hummus - for laura

Hummus is my all time favorite food. Ever. It is addicting in all the best ways.

Ingredients:

1 16 oz can of chickpea/garbanzo beans

1 medium lemon, juiced

1 1/2 tablespoons tahini

1 medium clove garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon salt

Drain chickpeas. Combine remaining ingredients in blender or food processor. Add juice from lemon. Blend for 3-5 minutes on low until thoroughly mixed and smooth. (The hummus should be creamy and moist. This can vary, depending on the size of your lemon. If the hummus seems a little dry or dense, just add a bit of water and blend some more.)

Eat with celery, carrots, broccoli, or pepper slices (my favorite is with peppers!). Hummus is also quite tasty on salads (as an alternative to dressing), spread on sandwiches or pitas, and with tortilla chips and salsa. 

For the Roasted Red Pepper Hummus variation, just add 1/2 cup roasted red peppers.

Note: If you are used to store bought hummus, you will notice that this hummus is a lot less oozy. This is because I leave out the olive oil. Because I don't like my hummus to be oozy. However, if you prefer oozy hummus, just add 2 TB olive oil. :)

love rings.

My two little sisters are moving far, far away.

Off to pursue dreams and academics.

Those of us back home will be doing a lot of missing in the next couple months.

Today Kyra and Missy leave with our prayers in their hearts and these little Love Rings on their fingers. Little lovely reminders of how much they are loved and cherished - filled to the brim with hugs and kisses and pretty thoughts.

Because sometimes sisters need to be reminded of how wonderfully special they are. And big, pretty, sparkley reminders are the best kind of reminders, don't you agree?

I love to personalize store bought gifts to make them just a little extra special. I have found that it is all about the packaging. Prettily designed packaging goes a long way, and cute "product tags" always impress.

today I am sick.

pretty little hair clip

Dear readers, I have found that it is very easy to make pretty little hair clips. 

Thank you, ribbon, hot glue gun, and jewels. I'm quite sure I'll never buy hair pretties ever again. 

friday favorites - chocolate chip cookies

Sometimes, it isn't easy being vegan. It can be almost guaranteed that I will never be able to eat any delectable treat found in restaurants, stores, or coffe shops. (Unless it is a vegan restaurant, store, or coffee shop.) I'm the awkward party guest that nobody knows what to feed. And I'm always the girl in the corner eating a plate of carrots and celery at work pot lucks and treat days.

The fact that I stop breathing if I consume anything to do with dairy or anything that touched anything that touched something with dairy in it, really helps. I'm never tempted to un-vegan-ize myself and sneak a forbidden snack. Some of my favorite moments are when my darling husband tells waiters about my allergies, clutching his neck in a death grip and making a choking face as he visually explains to our now wide-eyed server that I will surely die if I eat dairy. (Don't feel too sorry for me though. I wouldn't eat dairy even if I could, for a long list of reasons I won't mention on this blog.)

99% of chocolate chips and 100% of regular chocolate chip cookies have dairy in them. Which means I usually can't eat chocolate chip cookies without risking my very life. Because of this, I have not had a real chocolate chip cookie in years. Years.

I'm telling you this fact to help you realize how incredibly, amazingly, ridiculously exciting these chocolate chip cookies are to me. I got this vegan cookbook for Christmas, "Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar". And out of all 100+ recipes, I chose to make the chocolate chip cookies first. I could have made any number of delightfully different and new cookies - and they all sounded positively divine. But no, I found some vegan chocolate chips and chose to make the most boring and basic recipe out of the entire book, "Chocolate Chip Cookies." Because, oh how I have missed them! Does anything taste more like a cookie?

And the crowning glory of the moment was when Timmy and I were eating warm, right out of the oven, chewy chocolate chip cookies. And Timmy ate two of them. And then he looked at me and said,

"Baby! Nobody would ever be able to tell that these are vegan!"

Which is his way of telling me that they were truly delicious.

 

Don't tell Timmy, but I plan to make him vegan yet.

*sneaky smile*

One plate of chocolate chip cookies at a time...

a conversation: about dreams

Timmy: Where will we go tonight in our dreams dearest?

Me: To the clouds?

Timmy: Yes, lets meet high on a mountain. Not in this world, in a special spot that is super high, so high up that even you are not afraid. And we'll sit and have a picnic in the clouds on a picnic table that was put there just for us.

Me: Is it a pink picnic table?

Timmy: Yes, it is pink. But there is a little corner of it that is blue, for me. But we'll sit on the same side, and we can sit on the pink part.…
I'll just rest one hand on the blue part.  

