07Apr 2014

Conference

By K + Z 0 Activities, Family, Holidays, Projects Permalink 0

The Sunday before conference our ward had an “emergency preparedness” combined third meeting. Normally these type of meetings don’t ruffle my feathers, but for some reason I was impacted by a certain video that was shown. It was this terribly sad video of all the natural disasters that have occurred over the past 5 or so years. It kind of freaked me out. So as I looked over the handout that was distributed to everyone, I realized I had nothing prepared for an emergency except a giant barrel of water, rice, and canned potatoes. I don’t know if it was really the video, or the earthquake my friends and I felt in California, or me just being a crazy person.

Regardless of what scared me, Monday afternoon [after I finished all my freelance projects] I put together three 72 Hour Kits, a first aid kit for my car, and an emergency car kit. Zach was making fun of me the entire night. But we’ll see who’s laughing when there is a real emergency and he has to wear the clothes I packed in HIS 72 hour kit. It will teach him to make fun of his very “passionate” wife.

But that wasn’t it. I called my dad for a recommendation for a concealed weapons permit class. He told me that for my birthday he was planning on giving me his H&K 9mm handgun, but never got around to it. [We agreed not to give birthday gifts this year to each other; we were planning on saving for a family trip to Europe, but with my brother’s upcoming wedding we have postponed our family Euro trip for a later year].

So Friday he showed me all the ins and outs of the gun, including how to clean it, and gave me wayyyy too much ammo. Now all I need is to pass that class with flying colors.

The weekend came and it was time to drive up to the Hendo Cabin for our annual conference/Easter tradition. We only had four families up at the cabin this time, which made it a little quieter, but by no means less exciting. The first thing Papa did was take the kids out on a ride to see if they could spot the Easter Bunny in his natural habitat. Sure enough, EB was spotted…

The kiddies were thrilled. They wore their bunny ears around all night, talking about the rabbit non-stop.

Sunday morning was so nice and peaceful. I slept in as long as I could and later let the kidlets wake Zach up [in their coordinating pajamas] with a song from Frozen. Georgia doesn’t mess around – she just full on tackled Zach to get him up and out of bed.

After breakfast we distracted the kids by telling them bunny stories around the “camp fire”. They didn’t even realize that Papa and Zach [dressed as EB, of course] had slipped out and taken the snowcat for a drive up the mountain.

Then we had the kids wait by the big window in hopes that we would spot the Easter Bunny. 10 [really long minutes] later, the Easter Bunny was spotted again, this time hitching a ride on top of Papa’s snowcat, Old Glory. The kids went ballistic! I was just grateful Zach didn’t fall off…

Then the bunny hopped on down to the basement where all the kids could hunt for their eggs.

Easter will always be one of my favorite holidays. Partially because the Easter Bunny is my very best friend…

31Mar 2014

What’s Going On

By K + Z 0 Family, Food, Projects, Work Permalink 0

A lot has been going on these past few weeks. I have been working on some fun projects with a local company called Hellofab – I redesigned her logo and came up with three t-shirt designs for her new apparel line. The Soccer Mom, Très Bon, and HUSTLE shirts are all available for sale on her website!

We celebrated my mom’s birthday the Sunday after I got home from my girls’ trip with my friends the best way we know how: with the most obnoxious chocolate cake on the planet! M&Ms, Kit Kats, chocolate pudding (in place of frosting), and chocolate cake…

My friend Whitney lightened my hair [and cut off almost 6″…] and I am so happy with how it turned out. When you have 4 best friends that do hair, you can really get hooked up when it comes to salon time.

My dad finally got his good luck charm removed form his head. Obviously I got my fatty lumps from my father. He’s been storing one on the side of his head for a couple of years and finally got it taken out. The day of his surgery I brought him lunch to his house to recuperate. I told him, “I will pick you up anything you want for lunch. Anything in the whole world.” He replied, “I am trying to eat healthier…so let’s get Wendy’s.”

A couple of weeks ago my entire family attended Les Mis at Hale Center Theater. I have to be honest, I am not a fan of the HTC. You would relate if you experience West Side Story with me over 10 years ago. So I was really skeptical going into the production. I have to admit that I was completely shocked with how talented the performers were! We all enjoyed the show so much that we even reenacted the famous play poster…

We also celebrated baby Clark’s first birthday party at Chad and Rachael’s new home! I adore Clark, he is the sweetest little man. It was so fun to see all the fun details of his party! Psst…this picture was taken mere moments before Frankie, our niece, tried to mimic Zach and I and climbed right onto the caterpillar’s head and it exploded! We aren’t the best examples, obviously…

For the last few weeks I have been collecting vintage [looking] bottles for a couple of upcoming events. I scored some great ones at an antique store in Ogden and Salt Lake, IKEA, and H&M Home.

I got to use them for the first event: our Stake Relief Society Activity that I helped with. I dipped mason jars in gold paint and decorated 25 tables with random glassware. It was so much fun to be apart of!

Zach and I also tackled our last project for our bedroom! It’s finally finished. It is true when they say that the master bedroom is the most neglected in the home. So we tried to finish it up. Zach told me after we hung the gallery wall that he thinks that our master bedroom is his very favorite room in our home.

