Professional Skier, Sports Model and Design Consultant
As you probably know by now, I am slightly obsessed with vans. No sports car for me, my dream vehicle is a van. So when I went to New Zealand to ski this summer, I couldn’t help noticing all the cool vans around. Here are some of my favorites:
One of the amazing sunsets I saw in New Zealand.
Sheep crossing! There are more sheep than people in New Zealand.
Traveling in the van reminds you to enjoy the Journey 
There’s nothing quite like pulling fresh fruits and veggies from your garden to eat for dinner. Most of our food comes from hundreds of miles away and the taste suffers.
I don’t feel too fresh when I get off an airplane from New Zealand, or a road trip from Southern California. Guess what? Neither do your vegetables. They’re picked before their peak to ripen in boxes and arrive dehydrated and wrinkled, often coated in a layer of wax for preservation.
Plant it for your taste buds! Tomatoes picked from the vine, ripened in the sun taste completely different from store bought tomatoes. Same with everything else.
Plant a fall garden, I dare you. It’s so easy – I know they say you need to amend the soil and do all this prep work but if you don’t have the time, just throw some seeds or small plants in the ground and give them some water and sunlight.
Here’s a list of crops you can still plant in Utah (courtesy of Western Garden Centers)
Arugula
Basil
Beets
Broccoli
Brussel sprouts
Carrots
Chicory
Collard greens
Endive
Garlic, red stem
Kale (One of my favorites)
Kohlrabi
Leek
Lettuce
Mizuna
Mustard
Oregano
Pac Choi
Parsley
Peas
Radicchio
Radish
Raspberry
Rhubarb
Shallots
Spinach
Strawberry
Tat Soi
Turnips
Winter Carrots
Winter onion
And some eye candy from my gardens:
My first cucumber plant.
Heirloom beets from my garden. You can eat the beet greens too. They are delicious in a salad or lightly sautéed.
My first melon.
Tomatoes – the little orange cherry ones. Have you tried them? They are insanely sweet and delicious!
Broccoli from last fall’s harvest.
Heirloom tomatoes.
Also be sure to hit up the Farmer’s Market this fall!
This is actually a Trombocino squash (that was delicious), but I like it as a necklace/fashion statement too.
Have fun with your urban gardening. Let me know if you have any questions. Don’t be afraid to mess up – go for it!
Happy plantings 
While in Vienna, Austria, I couldn’t help but notice all the amazing European vans so I decided to make a photo collection of the lustworthy vans I saw on my trip.
Why don’t we have these cool vans in the US?
I like the blue stripe and the gear rack on this one.
Simple, sleek and aerodynamic with lots of room for cargo and sleeping.
Interesting design, big windows – looks modern and futuristic.
My dream van!!! A Volkswagen Westfalia California Coach!
I absolutely adore the color of this one and the triangles!
And not a van but a Smartcar. These are gaining popularity in the US but they are so cute and gas efficient.
And finally, a funny sign on the streets of downtown Vienna.
I was so excited to get this in the mail!
When I was in L.A., I had the wonderful opportunity to do a photo shoot for this. Authors Stitchy McYarnPants and Caro Sheridan bring 43 knitting and crochet patterns from the ‘40s, ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s up to date utilizing contemporary fibers (because Polyester and Acrylic have had their day) and updated designs to flatter today’s figure. There are cheeky hot pants and his-and-hers sweater sets. Even if you aren’t a knitter, this book is a must have for the photography and fashion alone!
I am so delighted to be a part of this especially as a hat designer, crocheter, and overall DIYer.
Here’s a sneak peak inside:
Vrooom!!!
To see the rest, order the book on Amazon.com- Knitting It Old School.
Follow the authors on their websites:
This book would make a great birthday present, Christmas present or anytime present (I really love surprise presents for no reason at all – they are almost better than when you are expecting a present).
While I’m on a knitting rant, check out this video made by Salt Lake based video producer Leyda Cordova featuring Warren MacNeil, a talented, male knitter:
Happy knitting everyone!
My outdoor succulents have been thriving all summer – now they are to the point of crowding each other and growing out of control. Since succulents regenerate, I decided to trim some of them and plant them for an indoor succulent garden.
I found these beautiful vases for $2.50 at my local thrift store (for all you Salt Laker’s out there – I recommend Thrift Town and Savers).
Succulents prefer well-drained soil so if you are using an unconventional planter like this, make sure you put a layer of gravel on the bottom. Then, go ahead and put a layer of dirt. It doesn’t need to be a very deep layer since succulents have shallow roots.
If you are trimming from another plant, be sure to give the cut time to heal before you plant it. After a few hours, you will see a little scab form over the cut. Then you can go ahead and place it in the dirt.
The best thing about succulents is that they are extremely drought tolerant so you can go for a week or two without watering! They are perfect for a busy person who wants to travel yet still wants beautiful, green plants in the house.
Here’s another great idea – a vertical, succulent wall garden:
Check out Flora Grubb Gardens for more info on this installation.
Let me know how your garden is doing or if you know of any other cool plants that are drought tolerant for Utah or Southern California!