be the change you want to see in the world

New Blog!

2011-12-21T11:34:00.001-08:00

I have moved over to theselovelyburbs.com. Please connect with me there!

Joyfully,
Jessica

project : staining

2011-05-20T07:16:00.000-07:00

This year we had the fun task on the "to do list" of staining the patio furniture. Yay, right? Due to our forgetfulness of putting the furniture away once the fall rain kicked in, the furniture needed a full sanding, re-stain, and seal. So... once the weather cooperated for a few days, I got on it!

First, sanding! (No pictures, because that was not very exciting. Not even a little.)

Second, stain color. We had so many colors to choose from! We wanted it to look like the third one up from the bottom on the right side, but because the wood already had somewhat of a red hue we went with the third one down from the left side to help darken and draw out the red features.

Here is a pre-stained but post-sanding shot of one of the tables:
And the difference once it was stained:

After doing the lovely "wipe on the stain" then "wipe off the stain" method, I let the furniture sit overnight to completely set. The next day I used teak oil to seal the lovely stain and keep water from getting into the wood.

And, after many hours of hard work... the finished product!
The biggest lesson learned? Take the furniture in BEFORE the rainy season!

visiting : oregon gardens

2011-05-19T08:09:00.000-07:00

Jordan and I had a fun night away in April for a visit to the Oregon Gardens. It was a relaxing time for us both, and even though the gardens were not yet in bloom, we still enjoyed ourselves!

The cute little patio we had with our room (however, it was too cold to sit out!)

The very "lush" gardens

I thought this sign was hilarious. The "passion flower" looked very passion-less!

All bundled up, but at least the sun was shining!

This beautiful home was the last home Frank Lloyd Wright designed. It was moved to the Oregon Gardens a few years back because a family (that Jordan actually knew!) bought the property where it originally presided.

We would highly suggest staying at the Oregon Gardens... but in the summer!

mother's day fun

2011-05-18T14:45:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful time celebrating the moms & grandmas this Mother's Day! Jordan and I have a fun little breakfast with Grandma Rachel and then joined her at her church for their 10am service. There is a beautiful garden just outside the sanctuary and it was in this garden that they spread Grandma Stan's ashes. I was blessed to see the beauty of where his remains were put, and loved meeting Grandma's sweet friends!

The Garden

Jess & Grandma Rachel

Jordan & Grandma Rachel

Later that day Michael & Erica treated us to a FABULOUS brunch buffet at the Heathman to celebrate my mom! We had a great time toasting, tasting, and talking. I was quite full after our eating extravaganza!

The whole family (I think this is our first one all together!)

One of the many plates of food we consumed =)

We are so very thankful for the many wonderful women in our lives!

spring flowers

2011-05-11T12:46:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd share the beautiful spring flowers I was gifted over the past few months that each turned into beautiful decorations during the gloomy weather!

Jordan got these sweet little roses that are so cheery on our entry table!

Erica gave me these beautiful purple tulips on Easter, which became part of this centerpiece for the table =)

Jordan gave me this beautiful bouquet of pink flowers that lived on our table in April

Our AMAZING neighbors left these amazing gifts, including a wonderful Orchid, on our table for us to welcome us home after our trip to Florida. They took care of the the house and Cali and left US a gift! Isn't it supposed to be the other way around? They are just that good to us!

Kahluie Louie

2011-04-27T10:42:00.000-07:00

Every March I get to make my Kahluie Louie cake for our dear friend Phil. Over the years Louie has adapted, changed, and gotten better, hopefully just like ourselves. The basics of Louie has always been the same: coffee, Kahlua, and a chocolate cake base. This year I decided to make almost a "torte" of sorts. The layers consisted of chocolate cake, kahlua ganache, chocolate cake, kahlua cream cheese frosting, and then repeat!

I would share the recipe with you, but really it is just a collaboration of tasting, adjusting, and making up the recipe in the moment! Louie originated in several failed attempts to make a tiramisu cake and has become a special "recipe" in our home. Cooking & baking is the beautiful art of failing, learning, adapting, creating, and rejoicing. The more I cook, the more I learn to carry these traits into the rest of my life.

Here's to Phil and a wonderful year ahead of joy, blessings, and new surprises. May you, like our dear Louie, continue to become better each year. =)

painting project ahead!

2011-04-26T15:00:00.001-07:00

I just ordered this stencil and can't wait to paint it in our entryway! I'll post pictures once the project is complete. =)

what's next for toms?

2011-04-26T08:22:00.000-07:00

I love my toms. They have seen me through every season including rainy days, over the Brooklyn Bridge in NY, walking an entire day at Disneyland, and to little trips to the grocery store. Whenever I slip them on I am reminded that there is pain and injustice and hurt in the world. Countless people go everyday without shoes, clean water, and proper health care. I am reminded that there is a lack in the lives of many where I have surplus. That there is longing where I have greed. It is a sweet reminder to me when I wear my Toms that this world is big and I can do something to make someone else's problem my own.

I believe in Toms because they believe that regular people like myself can actually do something to make the world better.

Toms recently announced that they will no longer be just a shoe company by a "One for One" company. I am eager to hear what they are unfolding. Check out this video...

TOMS: The Next Chapter from TOMS on Vimeo.

Any ideas???

new use for old things

2011-04-25T08:27:00.000-07:00

Have you ever read Real Simple's "New Uses for Old Things" articles? I love their suggestions for re purposing household items.

When we were building our new desk, I had the idea to use cupcake liners in a new way!

Here is Jordan's awesome mustache mug:
And my J mug:
We thought they would look cute as pen holders on the desk, but we don't want to ruin the mugs with ink stains all over the bottom. That's where the cupcake liner comes in!

I placed a cupcake liner in the bottom of each of the mugs before adding the pens to protect the bottom on the mug. Viola!

It was Real Simple. ;)

organizing : master bath

2011-04-21T07:53:00.000-07:00

With a little extra time on my hands ;) I have been making the most of said time by doing some organizational projects! One of my projects this week was to tackle our bathroom.

Here are the before shots:

And after:

All in all, it wasn't too much of a change, but a nice tidy up. We removed excess toiletries which eliminated our need for the brown basket. We moved the shaving equipment away to de-clutter and then added the topiary and plate. The heart banner was something I made for Valentine's Day but when taking it down from it's original spot in our house, I thought it was too cute to be put away. Now it is re-purposed here and matches great.

I found this darling little plate in the clearance section of Antro and we use it for our essentials.
I spotted this little cup at Elephant's Delicatessen in their little home section and knew it would be perfect for make-up brushes and glosses.

Stay tuned for more organizing adventures!

crafting : pink topiary

2011-04-20T08:56:00.000-07:00

I have an affinity for topiaries. There is just something about flowers or greenery in a cute little puff that makes me happy. So I decided to make one to brighten up our bathroom. After a trip to Michael's and the perfect little pot from Ikea, it was time to get started!

Here are the supplies for the project:

First I cut the green foams so they would fit in the pot.
Then I cut and bunched together the swirly twigs.
I hot glued the twigs deep into the round foam and then pulled the flowers from their stems and started gluing them into the foam. I learned quickly that making a hole with a pen before gluing the flowers made it much easier.
The base was a nice stand while I glued the flowers =)
When I finished gluing all the flowers I stuck the twigs into the foam in the base and added moss around the bottom.

All in all, it was a fun Saturday project and is a cheery addition to my morning routine.

crafting : pom poms

2011-04-19T13:10:00.000-07:00

Poms Poms have become all the rage, being used in all kinds of couture and unusual settings. Here's a few examples I've seen lately...

Totally cute, right? So I decided to make a few to try it out and see how I do. It ended up working great and being significantly cheaper than the $17.99 Martha Stewart version being sold at Michaels.The only costs included ribbon and tissue paper (both of which I owned which = FREE). Even had I needed to purchase the tissue and ribbon, it would still be under $4.

So I started out with some tissue...
Next I accordion folded it and tied the ribbon tight in the middle. Using sharp scissors I cut the ends to round them off. Like so...
Then you gently pull out the tissue to "fluff" it and start rounding out the shape. The first one was a little awkward looking, but once I started playing with it, I quickly found a method that worked for me.

Ta Da!

Here they are dressing up the table, but I'm thinking of ways to change it up, maybe I'll hang them in a cluster above our new cabinet?

Until next time,
Jess

san diego suggestions

2011-04-18T09:26:00.000-07:00

Hello Blog Friends!

Jordan and I really looking forward to heading to San Diego, CA at the end of May for a vacation. It worked out great that Jordan has a work event in San Diego (hence free airfare) and I have a free ticket with air miles, so we can very affordably take a vacation. Our friends Jon & Janelle are joining us for the long weekend. Janelle grew up in the area, so we relying on them for good ideas on things to do. =)

But before we go, I would LOVE your suggestions on things to do, places to go, etc... Have you been or heard or must see spots or favorite places to eat?

