Thursday, December 31, 2009

Farewell 2009!

2009 was a pretty good year for us! Here is a breakdown of the past year’s posts:

January – we rang in the New Year down in Eugene at my best friend’s family farm; I started a new job; we dealt with a minor car accident; our friends, James & Michelle, came over from Bend for a visit; and we got a long awaited wedding present from Sam’s dad – a handmade dresser!

February – we used a gift card from the wedding to go out for an early Valentine’s date; Sam & I passed a cold back and forth; and more guests came over – this time in the form of Kelly & Brittany.

March – I found myself visiting my best friend up in Portland; I got a free gift card to Macy’s in the mail; Buster became a little more famous; and I went to Bend for Michelle’s baby shower!

April – we refinanced our year old home; I went back over to Bend for another baby shower and time with my mom; and Sam and I joined a gym.

May – Levi Heater was born (refer back to March, when I went to his baby shower); my mom & I threw a luncheon for one of my childhood friends; Sam turned 27 and we had both families over to our house for a joint birthday/Mother’s Day party; we worked on the curb appeal of our house; and another visit to see friends in Portland.

June – my BIL, Matt, graduated from the University of Oregon; and we celebrated our (1st!!!) anniversary!

July – we spent 4th of July in Sandy with Sam’s family; we went to Bend for a wedding & my birthday weekend; the Grables came down for a belated birthday party for me; and Sam & I took a trip to the coast as an anniversary trip!

August – I met a new friend from the Internet (and we actually went to the same small college and never met!); I completed my first project on my NEW sewing machine (a birthday present from Sam); and we went to the coast again, but this time with the whole Grable family.

September – I opened my own Etsy shop, featuring iPhone sleeves; I attended a women’s conference at George Fox with my MIL, SIL, and BIL’s girlfriend; and I got news that I would need thousands of dollars worth of dental work.

October – I wrote about my siblings; I reflected on my life-changing car accident that happened 5 years ago; I went to Bend again to help my mom with a fundraiser; the Grables got together for their second annual pumpkin carving day; and I had my first (of many) gum surgeries.

November – I went up to Washington for a baby shower; I got a little crafty with my clothing; went to Bend for the Thanksgiving weekend; and went through gum surgery #2.

December – we attended two beautiful concerts that Krista, my BIL’s girlfriend, was singing in; Christmas was celebrated with the in-laws; and I knocked out my third gum surgery.

I have enjoyed blogging this year and can’t wait to continue in 2010! There might be some minor changes, but everything should look about the same. See you next year!

Monday, December 28, 2009

Christmas Top Five

Instead of outlining our entire Christmas, I opted to share my Top Five.

5. Finding out my BIL reads my blog and bought my Christmas present from one of my Wednesday Wish List Items!


4. Seeing my step-brother for the first time since Sam & I's wedding (in June of 2008) !

Tom & Meaghan - December 2009

3. Hearing news that my mom's wish to move to California will be coming true in 2010!


2. Sharing the holidays with my wonderful in-laws!

The Kids - December 2009

1. Knowing the Reason for the Season!

Friday, December 25, 2009

Monday, December 21, 2009

Christmas Time is Here!

Sam and I had our very own Christmas celebration last weekend because we will be at the in-law's for Christmas Day. It was simple, quiet, and just the two of us, which was a nice treat for the both of us. We followed up the evening with some homemade cinnamon rolls & a Christmas classic: ELF! Overall, a great (pre-) Christmas!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Last Minute Idea: For the Traveler

My brother’s girlfriend has always been an easy person for me to shop for. Last Christmas, I bought a scrabble tile necklace with a mini cooper on it, as that is the car she currently zips around in. For her birthday, I found a cute jute clutch that I could totally see her carrying around. This Christmas was no different. Since my brother was invited to spend the holidays with his girlfriend & her family in Europe (yes, you heard me right - so jealous!) , I thought to myself, “I should find something that she could use on her trip!” and then off my mind went on various ideas. Until I finally settled on this:

(photo)

A passport cover from meghandesigns. I love Amy Butler’s fabric and how the colors stand out (in case you misplaced your passport while you were traveling) . I really hope she likes & uses this gift. I know ifI was traveling around Europe, I would love it!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

The Working Closet

Over a year ago, I stumbled upon The Working Closet on Flickr. The premise of the group is to see what others are wearing day to day, whether they work in an office or stay home.

I immediately loved this idea because there are many days that I feel like I have no inspiration and then I remember an outfit that was posted and I begin to put something together out of the items in my own closet.

Not only is the group great for ideas, but they also provide feedback/praises on your outfit, if you choose to post it. And trust me when I say the praises are a daily self esteem booster!

For example, last Friday I had come up with an outfit in my head that required one accessory that I was still trying to figure out. I decided to go for it and I told myself I could always remove said accessory if I felt uncomfortable.

Here is the outfit:

The ladies who commented had nothing but nice things to say (which in turn gave me more confidence when seeing people at work)! I wanted to reach through the computer and hug each one of them, it meant that much to me!

And this isn't a one time occurance. They have commented on many other outfits, whether they like the color, style, or want to know where they can get something like that for themselves. It is pretty great for everyone involved!

So if you are looking for a place to find both ideas and feedback on your daily outfits, check out this group. They won't dissappoint!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Thankgiving Trip

Our (much needed) vacation began on Tuesday at noon, when we both arrived home to pack the car and head out of town.

Buster & I

We headed up to the in-law’s house to drop off the pups and accept a much appreciated ride to the airport en route to Bend! And before I get questions, yes it
felt weird telling people we were going to spend the money to fly instead of just getting in a car & driving the 3 hours it normally takes. However, if you’ve ever driven over a mountain pass in a snow flurry, I’d hope you’d understand why I might opt to fly. Plus, my mom had airline miles to spare. Spoiled? Maybe. Stress free? Definitely!

