one word wednesday: love

LOVE

i was privileged to attend my cousin Natasha's wedding at the top of the world

elevation 9000' at snow basin ski resort

how often do you get to take a gondola to a wedding

this place held special significance to Natasha and her gentleman of a groom Noah

these snowbirds were engaged right on the slopes

the mountain air was crisp and the view so breathtaking

but paled in comparison to the classic beauty of my cousin

my favorite part of her exquisite wedding ensemble was the headpiece of our late grandmother toni

such a unique and gorgeous piece

the lodge was airy and grand

decorated with personal touches such as these custom drawn place cards

i roamed around the grounds

a twinge of longing to be back with my own groom

of course i had to stick my toes in the snow

something mike would definitely have passed on

the reception was unlike anything i had experienced before

a scene straight out of a movie

with the traditional jewish horah dance

mazel tov

to natasha and noah as they were hoisted high above our heads 

we circled around, clapped, and danced

it was an absolute delight

i definitely felt like i wanted a redo on my reception and be lifted up in a chair and circled about by my friends and family

maybe for our 20th

natasha has been such an important part of my life growing up

it warmed my heart to see her so happy

and to see her wearing something of our grandma's whom we both cherish so much

to be a part of a family is to know love

what have been important sources of love in your life?

be sure to capture love as you see it and share it with us by leaving a link in the comments below or tagging me @briana6 and #onewordwednesday on instagram

thank you to all of you participating

reader's favorites will be featured next week so be sure and check back

One Word Wednesday is a simple photo challenge intended to tie friends together and inspire anyone and everyone to document the everyday beauty in the world around them. Please join us every Wednesday, sharing a photo that celebrates a scene from your life on your blog and/or instagram. Each word will be announced one week in advance to give you time to think on and capture an image that celebrates that particular word. Be sure to leave a link or add hashtag #onewordwednesday and @briana6 to your photos, so that we can all share in the joy! Next week's word: BABY!

one word wednesday: vacation

VACATION

vacations are about doing things that aren't normally in your daily lineup

that is the excitement, the draw

whether that be relaxing on a lounge chair with a umbrella clad glass in your hand

or dragging behind a john deere lawn mower, blades off of course

this has to be the most talked about vacation event by our boys

being with their utah cousins in and on and behind the 'tractor'

an annual tradition for their family

one in which we've only been able to enjoy a few years but that has not dimmed its luster

even i've gotten in on the action

dragging behind that thing gives you an incredible ab workout i tell you

see my death grip here

you have to keep a stronghold or you're bound to have a few mischievous fingers try to peel your own fingers off

no moms or kids were harmed in the shooting of this post

what has been your family's favorite vacation event?
would love to hear what you have been up to this summer
show us a little preview of your summer vacation.

TREAT

i had some serious summer treat envy seeing these scrumptious delectables you are consuming

any extras?

@shansummer  //  @lillianahoag   //   @wannerdr   //  @molscopey  //  @livingstonshfob  // @lexixd

One Word Wednesday is a simple photo challenge intended to tie friends together and inspire anyone and everyone to document the everyday beauty in the world around them. Please join us every Wednesday, sharing a photo that celebrates a scene from your life on your blog and/or instagram. Each word will be announced one week in advance to give you time to think on and capture an image that celebrates that particular word. Be sure to leave a link or add hashtag #onewordwednesday and @briana6 to your photos, so that we can all share in the joy! Next week's word: LOVE!

popeye's ice cream - one word wednesday: treat

i am so grateful for women in my life whose love for things of the kitchen spills over and the crumbs of their know-how and enthusiasm fall below to me to my benefit
i have so many family members and friends who know of my insecurities and often pass on recipes to me with words of encouragement
as well as statements that this recipe is so easy, even i can do it and not mess it up

while visiting my sister in law Karen in Utah this month
{you remember her from this post and her blog  Sew Stitchin' Cute}
she shared with us her special version of
Popeye’s Ice Cream

throwing things in a blender, 
now that’s a recipe i can handle

***

here is the recipe with Karen's modifications:

3/4 C. half & half or creamer (you can probably also just use milk here)
1/2 banana
2/3 C. powdered milk 
1/4 C. agave or honey (if you're using the creamer you can omit this or just put in a little- maybe 1/8 cup or less)
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups spinach (feel free to throw in some kale if you've got it- it won't affect the taste)
2 cups ice

blend and enjoy every heavenly bite :)

we are huge fans of the Vita-mix at our house
smoothies are a staple
and my kids are no strangers to spinach and kale
two ingredients most often added to our favorite smoothies

eyan enjoyed being my little helper
and yes that is him voluntarily putting spinach in the blender

we all loved this refreshing summer treat
the consistency akin to a slushie more than an ice cream
maybe next time i’ll try more ice
but then the kids might not be able to don these fashionable green mustaches they crack themselves up with
i can't count how many trips to the mirror were taken whilst consuming our
Popeye's ice cream

at least now i know what tate will look like as a man
he seriously looks so old with his spinach mustache

mine didn't have time to create any mustaches or messes of any kind
straight down it went
it has such a rich creamy flavor, a half glass is plenty

moms for decades continue to shout their praise of a squinty-eyed, power-punched sailor man
i’m strong to the finich
cause i eats me spinach
i’m Popeye the sailor man

TREAT

what summer treats have you enjoyed?

can't wait to see all those delectable delights flooding the instagram feed

make sure to tag #onewordwednesday and me at @briana6

catching up with some of my favorites from the past weeks one word wednesday

today, reflection, summer, hello

thank you to everyone who has been participating and following along

@natalie4hudson  /    @shansummer   /  @molscopey   /   @lillianahoag   /   @juststitched   /   @lexixd

One Word Wednesday is a simple photo challenge intended to tie friends together and inspire anyone and everyone to document the everyday beauty in the world around them. Please join us every Wednesday, sharing a photo that celebrates a scene from your life on your blog and/or instagram. Each word will be announced one week in advance to give you time to think on and capture an image that celebrates that particular word. Be sure to leave a link or add hashtag #onewordwednesday and @briana6 to your photos, so that we can all share in the joy! Next week's word: VACATION!

one word wednesday: hello

HELLO

hello!
today i wanted to say hello and share some random quirky things about me
spoken to you in true briana fashion
stream of consciousness
remember that term from 10th grade english
stream of consciousness
:  the continuous unedited chronological flow of conscious experience through the mind

ooo this next definition makes my ramblings sound more sophisticated

stream of consciousness

: a narrative technique that gives the impression of a mind at work, jumping from one observation, sensation, or reflection to the next.

so here is the impression of my mind at work
saying hello and sharing five random tid bits about me

**i knocked out my front teeth when i was eight.  i tripped on a step at 7-11 and swallowed them.  true story.  we went to get a slurpee as a substitute treat since getting tossed high in the air in an eskimo blanket was too dangerous.  we lived in Anchorage at the time.  i now have beautiful teeth, that’s a whole other story...with a saga in between.

**according to others i am the loudest chewer ever.  i close my mouth when i chew, i promise.  apparently i have jaws of steel, which is ironic since i have teeth like glass ready to shatter at the first sign of runts, skittles or fruit & nut bars...yes all things i have broken my teeth on.  i guess my chewing is like nails on a chalkboard to mike some because they get up and leave the room or make mean comments when i chew in their ear on the phone.

**i know i am the worst at making sound effects and doing accents.  now i just think its funny to attempt them and watch people’s faces.  all my accents seem to sound the same.  scurvy pirate meets irish pub owner.  although i guess i have my own accent because i get asked where i’m from all the time.   i was told i sounded French-Texan once.  it really is a family accent though.  we all sound the same.  ask us to say ‘pants’ or ‘mountain’ or ‘already’
name that sound effect:
hi-ya.  puhpuhpuh.  kuh-chhh
.kcik etarak .nug .uoy eveileb t’nod i nehw em

**i am a terrible liar.  can’t do it.  you can read it all over my beat red face adorned with uncontainable emerging smirk.  could never be a magician, surprise party thrower, or undercover agent... although i want to be sydney bristow when i grow up.  but who doesn’t.  best. show. ever.  alias, that is.

**i seriously have a need to go rollerskating.  the kind with four wheels.  i had a white pair with purple wheels and stopper as a little girl.  i have been wanting to go for years.  i suggested it for mike’s birthday party, but got shot down.  maybe one day i’ll be the cool kid that looks over their shoulder going backwards by moving one of their skates quickly in a ‘s’ motion.

so there you go
could you follow along
if you made it this far you are a true friend

looking forward to seeing you say hello to me today for one word wednesday
and sharing some random things about yourself as well.

thanks to my eight year old photographer for capturing these silly photos of mom today

reader favorites to come.....i promise:)  
check back later today, off to the pool.  i know, you wish you could come!
well, come on over.