What would you suggest?

Jess

25 before 25

2011-04-13T10:43:00.000-07:00

This was scheduled to post yesterday, but something went wrong. Oops! Here it is now...

It is exactly one month until my 25th birthday and I have to say I'm pretty excited about this one. We don't have extravagant party plans and I don't anticipate any over-the-top gifts, which is maybe why 25 feels exciting to me. Officially entering my mid-twenties feels good and comfortable like a worn in pair of jeans and I am thankful for where we are in our lives right now. I really want to savor these relaxed, non-working days while they last. The change we experienced in the past year was difficult but deeply rewarding in all I learned. My prayer is that this next year would grow my character, deepen my faith, and sweeten my friendships. I'm learning more and more that "living the life you want" requires intentionality and discipline. So I decided to be intentional with the last days of good ol' 24 and made a list of 25 things I want to do before I turn 25.

Here it goes...

1. ~~Plant something new in my garden~~
2. Be inspired by my ministry hero Reggie Joiner
3. ~~Host Easter brunch~~
4. Try a new happy hour
5. Make the black and white curtains for our bedroom
6. ~~Spend a whole day doing nothing productive~~
7. ~~Visit the Oregon Gardens~~
8. Have a picnic
9. ~~Drink a chai latte during the afternoon while reading a good book!~~
10. Go for a bike ride
11. ~~Finish reading Bittersweet~~
12. Try Zumba for the first time
13. ~~Plant herbs~~
14. ~~Make breakfast for my girlfriends & I~~
15. ~~Set up our patio for summer (which means sanding and staining the furniture!)~~
16. Make a spring wreath
17. ~~Reorganize the kitchen cupboards (I know, it sounds like a chore, but it will feel great to have it finished!)~~
18. ~~See the movie"Water for Elephants"~~
19. ~~Create dinner & dessert without any recipes (and preferably with farmer's market ingredients)~~
20. Make a flower pillow
21. Successfully start and finish the laundry in one day
22. Spray paint something =)
23. Sell/give unwanted items piling up in the garage
24. Get my new blog up and running (Yes, there is a new blog!!)
25. Reflect on the last year and dream about the year to come.

I'll keep you posted on how I do!

cute video

2011-04-08T10:30:00.000-07:00

I had to share this cute video I saw on a blog I follow. Couldn't you totally see Jordan doing this with our kids? =)

Click here to see the video!

Sometimes it's the little things that brighten my day. Have a great weekend!

Instagram Photos

2011-04-07T09:14:00.000-07:00

One of the many things I have loved about having an IPhone is the "Instagram" app. It is a fun way to share photos with friends by putting filters on the photos to make them retro, brighter, or funky. Here are my Instagram photos from our Captiva trip. =)

highlights from our week

2011-04-03T20:47:00.000-07:00

To end a great week and weekend, I thought I'd share a few highlights from it!

We came home from our trip to a real & beautiful orchid, wine, and chocolates from our sweet neighbors and house-sitters!
Learned that our local Target will be starting to offer fresh produce and groceries starting in June. It's fun to see the store transform and I'm interested to see if said produce will be appealing??
Received "just because" flowers from my sweetie...
Spend lots of hours doing post-vacation laundry which inspired organizing and color-coding. Ahh joy.
Celebrated my sister's ENGAGEMENT! We couldn't be more happy for them and were overjoyed that I was asked to be the Matron of Honor and Jordan was asked to marry the sweet couple. =)
And a sneak peek at our new shared office. More to come on the making of this desk and before and after shots of the room.

island fun

2011-03-31T10:17:00.000-07:00

As I write this post the dryer is busy humming in the background as we unpack and settle back into life at home. It was another great year at Captiva! I was so thankful for the two weeks I was able to spend with Jordan's family (and the beach!). Both of Jordan's grandparents had some health issues and we were thankful to be able to be at their side to help or just spend time together. This trip was so special because of the sweet and real reminder that each moment is precious and truly a gift.

The folks at "Jensens" (where we stay) have happy hour every day around 5. Jordan and I would bring cards and/or cribbage and enjoy the snacks and sunshine!
"The Lazy Flamingo" has amazing food, but usually a long wait! We were bored so we took silly pictures and then found these mustaches in the quarter machine. They definitely provided great entertainment!
Dick and Bev are such a sweet couple that we look forward to seeing each year! Dick worked for Polaroid once upon a time and helped create two of Jordan's all time favorite cameras. We love hearing their stories and Dick's crazy antics.
The view behind us is of the marina at which we stay. Gorgeous, right?
Such a beautiful woman who's joy is infectious!
Eating at the airport before the long journey back to the rain!

buy this, not that...

2011-03-28T11:39:00.000-07:00

Okay, I had to follow up on my last post because I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw this identical pair of sandals.

So remember my awesome kid's section sandal find at Target?

Well I was peeking around at Anthro's new BHLDN line (gorgeous!) and saw these sandals...

This cute gold pair is selling for an amazing deal (sarcasm implied) of $200. No, that was not a typo. $200!! I could hardly believe it. It makes my $13 pair feel all the more stylish. =)

vacation prep tip

2011-03-18T12:48:00.000-07:00

Every year for the past 12 years Jordan's family has traveled to the same little island off the coast of Florida's gulf to visit his grandparents, eat amazing seafood, and enjoy sunshine and beaches! I have loved joining in our this tradition and it has become something I look forward to year after year.

I don't know about the rest of you, but it can get really spendy getting all the things we need for a vacation! It seems, without fail, that there are always two things that need retiring after the end of the summer and that I need to buy new the following spring: flip flops and sunscreen. These can add up, especially if you have sensitive skin like me!

I thought I would share a money saving tip for each of these items that I have learned recently.

Flip flops:

I purchased these shiny shoes just a few weeks ago at Target, for $13 on sale in the kid's department. That's right! I typically wear a 6 1/2 or 7 in women's shoes and I was able to fit into a girl's size 4. They even offered a size 5, so I'm sure you ladies that wear up to an 8 can benefit from this too! The other pair I was considering was $18.99 on sale, so it was a great deal to get this $13 pair! From now on, I will be scouting out the little girl shoes too.

Sunscreen:

Sunscreen is the thing we love to have and hate to use. It is a pain to put on (I usually miss several little spots!), it makes us sticky and greasy, and it can be really expensive. However, what would a little Irish girl like me do without it?
So, if you'd like to save a few dollars try buying a baby sunscreen. Instead of buying the $15-$20 Sensitive Skin/Face/Hypo-allergenic variety, purchase the Baby 55 Sunscreen. I got the Target brand (compared to Aveeno's 55 Baby) on sale for $3.50 and it works great on any sensitive spots, especially my face. Obviously they make baby sunscreen safe for delicate skin, so it's just the ticket.

So there are my little tidbits I've learned about saving money when traveling. I always have to ask myself, "Do you NEED that new shirt, shoes, dress, necklace, etc.... or do you WANT it?" That always ends up saving some cash too.

Happy Spring Break!

up & away

2011-03-17T12:29:00.000-07:00

With all the devastation in the news and around our world, I thought I'd share a little something to lighten your mood! These photos were taken by National Geographic and truly amaze me!

Hmmm... makes me wonder how many of those massive balloons I would need to hold to be lifted on the ground. =)

prepping, packing, and paradise

2011-03-08T20:13:00.000-08:00

It's been a fun and busy start of the week as I prep and pack for our Florida trip!

I can hardly believe our annual family vacation to Florida is just about here! My WONDERFUL husband suggested that I spend 2 weeks on Captiva Island this year rather than our usual 1 week because I'm not working on have lots of time on my hands. =) We were able to change my ticket just a couple weeks ago and were so blessed that we didn't have to pay anything for the change!! So I'll fly out Saturday and spend the first few day with Jordan's mom and grandparents, then Jordan's sister and step-dad will join on Wednesday, and Jordan will join the following Saturday.

I am so thankful for a man that not only provides for our family and loves me so selflessly, he is ALSO willing to work a week at home so I can be on vacation! What a guy!

My new view in just 5 short days!

beach trip

2011-03-02T08:44:00.000-08:00

My sister, mom, sister's boyfriend's mom (that's a mouth-full!), and I had a "girls weekend/birthday for my mom" planned for some time now. This crazy weather made us question the trip but we decided to head out anyway!

We had a wonderful relaxing time and Susan totally spoiled us with homemade chowder, massages at a wonderful local spa, and treats in her beautiful home. We decided to leave Saturday night because of snowy weather to come, but all in all had a wonderful time!

Here's a photo of the roads on the trip to the beach. It felt like we were going to the mountain, not the beach!

The snowy patio at Susan's beach house. Susan is the mom of my sister's boyfriend, Michael and she was gracious enough to host us at her beautiful home at Manzanita!