Last, but certainly not least, I got to dine with my favorite Interior Design friends at From Scratch this last week. Surprise, surprise. I literally keep that restaurant afloat with my business alone. It was so great to catch up with my friends and already can’t wait until we see each other again soon!

Here’s to more [very random] days with my family and friends…

10Mar 2014

the Chateau at La Caille

By K + Z 0 Invitations, Projects, Work Permalink 0

First, I feel embarrassed that I didn’t know this place even existed. I have visited La Caille before, but never knew about the Chateau. From the second I set foot in the place my heart ached for Paris. Some day.

Monday I received the photos taken by Lindsey Orton Photography. I was so pleased, along with all the other vendors, how this all turned out. Even though I had the smallest teensiest part in this whole spectacle, it was so fun to participate in.

The invites were the very first thing I worked on, and I can’t wait to do more watercolor projects in the future. I forget how much I love making things with my hands every now and then!

I created the dinner menus and the agate place cards.

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I also created the table numbers and the escort cards.

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The whole event was inspired by the Pantone color of the year. From the hand-dipped feathers to the triple berry cake, this whole project was a dream. I am so grateful I got to be apart of it!

03Mar 2014

An Eventful Week

By K + Z 1 Activities, Family, Food, Friends, Projects, Work Permalink 0

Zach left Monday for an aviation convention in California. I spent my free time working on little tidbits for a bridal event. It was a “Pantone Color of the Year” inspired shoot with hints of dark, deep purple and navy blue. I was in charge of all the stationery, the table numbers, and place cards. Inspired by a Kate Spade party, I created place cards with a silver metallic Prismacolor pen and slices of agate. I ordered these beauties online and was anxious for over two weeks of how they would look once they arrived. I got really lucky, because they fit the color scheme perfectly [and none of them were broken].

I should have known two things – stone (even agate) is porous which means you have to repeatedly go over the names with a metallic marker. Second, the metallic markers I purchased are permanent. So permanent that when I messed up on the “e” on Lea’s name, it clung to every pore of the agate. They are not perfect, but I was really happy with them in the end.

Our bedroom gallery wall was also completed this week. Michael’s was having a sale on their frames – buy one get one freeeee – so I purchased all my white frames and finished two pieces. I have been wanting to purchase this Cali Love print for months, but couldn’t bring myself to pay over $50 for it. So I made it myself, along with another Brooklyn print [also over $50]. The gold leafing was much more simple than I anticipated. Basically it was craft central while Zach was gone.

Wednesday I finished addressing envelopes for the La Caille project and prepared for my activity with my cute Activity Days girls.

We had a daddy-daughter themed party at Classic Skating in Layton. There were mustache-toped cupcakes, questions the girls “must-ache” about their dads, and lots and lots of skating.

I thought that being in the Relief Society presidency was my favorite calling, but this one is taking the cake. I love spending time with these little ladies! If I only had a fraction of their energy…

I was so impressed with all the sweet dads that showed up. I would say the night was a real success. I am so grateful to my father-in-law who always lets us use and abuse Classic!

Thursday was D-day at La Caille. When I arrived it was pouring rain. We met at the Chateau [it was my first time] which made me miss Paris terribly, and got everything set up.

While the florist, Megan, was doing her thang…I got to hang out with her little man. Peter is 7 months old and just as handsome as can be.

There was a minor controversy when he realized that I had a different kind of liquid in my bottle than he did in his, but he was a trooper for over 4 hours.

We even got a few sweet selfless of us together, until he discovered my nostrils…

Everything at La Caille went beautifully. I think one of my favorite things about being apart of these projects are the leftovers I get to take home…

I can’t wait to get all the photos back, it’s so exciting to see everything come together!

Friday I had several appointments and ended my crazy afternoon at Fiiz [again] with some friends. I have a punch card now. It’s humiliating.

Zach finally returned from California and just in time to join me for our first gymnastics meet at the University of Utah.

As usual, Zach got really into it. Zach is an “all-or-nothing” kinda guy.

After the meet we met some of our friends from dinner at From Scratch. Are we predictable, or what? I can’t get enough of their margherita pizza. To the point where I request we go there almost once a week now.

Saturday Zach and I spent the whole day together running errands, having a lunch date, and finishing up a few odds and ends.

Later that night, my aunt was kind enough to hook us up with Brian Regan tickets at ESA. It was my first comedic experience and I have to say, it was very entertaining.

It was the first time we had left ESA smiling all season.

24Jan 2014

Camp Yosi

By K + Z 4 Personal, Projects, Work Permalink 0

Back in November my friend [that I met at the USU Interior Design program] Martha and I decided we would submit an idea/concept for an Alt Summit party. Unfortunately, our concept was selected. Come December we had been approached by my friend Morgan, who works for shoe designer Yosi Samra, to throw an Utah Blogger Event during Sundance. Since we already had a theme and a concept still fresh, Martha and I went for it!

