Morning's Light

Glimpses of beauty and simplicity around the world.

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  • holiday + movies + sofie

    Sofie15

    Sofie09

    Sofie04

    Sofie02_28857701

    Seems like Monday.  It's Tuesday. 

    The three day weekend was so very, very nice.  Saw four movies (Night at the Museum 2, Terminator 3, X-Men Wolverine, and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past:   Museum 2 was funny, T3 was fluffy I thought, Wolverine had depth and great cinematography, and Ghosts was "eh" – crude and not that great.) 

    Spent time with friends and family and attended my home church for the first time in awhile.
    Cleaned my kitchen thoroughly.  Tonight will be laundry and sorting paperwork. 

  • House Tour: Anne’s Adorable Home

    I was visiting Sacramento with a friend last weekend, and we stopped in to see Anne and her family. They're adorable and so is the little house that they've worked so hard to re-do.  She graciously allowed me to share these photos with you.

    Anne - kitchen 1
    Anne's kitchen inspiration came from an old Pepsi bottle logo with red/white/blue on it.  She painted this cabinet the colors to match the logo, and then the plan for the entire kitchen fell into place.  She did the beadbord (not pictured) herself. 
    Anne - kitchen 3
    Anne - glimpse into pats office
    Her husband Patrick's office is painted in rich colors and includes heavy, elegant-looking drapes to block out light and noise. 

    Anne - glimpse into kitchen

    A glimpse into the kitchen.

    Anne - elias room 1
    Anne used the prettiest paint color and wallpaper for the baby's room.  
    Anne - bathroom
    This bathroom is apparently a multitude of times better than the way it was when Anne moved in.  I just like the gleaming white tiles!

    Anne - bedroom 1
    A simple bedroom is appealing and soothing.
    If Anne allows, I'll include their family photo.  Elias is the most adorable 17 month old who turned model in front of the camera.  I've used "adorable" a lot today but that's okay.  The house and family are certainly adorable and worthy of the title.

  • my deck as an outdoor European cafe

    I haven't fixed up my deck as an outdoor European cafe yet…maybe this weekend.  the inspiration below is from a new favorite blog, the haystack needle.  my closest-deck-neighbor lives on her deck…from early morning to late at night – since the bugs have yet to arrive in full force.  Perhaps it's time to join her – occasionally giving the 'sup nod or saying hello.  

    Hmmm..perhaps my deck will not be an entire cafe…but more of a personal cafe for two… or six if hosting a dinner party.  that would be me hosting the party – not my deck.  imagine the invitations:  "The Deck invites you to party Cafe Style at 106.  And Sunny might be there too."

  • less IS more

    That's it. I'm going to most definitely go through piles and boxes of merely "stuff" and it has to leave – to go to friends' homes, the thrift shop and tossed out.  I love this home.  Their advice is "less is more" and the house displays that theme from top to bottom.  Here are photos from their Apartment Therapy House Tour.

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    07_DiningRoom_small
    20_BabyRoom_small
    23_Office_small
    Many more photos here.



  • back from vaca!!


    follow the map, originally uploaded by perfectbound.

    Hello! Am back from San Francisco – a whirlwind of a trip. Saw many friends but didn't get to see everyone. It was non-San Francisco weather (90+ degrees!). Took tons of photos and videos..so there'll be SF to share all week with you!

    Meanwhile, the caption to this photo from Perfectbound is "I love the intricacies of maps" which takes me right to the MadTV sketch "Can I Have Your Number??" I introduced it to three friends the other day and they adored it.

    Favorite lines include: "Work that UPDO! Grace Kelly, Grace Kelly" and the "intricacies of cinema".

    PS: Just realized the post title could also refer to "back from Vacaville" – where the Ciudad girls live!  How was Idol LIVE IN PERSON?

