The Launch

Well, this is it - the day we've all been waiting for. Or more accurately, the day I've been waiting for! After tons of working, planning, designing and learning, my business is finally online. Sugarhouse Ink is ready for your viewing pleasure!
I do birth announcements, graduation announcements, wedding invitations, holiday cards, and just about everything else you can think of in the invitation/announcement category. Feel free to spread the word, make a link in your sidebar, blog about it, add the url to your email signature, etc. ;)

No, but really, I'd be honored if you'd check it out at www.sugarhouseink.com and don't be afraid to pass it on to anyone else who might find it useful.
Oh! And before I forget: as a celebration of opening our doors online we have a huge election-inspired promotion: 50 Deals for 50 States. Be the first to order from your state and save 50%! Believe me, you probably won't see a discount like that again.
-Boston-

Sweet Illusions

Remember the delish mint brownies at BYU creameries and sugar n spice in the Cougar Eat? In the last alumni email they had a link to the recipe! Sweet! Now I don't have to go all the way to Provo for my fix. Here it is:

MAKES ONE 9-BY-13 PAN OF BROWNIES.
PREP AND COOK: 90 min. COOL: 1 hr.

1 c. margarine
1/2 c. cocoa
2 Tbsp. honey
4 eggs
2 c. sugar
1 3/4 c. flour
1/2 Tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. chopped walnuts
12 oz. chocolate icing (Use your own icing recipe or purchase some chocolate frosting. You can also search the Internet for chocolate icing recipes.)

MINT ICING

5 Tbsp. margarine
dash of salt
3 Tbsp. milk
1 Tbsp. light corn syrup
2 1/3 c. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. mint extract
1-2 drops green food coloring

1. Melt margarine and mix in cocoa. Allow to cool. Add honey, eggs, sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix well. Add nuts. Pour batter into a greased 9-by-13 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Cool.

2. Prepare mint icing: Soften margarine. Add salt, corn syrup, and powdered sugar. Beat until smooth and fluffy. Add mint extract and food coloring. Mix. Add milk gradually until the consistency is a little thinner than cake frosting.

3. Spread mint icing over brownies. Place brownies in the freezer for a short time to stiffen the icing. Remove from the freezer and carefully add a layer of chocolate icing.

-Ryan Adams-

The Bank and Trust

I saw this somewhere else and thought it interesting/relevant... If only we had the leadership today of the days when our country was still in it's infancy. One such visionary (TJ, to be exact) said:

“If the American people ever let a private bank and the corporations that grow up around them control our money supply, first by inflation and then by deflation, they will deprive it’s citizens of their property until one day their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers’ conquered.”

Perhaps the "perilous times" we've heard so much about are finally here.

-The Elected-

You Don't Know Me

g-chat message from Anna this morning: "You will love this" and a link to this amazingness:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95081189

Ben and Regina together?! How could I not love it? Thanks Anna. :)

-Ben Folds-

Just a Dream

Ever had a dream related to blogging? I think last night was my first. A group of girls from BYU (didn't recognize any faces) and I decided to organize a pr/advertising conference around the influence of blogging in those arenas... so naturally we had as our host none other than Design Mom. We all flew to New York and had a big sleepover at her very cool house (though it was quite different from the photos I've seen on her blog). The last thing I remember was standing in the dark and the rain in Central Park trying to get Spencer's camera to work so I could take a photo of us all. Strange sometimes, these dreams of mine.

-Gabe Dixon Band-

Cinder and Smoke

Today I realized, once again, just how much I hate ironing. Really, I do. I got out the iron for the first time since I've been married for the sole purpose of looking decent at my interview with these people. But really, it just spit dirty water everywhere and made me regret not using my favorite anti-wrinkle solution: the dryer. Plus, I really only have one "interview outfit" and I used it once with them already. Whenever the chance to go for round two comes up, it kind of puts me in a panic, but only because of the lack of suitable business wear to be found in my closet.

That's all. Oh, and I have an interview with them on Monday. Does that make me a total traitor?

-Iron & Wine-

Better Way

I don't know if you've downloaded the new iTunes or used the new Genius feature, but I think it's fantastic.-Ben Harper-

Part of Your History #1

I've wanted to do this for a long time. I think it's interesting every once in a while, to take a look back and see where you've been and who you've been. So every once in a while (meaning I have no idea how often) I'll do a "part of your history" feature where I indulgently take a look back, with kind of an "on this day in history" approach.