(another beautiful photo taken by Laura Zastrow)

je m'ennuie card

Three reasons I love this card.

Reason#1: Because black and white is beautiful. I love the tonal variations on black and white pieces. Sometimes, without color to distract us, black and white shows delightful details we otherwise would have missed.

Reason #2: Because I have been inspired to cultivate my ability to create simple pieces. I tend to make everything deliciously detailed and complex. But, the truth is, sometimes simple is just better.

Reason #3: Because the Eiffel Tower image originated from a photo I took on our honeymoon. Yes, my heart flutters happily just thinking about it! Seeing the Eiffel tower was a lifelong dream fulfilled.

And because French is such a beautiful language, it looks and sounds pretty no matter what you are saying!

christmas presents - timmy's dvd

For Timmy's Christmas present, I made him a DVD. A year's worth of photos, videos, and audio clips were combined into a sweet little movie, starring us. It starts with our magical proposal and ends with our return trip to Disney World, with lots of love in between. Hours of tediously editing movie clips only confirmed to me that I would never make a good movie director. But I suppose it wasn't so bad, since I got to stare at clips of my handsome husband the whole time...

My favorite part, though, was designing the DVD cover. And my favorite part about the cover is the front photo, taken by Laura Zastrow.

Isn't it the perfect photo? I just love that we are holding hands and staring off at separate horizons, looking to our futures and facing it together. Doesn't it make you wonder what we're seeing? And isn't the wall behind us such a glorious color and texture? And those shadows. Laura, you're brilliant!

I loved this project. It's just such a great way to document a year's worth of happiness and memories.

And, after much deliberation, Just Us Two got a G rating. Whew.

commitment

We have a plant that lives on the window sill in our kitchen. It "lives" in a perpetual state of dying.

I probably remember to water it once a month (maybe), and only when I suddenly notice that it is on the absolute brink of death. And then I mournfully apologize to it's wilted leaves, pour as much water into its parched soil as possible, place it back on the sill, and vow to never let it go that long without water ever again. But, a month later, I find myself in the same place as the last. Noticing a dying plant and reviving it just in time. And I can only imagine how maddening it must be to be dying of thirst - living only inches away from the water faucet.

I consider this one of my deepest faults - I'm sure my plant would agree.

And so, my resolution for 2010 is to learn to water my plants.

This resolution encompasses much more than just my dying plant on the window sill. In 2010 I am determined to "water" every area in my life. I want to be a woman who is committed to everything - big or small - that the Lord has entrusted to me. Whether it is house plants, my marriage, my design work, or my relationships. I am so, so excited to throw 100% into every area of my life and just see what happens!

2010 is going to be a beautiful year. My prayer is that 2011 will find me with a gorgeous green plant on my window sill and a well-watered life to go along with it. *smile*

Here lies my wilted plant. And if you look very closely, you can see my handsome Timmy's reflection in the window....

christmas presents - owl pocket calendar

Meet Oswald, the owl. He's just as excited about 2010 as I am! *big smile* Happy New Year!

goodbye 2009

 

christmas presents - forest friends

When I married Timmy, I became an instant aunt to one beautiful niece and three adorable nephews.

My nephews are not only delightfully boy-ish and perfectly rambunctious, but they are also so sweet, well behaved, and imaginative. And I know they love books, because they have a fabulous mom who reads them stories. (Lucky boys!) I think you will agree, there is nothing more wonderful than an imaginative child who loves books.

So, for their Christmas gift, we bought them one of my all time favorite books, The Mitten, by Jan Bret. And then we created a series of animal masks, one for each furry creature that stars within its pages.

Because stories are so much more magical when there are costumes involved.

These masks were so much fun to make! I spent a weekend designing and sketching and cutting and sewing. An old children's puppy mask became my model for sizing. Once I had the basic shape down, it was just a matter of tweaking the ears, face shape, and eyes to make each individual animal. The back of the masks are stiff black felt and the fronts are regular felt. I used interfacing to fuse the layers together - no sewing necessary!

 

I love these little masks. I love how they are just so whimsical. I love that the felt makes them so soft for young faces. I love that they are durable, ready to engage in any sort of activity a young badger or bear might deem necessary.

But mostly, I love that they instantly turned my darling nephews into a crew of growling, hooting, squeaking, and grunting forest friends.

