked so hard to pull of my wedding. Where others lacked, they worked twice as hard. One huge contribution from Marietta was her wonderful photography skills. She took some beautiful detailed shots at the wedding. I'd like to share a few. Thank you for these treasures, sweet Marietta. Josh and I will always remember the details from our special day because you took time to take and share your beautiful photos.

Set Up and Rehearsal Dinner

2011-11-08T19:53:00.001-07:00

Set up day left a lot to be desired. The tables, chairs, equipment and such were scheduled to arrive before 12pm. They didn't arrive until around 3pm. It was a mad rush to get it all done. Thankfully my cousins had stopped by to help out and they all pitched in to get things done. The other issue was the weather. It was windy, dusty and we knew that rain was on the way. So we had to be extremely mindful of what could be set up and wiped down and what needed to wait until the next morning.

My cousins were happy to test out the cotton candy and pop corn machines, which were a big hit at the wedding!

We had our Rehearsal Dinner at Ajo Als. It was perfect. They fed all 40 of us without a single issue. The food was out and hot when everyone arrived. We had a private patio that could have easily fit more people if needed. My Mom (our hostess) was very pleased with the service. We invited our entire families on both sides to the Rehearsal Dinner.

Light Fixtures

2011-11-07T20:21:00.001-07:00

There were 4 ceiling fans in the house when we purchased it. Not one of them matched. We don't really like fans. So we have planned to replace the lights over the past year. We finally got it done right before the wedding.

Original Master Bedroom Light.

Original Spare Bedroom Light.

Original Office Light.

All three bedrooms have the same new fixture.

Now.

The final ceiling fan was in the kitchen. It used to be look like this....

Before.

Now.

The Pink Bathroom

2011-11-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

The pink bathroom has been a thorn in our side since day one. In fact, not one person has showered in the pink bathroom since we purchased our home. Everything had to be changed. There are still a few final details to finish, but we are getting very close.

Before.

During.

Now.

The Arbor

2011-11-07T10:10:00.001-07:00

Josh's dad builds in-door and out-door furniture. He built us the most beautiful and special arbor for our wedding day. It really completed our wedding set up in a way that I could have never imagined. Now we will always have it there to remind us of our big day. I think I showed a picture of it in pieces but not the fully completed piece. Thanks John! We love our arbor!

The Flowers

2011-11-07T10:05:00.002-07:00

A few weeks before the wedding, Josh's mom helped us pick out a van full of flowers for our yard. We planted a beautiful perimeter garden in the planters around our house. I love it! The flowers are always fresh. I decided to not post any pictures so that it would be more of a surprise for our guests. It was fun to finally have people see our hard work. Thank you for the help, Jeanne!

Originally - 1 year ago.

Before.

After.

The Office

2011-11-07T09:49:00.000-07:00

Without the help of Josh's cousin Chris and his wife Sommer as well as his cousin Robert and my Mom, we never, ever could have gotten the office so far along before the wedding. It is actually painted now. It might need one more coat and it still needs molding, but it is so much closer than it has ever been before. It was truly a team operation with many hands at work. I think Robert sanded every surface. I am pretty sure that my Mom applied a lot of the paint. It looks so much nicer now. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel with this room finally. Remember when it looked like this....

Look at it now....

A big thank you to Robert, Chris, Sommer and my Mom for the helping hands that made this room look a million times better in time for the wedding.

Leading Up To the Wedding

2011-11-07T09:33:00.001-07:00

The days before the wedding were a little crazy. We had quite a few home improvement and home maintenance projects still in the works. So, Josh called out for help. His cousin Chris and his wife Sommer swept in and did a ton around here! They helped painted fruit trees, hang lights, sand drywall, plant our new lemon tree, etc. They were lifesavers. And best of all, they were a calming force, especially for me. A little help when you are struggling can really make everything so much better. It was a pleasure to spend time with them. Thank you Chris and Sommer!!!

Already Two

2011-11-06T21:40:00.001-07:00

On Thursday evening my cousin's daughter celebrated her second birthday. I missed the party due to a wedding melt down, but I heard that it was quite lovely. I thoroughly enjoyed my piece of Dora the Explorer cake that Virginia sent home with my Mom. This little girl is quite the charmer. She is beautiful just like her Mom. I can't thank Virginia, her mom and her sister Loretta enough for all of there help at our wedding. They cooked for hours to put together an excellent dinner that included homemade tamales, rice, beans, etc. It was delicious. My Mom said that Virginia always seemed to be there every single time my Mom needed a pair of extra hands. Thank you, Virginia!

Presenting Joel and Denae Lassen

2011-11-06T21:35:00.000-07:00

My cousin Denae got married recently too. So my family held a brunch in honor of her and her husband Joel on Thursday morning. My Mom forced them to re-enact cutting the cake because she missed their wedding. It looks like it was pretty cute! Joel and Denae were a tremendous help at our wedding. Not only did they help with set up, they also made both cotton candy and popcorn in the day of the wedding. Denae looked pretty cute covered in pink cotton. :) Thanks, you two!!!

Halloween

2011-11-06T21:31:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy week and I have a lot of things to catch up on. As the wedding photos are still pouring in, I thought I would start with some photos from Halloween at our house. My little cousins were over and just as cute as cute can get.

The Montanans were thrilled to Trick or Treat with no heavy coats or snow. I think that it was the biggest treat of them all. My treat was having cousins around to answer the door and hand out candy for me. Although feeding 14 can be tricky, we somehow managed to feed everyone.

A Marriage License

2011-11-03T21:59:00.000-07:00

We are swamped, but I thought I'd share a quick picture of Joshua and I from today when we picked up our Marriage License. I cannot believe that we'll be married in less than 48 hours. This week has been immensely stressful, but I know that it will all be worth it when we are walking down the aisle as man and wife.