My homemade burlap and tulle birthday banner =)

Beach treats: gummy fish, worms, sharks, frogs, and octopus! Yum!

Birthday cupcakes: Angel food cupcakes with lemon cream frosting.

To another great year.... happy birthday mom!

snowcakes

2011-03-01T07:42:00.000-08:00

Portland was surprised last week with a snow day! However, one of the bummers of Jordan working from home is that he can't call in to work saying that he can't make it to the office because the office is mere steps from the bedroom!!

So instead of a free day, we decided to start the day with snow-day-pancakes, aka "snowcakes"!

This handy Cuisinart panini/griddle is FABULOUS! My mom got it for us for Christmas and we have loved it for paninis and finally flipped the grates over and turned it into a griddle for pancakes. It worked great and my favorite feature is that they can go in the dishwasher!

After our trip to Slappy Cakes, I was inspired to use a squirt-bottle for my homemade whole-wheat, no-sugar added pancake mix.

A great morning at the Chesbrough home. =)

felt food

2011-02-28T10:39:00.000-08:00

This weekend we celebrated the first birthday of sweet Reegan! Abbey and I wanted to give her something homemade and a little more personal, so we decided to make Reegan play food and her own apron! Take a peek...

Here's the apron I made her, and luckily it was just the right size!

Here's most of my felt food creations (missing the bacon). Tea, cinnamon rolls, strawberries, eggs, and a cupcake. =)

Abbey's beautiful sandwhich creation (she made dinner and cookies too!!)

Erin did a fabulous job with the party and we had a blast celebrating such a sweet little lady!

a new piece of furniture

2011-02-22T10:16:00.000-08:00

Last week we trekked out to Camas to purchase a beautiful cabinet for our living room. It was originally priced at $100, but I offered $80 and the lady quickly said, "yes". It made me realize I should have started lower than $80, but oh well, at least she took the $80 offer!

Here is what we had downstairs before (which holds all our DVD's and such)
And now....
I'm super excited how great it fits the space! It's a vintage piece that she repainted. She left the orginal hardware, complete with wheels at the bottom. =)

I sold a desk that we no longer use for $75, so my total out of pocket cost was $5!

Slappy Cakes review

2011-02-21T11:55:00.000-08:00

This weekend Jordan and I had a fun opportunity to check out a new restaurant with our good friend Stan who was in town this past week. Stan and his family are moving to Portland in April and we are thankful for our newly growing friendship with them and our partnership in the good work Stan & Patricia do as a part of the Living Water team. Check out more at www.water.cc

So the three of us went to "Slappy Cakes" a cute, modern spot on SE Belmont in Portland. Basically you can order your choice of pancake batter and then toppings/mix-ins and cook your own pancakes right at your table! So fun.

We went with 3 batters: sweet potato, whole wheat, and buttermilk. Then for toppings we got: bananas, apples, goat cheese, pecans, and spicy sausage. A crazy mix!! Each pancake was amazing, but my favorite was a weird but delicious combination of sweet potato batter with apples, goat cheese, and sausage. They also have good traditional options like chocolate chips, blueberries, and so on...

The batters are just $6 and the toppings between $1-$3 each. Including a coffee, cider, and the tip Jordan and I only paid about $20. Not bad! We would highly recommend this fun breakfast spot. TIP: get there early! They don't take reservations for small parties and luckily we were there at 8:30, so we only waited about 15 minutes, but by the time we left it was a zoo!

Stan's amazing Bloody Mary complete with a full slice of bacon!

second annual christmas tea

2011-02-16T10:06:00.000-08:00

Shannon and I hosted our second annual Christmas Tea Party and it was a blast! We chose a red, white & pink theme and it turned out great. We started with champagne and then went through a traditional 4 course tea and ended with coffee. There was an accompanying treat for each course. We had cucumber sandwiches, chai cookies, smoked salmon bites, and so much more!

We always share stories during the tea of favorite Christmas memories, traditions, highlights from the year, and anticipation for the year to come. After the tea we have a jewelry exchange and play a "white elephant" style game. It's the perfect way to collect a new piece to wear for the holidays.

The table...

The table settings.

A look at one of the courses.

The lovely guests!

Our teas!

Even baby Haffner was able to join the party =)

The Christmas Tea Party has become a special part of the holidays for me and I am thankful for the women in my life with whom I share these special memories!

hello yellow

2011-02-15T17:46:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy few days around our house as I have been painting and we have been rearranging like crazy! We decided a few months ago to move the rooms around in our 2 extra rooms upstairs and once we landed on themes/colors and when the paint went on sale, the projects began!

We are not finished to say the least, but I thought it would be fun to allow you all to journey with us from the beginning to the finished product. This is a season of life where I'm learning to be ok with the process and not get so hung up on things always being at the "finish line". Here's my attempt of living in the process....

A few before pictures, I didn't get Jordan's desk in there because he already moved it out, but you'll get the basic idea...

In the picture above, the desk was in that big empty space.

Goodbye blue and HELLO YELLOW! (It's not really this bright in person, but wow this picture makes it seem like it is!)

An empty yellow room

Now a guest bedroom =)

This is by far the least lit room in our house and has always felt dark and drab. We are excited how the mustard yellow brightens and livens up the room!

There are so many fun things to come with this room and I will just give a few hints. The finishing touches will include: a stencil, fence boards, cream & gray paint, white frames, etc...

recipe: chocolate covered marshmallow cookies

2011-02-09T08:12:00.000-08:00

I made these cookies for the baby reveal party and they turned out great. I love how "fancy" they look, but how simple they really are to make.

Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Cookies
from: Everyday Food magazine
Ingredients:

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for working
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons whole-wheat flour (spooned and leveled
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
3 tablespoons packed light-brown sugar
1 large egg
9 large marshmallows, halved
9 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flours, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and brown sugar on high, scraping down bowl as needed, until light, 4 minutes. Add egg and beat to combine, scraping down bowl as needed. With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture and beat until combined.
Drop dough by tablespoonfuls, 3 inches apart, onto two parchment-lined baking sheets. With the bottom of a measuring cup dipped in flour, flatten cookies to 2 inches in diameter. Bake until dry and set, about 7 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Remove from oven and top each cookie with a marshmallow half. Bake until marshmallows are soft, 2 minutes.
Remove from oven and, with a metal spatula, gently flatten each marshmallow directly after baking. Let cookies cool completely on wire racks.
Place chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl set over (not in) a saucepan of simmering water. Stir until melted, 2 minutes. (I just made my usual chocolate sauce, so if you have a "go to" chocolate sauce I would suggest doing what you know, or you can use their directions too). Remove bowl from pan. Place one cookie at a time on tines of a fork (below), submerge in chocolate, then tap fork on edge of bowl to remove excess. Place on wire rack set over a baking sheet. Let cookies set in refrigerator or freezer, about 10 minutes.

Enjoy! =)

p.s. i love you, jo jo

2011-02-08T10:04:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day is just a few days away and in light of that I thought I'd share a craft project festive to the occasion. I saw this idea on one of my favorite blogs, "Under the Sycamore Tree" and thought I'd try it out. I went on an adventure to Goodwill to find a book and was able to find the perfect book for my Valentine's day themed decor: "P.S. I Love You"! It's perfect.
So I cut out the pages, hand cut hearts of all shapes and sizes and ran them through the sewing machine to make strands. It was so easy! I maybe spent an hour cutting the hearts and 30 minutes sewing.

I multi-tasked and cut hearts while "watching" the Superbowl
The scraps with a view of the delicious cupcakes my mom made for superbowl!

Sorry for the bad lighting, but here they are hanging in our entry window. I love the way the light shines through the hearts.

I decided to also make one going the other direction to hang on our fireplace.

Oh and, p.s. i love you jo jo!

spray paint adventures

2011-02-07T15:22:00.000-08:00

Here is the second round of my "spray paint adventures"! Jordan and I found this frame at TJ Maxx for $5.99 and spruced it up a little with white spray paint.

Before...

After....

Here's to a good week!

baby reveal party

2011-02-06T20:49:00.001-08:00

Our big "baby gender reveal party" was a big hit on Thursday night! We had a blast chatting, snacking, and playing bunco, but all were eager to know if this new little one is a GIRL or BOY?! You'll have to read on to find out yourself....

Abbey made Rowan this cute t-shirt for the night!

Bunco!

The head table; I didn't spend much time here that night!

Drum roll please.....

It's a BOY! Kevin and Abbey each wore the color of their prediction to the ultrasound appointment and were both very good at keeping their secret throughout the party!

The group that guessed girl...

And the group that guessed boy!

Baby Boy,

You are a treasure. You are already dearly loved. We eagerly wait to welcome you to our "family" and watch you grow and become all that God has in store for you.

