and then it was autumn.

We left Spring to greet Autumn. Green grass was replaced by shortened days and falling leaves.

 Autumn in Australia. Autumn is my favorite season.

Australia in autumn exists in shades of deep earth tones. Browns and tans tangled among yellows and greens. Colors you've seen before, but never in this way. Everything was dancing.

 It was different. It was an autumn I almost did not recognize. The color of the leaves were a bit more subtle, the world tasted richer. Most trees were still green. but it was a soft, worn shade. I'm sure Australia looks very different in summer, spring, and winter. But to me, Australia will be forever frozen in autumn. I became lost in the idea of Australia always looking so golden warm.

It was surreal. Between the 15 hour time difference and the drastic change of seasons, it became impossible to keep track of life back home. Time didn't stop, but it floated. We lost track of days and months, and suddenly we just were.  

Where the only familiar sight was each other's eyes.

 It was beautiful. So beautiful I almost didn't want to take any pictures, because I knew they couldn't truly capture the views. Tall, sweeping mountains, white sandy beaches. Forests bunched with tall skinny trees, fields of birds of paradise lining the highways. With the sky so blue and the air so heavy with eucalyptus. Scenery like I'd never seen before, a whole new landscape to discover.

And we were determined to see as much of this big country as possible.

It was warm. The sunshine was tangy and hot. Their autumn weather isn't too different from our summer weather. Temperatures hovered between 65-75 degrees, and we raced through the bush wearing short sleeves and sundresses.

It was wild. Miles of untamed wilderness and an overwhelming feeling of expectancy. There were unending opportunities for danger (which Timmy loved), and the reality of that power was intoxicating. We became convinced that anything could, and does, happen in Australia.

It was perfect. Better than I'd hoped and more majestic than I'd dreamed.  

Everything was new and nothing felt the same.

Except the feeling of his hand in mine.

Together, we have such grand adventures.

Sunday Twice.

 Sunday, May 2 was a twice-lived day.

We left Australia at 11:30AM on Sunday. Thirteen-ish hours later, we arrived in LA at 8:30AM... on Sunday. Two Sundays.

We spent most of the first Sunday sitting in an airplane. Flying so far over the sunrise that it became a sunset, racing through the darkness and skimming above the clouds. Long. Our flight was so long.

And we (me) are a little scared of flying.

But somehow it was perfect. That may have had something to do with the yummy poppy seed bagels Timmy bought me for the plane ride. Or because 101 Dalmatians was one of our movie options, and I had almost forgotten how much I loved it. Or because we somehow managed to end up with three seats to ourselves, so we stretched out and created a nest of blankets to snuggle in.

And it was definitely because of the cute boy I got to sit by for 13 hours straight.

The second Sunday came suddenly. Darkness dissipated and bright light began streaming in through window cracks. Our plane landed into a bright California morning. Late. Our plane arrived late.

And we missed our connecting flights.

But somehow, it was perfect. That may have had something to do with my hubby keeping me giggling as we waited in line for two hours to get new tickets home. Or because even though my hair was a mess and my makeup was long gone, Timmy kept telling me I looked "radiant", so I pretended it was true. Or because we got $14 of meal voucher money, but neither of us were hungry, so we spent it in the most ridiculous way. Trail mix and chocolate covered graham crackers?

And it was definitely perfect because I was relishing every minute spent with the man I love.

Sunday, May 2, was the perfect day to live twice.

*It's so good to be home! I have fun stories and pretty pictures to show you from our magical adventure... But right now, I can barely keep my eyes open... So tired...*

I hope falling asleep on the plane is as easy

as making this sleep mask was.

The 22 hours of travel have begun.

Apple Nutrition is now a brand.
And we're selling our very own line of Whey Isolate protein powder. Available in vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, banana, mixed berry, and peanut butter flavors.

