So I kept mentioning the Eccles Art Center in Ogden and I couldn't get it out of my head. I went there this morning and took loads of pictures. Don’t worry, I won’t post all of them- I'm sure you don't give a hoot about it ;)
Here's a collage of the house overall- it's an art gallery now, so it's not fully furnished:
Bathroom goodness:
Gloruis angles, archways and hallways:
Amazing secret compartment!:
Great fireplace:
Beautiful staircase with nook/balcony that connects between a bedroom and powder room:
Closet hideout under stairs:
Wicked sweet mirror and great crown molding:
Built in shelves in dining room:
Egg shaped archway leading to wrap around balcony:
Spectacular sink in bedroom:
Skylight:
Post script: While I love this old Victorian, it doesn’t mean I want a house full of busy wallpaper and Victorian furnishings. I want my house full of Laura and family found and created treasures from any era…well, excluding orange and mustard yellow crap…eclectic, art, thrift store etc.
For today's Valentine Celebration I am going to describe my dream house. I don't know why this is romantic, maybe it's because it's a dream. I'm describing all of my possibly impossibles. As a way to divide up the description of my dream home, I am going to describe it room by room. No boundaries, no budget.
Eccles Art Center
Here are some random things. I want the vibe of the inside of the house to be a mixture between the Eccles Art Center in Ogden, UT, and the Royal Tenenbaums house in one of my all time favorite movies- The Royal Tenenbaums (preferably edited). Yes yes, The royal Tenenbaum house, only in the country and with a color scheme more similar to that of the upstairs parlor room and hallway in the Brigham Young house in St. George, Utah. I want interesting shapes all over- archways, slanted ceilings, etc. I want a secret compartment/cupboard playroom. I want a door that leads to nowhere. I want a bookshelf that leads to a secret annex. I want a round tower room in the top with lots of windows and walls lined with books. While I love all sorts of colors, I love the outdoors and I want my house to feel peaceful with blues, greens, browns and other natural colors. Natural wood triming all around.
For the kitchen I just want it to have the modern usuals and extras, garbage disposal, huge sink, two wall mounted ovens and if possible, a booth for eating. I love booths. I like retro, but I also love natural wood cupboards and floors.
The Master bath is one of the most important rooms because I love long baths. It has to have a giant bathtub- either a classic free standing, infinity or floor level tub. It just has to be huge and smooth- no jets. Lots of hot water, and a skylight above it; also the bathroom would have two windows because I hate bathrooms with no windows. The sink would be a pedestal sink and there would be ample storage room for my toiletries. There would also be a vanity station with a large mirror and a smaller pedestal mirror. The overall look would be old fashioned, just like the one on the second floor of the Eccles Art Center (Oh, I wish I had pictures of it!) It’s tiled everywhere with nice light pastel turquoise and white tiles. Also I would have a Homestar Spa Planetarium because they’re wicked cool!
For the master bedroom I don’t care that much I guess. I want a king size bed with some sort of canopy. I would want it to be painted with soft and soothing colors, and no TV in the bedroom. I would definitely need a wicked amazing closet that could organize all the goods- one that’s big enough to dance in, hide in and dress in.
Living room: Eclectic, full of my chotchkies and treasures, fireplace, rug, books, art galore.
Dining room: Hand crafted fireplace by actual carpenter who uses real wood and builds to last and look good. One of a kind. Lot's of light. Unique and wonderful chandelier. Like this, only with more color and less eggs things...
In the family room I’d like a giant projector and screen with simple DVD, vhs and sound system. You see, I’m a big movie buff and I want to view them at their best, but I also want to be able to just turn the dang thing on without having to look up the instructions in the manual every time. It’s really annoying when there are 1300 settings and buttons. Give me volume, play, pause, on, off, stop, rewind and fast forward- the basics.
In the backyard, which would be several acres with trees and room to run and play, I would want an awesome tree house, pool, hot tub, slide, swings and garden
I think that's about it. And you see, the thing is, I could be happy anywhere. I used to hate living in St. George and now I love it. I though I would hate the snow and I don't. I loved living in Virginia. I think I could be happy anywhere- but I wouldn't mind living in Pine Valley :)
Speaking of being happy anywhere...I guess that's what I like about myself today. I have learned to be happy anywhere (so far ;))I was rethinking my blog about my dream guy. I mean yeah, it would be nice if I found a great guy who dressed well, but the reality is, I don't care that much. Recently I have been attracted to a guy who dresses pretty average. Yeah, I'd like a James Dean, but I'm a okay with a Jim Halpert. Ya know? A good man is a good man.
