Wedding Season

Tomorrow morning Adam and I are driving down to Cannon Beach, Oregon for a friends wedding. It's been a long time since either of us have been there, so we're both excited about the trip. We're going to the rehearsal dinner and bonfire on the beach tomorrow night. On Saturday, Adam is in the wedding and will be busy getting ready, so I'm looking forward to an afternoon full of beach combing and maybe a little shopping. Then on Sunday we make the trek back home.

We are right smack dab in the middle of wedding season, and that means you're most likely in need of a fabulous wedding gift. Giving a great gift doesn't mean you have to break the bank. I thought I would share a few money saving gift ideas that I've come across...

#1: For the Wino - One of the guests at our wedding did this for us. They picked out a bottle of wine to help us grow our then puny wine collection, but then they personalized it. A note was attached to the bottle saying that we should pop the cork on our 5 year anniversary. (Side note: If you're going to have the couple save the bottle for a distant anniversary, make sure it's a wine whose flavor will enhance with time. Otherwise, make it a bottle to open on their first anniversary.)

#2: Thank you, Thank you -

This is personalized stationary that I was given as a gift and I love it! The couple will find it very useful while writing so many thank yous to their guests. It's also a fun way for the bride to celebrate her new last name! These cards and matching envelopes were created using rubber stamps. Package them by tying it all together with a coordinating ribbon.

#3: Food - I know, I know. You're thinking "Food? She's crazy!". But I actually did this for my sister and her husband, and I think they really enjoyed it (I hope they did! :)). I made a few meals and put them in their freezer. When they got back from their honeymoon they had meals ready to go and didn't have to think about cooking. Store the food in Tupperware containers with the heating/cooking instruction taped on top.

#4: For the Foodie - While we're on the topic of food, another inexpensive gift idea is to create a recipe book for the couple. Decorate the cover of a binder like we did for the Ladies Tea, and then use your imagination for filling it. You could simply create sections for your favorite appetizers, salads, entrees, desserts, etc.. Or you could create themed sections such as "Fiesta Night" that would include your favorite enchilada,Mexican rice and salsa recipes. Other themes might include: Romantic Dinner for Two, First Thanksgiving Dinner or Little Italy.

#5: The Gift That Keeps on Giving - You can go online to sites such as World Concern or Heifer International and make donations in the couples name. Non-profits will often times send you a card with information about the donation that you can then give to the couple. This is such a great way to help others in need, and the couple is sure to feel good about the impact made in their name.

I'll be sans computer this weekend, so I'll see you back here next week!

Knit 10, Pearl 10, Knit 10, Pearl 10...

A few years ago my mom taught me how to knit scarves. I was immediately hooked. I spent hours knitting my first scarf, and it was a beauty. Unfortunately, my mom hadn't shown me how to end the scarf so I just kept knitting and knitting. By the time she showed me how to finish, the scarf had become almost as long as I was tall! I still wear it today, and it definitely keeps me warm as I wrap it around and around and around my neck.

After making more scarves then I could ever wear, and giving them to many friends, I took on a new challenge. Baby blankets. I picked out a simple pattern and involved only knit and pearl stitches (nothing fancy for me yet).My first blanket took me a very long time to finish, but the second one came much more easily.

It was a very simple pattern which basically consisted of repeating knit 10, pearl 10, and ending with 6 rows of knitting. Here is a site that I found for simple baby blanket patterns: Knitting Pattern Central. I love being able to share this craft with others, and this blanket is for a good friend's daughter, Maddie. I recently found out that another friend is expecting her first little one in January and my cousin is having twins, so I better get working on that next blanket!

Thoughts From Thoreau

"...a taste for the beautiful is most cultivated out of doors..."

-Walden, Henry David Thoreau

The Art of Repetition

This morning Adam and I walked over to the Bellevue Arts Fair that had taken over much of downtown. The streets were packed with vendors selling their crafts, and the smell of kettle corn and funnel cake wafted through the air. I was very impressed that there were so many creative people participating in this event! There was one artist that really caught my attention. Owen Mortenson is the creative force behind Leaf Botanical Art. He presses leaves, fern palms and other pieces of nature and then creates beautiful framed designs. Here are some of my favorite designs:

The repetition of one shape in this artwork reminded me of a creative collage I saw on the blog House on Hill Road. She punched out the same shape using pages from various magazines and catalogs and mounted them with foam dots on a painted piece of wood. She actually got the idea from another blogger, Ali Edwards who framed her collection of butterfly punches.

Ok, now I've added this to my "To-Do List" of creative projects!

Everyone Has Their Quirks

What does normal really mean? My opinion is that there really isn't a "normal" person out there. Everyone has their quirks, and it's those oddities that make each of us so wonderfully unique. I started thinking about this today because of the mailman at my office. Even if I'm not at the front desk when he brings our mail, I know he's there because he makes bird noises everywhere he goes. Not anything like the cawing of a crow, but like little songbirds. He sounds so realistic that you may even think a bird flew in the door with him! You can't help by smile when you hear him coming. Now you have to agree that this is not "normal", but he is certainly the most interesting mailman I've ever met. I just love all of these kind of quirks that make us stand apart. As for normal...life sure wouldn't be as fun is we were all "normal"

Newman. Every one's favorite quirky mailman.