5-day Wedding Weather Report

2011-11-01T12:16:00.001-07:00

I can't say that I'm very happy to report that the weather is supposed to drop down to a high of 64 degrees on our wedding day. So if you are coming to the wedding, I highly suggest wearing layers. The ceremony will be sunny, but it might be a little chilly if you sit in the shade during the reception. I'm glad to see that there is 0% chance of rain on both Friday and Saturday. Let's hope the wind on Friday isn't too cumbersome - we're setting up that day!!!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

Honey is all ready to go Trick-or-Treating tonight. Since she is so sweet, I thought an angel costume would be perfect for her. She is so patient to play along. The first wave of family arrived for our wedding yesterday. I can't believe that I'm getting married on Saturday. We are so excited! It will be fun to have my little cousins from Montana over tonight to Trick-or-Treat. Yay! So, Happy Halloween to you and yours.

Show Your Colors Available for Pre-order on Amazon

2011-10-28T13:51:00.000-07:00

This is big enough news that it is worth posting on three blogs. Yay!!!

Show Your Colors is official for sale on a pre-order basis on Amazon. The book will officially be out in time for the Tucson show, beginning of February. You'll be able to pick up a copy in the Soft Flex booth at the Best Bead Show and if you like, both Jamie Hogsett and I will be on hand to discuss the designs in the book or to sign your copy!

The Best Bead Show

Feb 1-5, 2012

Kino Veteran's Memorial Community Center

2805 East Ajo Way

Tucson, AZ 85713

Hours:

Wednesday 10am - 8pm

Thursday 10am - 6pm

Friday 10am - 6pm

Saturday 10am - 6pm

Sunday 10am - 5pm

Classes: for information on classes held during the show please click here

Admission: FREE (there is a cost to take the classes at the show)

10-day Weather Forecast for Wedding

2011-10-27T18:00:00.005-07:00

We are finally within 10 days of the wedding and so far the weather forecast looks really good - 83 degrees and sunny! Yay!

Customized Wedding Invitations By Kristen Fagan / Creative Stash

2011-10-24T18:00:00.019-07:00

If you want really lovely customized invitations, I highly suggest Kristen Fagan. I love our invitations. She did an AMAZING job! Thank you, Kristen!

Our Wedding Arbor

2011-10-23T16:25:00.001-07:00

I think that Joshua said it best when he thanked his Dad and said, "It is a once in a lifetime gift." Josh's Dad made us an arbor for our wedding and installed it in our yard this morning. It is not just any arbor. It is a one-of-a-kind, made-just-for-us, beautiful piece of art. I'll show a full picture of it after the wedding. It won't be as fun if everyone already knows what to expect, right?!

2 weeks!

2011-10-21T18:00:00.000-07:00

"Love thrives in a garden of patience and trust."

Oh my. 2 weeks. Where has the time gone? The non-stop pace took a real toll on both Joshua and I this week, but we continue to persevere and are looking forward to the light at the end of the tunnel...our wedding day on November 5th! Although we are still chipping away at our never ending "to do" list, it is reassuring to know that the most important things are mostly done. Most everything now is just icing on an already lovely cake. As we count down the days, we look forward to spending time with our family and friends from both near and far.

Josh's Co-worker's Threw Us A Bridal Shower

2011-10-20T18:00:00.018-07:00

Earlier this week, Josh and I were given such a big treat at the Montelucia Resort at the foot of Camelback Mountain. His co-workers from Children's Action Alliance threw us a little bridal shower, pool side in a cabana. It was so beautiful. They showered us with gifts and had sweet little wedding games to play. It was really, really nice, even if I have been feeling under the weather. It made us both feel so special! Thanks CAA!

Flowers for our garden wedding in Phoenix, Arizona.

2011-10-15T20:30:00.000-07:00

Today was very exciting. We went plant shopping with Josh's Mom for our little backyard garden. If you don't live in Arizona, this probably seems completely backwards to you. We are finally cooling down enough that it is time to plant. It was an all day affair. Honestly, I was so excited for it that I barely slept last night and at about 6am this morning just gave up and got ready for an impromptu breakfast with my best friend Erin. I did not stop moving from about 9am until almost 8pm. First, we chose the plants. Then, we loaded the plants. Then, we unloaded the plants. Then, we had to till the garden. Then, we had to mix in compost....on and on and on. It was really, really, really fun but I am officially exhausted and ready to crawl into bed quite early this evening. Tomorrow is another full day of working on "our list." The endless list of things to do before the wedding. This was a big one. We finished well after dark. So I am excited to see all of our hardwork in actual daylight tomorrow. Yipee!

30 days and counting...

2011-10-06T18:00:00.012-07:00

I've gotten to the point that I can hardly contain my excitement for the wedding. I also feel like I am working day and night to get things done. However, I feel an immense sense of peace even in the day-to-day chaos. I just keep chipping away at it, bit-by-bit, night-by-night, weekend-by-weekend. Now that we are getting closer, I can see all of our hard work taking shape. I am just plum excited!

Bathrooms Show Improvement

2011-10-03T22:59:00.000-07:00

I am incredibly excited to have towel bars again, especially our new ones that we picked out. Don't underestimate the importance of a simple item like a towel bar. It can make a big difference in your quality of life. The little bathroom is nearly complete, save a new toilet and a fresh coat of paint on the concrete floor. The pink bathroom continues to lag behind, but I would guess that it will have towel bars and even a shower curtain by the tail end of this week. We've lived here just over a year and never actually showered in the pink bathroom.

Excellent Jeweler in Phoenix Area

2011-10-01T22:08:00.001-07:00

If you are looking for an excellent jeweler in the Phoenix area, look no further, Coffin and Trout is the company for you. They are located in Chandler right off of I-10 in Casa Paloma.