I believe Isaiah 46:11 for you little one. "What I (the Lord) have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do." And Zephaniah 3:17, "For the Lord your God is living among you. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs."

We are thankful for your life and the love and joy you will bring. May we love, encourage, and teach you well.
Joyfully,
Auntie Jessica

spray paint adventures

2011-02-02T16:51:00.000-08:00

So I'm thinking I will need to create an ongoing log of my "spray paint adventures" because I have found so many fun reasons to spray paint lately! Here is my latest creation all thanks to a little can of white spray paint. =)

I found this little cabinet at Goodwill and felt like there was a beautiful cabinet just dying to come out of this ugly thing!

Had to share too that it was "red sticker day" so I actually got it for an additional 50% off. A sale at Goodwill? Double bonus!

In process...

The finished product! We planned on hanging it in one of the bathrooms but as we went to hang it, there just wasn't a good spot. We started thinking outside the box and both thought would make the perfect entry way piece! Jordan added the 3 hooks on the bottom (also spray painted!) so we can hang keys.

I love that I can stick outgoing mail, redbox movies, or whatever on top as a reminder before I pop out the door!

I already had the spray paint so my total out of pocket cost was $3.50. Not bad!

sneak peek

2011-01-31T13:35:00.000-08:00

On Thursday we are throwing our first "Gender Reveal Party" for our dear friends Kevin and Abbey. This sweet couple is expecting their second child in May/June and will find out this Thursday at their ultrasound appt if the new little addition will be a girl or boy!

We are all very anxious to find out ourselves so we decided let's make a party out of it! We'll play bunco as a group and the person with the most baby buncos =) will get to open a very large box and either blue or pink balloons will fly out. Everyone is to wear pink if they think it's a girl and blue if they think it's a boy.

One thing is for sure... this baby is already being celebrated and I can guarantee that either way there will be a smile on my face at the end of the night.

To be filled with goodies...

why not use a tea pot as a vase?

2011-01-31T09:41:00.000-08:00

I found these sweet gerber daisies at Trader Joe's for $4.99 and wanted something cute to use to display their beauty. There is just something about fresh cut flowers in the house to perk me up! So I thought, "Why not use a tea pot as a vase?" I love the playfulness and color it brings to our entry way.

Also, this beautiful tea pot was given to me by my dear friend Abbey. It was made in Germany in the '70's. So fun!

Happy Monday!

trying again & again

2011-01-29T14:08:00.000-08:00

Jordan and I have been looking for a new lamp for our downstairs for a several months. I've been looking at Pottery Barn, Target, TJ Maxx, World Market, etc... Then when we were at Home Depot a few weeks ago buying some random item, I came across a lamp that had "potential" and was on clearance for only $13 for both the base and shade. Perfect! Next we stood at the aisle of spray paints trying to determine what color would fit with our living room space. We agreed upon navy blue and headed home. The shade ended up looking better upstairs in our room and we had a beautiful white shade that would fit this one. So I spray painted it and all looked great. I waited for it to dry and then did a second coat on the bottom and DIASTER! When I came to check on it after the second spray the paint had bubbled and warped in multiple spots. I think it was too cold when I did it; I can't imagine why 30* temps are not suitable for painting? So I tried sanding the vase in the bumpy spots and re-sprayed. Well now you could see the lines around the sanded area. So I sanded again for a more even transition. Nope, still noticeable.

I was sharing my sad story with my friend Janelle who suggested to try a paint stripper. I was so excited that there was yet another hope for my little lamp. I stripped the paint off and that brings us here...

This is the sad, sorry mess of a lamp base. But I figured I would try to spray it one more time and hope for the best. All my dedication paid off and it turned out perfectly! Now it looks like this...

Reasons I love this lamp:
1) It goes great in the room
2) I already loved the shade.
3) Every time I see it I a reminded that it was worth all the effort!

Total cost: $16; end result- the lamp for living room and a new shade upstairs! Woot woot!

Burlap Wreath

2011-01-27T13:43:00.000-08:00

Thought I'd share a little craft project I did last week. I saw this tutorial here and thought it was too cute not to try out myself. I was thrilled to that the total cost was less than $10! I've loved driving home and seeing this bright and cheery wreath on the door.

Start with a Styrofoam wreath and paint the color of your matching burlap.

Cut burlap (I bought 1 1/2 yards) into 5x5 inch squares. (This was a little time consuming and was good to do while watching a show!) Then fold in half twice and round the corners to make clover shaped pieces.

Now for the fun... hot glue the pieces to the base and watch it come to life!

Ta da! I love how it works great for Valentines day or could be a Christmas decoration too.

what a guy...

2011-01-25T16:42:00.001-08:00

... to leave sweet notes on the bathroom mirror!

happy for haeges!

2011-01-18T19:57:00.000-08:00

On top of the fall being my favorite time of year, it is also always special because Jordan's family comes to Portland for the week of Thanksgiving. We only are guaranteed to see them twice a year so we try to soak up every moment of family time, and this year was another wonderful time together.

Pumpkin Cinnamon Streusel Buns are a great start to Thanksgiving

Aunt Nancy, Sarah, Mary Kay
Jordan with Uncle Nakorn

Sarah, Jordan & I enjoyed Portland's tree lighting ceremony... until the next day when we found out there was an attempted terrorist attack!

Aren't these siblings so cute together?

Amazing breakfast at Farm to Fork before hunting for our Christmas tree

We found it!!

The Christmas tree hunters =)

We love and miss you every day John, Sarah, Mary Kay, and Aunt Nancy! Counting down to Captiva!

preparing for spring

2011-01-17T15:49:00.000-08:00

A sunny day! In January! In Portland! It's been a beautiful day today so I knew I'd be silly not to take advantage of 53* weather (sad to say, but that really is a treat). I haven't worked in our yard since.... Oct? Nov? It's been long enough that I really can't remember. So, here is a before... lots of leaves, weeds, and debris....

And after! Not a big change =) but I got rid of 2 buckets full of leaves and gunk. I also aerated the soil and pruned plants so they are ready for their big debut this spring.

Even that one little plant in the middle has tiny white blooms which totally made me smile. I will let you in on one of my little tricks. See the white stick between the flowering plant and boxwood shrub on the right? Yes, that is a little sign that says "lily". In other words, "Jessica, this is a plant. Don't step on it, pull at it's growth thinking they are weeds, or accidentally dig it up!"

Awaiting blooms on my rhododendron. This is one of the first to bloom every year bright pink flowers. I have another one that blooms purple a few months later. I love their progression.

My little potted pansy has done well this winter. I pruned it back so more flowers can grow =)

Another early bloomer, my daphne odora is almost ready. It always smells beautiful which is why it is by the front door!

Looking good pansies!

I can't wait for new life to pop up all over our yard this spring. =)

nyc part 3

2011-01-16T11:32:00.000-08:00

Here's the final part of our New York City trip in photos. However, don't be surprised if I follow up with an encore. =)

Jordan & Aunt Nancy waiting for pizza at what's said to be "New York's first pizzeria"

Worth the wait!

If you ever go to NYC over a Sunday, go to the Brooklyn Tabernacle. It was amazing and inspiring!

Walking the Brooklyn Bridge; this was in my top 5 for sure.

@ Rockefeller Center

Top of the Rock; amazing day and view!

Hotel lobby; our last day together (our flight left about 8 hours later so it was just the two of us in the big apple after that!)

We went down to the Financial District & Battery Park first. It was so cool to see the Stock Exchange, Trinity Church, etc..

Frozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity. Another in my top 5!

Who put's a tunnel through a building? Those crazy New Yorkers!

chocolate & peppermint marshmallow pops

2011-01-15T18:07:00.000-08:00

Thought I'd share a little gift idea that is still appropriate to this cold and wintry season. I made these chocolate dipped marshmallows this Christmas which made for easy, cute, and cheap gifts for friends and neighbors. I don't know if it's just me, but put a sweet treat on a stick and somehow you've made it all the more fun. They would be great for Valentine's Day too!

Things you'll need:
*wooden skewers
*large marshmallows
*chocolate chips
*half&half
*peppermint candies (candy canes were perfect!)
*wax paper
*cellophane bags & cute ribbon

How its done:
*Crush the peppermint candies in a ziplock bag using a meat pounder or hammer. Then transfer to a plate.
*Melt chocolate. My favorite melted chocolate recipe: heat about an inch of half&half in a small saucepan until little bubbles form (not boiling); remove from heat and add chocolate chips. Allow chocolate chips to melt down for about 1-2 minutes and then stir with whisk. If it is too thin, add more chocolate, if it's too thick add more cream (note: be sure that if you add more cream it is heated in the microwave slightly so it doesn't cause the chocolate to harden). So easy and it works every time for me and I never have to worry about the hassle of a double boiler!!
*Cut skewers to preferred length and pop a large marshmallow on the end and lay out prepared marshmallows on the wax paper.
*Fully submerge marshmallow in the chocolately goodness, roll in peppermint candies, and carefully lay on wax paper. Allow chocolate to dry completely before pulling up the candies.
*Wrap in cellophane bags and tie with a cute ribbon.