Autumn in New England

Twirling leaves of fiery red, orange and yellow. Crisp, fresh air. History at every turn. Nature all around...

Adam and I are planning our first vacation together! This October we'll be traveling to New England for a long weekend. We'll be sightseeing through Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Since I am an eternal student, I went to the library yesterday to load up on books about the area. I walk out with an armload and a list of the books I would get on my next trip. Among others, I found a great book about driving tours through New England that I'm excited to dive into. I also pulled some books by authors from New England. I already know and love Alcott, Twain, Emerson and Dickinson. A New England bases classic author I had never read is Thoreau. There is no better place to begin learning about this author then by his "masterpiece", Walden. It is about his experiences and musings about life during his two years and two months spent on Walden Pond. Thus far I have not agreed with everything he says, but it has caused me to think about what I do believe concerning everything from charity, to the necessities of life and the fullness of life. Below is a picture of the book and Walden Pond.

I'll keep you updated as our vacations plans begin to take shape.

Happy Anniversary!

Today my parents are celebrating their 29th anniversary! I have learned so much about love and what it means to work together in a marriage from watching them. I love them both and wish them all the best!

One of my favorite Bible translations is "The Message" by Eugene Peterson. I thought I would share his version of 1 Corinthians 13 with you.

"If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy, but don't have love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate...If I give up everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for other than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always 'me first',
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel wen others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

Love never dies... We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all clearly then, see it as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead up toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the best of the three is love."

On another note, I love receiving comments from those of you reading my blog. If you like what you see or have feedback about something, let me know! Also, let me know if there is something you would like to see/hear more about. I love hearing from you and will always try to respond as often as possible. Have a great day!

Man's (and Woman's) Best Friend

I'm not afraid to say it.

I am obsessed with my dog.

But not in the dress him up in clothes and push him around the mall in a stroller kind of way. I just think he is THE CUTEST dog ever! He is a 7 lb. Yorkshire Terrier named Duke Samuel. When my husband told me he wanted to name him Duke, I agreed with the caveat that I would then get to have the final say on the naming of our first child. :) So he was named Duke after Adam's favorite basketball team. Samuel is Adam's brother's middle name. Duke loves to go for walks, chase bugs and play with my parents dogs (which are right up there with Duke in the cuteness factor).

Here are my parent's dogs, Harley and Bodi.

Every dog owner knows that it's important to always have yummy treats on hand for your furry friend. This recipe comes from a Kelley Moore segment on Evening Magazine. It's very easy to make and is one of Duke's favorites!

Pooch Pleasin' Pumpkin Bones

2 1/2 cups oats blended into a fine flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp. olive oil
1 egg
1/3 cup mashed or pureed pumpkin
1 T. molasses

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Blend oats in blender and reserve 1/8th cup for rolling out dough.
Pour rest of blended oats into mixing bowl, add all other ingredients and mix thoroughly until you have a stiff dough (it may be a bit sticky).

Turn dough out onto oat floured board and roll until about 1/4 inch thick.
Cut with 2 inch bone cookie cutter or any other fun cutter of your choosing. Arrange about 1 inch apart on cookie sheet.

Bake for 25 minutes.

Summer Lovin' - Dating On A Dime

Adam, my husband, and I began dating in college at Seattle Pacific University. Like most college students, we had to learn to get creative for our date night options when working with a tight budget. Our solution was going on walks at the many beautiful local parks. Greenlake, Gasworks and Kerry Park were favorites. In fact, parks became such an integral part of our relationship that Adam proposed to me throughout an evening of visiting our favorite locales.

With the evenings staying warm, Adam and I have been able to bring back our park date nights. We go over to the Downtown Bellevue Park to walk our dog Duke, to run laps, or to people watch and sit in the sun. I love these evenings together and hope this is something we will continue to do for years

The Art of Correspondence

In the age of emails and text messages, the art of the correspondence is something that is unfortunately not practiced enough. Words are powerful, but a handwritten note says more than just the words written on the page. It says that you think the other person is someone special, and it will make more of an impact on their day than you may ever realize.

In an effort to revive this lost art form, you should check out Expressionary. My aunt told me about this great company that allows you to customize stationary, notepads and even mailing labels. Here is an example of the characters you can chose from to represent you and your family:

Perhaps the perfect thank you card or creative mailing label will inspire us to pick up the pen and begin writing again. To help continue the inspiration I wanted to share with you a coupon I found for Expressionary. Simply visit this site.

The Never Ending Pile of Catalogs!