7131 W. Ray Rd, Suite 22

Chandler, AZ 85226

(480) 763-1300

We picked out our wedding bands today and I just can't say enough good things about this company. The staff is so helpful. Dean helped us find exactly what we were looking for, which in my case was a very particular look. I think that they have earned our business for many years to come.

Our Adopted Koala

2011-09-30T21:09:00.000-07:00

Westhaven Barry

So, there are so many reasons why I love Joshua. One of the most important reasons is that he has a huge heart. He certainly did not get his masters degree in social work for the pay. Last night, I was lazily watched Project Runway. He was busily reading up on how we can help save the koalas. Apparently, they are his favorite animal. How cute is that? How did I not know that already about my husband-to-be? Anyway, before I knew what was happening, he was picking a koala for us to adopt. He didn't pick just any koala. He picked the hunch-backed, cranky koala because he is certain that no one else would ever want to adopt him - Westhaven Barry. Just when you think he can't get any more adorable...he can. I love him. Today, he asked if I would mind writing a blog about the koalas and see if anyone else might like to sponsor one too. These little animals are pretty amazing and it would truly be sad to see them go extinct. If you would like to adopt a koala too, it is pretty easy and not too expensive - only $50 for a year. To learn more, go to www.koalahospital.org.

Did You RSVP?

2011-09-28T22:28:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe but rsvps are due in 1 week. There are still quite a few out. One of the benefits of having a research associate as a fiance is that he makes nifty spreadsheets. According to the spreadsheet, we only have a 69% response rate. That leaves quite a few rsvps floating around out there.

In other news, I started and evite for those of you who were kind enough to offer to bring treats. I am trying to stick to those of you who are in town. I think that it is hard enough to travel to a wedding. No need to add extra worries. If for some reason you are local and marked to bring something but did not receive an evite, please contact me. I'm pretty certain that I got everyone.

All of a sudden, I feel like Rachel in "Glee". Yes, I really am this geeky.

Finally, I want to say that Josh and I are both feeling very loved and blessed to have so many wonderful people attending our wedding. As the big day approaches, it becomes more and more clear just how fortunate we are. It is such a busy time in our lives, but such a wonderful time too. Sometimes I have to stop and just pinch myself. Only 37 days - 5 weeks to go.

Bowling for the Brain Injury Association of Arizona

2011-09-25T11:46:00.000-07:00

Joshua and I headed down to Tucson yesterday to bowl with his family in an event for the Brain Injury Association of Arizona. I forgot how fun it is bowl. It is even better with good company. Josh's family's team raised $400 for the event. I am sorry that we didn't participate in the fundraising more. We just sort of have our hands full, but we were glad to lend our support through our presence.

Ripe Pomegranates in Phoenix, Arizona

2011-09-23T19:00:00.002-07:00

Remember when our pomegranates looked like this (in March)?

Then (in April), they bloomed.

And (in July), they started to look like fruit.

Now, I've been steadily opening up one every few days to see if they've turned red inside. We are so close to having ripe fruit now (in September).

I love my Mom

2011-09-20T19:00:00.001-07:00

I love my Mom for many reasons. But, right now, I especially love her for helping paint our bathrooms. The past few weekends we've worked on them: stripped, painted and lined the cabinets, picked out new hardware, removed old hardware, patched holes, sanded the walls, etc. So when she offered to help with a project around the house, we were so grateful that she agreed to do the painting. Now we'll just have to replace the toilets, hang our new hardware, and touch up the floors. Woo-hoo! So close to being done with 2 more rooms! Thanks Mom!

My Bridal Shower

2011-09-18T19:52:00.000-07:00

I feel so loved today. We had a brunch at the Morning Glory Cafe. It was so nice to see some of my favorite ladies gathered around one table.

A Finalized Book Cover

2011-09-15T14:20:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to share the finalized book cover. Our book is set to come out in very early Spring 2012! I chose to author this book under my new name, Sara Oehler.

R.I.P. Sparks

2011-09-13T22:54:00.000-07:00

Sparks stood out, even in a pack of 5 dogs. Perhaps it was his persistent barking, his size (he was huge) or that he had one brown eye and one blue eye. He was hard to miss and even harder to ignore and I have a feeling that he won't be forgotten.

In sickness and in health

2011-09-12T22:26:00.001-07:00

As most of you know, life has been rather complicated over this last year. We've almost been in our home for exactly a year, but parts of it are still under construction. We're planning our wedding. I wrote a book. We've had 4 deaths in our combined families. I'm back in school. Josh had pneumonia. I could go on..and on...and on...and on...

About a month ago, when we were working on our office walls, Josh realized that he may have a hernia above his belly button. It was inflamed. His self diagnosis turned out to be correct and we scheduled his surgery for today. Most importantly, it is over and he seems to be doing rather well, just sleepy.

So needless to say, some of our home projects that we had hoped to complete before the wedding may not get done. Josh needs to take it easy for 4-6 weeks, which pretty much lands us right at our wedding date. It's not ideal, but it will be okay. We'll just do our best and see what happens. Only 53 days to go!

Vacation Highlights

2011-09-07T10:00:00.001-07:00

Josh and I are back from our Southern California vacation. It was a whirlwind of fun and some much needed relaxation.

We flew into Burbank, California. In order to avoid traffic, we to explored Burbank a little and then ended up getting a bite to eat at Moore's Delicatessen.

We were directed to sit in the back room because Cartoon Network is around the corner and the animators have been drawing on the walls.

The following night we attended the wedding reception for my cousin Denae and her new husband Joel. She was radiant and fun was had by all.

I've never been to Disneyland. I've always wanted to go and we happened to have a free day between the wedding and the beach, so we took advantage to visit the happiest place on Earth. It was fun!

R2-D2 as Mickey Mouse

Star Tours was probably our favorite ride. It was really neat. It was recently updated and reopened in June. It was really fun!