Four years ago today, I arrived back in the states after my eighteen month mission in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. My last day in the field was the 21st, transfers were on the 22nd, we boarded the plane on the 23rd, and arrived at home on the 24th. It was much too drawn out for me and just plain hard. An excerpt from my journal explains my feelings pretty accurately:

We had a thirteen hour flight through the middle of the night, and I think I probably slept for about 20 minutes. Finally we landed in Dulles and as I stepped onto the people mover, I felt that wet, familiar Virginia air. We reached customs and someone came over the loudspeaker and said, "Citizens of the United States of America, welcome home." Immediately I felt the tears pooling in my eyes - such a confusing emotion. Although I knew I was home and that I was American, I felt like a foreigner stepping onto familiar, but changed soil. Perhaps those changes were only within myself, but they were significant enough to make me feel as a stranger in a new world.

Thankfully much has changed and I feel pretty comfortable in my country again.

Smile Like You Mean It

Since we are still newish in our ward and neighborhood, we are still constantly meeting new people and introducing ourselves. Naturally, one of the first questions people ask is, "so, are you working, or in school?" (ie you have no children, what are you doing with your life?) I have come to really hate this question and tried to come up with interesting ways of saying "I'm unemployed" without actually saying it. I've used, "well I've worked in marketing for a few years and I'm looking for a new gig" and "I'm kind of in between jobs right now" but it always leaves me feeling like kind of a loser.

Yesterday I sat next to someone in RS that I'd never sat by before. Of course, the conversation came to the question and I looked at her and just said, "I'm a freelance designer." I don't know how much I actually qualify (I have a website, right?) but that didn't really matter. It felt good to say it.

-The Killers-

Invisible Ink

For various reasons, I got way behind on blogging this summer. I've been wanting to update, and finally got around to it. I back-dated the posts to keep them organized for my own sanity... they won't show up at the top of the blog, but if you're interested just check the archives from July on up to September.

-Aimee Mann-

Spirals

Spencer worked really hard all week so he could just work from home on part of Friday and then relax for the rest of the day. He spontaneously suggested that we go to the spiral jetty (something I've wanted to do for a long time) so we hopped in the car and drove up. 90 miles of highway + 15 miles of dirt road + .5 miles of walking = the spiral jetty. It's very remote which made me happy. I kind of hate when cool things like that are destroyed by easy accessibility and football field sized parking lots.
-Adem-

I Will Follow

Blogger's Follower feature is finally out of beta. Join the club on my sidebar. -->

In other news: I'm interviewing for new jobs here and here, the Sugarhouse Ink website is coming along (don't worry, I'll definitely post when it's up and running!), and my arms are missing the sweet little bundle they held every day for the past week.-U2-

Late Morning Lullabye

Yesterday was little miss Olivia's blessing at church. She looked so pretty in her long white blessing dress (although it seemed to be quite itchy). Lots of family came to the blessing and the open house afterward at my parents' house. It was a pretty big event for such a little girl! Spencer and I took turns holding her most of the evening (what can I say? we have the magic touch) which was pure delight. Here are a few photos from the big day.

(Olivia and her great-grandma Miriam)

(the Payne family)

(Olivia loves her uncle Spencer)

(right after they took off the itchy dress and she was down to her tights)

(Mollie setting out the spread for the big event)

-Brandi Carlile-

Beautiful Stranger

The New York Times picked up the story about Nie Nie and her family. Check it out here. I guess this whole experience has gone to contradict some of my feelings about technology driving people into less intimate and involved relationships. It's been marvelous to see the blogging community come together and rally around this family.

-Madonna-

Never Leave Lonely Alone

Spencer and I have been talking for a while about possibilities for a big adventure next summer. Some of the options we're considering:

-A guided rafting/camping trip through Cataract Canyon
-Visiting Spencer's cousin in Alaska (who happens to be a pilot) and possibly backpack around the Denali
-Take a month off from life and do an overland Europe to Asia trip possibly hitting -among other countries- Italy, Greece, Turkey, India and China
-Bike the Oregon Coast (take two...)

It would be great to be able to do them all, but we are saving our pennies in hopes of doing one. What's your vote?