Check out the cool packaging. *smile*
(Try to envision it wrapped around a bottle of protein...)

front of label

back of label

Lessons Learned:

#1 - It is always good to read the boring chapters at the beginning of travel books. It may be tempting to skip the litany of seemingly useless information and get to the fun parts. BUT. You will learn something useful.
Which brings me to...

#2 - You need a Passport AND a Visa to get into Australia. I will admit I stopped breathing when I read that one. A Visa?!
How long does it take to get a Visa?!!?

#3 - It takes no more than 24 hours to be issued an Australian Visa online. Whew.

#4 - It is hard to prepare a last minute vacation to another country
when you had been planning for weeks to go to a totally different country.
This new country has 25 foot long crocodiles.

#5 - It is not a good idea to watch Poseidon before plane travel.
Yes, this movie was about a ship. But almost everyone on the ship DIES.
And it doesn't take too much imagination to transfer the

dying and screaming from a ship wreck to a plane crash...

#6 - Qantas planes have never crashed. Ever.
We're flying to Australia in a Qantas. Reassured? A little.

#7 - Do not touch the metal prongs on your computer cord
as you unplug it from a wall outlet. This will result in electric shock.Tingling, numbness, and a headache will follow. (Timmy learned this one.)

#9 - It is impossible to go shopping for your house, your trip, and your business, design 24 product labels, pack for a 10 day vacation, eat dinner, pick out tile for your store's bathroom, and do laundry all in one night.
But I tried.

#10 - If you have a dairy allergy, and someone says to you,
"Oh, this soup is dairy free, it just has cheese...", don't trust them.

Change of Plans

Our flight to London was cancelled. Boo-hoo.

Living in Wisconsin, I never really expected my life to be dramatically - or even slightly - impacted by a volcano.

Two new tickets have been purchased.

After hours of deliberation and searching for last minute tickets, we stumbled across jaw-dropping good deals on one destination we both really, really want to visit.

Australia it is.

Talk about an extreme change of plans.

Does anyone have suggestions for how to survive a 15 hour plane ride?

Something new.

Last Thursday morning, we got the keys to our retail space.

That morning, he woke up very happy. He slid right out of bed and danced around me in delighted circles as I got ready for work. He flitted between the bathroom and the bedroom. Ran around the bedroom serenading me with lovey songs.

Which isn't unusual, the singing lovey songs part.

He kissed me in the bedroom and kissed me at the door. Kissed me at the car and ran down the driveway for one last window kiss. Thought the window was down - it wasn't - and smacked his face right into the glass. We both laughed and couldn't remember anything funnier than that moment.

Which isn't unusual, the kissing and laughing part.

He texted me updates throughout the morning. Made no effort to hide his excitement. And then he called me at work. Check your email, he said, I sent you something exciting. And so I opened my email to see him. My darling husband hanging from the ceiling of our retail space.

Which isn't unusual, the hanging from the ceiling part.

But having a retail space to call our own?
Now that's something new.

busy, busy

 

I met Courtney from California on Etsy, and she asked me to design her some graduation cards. And she liked Oswald so much, she decided to have him announce her happy graduation news!

I think he looks pretty dashing in his little cap. Don't you?

Happy Graduation, Courtney!

Dear Icelandic Volcano,

I realize that, being a volcano, erupting is what you do best.

You can stop erupting any time now.

It's not that I don't appreciate your billowing clouds of smoke and ash. It's just that I really, really want to go to Europe next Friday.

And you are making me nervous.

Sincerely,

Becki O'Brien

"Meteorologists from the AccuWeather forecasting service in Pennsylvania said the current ash plume will threaten air travel over Europe through Sunday at the least. Einar Kjartasson, a geophysicist at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, said the problem might persist for weeks..."

I cannot understand everyone's fascination with Chicago.

I could think of a very long list of things I would rather do than visit Chicago. And on that list, there would be things such as "scrub all the floors in my house with a toothbrush" or "go to the dentist".

Chicago is loud. Chicago feels grey. Chicago smells like concrete.

Chicago sounds stressful.