Sidenote: I love to fly! I’ve been flying since I was five and about 90% of the flights have been sans parents/parental supervision. There is something about being in a plane that sort of relaxes me and puts me at peace. If I could, I’d fly everywhere!

So here is our breakdown of the week:

Tuesday night: After a (short) 40 minute flight, we were greeted at the Bend/Redmond Airport by my mom. We proceeded to her house for a chili dinner & TV at home.

Wednesday: Sam & I thought we’d be proactive in working off some of the upcoming weight we might gain at Thanksgiving dinner, so we went to the gym. Unfortunately, we had to pay a guest fee ($7/each) and decided against going a second or third time while we were there. We also hit
the grocery store, which wasn’t as bad as expected the day before a national food holiday. We got in & out quite quickly. And then we spent another night in, enjoying the company and relaxation.

Thursday: My mom made plans to go have us go to a family friend’s house for Thanksgiving dinner, which freed up the day to do as we pleased. We watched the Thanksgiving Day parade and some football. In between commercials, my awesome husband helped me make these:

Oreo Turkeys

Our afternoon plans consisted of seeing The Blindside and finishing up our required dishes to bring to dinner.

Thanksgiving dinner (yes, a day in itself) : One word: Food! There was so much to eat; you almost didn’t know where to begin. All the families that came contributed at least one dish to the meal and between 5 families, every dish was pretty much represented! We ate & ate & ate and then ended the night watching the end of the Texas/Texas A&M game and having our Christmas card picture taken.

Family Picture

Friday: I didn’t think I would do it, but my mom & I got up at 4:30am to do the whole Black Friday Shopping Extravaganza. I can’t say I am a die-hard though, because some people (my brother being one of them) were up before 3am to start shopping. I did manage to find some good deals and knock a few Christmas presents off my list to give. Following shopping, the Heaters came over to hang out with us. We made a stop at our (Michelle & I’s) previous workplace to say hello and then headed out for coffee. They introduced us to a new coffee shop in downtown Bend that is quite trendy. It was fun to catch up and play with Levi. He’s getting to an age where he does more than just eat & sleep. (No baby fever here, but it’s fun to play with someone else’s)

Saturday: I had a coffee date with a high school friend and we ended up talking for almost 2 hours. Following coffee, Sam & I went out to eat, while my mom had a previous planned lunch date. Then we headed back to my mom’s and packed up. The rest of the afternoon was spent soaking up all the rest we could before we headed back. Our plane left at 7:30pm and before we knew it we were over the mountain again being picked up by Sam’s parents.

Sunday: We went to church and then came home for a (mini) Thanksgiving lunch. Then we packed up the dogs & headed home once again. The rest of the day was spent doing laundry & catching up on our DVR.

Now that the Holiday season is truly upon us, I am really excited! I love time spent with family & friends and the love that seams to radiate this time of year.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

I'm Thankful For...

1. Secure jobs.
2. A roof over our heads.

3. Awesome best friends.

4. A loving mom & brother.

5. Supportive in-laws.

6. A crazy pair of pups.

7. And my wonderful husband!

Happy Thanksgiving to you & your family!

Friday, November 20, 2009

Happy all around!

A lot of things need to get done this weekend, but I refuse to let it get me stressed out!

First, it is Friday and I couldn't be more thankful!

Then, I get to spend tomorrow with my best friend (see also: college roommate, maid of honor) uninterupted, all day! We have tons to catch up on, mainly her recent engagement and upcoming wedding! So excited!

Sam and I are also planning on getting a head start on our Holiday decorating this weekend! We'll be traveling for Thanksgiving (more to come on this) and then it will be December and less than 4 weeks until Christmas. I am nothing but someone who loves to plan ahead :)

In between all of the above, Sam and I also need to find time to pack for the aforementioned travels. This is the part where I refuse to get stressed!

We'll be seeing both families over the next week, but will be spending Thansgiving with my mom this year! (A full update when we return)

Even though we will have a full weekend/ week ahead, I am in a state of happiness for some reason and love it!

Hope you all have a great weekend and a happy Thanksgiving week!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Wednesday Wish List

Food and the holidays go hand-in-hand for me. Since having my own kitchen, I've felt more comfortable to experiment with some of my much loved holiday recipes. Recently, pies have become a favorite of mine to make. Blackberry. Pumpkin. Apple. Peach. You name it and I'll make it!

Anthropologie's Blackbird Pie Vent would be the perfect solution to my baking ventures. How cute would this little guy be popping out of your delicious pie? Not to mention, the price is great too ($8) !

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Weekend Recap

  • My weekend almost felt like 4 days due to a holiday (Veteran's Day) and a dental surgery.
  • Wednesday (day 1) was used as a day to get things done.
  • On our to-do list: getting Buster's toe nails clipped, grocery shopping and working out.
  • I also squeezed in a pedicure with Kristi and saw a movie/had dinner with Kali.
  • Friday (day 2) brought my second dental surgery.
  • Like the first, the surgery was quick, with a longer recovery time.
  • We made sure to stock up on soft foods (oatmeal, pudding, jell-o) and entertainment this time, as we knew what to expect.
  • And thanks to our DVR & movies, I've been quite content all weekend.
  • The Proposal (loved!) , The Ugly Truth, and Whatever Works were among a few of the movies we watched this weekend.
  • (As you can tell, days 3 & 4 involved a lot of sitting on the couch watching TV.)
  • And (of course) before we knew it, the weekend is gone and it's time for another work week.
  • Thank you to my wonderful husband for taking care of me this weekend!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Wednesday Wish List

