[yes I packed washi tape and used it to jazz up my badge]

My oh my what a whirlwind tour. I would have loved to post a recap of my wonderful trip to Alt Design Summit earlier, but after the conference I headed down to St. George, UT to visit my childhood bestie Kaitlyn and her family. Tonight I’m popping online to say, “I’m home!” despite some serious travel delays and I’m worn out. There were long travel days on both ends of this trip, and I’m sad to say that my family suffered a profound loss while I was away (more on that later). I need some time to recoup before I share the rest of the details.

I will say this: Alt was wonderful. There are so many adjectives being used by attendees, but the thing that floored me was the beauty that was all around. And I don’t just mean physical beauty, although there was that too (500 bloggers in a room is some serious business!), but also emotional beauty, creative beauty, and most of all Beautiful Energy. The energy of these men and women was INCREDIBLE. I didn’t stop moving for a second, and I certainly was never bored.

Also I met some amazing people, and made many new friends. I also played famous for a few moments each day by getting some QT with my some of my design idols.

Until I can get more put together, I’ll share with you these links if you’re itching for a recap of the action:

If you’re really interested, here is the Alt Summit 2012 flickr stream. Beware there are over 2500 pictures (and only like 4 of me, 2 of which are totally unflattering)

Jasmine Star’s reflection. She was the star of the show, IMO

BlogStar’s 38 things I learned at alt summit (I am so excited to use our pinterest pencils!)

Alt Summit (hair) buns (The hair inserted by me for clarity).  I will be learning how to top knot ASAP.

Amy’s 8 steps to getting over post alt summit depression.

I’ll be back over the next few days with much much more to share, I promise. There was a lot of learnin’, meetin’, and partyin’ goin’ on!

[nighttime view of the courtyard at the Grand America]

… a lot happened! Isn’t it amazing that while time flies so quickly when you look back you managed to pack a ton of stuff in! Here’s my recap of life in 2011 (Be prepared for a ton of photos!)

While January was a relaxed month (with a quick trip to Virginia), February hit the ground running! First, for Valentines Day I crafted up some security envelope valentines…

…and at the end of the month went to Utah to visit my childhood bestie Kaitlyn, her husband Jeremy and awesome daughter, Journey.

In March, we officially started participating in Rebekah’s Ten on Ten photo series. We also went to a Seattle blogger meet up and met some fabulous ladies. Its been a wonderful year to establish a community of online friends

We also started planning our veggie garden for the summer (and I got all crazy with the plans).

In April, it was back to Virginia! Erik and I did a little nature walking and also visited the Chrysler Museum (free!) in downtown Norfolk.

In May, D and I went with my parents to Eastern WA and we stumbled upon a vintage trailer show. I wanted to take them all home!

June was Washington DC with Jackie for our friend Sarah’s wedding. A great weekend of bachelorette partying and exploring the city, then it was back down to Norfolk with Erik for a couple of days.

In July, I went to Silver Falls, OR for a family reunion and we hiked the trail of ten falls.

Then, Erik was able to snag some leave and come home for his birthday week. I took him to dinner at Ray’s cafe (our fave for Seattle summers – they bring you fleece blankies to curl up with on their deck), and we threw a family BBQ. Also, I grew a giant delicious cabbage #veggienerd.

For my birthday in August, I was surprised by a quick visit from Erik, and then went camping with my parents for a relaxing weekend.

In September there was a big yard project: We had two trees chopped down and re-planted a perennial bed in their place. At the end of the month I spent 2 weeks in Virginia, but we didn’t do much because the weather was really crummy the whole time.

October meant a trip to San Francisco with Tulane alumns for a great raucous wedding. Then later in the month our Seattle friends Andrea and Mario got married. They had a co-bach party that was 80s roller skating themed. My jacket rocked.

November: Veterans day weekend trip to Virginia (starting to see why I’m sick of airports?) and a Champagne picnic in the snow.

In December we hustled for our annual neighborhood craft show, went to see some sparkly lights, and rang in the yuletide cheer with a glass of bubbly.

