Noonday Adoption Fundraiser + GIVEAWAY!

 image from MERCY iNK

Confession: I love the look of jewelry, but hardly wear it myself.

I don't know if it's my lifestyle (hello sweats!) or my lack of confidence wearing it, but jewelry just sits on my dresser, unworn & unloved. That is, until I was introduced to Noonday Collection. Since September, I have added several new pieces to my collection and now find myself reaching for these pieces whenever I get dressed & feeling more self-assured, as well.

wearing the Rachel Necklace + Tangled Beads Bracelet at The Influence Conference

If you haven't heard of Noonday before, their purpose statement says it all:

We partner with talented artisan entrepreneurs to make a difference in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. By developing artisan businesses through fair trade, we empower them to grow sustainably and to create dignified jobs for people who need them. Together we’re building a flourishing world where children are cherished, women are empowered, people have jobs and we are connected.

And on top of that, this company has a huge heart for those who have been called to adopt. Like my friends, Matt + Keri Nikkel.

So when my friend, Hannah, became an ambassador and we began hearing more about Noonday, I immediately knew I would like to host a trunk show for the Nikkels. If there is anything I've learned through observing their process, it's that adoption isn't for the faint at heart and with it comes it's own set of challenges & celebrations. But if I could help in even the smallest way, I wanted to do so. 

Enter: my Noonday for Baby Nikkel trunk show

With every purchase made through this trunk show, 10% of the sales will go directly toward the Nikkel’s qualifying adoption expenses to help bring home their precious child. And trust me when I say this child is already SO loved!

In addition, as a thank you to those who make a purchase through this trunk show, I am also giving away some "vintage Noonday" - the Diamond Drop Earrings.

 photo by Hannah Zirschky

These earrings are made of hand-cast brass beads with a luminous turquoise glass bead on the end of each & are made with love in India (another place close to my heart). And as of this week, they are sold out!


How do you enter?

Simply place an order through this link: ((http://bit.ly/MeaghanGrable)) and add desired accessories to your basket. Upon checkout (very last page of process), you will be prompted to type in a Trunk Show name. Please type my name, Meaghan Grable, in the box. 

That’s it! 

When my trunk show closes next Friday, November 20, I will randomly select a winner from those who placed an order and contact them directly.


Disclosure: I was not paid for this giveaway or this fundraiser.

Farewell 2014

2014 was a quiet year for Grable Tales.  I could blame it on having a baby, but shouldn't that have given me more content?  I have a feeling that Instagram has something to do with the lack of posts --- honestly, it's a lot easier to post a photo with a small comment then think of an entire post.  Regardless, this year still deserves some recognition:

January - *crickets*

February - my first post of the year was a Stitch Fix review: pregnant edition; I also shared how I was spending my time lately (hint: Sam Grable Photo, The Influence Network, and being pregnant for the second time); I announced my hopes of attending my second Influence Conference; and blogged about my love for 4moms.

March - I started the month off by writing out my monthly goals (and linking up with The Tiny Twig's Goals with Grace); I updated my about me page & began leading an Influence Network community group; and I talked about being a month out from meeting our baby boy (& shared his name)

April - I revisited my March goals + shared my April goals; and blogged about my thoughts of Brené Brown’s book - Daring Greatly

May - I looked back on my April goals + made a few May goals; introduced our baby boy, Calvin!; shared how different Mother's Day felt this year; started writing monthly letters to Calvin; and shared my first postpartum Stitch Fix review.

June - continued with goals for June; after flying across the country with a six week old, I blogged about some of the 'flying with a baby' tips/advice that worked for us; Calvin turned two months old; and Sam & I celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary.

July - this month, I really started to give myself grace when it came to my goals for July; parenting definitely isn't easy, but on occasion it does make you feel like you have some super powers; another Stitch Fix review (I love this service!); my baby turned three months old; and I blogged about the community I found online.

August - still going strong + trying to be transparent with my monthly goals; I reviewed my birthday Stitch Fix; and Calvin kept getting bigger (four months old).

September - I finally realized that some goals will be repeats each month and that's ok; I (re)introduced myself in preparation of the Influence Conference; Calvin turned five months old; thanks to credits, I received a Stitch Fix before attending the Influence Conference; and then I recapped the conference for the second year in a row.

October - two posts remain consistent each month: goals + Calvin's letter (six months old this month!)

November - goals, goals, goals (sorry for the repeating); a photo recap of October; I shared my experience with essential oils; I turned to social media for help with this month's Stitch Fix review; Calvin turned seven months old; and I took some time to be thankful.

December - after nine months of goals, I shared my last goals (with grace) for 2014; blogged about Christmas traditions; honored Charlotte's second birthday and shared the way we chose to celebrate her; reflected on our second year without our baby girl; Calvin celebrated his eighth month of being on the outside; I blogged about the significance of a little giraffe; and reviewed my final Stitch Fix for the year.

