Goodbye.

Like much of the world today, I am so saddened by the loss of Steve Jobs. It is literally mind blowing to think of the impact that this incredible visionary had on our society. Things that we take completely for granted may have never been part of the day-to-day vernacular if one man would have decided that following his dreams was to complicated, that his passion wasn't enough to base a career on or that his brilliance wouldn't live up to the expectations of others. Imagine for just a moment if Mr. Jobs had sold himself short. If he would have allowed doubt to incapacitate him from moving forward. If he would have given power to the naysayers. If he would have let conventional wisdom chart the course of his life. If he would have let words like complicated & difficult define his revolutionary inventions. 

In only 56 short years on this planet, he made it possible to literally touch the virtual world, he changed how we define music & video entertainment, he made digital interaction truly personal, he made an infinite amount of information just a single touch away, he lived life fully expecting the impossible to become possible and he was simply ... genius. I find him deeply inspirational on many levels. It leaves me wondering what more he could have accomplished if his life was not cut short. He will surely be missed, but not forgotten. I sit here contemplating his life and I ca't help but wonder, what must it have felt like in his final moments in this world to know, without so much as a whisper of doubt, that he had touched millions of lives and forever altered the course of society as a whole? Powerful.  I cannot wrap my mind around that concept. Cheers to a live well lived. 

 

ABC NEWS REMEMBERS STEVE JOBS

STEVE JOBS: HOW TO LIVE BEFORE YOU DIE {STANFORD UNIVERSITY, 2005}

hello there baby.

my adorable little niece, charlotte ann, graced us with her presence on wednesday, september 28 at 3:38pm. she is absolute perfection. even though she decided to make her appearance about 17 days early, she was a very healthy 7 lbs, 20.4 lbs. and is already rockin' a head full of super cute curly black hair. my brother & his wife are the picture of calm, especially for first time parents. she literally didn't even break a sweat. i mean, childbirth is a piece of cake right?!

i feel so incredibly fortunate to have been able to snuggle her just a few hours after she was born. she's so tiny and she makes the funniest little faces. i am looking forward to a lifetime of memories & milestones with her. congratulations on your precious new addition!! she is going to be one cool little lady with parents like you.

did i mention that charlie is my Granny's 10th GREAT-GRANDCHILD! that is simply unbelievable to me. what else can i say? babies are just an absolute miracle. especially when they are perfect. i am a very proud sister & aunt. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLOTTE!! 

Blog Silence

it sure has been quiet over here on the boatman blog lately, huh?
well, our lives have been anything but quiet. just about every day has been filled with the humming of the sewing machine, the roaring of saws, the whirring of sanders and the whooshing of paint brushes. our little adventure into entrepreneurship has been a busy one. we jumped in, wielding our tools and talents to join forces with some dear friends of ours creating a small business called TRENDY TOOLBOX. it has sort of taken on a life of its own. we are so grateful for the extra money and the blessing of being partners with such amazing and creative people. sorry for the blog silence over here, but even if i was being a good blogger, most of my posts would be focused on my splinters, stained fingernails and sore back. our company is awesome. check us out. if you want something and you don't see anything like it on our site, call us anyway. we would be glad to hear your ideas. have a great day.

     

Check out what we have been up to over at www.trendytoolbox.com

DIY Baby Gifts for my Niece

i am thrilled that i am going to be an aunt again. my little brother and his wife are having their baby girl in october and today family and friends gathered to celebrate her upcoming arrival. as expected, there was much food, much laughter and much love. this sweet baby girl isn't going to know what hit her. there will always be a line a mile long to see her and hold her and rock her and squeeze her. for the record, i am staking my claim at the front of that line. i got dibs people ... are you hearing me?!

anyhow, i digress. my sister-in-law is one of the most amazingly creative people i have ever known. this of course lends itself to her having a fun, quirky, unique style. she has this way about her of turning the most mundane object into the PERFECT thing. something totally and uniquely hers. i am astounded by this talent always. and a little jealous if i'm being frank. it also makes gift giving, shall we say "challenging":)

i decided to embrace some of my own diy talents and try my hand at some special gifts for the shower. i wanted to give her something meaningful and something i hoped she would love. {fingers crossed}. i made a set of adorable, vintage style wooden blocks and a super snuggly baby blanket.