Sometimes... while I'm sitting at work I get emails like this one from my darling husband:

"So I just had an amazing revelation of how talented you really are!!! It really has just bursted to overflowing in my heart!!! You are an incredible writer! Incredible photographer! And the most artistic creative designer in this whole world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am more excited about you and more proud of being YOUR husband than ever before! Congratulations on being amazing!! love, your Timmy"

Sometimes... it's nice to have someone think you're way more amazing than you really are.

And sometimes... their unwavering belief in you is what makes you truly amazing.

christmas presents - rynn's secret book

My little sister, Rynn, is beautiful and mysterious. She loves locks and keys and hidden compartments and secrets. And because she is so interestingly curious and imaginative, she has lots of good secrets worth keeping.

For her Christmas present, I made her a Secret Book. A little book that has a hidden compartment for hiding treasures. Full of secrets and just sitting on your bookshelf - but nobody would know it! Because secrets are so much more exciting when they are hidden in plain sight.

Secret books are most successful when they are purposely made to look positively boring. Find an old book that is so perfectly uninteresting that it can quietly sit on your shelf for years and years, without anyone ever wishing to notice it's shabby little spine. Because if someone did pick it up, it would ruin your secret hiding place. No good.

The great thing about secret books is that they are very easy to make and the results are guaranteed to be thrilling. After a little gluing and lot of cutting (Timmy did most of the cutting) a perfectly secretive secret book, one that made my Rynn's eyes light up in the sneakiest way, was created.

Happy Christmas, little love. Thanks for always sharing your best secrets with me. xoxo

my christmas

(This is a picture of Pinklepurr by my parents' fireplace. I think she is pretending to be a log.)

christmas presents - cozies

Hot drinks just taste better when your fingers have pretty cup cozies to keep them warm and happy.

I have one amazing mom in law and three pretty sisters who love tasty hot drinks from Starbuck's. And so, for their Christmas gifts, I made them some fabric cup cozies. Now when they drink their Starbuck's, they can match their outfits, make a statement, sport their colors, love the environment... and remember how much I love them. Perfect.

 

 

 

They turned out so fun, it almost makes me want to start drinking coffee so I can use them too! And they are really rather simple to make. I say rather because they are time consuming, but not hard. I made all 12 of these in one day, with the help of my fabulous mom. The hardest part was creating the pattern and figuring out how to make them insulate fingers without being too thick and bulky.

I think there are countless ways I could switch things up to embellish these. Ribbons? Hook and eye closures? Iron-on transfers? Any creative thoughts?

christmas presents - jumbled cards

Timmy and I made all of our Christmas presents this year. We did not step into the mall craziness even once.

Of course, I could not show any Christmas present pictures before Christmas, because then you would all know what you were getting! Ahh, but it has been so hard not to show the beautiful treasures I have made for you all! Each present is full of love, love, and more love.

I can show these jumbled cards though because, in the end, I loved them too much to give them away, and have decided to keep them for myself. :) (Sorry Lizzy, you're getting something even better instead.)

 

 

I love typography, and I love asterisks. And I am currently in love with celery green and pumpkin orange.

joy to me and you.

When you're married to a graphic designer, your life is a creative adventure...

Because she snaps pictures of you at all sorts of inconvenient times and refuses to delete the embarrassing ones. Because she sometimes becomes glued to her computer and you have to literally drag her away from her designing. Because she is always making something new and your house is full of little artsy projects. Because she is much better at making food look good than making food taste good. Because she does things, to your horror, like take perfectly good doors off their hinges and then replaces them with curtains that "just look prettier." Because she hangs glittery stars from the ceiling of your living room. Because she insists on decorating your kitchen cupboards with piles of pretty plates that don't match and are impossible to stack... but you put up with them because you know each unique plate makes her smile. Because she is always finding "the perfect shot" and makes you wait and wait while she takes picture after picture... Because she writes you love messages on the insides of your undershirts. Because she goes a little crazy around Christmas time, making Christmas presents, Christmas decorations... Christmas cards...

Because she drags you to a graveyard to take Christmas card pictures. Because she pokes and prods and poses you. Because she asks "why can't you stand straighter" and "dont you know how to bend at the waist" and gets a little bit bossy. Because you patiently pose and smile even though, no, you don't know how to pose like a "J".

 

 

 

 

Because you made this year's Christmas card the best one yet. Because you fill her heart with joy and she likes to tell the world just how wonderful you are.


(PS If you didn't get Christmas card from us, it's just because we don't have your address.)

sock cards.

 

 

So, my amazing mother-in-law bought me new socks. They are so pretty and comfy and warm, my feet have been happy all day. So happy, in fact, that I decided to design a series of cards after my comfy, warm, and pretty new socks.