The drivers in Chicago scare me to death. When Timmy and I drive in Chicago I spend half the time screeching at him to pretty please be careful, and the other half with my eyes squeezed tightly shut - praying hard. I go back and forth between squeezing his hand in a death grip and loudly demanding that he put BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL for heaven's sake! And when we finally, finally reach our parking destination, the ridiculous parking fees promptly take away any idea we had of going out for a fancy dinner.

I've been to Chicago twice and, after the last experience, I asked Timmy very nicely to never take me there again.

I don't usually tell people how much I dislike Chicago. Because I feel utterly left out of the "I love Chicago" club everyone seems to be a part of. Dear friends, please promise to love me even though I don't like Chicago.

Today I am feeling a bit anxious. Because my passport - you know, that passport I'll be needing to be let into England in one week - has not come in the mail yet. And if we don't get it by Saturday morning, Timmy and I are going to have to make an emergency trip to downtown Chicago. Because that is the only place to go when you need a passport in a hurry.

And, not even the promise of TWO Chipotle meals from Timmy makes the prospect of that trip seem any more enticing.

Please please passport, come today!

My parents have given me the eager optimism that I am capable of making anything. Everything is made by someone - why not me?

Seriously. I have come to conclude that there is nothing my parents can't make.

There may have been times I did not appreciate this. Probably somewhere between the 2000th batch of homemade jam, the never ending "you could make that!" when I saw something cute at the store, the impossibility of sewing a "hidden zipper", and the sneezing that accompanies holding up long panels of drywall.

But, although sometimes grudgingly, I've learned how. And sometimes I can't quite silence the niggling guilt I feel when I purchase something I could make myself. I tend to long for the uniqueness of my own creations. I love the feeling of a finished project.

And so, when my ipod needed a home, I made it.

All it took was some vintage fabric scraps, an old metal tape measure, and some bits of lace. Oh, and a sweet mom who is still teaching me. Teaching me how.

(This ipod pocket has a magic ingredient that makes it extra special. You cut a measuring tape and insert it into the casing at the top of the pocket. Not only does it stay closed like a magnetic clasp, but it makes the most exhilarating "snap!" sound when you open and close it!)

 Oh, melancholy day, there is a restless flurry in my mind. Thoughts cave inward and ideas rustle like old leaves. Words come out sticky and uneven, and paragraphs form with cracks between the sentences. Words are broken and thoughts dangle in endless fragments.

Nothing comes out right on melancholy days. Coversations are impossible and there is nothing left to do but

sit in the stillness

and 

daydream

of Sundays spent draped in each other's arms,

sweet naps

and sunny skies.

oswald has a girlfriend.

 Meet Lola.

and so it goes…

So it seems that we have a very hard time keeping secrets. When Timmy and I promised not to tell anyone of our secret vacation destination, I didn't really suppose that telling my Mom counted...

And of course we had to tell Rynn, because she lives with us. And Rynn had to tell Caleb.

And since Mom knew, we had to tell Daddy. And Dad didn't realize it was a secret and he told Grandpa...

And Timmy by accident told his employees at Apple Cafe. And the passport photo developer at Walgreens. And the customers standing in line behind us…

And little sister Missy was quite smart and sneaky and somehow managed to figure out our secret destination just by looking at the teensy bit of a picture I put up on my blog. And she had to tell Mom #2...

And so it goes. Our secret destination is not much of a secret anymore…

I love secrets. But I think I love exciting news even more.

We're going to England and Wales in 14 days!

Whee!

Today I am loving:

My pretty homemade headbands. (So easy to make!)

This adorable idea from Ruche. (And loving all of their yummy clothes.)

Making lunch in my orange pot.

Laura Zastrow's new pictures.

Getting ideas from this re-fashion tutorial.

Borrowing cute sandals from the sweet sister I live with.
(Living with Rynn pretty much doubles my wardrobe...)

Finding homemade vegan bath products.

Reading this book on organic housekeeping.
(I may never use a plastic cutting board ever again.)