First we found a venue, which was the old Anthropologie store at the Gateway. Then came furniture, supplies, and the details. Martha found a company in Utah County that could do the “tenting” for the entire space and who could hang all of the lighting. I did all the graphics: the logo, large signage, camp directional sign, and the vendor signage. We spent the day of the event at the space setting everything up, purchasing all of the food and supplies, and tying marshmallows. The wall of “falling snow” was actually made of hundreds of jet puffed mallows. We tied each mallow to embroidery floss to create the garlands. I can confidently say I won’t be eating a marshmallow for a loooooong time. Soon we were t-minus 1 hour until the event. Once all the food was set out, all the swag was organized, and all the votives lit…we were ready for it.

How gorgeous are Yosi’s new oxfords for his 2014 collection? Gold snakeskin…? I didn’t even know that existed until this night.

One of the vendors at the event was Katie Waltman Jewelry. She provided us with all the supplies for the DIY Anklet bar. Each guest got to pick a few custom charms and create their own piece of jewelry. Not only were Katie’s charms to die for, but her display was killer as well. Who knew white sand in bottles could be so beautiful?

After the ladies received their own pair of Yosi Samra foldable flats, they could snack on refreshments and roast marshmallows to make s’mores.

Martha made these indoor marshmallow roasting troughs. Because she’s amazing…

There was also a photo booth, good conversation, and a meet n’ greet with the designer himself.

Creating Camp Yosi with Martha was one of the funniest projects I have worked on. Martha is insanely talented and I had such a great time working with her. It was also a great opportunity to meet so many talented Utah bloggers. Such beautiful and driven women.

Thank you to everyone at Yosi Samra for letting us be a part of this! I can’t wait to work with Martha again. We had a pretty good time.

Event Design and Creative Direction: Martha Hatfield Instagram: http://instagram.com/marthahatfield

Graphic Design: BASH studio Instagram: http://instagram.com/partywithbash

Photography: Jessica Kettle

Instagram: http://instagram.com/jesskettle

Website: http://jessicakettle.com

DIY Anklet Bar: Katie Waltman

Instagram: http://instagram.com/kwjtheshop

Website: http://www.katiewaltman.com

16Sep 2013

Birthday Festivities

By K + Z 2 Family, Personal, Projects Permalink 0

We had an exciting week considering it was Zach’s 28th birthday on Thursday. But before we had that shindig, we had a pretty good week. One of the perks of working from home is being able to meet my friends and family for lunch. It’s amazing being able to set my own schedule and to enjoy little things like that. I got to meet my friend Angie for lunch up in Ogden and Emily for brunch at Ruth’s Diner later in the week. It sounds trivial, but it’s something I didn’t even know I was missing out on. The majority of my week was spent working on my new website, Etsy shop, and prepping all my Halloween stuff for my sister-in-law’s spa. She was sweet enough to allow me to produce a bunch of prints and other items to sell. I’m excited to see how it does! I have a new found respect for those in retail.

I also received a shipment of all my new business cards for this website I am creating. I can’t wait to get everything up and running to see how this crazy idea of mine works out.

In preparation for Zach’s birthday I spent some time going through old photos. It made me super curious/excited to see what our future littles will look like. I can’t wait to meet them.

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Thursday night we did a little birthday shopping and then dined at Benihana. I know, big shocker…we’ve done this for Zach’s birthday for the last 7 years. He won’t eat anywhere else to celebrate!

Saturday was pretty exciting: I had two friend baby showers. One in Ogden, one in South Jordan. Big time fail on my part for not getting a picture of Chelsea and some of my high school friends at her shower. She’s due in a few weeks and is having a baby girl! However, I hope to see them all soon! The second shower was for a long time friend, Alex who is expecting a baby boy. It was so fun to see some friends I rarely get to see and visit with them.

On my way home I stopped at my aunt’s house to help her and my mother make some peach jam. Her neighbor gave her a huge bin of peaches and so they decided to make Saturday afternoon a last minute jam sesh.

Peach jam is amazing, but I can’t wait until we make our next batch. Peach + strawberry jam. My absolute favorite. It’s like the perfect mix of summer and fall. My neighbor got us hooked on it last year and we’ve loved this recipe.

Later that night we went out with Zach’s parents to dinner to celebrate his birthday again. We loved dining with Mark and Jeanene and catching up with them as well. After dinner we had to rush off to the Utah vs. Oregon State game at Rice Eccles. The weather was crisp and we didn’t even mind the drizzle later on. I’d take rain over the blazing sun any day!

It was a great game – even though we didn’t leave winners.

Sunday after church we went to my parents’ house, once again, to celebrate for Zach’s birthday. We had roast and his favorite twice baked potatoes for dinner. I even scored some good wife points by making his favorite chocolate cake [the only dessert he will actually eat and enjoy] but failed once again with only 4 measly candles. 28 wouldn’t have fit on there properly any way…right?

Zach is definitely loved. Both of our families treated him to wonderful birthday wishes and celebrations. I’m so grateful to have him in my life. Like I tell most people: my life would be sooo boring without my sweet, crazy, fun-loving husband. I hope his birthday was as amazing for him as he is amazing to me.

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