the blocks have been a project i have been looking forward to making. in a creative burst i thought of the idea and have been waiting to gift them to someone! a little nerve-racking in the beginning, but it all panned out. her stamped name on all the patterned paper just makes my heart smile. tons of patterns and colors to keep her interested. i hope.

i can thank my dear granny and mom for teaching me how to crochet a few years ago. i loved the little scalloped corners! they turned out looking like little petals on the ends of the blanket. the heather gray yarn was so soft and beautiful. however, i couldn't resist just a touch of peach with the flowers. peach, not pink. the blanket is under the blocks in the above pics. i think i have a better photo but i couldn't find it. i'll look again.  ** UPDATE ... i found them **

baby grubbs is sure to be loved beyond measure. her parents were literally showered with both love and gifts today. you know there are sometimes when i see my family and i think "geez. am i really related to this pack of loons?" then there are other times, like today, when i look around at a room full of wonderfully different individuals and think "geez. how did i get so lucky to have an incredible family like this?" family is big part of my life and today i felt truly blessed to be a part of one that continues to grow and evolve in ways that none of us could have imagined. i am so very lucky.

The San Francisco Treat.

No, not rice-a-roni. The San Francisco treat for us was our work/play vacation there this past week. The timing was absolutely impeccable. Saying that we were overdue for a little adventure and relaxation is the understatement of the day. It was such a fun trip and I have tons of great recommendations for anyone headed west to Cali.

I say this was a work/play vacation because we had our annual Subway Convention in downtown San Francisco for a few days and then we snuck off together for a few days. The convention was great. We got to see lots of subway peeps from all over the country. It is always fun to catch up and see how things have been going for everyone since last year. We sampled lots of delicious food from the vendors, gathered up tons of cute (mostly useless) tchotches from the trade show floor and checked out all the goodies coming up for the next year in the Subway world.

Vacation, in my universe, is largely defined by the eating lots of great food, preferably local fare that I can't get back at home. Avoiding chains when possible. I enjoy trying out local haunts and taking advice from cabbies/hotel staff/etc. on the best places to grab a bite. Some of my san fran favorites:

• The Grove Cafe: to die for sandwiches, fresh squeezed juices, biggest breakfast burrito I have ever laid eyes on! and a cool, eclectic atmosphere. This one easily made it to the top of my list.
• John's Grill: delicious steak and seafood. fun fact, it was the setting for the maltese falcon.
• Annabelle's Bar and Bistro: they do an herb rubbed, rotisserie chicken with a quick flash-fry (yum!). the juiciest and most flavorful fried chicken I have ever eaten. 

PS: the shopping off market street in union square is absolutely insane. If you have money to burn, you would love this area. Too much for me and my empty pockets ... but worth remembering if I hit the lottery.

Then, we headed off for our Boatman vacay. Where did we go you ask? An all around decadent tour of Napa Valley and Sonoma. Beautiful. Breathtaking. Truly unforgettable. This might be one of my most favorite trips we have taken together. It was such a unique experience. I am not really a wine person, but I may have been converted after this trip. Visiting all the different wineries and partaking in the tours really gave me an appreciation for the skill and precision it takes to make all those different varieties of wine. It is incredible the level of devotion that these wine makers have to the perfection of their craft. In just a few days we were able to visit several different wineries and we loved something different about each one of them. Napa and Sonoma combined boast over 400 wineries, we did our best people!

• Trinchero
• Beringer Brothers
• Rutherford Hills
• Robert Mondavi
• Francis Ford Coppola
• Ledson
• Cakebread
• Nickel and Nickel
• Benzinger
• Kunde
• Geyser Peak
• Folie a Deux
• ACE Hard Ciders

I could go on and on about each stop, but my favorite was Kunde. The view was majestic, the wine was delicious and we had a moment of serendipity - we ended up at a tasting 1,400 feet on the mountain side with Jeff Kunde, current CEO and great, great grandson of the founder, who just happened to be there entertaining a client. Just a great experience. 