Image via
-Ben Harper-

One Fine Wire

On Labor day Spencer and I went to Broadway Cinema downtown to see Man on Wire. It's a fantastic documentary about a man who rigged a wire between the two world trade center towers and walked it. How did I never hear about this happening? Anyway, I really think you should find out where it's playing and go see it.


-Colbie Callait-

Nie Nie Auction

I'm participating in an auction to raise money for the Nie Nie Recovery Fund. Read more about it and bid on the auction at sugarhouseink.blogspot.com.

Stay Out of Trouble

Right after we returned from California we headed to the mountains. Spencer took me up Millcreek Canyon and we blazed a trail straight up the side of the mountain. That was fun for about the first hour... and then the burrs and the bees and blisters and the bushes up to my shoulders became a little less enchanting. But by that time we had almost reached the Desolation Trail where we were hovering at the crest of Millcreek and Big Cottonwood Canyons and had steller views of both. It was worth it. It was trails the rest of the way, including a stop at Dog Lake.-Kings of Convenience-

If You're Gonna Leave

Two weeks before Mollie and Sam's trek across the US to move to Maryland, I went out for one last San Diego visit. Among other things, we sang Come, Come Ye Saints (the boys current favorite song) over and over, played in the sprinklers, went to the beach, read lots of books, finished the design of Olivia's birth announcement, and took a trip to the San Diego Model Train museum in Balboa park.

(sweet new baby feet)

(waiting for the model train to come)

(sprinkler time!)

-Emerson Hart-

Help!

Many of you may know that I've been thinking about starting my own little business. Well I'm just about ready to launch it in two parts: SE|design (this site is a work in progress) for stuff a business might need like brochures, catalogs, packaging and such, and Sugarhouse Ink for more personal needs like announcements, invitations, photo cards, etc. I'm very excited about it and think it could really go somewhere. But I need your help.

Right now all of my birth announcement samples have one of 3 baby photos in them, wedding announcements only have photos of me and Spencer, holiday cards only have photos I have taken of my sister's family.... you get the idea. Basically I need some good images of new babies, couples, families, and graduates so all of my samples don't look the same. If you could help a sista out, please send your photos to: sugarhouse.ink{at}gmail.com Thanks a bunch! I'll let you know when I launch!

-The Beatles-

We'll Meet Along the Way

My dad has been wanting to go on a hike all summer, so we finally set aside a Saturday to go up to Sundance and hike Stewart Falls. On the way up he told us about when he was skiing at Sundance as a college kid and took out some poor Australian girl on the slopes. He ended up getting her number after the crash and took her out to dinner or something. It's wild to think of your parents being young and unmarried and trying to date someone other than your other parent. Anyway, we had a good time in the mountains and I think my dad had his fill - he was very done with nature by the time we finished the hike.
-Hem-

These Lights Are Meaningful

Last night we got home from running a few errands and the sky was beautiful. The light was so dramatic and the clouds were just too much, so Spencer got out of the car, grabbed his camera, and ran over to a nearby street to capture these beauties.
-Adem-

Walking Out of Stride

Last night the natives were restless (ie we both needed to get out for a while) and it was a beautiful evening, so we decided to hike the Living Room. It's nice to have fun hikes so close that you can be from your doorstep to the trailhead in about ten minutes. Last time we hiked here was in May of last year... one of our first dates.
-Badly Drawn Boy-

Baby Sister

Our family has a new little bundle of love! Olivia Grace Payne (of House of Payne, San Diego Edition) made her grand entrance yesterday at six am.She's bringing the niece+nephew count up to seventeen for Spencer and me! Welcome, baby girl -- we love you already!

-Damien Rice-

Fog

On certain days, for no particular reason, I really miss Belgium.-Radiohead-

Woke Up New

Yesterday Spencer and I went camping at Ledgefork in the lower Unitas. Thankfully I lost my job on the 11th, so I didn't have to worry about getting work off early in order to enjoy the trip! We left early in the afternoon, set up camp, went on a hike and enjoyed the beautiful, quiet (except for the nearby scout camp), natural setting. I love short camping trips - enough time to enjoy and appreciate the outdoors, eat some good, greasy, fire-cooked food, and become extra grateful for the comfort of my bed upon returning home. :)
-The Mountain Goats-

Call and Answer

One full day on the job hunt and two interviews. Not too shabby. Now just finding the job... not just a job --- therein lies the challenge. Whatever it is, the potential for it being worse than what I had is quite slim.