I have always been drawn to cupcakes. I opted for them in place of a traditoinal cake at our wedding. I also have a few (fake) around the house as decoration. I love cupcakes. Enough said. And I love this week's Wednesday Wish List for that reason alone.Anthropologie's Cupcake Potholder would be a perfect addition to my simple, yet colorful kitchen. And I'd be a little hesitant to use it because it's so cute, but for only $8 I could stock up. :)

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Weekend Recap

•The weekend started out fearing I was on the verge of getting sick.
•So far so good.
•Friday night was a usual in the Grable house: eating pizza & catching up on Thursday night TV.
•Probably my favorite night of the week!
•Saturday brought rainy weather, but I went out anyways.
•Main reason being Old Navy's $1 scarf sale.
•Yes, I stocked up!
•When I came home, I got the urge to craft.
•All week on The Working Closet, we've been seeing some awesome embellished tees.
•I decided to try my hand at one and am so happy with how it turned out.

•We rounded out the day with a workout, homemade red beans & rice, and WALL-E.
•Sunday was pretty normal.
•Church, cleaning house, and a workout.
•And once again, the weekend is done & gone.
•Here's to another (short) week.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Wednesday Wish List

With the holidays just around the corner (under 60 days) , today's Wish List item is geared towards decorating our home. I have always loved Pottery Barn's classic style and since I already purchased stockings from them last year, I thought a matching tree skirt would complete the look we're going for.

Enter Pottery Barn's Channel Quilted Velvet Tree Skirt. This skirt is simple, classic, and can be personalized for under $7. Love it! The only problem? It rings up at $130. I might just have to hold out for the after-Christmas sales for this one.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Weekend Recap

  • Our busy weekends are definitely in full swing.
  • But (so far) November is looking fairly low-key, with the exception of Thanksgiving & a second dental surgery that will knock me out for an entire weekend.
  • For the last weekend in October, we had a mix of busy & lazy.
  • I woke up early on Saturday to get ready for a baby shower for my second cousin up in southern Washington.
  • Since I was heading north for the day, I decided to make a stop at Bridgeport Village, which is my favorite local shopping center.
  • After spending a little too much money (but finding some great deals) , I continued on my way into Washington.
  • I arrived at the baby shower right on time & had fun seeing some extended family members for a few hours.
  • Following the party, I headed back home to hang out with Sam.
  • As I mentioned here, our Halloween plans consisted of going to dinner & coming home to hand out candy.
  • We decided on Olive Garden for dinner (which was surprisingly empty) , then headed home to finish watching the University of Oregon vs. USC game.
  • Charles & Kristi even came over for a little bit and helped up pass out candy.
  • Sunday was not as fun as the day before.
  • I woke up and felt a little off, but continued getting ready for the day.
  • Then we headed off to church and by the time it was over, my head felt like it was ready to explode.
  • Now, I’ve had my fair share of headaches, but I believe this takes the cake as being the worst one I’ve ever had!
  • We went home and I promptly went upstairs and lay in bed with a dark blanket over my head for most of the afternoon.
  • I had a whole day planned of cleaning and going to the gym, but the darn headache got the best of me.
  • And now it is Monday again… how does that happen so fast?

Friday, October 30, 2009

Happy Halloween!

Although I'm not really into the whole dressing up thing, I did make a {small} effort today for our work potluck by channeling my inner Gossip Girl and sporting a bow headband. I wish I would have pulled out all the stops with the rest of my outfit, but my fear of being too cold got the best of me and I played it safe with jeans & a tee.


We don't have any plans for Halloween, so we'll probably just go out to dinner & come home to watch a movie. We will light our pumpkins we carved last weekend (see picture below) and pass out candy to any little trick-or-treaters that knock on our door. Hope everyone has a fun & safe Halloween!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Wednesday Wish List

Last week was a mess, so this week I am bringing three Wish List items. They happen to be from the same Etsy shop {TuttiStudio} and I'm just loving the simplicity of all of them!




The first one is an ode to my love of shoes, the second to my darling puppy, Buster, and the third for my love of my KitchenAid mixer. Love them all! At $25 a piece, each would make an impact in your home!

Monday, October 19, 2009

Weekend Recap

  • After last weekend, this weekend was a party!
  • I headed over the pass on Friday to spend a few days with my mom.
  • First on the agenda was some retail therapy.
  • Bend doesn't have a "real" mall, but they shopping is pretty decent (compared to Salem, at least) .
  • Then I headed to Redmond to see Michelle & Levi.
  • We played, ate, and watched Grey's Anatomy & Private Practice.
  • Saturday was the main reason for the trip.
  • My mom is the board president for the Women's Resource Center of Central Oregon (WRCCO) and they held their first Fall Femm Festival as a fundraiser.
  • Basically it was a pampering day for the women of the community.
  • Very fun!
  • Following her fundraiser, my mom had a going away party for a friend to attend (she's so popular!) .
  • This is where I learned to play Bunko for the first time.
  • And my wrist got really good at rolling the dice :)
  • I headed back home on Sunday and, as hoped, it was uneventful.
  • Being greated at the door by an eager husband & puppies who have missed you for the last 2 days = a great feeling!

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Tribute

This weekend, I was down for the count (as I mentioned here) . Weekends are pretty important to me because it allows me to catch up on all the housework I have neglected throughout the week. And of course, I could have planned ahead and had it all done on Friday (my day off) , but instead I spent it going to Sam’s dentist appointment, running errands, and mentally preparing myself for my own dental appointment.