This year brought a lot of joy + hope, as well as sleepless nights + tears. And while this space has been primarily used to review Stitch Fixes, write out my goals, and share my monthly letter to Calvin, but I appreciate the comments & community I've found through this space + social media outlets.  Maybe next year things will be different...

Until then... Happy New Year!

Community

Honestly, I never thought I'd find community online.

When I signed up for Twitter and started blogging, it was more for entertainment. I simply read blog after blog, without commenting, just so I wouldn't be labeled a stalker (funny, I know). And when I posted on my own blog, I told myself it was for family because surely no one else would want to read it or get to know me, right?

It actually wasn't until I joined a Flickr group (The Working Closet) that I finally started to interact with other people and form my first online friendships. And from there, I slowly built up the courage to expand my interactions and begin to build a small community.

Now, the online world has become more about friendships, instead of just entertainment, and I have the Influence Network + Conference to thank for that. In a world where negativity & comparison seem to flow freely, the Influence Network strives to be a positive influence both online + offline while helping you build community where you are at in life. Who wouldn't want that? 

If this sounds like something you're looking for, come to the Influence Conference in September - you won't be disappointed!

Farewell 2013

When 2013 began, I wasn't sure what the year would hold. We had just suffered a major loss and living day to day (sometimes hour to hour) was all I could handle. And my blogging certainly reflected what I was feeling and how little words I had to share:

January - I started the year writing down a few of my 2013 goals {that I actually accomplished}; I shared the gift we were given through Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep; began posting Friday bullets; and talked about Charlotte - one month after meeting her, never forgetting her, and the reminders of her all around me.

February - I continued posting Friday bullets {an easy way to get my thoughts out}; I shared a story my husband posted on Facebook about Charlotte & having hope; on what would have been C's two month birthday, I talked about anniversaries have helped me heel & meeting with the genetic counselor; and posted the video we shared at Charlotte's memorial.

March - I received {& blogged about} my first Stitch Fix and fell in love the company's concept; the month was filled Friday bullets/thoughts; I joined the Influence Network & attended my first classes; and I shared about a series about life after Charlotte.

April - after sharing about the desire to talk about life after Charlotte in March, I posted about the holidays, being a mother without a child, and questions I've received; I updated my blog with a new design & address; and I ran walked a 5k with my sister-in-law.

May - 2012 was the year of the photo-a-day and in May I shared the book that I made to compile all of my photos in one place; I saw Sara Bareillis again, up close & personal; I celebrated my first Mother's Day without Charlotte, which was bittersweet; and I ended the month visiting Austin & the Heater family.

June - another Stitch Fix box arrived and yet again I was exctied to see what my stylist picked out for me; due to an Influence Network prompt, I shared what home means to me; I couldn't believe six months had already passed since meeting & saying goodbye to Charlotte; and we celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary.

July - my Friday bullets transformed into '5 on Friday', where I shared five of my favorites from the week; I was offered a chance to review a Float Wrap from Printography; I featured five blogs that have helped me through the grieving process; and Sam & I got away for a peaceful weekend.

August - more & more 5 on Fridays {apparently that's the way I got myself to post throughout most of the year}; and Sam built me a headboard.

September - this is the month where my posting drastically slowed down... but not before I posted about my excitement about the Influence Conference & my 2013 scarfs swap.

October - I could barely find the words to describe my time at the Influence Conference {because it was amazing!}; and we finally announced our new addition coming in April.

November - after announcing my pregnancy, I reflected on how different this one feels in comparison to the one with Charlotte; and we found out we would be welcoming a baby boy {and announced it on Instagram}!

December - we honored Charlotte's first birthday; I reviewed Stitch Fix while being pregnant; and rounded out the year reflecting on one year after Charlotte.


As I reflect on the year behind us, I'm grateful God gave me hope, especially in the darker times.  And next year already holds a lot of hope, which I'm also thankful for, but what I am really hoping for in 2014 is that I find my online voice again. Between remembering our baby girl, preparing for our new little guy and continuing to be involved with the Influence Network, my mind is swirling with inspiration & posts; I just need to to take the time to write about it all, for you, my readers, and myself.

So until then... Happy New Year!

Austin Again

Almost two years to the date, I returned to Austin to see my favorite little Texas family!

We partied {Hello Kitty style}, built lots of Legos, and visited as many parks as we could.  Since my last visit was all about new baby Selah, this time they wanted to make sure they got to show me some of their Austin favorites, including the state capitol, the famous Salt Lick, and the quaint Georgetown square.

Knowing that this was one of my big vacations this year, I was asked a number of times if I was getting to do & see everything I wanted to, but honestly, just spending time with these kiddos + their parents was more than enough for me!