There are a couple of catalogs that I love getting every month. I'll flip through to see what's new and sometimes get decor ideas. However, in this past year my already very small mailbox (a more appropriate name would be cubby) became stuffed to the brim with catalogs that went straight from the mailbox to the recycle bin. After awhile this became very annoying, and not to mention wasteful. That's when I heard about Catalog Choice. It's an online "free service that lets you decline paper catalogs you no longer wish to receive. Reduce the amount of unsolicited mail in your mailbox, while helping to preserve the environment." Catalog Choice contacts the catalog providers for you and has them take you off of their mailing list. All you have to do is sign up and enter your contact information, select the catalogs you no longer wish to receive and then enjoy a more spacious mailbox. Sign up today at http://www.catalogchoice.org/.

Love Began In A Garden

The Ladies Tea today was a success!

Everyone had a lot of fun despite the H-O-T hot weather.

Here is a picture of the tables set in the garden.

Each table had a centerpiece created with moss and rocks foraged by my mom and I at Lake Wenatchee and fern palms from our backyard. I love that we created such a beautiful centerpiece without flowers and it didn't cost a thing!

At each place setting we had a small 2" box holding a single carnation (yes that's right a carnation!) with a quote about gardens. This was originally an idea from Kelley Moore used at this year's annual Opera Gala. At the end of the event all of the guests took their box home as a way to remember the party and the fun memories.

Each of the younger girls that attended the party received a box filled with treats including a flower pen, paper, candy and stickers.

Martha would be proud. We filled random bottles from around the house with single stems of astillbe found in my mom's garden. It was gorgeous!

It was such a beautiful day, full of fun memories. I am blessed to be able to spend time with the women in my family, and I am thankful for the time we spent in the garden.

My Favorite Salad Recipe

One of the traditions at the Ladies Tea is a recipe exchange.

The first year we made these cute binders for every guest:

We ask each guest to bring 1-2 of their favorite recipes. This year we have requested that guests bring their favorite salad recipe. We then make copies so everyone can add the recipes to their individual binders.

I must say that my family has been blessed with some amazing chefs! Everyone loves the exchange. Even my cousin's young daughter is excited and has already informed us that her recipe is smashed avocado. :) While some recipes are a little more involved, they are all shared with love.

This may be giving away too much, but I'm going to share my favorite salad recipe with you...

Taco Salad

from Vale Elementary School Cookbook

1 pound hamburger

1 head iceberg lettuce

4 tomatoes, chopped

1 small onion, chopped

1 avocado, sliced

4 oz. shredded cheddar cheese

8 oz. Thousand Island Dressing

taco sauce

6 oz. crushed Doritos

1 can kidney beans

Brown hamburger and drain. Add beans and heat through. Tear lettuce into a large bowl. Add tomatoes, onion and avocado. Mix in cheese, dressing and taco sauce to taste. Crush in Doritos. Add hamburger/bean mixture.

yum!

Mom_ _

I could write an entire book on all of the lessons that my mom has taught me over the years. However, one of the greatest lessons I have learned from my mom is how to be a good hostess. I have always loved watching how she makes everyone who enters her home feel welcome, completely comfortable and loved. She has always gone out of her way to add touches to her home that make people feel special. There may be your favorite magazine waiting for you on your bed, walking in the door to the scent of fresh cookies, or a hug as you pass in the hallway. Whatever it is, there is always some touch that makes you feel like you are important to her.

Some entertaining lessons my mom has taught me: how to set a table (including which side of the plate the fork goes on), how to plan a menu (always make sure you have color on the plate!), how to decorate your table and home, how to make a beautiful flower arrangement, how to make the most comfortable bed (ever!), how to make sure your guest has everything they need during their stay, and of course all those extra special touches.

These lessons in hospitality have shaped how I treat those who come into my own home. Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE to entertain. There is something so exciting to me about being able to open up my home to others. I hope that this is a lesson that I can continue to pass on.

Satisfy Your Thirst

Ice Kabobs

Now I do realize that we're supposed to be planning a tea party, but the hot weather we have had lately means we better have some cold drinks on hand as well. I love these Ice Kabobs from worldwidefred.com. They are a fun way to stir up an otherwise normal summertime drink.

Frozen Lemon Wedges

This cold beverage idea comes from my family in Arizona. With their abundance of lemons (picked daily from the trees in their backyard!), they usually have more than they know what to do with. To ensure fresh lemons all year long, they will simply slice and freeze. Whenever you want flavored ice water, grab a couple slices to add to your drink and you're set.

Cool Jewels

I always love to find a way to add a little glam to any event. Glitz up your next girls get together, movie night or tea party :). Simply fill the ice trays as you would a normal tray. Fill with a brightly colored juice to create even more of a sparkling jewel effect. After all, thy do say that diamonds are a girls best friend!

Happy Fourth of July! Have a great weekend!

Grow-A-Note

I have been loving finding all of the green products that are new on the market, and this might just be one of my very favorite items. These are called Grow-a-Note greeting cards and it would have been perfect to use for our invitations to the garden themed tea party! Here’s the deal… you can write on it like you would a normal card, but once the party is over your guests can plant it. That’s right. Plant it! Each piece of paper contains seeds for various flowers ad plants. Just plant, add a little water and your guests will have a sweet little reminder of the party.

Here;s what it looks like as it starts to grow. You can find these in stores in Seattle like Goods for the Planet, or you can find them online at greenfieldpaper.com