my plan for the future.

I put a link to this in a post a while back, but I think it's awesome enough to make a bigger deal of it, so I just embedded it. Heck yes I did. I embedded it, I'm all blogger awesome like that.

I don't remember how, but I came across this video and I'm a bit obsessed with it. I think this guy has found the American Dream. A small business doing just what you want, and it's fun!

For years now I've had the dream of when Erik retires from his current job in 12 years or so, that we'll own a family business. When I saw this, it clicked...

we're going to bottle our own soda, and it's going to be awesome.

It's going to be so rad. I want to make organic fruit soda. The only way I know how to describe it is like this. You know how real lemonade looks like actual lemons made it? And how Country Time Lemonade looks like a robot made it? I want a fruit soda where you can see that there is actual fruit in there. Not like chunks, but real fruit, just like real lemonade. Do you see what I mean? When this guy shows the "Hot Lips" soda, I think that's pretty close to what I'd want to do, except awesomer. This is my long term business goal, I mentioned a short term business goal that I'll discuss in a separate post someday.

Check out the video and then read about the rest of the dream.

Okay, so here's the dream fleshed out.

As of now, I think I'd like our family to settle in the Pacific Northwest. I've always had a romantic notion of the area, plus I'm kind of stalking my friend Jill who lives there. I want to settle somewhere where we can have a small family farm, some chickens and maybe a cow and pig or two. I want to live where things grow. Jill lives in a lovely part of Washington, and it's kind of become the location of my daydreamy plans for the future. A rural part of Washington, where I can have a bit of land, and make things grow. Sounds like heaven.

So, when we build the bottling plant and as our soda company takes off, we're going to need some help. Don't worry, I have that all figured out:

The O'Neils - Jeremy, you'll be the completely overqualified CFO. You can take care of all things financial/legal/private jets. Hey, someday we may need a company jet, you never know.

The Crandells - Jonathan, you'll be the Facilities Manager. Our bottling plant will be your baby and I know you'll take amazing care of her.

The Olsens - Zach, you'll be in charge of the sales team and everything computery. Marketing, company website...you'll put us on the map! Nick, you'll be our shipping and logistics genius. We'll have tons of orders, and you'll get them to the right place. Errol, you'll be our insurance guy, you'll keep us protected. And we're so lucky to have Brent, our ace in the hole. Brent will bring with him his decades of experience in food science and production.

The Hornbys - What's up Mark! I don't even know you, but you'll be our produce source guy. You'll make sure that we're getting the best fruit the pacific northwest has to offer, and ideally...we could just buy the fruit from your farm!

How does that sound? If you're in, then just wait 15 years or so and you're hired!

I've had this whole scheme floating around in my head for a few months, and it's gotten a little out of hand. I now imagine all of us living on a big piece of land, with our homes all nearby, and maybe a common gathering place and a common farm that we all work on. Then, I realized that it kind of sounded like the movie "The Village." Not good. Is the word "commune" ever not creepy? I like the idea of a group of people with common ideals all combining their efforts for a common good, but throughout history I can't really think of too many time when that didn't spell out creepy/swinger/Village-y/babies crawling in the dirt naked National Geographic style/disaster. Do you know what I mean?

Can I just say that I want us to establish a non-creepy commune?

Deal.

like I need another project idea.

What we're up to around here.

Lots of cute, rolling, crawling (about 2 steps forward so far...), chewing, smiling, and the like.

These two love playing together.
Reid is just too sweet. I don't know how to describe it, but he has this magical magnetic quality. Even when he's napping. Look at how sweet!
Close-up on the angel face.
And an idea of something fun to do:

So there's this blog, Wee Wonderfuls, that I love. Super love.

She has patterns to make little dolls that I think are so precious. Do little girls still play with dolls? I hope so. All the girls I know are into Hannah Montana and Wii. Yikes.

Here are the dolls Kit, Chloe, and Louise.

And she also sells notecards of the girls doing cute things.

Seeing these doll patterns and this story from her blog (please click on that link, it's painfully cute) gave me a ridiculous idea. My sister Annie and I don't get to hang out very often, and I always think of fun things for us to do that we never get a chance to do. One day I thought it would be funny to make an Emily doll and an Annie doll and take pictures of the two dolls playing together.

Absolutely ridiculous, right? But in an awesome way, yes? I think so, too.