After my surgery, I felt so horrible that I sat in our recliner for 2 days straight, only moving to go to the bathroom or go to bed. While sitting there, I kept referring to my mental list of everything that wasn’t going to get done this weekend: laundry, dishes, cleaning the kitchen, etc. But I shouldn’t have even thought about it for a second because my {awesome} husband took my (mental) list and did everything & more without me having to saying a word. As dorky as it sounds, this really meant the world to me! Not only did he have the big task of taking care of me all weekend, but he found the time to tackle our weekend chores - I love him!

Thank you Sam!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Wednesday Wish List

As I've mentioned (many times) , my go-to outfit is usually as simple as a tee/top and pants. I'd love to say I wear dresses & skirts on a normal basis, but that'd be a lie (that I wish was true) . [Sidenote: my office doesn't have a strict dress code policy, therefore I'd be severely overdressed if I wore dresses & skirts daily. Sadly.] Therefore, when I can find a bright colored top that will dress up my outfit a little bit, I am beyond excited!The Rained Sketches Scoopneck from Anthropologie is just the kind of top I like to wear. It is made of cotton, has cute ruffles, and could go with a almost anything in my closet. Plus, it's on sale for $10!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Weekend Recap

•This weekend has not been fun.
•Friday was a day off from work for both of us, but most of the day was spent at the dentist.
•First, Sam got another cavity filled.
•He has been to the dentist the last 4 Fridays, poor guy.
•Then it was time for my gum surgery.
•It all went very quickly and I was feeling quite good.
•Until the novacain wore off and I could feel everything!
•The rest of the weekend involved me sitting on the couch with a heating pad on my face, trying not to think about the pain.
•Although the pain has been uncomfortable, my husband has been absolutely wonderful!
•He has waited on me hand and foot, as well as gone to the store for soft foods and stronger medication.
•I will definitely keep him around :) Thank you Sam!
•I am going to try to go to work tomorrow, but no promises I will stay.
•Here's to hoping the pain subsides soon and next weekend is a little better.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

10.8.2004


5 years ago today. A day I once thought was just like any of the before. A day that now holds a "life changing" title. A day I (or my mom) will ever forget.

5 years ago today. I was driving home for the long weekend, mid-semester break. I recall getting up, packing up the car, and hitting the road. I remember a few landmarks along the first hour of my trip home, but once I passed the (one & only) rest stop, my memory stops. That is until I remember opening my eyes to my tiny Volkswagen New Beetle flipping midair and landing right side up against a tree, a mile away from the road. I had fallen asleep at the wheel.

5 years ago today. My initial thoughts were blank. I sat staring at the shattered windshield for what felt like hours (although looking back later, I'm sure it was only seconds) . My first reaction was to get myself out of the car and get help. Two men had seen my car and stopped up on the road. They asked me one question: "Is anyone else still in there?" They also told me that when they first saw my mangled car, they braced themselves for the worse (i.e. death) . They picked up my stuff (which was thrown all around my car from the tumbling) and drove me to the nearest town to call for help (because there is little to no cell service for over half of the Santiam Pass) .

5 years ago today. I remember calling my mom and telling her I was in an accident, but okay. Still in shock, I told her the men who had found me (and whom I had just met) said they could drive me to Bend. She wasn't comfortable with that and decided she would come herself. The police & medics came to access the situation & care to my throbbing finger (the only injury I had) , therefore releasing the men who had, in a way, rescued me. Pictures of the car were taken and statements of what I could remember were given.

5 years ago today. I was still in shock, and pretty calm, up until my mom showed up and I couldn't hold myself together any longer. The medic told her what had happened and shared the pictures they had taken. He told her to keep me awake until they could get to a hospital to have me thoroughly checked out. With a slight headache, a throbbing finger, and uncontrollable tears, my mom and I drove the reamining way to Bend. Once there, we made the stops: filled out paperwork at the DMV, called the insurance company, and went to Urgent Care. Still going off of only a couple hours of sleep, all I wanted to do was close my eyes, but that was the last thing I could do. Hours later, I saw the doctor and they removed a quarter size piece of glass from my right pointer finger (the cause of my throbbing finger) . They also said that I probably didn't have a concusion (the reason I had to stay awake) , but to monitor me closely. Then we went home and I fell asleep for two days.

5 years ago today. I woke up and thought my day would be just like any other. But it wasn't. I almost died. There is no doubt in my mind that God was watching over me that day. And that there were more than enough reasons for me to still be here today, alive & healthy. Words could never express how thankful I am for what has been done in my life since then (growing closer to God & meeting Sam, to name a few) . Since 10.8.2004.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Weekend Recap

  • This Weekend Recap is going back to Thursday because that’s when I wished the weekend would have started.
  • Thursday also happened to be the day of my hair appointment.
  • Love being pampered and having someone else do my hair!
  • I didn’t change the cut so much, but I did go a little darker.
  • Here is my before, during, and after:

  • Friday started out as any normal day.
  • But by lunch I was not feeling so hot and made the executive decision to send myself home sick.
  • I did pull myself off the couch to go to Safeway & Costco with Sam.
  • Then planted myself in our oversized chair for a night of DVR.
  • We caught up on Glee, Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, The Office, Community, & FlashForward.
  • I was feeling better by Saturday, so I made the drive up to Portland to visit my best friends.
  • We walked to a near by coffee shop, drank coffee (or hot chocolate, in my case) , caught up on lives, and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly.

  • We also stopped at the Saturday Market for a bit before catching a movie (The Hangover) at the cheap theatre.
  • It was sad to leave them, but {crossing my fingers} it won’t be too long until the next hang out session!
  • Saturday night brought dinner guests over.
  • We had chicken, baked potatoes, & salad.
  • Then we played Hearts, which I severely lost at.
  • Sunday brought church and then a lazy afternoon of laundry.
  • First busy weekend of the season done! Quite a few to go...

