My sister-in-law’s name is Ginger but she occasionally gets junk mail for Finger. It’s pretty funny.
Phone Photo Friday
09/25/2009
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Art, Art: Phone Photo Friday, Family, Family: Extended Family and Friends | Tagged: cell phone, finger, junk mail, Phone Photo Friday | 
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Posted by mahlbrandt
¡Feliz Cumpleaños!
09/16/2009My Mexican-food-loving husband turns 27 today! Words cannot express how much I love this man. He is hard-working, creative, thoughtful, discerning, smart, talented, funny… Maybe more than anything else Jason is passionate. Passionate about music, passionate about God, passionate about art, passionate about loving people, passionate about living life to the fullest. He is an all-around great guy and I consider myself very honored to be his wife.
We started the birthday celebration last night with dinner at Cinco de Mayo where Jason gracefully endured wearing the giant sombrero and getting whipped cream smeared on his face while the waiters sang happy birthday – all for the sake of a free dessert. I think it was worth it.
Happy Birthday baby! I love you!
1 Comment | Family, Family: Jason | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
Blue Heron
09/08/2009My brother was visiting last weekend and my parents took us all on a Blue Heron boat cruise on the Cumberland River.
It was very relaxing. Most of the time the view looked like this:
We didn’t see any heron but we did see a lot of turtles.
The hour cruise includes free sodas and snacks.
Above: my big brother and my hubby. Below: my parents
It got pretty hot in the sun but there were some pretty umbrellas to use for shade.(My husband is so cute!)
Leave a Comment » | Art, Art: God's creation, Family | Tagged: Blue Heron, Cumberland river, river boat cruise | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
Phone Photo Friday
09/04/2009
Poor LuLu, my sweet little chocolate cocker spaniel. She absolutely hates having to go out in the rain so walking her is my only choice. At least Lucy’s doggie rain coat is adorable!
Leave a Comment » | Art, Art: fashion, Art: Phone Photo Friday, Family, Family: Lucy | Tagged: cell phone, cocker spaniel, dog rain coat, Lucy, Phone Photo Friday, photography | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
Babies and Elephants
08/26/2009It seems like every few weeks I find out another friend is pregnant. Does that just happen at my age or are A LOT of people pregnant right now?
The best part of having pregnant friends is, of course, babies! Last week I got to meet 2 new babies!
Mikaelyn:
and Benjamin:
I had to patiently wait 2.5 weeks to meet handsome little Benjamin. (He lives out of town.) But it was worth the wait! Mikaelyn, on the other hand, I had the privilege of meeting 1 day after she was born. How cool is it to hold a newborn baby?? I’m so AMAZED at the miracle of life — to be able to hold a little bugger that just INSIDE my friend the day before. It blows my mind. God is so awesome!
I sewed Mikaelyn a fleece elephant pillow:
Her room is decorated in an elephant theme and I really wanted to come up with a design that was an “M” and also an elephant. (Can you tell I’m a graphic designer?) After a couple of days of searching and sketching, I found this inspiration finally:
I hope she likes it!
Jason and I look pretty good with one of these, don’t you think?
Though I do have to say, if our future-someday-theoretical baby comes out with a full head of dark hair like these 2 did, I’ll be completely shocked!
I was making the elephant pillow WHILE Mikaelyn was bring delivered so I didn’t pause long enough to take step-by-step photos. However, if anyone is interested, I can draw up instructions. Just let me know!
1 Comment | Art, Art: crafts, Family, Family: Extended Family and Friends | Tagged: babies, crafts, elephant pillow, sewing | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
What my nightstand says about me
08/24/2009What’s on my nightstand?
an IKEA lamp
an copy of Alice in Wonderland from the 1940’s (on loan from my sister-in-law … it belonged to her grandmother)
Paper Source catalog
Vaseline
Geriatric size digital alarm clock
Dust
What does this say about me?
I love cheap and modern home decor. I like to read before falling asleep or graze through creative stationery catalogs. I have a very sweet, trusting sister-in-law. My lips are soft in the morning. I can’t see anything more than 18″ from my face without my glasses on. Cleaning is not a priority for me, much to my sweet husband’s perturbation.
* * * * *
That all sounds about right. 🙂 Got this idea from Joy the Baker. She has lots of delicious dessert recipes on her blog. This nightstand reveal idea was actually an intro to a Lemon Rosemary Palmier cookie recipe but I thought it would be fun to do my own.
1 Comment | Art, Art: modern design, Family: Me | Tagged: home, my atomic ranch, nightstand | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
Phone Photo Friday
08/21/2009
Leave a Comment » | Art, Art: Phone Photo Friday, Family, Family: Extended Family and Friends | Tagged: cell phone, newborn baby, Phone Photo Friday, photography | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
Cup of Inspiration
08/20/2009
I’m very sad to report that my favorite tea cup — the one I use EVERYday — the one that my best friend fellow graphic designer gave me — did not survive the office move. :: sad tears ::
I just discovered a new blog called Naturally Nina and it’s full of beautiful inspiration. Her mug shot post (where I found these pictures) gives me hope. I will find a new “design-licious receptacle” for my morning cup of tea.
2 Comments | Art, Art: modern design, Family, Family: Extended Family and Friends | Tagged: friends, inspiration, mug, tea cup | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
2009 East Nashville Tomato Art Fest
08/12/2009One of my favorite things about East Nashville is the annual Tomato Art Fest in historic 5-Points. There are all kinds of activities like a 5K run, red-head contests, tomato beauty pageants, NOLA-style parade, vintage fashion shows, local artisan vendors, burrito eating contests, wine tastings, bloody mary contests, lots of tomato inspired art and like every Nashville festival — tons of live music. I’ll let the photos do most of the talking.
Wonders on Woodland mid-century antiques:
More vintage items for sale out front. I Dream of Weenie in the background. (I love these goofballs.)
Fanny’s House of Music:
The Groove new & used vinyl, CD’s & more:
2 Comments | Art, Art: crafts, Art: mid-century design, Art: music, Family | Tagged: Art, East Nashville, east nashville tomato art fest, live music, mid-century design, paintings, tomato festival, tomatoes | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
Remembering Dorothy Jean Good
08/10/2009One year ago today I held my granny’s hand while she took her last breath and went home to be with Jesus. No more cancer, no more Alzheimer’s, no more pain; now she’s free, whole and rejoicing with angels!
I thought it would be nice to remember her through some of my favorite pictures.
This picture is from a family reunion and I honestly don’t know who most of these kids are. I do know that Granny is holding me and has her right hand on my brother Aaron’s shoulder (the very tan kid with white-blonde hair!), my cousin Damian is to his right, my cousin Nick is to Granny’s left and that’s my sister Jessica in the red, white and blue suit (also very tan!). circa 1985
The swimming pool in my grandparent’s backyard kept our family together every summer for many, many years.
Papa, Granny and Jessica (their first grand-baby), circa 1979:
Granny and Papa loved camping in their “fifth wheel”. This picture reminds me of two things: Granny gave the BEST hugs and my big sister was a twirp. circa 1980
Granny and Papa worked very hard but they also took time to go on vacation – often a beach vacation to Ocean City, Maryland or Myrtle Beach, South Carolina most summers. Here, Granny and Papa with me and my siblings. circa 1986
On my wedding day Granny told me she never thought she’d live long enough to see one of her grandkids get married. I’m so glad she was there on my wedding day! 2003
1 Comment | Family | Tagged: grandmother, granny, remembering | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
myMCMlife.com 