If I ever actually make the dolls and set up a blog for their adventures, I'll let you know.

you'll thank me.

Oh, this is going to make your day. I promise. Whenever I see something like this, something wacky that happens out of the blue, I think "where was I? why does this stuff never happen when I'm around?"

keep a lookout for extra funny moments:

a girl running in fear (0:26)

an old dude in a suit and a sweat band (0:53)

a juicy girl shakin' her thang (1:00)

And then, have you heard of Zee Avi? She's great. You're going to love this video. She has the warmest, most casual lullaby voice. It's perfect. I love singers that sing so effortlessly. Like they could be sitting on the couch next to you singing so gracefully like that. I think that's why I like singer-songwriters so much. It's the effortlessness. As opposed to the American Idol type singers that try to sing their heads off. And yours.

But back to the point, Zee Avi is great. Matt, if you read this, I think you'll like her.

If you're like, "dang, there are a lot of posts lately..."

There's a reason for that. When I'm feeling trapped in the house with lots of cranky kids (see previous post) my escape is the computer. I've become quite efficient in finding something fun to watch, or a cute outfit to pretend to buy, or a new (to me) blog to read. And reading blogs is fast, too. It's like speed dating. I can look at a blog and know in the first 5 seconds if it's a blog I'll read again. And if it's a match with my interests and stuff, then I bookmark it. I'm a big bookmarker.

So, there are some tips for all you out there that feel my pain and have those moments in the day when you need an instant pick-me-up. Something beautiful to look at in between poopy diaper changes. Or a funny video to watch in the 90 seconds when miraculously all three children are content.

Or you could just come here. I'll try to keep the instant gratification coming.

The Emily craziness as promised.

Okay, so I say Emily craziness but I mostly mean Emily nonsense. The silly stuff that floats around my head. Now you get to read some of it, hot dang!

You know, I think everyone out there thinks that they are a little nuts. Right? But I think that most of us are nuts in a pretty normal way. I think I'm a normal amount of crazy. The good kind of crazy.

Although, do you know who is weird in a perfectly honest way?

Regina Spektor.

Seriously, could someone be any cooler? She seems weird in a very genuine way, as opposed to like, say...the weird dude from the Black Eyed Peas that has the long crazy hair and he's just weird all the time. Do you know who I mean? He seems to put a lot of effort into being weird. And it's just dumb. Regina seems weird in a lovely, natural way and I can't get enough of it. Check out this song, and if you don't love it then I think that we shouldn't be friends anymore.

Harsh, I know, but you just don't "get" me if you don't see the awesomeness and attractiveness of Regina's weirdness.

And because one good video deserves another, here's a Regina classic. Oh, and by the way, I'm on this Regina kick because she has a new album this week and you need to buy it. It will make you happy. I promise.

Check out these rad boots! I love them. I've never seen anything like this and I just love them.

Then, as if the cool boots weren't cool enough, read about the company and you'll be sold. Let's all get some wacky ACE bandage boots and help some kids get a new pair of kicks, too. Huh? How 'bout it?

I saw this the other day and thought it was crazy. We were talking with the Heaths the other night about how people just don't build "starter homes" anymore. They're all McMansion ginormonsters. I love our mid-century house with it's mid-century flow and mid-century style. Just not the mid-century plumbing. Okay, one point for the McMansions.
This was in my saved pictures and I just liked it. When you come to visit we'll take wacky pictures like this. That'll be fun.
Have you seen this photo series? So interesting.

Snow White, I know the feeling. I have had those days.

True business.

(via Swiss Miss)
I love this a hundred million. I like people who think of something to do in their home, maybe a little bold or off the beaten path, and just go for it. And I like the bike in the hallway.

I don't remember where I found this picture, I'm sure some design site, most likely designsponge, but I better start being better at showing where I get pictures from. I guess sometimes people get pretty cranky about that. I get it, but I don't really get it.

I guess I kind of get it.
Come on, did you think we could go a whole Emily crazy post and not talk about hair? Get real.

In August Erik's sister Dana is getting married (Yeah!) and we're going to Denver for about 10 days. I'm totally looking forward to the wedding and the week afterwards playing with Erik's awesome family.

And shopping for a dress for the wedding.

And getting my hair done by the awesome Natalie.