The next day we headed to Carpinteria Beach. It was the exact opposite vibe of Disneyland. Time to relax. We visited family in Montecito and just generally slowed down a bit.

Last but not least, we stopped by the original Bob's Big Boy in Burbank on our way back to the airport. It was an excellent vacation!

See more photos...

Disneyland

Burbank, Corona, Carpinteria

Mom's an official home owner in Arizona!

2011-08-26T09:00:00.011-07:00

We did it! We did it! We found a wonderful new home for my Mom and as of today she officially owns every square inch of it. It will still be awhile before she moves down here, but we so look forward to welcoming her to her new home. For the first time in my adult life, my Mom will live near enough that we can see each other whenever we want....holidays, birthdays, or even on regular old Saturdays. Yay!

Recharged.

2011-08-21T22:49:00.000-07:00

We spent the day at Josh's parents' ranch today. It was a nice opportunity to recharge our batteries and spend a little time with family.

Luke's pool.

Honey recharged her batteries too.

Chubs hiding out.

Yum.

Wedding Invites In The Mail - An Apology

2011-08-17T09:00:00.001-07:00

I apologize in advance that the rsvp cards did not get stamped. Erin and I were so excited to stuff and seal the envelopes that we just plum forgot. Oopsie! Hope you have a stamp to spare, dearest family and friends.

Being Alone

2011-08-15T12:24:00.000-07:00

I traveled alone last week for work. Jamie was supposed to be with me but had to bow out at the last minute for an emergency. I used to travel alone quite a bit. It was painfully obvious that I'm not used to be alone any more and although I was in one of the most beautiful cities (Seattle), everything seemed a little dull. I started thinking about how my life has changed since I started to share it with Joshua. One thing I know for sure, I always enjoy things better if he is by my side. I'm so glad that I get to spend the rest of my life with him. Being alone is okay, being with someone is better, but being with Joshua is the best!

Gig Harbor, Washington Is Gorgeous

2011-08-11T21:12:00.001-07:00

Today, I drove out to Gig Harbor, WA for a day with Artbeads. The drive was a treat. Maybe it is my Montana roots, but there is something so refreshing about rural America. This was definitely rural and I definitely loved it!

After my meeting, I took my time driving back to Tacoma. I am obsessed with the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. It is gorgeous. So much so, that I stopped at a park to get a better look (Titlow Beach Park). What you can't see in the pictures is that the bridge is a beautiful blue color. The park turned out to be great.

Washington Park Arboretum

2011-08-10T23:03:00.002-07:00

Clearly the best part of my day, I stopped by the Washington Park Arboretum. My original appointment rescheduled for Friday. So, I visited a bead store in north Seattle on a whim and finished with them right around the time that end-of-the-day commute traffic starts. So instead of sitting in traffic, I decided to go for a walk and get some fresh air. It was a beautiful day. I barely scratched the surface of this park. It's huge!

An owl? He or she was quite beautiful!

Love these colors!

Unintentionally, I found myself in downtown Seattle on the way home. It was not the plan, but was a pleasant surprise. Driving in downtown is complicated, even in a little VW bug. Although, I have to say, Washington drivers are pretty great. I've been quite impressed. I somehow maneuvered my way both in and out of downtown Seattle. I even parked and got a quick bite to eat. I love that it doesn't get dark until 8:30. It feels as if there is so much more time in the day.

Tacoma - Museum of Glass

2011-08-09T22:22:00.000-07:00

I'm visiting Washington State this week for work. I had some free time today, so I headed to downtown Tacoma to visit the Museum of Glass.

Museum of Glass - Outside

Museum of Glass - Inside Hot Shop

Hot Shop - Artist Courtney Branam

Spinning a platter

I love that old building. We used to do a bead show in it, years ago. There is some amazing Chihuly glass on display in the lobby. The light from the big windows makes the glass feel other worldly. There is something really neat about new, modern art in an old, historic building.

Popcorn, peanuts and cracker jacks

2011-08-07T20:04:00.000-07:00

Row 4

D-backs vs. Dodgers

Perfection.

We were so busy this weekend. We really don't like to have so many plans. I think that both Joshua and I prefer unstructured time. We attended a funeral, a graduation part and a ballgame. Also, we picked up and stuffed our wedding invitations. OH, and I had (have) homework. Sheesh - I'm tired just thinking about it all.

Dad's birthday

2011-08-03T08:45:00.000-07:00

Today would be my Dad's birthday. I recently scanned the majority of his pictures so that I could share them easily with family. He always loved a good celebration. I can't help to think that he'd want me to always celebrate his life and not be sad about his death, as hard as that may be sometimes. Here are some of my favorite pictures.....

Baby.

Right.

Left.

That's me with my mom and dad.

I tied up the last real loose end yesterday; I closed his bank account. It was tough. I think there was a sense of finality. I realized that it was the last thing that I had to physically go do to tidy up his estate. When you come to the end of the list of things that you have do, what are you supposed to do next? Grieve? Possibly. I'm still working on that. But not today. Today, I am going to do my best to celebrate.

Mom's offer accepted!

2011-08-02T19:10:00.000-07:00

I think that we finally found a home for my Mom near the Biltmore in Phoenix. Her offer was accepted and we are moving into Escrow and home inspection time. Everything in her size and price range has been a hot commodity. Lots of people are downsizing right now and investors are snapping up patio and town homes left and right. I immediately had a good feeling about this place when I walked in. It is in a small community of only 14 town homes. It was clean, well maintained and has a really nice lay out. It distinctly felt like home.

Congratulations Mom!

Happy birthday, handsome!

2011-07-30T22:47:00.000-07:00

Today was Josh's birthday. I would describe his birthday as an all American man birthday. What do I mean by that? Well, in this house that calls for spam and eggs + cinnamon rolls for breakfast, baseball, Loew's, steak and potatoes for dinner, white cake with rainbow chip frosting and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

We have a few friends who have birthdays at the tail end of July, so Joshua was gracious enough to share his birthday dinner with both Marietta and Jaime. Jaime's husband and I were out numbered!