Thank you Heater family for your love & hospitality!  Now, I just hope it doesn't take me two years to get back down there to see you all again.

Friday Thoughts

Sometimes, when I can say "I've had a good week", I can't help but feel like I've accomplished something big.

Between receiving good news at work, attending an amazing Influence Network class on marriage by Susie (& Will) Davis, and taking some time to plan & dream with Sam about his photography business, I have been in a happy mood most of the week.

Plus, I'm jumping on an airplane tonight to go visit one of my best friends in Texas and that feels like the icing on the cake!  So excited for a little getaway full of girl time and snuggling her two littles!

This week's links are kind of a smorgasbord, but I got something out of each of them so I had to share: 

• Speaking of girl time, Nina from According to Nina shared her Mother's Day gift from her husband and this idea has now topped my wish list.  It's not something I would have thought to ask for, but I love, love, love the idea!
• One of my college friends, Tyler, wrote a post this week on living an Instagram life and as someone who spent 2012 posting one photo every day for the whole year, this post really made me stop & think about whether I'm living in the moment or the future... (and to be honest, it's usually the future.)
• Lastly, Hayley, one of the co-founders of the Influence Network, and her husband shared a video this week on how to get your loved ones on board with your vision/ideas.  After spending some time this week thinking about the future of Sam Grable Photography, it was great to hear how dreaming & practicality can work together to achieve a common goal.  Plus, it was good to hear from a man's perspective on the whole topic.

So that’s what I’m thinking about this week.  What's grabbed your attention this week.

Brave

Truth: I’ve never really been the kind of person who goes to a lot of concerts.

Sure, I listen to music and sing along with the radio on a daily basis, but I've never had the desire to spend a lot of money to attend a concert.  But two years ago, when I saw Sara Bareillis perform at the Schnizter Auditorium in Portland, all my preconceived notions of how concerts were not worth it changed completely.  

Not only did I actually know her whole set of songs she played, but the show itself was just fantastic!  I remember leaving the concert thinking, “I can’t wait to see her perform again!”  And for the last couple years, I’ve been doing just that, waiting.

Well, last Friday, she finally returned to Portland and put on an even better show than the last!  With just her voice, a few instruments, and a more intimate venue, Sara Bareillis put on an amazing concert for all who attended.

 

(As you can tell from some of the pictures, we were really close to the stage!  Like four-rows-back close!  And in between almost every song, she would talk to the audience like we were life-long friends.  I’ve never been to a concert where that’s happened!) 

Again I knew most of the songs, which is always a plus, but with an new album coming out this summer, she threw a couple of the new songs that I instantly fell in love with.  In fact, my favorite song of the night was her new single, “Brave”.  It’s a beautiful song that reminds me that life isn’t always easy, but if you remember to be yourself, that’s all anyone can really ask of you. 

Somebody

I posted this last month on my Facebook page and three months out, I can still say that I run across some of these people.  I know it's hard to find the right thing to say, I really do.  But sometimes it's not about saying anything at all, just being there for someone in need.  So to those who have just listened as I work through my feelings of heartache, thank you! You might never know how much your actions have meant to me, but I hope you can tell how much they mean to me!


"Somebody said
it was all for the best,
that something was probably wrong.

Somebody said
it was meant to be,
Different verse,
same miserable song.

Somebody said,
"You can have another!"
As if that would make it alright.

Somebody said
"It was not a real child."
Somebody's not very bright.

Somebody thinks it is helpful
To say when grieving should end.
Somebody shows their true colors.
Somebody isn't a friend.

But somebody said, "I'm sorry."
And sat quietly by my side.
And somebody shared my sorrow
And held my hand when I cried.

And somebody always listened
And called my lost baby by name.
And somebody understood
That I'd never again be the same." -Unknown

Friday Bullets

• Happy Friday!
• All week, I've been thinking it's one day and it's really another. 
• Like on Tuesday, I was convinced it was Monday and was pleasantly surprised when I was wrong.
• Maybe my little getaway to see my mom last weekend had something to do with it.
• But honestly, I seriously think that trip carried me through this week.
• We shopped, we ate, we shopped some more, and we pampered ourselves --- all so needed!

• But the goodbye part is never fun and before I got on the plane, we were already planning my next visit.
• In other news, have you heard about the Influence Network?
• I first heard about it after their first conference last September, when my Twitter feed was all abuzz with the amazing things that were happening there.  
• Well, this week, the Influence Network announced their annual conference information and I haven't stopped thinking about it all week.
• I've never been to a conference and to be honest, the idea of going by myself makes me beyond nervous, yet something in my heart is telling me to go-go-go!
• Tickets don't go on sale until next month, so my plan is to spend the month praying about whether I should attend or not.
• Any words of encouragement for those who have attended conferences like this one would be very welcome :)
• Lately, my Google Reader has been full of posts I feel like have been written just for me.
• A couple from this week include:
• Lindsey from The Kubly Girl's posts are something I look forward to each week because I really feel like we have a lot in common.  This week, she wrote about being an introvert and it hit home for me.  She's hosting an online class this month on this topic and I can't wait to hear what she has to say!
• Rhi from Rhi in Pink (the one I got 'Friday Bullets' from in the first place) posted recently about trusting your instincts when it comes to parenting and while I don't have a child at home at this time, I felt like it was good information for any aspect of life.  I'm a firm believer that your first instincts are usually correct.