Speaking of style:
You know who doesn't like Billy Joel? Douchebag music snobs.
One is FAR superior to the other. Can you guess which one?
I hope that you picked the one on top as the victor, because it is superior. The fruit one went south with the rotten grapes :(
Today's what i love about myself is my creativity. I love that I can think of things that are "creative." Like in elementary when I won a reflections contest because I drew panda bears on an island eating the wrong kind of leaves...haha. Or like in middle school when I won an award in the science fair for attempting to make meat smelling perfume. PS. I did not succeed, but it was creative :) Here is some of my old creativity:
Tonight I watched a documentary called Food Inc. (thanks for the reminder to watch it Hayley). Food Inc. has been on my Netflix queue for a while now and tonight after reading Hayley's blog about it, I finally watched!
I totally agree with everything Food Inc. featured. We don't eat food- we eat hormones and crap. I am just baffled that people think when they pump growth hormones (designed to make animals, and just about anything you can harvest, grow at rapid rates, like 3 times normal) into something, that the hormones just disappear somewhere along the way. Sorry, but that just doesn't follow logic. The hormones and chemicals aren't going away; they're going into your body. If the hormones and crap make something grow at an abnormal rate, what do you think it's going to do to your body!? Uggh, okay, I need to quit while I'm ahead. Since about August I've been trying to eat healthy; I eat as much organic, raw, fresh and from scratch as possible. My goal to love myself and treat my body with more respect starts with eating even more healthily. Like stop buying so much processed food and start buying my meat organic and local if possible. Additionally I miss my vegetarian days and I'm going to attempt to cut more and more meat out.
AWESOME BOOK!
It's okay if you don't agree with me, or if you think something like Food Inc. is just liberal propaganda. I just think it's logical. I'm pretty conservative myself and tomorrow I'm going to blog about my dream house. It might surprise you to know my dream house is in the country with a lot of old fashioned things. But like I said, that's for tomorrow’s blog.
Day two's activity was watching a great old romantic comedy!
1936’s My Man Godfrey is about a whacky socialite who picks up a “forgotten man,” aka hobo, for a rich people scavenger hunt. Irene takes a liking to the hobo and decides to hire him as the family’s new butler. It reminds me of The Happiest Millionaire because it’s about a crazy rich family who can’t keep a butler because of their antics. Godfrey, the gobo butler helps whip Irene’s family into shape, and I’m sure you could guess by the cover, Irene and Godfrey marry. PS. Godfrey may not be as much of a hobo as he appears to be…
My Man Godfrey is a great movie and a real moral and spirit booster! I strongly recommend it!
Apparently you can see it in color, I watched it black and white.
As for what I love about myself, today it's my ears. They're little. They're normal looking. They don't stick out. They hold earrings well and don't sag. Additionally they don't get infected from earrings; they're real little troopers. I LOVE MY EARS.
So for today's Valentine celebration I decided to write a love poem to myself, and to be more efficient my poem will address something I love about myself- thus fulfilling my blog quest as well.
ODE TO LAURA
I don’t know how to pronounce your name
Lara
Lauwra
Lora
I However you say it, it doesn’t matter
You’ll always be you, making a clatter
Lover of cat paraphernalia
Lover of bumble bees
Lover of water and camping…but not so much of peas
You have curly hair and blue eyes to die for
Your abbreviated name rhymes with whore
Lovely neck dimple
Lovely little toes
Lovely big nose
No matter what happens, in this life or the next
About one thing, you will never be perplexed
Latch on to the truth
Lay hold of your dreams
Love every minute on these, life’s streams
Uggh, I always feel so corny when I write poems! Haha, hope you liked it! Can I just emphasize that I actually like my neck dimple- I do. It’s only there when I flex my neck and it creeps Becky out, but I like it. And that my friends, is day one of loving myself. I HEART MY NECK DIMPLE. Haha!
So my friend Shelley made this group on Facebook that celebrates Valentines. This si the group description:
"A 14 day celebration of all things lovely and a countdown to the holiday d'amour! Everyday we are to complete some romantically exciting task. If you are single or have always been indifferent or perhaps even bitterly loathed V- Day, that is ok. You can take this as an opportunity to fall madly in love with yourself.