Dinner was spot on, if I do say so myself. And, I do! Everything turned out just as I had hoped. Corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, barbecued steak and even a ceasar salad to pretend as if we were attempting to be a little healthy (yah right). Marietta added to the feast with a lovely loaf of bread. Probably the only thing that I had not already accounted for.

I don't want to gush, but I have to say, I love Joshua. I'm not just saying this because he is my future husband. He is really just such a great guy. He is thoughtful, kind, handsome, reliable, loyal, smart, funny, charming, handy...did I say handsome? Oh yes, I did. It is worth mentioning twice. He IS hot stuff! He really is exactly the man that I always dreamed I would meet and marry. I'm so fortunate to get to celebrate his birthday with him each and every year until death do us part.

Happy birthday, handsome!

100 days and counting

2011-07-27T09:00:00.033-07:00

In 100 days, I will become Mrs. Sara Oehler. It still feels a little surreal. I'M going to be the one in the wedding dress. JOSH is going to be waiting for ME at the end of the aisle. OUR friends and family are going to be there to support OUR union. When you've spent 32 years as a guest or bridesmaid at someone else's wedding, it is hard to digest that this is OUR day. At any rate, the plans are clicking along and I can more clearly picture everything now. I should be receiving the invitations fairly soon.

An oasis in the desert

2011-07-25T18:00:00.000-07:00

This is our first Summer with a real yard. The trees and the grass make such a huge difference. Even in the heat, our yard is so green and lush.

Hong Kong Orchid Tree

I can't say enough good things about our Hong Kong Orchid Tree. It provides and umbrella of beautiful shade in our side yard. I look at it just about every day and marvel at its splendor.

Judging from this picture, I think Honey must like it too. We set up a little table and chairs out there and you'll often find Josh and I relaxing under that tree.

Stranded spiders

I don't know if it is just the sight of water, but irrigation always makes things seem cooler and of course, it makes everything a little a greener. The birds all flock to the yard and play in the water.

A baby orange.

A pomegranate.

The fruit is starting to really take shape on the trees. I can't believe how big the pomegranates are already!

All in all, it is really nice to have a yard this year. It has made Summer in Arizona a little more bearable. It keeps us active and gives us both a great excuse to get outside in the morning or evening. The greenery and the shade is an absolute treat to come home to on a hot day.

Plaster

2011-07-24T13:12:00.001-07:00

As you may or may not recall, the wood paneling on the office walls was one of the first things to come down when we moved into our new home. In tearing it down, patches of plaster came with it. So, Josh and I worked together last night on the first layer of hole patches. He's working now to sand and smooth it all out. Eventually, we'll prime and paint finally.

An Early Birthday

2011-07-18T23:03:00.001-07:00

Click on the picture to really see it.

Josh and I enjoyed a Bob Dylan concert tonight as an early birthday treat for him. I can't believe how wonderful Bob Dylan looked and sounded. Wow! It was a really great show.

This guy entertained me with his dance moves.

Summertime

2011-07-17T19:59:00.000-07:00

It was really one of those nearly perfect summer weekends. We saw the final Harry Potter at the IMAX in 3d. We swam. We barbecued. We mowed and edged our yard. Everything is just so nice right now.

Everyday Bracelets eMag

2011-07-13T13:20:00.000-07:00

I had the extreme honor of participating in the expert section of the first issue of Everyday Bracelets eMag. I will admit that video taping myself to answer a question was challenging, to say the least. First, I felt as if I was talking to myself. Second, I think that we are all our own worst critics. I am not an exception to that rule. But, in the end, I think it turned out just fine. This eMag on a whole is done really well and includes 14 bracelet ideas, 10 must have supplies, and a QandA with experts (that's me). I hope that you will buy a copy and enjoy!

Onwards and upwards

2011-07-10T23:04:00.000-07:00

Joshua has been worked on the office this week. He was able to get the walls and ceiling scraped down and now he is ready to coat the walls with a joint compound to remove the pock marks from where the glue tore out pieces of plaster. It is a big job! He tested out using stilts, but it didn't work out. I was terrified that he might break a leg. Those things were scary looking!

I don't think we've seen the floor in this room since we moved in. It was a nice sight to see it get sucked up by the shop vac. Woohoo!

I've been doing a lot of recuperating, which for me includes: reading for fun, spending time with friends, cooking, cleaning, sleeping, planning the wedding and catching up on projects like scanning some of my Dad's pictures to share with family. Boring? Maybe, but it feels pretty terrific to me!

My Wedding Dress Arrived!

2011-07-07T21:25:00.002-07:00

I was thrilled when I came in the door from yoga to find a box containing my dress. YES! I'm sort of glad that I didn't know what the mailman was dropping off when I left for yoga because I'd never have been able to concentrate. It is so pretty and special.

My history class finally ended last week and it could not have been soon enough. I was holding my breath to see my final grade. I had an 89.4% and was sure that my teacher would opt for a B. I am happy to report that he actually gave me an A. I have to say, I deserved it. I worked really hard in that class. I'm back to reading for fun. If you haven't read the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, I highly recommend it. I read all 3 books in a matter of days.

Ever since, I've been lost in wedding la-la land. Kristen finalized our wedding invite. I love it! And I am starting to collect all of the bits and pieces that will make up our wedding. I am finally feeling joyful again and excited.

My Hardworking Man

2011-06-26T19:28:00.000-07:00

Although he came in for a short nap (as seen above), Josh worked outside pretty much all day long today. His commitment to making our yard nice amazes me. Even at 111 degrees, he was still out there plugging away.

