India Obsession

Have I told any of you lately that I have become infatuated with India?

I've been frequenting GLOBAL VILLAGE {a ginormous outdoor marketplace selling products from all over the world} here in Dubai once a week since it opened in January and now I'm determined to get to India...SOON! It's only about 3 hours away on the plane but with our crazy travel plans this year, it's easier said than done!



Here I am drooling over the gorgeous handmade rugs from Kashmir. Look familiar? Yep, anthro sells these for 4 times the price I pay! I'm a bit embarassed to say that I bought one at Christmas in the US and brought it home- no more Anthro shopping for me...I can get the real deals here in Dubai. Anyone want to be my neighbor?



My friend, Katherine, of Rikshaw Designs loves India too...she has a beautiful, India-made baby bedding company {of which I bought for Olivia} see here how we met! She's so sweet.

And Tory Burch just went to India too...I've been DYING over her photo album.

AND this is the book, I bought at Bloomies. I've been loving it.



Husband loved India too. He's such a good market shopper~ I pick it out & he barters.


And the mango lassies are to die for. I'm going back tonight to get one {and maybe pick up a few more finds}


Stay tuned to see more of my global village finds in my HOME TOUR on my DESIGN BLOG... in a few days!

7 months

dear olivia, i don't want you to grow up.



i love this age...so giggly, so cuddly, so animated.



you love... stacking cups, your feet, bathtime, putting your binky in your mouth, touching daddy's face, baby signing time, teething biscuits, peek-a-boo, screaming, playing with mommy's hair, sitting up, kisses on your belly.



i ask myself everyday why i'm so lucky.



i love you ~ mom.

i heart bloomies

Monday was a BIG day here in Dubai. Bloomingdales opened! And along with Bloomies, came a little New York shop a few of you may have heard of called ...

MAGNOLIA bakery

My life here has been revolutionized. I live 2 minutes down the road from the Dubai Mall, home to these lovely places along with 1100 more stores. Yes, it is insanely huge and insanely high-end.

So my Dubai bestie Tiffani & I (and Livi of course) headed down the road to welcome Bloomies to town. But we weren't the only ones. Lots of New Yorkers, lots of ex-pats, and lots of arabs were loving it. And if you know anything about Emirates (pronounced em-er-ah-tee...the locals here) you know that they love their designer shoes and designer bags. So it's pretty much bag mecca, there is an entire Gucci atrium. I was especially loving all the robed arabs in line to buy their tory burches, diane von furstenburgs, and jimmy choos~ it was quite a site.

So I had a very indulgent Monday. I started with a delicious MAGNOLIA cupcake and then spent the next 5 hours perusing the fabulous (American!) products that are now at my fingertips. I left with 1 pair of sandals, 1 design book, 2 voluspa candles, and a box of tracy stern herbal tea. there goes my february budget. now i just have to try not to get a cupcake everytime I go to the grocery store.

welcome bloomies. i've missed you.

i bought a primary bag (i'm the music leader:)


Tracy Stern herself was here for the opening- she helped me pick out a special tea for a party i'm having next week.






CLAUS soaps~ so beautiful.


serena & lily


and my favorite part of all...the fashion & design books

2009

Since it's the last day of January, I guess it's the last day that I can officially reflect on 2009 or the New Year~ and I've been meaning to all month... so here goes.

2009 was the best year of my life so far. It wasn't an easy year. The first 6 months consisted of me~ pregnant again, paranoid, with lots of doctors appointments, and literally dying to NOT be pregnant and have my baby in my arms already. I was designing A TON, which I loved but I couldn't help but want the time to pass.

And then she finally came on July 6th...my sweet baby girl, Olivia Jane. My life was forever changed. The next 6 months were wonderful but CRAZY. We lived in 3 different countries over the course of 4 months. Our little Livi became the champion traveler babe.

So with that said, 2009 wasn't a year of a lot of goals. In fact, I don't think I even made any goals. I just wanted to survive and finally have my baby. And that I did. I am so grateful for Olivia. I cannot cuddle her or kiss her enough every day. She is the joy of my life.

{I never posted these of Olivia at 1 week....taken by nicole carman}

my how she's grown.


















2010 is already a great year. I have my happy, healthy baby girl and although I live all the way across the world from the place we call home...I am happier than ever. I do have a few goals this year, some of which I'll share. (I always enjoy hearing other people's goals)

1 become a better budgeter

2 lose my mummy tummy

3 study the scriptures more diligently and take time to ponder

4 learn how to REALLY use my camera

5 get into some good poetry (I'm not a bookreader, so I'm starting small with poems:)

6 cook more often & more deliciously

7 focus on improving something different each week (this week it's BAKING/EATING FEWER COOKIES!)

8 finally launch my website & post more on my design blog

9 be flexible...cause i'm in for another crazy year of travels and a move to another country most likely by the end of the year (for brig's international rotation)

10. and of course...soak in my little lovie every minute of every day...cause she's growing up so fast.


well, that's it for '09. hello 2010.

Christmas catch-up

It seems like Christmas was so long ago...but I had to just post a few for our journaling purposes before I move on to the New Year and such. We had such a wonderful Christmas & New Years with our families in California. We miss them already!

Christmas morning


Livi the sheperd


opening/eating presents with Daddy


Christmas Sunday with her cousin Hazel





Papa's Birthday / New Year's Eve party (Brig and his dad's tradition~ clarinet/piano duet)


My family came too




My smiley girl


with Aunt Courtney in SLC


opening presents with Mimi (before Christmas)


We got to see the Scotts in SLC too!

hello seattle.

just before Christmas we took our first trip to seattle {for brig's cousin joey's wedding & to see our favorite Millers}. it was a whirlwind trip {only 2 1/2 days} but we managed to have quit a bit of fun. brig's parents & brother came too...we all had an amazing time. enjoy!

and here's the wedding photographer's website- livi managed to make it on her blog.

love your neighbor...

tiffani is the best neighbor. she makes homemade donuts at 11 pm. yes, homemade...and they were delicious. especially because olivia had just woken up and wanted to chat and play and i wanted to die from jet lag exhaustion. so we headed upstairs for some warm donuts and late night convo. i'm eating them again for breakfast...and i obviously haven't started my new years resolutions. i'm just grateful for a good friend to eat donuts with in dubai. life is good. thanks neighb.