These are our ideas so far:
-French picnics (fancy bread, cheese, grapes, dark chocolate, champagne/ sparkling cider, fabulous locale)
-skinny dipping
-making frilly valentines
- baking sweets and delivering them anonymously (secret admirers) -watching "Dear John"
- streaking
-uno or yahtzee on Dixie rock or the town make out spot of your choice
-taking yourself to dinner and a movie (this is not as scary as it sounds)
-line dancing
-dancing in general
-streaking
-speed dating
-going on an actual date
-zumba
-chick-flicks and facials
-early morning yoga
-karaoke
-luxurious bubble baths by candle light
-buying chocolate and flowers for somebody (yourself, mom, or best friend will work)
-Learn French pick up lines
-reading trashy paperback romance novels
Anyway, just post your suggestions and make it happen! Obviously these don't have to go in any specific order or be with the same people but maybe doing some of them together might be fun.
Spread the word!"
Here are some of my ideas to add to the list:
I motion to add dancing alone, in public or private, to the list. I once saw a guy robot dancing hardcore on a street corner- I bet he loved himelf.
I also motion to add listening to Marvin Gaye and carving your name, surrounded by a heart, on a tree (or maybe just draw it somewhere if you don't want to hurt a tree.
Also making a collage about yourself.
Also putting glow in the dark stars on your ceiling.
Also buying frilly undies- even if no one else sees them.
Additionaly I have decided to blog each day about something I love about me. That's right, you get to read about how awesome I am for 14 days. And it can't just be things like, "I love my cat sock collection," even though I do love it- I am not a cat sock. So, get ready- HERE WE GO!
I feel so congested with conflicting emotions that I don't know how to release them! It's like they are bloating in my chest and I'm about to pop! I'm stressed out about a lot of things, and yet I can see the many things I have to be grateful for.
I have to go to small claims court because someone thinks they can solve their problems by taking money from me. The only problem is- they've got nothing and really they're going to hurt themselves having to pay court fees. I've had nightmares about this since I received the summons at the beginning of December! Nightmares about an old friend! Nightmares during Thanksgiving and Christmas! My father almost died and I was having nightmares about some midget-dramatic person! I'm trying to take four masters classes and get a job, and all I can think about is thursday ThursdayTHURSDAY! It's all so ridiculous and I wish I could shout to the world what injustice has been laid upon me...but I can't. I've prayed through this process since the beginning of November and I can't go to their level. I have to be strong and be the best I can be.
I'm having the worst time getting back into a healthy academic schedule. Since my first week of classes was so thrown off I've not been doing so well with the studying...I've tried to study and all I end up doing is re-watching Excess Baggage, Roswell episodes, online TV; reading Island of the Blue Dolphins and now Shabanu- anything to escape my reality, even if I'm escaping to an abandoned island (actually that sounds fantastic) or a barren desert with enraged male camels attacking me. I stay up until two, wake up around 10...the only thing I succeeding at is eating healthy and making an amazing Dolly Parton cake.
I have so much to be grateful for. I moved into a great new house. I love my roommates (one of which plays the mandolin and guitar and I love to hear her practice, and it also renews my desire to get a banjo!) and landlord. I’m actually not hating the snow and cold. I can walk to class. I like my classes and teachers. My new singles ward is lovely and full of lovely people. I have an art desk! I bought Star Wars Valentines. SEE! I have so much to be grateful for!!!
Random thought trail: I mentioned that I’ve just read Island of the Blue Dolphins. It’s funny because I dream of that solitude. An island where no one can sue me. An island where the animals, storms, ocean, survival and beauty are my only companions. Here’s the funny part, I dream of that peaceful solitude without PEOPLE, and yet one of my biggest stresses is solitude. I’m alone most of the time. I miss my friends in S. Utah, Virginia, Delaware and everywhere else. I miss being packed into a room with three crazy girls. So which do I want? The island with no companions? Or the desert with nasty older men forcing me to wed and bed (Shabanu)? Haha.
I feel like this has been too negative. The reality beyond my own self pitying is that I have a loving family. I’m in a great education program. I love the snow. I love my roommates, house, landlord, glow in the dark ceiling stars and life. I love my friends near and far. I will survive court and it will give me experience and knowledge. I will pass my classes and get into a good homework schedule. I will get a lovely job working with kids who are autistic, special education or general ED. I get to walk to class! I have a hiking class waiting for me in March. I have Star Wars valentines. One of my best friends lives only 1 ½ hours away! I’m getting a new niece in April. I HAVE SO MUCH TO BE GRATEFUL FOR!