He aerated our lawn this morning using the great big machine shown above. Are you familiar with aeration? I wasn't. Basically, this machine poked holes in the yard. This way we can water more deeply. Personally, I think that Josh enjoys renting all of these fancy machines that are so big that they are nearly impossible for us to lift in and out of his truck. I do have to say, the grass is already looking better under his care.

Then, he tilled the dirt in the front flower beds and went to work at planting some new foliage. Yay! It looks so NICE! Our house faces north, so it doesn't get as much sun as the back flower beds. We chose plants that would do better in the shade. They flank our gardenia.

I'm not sure if it was fortunate or unfortunate that I am weighed down in history homework. At 111 degrees, I was happy to stay inside. But, I really love to be outside helping Josh. We have so much fun working on the yard together. At least I got to go with to Baker's Nursery yesterday to pick out the plants. This coming week is my last week of Early American History. It has been a killer course. It is a full term course squeezed into less than 5 weeks. Just this week, I have a quiz, a discussion question, two 3-page papers (three, if I want extra credit), and a final exam. The midterm took me 5 hours. The final exam looks as if it is fairly similar in style. OH, and I had to read 6 or 7 long chapters in my history book as well as an entire book on Nat Turner. EEK! I can't wait for it to be over!

Ding Dong

2011-06-25T15:52:00.002-07:00

Projects, projects, projects....

While Joshua installed our new doorbell (ding dong) and I was slaving away at cleaning up our kitchen, Honey sneaked away and found a comfy hiding spot in the office. Perhaps, she was signalling, "Hey, work on this big project in here." Or, more likely, she was saying, "Enough with the projects. Nap time." Either way, Josh and I were amused. Honey provides us with hours of entertainment. Her little personality is priceless. Man oh man, we do need to work on that office. It is still a complete and total mess. But, at least we have a doorbell finally!

Father's Day

2011-06-19T12:00:00.000-07:00

This is my first Father's Day with no father. It is still so new, it has been a little tough this week. I thought that it might be helpful to note a few important things about him today in order to honor his memory.

My Grandmother often refers to my Dad as her "gypsy" son. He was the fifth of ten children. He loved to travel and loved an adventure. He also never turned down an opportunity to laugh and have fun. I like to think that I inherited these qualities from him but coupled with my mom's sense of stability and reliability. He was a wonderful carpenter and I often think of him when I'm at a hardware store. He always had tools and typically was working on some sort of project. When he worked, he usually worked because he wanted to, not because he had to. Therefore, he often took a lot of pride in his work. It was a labor of love. I've always loved working with my hands, building and creating. I admit, I have a nice sized tool collection for making jewelry. I'm positive that my need to bring my ideas to life is inherited from my Dad too. He was charming. As a little girl, I always loved his soft Oklahoma accent and his cowboy boots. I can honestly say, he was one-of-a-kind.

Over the moon

2011-06-15T18:00:00.004-07:00

Our book files are in the hands of our editor and I could not be happier or more proud of what we accomplished in such a short period of time. I can't wait to see the final product of our hard work! Somehow, some way I made it through strep throat, the bead and button show and my history midterm and paper over the course of the last week. It feels as if life should be smooth sailing for a little while now. I can get back to planning our wedding and working on our house in my free time. Yay!

Odd jobs

2011-06-04T21:02:00.000-07:00

I came home from studying today to find Joshua pulling up the carpet in our front outdoor entrance. I have disliked that silly carpet since the day we moved in and I was so happy to see it go. The people who lived here before us loved outdoor carpet. It was all over the place. I think that with Joshua's efforts, we might finally be done with the carpet nonsense. Yay!

After.

I worked really hard this afternoon and I finally finished painting our kitchen walls. Yay! Now, we only have the floor left to do. The bright white makes such a difference. It feels so clean!

Before.

Most of the walls still had glue stains from when we removed the linoleum. It is so exciting to see clean, fresh paint. I'm not sure that you can tell from the pictures how much nicer it looks, but I can certainly tell.

After.

So we seem to be making some progress again. It might only be one wall at a time, but I'll take whatever I can get.

Next on my list, pink bathroom. It has been looming large on the list for a long time. I think it is time to make it into a spa like retreat.

Gardenia in bloom

2011-06-04T12:00:00.002-07:00

These beauties smell good! I came home earlier this month to find the whole bush full of little white blooms. I hear that gardenias are pretty finicky in Phoenix. So we are lucky to have a full grown and pretty healthy bush.

I sprinkled some shady wildflower seeds into our front planters a few months ago. I am so excited that they are all blooming now.

I think that you would be hard pressed to find a happier flower than the black eyed susans. I love that bright yellow. It is so cheery. We have 3 or 4 blooms on our plant right now.

Roof rat solutions in Arcadia.

2011-06-03T19:23:00.001-07:00

It breaks my heart to report that we are cutting down one of the grapefruit trees. After much contemplation, we just don't really see any way around it. It is butting up right next to the house. It is gigantic and therefore nearly impossible to get fruit from and it doesn't provide any necessary shade to our yard. Also, it is encroaching on our power lines. We DO have 4 other grapefruit trees. Nevertheless, it is so hard to cut down a big, beautiful tree. After the recent rat scare, we have decided that it is a necessity to get the trees away from our roof.

Thankfully, we feel like we can just get the other tree trimmed off of the roof and it actually might make the tree look more even. For some reason the tree has been growing unevenly toward the house. I was really happy to come to this conclusion because this tree does offer wonderful shade to our east side yard. And I really don't like cutting down trees.

My hero.

We are also having all of our trees completely gleaned of fruit and trimmed. Hopefully this will make our yard less appealing to the rat population. Joshua bought steel mesh that he has been adding over the water vents on the roof. Why aren't those covered? It seems to me as if that should be standard thing to do, especially in a neighborhood that has roof rats.