-Barenaked Ladies-

Lesson Learned

Blogging at 6:00 on a Saturday morning is never a good sign.

Yesterday I became unemployed and I've had a lot to think about for upcoming changes. I thought I'd make a little list of things I've learned.

1. Just because you feel like you should stay in a certain place doesn't mean you need to stay at a certain job.

2. Whenever you are hired into a company where you have more education/training/experience than any of the other employees, it will never be appreciated. You'll only be seen as a commodity that costs more.

3. When you hit your one year mark, demand your review. Don't let your boss sit on it until he lays you off and never has to give you the supposed "retroactive pay increase."

4. Riding your bike to work 17 times can save you one tank of gas. Not working at all can do the same thing, with less effort!

5. If you can, work for a company that offers vacation payout. Or at least severance. Or dignity or compassion or something.

6. Never take leave-without-pay when you have the vacation time to do otherwise. Even if you're going on your honeymoon and saving your vacation days for your Bike Oregon trip, or the holidays or whatever. Especially if your company doesn't offer vacation payout.

7. A new job means renewed hope in the day-before-a-holiday email.

8. Typically the more stable the company, the more thorough the benefits are. If you are hired and promised a 401K with matching within 3 months and 19 months later it still hasn't happened, get out. Get out now.

9. Don't work for a company that offers less than 6 holidays a year. If they are stingy on holidays they'll be stingy on everything else and you'll always get a questioning look when you request time off that you have earned.

10. Even if there are a bunch of things you'd like to say on your way out the door, do your best to keep your mouth shut. It's best not to spill gasoline on a bridge you just stepped off of and then throw a match over your shoulder. You never know when you might need to use it again to get to the other side. (The bridge or the match ;))

11. Demand a letter of recommendation as soon as you remember to. It's much better than having the promise of a "great reference." After all, you never know what someone will say about you on the phone. Get your praises and laud in writing. It's just safer that way.

12. Do your best to forgive and let go. Then move on. Holding on to bad experiences from the past will only make you bitter and ugly. Be bitter for a day or two, cry it out, blog if necessary and then let go...

13. Sometimes things have a very specific purpose that is completely unrelated to the thing itself. I'm pretty sure the purpose of my job for the last 19 months was to stay in Utah so I could meet and marry Spencer. A few days after I solidified my employment in Utah, I met Spencer. Two months after we got married, I'm sans employment... Coincidence? I think not.

14. One way to get the 24th of July off is to lose your job. You'll also get the surrounding days off as well. Woohoo!

15. If you're working for a small company when you get laid off, you can honestly say that there was a 20% downsize --- and you won't be lying! And it sounds a lot better too.

16. If you ever lose your job and are getting lots of genuine (and appreciated - thanks everyone) "oh I'm so sorry" comments from everyone and want to hear something different, call my sister Mollie. Upon hearing my news she immediately said, "Aren't you excited!? There's something great around the corner! I can't wait to see what it is." {thanks, molls}

17. Sometimes the best way to figure out what will fit, is to figure out what doesn't.

18. Being unemployed will give you a chance to paint your new home, get the last few boxes unpacked, wedding photos printed, thank you notes written, and art on the walls. I thought I'd never have the time.

19. If you're still reading and have any contacts in the Salt Lake City area that could help a non-manager marketing professional with 2-3 years of experience in need of work, please let me know. Thanks.

-Ray LaMontagne-

Beautiful Zion

Thankfully the Fourth of July was on a Friday this year, which meant that we could make it a lovely long weekend. Spencer and I decided to take advantage of the family condo in St. George and camp out there for the weekend. Our time included an incredible and terrifying hike up Angel's Landing, a jaunt up the Virgin River, hiking up a tall red butte to watch fireworks from the top, and an indulgent day of staying inside with AC and all the cable we could watch.

Begin to Hope

It happens with every day-before-a-holiday. I come to work, like everyone else, with a glimmer of hope that somewhere along the course of the day, an email will land in my inbox that announces, "Our offices will be closing at 3 pm today." As the day goes on, and the email doesn't come, the hope diminishes but doesn't quite vanish until we hit about 4:30 and I know I'm a hopeless case.

I don't know why I even start to hope anymore. Maybe because that email has arrived in every other company inbox I've ever had. Even the one I had in hardcore, ruthless New York City.

-Regina Spektor-