Friday, October 2, 2009

My Siblings

*This is going to be a long one!*

Since age 4, I’ve been blessed with 5 brothers & 1 sister (so far) . And each with their own personalities have come to make up who I proudly refer to as my siblings.

At age 4, my first sibling was given to me. I don’t remember my exact feelings on having a new baby brother, but I like to believe I was at least a little excited. Looking at pictures, I know we played together, but I also know we had our moments of getting on each other’s nerves. My mom likes to tell us that whenever she received a phone call, Daniel & I instantly began fighting. We really did get a long and I think grew closer through my parent’s divorce. We had to grow up a little earlier than planned and embrace the lifestyle of children whose parents live across the country from each other. To this day, I’m still thankful that I had Daniel through all the trips back and forth. It would have been so much harder without him by my side. Daniel has always been the all-star athlete. With soccer, football, basketball, baseball, and track under his belt, sports always were a part of him. Today, his priorities are different: school is #1. I appreciate his determination once he gets his mind on something. At a younger age, it was playing all the sports he could, and now it’s getting into pharmacy school.

10 years old brought a divorce, a marriage, & a new brother. Tommy is a month younger than Daniel and when we met him, I thought the two brothers would hit it off and I’d be left behind while they played together. To my surprise, it’s actually turned out that I have a closer relationship with Tommy than Daniel does, mostly because they are polar opposites. While Daniel was interested in sports, Tommy was interested in music. While Daniel was helpful, Tommy preferred to sleep in & be by himself. Tommy was always open to playing or going somewhere, but just on his own time. I think that’s what I admire about him most: he has always stayed true to himself. My dad & step-mom have always been on his case about getting to school on time & remembering to do things, but through it all, Tommy has finished everything slowly, but surely. He’s currently attending college in New Hampshire and has his own radio show!

When I was 11 years old, I received yet another brother. This time I can recall being very excited because I thought he would be my real-life baby doll and I couldn’t wait to play with him! Unfortunately, with my dad & step-mom moving to New Hampshire when he was not even a year old, neither Daniel nor I got to grow up with Brian. With trips back East happening once, maybe twice a year, it took a couple days for Brian to remember who we were. And that broke my heart. To this day, I believe that he’s not as comfortable around us because we haven’t grown up together, which still makes me sad. As a 13 year old boy, he’s shyly quiet. I wish I had the ability to go back & spend more time with him. He is the one sibling I feel like I don’t know enough about. I will always love him more than words can say!

{Daniel, me, Tommy, & Brian}

22 years old brought another marriage & 3 more siblings. As something different from the previous siblings, these ones were all older. Thus making the current count: 3 younger & 3 older!
Laura is Sam’s older sister, whom I remember being very nervous meeting for the first time. To my reassurance, she was equally as nervous as well because Sam had never brought anyone home before. We hit it off quickly and now I couldn’t be more thankful for my first (&, currently, only) sister! Laura works for the state with children that are in the system. She is always working late hours and still makes time to help her husband’s youth group. I wish we lived in the same town because I know we’d see each other at least a couple times a week. Maybe one day!

Josh is Laura’s husband. They have been married for 6 years and still look as in love with each other as they did when I met them. Josh works for their church as the youth pastor and is currently attending school to become a pastor. The passion that he has for the church & those he meets through it is awesome. I know I can always count on a good conversation with Josh and what a great listener he is! I’m his first sister (in-law) and I like to remind him that I’m his only sister for a laugh or two.

Matt is Sam’s younger (but older than me) brother. I met Matt when I first started hanging out with Sam (pre-dating) and could already see the similarities between the two brothers. It’s been fun getting to know Matt and see where his passion lies. He enjoys playing games and going on adventures. If you looked into Matt’s trunk, you’d find almost every kind of sports ball known to man. You’re also almost assured to have a good time whenever Matt’s around. He loves his family and friends and I look forward to see what God has in store for him.

{Sam, me, Josh, Laura, & Matt}

Reflecting on each of my brothers & sister, I am quickly humbled by who God has placed in my life. I know that if I ever needed anything, each one would drop anything to be there for me, and vice versa. I will proudly declare that I am very lucky for each of these people (& more) in my life.

To my siblings: Thank you for being you & loving me as a sister!
To my parents (mom, dad, step-mom, FIL, MIL) : Thank you for each & every one of the above!

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Wednesday Wish List

Accessories are slowly making their way into my closet as the need to change up daily outfits becomes necessary. As a simple girl, a top & pants is my usual go-to, but who wants to wear the same thing on a week's rotation? Not me!Anthropologie's Tea Rose Belt is a great solution when you want to add something to your everyday outfit, but still keep it relatively simple. And for under $30, this is an easy purchase that will transform a number of pieces in your closet.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Weekend Recap

  • This weekend marked the beginning of a string of busy weekends.
  • Friday brought Matt & Krista (Sam's brother & brothers' girlfriend) to stay the night at our house.
  • We made potato soup & homemade bread (yum!) .
  • And followed it up with brownies & ice cream while watching The Dark Knight.
  • Saturday came early...
  • Krista & I were on the road to George Fox by 8am.
  • We were meeting Donna & Laura (MIL & SIL) at George Fox for the 6th annual Selah Conference.
  • An overall great day filled with over 700 women listening to several speakers speak on the subject of change.
  • Very impacting & powerful!
  • Pizza & movies were on the agenda for Saturday night.
  • Plus a great phone conversation with my mom.
  • I love her!
  • Sunday = lazy day.
  • We skipped church (sorry God) and opted to work on the last of our home projects before the weather changes.
  • We weeded, mowed, organized the garage, cleaned off the front porch, and vacuumed the house (upstairs & downstairs) .
  • I also dropped off books & picked up a few more from Kali.
  • She's like my own personal library :)
  • Then it was Sunday night and the weekend was over.