Dunk one into a cup of coffee or an americano and it tastes just like a mocha!

I served them as party favors for our Annual Christmas Tea Party & they were a hit =)

things that currently inspire me

2011-01-12T14:47:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd share some pictures of craft projects and decorating ideas that are currently inspiring me.

Jordan and I would love a piano like this!

Happy Wednesday!

fall highlights

2011-01-11T16:53:00.000-08:00

Wanted to share some fall highlights since I have been a little less than stellar at blogging. Also, I'm going to be a little lazy (hope you don't mind!) and start from the end and go back toward summer because when I uploaded the pictures they went from Nov-Aug rather than the other way around. Okay, so this fall we....

had a happy thanksgiving with the Haege family...

hosted thanksgiving brunch for my sister & Michael....

enjoyed the OSU vs. USC game (even though we really are U of O fans!)...

Shan & I had our yearly "kick off the winter" date of Peppermint Mochas (full fat!) in "to stay" mugs...

went to Stevenson for a Bounty weekend with best friends where we ate thanksgiving together...

and relaxed in a cozy cabin!

hosted a Dr. Seuss halloween party (nevermind the half painted wall behind the guys)...

rested in Hood River where we picked our own apples right from the trees...

carved pumpkins with Jen & Olivia....

celebrated Dad's birthday with happy hour & comedy sportz....

hosted a brunch for Abbey's birthday followed by a day of wine tasting (in perfect timing, might I add, now that Abbey is pregnant!)....

celebrated with friends the end of my season at Grace & new beginnings...

led my last Sunday at Kidventure with a field trip to see my dear friends at Windfield Retirement Home...

said goodbye to a ministry I love....

and people I loved to work alongside....

picked bounties of flowers at the local farm....

celebrated Rowan's 1st birthday....

finished off the amazing year of high school ministry.... (had to include a funny one of Jo!)

and loved a visit from our dear friend Jessica all the way from Florida! (We met Jessica when we served together in Mexico in 2007!!)

So there you have it, this season was in so many different facets of my life my own fall. The dying of beautiful things and the beginning of a season of quiet and rest. As we enjoy our winter we also anticipate what spring holds around the corner.

new york part 2

2011-01-11T16:12:00.001-08:00

Here it is! Looking at these photos reminds me how hot it was that week and how nice some heat would feel right about now!

Washington Square

Greenwich Village; Two notes about this picture. 1) Where's Waldo search for Jordan, do you see him in the photo? 2) I tried to imagine what my life would be like if I lived in the house with the red door and I couldn't, it would be just too fabulous!

Highland Park: a park built on old train tracks a few stories high. So fun!

Tom Colicchio's restaurant "Craft Bar". It was so amazing and there was even a Tom look alike a few tables over, so I went ahead and pretended it was actually Tom to make it all the more amazing.

Central Park FountainCold drinks at the Central Park Boat House were much needed!

Cafe Lalo: Where Meg Ryan & Tom Hanks meet (remember her rose on the table?) in "You've Got Mail"; such an amazing breakfast.

Times Square at night = zoo!

Got to see Promises, Promises with Sean Hays and Kristen Chenoweth =)

Project Runway shout out!

Grand Central Station

There you go, one more part to go for the NYC trip. =)

In the Heights

2010-10-24T16:39:00.000-07:00

I went to see the new Broadway show "In the Heights" on Thursday with my good friend Lynn. It was a great show with beautiful music, amazing dancing, and a touching story line. I would highly suggest this show.

Thanks Lynn for the invite!

nyc part 1

2010-10-18T22:30:00.000-07:00

This summer we were SO BLESSED to travel to New York City with Jordan's family to celebrate his sweet sister Sarah as she spent 3 weeks at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. We are seriously so proud of her and all she has already accomplished in her photography at only 16!

We had 5 great days to explore all the beauty of the big apple. So, here's our trip, in photos. This will be several parts. =)

Our trip to New York was 1 week before our 2 year anniversary so we celebrated our 2 years of wedded bliss on the trip. I got Jordan a new pair of Toms, but isn't the wrapping paper fun???

Here we are on the plane, we flew red-eye and arrived in NYC at 6am. It was exhausting, but it was totally worth not wasting a day for travel.

First stop: breakfast. We started off at "Penelopes" in Midtown. It was fantastic!

Then off to check out the 5th floor balcony at our hotel. So fun, right? Jordan and I had great plans of morning coffee on the balcony but we were SO tired every night from all the exploring that we would end up sleeping until the last minute. Oh well, at least we enjoyed free wine at 5pm most evenings. =)

Looking for cheap pumpkins?

2010-10-15T15:56:00.000-07:00

We totally scored this year on pumpkins!! As I was driving to work on the beautiful country roads I noticed a sign at Al's Garden Center that read, "Whether big or little or in the middle, all pumpkins $1.49".

Wow! I thought, hmm... is that $1.49 a pound because that would be ridiculous! Nope, it was $1.49 total, no matter how big.

As you can tell, we had fun....

Pumpkins and Flowers.

2010-10-08T14:57:00.000-07:00

I love the fall. Really, really. Last weekend Jordan and I had a great fall day picking out our first pumpkin of the season and picking beautiful fall flowers to brighten up the house.

Ah. I'm happy.

Best. Hat. Ever.

2010-10-03T20:02:00.000-07:00

A weekend away...

2010-10-03T18:39:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I totally feel off the whole blogging wagon, but I'm back! Instead of starting fresh I decided to pick up where I left off... in May!

Oh well, here it goes...

So for my birthday this year my girlfriends took me away for the weekend to a lovely house out on the river in West Linn. We had a blast wine tasting "Pinots" so we had our selection of Niors and Gris. It was a relaxing and relationally fun weekend, I am so thankful!

Monday night fun!

2010-08-26T10:45:00.000-07:00

My girlfriends and I are addicted to the Bachelor... yes, we know. Actually, the newest season "Bachelor Pad" has been re-named to the "Trashlor Pad". Every Monday we all get together, catch up on the week, drink wine, eat Abbey's AMAZING popcorn, and watch us some Bachelor/Bachelorette/Trashlor Pad. It's amazing!

I am so thankful for such beautiful women to journey through life with, especially in this trying season. They are my lifeline!

Caitlin, Jess, Abbey, Shannon, Kate

Cheryl Cheryl!

2010-07-17T08:45:00.000-07:00

After my birthday festivities, we have to do something fun and special for the lovely Cheryl on her special day! I had so much fun decorating her desk with Angie's famous birthday confetti! I have to be honest, we only wore the birthday hats for the picture and then took them off so we could head to breakfast. Love you Cheryl!!

Grandma Rachel

2010-07-17T08:41:00.000-07:00

There is something so special about family, especially thinking of generations. We are so blessed to have Grandma Rachel in our lives! She is an amazing woman who is generous, kind, and loves the Lord so deeply. It is a gift to us to learn from her example! My grandmother's have both passed away so a true highlight in marrying Jordan was inheriting such wonderful grandparents. It is a gift!

Birthday Fun!

2010-07-17T08:14:00.000-07:00

For my birthday this year, I was completely spoiled! I am so thankful to have so many people in my life that always go above and beyond. From the way my 24th birthday went, I'm pretty sure 24 is going to be a good year... I like being "2 dozen"!

Defintely a high from the day was when Reegan and Rowan came to visit me. Babies on my birthday???? I'm not sure it can get any better!

Rowan picked out these flowers for me. =)

Cheryl and Becca took me to a fun and yummy lunch!

The amazing Brittany baked all these sweet treats and the cupcakes say "Happy Birthday Jessica"- so sweet!

Isn't he so cute all dressed up?! My parents bought us tickets to see Cirque Du Solei and we enjoyed a oh so tasty dinner at Touche before the show.

And to top it all off, I came home to a fully decorated house, thanks to Shannon and Abbey! There was even a birthday cake and candles ready to be lit.

However, I was so full from all the other great food I had eaten that day, that this was all I could have. =)

Fun memories

2010-06-21T07:51:00.000-07:00

(top picture) Erica, Megan, Jessie, Shay!

My cousin Megan sent Erica these pictures the other day... too fun!

Backyard Fun

2010-05-31T21:11:00.000-07:00

Even though the month of May has felt more like February we've enjoyed the few sunny days of spring we've had so far! Jordan hung Italian lights along the fence which has added so much to the overall feel of the yard. We love our home so much and are thankful for moments like these.

Disneyland!!!