She's like the Bobby Fisher of hair. I think I know what that means. I mean to say that she has a gift and it is hair. She's amazing. Do you live in Denver? Or within a 500 mile radius? Why aren't you going to Natalie, then? You should. And you could play with her cute baby while you're there.

So, when I get the chance to have Natalie do my hair, I'm going to go big. I'm going to lighten my hair. To me, in my hair weirdness, this is a big deal. I'm thinking something like this shade.
Or this-ish.
Oh, and I'm loving braids lately. I used to braid my hair all the time in funky ways like this, and I think it's long enough to give it a go again.

This is a fun picture I found that just makes me smile. I actually like graffiti most of the time, and this I really like. It's kind of sweet, right? Besides the fact that it looks like it's on someone's fence.

The defacement of private property isn't the part I think is sweet. To clarify.
And lastly, my feelings about macarons. This is important.

They seem to be everywhere lately, you know? Like it's the hip sweet thing to eat. You know how cupcakes kind of blew up a few years ago and seem to be holding on strong? I think that macarons are going to continue to be a trendy thing to eat. Weird how even desserts are hip or not hip, huh?

A few weeks ago we were in LA so that I could go to the temple and afterwards we stopped by Paulette's. I was excited to give them a try, mostly because they are so beautiful. Take a moment to look at the world's prettiest cookie before I give my review.
This kind was Violet Cassis.
Sweet Wedding Almond
Rose
Okay, and now for the review. First of all, the ones with names that are flowers...they mean it. The rose and violet ones taste like you're eating perfume. Kind of gross. The wedding almond one was, however, perfectly wonderful.

The bottom line, though, is that it's a lot prettier of a cookie than it is a yummy cookie. I would rather have a sugar cookie any day. Please make this recipe. Today. You will love it, I promise. I guess if I'm going to have a treat, I'd like it to be yummier for my mouth than it is for my eyes. Even though my eyes think these are spectacularly yummy.

That's all the nonsense for today. Hope you enjoyed it.

Back on the horse.

I have been to the library since the incident, but not with all three kids.  Today, I did it.  We didn't make it for storytime (everything in life revolves around the babies eating schedule, it seems...) but soon after.  Probably better anyway, fewer people.  

It went wonderfully.  

Well, my three little ones did wonderfully well, that is...but I think the incident has left me as a marked woman.  With the Wednesday library volunteers, at least.  When we were checking out our books the lady was really trying to hurry, asking people if they would mind if she checked us out first, scrambling, dropping things...I'm not exaggerating.  I promise.  She was acting like my two smiling and cooing babies, lying peacefully in their stroller, could at any moment burst out crying - shooting piercing cries out into the silent library like flames from a dragon's mouth.  

It was funny, and a little discouraging.  I think we'll just go to the library on a day that's not Wednesday.  Reid doesn't care, he wasn't into storytime, anyway.

But!  I did get this!  It's like brand-spankin' new and I've already been able to check it out at my local library.  Well, I had to request it...so, for $.50 I got it at my local library.

It's a good thing.

I'll let you know my thoughts.  Since you're dying to know.  

Here's a sneak preview...

I don't like the shells on pots idea so much.

Just saying.

Good Distractions.

Man, these babies are wearing me out lately. Have I told you (at least a hundred times, I'm sure) about how these babies are a lot of work? Seriously, a LOT of work. And they are both screamers. Alec is a super-screamer, but Dane is a pretty decent screamer, too. I reach a point every day where I think, "I don't think I can make it one more minute!" But then a minute goes by, and then an hour, and next thing I know it's time for bed and after 4 hours of sleep I feel a little better. The thing is, no rescue squad ever shows up (or when they do show up, in the form of grandparents, they always end up going home. Why do you guys have to have lives of your own? Couldn't you just be grandparents full-time? We have a guest room waiting...) to save the day so my little band of boys and I just keep going.

One day at a time.

Actually, one nap at a time. I'm always just trying to get to the next nap for a little breather.

Of course, there are moments - shining moments - every day that make it all worth it.

Things like:

-when Reid puts his fists in bottles and they go up to almost his elbow and I say "I am a robot" in a robot voice and he CRACKS UP. Now his new favorite thing is to be a robot with baby bottles on his arms.