 My friend, Elizabeth's, recently launched Etsy shop.

(She makes cute and cozy purses from recycled pants.)

 The new version of Blogger Draft. (Like the new layout?)

Spending an afternoon with open windows and sunshine.

Watching my ambitious neighbors jog past my house...

Coming across this video from our wedding as I was cleaning out my computer.

(my uncle made it, and it always, always makes me cry – in the happiest way)

And finding this while I was picking up the house. 

It's nice to be so loved.

telling secrets.

Jamie is telling secrets, so I'm spilling some of mine too...

I am a perfectionist. (That's why I married Timmy.)

Sometimes I get so focused on taking pictures and capturing special moments,
I miss really seeing and experiencing life without my camera.

 Every night I promise Timmy I'll get up at 5:45,
and every morning I make him get up, walk across the room, and hit snooze three times.

 I have never not once drunk any form of alcohol, and I never plan to.

I love water.

I think my engagement ring is the prettiest.

Sometimes I dream about eating cheese. (I'm vegan...)

I was in and out of the Louvre in under two hours. Because even though I felt
like I should wander amidst famous art for days, I didn't.

 I dislike hot beverages of any kind.
If I'm not somewhere at least five minutes early, I feel like I'm late.

Sometimes I make Timmy pretend to be a horse and give me rides up and down the stairs.

Busy social settings make me nervous.

I am a horrible driver.

I was homeschooled.

I'm scared of doctors. (Especially the dentist...)

I'm scared to go in our basement alone.

I can type 90 words per minute.

I visited the Blarney Stone but did not kiss it.

I like to vacuum. 

I don't use microwaves.

I am going on a magical vacation in 22 days. 

(But I can't tell you where – it's a secret...)

Give me a moment to be. Just be. In this one moment. And let me believe it will last forever. The world is spinning and we are too, but for this fleeting second we are. We are like the butterflies of summer - existing in our days of sunshine for such brief hours. And then, like a wisp of cloud. Gone.

If our moments on earth are numbered, please lets pass our dwindling moments together. In moments like these. Your hand is mine to cling to. In moments like these.

When there is nothing but you and me. The sadness of death is far away and the reality of life becomes a dream. All I see are the stars within your eyes as you kiss my tears and draw me close. In moments like these, we are flying. Nothing else matters but the closeness of your heart and mine.

I am pulling this feeling deep within my soul. You are my butterfly. This sunshine is ours. Please lets pass our numbered moments together. In moments like these.

Note: My Grandma passed away this morning. In between Easter and funeral happenings, I may not have too much time for blogging. Photo by Laura Zastrow.

I haven't posted anything design related lately, probably because I'm too busy designing to write a post about what I've been designing. But here are some things I have been working on lately:

 

Apple Nutrition is 99.99999% official. We're in the final stages of lease negotiating and in the beginning stages of store designing. Right now our nights consist of visiting boring guy stores like Menards and Home Depot, staring at laminate flooring options (I'm thinking bamboo...), browsing paint chips, and picking out trim.
I've suddenly become graphic designer, interior decorator, and marketing director all at once. 

But I know the owner,
and he's been paying me quite well with kisses and Chipotle dinners....

 

Our Business Launch Celebration on Saturday night was a lovely success. Thank you to everyone who came with smiles and happy encouragement. Laura is the perfect kind of person to do a party with - she is completely creative and so very fun. We talked and laughed with best friends and family, ate delicious vegan treats (made by sweet Nicole), and celebrated the beginning of two lifelong dreams. 

Thank you, dear Jamie, for the beautiful photos. :)

tomorrow.

 

Are you coming?

6:00-8:30 @ Cool Beans Coffee Cafe

Thursday, you're my favorite day of the week. I love waking up on Thursdays. I love that I have a comfy soft bed to wake up in on Thursdays. And a fuzzy headed hubby to wake up next to.

Thursdays are good days. I love going to work on Thursdays. I love that I have a job I love on Thursdays. And a tasty breakfast of sliced apples and nuts to eat at my desk.