Upcoming (busy) weekends include: visiting Portland to see two of my best friends, having dental surgery, going to Bend to see my mom, and carving pumpkins with the Grables. It feels like a lot, but I'm excited to do it all!

Friday, September 25, 2009

You can find me... at the dentist?

So as I mentioned here , my teeth are once again keeping me from living a happy, dentist-free life. From age 10 to 18, I spent a couple hours a month visiting some form of dentist. You name it, and I’ve had it done: Braces. Wisdom teeth removal. Retainers galore. And yet, my mouth STILL needs work!

It has been a couple years since my last dentist appointment (yes, bad me!) , but between graduating college, going to India, planning a wedding, and moving to a new town (not to mention just sick of the dentist in general) , the dentist was not far up on my list. I finally decided it was time to go and made an appointment for both Sam & I. Sam passed with flying colors, but I will be going back to the dentist as frequently as our insurance will pay for.

I won’t go into too much detail of what my future dentist appointments will entail, but basically I need a (second) route canal, several cavities filled, and a mouth guard for sleeping to just name a few of the procedures. Plus, on top of those, I also have to have 5 gum surgeries so that my teeth don’t fall out completely. Fortunately, the surgery will not be as bad as I pictured (I thought I’d have to have my mouth wired shut for several weeks…) and I really like the dentist who will do the procedure!

Nonetheless, I will once again become a reoccurring visitor to the dentist. Will this ever end?

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Wednesday Wish List

Following the same lines as last week, I still have Fall on the brain!


The Button Jumble Hat from Anthropologie would be great for those cold days where you need to keep the heat from leaving your head. And at $34, this hat would look great with almost any outfit, especially those boots from last week ;)

Monday, September 21, 2009

Weekend Recap

  • Another great weekend (of nothing!) .
  • These are becoming more frequent and we are definitely thankful for each of them!
  • Friday brought dentist appointments for both Sam & I.
  • Sam has almost perfect teeth; I, however, don't.
  • Future post to come of the horror which involves my upcoming dentist appointments.
  • Following the dentist, we got groceries and went to the mall to pick up our FREE $10 gift cards!
  • If you're asking yourself how did we get lucky enough to both be given $10 gift cards for free, then the answer is following thrifty blogs pays off.
  • We also signed back up for cable and Comcast threw in HBO until they can come add the channels.
  • Therefore our weekend consisted of mainly laying on the couch watching lots of movies!
  • And not a lot of anything else (i.e. cleaning) .
  • I did sew a few iPhone Sleeves after church on Sunday.
  • And put them up on my NEW Etsy shop!
  • Shoutout: Thanks Kali for the header and if you need a custom blog design or Etsy header, she's your girl!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Wednesday Wish List

With Fall just around the corner, the impending colder weather has me thinking of the season's classics: layers, scarfs, and boots. And with plenty of the first two in my closet, I would love to add a pair of boots to my wardrobe.


Introducing Old Navy's Tall Faux-Suede Boots. Simple style + classic colors + low price = triple threat! For $35, who wouldn't want a pair of these in their closet?

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

To open my own Etsy shop or not?

A few weeks ago, Sam & I made the switch to AT&T and bought ourselves iPhones. Since this isn't a cheap investment, we took the necessary procautions to protect our new cell phones with cases almost immediately. The cases we chose (iFrogz Luxe Case, here) are excellent, but I was still wanting a little more protection from some of the dangers within my purse (i.e. keys) . As my go-to site for crafts-galore, Etsy provided me with pages of possibilities and choices. But then I realized that I could, maybe, possibly make my own sleeve for my iPhone. Enter my crafty feeling yesterday.

I didn't have a pattern going into this, just faith & an idea. I cut the fabric carefully, played around with it for a few minutes, and in less than 30 minutes I had my first finished iPhone sleeve. I couldn't believe how easy it came together and how inexpensive it was for me to make my own! Definitely a great learning experience of trusting my own instincts and practice with my sewing machine.

As with every project I've completed (total: 3) with my sewing machine, I wanted to show anyone (& everyone) who would listen. So, I posted a picture on Twitter & Facebook and received a couple comments back mentioning how I should think about selling my own sleeves on Etsy. While I love that idea of making something for someone else, I'm torn on whether mine would actually sell. See, when I was searching Etsy, I found various iPhone/iPod sleeves that were all awesome in their own ways, but do I want to add one more shop that sells the same thing as several others out there?

And this is where you come in, readers. What do you think... Should I make a few more & open my own Etsy shop? Or should I just make them for people I know/who ask for one? I'd love for your honest opinion, so thanks in advance!

Monday, September 14, 2009

Weekend Recap

•No set plans = bliss!
•Lately, we've been on a TVonDVD kick and Grey's Anatomy is currently making its rounds (ha!).
•Thus many hours this weekend were spent in front of the TV and crying at least once an episode.
•We did take a break from the infamous Seattle hospital to clean house, workout, go swimming, and see Up!
•Northern Lights shows movies with a meal - what a concept!
•I am a big fan of McMenamin's theatres so I love that we have a knockoff right in Salem.
•We also made time for church and had the privledge of having Mexican food with the Weathers' after.
•Sunday afternoon had more Grey's and a lovely phone call from my best friend!
•All in all, a great weekend in my book!

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Weekend Recap: Lots of Driving

If you would have asked me last week what our plans for the long weekend would be, I would have probably said hanging out at home (oh, what a dream!) , but as usual, plans change. After a long day at work on Friday, I was more than ready for the weekend and due to the weather, a perfect Friday night was executed: watching a movie and baking bread.