-or how Alec can scream and scream and then I'll put him on the changing table to change his diaper and give him a new (un-spitup'ed) outfit and he'll giggle, I mean really laugh, right to me. Oh, it's heaven. His goopy eyes (still has trouble with tear duct drainage, hopefully he'll grow out of that soon) are so twinkly and happy and those smiles - for the moment - makes me forget the screaming.

-or how Dane is getting so awesome at tummy time. He bends his head up and his legs up and makes a moon shape with his body. It's so funny to see how high he can get his legs up behind him.

-or here's a good one. Reid has become obsessed with pants. He goes back and forth between not wanting pants, very passionately NOT wanting pants...to desperately wanting to keep whatever pants he has on and not change into other pants or take them off to get a new diaper/take a bath/etc. Erik and I can't figure out what the deal is with this pants craziness. The thing is, however, is that I'm learning that you can either laugh or cry, and I'm choosing laugh. Like the other day when Reid saw me getting dressed and as I put on my pants he moaned and cried (for the next 10 minutes), "no pants mama, no pants." Over and over again. That, I choose to laugh about.

In between the moments when I find the wherewithal to laugh about how I'm going crazytown, I like to distract myself. I think distraction can be a healthy thing, at least for me it is. If I took my workload too seriously I think I'd have to be committed soon. (ooh, that's actually a good idea...lots of sleep and no dishes - the dishwasher broke again, or rather, the dumb dishwasher man never really fixed it. With the exception of the 3 loads we were able to do before it went kaput again, we've been sans-dishwasher for like 9 weeks. I don't recommend it.)

I like to think of ways that I could spend my time, in case I find some someday. Or I like to think about things that make me happy. Or I just think about things that don't involve laundry, dishes, poop, or screaming. Here's a round-up of things I've been thinking about lately:


Erik's younger brother Zach and his wife Natalie just welcomed a beautiful baby girl to their family. Baby Jane. Get a load of that hair! Tons of blonde hair! Couldn't you just die! Grandpa Olsen called it last night "silky blonde hair that always stays in a mohawk." Perfection.The cute family of three.
I can't wait to meet her! Oh, I hope I get a girl someday. Someday in the far distant future when I've had a nap or something.

So that's a happy thing, how about some distractions? Things I'd do if I had time to do stuff.

I've been thinking a lot about writing. I'd like to become a better writer. I don't know what I would ever write about, people always say to "write what you know", but does that mean that people would want to read about my thoughts about my hair or how much poop I have to deal with on any given day? I'm not sure about that. But if you want to become a better writer with me, check out this awesome blog. I love her.

I am working out the details of a goal, a big one. It involves me starting a business (laughable, I know). I have a bunch of ideas that I'm always churning in my head, lately about quilting. My goal is to get myself to a Quilt Market in the near future. It's when a bunch of designers/companies/local store owners/etc. get together for a trade show. My kind of heaven. You'll hear more about the details as I work them out, but in the meantime how about an awesome blog about quilting? Here you go.

Another delightful thing about my plan to go to Quilt Market someday is that I'm going to need some cute clothes to wear. Seriously, I'm planning on starting this company for two reasons: to go to something awesome (Market) and to wear cute clothes while I'm there. Those two things are totally not a part of my everyday life and it would be such a treat. Cute clothes! With no one spitting up on them! And meeting Anna Maria Horner! Heaven! Want to dream about cute clothes? Go here. Could the main page of their site be any more gorgeous today? I don't think so. I love it all...the romantic, vintage, and artistic.

Lastly, have you been here yet? Seriously, THE best distraction. Where were we before etsy? Etsy is my instant mood-lifter. Sure thing, every time. Don't you just want to make something?

Well, there you go. Now you're thinking, she just whined about how she doesn't have any time. How is she writing this much on her dumb blog, then? Good question. My sister-in-law Ann commented on that once. First of all, I'm not the engineer of a project inventing an alternative source of energy. Seriously, amazing. Secondly, this blog is a result of hundreds of 60 second chunks of spare time found throughout a few days. I don't ever have like, say, an hour to do anything. But I can check out my favorite blogs, one at a time, scattered throughout the day and I can type a bit at a time on my own blog. That's how I'm managing and except for the mountain of laundry that I need to fold (mountain is not an exaggeration, trust me) things are working out pretty well.

Or at least that's what I'm telling myself.