Mom #2, you knock my socks off! :)

freshly brewed life flyer

then and now.

December 13, 2008

December 13, 2009

 

When you're married to the most darling boy, life is like a fairytale...

Because he holds your hand wherever you go, and he never stops telling you how beautiful you are (even when you're not especially). Because he gives you piggy back rides when your feet get tired. Because he never-ever-never complains when you ask him, every single night, to get you a glass of water after he's already snuggled in bed. Because he prays for you every day. Because he always makes you a smoothie for breakfast and because he always does the dishes. Because he takes you fun places like Europe and Hawaii and Disney World. Because he knows how much you hate shopping and always does it for you. Because he gives you lots of kisses and they taste very good. Because he knows you better than anyone else and always gives the best surprises. Because he calls you his princess. Because he makes you laugh like no one else can. Because he is so handsome and his smile still gives you butterflies. Because he sings sweet songs in your ear when you're scared, and because he writes you romantic love letters. Because he loves being with you and tells you so. Because sometimes you can't believe how beautiful life has become, how blessed you are to have him.

Because he is your best friend and you love him more than you ever dreamed possible.

Dear Mom,

I lit candles in the living room the other night. Lots and lots of them. As I was lighting them, I told Timmy how you never ever let me have candles when I was growing up. He couldn't believe that and wondered why. I said I had no idea. I thought perhaps you had a traumatic experience with candles as a child.

And then, while I was happily putting out Christmas decorations, I dropped a tag into one of my candles. And it started on fire. Timmy had to put it out.

And then, as I was intently situating holly berries on the mantle, I tipped three candles over onto myself, all at once. I burned my tummy, ruined my shirt, and got wax all over the mantle and the hearth and the carpet. As I was sniffling in the bathroom, putting ice on my burns and apologizing for making such a huge waxy mess, Timmy hugged me close.

"I think I know why your mom never let you have candles." he said.

I have a very wise mother. Thank you.

Love,
Becki

P.S. Timmy is in charge of our candles from now on.

about the Pearl Harbor memorial.

The tour of the USS Arizona Memorial begins with a brief, but moving film relating the events leading up and following December 7, 1941. We were then ushered back outside and onto the ferry that would take us out to the memorial standing in the middle of the harbor.

The USS Arizona Memorial is a solemn, white structure, built over the untouched remains of the USS Arizona battleship. Huge open windows let sunlight filter onto the deck of the memorial, blue skies a stark contrast to the pure white walls. There are 21 windows in all, representing an eternal 21 gun salute over the fallen ship. To the left and right are the ship's turrets, painfully jutting out of the ocean. It is eerie and unnatural in appearance, a jarring break in the cool beauty of the water. Oil still seeps from the wreckage, "black tears" mourning a lost crew. And, under the murmuring waves, 1,102 fallen men lie, forever entombed in the bright turquoise waters. A small shrine at the end of the deck has just one window and is lined with the names of each soul whose life was cut short on December 7, 1941.

It was almost a relief to step back onto the ferry that would take us back to the docks. And the ride back was a little quieter than before, as each person pondered Pearl Harbor, thinking about their part of the story.

My grandfather was stationed at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He was on the USS Nevada and was wounded during the attack. His part at Pearl Harbor altered the course of his whole life and, subsequently, mine. How curious that one event can hold the power to effect generations.

My grandpa died when I was just 11, an age where I couldn't truly begin to comprehend how noble of a man he was. I just knew him as my sweet, gentle Grandpa. Being at the Pearl Harbor Memorial brought back the ache of missing him, and the realization of all the reasons I have to be proud of the great man he was. How I wish that he was still alive today, so that I could honor him and thank him for his part at Pearl Harbor. As I stood on the deck of the USS Arizona Memorial, I paid tribute to the tragic death of thousands, and honored the very special life of one, my grandpa, Sydney Jameson.

wedding collage.

christmas cards for lizzy.

December is not the best month to do an outdoor photo shoot in Wisconsin. Brr!

But don't I just have the prettiest big sister?

Proudly presenting the Robinson family's custom designed, non-cliché, intentionally non-Christmas-colored Christmas card. Happy Christmas!

friday favorites - those eyes.

those blue, blue eyes. reflecting the christmas lights on our very first tree.

owl cards.

itty bitty preview of my newest line of cards.

a conversation.

Timmy: You are more beautiful than me.
Me: Well you are more handsome than me.
Timmy: No. What I mean to say is that you are more beautiful than I am handsome.
Me: That's not true.
Timmy: Yes, it is true. I'm afraid people see me as, well, a charity case.