I am certain that I am making it sound as if my neighborhood is overrun by these pests. That isn't the truth. We've only had one issue with them in the 8 months that we have lived here. We are just working toward not ever having an issue with them again.

Wedding invitations are underway!

2011-05-31T18:00:00.001-07:00

Our friend Kristen Fagan is designing our wedding invitations. We are so excited! She posted a blog about her creative process, Creative Stash. I can't wait to see the final product. Yay Kristen!

Roof Rat in Toilet Arcadia Home Phoenix Arizona

2011-05-29T13:58:00.000-07:00

Late last night I found myself googling a new phrase that I'd never considered googling before, "Roof Rat in Toilet Arcadia Home Phoenix Arizona". Why, you may ask? Because unfortunately, I discovered a rat in our toilet in one of the single most terrifying moments of my life.

I'm exhausted. I really and truly am. This month has been a doozy. I won't bother you with the long list of ups and downs again, if you know us well enough, you've probably gotten the general gist of it all from my previous blog entries and various facebook updates. This week was my big trip to Sonoma with Jamie to shoot our "how to" photos for our upcoming book. Although it was mostly fun, it was grueling. I didn't get a lot of sleep and the sleep that I did get was not the best quality. By the time that I arrived back in Arizona on Thursday early evening, I was spent. I intended to rest on Friday, but I made the mistake of trying to turn on my lap top. It would not turn on. Uh oh. I need a lap top to assist in finishing our book. I need a lap top for just about everything that I do at work. I spent a few hours making sure that I could have a computer for the following week and mumbled to myself that it was silly that I couldn't just have a full day off any more.

I tried again the next day. I slept in. I watched tv. I took a nap. I read. By evening, I felt up to going out into the yard and doing a little work. I was feeling rested. Josh joined me and was mowing. When it got dark, I came inside and decided to wipe down the bathrooms and squeeze cleaner into the toilet. I flipped down the lids in both bathrooms, washed my hands (of course) and moved on with my day. I was back on he couch, relaxing again. Josh came in, took a shower and soon was by my side on the couch.

It started when I heard some splashing. I am really sensitive to unusual sounds and lights. I turned down the television (Twin Peaks) and listened. I asked Josh what he thought the sound might be. He went and investigated. He reported back that he thought it was just the new lights that we had purchased. We both commented on how strange it was that they would make noise, but I accepted his answer and went back to watching the tv intently. A few minutes later, I decided to go to the bathroom. I don't hardly ever use that bathroom during the day. As I entered the bathroom, I remembered that I had left the toilet cleaner in the bowl. The toilet cover is rarely down at our house. So I lifted the cover and was about to flush when I saw something large floating around in the blue water. I sat for a second contemplating what it might be when the rat's head lifted from the water.

This is where my memory goes a little fuzzy. I know that I slammed the lid down. Josh said that he thought that I had been electrocuted and that I kept repeating, "I know what it is." I can only imagine that this was because my last question in my head was, "What is that?" So I kept repeating over and over that I knew what it was but could not articulate "a rat" for a minute or so. Then, there was a mad rush. We had (have) no idea how it got in the toilet, but could it get out anywhere else if it swam back down the pipe? We started covering every open drain in the house, and both toilet seats with heavy paint cans. Per usual, Josh was calm and reasonable. I was irrational and terrified. After everything was covered, I felt a little better. At least it was contained.

That was when the google search started. Can someone remove this pest in the middle of the night? Is this normal? Has this happened to anyone else in our neighborhood? In fact, it had. It happened to The Single Senior. I found much solace in her blog post as I did not feel alone in my troubles. Apparently, my fear runs a little more deeply than hers. She seemed so okay with the whole thing.

At any rate, we finally got an overnight operator on the phone from Burns Pest Elimination. This is where it all went downhill again. I explained our problem. I explained the situation. He explained that it would be impossible to get someone to our house until 7 am the next morning. Oh, and that it was a Saturday night on a holiday weekend and that it would cost a lot for pest removal regardless of what time the exterminator showed up. At that point, I didn't care how much it cost. Not one bit! Then, he proceeded to tell me that in all honesty, even with the lid down and the paint can on the lid, the rat was probably already loose in my house. I practically dropped the phone. I had to hand it over to Josh. The idea of it creeping around my bedroom (next to the bathroom) just sent me right over the edge. Josh finished the phone call and then put on his brave face to try to calm me back down again. Seeing as I was a gigantic mess, he offered to find us a hotel for the night. Yes, please.

So in the middle of the night, we packed up just the necessities and set out for a comfortable hotel room at the aloft by the Phoenix airport. We didn't get to sleep long, but at least we slept. So much for feeling rested!

This morning the exterminator seemed baffled as to how the rat was in the toilet. He told Joshua that it was a fluke, a completely unusual occurrence. The type of thing that happens once in a blue moon.

Roof rats are a pretty normal thing in East Phoenix. The landscape is more lush than other areas of town. The area was formerly full of orchards. There are plenty of fruit trees still around for the rats to feed from. From what we have read, they are not swimmers. They need water to drink, but they prefer to be above ground in dry places. Joshua found a few things that we can do to make sure that this doesn't happen again. I have a feeling that he will be fortifying our castle over the next few days and weeks. We both knew that they were outside. We had already checked any and all access into the house to make sure that there was no way they were getting in. We did not even think about plumbing. Argh.

If you are a home owner in the Arcadia area and stumble upon this blog because you too have found a rat in your toilet, check out Roofrat.net. Also, this Rodent Proof explained why the population of rats exists very clearly. Good luck!

Ew.

Meredith's Graduation from Prescott College

2011-05-23T07:00:00.001-07:00

Josh and I spent Sunday in beautiful Prescott, AZ attending Meredith's graduation. Meredith is Josh's brother Jody's girlfriend. I can't say enough nice things about Meredith. So I will simplify and just say that she is an angel.