One Word Wednesday is a simple photo challenge intended to tie friends together and inspire anyone and everyone to document the everyday beauty in the world around them. Please join us every Wednesday, sharing a photo that celebrates a scene from your life on your blog and/or instagram. Each word will be announced one week in advance to give you time to think on and capture an image that celebrates that particular word. Be sure to leave a link or add hashtag #onewordwednesday and @briana6 to your photos, so that we can all share in the joy! Next week's word: TREAT!

one word wednesday: summer

SUMMER

summer summer summertime

to sing a little will smith

yesterday was our last full day of our kick-off summer vacation here in the beautiful Salt Lake Valley

if you have never had the privilege of visiting this incredibly lovely state of Utah

i would highly recommend it

each time i come, the grandeur of those Rocky Mountains penetrate my soul and i am in awe again and again

i can't turn away

here in the valley no matter which way you turn you are surrounded

which i guess ... is the definition of a valley

felicity is my little fish

she is fearless in the water

which is a first in this family

when all my boys were this age the biggest accomplishment was to get them to have water poured on their head without screaming

we have had some seriously patient swim instructors over the years

see Owen's four year old self here in swim lessons

we are sad for our vacation to come to a close

all the kids have voiced their declaration this morning that they will not be leaving grammy's house

the tears are most definitely coming soon
it may be the longest flight of our lives

how have you kick-started your summer?
can't wait to see your photos today for one word wednesday

being on the go with some bare essentials of blogging

i'm unable to feature some of my reader's favorites

i will be sure to showcase both weeks next one word wednesday

One Word Wednesday is a simple photo challenge intended to tie friends together and inspire anyone and everyone to document the everyday beauty in the world around them. Please join us every Wednesday, sharing a photo that celebrates a scene from your life on your blog and/or instagram. Each word will be announced one week in advance to give you time to think on and capture an image that celebrates that particular word. Be sure to leave a link or add hashtag #onewordwednesday and @briana6 to your photos, so that we can all share in the joy! Next week's word: HELLO!

one word wednesday: reflection

REFLECTION

this week wedding bells have rang loudly in my ear

i had the privilege of attending my dear cousin's most exquisite wedding in the tops of the snow capped rocky mountains

as well as be present at one of the most exciting milestones in my baby sister's life

wedding dress shopping

with Felicity in tow we delighted in the ivory and lace adorning countless gowns

i was pleased to capture this little moment of Felicity gazing at all the 'princess dresses'

her spunky little reflection spreading across the dress shop

when have you looked at your child to see a reflection of their future?

i am counting on her staying three

how i want her to freeze her little sassy self in time

but oh how i know i will treasure each stage as they come

til one day her reflection will include some ivory and lace of her own

being on the go with some bare essentials of blogging

i'm unable to feature some of my reader's favorites

i will be sure to showcase both weeks next one word wednesday

One Word Wednesday is a simple photo challenge intended to tie friends together and inspire anyone and everyone to document the everyday beauty in the world around them. Please join us every Wednesday, sharing a photo that celebrates a scene from your life on your blog and/or instagram. Each word will be announced one week in advance to give you time to think on and capture an image that celebrates that particular word. Be sure to leave a link or add hashtag #onewordwednesday and @briana6 to your photos, so that we can all share in the joy! Next week's word: SUMMER!

one word wednesday: today

TODAY

these are the todays that make all the labors of life worthwhile
the miracle of life breaths a sweet and convincing reminder of its grandeur all bundled in the form of a beautiful newborn babe
little Sawyer arrived to bring joy and heavenly peace to my sister Vanessa and her husband Josh
i felt privileged to enter into this realm of love and wonder

it was eleven years today that i became a mom

a feeling of being made complete in a way i never expected or felt possible

a feeling of tranquility and joy overwhelming my whole being

i held my darling baby boy and for the first time felt a glimpse of how much i am loved by my Heavenly Father

these past eleven years have been a time of tremendous growth for both mother and son 

especially over the past year

i am so grateful for the young man Owen is becoming

our past events of difficulty is molding him into a compassionate and caring man

love you my little daydreamer

my inventor

my engineer

my sensitive soul

joining me today in one word wednesday 

is the lovely jenna from jenna lou designs

she is experiencing tremendous growth in her business 

one she is grown from the ground up

and has blossomed from her consistent nourishment and dedication

@molscopey / @flyersgirl436 / @shansummer / @simplycathi / @4handfuls / @mandybphotos

i loved seeing the variety of photos this week

each a testament to the growth they see in their own world

thank you so much for everyone who participated

One Word Wednesday is a simple photo challenge intended to tie friends together and inspire anyone and everyone to document the everyday beauty in the world around them. Please join us every Wednesday, sharing a photo that celebrates a scene from your life on your blog and/or instagram. Each word will be announced one week in advance to give you time to think on and capture an image that celebrates that particular word. Be sure to leave a link or add hashtag #onewordwednesday and @briana6 to your photos, so that we can all share in the joy! Next week's word: REFLECTION!

what have you experienced today that has you stopping to take notice?