made you a gift...

this year, for christmas, i decided to make a few special people in my life a homemade gift. it's just more personal when it is something that your own hands have made. i found some recipes for a bath soak, body scrub, and facial mask and thought these would be great for mamas and grandmas, and my hard-working sister. turns out they loved them, and even though christmas is over i thought i would share in case you need a gift idea for another special occasion for someone you know that needs to relax (or maybe for yourself!). these are great because it doesn't matter what time of year it is!

what i made:

lavender bath soak
3 C epsom salt
2 tbsp dried lavender flowers (i used the lavender from my garden and let it dry for a few days which you could do or i am sure you can buy some already dry)
20-30 drops vanilla essential oil (i bought mine from sprouts)
5-10 drops lavender essential oil

mix everything and shake shake shake

add a few spoonfuls to your bath and RELAX!


warm vanilla, brown sugar, and coconut oil body scrub
1 1/4 C organic brown sugar
6-8 tbsp organic unrefined coconut oil
15-20 drops vanilla essential oil

if coconut oil is solid warm just enough to melt. combine oil and sugar, eliminating any lumps. add vanilla drop by drop blending after each.

apply to pre-moistened skin, massaging in circular motions

miracle mask
2tbsp raw organic honey
2tsp cinnamon
2tsp nutmeg

mix to a thick paste

apply to face and let sit for 30 minutes. wash off with warm water, scrubbing softly using a circular motion for exfoliation.

i bought some mason jars and baskets from michaels and found some free printable labels here to write what each one was. i then tied some wool yarn around them with a tag in the back that had instructions on how to use them.

i also found some adorable free printable 'handmade' gift tags which you can get here! now i just need to make these babies for myself!

a different take on mac and cheese

orecchiette pasta with brie and asparagus

i was roaming through my fridge the other day trying to decide what to make for dinner. i came across a wedge of brie and a bundle of asparagus, and thought, 'i should just throw this on some pasta.' so i did (with some garlic) and it turned out to be mighty tasty and super quick and easy. here's what you need:



wedge of brie
bundle of asparagus (washed and cut)
2-3 garlic cloves diced
orecchiete pasta (or any shell pasta...i bought mine at trader joe's)
3 tbl olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

directions: boil water and add pasta. while pasta is cooking, heat oil in a separate pan then add garlic and asparagus (mixing it around to coat with the oil). Let simmer in oil until garlic and asparagus becomes lightly brown and crispy. when pasta is cooked, chop brie into pieces and slowly add in the brie, mixing it as you add so it melts. then add asparagus and garlic. salt and pepper to taste and pair with your favorite red!

first christmas: in three parts

my goodness how much better christmas is with a babe (and everything else for that matter)! there was so much joy just watching her rip through paper, spending time with our families, and (for the both of us) being able to hold her and sing with her during church in the morning.

being the only grandchild on both sides, there were quite a lot of presents to be opened... so it was almost as if she had 3 christmas.' first, dinner and festivities with jeremiah's family on christmas eve, then our own family time early christmas morning, church, and on to my parent's home in the afternoon! the three of us were a little tuckered out by the end of it, but it was oh so much fun!


part one: christmas eve at the sazdanoff's home (jeremiah's side)

she got such great gifts from everyone...including madeleine's
christmas and beautiful french wooden blocks from
 her aunt tarah and uncle joshua!

this dress (from her aunt tanja and uncle alex)
instantly became her christmas dress for the next day

so excited haha

these blocks are so amazing and i am so happy we can
spell her name the correct way!

her and tanja

her and alex

part two: our first christmas morning...

still wakin' up

opening her first gift...

this is the most poetic and beautiful children's book.
if you don't own it, you should probably make it happen.
(we were definitely more excited about it than she was)

opening a 'grand' one!

we call this one her 'little richard' pose

all dressed up for church!

after church

part three: the barnes' home (my side of the fam)

with papa

of course there was a horsey involved! (2 of them in fact!)

with uncles bo and tuff

playing with her new 'little people nativity set' ...
but mostly just chomping on their heads

love her.

cinq ans

five years ago today i married the most loving, gentle, patient, unselfish, and talented man i have ever met. there is no one more perfect for me...i knew it then, but i know it now more than ever. we have had some good adventures these past years, my love...

traveling with me while my band was on tour...

backpacking to 6 different countries in europe
for five weeks...

watching you graduate from asu with
a degree in fine arts...

opening a boutique downtown...

then having to close it...

living in prague, czech republic...

spending a christmas in spain...

moving back to the states and finding out
the most wonderful surprise...

buying our first home downtown...

all of these adventures have been amazing and left us with such incredible memories, but none compare to the adventure we are on right now...

happy 5th anniversary darling, i love you with everything in me...

and so does our little girl.

giving loves

my brother and sister-in-law live in california. they were in town this past weekend and had a few christmas presents for, clémence, so we let her open them early. one of them was a soft doll which we just started calling her baby. it is so cute because literally every time she picks up her 'baby,' she automatically hugs it. she has only had her for a few days and we didn't teach her to do it. natural maternal instinct i guess. so sweet.

an afternoon spent baking...

sometimes the only way to get something done around the holidays is to do it with other people. it motivates you, helps you to put the time aside, and it's just fun. my sister, clémence, and i went up to my parent's house a few days ago to do some christmas baking with my mom. we had a great time making a mess and each taking turns playing with clémence so the others could bake....but of course she was a great helper in the kitchen too!

with mimi!

my half-finished lemon-rosemary shortbread sandwich cookies

filling them with lemon curd and mascarpone..mmmm

a yummy mess!

checking out the goods

the view from the kitchen window...i love it up here..
so different from the city

finished (after 3 hours)

saying hi to the horsey

then as we were leaving my dad rode up to the car to say bye...with the horses. i love her look of curiosity.