2010-05-31T20:52:00.000-07:00

We had a total BLAST at Disneyland with my Aunt Janet, Uncle Glenn, Uncle Paul, cousins Carleigh and Emma, and of course our good friend Lance. Our SoCal relatives said it was the most rides they had been on in one day at Disneyland in years.. so all in all, it was a really good day!

We didn't go to California Adventure but had to get our picture with the "C"!!!

Jordan's sad he can't get the sword from the stone.

How can you not be excited to go on "It's a Small World"?!?!

Jess with cousin Emma- I remember holding her at the hospital when she was born, now she's in 6th grade!!!4 of the Schneider girls; Emma, Jessie, Caleigh, Aunt Janet

My Uncle Paul got our family a stone in the entryway to Disneyland at the 50th anniversary a few years ago, cool! My dad said Jordan should get a sharpie to add his name! ;)

How does your garden grow?

2010-05-31T20:47:00.000-07:00

It's always very rewarding when something actually grows/survives in our backyard! The lilacs smelt sooo good!

Carol Jean

2010-05-15T20:09:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we get dealt cards that we can't control. Both of my grandmothers died before I was born and I have spent my whole life wondering what they were really like and what it would be like to have a relationship with both of these women. I love heritage and have always felt as if there was a gap in my own. I know it's there but there is just a disconnect. Its kind of like little kid memories. Some of my earliest memories at 2 or 3 also have a picture somewhere that was taken. Usually I didn't actually remember something but the picture told a story and that made it feel like a memory. This is how I feel about my grandmothers. I have heard stories and seen pictures and they seem so real, but at the end of the day I really never met these women.

A few weeks ago I was able to feel more connected to the story of my Grandma Carol Jean than ever before. My dad decided to do the MS Walk in Portland and I was invited along. It was great. I was so amazed at all the people that have been affected by the same disease (MS) that took my grandmother 40 years ago. As we walked and talked about life I was reminded how small my hardships are compared to those walking down this scary path of MS.

I was so thankful for an opportunity to use my feet to say something of importance about my grandmother. I was able to connect with her journey, her struggles and be an advocate on her behalf.

The following weekend Jordan and I went down to LA for a conference and was able to stay with my Uncle Paul and also spend the day at Disneyland with my Aunt Janet. It was a blast! (post to follow). The whole day I felt torn between running around like a kid from ride to ride and sitting with Aunt hearing more stories of this grandmother I never knew. A few times I stayed back from the rides just to hear more. I was so captivated with her stories of things I never knew. Now I know that my grandma Carol was a very organized, well-kept woman. She loved to bake, help at the schools, take care of her home, and love her 4 children in the details of their life. These words were so life-giving. In a lot of ways I think I'm just like my grandma Carol and knowing that makes my heart overflow with peace. Thanks Aunt Janet for gifting me with stories and your memories of a woman that I love so much and never knew. She doesn't feel much like a stranger anymore.

My grandma Carol and grandpa Bob on their wedding day.

Jordan and I on our wedding day.

Matchy Matchy

2010-05-08T15:05:00.000-07:00

We've all had those times where we show up to a party or event dressed just like someone else.. but have you ever matched this much? We did not plan this, I repeat, we did not plan this. Crazy, right? Every detail was the same (gold & silver necklaces, black tights, and my nail polish matched her purple scarf perfectly).

We either both have great taste or horrible taste, but either way, it was a great night! =)

Sweet

2010-05-03T22:40:00.001-07:00

Friendships are sweet, they bring life to dull or broken places in our lives. Friends bring perspective and offer counsel and sometimes a glass of wine. I am so thankful.

Hosanna! Happy Easter!

2010-04-09T10:34:00.000-07:00

It was another busy and fun Easter morning at church celebrating with the Kidventure kids "Hosanna"- we can praise the One who saves us! After church we had our second annual Easter dinner at the Chesbrough house! It was fun to have the Schneider family for dinner and we even had a newbie to the group. Erica brought her boyfriend Michael so it was great to have everyone together in one place! Mom and dad brought a great ham and dad's favorite Potato Salad and I did all the sides. It was fun time together. =)

A REAL offering

2010-04-08T20:17:00.001-07:00

So today I was counting up the dollar bills and change the kids bring week after week to sponsor our sweet Jacqueline in Rwanda. It's not much money, but it is such a sweet and humbling reminder to me of the sacrifice these kiddos are making when they bring their own money and GIVE it away so they can help someone else. It truly amazes me.

When I was counting today, I came across a bullwinkles coin and it made me laugh out loud. So cute, so "worthless", and such a real sacrifice in the life of a kid. I love it and I love the kids I work with!

To find out more about how you can be like our kids and change a child's life go to anlm.org - it really is amazing!

An amazing gift!

2010-04-05T10:52:00.000-07:00

This year for Valentine's Day Jordan gave me one of the coolest gifts I've ever received. I love his creativity and attention to detail. If you know me well you know that I love popcorn. Seriously, when I am around popcorn I lose all self-control and eat bucket fulls! I had been mentioning in passing moments about how it would be cool if we had a popcorn maker instead of using the microwave popcorn because we always made our own growing up.

Well Valentine's Day morning he surprised me with this....

Not only a popcorn popper, but the exact one we used growing up! He called me dad and my dad willingly gave it away, saying, "Are you sure you want this old thing?" My dad thought it was so weird that I wanted it, but Jordan knew that I was weird enough to love it!! =)

My parents received this popcorn maker as a wedding gift. I love it's character, nostalgia, and that it was FREE. Jordan didn't spend one dime on my Valentine's Day gift and I absolutely love it. I use it all the time.

So you are welcome to join us for a popcorn night, but I will warn you to get your own bowl because I don't share popcorn well!

Captiva!

2010-04-02T10:18:00.000-07:00

We are getting settled and back into the normal routine of life after our wonderful family vacation to Captiva Island. We love this yearly tradition where we are all together in the same place relaxing and enjoying each other's company. Thanks Haeges for a great trip!

When we arrived at about 2am we were surprised with a room key to our own cottage! Grandma wanted us to have our own space and it was such a fun and sweet surprise!

Jordan and Jess with Grandpa and Grandma

Awww... Jordan and his mom

Lauren and Jess! One of my bestest friends from childhood now lives in Fort Meyers and she and her husband made the trip down to visit us for the afternoon, it was so great to catch up!

Hmmmm.....

Jess and Lauren

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The best day EVER!

2010-02-11T10:42:00.000-08:00

I don't know if it's Valentines Day or just my mood today =) but I've been thinking this morning about the best day I've ever had- our wedding day. I feel so honored to be married to man with such character, integrity, and that is just so cute! Jordan continues to shape me to be better, more fully myself, and more of who God wants me to be.

I don't believe that marriage is the "end all" for happiness and know in each season of each of our lives we have our own "best day ever". Whether you're married, dating, or single this Valentine's Day isn't it fun to take a moment to reflect on the good things you have been given that are unique to you and that our relationships (friends, family, and significant other) and are treasure!

Changed- that's me!

2010-02-05T10:19:00.000-08:00

If I look at my life from the past two years through the lens of just my Children's Ministry job, I might say it's been the best two years I've ever had. I've often described our working relationship with the only work that seemed fitting "synergy". There has been a unity, like-mindedness and natural flow about the way Angie and Cheryl and I have worked together. Despite all the changes and "storms" that have hit in a broader sense, our little team of 3 has remained strong and steady.

But change is inevitable, right? Isn't change just so hard? If you told me 6 months ago that today it would be over I wouldn't believe you. But that's the nature of change; it's often unexpected. I'm just so thankful that God knew this all along and has truly provided all I've needed to make it into the next season.

Angie, my boss, will have her last Sunday with us this coming weekend. We are so excited for her new position at ANLM (the organization I went to Rwanda with) and know that she will be used greatly and challenged to reach new heights in her our life. I know that we just can't know yet what it will feel like to have her gone.

In case you don't know Angie, let me share a story that may help you understand her better. I was at a conference and the speaker said, "Come on, let's be real. It's not like when we walk into work our boss claps their hands and proclaims 'Hooray! You're here!'" Okay, I'm not kidding, I was the only one in the room that it ACTUALLY happens to- weekly.

At a lunch in honor of Angie this week we were asked to name what we've learned from her. As I started to think about it, I honestly haven't learned more from any one else in my life. The moment I met her 5 years ago, I knew I had to be in relationship with her. The challenge, prayer, generosity, mentorship, camaraderie, support, and honesty she has given me have dramatically changed me. I have never met another person with a heart and passion so similar to my own. And isn't the Lord so good to send someone farther down the journey to give us hope and strength to press in and not just take the easy road.

So... long story short... I will be forever grateful for the past two years and how they have shaped me professionally, in my relationship with the Lord, in my marriage, in my perspective, and in how I will one day parent my children.

Changed- that's me!

Our last day of work together! =(

So... Angie is the QUEEN of candy bar posters and I think Jordan and I have received like 4! It was only fitting to send her on her way with one of her own. Come to find out this was her first candy bar poster TO her, I was shocked!

