by Lynaea
on December 24, 2012
in
Breads,
Connection,
Cornerstone,
Decor,
Essays,
Family,
Food,
Friends,
Household Creations,
Treats,
Wonderland
We’ve been picking favorites at my house this last week…favorite meals, favorite desserts, favorite moments, favorite people. I think I’ll go for “Still, Still, Still” as my favorite Christmas song.
(Made these sheep ornaments with cardboard, paint, and yarn when my big girls were little. Memories…)
“Still, Still, Still” was my favorite Christmas song 22 years ago, when Frank and I shared our second Christmas. I was pregnant with Michaelyn (just barely past the extreme morning sickness stage). We had a tiny studio apartment, with a stereo system we bought for ourselves as an early Christmas present that year. With towering speakers and a cute little cabinet to house the cumbersome stack of components (it was the early 90’s; stereo systems then were comparable in their monstrous bulk to primeval computers). One of the first CD’s we bought as a couple was a Mannheim Steamroller Christmas CD; I remember feeling positively transported (to tears) each time I heard their rendition of “Still, Still, Still”. I love the spareness and simplicity of the melody. It could be ancient; it feels immediate. It embodies the stillness, the quiet instructive peace, that I feel sometimes when I pray. It reminds me of the beauty of the mountains in sunlight or the sweetness in the curve of my child’s face. [continue reading…]
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by Lynaea
on December 20, 2012
A very brief glimpse of Cynthia’s Hawaiian Christmas…
I caught a very brief glimpse of Cynthia’s Hawaiian Christmas when I stayed with her during my Mother/Daughter rescue in Hawaii last week. Cynthia is my aunt; she provided safe haven for my daughter Maurya while she lived her BYU Hawaii adventure. Cynthia has also provided safe haven for me more than once. I love my aunt; I love her home. While I rested there and waited for Maurya’s finals to finish so I could help her check out of her dorm and fly home with her, I enjoyed the serenity of Cynthia’s home and company. I loved (very much) how she has decorated her home for her Hawaiian Christmas. Both simple and festive. Sadly, my laptop was dying during my adventure; I lost many of the pictures I downloaded to it from this last brief stay in Hawaii. But. Here are a few images of Cynthia’s Hawaiian Christmas. I wish I had all the pictures I’d taken on that quick trip.
Living Room Vignette
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by Lynaea
on December 20, 2012
Remembering how stressful finals combined with checkout at the end of a semester could be, I thought I’d rescue my daughter last week.
Rescue? I’m not sure just who did the rescuing in that little adventure we shared.
Craving independence, abundant culture, new relationships, and an excellent music program, my daughter Maurya chose BYU Hawaii as her launching destination last fall. She got all the things she was most craving…and more. But not in the idyllic way that she expected (isn’t that always the case?). I think we could safely say that Maurya’s first semester was one of the hardest times of her life. [continue reading…]
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by Lynaea
on December 18, 2012
A little over a week ago, our neighbors Sonya and Andrew invited our family over to their house for some Christmas sugar cookie decorating.
This is one of their family traditions, and as simple as it sounds, I was so grateful to be a part of it this year. We had fun. We bonded. Especially my kids—Nora, Ez, and Meisha (Michaelyn and Maurya were off being more grownup in far flung places). The decorated cookies might not win any awards, but they sure are sweet. [continue reading…]
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by Lynaea
on December 18, 2012
I had a root canal. I feel much better now. Hence, “Root Canal Wonder”
Why on earth would someone post about dental gore in a pretty lifestyle blog? Yikes!
[continue reading…]
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by Lynaea
on December 17, 2012
As Promised. A Few Days Later than Planned (Yikes!)–
Short Pencil Skirt Refashion Notes.
When I saw this pink skirt at the thrift store I fell in love with the fabric… bright and playful in a quality fabric with a good hand. [continue reading…]
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by Lynaea
on December 11, 2012
I am pleased (tickled pink) to share my newly refashioned thrift skirt.
At Last.
Here it is, as promised for the last two Saturdays…Finished and photographed yesterday. The skirt was easy enough; more of an alteration than a refashion (though really, we went from a subtle a-line to a pencil skirt). I’ll post my “how I did it” notes later; for today, I’m just eager to post pictures! I love how this skirt turned out, and how it plays well with other pieces I’ve refashioned, thrifted, or… borrowed indefinitely from my mother’s closet (Thank You Mom!). More details below… [continue reading…]
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by Lynaea
on December 8, 2012
in
Art,
Connection,
Cornerstone,
Decor,
Especially Good for You,
Family,
Fashion,
Food,
Found,
Friends,
Health,
Household Creations,
Paintings,
Refashioned,
Where I Live
Last Saturday I promised myself (and you) a skirt refashion. From a thrift store find.
I’m on it, but not quite finished yet. Super close… just need to hem (blindly) and tack (embellishments). I refashioned a top to go with (bonus!). Here’s a peek at my progress:
[continue reading…]
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