Great eats on this leg of our tour:

Norman Rose Tavern: grass fed local beef hamburger, local cheese, local bread. good lord this burger. They also serve fresh, dill pickles. I honestly never knew a pickle could be THAT delicious.
Gilwood's Cafe: eggs california = the most delicious breakfast of my life. Basic eggs benedict plus tomatoes and avocado. It's topped with the most incredible hollandaise sauce ... EVER.
Healdsburg Bar and Grill: another burger. I know, I couldn't help myself. A perfect patio with tons of seating to enjoy the Utopia-like weather. The parmesan and garlic fries ... heavenly.

I MUST give a huge shout out to our hotel. The Avia in Napa Valley was perfection. It was situated right in the heart of the Napa Valley Square and within walking distance to dozens of shops and delicious restaurants. Everything was ideal and romantic. The room was incredibly cozy and featured a huge soaking tub ... i do love a good bath. Most of all I could rave for days about the incredible staff. If you ever need a place to stay in Napa ... Avia is it.

We couldn't pass up visiting Fisherman's Wharf - it's one of those must-see tourist areas. It has all the typical tourist stops and shops. It does boasts beautiful views across the bay, of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate bridge. You can also visit with the sea lions at the end of Pier 39, who are super cute I might add. Ghiradelli Square is a shining star here. The restoration and repurposing of this building is spot on. It now features shops, restaurants and 3 Ghiradelli ice cream and chocolate shops. Plus, they give you free chocolate when you visit the shops. It's worth the walk. We did a tour of Alcatraz Island and it was well worth it. Such an interesting piece of history. The audio tour was narrated by former guards and former prisoners which added a nice, authentic element to the entire experience.

TO SEE MANY MORE PICTURES -- CLICK HERE!!

Overall, just a spectacular vacation. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to create so many beautiful memories with my sweet husband. This will be a vacation we remember forever. Safe and happy travels everyone! 

Universal Wishlist ... how simple!

I love online shopping. I know many people who loather the experience, but in my book it's just GREAT! I just discovered that Amazon offers something called a Universal Wishlist. Amazing. I'm sure this isn't breaking news, but it was to me. It is like they read my mind. They have always offered the ability to do multiple wishlist within the Amazon site, but with the Universal Wishlist ... you can shop anywhere online and then with a simple click of a button, add items to your list. Again I say, amazing. Anywhere people!! That is just madness. We're talking all those sweet little finds on ETSY, Zappos, ebags, Anthro - ANY ONLINE SHOP - and it links right up. It provides the item name, shop, cost, and quantity automatically and even leaves you a box to put special notes in. Just stop, I can't take any more.

Certainly a perfect solution for those times when someone asks you what you would like for your birthday/graduation/bar mitzvha/christmas/whatever and you draw a total blank. You can make your list public and give out the link (um, hello super easy and convenient). You can also choose to keep it private and just use it as a reminder for yourself. Then, if you have a little bit of fun-money, you can come back to your list and buy that thing you were drooling over a few months ago. I am really excited about this. I feel this tool adding simplicity to my life already. For that I say ... thank you Amazon.com.

Happy shopping or should I say "wishlist-ing" peeps!

Yard Sale DONE!!!

I can't believe it actually happened. After months, no-YEARS of procrastination about actually having a yard sale it is finally over. Remember this sad post back in February where I was so happy to have made "head-way" on the yard sale prep? Fast forward five months and we have successfully completed two full days of pure unadulterated purging bliss!!! It was so worth it. We made great money, we helped a lot of people who really needed it, we donated to some charities that we wouldn't have otherwise known about and we took the rest to Goodwill where each item will hopefully find a good home. It was as perfect as a yard sale could be.

It will go down in the Boatman history books as BIGGEST YARD SALE ever. That's because we will never be having one that massive again. Madness I tell you. I couldn't have done it without my mom, my hubby and a sweet friend Katie that rushed in to lend a hand on Friday morning. Thank You!!


I feel an unbelievable sense of relief having that literal load off my back. I can't wait to continue the progress and do some more household purging/organizing/cleansing. Life feels better when you simplify & organize. Goal: Stay that way!!

Lord, Save Us From Your Followers

Lord, Save Us From Your Followers
This documentary is superb. Quite possibly the best I have ever seen, especially regarding religious documentaries. I found it as engaging as it was entertaining. I found myself laughing at ironic beliefs one minute and then feeling a sense of profound conviction in the next. I was hooked by the title first and then by the simple, yet poignantly true catchphrase for the movie ...