  • Travelin’ Today

    Vaca buddy

    Remember her?  She's from my childhood.  My mom found her in a drawer last year and gave her to me.  She (the fisher price little person mom) spent a day with me last year which I documented here.
    Turns out, she's going to San Francisco with me today.  She chose to be blurry in the photo to protect her identity, so SHHHHH.  It's because she's stowing away in my purse but will make occasional appearances. Recognize me?  I'll be the chic traveler who is laughing at the photos she's taking of her little…friend..er..doll..or, umm.. ???

    The pink bag in the background is the duffel bag that contains the small wardrobe of items being taken along to wear for weather ranging from 40 degrees to 85.  (yeah, good luck with that!)  It's all about friends this weekend.  Haven't seen most of them since 2005 when I left San Francisco to move back to the Midwest. I'll also make time for repeated trips to the Ferry Building for the farmers market (crepes anyone?  Miette confections?) and a trip to Japantown to the Japanese bookstore/stationery store.

    See you soon!  

  • pretty French sweater

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    Happy Saturday, originally uploaded by nataliezdrieu.

    Is this adorable???

    Am meeting deadlines at work and running errands/packing for Thursday’s flight to San Francisco. Was basing my trip wardrobe on 60 degree weather…and it’s going to be 83. Need a few things to wear in hot weather. Any trip wardrobe ideas for me?

    Until I read the weather report today, my duffel bag contained: two white cotton tees for layering, two black tees for layering, a black cardigan, black cropped pants, two pair of cute flats, and a dress (yet to be determined…have two in mind) – to go along with my favorite gray scarf that’s been a constant companion lately.

  • grays + greens + blues

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    , originally uploaded by allie pasquier.

    beautiful photo by allie. loving the colors in the photo.

  • not enough time?

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    , originally uploaded by allie pasquier.

    ever feel like you don’t have enough time? I am reaching information overload.

    a netflix film that’s been around my place for 40 days now – unwatched, of course.

    a stack of magazines – unread.

    another stack of magazines – to go through and tear out the favorite pages.

    ten library books when I can only read one at a time – over lunch.

    a stack of shows, or so it feels, on my DVR’s “to watch” list.

    a list of projects around home – that’s been largely undone.

    a stack of papers to sort through – and probably recycle most of them.

    and I’m single with no kids. however do parents with kids do it?!
    umm..happy weekend to you?!

  • moop + family friday + girls night out

    Received my Moop bag (Moop's Market bag in Rosewood) recently!  It's perfect for my trip to San Francisco next week.  

    Moop packaging

    Moop bag + packaging

    My brother Jay and his family are staying in my mom's small home for another month or so until they move to their new house in Appleton.  So it's one big happy family!  I was there over the weekend – while they were shopping online, playing (the kids), and playing cards.  Documented it because they're all so darn cute!

    Hudson + goggles + pink necklace
    Nephew Hudson (age 2) wearing his sister's necklace and swim goggles.  He cares little that he's wearing girly pink items! 
    Mimo + wings + coloring
    Niece Mimo (age 4) coloring while wearing wings she received at a princess party that afternoon.
    Shanghai rummy 1
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    Shanghai Rummy.  I'm addicted to it but watched Mom and my nephew Caleb (11) play.
    Mimo - coloring at table
    Ha!  Trek shirt + diaper.  Classic ensemble. 
    Hudson - head
    I love this photo of Hudson and don't know exactly why.  Maybe it's because he took it himself when he was "using" my camera.
    Hudson - talking on the phone
    Hudson got bored with "coloring" and "taking photos" so he wandered over to a comfy chair and began chatting on the "phone" (toy phone).  He looks so relaxed that I wonder if he'll be a teen that talks on the phone for hours and hours?  Speaking of teens and phones…

    Anna + jocelyn - texting
    …Monday was a girls night out with three youth group girls.  Texting appears to be a common interest they share.



    It's Friday.  Will be making lists, packing for vaca, maybe seeing the girlfriends/ghost movie, watching shows from the week, going to church, reading on the deck, sorting paperwork, and listening to music.  What are you up to this weekend?