Thursday, you're extra special. I love seeing the world on Thursdays. I love that I live in Wisconsin on Springy days on Thursdays. And a perfect God who sends sunshine.

Thursday, you have joy inside your name. I love the anticipation of the weekend that Thursdays bring. I love that weekends come the day after the day after Thursdays. And with a happy Friday nestled in between.

Sweet Thursday, you're my favorite day of the week - on Thursday.

(But tomorrow is Friday, and it will surely be a favorite too.)

 Little sister is living upstairs, in an orange room almost as bright as her smile. Her name is Rynn, but Timmy calls her Rynn-diddly-in-in-innnn. I just call her Princess.

I've lived with her before. For 18 years. So I already know that she can be delightfully grumpy in the mornings, she tends to run a little bit behind, she laughs almost always, she makes me smile in the happiest way, she likes to eat meals late at night, and she loves to live her life as if she were the star of a beautiful fairy tale. When she moved in, it was kind of like finding a favorite pair of shoes you have not worn in years - soft, comfortable, and familiar. They still fit. It fits to have her living upstairs, just like it always has and always will.

She walks around the house humming. She hums more than she ever used to, and this is because of Caleb.

Caleb is little sister's husband to be, and I love to see how happy he makes my Princess. He is as perfect for Rynn as Timmy is for me. He very well might be the number two most amazing boy in the whole world (Tim and Daddy tie for first). Timmy really likes Caleb. They're kind of becoming best buds.

Caleb is a worship leader and he writes lovely song lyrics and beautiful poetry. Rynn is my favorite little singer, and her and Caleb's voices blend perfectly. They recorded a song together. You should listen to it here.

(source)

Me: I want a pet duck.

(Do a google search on "little yellow baby duck".
You'll want one too.)

Timmy: Umm... can you even have a pet duck?
Where do they go to the bathroom? 

I really think our subdivision has a 'no duck policy'.

I really like being married.

I like going on nine month anniversary adventures with my handsome husband. I like spending entire days of "just us" - going to my favorite vegan restaurant and sharing vegan chocolate "cheesecake. I like that Timmy isn't afraid of vegan chocolate cheesecake. I like getting to the Milwaukee Public Museum half an hour before closing and laughing so hard as we try and race through all the exhibits. I like it when Timmy pulls me into dark museum corners and kisses me. I like holding my husband's hand as we take our time viewing the Dead Sea Scrolls special exhibit (which stays open later - whew!) and I like running to the tippy top of the IMAX dome theater to watch a film on Egyptian mummies. (And I really like that we both take off our shoes at the movie theater, because it's more snuggley that way.) I like eating smoothies in the car together, promising to not talk about business at all - and then forgetting and ending up talking about business 90% of the day. I like that we start businesses together.

And I really really especially like that, when statues of old Irish men get a little too close, I have a gallant husband to defend my honor.

 

I really like being married.

and the winner is…

Yay Kristen! She is the lucky winner of my happilyBecki giveaway! Kristin chose the Natural Silhouettes Desk Calendar and the Peacock note cards as her prize.

And because I had so many sweet comments, I decided to give a second place prize as well.

This time the random number generator chose comment number 18. Wanda! She asked me to surprise her if she won, so I'll be picking something special out just for her.

Kristen and Wanda, send me an email within the next 24 hours (rb.obrien7@gmail.com) giving me your mailing address. And be watching your mailbox for the little treasures I'll be sending your way...

A great big thank you to everyone who participated in my giveaway this week. All your comments made me so, so happy and I truly wish I could send prizes to everyone.

meet Laura.

I really like Laura Zastrow. She plays in a band, uses cloth napkins, makes delicious hummus, teaches her babies sign language and Spanish (wow!), goes to school full time, paints her living room one wall at a time, has seemingly endless energy, and runs her very own photography business.

Her photography speaks for itself. Brilliant, creative, stunning. Her website is here. If you need pictures taken, she's the one you should go to. 