Per the last few Saturdays, we weren't scheduled to sleep in. My mom had some things for us and we had a pile started for her, therefore we decided to meet half way between Bend & Salem. Enter Detroit, Oregon. A little town with not much to it but a huge dam. Sam & I began our trip early & met my mom in Detroit at 9am. We ate breakfast and traded piles and were on our way home again. Once home, we spent the afternoon watching old Grey's Anatomy episodes & making potato soup.

Sunday was yet another early morning. We got up and headed north to Sandy to spend the day with Sam's parents. We attended Sandy's Church in the Park and although it was rainy, it was a good time of worship. After church, we went back to the house & ate pizza (a Grable favorite!) . And after lunch, we got to work. Now that Sam's parents are empty nest-ers, they are in the process of making their house more livable for them. We spent the whole afternoon moving furniture around & setting everything back up again. It was long & tiring, but fun to spend the time together.

With Saturday & Sunday filled with family, Sam & I had hoped for a Monday at home. Once again, plans changed when we got home on Sunday and realized Sam had forgot his wallet at his parent's house. And another trip to Sandy was planned. But first, we made a stop at the Woodburn Outlets. Yes, this is a crazy stop to make on a weekend like Labor Day, but I had a return to make & the sales were a little irresistible. We just made my return at J.Crew and then headed into Eddie Bauer. $30 and 6 items later, we were out of the outlets. When we got to my in-law's, we moved a couple more things around and had some lunch. We also picked up a huge zucchinis from their plant and I can't wait to make some recipes with it!

Although we were on the road for a lot of the weekend, we enjoyed the time we spent together & with family. I wish we had a long weekend every weekend :).

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Pink

Well, I think I can honestly say I have a pink problem. I don’t know when it started; I wasn’t too girly growing up. But somewhere over the years, pink has taken over my life!

Seatbelt bag. Coin purse. Cell Phone. iPod. Water bottle.

Kitchenaid Stand Mixer. Mixing bowls. Scale. Pitcher.

Flowers from our wedding.

And if I could find one, I’d totally buy a pink New Beetle like this one!


In my (dream) world, pink might take over my whole house, but luckily (for everyone else) my husband has kindly steered me otherwise. Thank goodness for accessories!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Weekend Recap: Grable Family Vacation

Last weekend, our house turned into a makeshift bed & breakfast when Sam's parents & siblings all convened at our house for a mini vacation together. The weekend began at about 8pm on Friday in typical Grable fashion - games! Charles & Kristi joined us too, creating a house full of great sound. Needless to say, we didn't get to bed until well after midnight.

Saturday came all too soon, but we had a big day ahead of us. My MIL made eggs & cinnamon rolls for breakfast and then we were off to the beach! Once in Lincoln City, we made a quick stop at the outlet mall (for my SIL) , then we found a beach to play some Bocce ball. It was a little windy, but still a little sunny. After a few hours, we decided to grab some lunch at an Oregon Coast landmark - Moe's. Following lunch, we decided to travel a little south to Depoe Bay to walk around the store front & watch seals beg for fish. A few more coast stops were made before we made the trip home. The night ended on a good note - with ice cream sundaes!

Sleeping in was #1 on our agenda for Sunday. When we got up, we made breakfast & lounged around. We had a minor glitch in the day when we had to go do some phone errands, but once we got them done, we got back to playing! The day turned out to be much nicer than our day at the beach, but our game of choice was the same. We split into teams and played around Bush Park for a few hours. Then we went back to our house for pizza & more games. The perfect ending to a great weekend. We can't wait for the next family trip!

Lunch at Moe's - Phil, Donna, Meaghan, Sam, Laura, Krista, Matt, & Josh.

Walking around Depoe Bay.
Sam & I at the coast.

Bocce ball in the park.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Wednesday Wish List

Yes, it’s been over a month since I’ve had a Wish List on the blog (thanks for reminding me, mom) , but not much has really caught my eye. Until today. I told Sam on Sunday that I really wanted a vest to wear over my shirts this fall while the weather transitions, but that I hadn’t found the right one (and for the right price) . Until today.



Introducing the Torrent Vest at Anthropologie. For $40, this vest can go from summer to fall easily with its jersey fabric & removable tie. The colors are very versatile too. It’s just what I’ve been looking for!

Monday, August 24, 2009

Weekend Recap: Bullet Edition

  • We have people coming over this week (see here) , so this weekend was going to be used to get ready.
  • [Being a list writer] I made a list of everything I hoped to get completed this weekend (i.e. lots of cleaning!) .
  • Sam doesn’t work Fridays, so when I came home he had 90% of my list completed!
  • He’s wonderful!
  • By him doing this, I was left with more free time than I had planned.
  • On Saturday, we made breakfast, lounged around, worked out, and then went swimming.
  • It was fun!
  • Then we went to dinner with Tim at Red Robin (bottomless fries!) and caught up on life.
  • Sam & I weren’t ready to call it a night after dinner, so we stopped by RedBox & picked up some movies.
  • My pick: Confessions of a Shopaholic. His pick: I Love You, Man.
  • Reviews: enjoyed Shopaholic; I Love You, Man was a little crude, but I still laughed.
  • Sunday brought church & another open day.
  • So I attempted to sew.
  • After a few frustrations, I felt like I was (sort of) getting the hang of it.
  • And I finished my first (official) project – an apron for Sam!

  • We ended the night with a delicious dinner (steak, potatoes, zucchini from our OWN plant!) made by Sam and some Big Brother.
  • Why do I enjoy these (silly) reality shows so much?
  • We had a great weekend, bring on the week!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

End of Summer

The other day, I turned to Sam and said, “Can you believe it’s almost September?” He replied with a no and my brain began racing – what have we been doing all summer?