We had to crown her at her last staff meeting!

Our team

Because Angie is SO joyful we needed to rearrange and change up our office so it didn't feel so lonely without her! Goodbye blues, hello sunshine!

Christmas Morning

2010-01-21T09:13:00.000-08:00

Here's our Christmas morning, so what that it's a month later, right? =)

My sweet friend Abbey gave me this beautiful tea set from Germany!

Okay, I know! But seriously I have wanted this since summer and was thrilled when Jordan's mom surprised me with it. Thanks Mary Kay!

My wonderful parents gave us a night at Timberline Lodge with snowboarding too- wow, we are thrilled to go this weekend to enjoy!

We had a wonderful Christmas celebrating the gift of Christ in our lives and also the wonderful family and friends we have, now to see what 2010 has in store!

I love babies!

2010-01-20T21:19:00.000-08:00

It is no secret that I love kids and babies are just the best. My dear friend Erin is about to welcome her first baby in February. She and her husband decided to wait to find out the gender of the baby and I just can hardly wait to find out if this joy is a girl or boy!

Erin was such a gift to Jordan and I when we were getting married and she did a beautiful job co-coordinating the wedding, that it was only fitting for me to help throw her baby shower! Abbey, the party planner extraordinaire, and I had a sweet little scone and champagne brunch filled with little game stations and a tall tale story for this new little one.

The party planners!

Favors!

Doesn't she look great?!

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T14:54:00.000-08:00

I always get a little sentimental and yet also hopeful on December 31st. The past year has been equally fun and memorable as it has been hard and painful.

Some highlights from 2009:
*Jordan and Jess's travels- Sunriver, Hood River, San Francisco, Mt Hood, Captiva Florida, Cannon Beach, Seattle with Grace staff, and Jordan went to Catalyst West in LA.
*Became high school leaders in August with an awesome group of kids and great leadership
*Celebrated our first anniversary! and the first anniversary of owning a home!
*Jess walk/ran a half marathon in June
*Jordan started a new job at I58:10 Media

I'm not going to list low-lights, that's no fun! But there has been a lot of change and transition in our lives this year and the unending process of refinement is often difficult but so worth it. I know Jordan and I are better because of our 2009 low-lights.

I wonder what 2010 holds? More possibilities, more memory-making and of course more difficult times too. Today I decided to do a few things to say goodbye to 2009. I went to Goodwill and got rid of that big pile in the garage, got my haircut, am sending off packages and doing returns, and I cancelled my gym membership. Yes you heard that right. I CANCELLED my membership. It felt so weird as our culture pushes us toward products and specials to get healthy this season. I didn't use it enough and the rate was about to double, no thanks! Doesn't mean I won't join somewhere else, but it was a good reminder to get rid of the excess and to live simple, enjoy my blessings, and watch what the Lord has next.

Wishing you and yours the best for 2010.

Trees Trees Trees

2009-12-21T08:59:00.001-08:00

Hunting for a Christmas tree is hard work! Let's just say that my dad was more than patient as a I meandered the Christmas tree farm searching for the perfect tree. We'd go up and back down and then up and back down, trying to find the one! Don't worry, I ended up spotting it after the three of them were tired and ready to leave. All in all, a successfully fun trip!

Looking for the perfect tree. Dad thinks it's over there!

I think it's very important to help cut down the tree, here I am hard at work.

I love this one! Where is Jordan's face?? The tree is totally wining this match!

Merry Christmas!

Celebrating Stacy

2009-12-21T08:46:00.000-08:00

The staff ladies of Grace got to take Stacy out for a birthday lunch about a month ago and we had a great time! It was so fun getting away and catching up on life outside work and getting to give "word gifts" to Stacy! She is a staple to our team but also a dear friend. (She's the one in the middle! =)

The Grand Finale

2009-12-04T10:23:00.001-08:00

And finally, the cherished Thanksgiving dinner! Grandma cooks a beautiful dinner for the 8 of us each year and without fail, she does a fabulous job! Even though I was sick, it was still a great night with family. =)

Thanksgiving Brunch

2009-12-04T10:13:00.000-08:00

We got to continue the Thanksgiving fun by having the Schneider's over for brunch on Thanksgiving morning. Because Jordan's parents come to town we spend dinner with them, but were able to come up with a new tradition that allows us to spend time with my parents too, and hopefully alleviates some cooking (and dishes!) from my mom.

The Menu:
Betty's Eggs with spinach, white cheddar, and bacon
Yogurt and homemade granola
Angie's YUM-O pumpkin bread with cinnamon whip cream

It was a relaxing way to start a fun day!

A fun night!

2009-12-04T10:04:00.000-08:00

Every year we look forward to Thanksgiving week because Jordan's family comes to town! We were so excited to have them to our house for dinner and a few rounds of farkle. (Nice win Aunt Nancy!)
The fall is my favorite time of year and Thanksgiving is such a fun way to end the season with great food, great memories, and spending time with family!

Mary Kay and her kids! =)

Better not to know

2009-11-16T14:51:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it's better not to know what the sticker says on the top of your dishwasher.... sad.

Sweat Equity Part 1

2009-11-07T11:58:00.000-08:00

Jordan and I have FOR MONTHS opened up our downstairs hall closet to a full space of pergo flooring, just waiting to be installed. We finally set a date and have been working this weekend with my fabulous dad and the fabulous Jason to get it finished. We are SO blessed to have such great people in our life to help us save lots of money on the install. Our amazing Realtor bought the majority of the flooring as a move in gift. We are both overwhelmed and excited about this project coming to fruition!

Here's the progression...

Don't worry, we didn't leave the stove in the living room. But doesn't it look funny?! Finished project photos to come ASAP!

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-04T21:20:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I know some people don't celebrate Halloween- but we do! We don't enjoy the witches, ghosts, or creepy costumes. We enjoy having our house light turned on during a dark night to joyfully receive sweet trick-or-treaters! Because the people that live in our neighborhood tend to be younger, we get mostly tiny trick-or-treaters. They are so precious! One of them, about 3, asked me, "Do you have little kids in there?" So cute!

Because I didn't want to leave all those cute little faces we decided to bring the party to us. We raided the costumes at the church in the kids area and here's what we came up with!

Jordan was a Dharma worker, specifically from The Looking Glass station (from the TV show Lost)

I was good ol' Dorothy. Cali didn't want to get in the basket.

Phil as Superman/Clark Kent.

Our friends Scott and Monica!

The next step for Jordan

2009-10-31T09:14:00.000-07:00

Jordan starts a new job on Monday! We are both really excited about the change and feel very confident that this is indeed the right next step for not only Jordan's career, but our family. He has so loved his job at Grace Chapel over the past five years, and it has been such a safe place to learn, grow, and at times, fail. Jordan is the man he is in so many ways thanks to the team at Grace. Jordan will be going full-time with I58:10 Media, a media house that partners with non-profits. He has already been working 10 hours a week for the last year with I58:10 and we are so excited for this transition. Because they help non-profits with media/design, they have taken on Grace Chapel as a client and Jordan will still work at the church one day a week- it is seriously the best of both worlds for us!
Tuesday Jordan had his last staff meeting at Grace Chapel and he was greatly surprised to get one of Angie's fabulous candy bar posters. Thanks everyone for the nice gifts and support. Jordan thought it would be fitting to spend the day "remembering" his time at Grace through t-shirts. Here he is...

Jessica hosts her 1st baby shower!

2009-10-26T12:07:00.000-07:00

Saturday I had the honor to celebrate Abbey and their new addition- Rowan William Haffner by hosting a baby shower! He is such a joy and it has been so fun to walk through this journey with our dear friends as they start their family. We had the theme of "World Traveler" with little airplanes and suitcases, it was so fun! Abbey has a great group of friends and it was such a joy to get to know them better. Yay for Abbey and Kevin!

Enjoying Each Season

2009-10-26T09:28:00.000-07:00

I don't know if you can tell from this picture, but it was raining so hard! I had been spending the day alone cleaning and doing projects (in my happy place) and the rain was so loud from inside that I had to go outside and check it out. Wow, I honestly don't know if I've ever seen it rain that hard at home. (In Mexico yes, but that is a different story!!) It was beautiful and I couldn't help but take a picture.

Shannon said something lately that I thought was so true and wise! She said that she is choosing to enjoy each season for what it is. We are always complaining about it being too cold, too hot, too rainy, or what have you. I remembered what Shannon had told me and went back inside, turned on the fireplace, and got back to my projects. It was wonderful!

Happy Fall, I hope you are each enjoying each part of every season.

Celebrating Fall!