I earned elite on Continental this year. I flew 30,382 miles which doesn’t include a few flights I took using freq flyer or on other airlines (like my trip to Utah). Boy are my arms tired

Looking back on all these photos left me humbled at what a full and blessed life we lead. I have so much to be thankful for – great friends, amazing family, fantastic boyfriend. The ability to travel, and this blog as an outlet to share little projects. Its really amazing when you think about it, and truly awesome.

Here’s to another wonderful year!!!

Ok, ok, enough of the serious stuff

Just a few minutes ago I got the following in my inbox:

Do you see that? 14 todays until Alt Design Summit. Thats 2 weeks, eep. I still have a lot of prep to do. In my head I’ve been saying “oh, that’s next year”. But hey! Its next year! And the exciting things are just starting to roll our way.

I’ve been wanting to go to alt for a couple years now and I’m so psyched to be spending a few days in Salt Lake City with 500 other designers and bloggers. Its going to be so inspiring and there are a ton of people I’m stoked to meet. I’m signed up for a SLC thrifting tour as well as a textile design workshop. Get ready for a bunch of new inspiration when I get back!

If you’re a reader and going to alt, leave a note – I’d love to meet you when I’m there!!

pre-Thanksgiving…. i went on a “fall” retreat with my small group girls.  I say “fall” … because well…. there was very little “fall” in sight.  Instead, I got to drive up the mountain with snow falling.  Seven miles from the lodge,  we had to put chains on the vans, so I have now officially driven with chains!  The whole landscape, that dark snowy night… was just breathtaking.   The tall trees had so much fluff on them, untouched.

We pulled in, and I began to blast Christmas music… Winter Wonderland, to be exact.

On Saturday,  I snowshoed for the first time ever, and it was oh so fun!  We pounded through untouched snow, all around the lodge.  It was so quiet!  And powdery!  And such a great workout, especially when we wandered quite far downhill and back up!  I wish I had pictures of this part, but the reality is, I spent a solid three hours outside… and several times, espcially while sledding… the snow won!  I was covered, and too busy throwing snowballs to take pictures!

This all occurred two weeks before Thanksgiving..and all the sudden it kind of felt like Christmas.  Only, like I arrived at Christmas with nothing required.  I show up with merely some snow gear and drive the van full of kids.  The youth staff takes care of providing talks and small group curriculum and worship.  The lodge has snowshoes to try, and sleds to ride, and games and puzzles to play, and food to eat.

And my girls….. they show up with laughter and some tears and homework and smiles.  And … wait for it…. they show up with Christmas decorations for our room.  Yes, they do indeed rock, in case you wondered.  Streamers, glittery garlands, lights… and a big red bow for our front door.  Seriously, they are perfect.  And God, well he shows up too, in big and powerful ways, to touch me, through these kids.  I always am amazed.  I hope that moment of amazement never departs from me.

Some days I  have to really fight for Christmas to be like that too.  Because the reality is… all I have to do is show up, not worried so much about the details, the lists, it all.  All I have to do is show up and enjoy it.  Enjoy each minute of this season, each homemade gift, each strand of lights, each excuse to see a friend, each song to jingle to, each pair of fun socks, each advent worship song.

enjoy it, even when it seems too full.  You can sleep in January, after all.

Fa la la!

I woke up this morning so excited to upload my set from yesterday. Yesterday I had a perfect opportunity to showcase images from a day of travel from the west coast to the east coast and I got some great shots showing that story. Colorful airport images, serene out-the-airplane window shots. But for some reason only 4 of the 15 or so photos I took saved to my memory card – its so sad! Gone were all the mountain and cloud vistas from 30,000 ft. It did however save this shot above of our fall dining room tablescape, which perfectly captured the glowing happy mood of the day, so theres that.

So, a quick snap shot of left coast to right coast – my bags ready to go, the tram at SeaTac, and Erik picking me up in the Norfolk Parking garage.

I’ll let you know if the photos come back from oblivion, or maybe I’ll share a travel set coming back the other way next week. . .