The graduation was neat because each student had 2 minutes to speak. It was interesting to hear about the graduates' backgrounds, their gratitude for the degree and the school as well as where they will apply the degree in the future. I enjoy this style of graduation so much more than those that have a key note speaker. I received a lot of good reminders of why I am in school and just how important it is to persevere.

Josh and Jody

All in all, it was a lovely day trip. Tomorrow I am off to Sonoma, CA to shoot some photos for the book.

Another year done and gone....

2011-05-17T20:49:00.000-07:00

Today was probably one of the most low key birthdays that I've ever had, but considering the mass chaos that I've experienced over the past few weeks....really months, low key was just right. I had a few highlights to my day. One being that I finished my last jewelry design for the book. That is not to say that there is still not a whole lot of work to be done, but it does feel good to have that huge step done. I was also pleased to find out that I received straight A's for Spring semester. I felt certain that I had received a B in Macro Economics. Nope, an A! Yay. The third item is going to sound a little strange, but I got my car washed. I know this shouldn't be a highlight, but it was. It is one of those chores that I just can never seem to get done and it feels so much better when my car is cleaner than normal. Finally, Joshua took me to Roka Akor for dinner. Since he doesn't eat fish, it is a very rare treat for me to get to have sushi. Dinner was wonderful.

Wedding Dress Bliss

2011-05-16T18:00:00.003-07:00

Went to "Bridesmaids" with my bridesmaids.

I can't begin to describe how much I needed a break from life. Between my Dad dying, finals at school, book projects and day-to-day drudgery, my stress level reached an all time peak last week. My bridesmaids and I had planned a little get away to Los Angeles months ago. I had picked out a wedding dress designer and I wanted to try on dresses and order my dress in person from them. I was a little hesitant that the timing of this trip would be okay the day before I left. Now, in hindsight, I think that there couldn't have been better timing. I really needed a chance to step out of my life for a few days, take a deep breath and have fun. We did just that! We had a ton of fun! We picked and purchased my wedding dress. I think that I am going to be very happy with my final choice. Hopefully Joshua loves it too!

We stayed in Santa Monica, between the beach and the 3rd Street Promenade. It was a perfect location for walking everywhere. The beach was wonderful. It didn't feel crowded, the sun seemed to shine just at the right time each afternoon as we stepped on the sand. I spent a lot of time wandering up and down the beach, letting my mind wander and looking for hidden treasure.

Ladybug on the beach.

The second day, I was shocked to see ladybugs on the beach. If you remember, thousands of ladybugs showed up for Josh's proposal on top of Mt. Graham. Of course, I googled it! Here is what I found, "Newport Beach Lifeguard Capt. Jim Turner said the ladybugs give birth during this time, and some are blown to the coast when the Santa Ana winds whip. Thought the winds haven’t been too strong, they’ve had enough force to push the bugs to the sand in the past few days." What is really strange is that I didn't notice a single ladybug on Friday, but on Saturday just after we picked out my wedding dress, there was a trail of them along the ocean edge.

Great minds think alike! All three of us dressed in orange on Saturday for our wedding dress appointment (not on purpose). Above, Erin and I are discussing some of our options with our sales rep. The dress shop was adorable. I won't be able to share too many photos now because I am a little old fashioned in that I don't want Josh to see the dress until the day of the wedding.

We ate at a lot of really great places but seemed to all agree that The Yard was our favorite. They offered the BEST macaroni and cheese that I've ever had. Yum!

I could probably do one whole post just about desserts. We had fabulous desserts and treats on this trip. In the picture above we were about to have crepes. Here are pictures of my favorite treats.

Early birthday cake.

Mini Cupcake.

Dark chocolate and caramel with sea salt.

I love Marietta and her new sign.

We did a little shopping on the promenade and went to the movie "Bridesmaids". How appropriate, right? It was hysterical. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time and boy did that feel good. It was especially entertaining since I was there with my very own bridesmaids.

Last but not least, we went to The Getty. I've wanted to go to the The Getty for years. It has never seemed to work out. I was happy and excited to finally get there. The architecture of the building and views are awe striking. It was especially neat since I just finished an Art History course. I was able to look at some of the art with a new and deeper understanding.

That is the ocean on the horizon! It was so gorgeous!

Downtown LA.

It was such a wonderful weekend. I can't thank Erin and Marietta enough for being there with me on such an important day. I am so lucky to have such great girlfriends. It felt so good to let go a little and just relax.

See all photos.

Mother's Day

2011-05-08T20:39:00.000-07:00

“All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother” - Abraham Lincoln

It is another gorgeous evening here in Phoenix. I'm a little sad to not have gotten to see either of our Mother's for this Mother's Day. We had intended to head down to Tucson for a barbecue with Josh's family, but after the past two weekends in Oklahoma, we just weren't up to it. So we fired up our own barbecue and had a nice little dinner all by ourselves and just chatted with each Mom over the phone.

TGIF

2011-05-06T18:55:00.001-07:00

Cross your fingers again. The place that my Mom wants went into foreclosure right when she placed her bid a few months ago. It was a short sale. We patiently waited for it to come on the market again as a foreclosure for sale. About 2 weeks ago, it popped up. She couldn't place her offer for 2 weeks, since it is considered an investment property for her. More waiting! Finally, on Monday of next week she can submit her offer again. YAY! We are really hoping that all of this patience will pay off.

Josh and I are completely and utterly exhausted and so looking forward to some down time this weekend. I hope to get out into the yard to enjoy some of our fresh, new blooms. In the meantime, I snapped a few shots this evening to share just how beautiful those blooms are.

These blooms on our vines are so interesting (bud above, bloom below).

I love the fresh new Hong Kong Orchid leaves. They are such a unique and beautiful shape.

These flowers are right outside the window that faces my beading table. Such a treat!