I am often in awe of Laura Zastrow. 

And in the midst of raising a beautiful family and chasing her dreams, she always finds time to inspire others. She tends to make gloomy days seem brighter, and her endless encouragement helped to make my Etsy store become a reality. 

You really should meet Laura. Oh, lucky you! You can meet her right now! This short interview will give you a peek into her delightful world. You may now consider yourself officially introduced to Laura Zastrow, the other half of our amazing Business Launch Celebration.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I'm a 23-year-old wedding and people photographer. I've lived in Madison, Wisconsin for six years with my husband, and both of our babies were born here. My family is very important to me, and there's nothing I'd rather do than spend time with them.

How do you know Becki?

My husband and I have been good friends with Becki's husband, Tim, since we moved to Madison. I worked for Tim for a brief stint when he opened his first business. I met Becki a few times and was at their wedding, but I didn't really get to know her well until she sent me a sweet e-mail encouraging me in what I do. We've been bouncing ideas and admiring each other's projects ever since!

Besides creating things, what do you do?

Currently I stay at home with my two kids, Oliver (almost 3) and Eliot (17 months) while my husband goes to school, works, and makes music. I'm also in school full time for graphic design, and I play acoustic guitar pretty casually with a band. That summary makes me sound much cooler than I really am, though.

What made you decide to become an artist?

It's always been in my mind. My mom saves cute magazine ads she finds to make homemade birthday cards, and my dad has been working in computers for probably 40 years. I guess I was destined to do something with digital art!

I got my first digital camera when I was 14 using $600 I had received as eight grade graduation and confirmation gifts. That 2.1 megapixel point-and-shoot cost more than my first DSLR did! I took the camera with me on our family's spring break trip to Washington, D.C. and documented the whole trip. I was smitten after that.

So, you have a photography business. What do you do exactly?

Couples, weddings, families. I want to have candid photos of them being themselves and capture the emotion of that time in their lives.

What inspires you?

Textures and colors of old urban buildings, patterns, shapes, emotion.

What are your top five favorite creative blogs?

In no particular order

(http://benchrismanblog.com/) Ben Chrisman

(http://colormekatie.blogspot.com) Color Me Katie

(http://www.bobbiandmike.com/blog) Bobbi + Mike

(http://happilybecki.blogspot.com) happilyBecki

and currently probably (http://thedieline.com/) The Die line as well due to its relevance in my computer graphics glass.

What is a little known interesting fact about yourself? 

I'm so hippy and frugal that I wash and reuse Ziploc bags. I think my husband thinks I'm weird.

Favorite color?

I like them all. Really! No favorites.

Favorite books/movies/music?

Not too specific on movies and music, but the book Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne changed my life. And how about TV shows? We don't have a TV, but Hulu and Netflix have it all. We watch Biggest Loser, Mad Men, and (I hate to admit it) Party Down, as well as early seasons of The Simpsons and The Office.

What is one thing you feel like you couldn't live without? 

Maybe my down comforters?

In ten years where would you like to be? 

Oh goodness, what a scary question. In ten years I will have a big family, and I hope to be helping people who need it. I would like to be an award-winning photographer; traveling every so often for my job; making enough money to easily support my family; teaching others to do photography well. 

If I'm interested in your photography services, what is the best way to contact you?

I hold strange hours with mothering and school and such, so e-mail is great! Its laurazastrow@gmail.com

 

happy St. Patricks day!

Oh my pretty Emerald Isle,

How your magic makes me smile.

Green above and green below,

A million greens that gleam and glow.

All the world is bright and clean,

When you're in the Irish green.

I like to wear green on St. Patrick's day. I love to walk among hundreds of fellow green wearing friends. There's something just so magical about it. I wish we had color themed days more often.

I like that Chipotle is giving away free guacamole for St. Patrick's Day. 

And I really like that my last name is O'Brien. 

I'm Irish. 

And I'm a very lucky girl.