Why is the gospel of LOVE dividing America?

Dan Merchant takes this simple question and loads of curiosity on the subject of religion to the streets in a white jumpsuit covered in both Christian & secular bumper stickers. He uses this ridiculous get-up to acquire attention that makes people stop and then he can engage them in conversation. "Just pick out your favorite one," he says. Simple enough? Some popular choices from the suit-o-stickers:

Abortion: "Big People Killing Little People"

Evolution vs Creationism: "God spoke and BANG it happened!"

Hypocrisy: "Get the hell out of my way, I'm late for church."

The goal of this movie is to open the discussion between all sides of faith & culture. More often than not, religious rhetoric is divisive at best and catastrophic at worst. The staggering number of people that have been hurt in the name of religion has always been shocking to me. This documentary shows what I have always believed - that above ALL, we are called to simply LOVE one another. 

"There are some basic religious principles that could bind us together, but as a society we choose to let them tear us apart instead." Just imagine if we really tried to have conversations about things we disagreed on. We might find that our reasons behind our beliefs aren't all that different after all. I can say without hesitation that this film left an impression on my soul, not just my mind. No matter what side of the religious fence you find yourself on, I strongly encourage you to watch this film. It is guaranteed to make you think. It might not change your mind, but it could open it. 

One of the most powerful parts of the film for me was Merchants take on the Donald Miller & Tony Kriz's "Confession Booth" idea that took place at Reed College. He takes it to the Portland Pride Northwest festivities and the conversations that took place inside the "confessional" are deeply moving. Words (especially in the form of an apology) have real, tangible power. Don't ever forget that. 

{If you just want to see that portion of the film, it starts @ approx. 1 hour 12 min}

Some of my favorite quotes from the movie:

"Preach the gospel constantly. use words only when absolutely necessary."

"I honestly don't care what your motivation is for doing good, as long as you do it."

"You don't have to legitimize someones lifestyle or choices in order to love that person."

For me it all boils down to this - "Life & people are complicated. Compassion should be freely given, not earned. Everyone has a 'rest of the story' that you may never know. Love them anyway."

Watch it on Netflix or free on Hulu.

1 Corinthians 13:13

Galatians 5:14

1 John 4:20

Food Facts

{Robyn O’Brien shares her personal story and how it inspired her to become a Real Food evangelist.}

TED rarely disappoints. I want to know all of these people. Part of me think I will be smarter for just being in the vicinity of such immense intelligence. This particular TALK is from TEDxAustin.

I genuinely believe there is something to be said for exposing yourself to information. All types. Different points of view, a wide variety of topics, new & different tidbits all the time. It has been a goal of mine for as lone as I can remember to at least keep an open mind about information that I come across. I don't always follow the principles being expounded on or the guidelines being laid out, but at least I can honestly say that I have listened. I certainly am not the type of person that is easily swayed to just believe anything I hear.

I am currently in a quandary over something I LOVE. For me, the negative evidence is mounting against this love of mine. I am growing more and more disappointed by facts that are being uncovered. Food that is. The more I learn about the food we consume as Americans the more frightened I become. It is truly unbelievable what lengths the government, food industry and society as a whole will go to to keep the average person in the dark about the health (or lack there of) of the things we consume. Frightening I tell you. This particular TALK is from TEDxAustin and it is another piece of the puzzle that is coming into focus for me about food. Amazing. Stunning. Disappointing. Scary.

I have been cutting things out of my diet that clearly have no purpose being there other than to satisfy my cravings and things I eat out of shear habit. It is a challenge for me. One I am not proud of, but one that I have little to no will power for. I'm trying though.

I'm just continuing to expose myself to information like this.
I'm using the "Scared Straight" tactic on myself.
It's beginning to work, even if it a slow and arduous process.

Just some other bits of food information that have blown my mind:
Food Matters
Food Inc. 
Nourish
The Gerson Miracle
The Beautiful Truth
Homemade Grits
{Check out my girl Lesley ... putting things into perspective & giving simple tips for application}

The Wilderness Downtown

This is a Chrome Experiment.
It is an interactive film by Chris Milk featuring "We Used to Wait" by Arcade Fire.