2009-10-16T16:29:00.000-07:00

Fall is my favorite! These past few weeks have been amazing with such bright and beautiful leaves and the crisp fall air in full effect, its perfect.
Last night we had a blast celebrating this beloved season with caramel apples, carved pumpkins, and yummy nachos. It's such a blessing to have friends we can go through life with and always pick right up where we left off. Thanks Jo and Li for hosting!

Isn't our pumpkin 'stache awesome??

Uganda Bible Project

2009-10-07T14:42:00.000-07:00

Check out the exciting things our friend Lance is doing! Jordan filmed the video on this page with our great friend Jordan Philips. They are both so talented and I'm excited to see people helped because of Lance.

http://www.eternalimpact.com/ugandabibleproject/

We all have our one "thing"...

2009-09-05T16:36:00.000-07:00

...and this is mine! I am terrible at putting away my clothes, and this lovely couch that we keep in our bedroom has turned into my second, hanger-free closet. For as tidy and organized of a person as I am, this is the one thing that I just tend to let go for too long. Oh, and updating my blog. =)

Busy Bees....

2009-07-21T21:07:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since we've updated this blog! It's been a fun and busy month. We celebrated Cheryl getting into Grad School at Fox by having dessert at Rimskys- yum! Then we went to Heppner, Oregon to celebrate Caley and Danny's wedding. Jordan was the head photographer and did an awesome job! This is a couple we went to high school with and they have been together for 10 years- wow! We were happy to see them start this new and very fun chapter of their lives together! After that we packed up and headed down to San Francisco for our first anniversary celebration (photos to come in another post! =) Summer is in full swing and I'm loving it.... now to see if I can keep all my plants alive =)

Yay Cheryl, we are so excited for you!

Spread the Word!

2009-06-26T17:05:00.001-07:00

We are so excited at Grace to partner with the City of Wilsonville this summer for Art and Action! It's going to be a great time for families to come out on these nice days and have some family fun doing crafts and games together. More than anything, kids need time with their parent to play and be silly, and additionally, to hear positive and encouraging words from. Tell your friends and family with kids from 3-10 that we'd love to have them on Thursday mornings.
For more information, check out:
http://gracechapelonline.org/kidventure/artandaction.html

Everyday Life

2009-06-26T09:07:00.000-07:00

I'm going to assume that everyday life is just as exciting to you as the different things we do! Here are a few pictures of the adventures we've been on this week and a glimpse into how exciting our lives are! =)A beautiful night, enjoying Devon's (Jordan's brother) last home Baseball game.

Coffee at Panera, they have the best Hazelnut coffee! Before we headed to Ikea.

Buying things for the church and Jordan being Jordan!

Last stop- YoCream! This self serve yogurt shop by Ikea is a must-go! You serve up the flavor yogurt and all the toppings and then they weigh it and you pay by the ounce.

Helevatia 13.1

2009-06-22T11:34:00.000-07:00

Cheryl and I decided back in January to walk a half marathon and the day finally came last weekend! We had such a blast walking/running through the beautiful country roads of Helevatia. Even though I didn't feel good (at all!) that day, we still made it through and Cheryl was great at pushing me! All in all we probably ran 4.5 miles and walked the rest and had about 14.5min. miles, which is just what we wanted. Now we'll see if we do it again in September.....

Something New

2009-06-21T20:18:00.000-07:00

We found this awesome clock/wall art. Jordan was so patient to take the take to hang each letter at the perfect spot. We love the new addition to our bedroom.

Sneak Peek

2009-06-20T20:33:00.000-07:00

Here's a sneak peek at dessert for tomorrow night's Father's Day dinner! By dad loves pineapple upside down cake so I made him one from scratch. It was a lot of fun and one of my first homemade cakes. I hope it's good!

More adventures from Sarah's trip.

2009-06-18T11:32:00.000-07:00

We loved having Sarah here and felt like the time just flew by!! Here's some photos of the fun adventures we went on... let's just say we all felt the need to exercise by the end of her trip because of all the good food we ate!! We miss Sarah already but are excited to see her in the fall!

Cool leftover packaging from The Montage

Abbey, Jessica, and Shannon at Urban Fondue- yummy!

Our Sarahs....

2009-06-06T17:52:00.000-07:00

This has been a fun and exciting week for the Sarahs in our life.

Sarah #1- Sarah Gillihan

Sarah graduated on Wednesday night, woo hoo! We went to the Memorial Colisium to celebrate and then got to celebrate again today at her grad party. She is such a wonderful example of integrity and purity and has so much to be proud of. Yay Sarah!

Sarah #2- Sarah Haege

Jordan's younger sister Sarah is here to visit and we have being having such a blast with her! It's fun to hang out with her for an extended period of time and she is becoming such a fun and talented gal! Here's a few pictures of our adventures thus far, we still have 2 1/2 more days to play!!

Our funny cookies that turned out like chocolate chip pancakes! =)

An intense game of Wii!

My day at the beach with two photographers.... I went in shops while they did this! =)

Shout out to Jordan

2009-05-27T09:52:00.000-07:00

Check out this shout out to Jordan on Ben Arment's blog. Ben formerly ran Catalyst West and now has his own production company and upcoming fall conference called "Story".

http://www.benarment.com/history_in_the_making/2009/05/how-to-give-yourself-a-brand-makeover.html

So proud of my man!

My Ring

2009-05-26T10:11:00.000-07:00

I have a ring that says, "Do What You Love" on the outside of the band and on the inside it says "Love What You Do." This ring has been such a great reminder to me in the last few years when it comes to the jobs I've had. There have been times where I was at a job I knew wasn't my passion, but I had to be reminded that this is where I have been placed now and I can find things I love rather than focus on what I don't. But the great part is that there is another part of this message. For me it was a visual reminder for such a long time that I don't want to stay at a job that I hate, but to seek out the things I love and am gifted at and be there! When I think of the journey I went on to get to my position now at Grace, I am amazed at all the Lord did for me. Sometimes I wonder if they created this position just for me because it feels like just the right fit. I am so fortunate to really be doing what I love, even though there are days I have to "love what I do". :)

2nd-3rd grade small group

4th-5th grade girls went to Sonic for drinks!

K-1st Grade Small Group (I love Asher's face in the front! ha!)

Lucky Me!

2009-05-13T18:01:00.001-07:00

I felt so spoiled for my birthday! Birthdays are always a good reminder of how loved we are and also a good reminder to me to share some love to others on their birthday! Jordan took me down to "The Nines" on Sunday night as an early birthday surprise. We had a great time talking about things we never find time to and being silly! I was treated like a princess! On my birthday we had dinner at my parents house with Erica and Shannon and Nicole stopped by. Because I really enjoy my job, I was excited to go to work on my birthday! I was again spoiled with flowers, gifts, confetti, and coffee. I have amazing people in my life!

I woke up to a homemade breakfast by Jordan!

The Nines!

Hummus Sesame Noodles

2009-05-08T09:01:00.000-07:00

(I didn't have enough spaghetti noodles, so there are two kinds of noddles!!)

So I have a recipe to share, it is so tasty!

Hummus Sesame Noodles
It was so flavorful and easy to make! I didn't have snow peas so I used sauteed zucchini instead. We also added grilled chicken to the it and it was the perfect meal!

Ingredients:
*1 pound angel hair pasta
*3/4 cup hummus
*1/4 cup chicken broth
*2 Tbsp soy sauce
*1/2 cup dry-roasted peanuts, crushed
*1/3 cup sesame seeds, toasted
*15 snow peas, thinly sliced
*3 scallions, thinly sliced

1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until al dente, about 5 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water.
2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the hummus, chicken broth and soy sauce. Toss the hot pasta with the hummus mixture and let cool about 15 minutes.
3. Add enough of the reserved pasta water to loosen the noodles. Divide among 4 bowls; top each with peanuts, sesame seeds, snow peas and scallions.

Enjoy!

Union Gospel Mission

2009-05-07T09:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday some of the Grace Chapel staff went to the Union Gospel Mission downtown for their "Life Change Luncheon". It was a great experience getting to hear about their Life Change Recovery Program and also hear stories about people that have gone through the program. Then we got a tour of the facility. It was such a great day and reminder of what's really going on in our world. I am so thankful to work with a group of people that care so much about both knowing better about the hurt and struggles of others and also wanting to be part of the solution.

Stacy, Karen, Mike, Rob (Director at UGM), Jen, Cheryl, Alex, Angie, and Jess!

Party at Karen Fort's!

2009-05-02T07:13:00.000-07:00

Last week we had our first, hopefully of many, game night at Karen Fort's house. She cooked us all a FABULOUS meal and then we played a few games. There were a few competitive people in the room (ok ok, I'm one of them) so it got pretty tense when we were so close at the end of pictionary, but good thing my team pulled the win! (Remember, I said I'm competitive?) It was great to spend time with such great friends and eat Karen Fort's cooking- that's a good night!!

I love this picture of Hobbs, he is too funny!!