Of course, we don’t have the traditional summer months off now that we’re no longer in school, but it’s still the summer season nonetheless. I began to think back through June, July, & August and realized that we’ve averaged about half the weekends at home and half somewhere else. We made trips to Bend and Sandy for family times and we also had our first getaway since getting married. When we were home, we worked in the yard and we lounged on the couch . In my mind, I wouldn’t change a thing about our “summer”.

With August coming to a close, our last week before September is booking up quite nicely. Typically our week is the following: Monday – Friday, we go to work, then the gym, and then have dinner at home; Saturday & Sunday are filled with whatever we can’t get done during the week, church, and trips to the gym. Throw in a dinner with the Weathers once in a while and you’ve got our normal week. We’re not that social (and we don’t mind at all) . But next week is something different. We still have work & the gym, but we’re also going to see a few more people this upcoming week. On Saturday, we’re having dinner with our friend (and one of Sam’s housemates from college) Tim. Then on Wednesday, Kali & I are getting together to sew! I’m really excited about this because we both received sewing machines for our birthdays and I’m just not sure where to begin. It’ll be exciting to hang out with her again.

I’m excited for Friday because I’m taking the day off to prepare for the Grable Family Weekend that is happening Friday night to Sunday. Normally, I wouldn’t have to take a day off to get ready for a trip, but this trip is sort of a stay-cation for us. Sam’s parents and sister & brother-in-law are coming to Salem (a middle meeting place between Sandy & Eugene) on Friday to stay the night at our house. Saturday will bring Sam’s brother & brother’s girlfriend up to Salem and we’ll take off to the beach! We’ll come back to our house to sleep on Saturday night and then spend Sunday doing something around Salem (maybe Silver Falls or the Waterfront) . I’m actually really excited to have everyone at our house because then I don’t have to worry about packing or forgetting something. What I’m a little worried about is the sleeping arrangement, but I know we’ll get it figured out. Post to come after the weekend.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Weekend Recap: Garage Sales & Shopping

Our friends (& neighbors) put together a multi-family garage sale this weekend. Friday after work, I stopped by home to pick up a table and a few last minute additions to the sale. When I arrived, they had most of the items priced & set out for the following morning. After a few more drop offs, we decided to call it a night. Instead of going our separate ways, Sam & I stuck around for dinner & a movie with the Weathers. The movie choice was Knowing, which gave me a difficult time falling asleep that's all I'll say.

Saturday was an early morning. I headed down the street to lend a hand at the garage sale. They had a great flow and lots of people making offers and picking up things they never knew they needed. I had to leave at 10am so I could get on my way to the Woodburn Outlets to meet my MIL & SIL. We shopped (until we dropped) for close to 3 hours & then finished off the the trip with lunch.

The afternoon was spent cleaning house (a new favorite past time) & doing laundry, although Sam had taken it upon himself to do a lot of it himself (love him!) . We BBQ'ed for dinner and ended the night with a couple games of Blokus.

Again our Sunday was like usual: breakfast, church, lunch. We threw in a workout & some time in the pool. It made me want to go swimming at least once a week. I made my favorite comfort food - Macaroni & Cheese - and Sam made some delicious Ranger Cookies.

The weekend started out non-stop, but ended pleasantly quiet. I like when that happens!

Monday, August 10, 2009

Weekend Recap: A Graduation/Birthday party

I have some awesome siblings by both blood & marriage (more on them in a future post) and this weekend Sam's family all got together to celebrate both a graduation & a birthday for my brother-in-law, Matt.

Matt graduated from the University of Oregon back in June, but with his 25th birthday occuring last Friday, his parent's thought it'd be fitting to combine the two occasions. And so we all gathered in Sandy for Matt's parties!

We ate pulled pork sandwhiches, garden burgers, macaroni & cheese, salad, chips, rice krispie treats, peach pie (made by me!) , and more! Then we sat around, talked, laughed, played volleyball, and some (a.k.a. the little ones) took a dip in the pond. And a potentially rainy Sunday turned into a perfect party day!

Thanks for graduating & growing a year older Matt -- we'll party with you anytime!

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Friends to Neighbors

Charles & Kristi having fun!
{photo from Kristi's facebook page}

I was first introduced to Charles & Kristi through Sam back in 2004. I was initially pretty nervous around them because I knew Sam hadn't been seroiusly interested in anyone before me & I feared that they thought I would break his heart. Fortunately, that wasn't the case and I quickly pushed those ill-feelings away.

Since Sam & Charles were roommates, I had a lot of (good) time to get to know both Charles & Kristi that year. Then the boys graduated & 4 months later, moved in together. More time to hang out! Then in June of 2006, Charles & Kristi were married (forcing Sam to move out and us to make more of an effort to hang out) . With Sam's job in Salem, where Charles & Kristi were living, it made it easier to see them on a more consistent level.

When we got engaged & began to think about where we'd end up after getting married, Salem remained high on our list because it already had the plus of a job & friends! As we were looking for a house to buy, I secretly hoped we end up close to Charles & Kristi so that we wouldn't have the excuse not to hang out. And my hopes were answered! With maybe 4 or 5 blocks between us, we are practically neighbors and I'm so thankful for this!

In the last year, they have been very hospitable in welcoming us to their home, church, and city they grew up in. If we are ever wondering where something is, they are the ones that point us in the right direction. If we happen to be taking a walk & they are home, they invite us in (and vice versa) . And let me tell you, they are still as fun as they were 4 years ago! They know how to laugh and always have the best stories to tell!

I know that if we ever move away from each other, the friendship will remain intact & strong. And that reminds me that I am pretty thankful to have a couple who shares our same morals & interests that happen to live just down the street - what a blessing!

Thank you to the Weathers' for your awesome friendship and we can't wait for more fun times together soon!