It is pretty incredible.

You enter your childhood address (or any address will work). The amazing programming technology grabs images from the address you give and incorporates google earth photos with video animations in order to make each users video experience slightly different and unique to them.

I am in awe of the creative energy and marvelous talent that went in to creating this.

Check out THE WILDERNESS DOWNTOWN.

While you are at it, prepare to be amazed by the Johnny Cash Project too.
"A unique communal work, a living portrait of the man in black."

Hangover II

I have certainly never been privy to a hangover that was comical or entertaining.
Hangovers in real life = not funny.

Of the Boatmans, I am definitely the household movie fanatic. I enjoy all kinds and going to the theatre is one of my favorite pastimes. Mr. B however, not so much. He can pretty much take it or leave it for the most part. When it came to the Hangover II ... he was in for some opening day action. LOVE THAT!! I jumped on the excitement bandwagon and off we went. Kudos for the opening day being on a Thursday, no lines, no waiting and choice of any seat in the place. I must keep that in mind for future showing.

The Hangover is still one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. I love it. I remember laughing so hard that my stomach hurt all night. I am convinced that most of that comes from the fact that I just didn't know what to expect next. Though it is also on the list of movies that are funny to me no matter how many times I've seen them. Even though I thought this second flick was a good run at a sequel ... it was fairly predictable in my opinion. I have to hand it to the casting director though, these guys make such a great cast that  I can easily forgive the plots predictability. It was definitely as funny as I thought it would be. It's refreshing when a sequel doesn't totally disappoint.

Plus, Bradley Cooper - I mean who are we kidding here people. I say go see it.

Crocs Are Cute? Could it be true?

I normally loathe the ever-so-popular Croc shoes. Gross. Almost every style I have seen has been hideous. However, these little cuties in their new translucent collection may have successfully won me over to the darkside. The look so light and airy, perfect for summer. Plus, they remind me of old school jellies I used to wear. If you are a true child of the 80s you can't help but LOVE that!!

I'm thinking the Adrina Flat has a future on my feet! This adorable color combo makes me really happy.

Feeling Challenged & Inspired

I heard rumblings about how incredible the latest series of messages going on at North Point Christian Church were and it made me remember how much I deeply enjoyed the effortless way that Andy Stanley delivers his messages. So clear, thought provoking & entertaining. I visited NPCC several times in high school and college and LOVED it every time. It is so far away from where I live now, it would be ridiculous to try and make it there every week for services. Bring on the power of the inter-webs!! Many of his message series are posted online for free. I have been absorbed in them lately. I just stop watching them. The range of topics covered all seem to be so completely relevant to the things I am struggling/dealing with in my life lately. Each one seems to bring another revaluation to mind about how I could deal with situations differently or at least shift my thought process about what is happening around me. I've been calling it my free online therapy sessions.

I find it ironic and deeply encouraging that when you feel your soul searching for "something", even though you may not be able to find the words to describe it ... if you are truly open ... and you are willing to accept it in any form it appears in ... it will find its way to you. Answers you didn't even know you needed. Peace that you thought was unattainable. Gentle reminders that you possessed the answers all along, you just had to uncover how to tangibly apply them to your life.

Maybe you won't find anything that you are looking for here, but keep looking. The answers you want are out there. When you find them ... act on them, don't turn a blind eye.

type rings - customize your own!!!

I love these!! I have always thought it was awesome to be able to engrave your own saying or personal mantra on jewelry. This takes it to the next level. I might have to make myself one of these. Hum ... what to choose?!

From Amsterdam based start-up Alphabeth, the same company who brought you Tweet Rings has launched TypeRings.

TypeRings lets you create your custom designs on the outside and inside of an engraved ring. You can choose typefaces from world-renowned font foundry Underware or upload your own custom design. Results appear directly on screen in 3D, made possible thanks to the breakthrough web technology, which sets a new standard in personalization. The rings are available in all common sizes in silver, white gold or yellow gold and are made to order in the Netherlands. Laser-engraved using the latest laser technology, every order is delivered within 10 days.

cool content form design-milk