•  And in case you missed it, I posted a slideshow of some pictures taken of our beautiful baby girl's short life this week.
• You might cry - you've been warned!

So, how's your week been?

Farewell 2012...

Well, another year has come & gone again, but for some reason this one feels much different from the past.  Maybe it's because we experienced both the most exciting joy & deepest sorrow we have ever felt before.  Or maybe it's because the future we thought we were planning for in the early months, has been flipped upside down now and we are no longer sure what's ahead for us.  Regardless, I wanted to be sure to recap this year for my own benefit - to remember the good, the bad, and the ugly and more importantly, to hopefully one day see God's plan & reason behind what happened to us this year:

January - I started the year off with some hope & goals for the new, as well as a photo-a-day project that {I didn't know at the time} would continue throughout the rest of the year.  As with previous years, I also continued posting about some book reviews and shared more of my outfits through "What I Wore Wednesday".  I also shared my Leap List on the blog and completed my first item.

February - WIWW continued and I even started creating outfits from my Pinterest board.  I shared Sam + I's love story and a rare moment where we got to babysit my adorable niece for the day.  My photo-a-day's also continued with weekly posts.

March - More reviews, outfit posts, and photo-a-day posts this month, but I also completed another Leap List item {my first massage!} and we started on a big house project - installing laminate flooring throughout our house.  We also found out we were pregnant this month, although no one knew yet :)

April - This month didn't have a lot going on except trying to keep our baby news a secret, so I kept myself busy by seeing Wicked for the first time and hosting a Stella & Dot giveaway {which was a lot of fun & I'd love to host more in the future}.  I also continued my photo-a-day project.

May - Another relatively quiet month {mainly due to the unknown pregnancy - sensing a theme?} with the exception of my weekly photo-a-day recap posts, but we also had some fun this month.  Our niece turned one!  And we got away to Bend, OR for a little vacation between working on our floors some more.  Our families learned of our upcoming bundle of joy, although we continued to keep the blog world in the dark for another month.

June - The big baby news month!  Our niece helped share the news and in addition to sharing some pregnancy details, I also began my weekly posts about the pregnancy at 14 weeks.  I also posted a special shout-out to the fathers in our life because a new one {my husband!} would be becoming on in December.  Other notable posts from June - I updated my Leap List, continued photo-a-day recaps, and Sam & I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary!

July - We started out this month with a trip to Nova Scotia {at 16 weeks pregnant} to see my dad and ended it with multiple doctor visits when they discovered a problem at our gender ultrasound.  I filled the month with photo-a-day recaps, reviews, and a Pinterest project, but this month sort of seems like a blur when I think back on it.

August - I took a break posting about the pregnancy for weeks 19 & 20 of the pregnancy due to the news we received in July, but shared some medical details around 21 weeks when we decided to put our trust and baby girl in God's hands and her name around 22 weeks {Charlotte}.  Due to the state of our pregnancy, we became labeled as "high risk" and began seeing a specialist every couple weeks for monitoring, measurements, and tests.  Through all of this, I clung to whatever normalcy I could find and continued my photo-a-day project to find some appreciation of the little things in life.

September - If I was to describe my feelings this month in one word, I would probably say it was "hopeful".  We had met with a few different doctors concerning our little girl's condition and while we knew it was serious, we also hoped that God would fix her little body if that was His plan.  Notable happenings for this month include: sharing a little bit about what was going through my head at the moment; participating in a scarf swap; posting my photo-a-day recaps; and attending two baby showers out of town for Charlotte + I {posted about in December}.

October - Another somewhat quiet month on the blog, with the exception of photo-a-day posts, pregancy updates, and reviews.  One exception was where I felt more hopeful in September, the feeling of hopelessness surrounding the pregnancy overcame my thoughts in October, which I shared about around 32 weeks.  To take my mind off worrying, I started a weekly post called Friday Favorites {I featured Lisa Leonard & HelloBee this month}, which share some blogs & sites that have become must-reads for me throughout the years.

November - More pregnancy updates, reviews, Friday Favorites {iHeart Organizing, Influenster, I Love You More Than Carrots, Jonathan David Photography, and The Four Gift Rule}, and photo-a-day recaps this month.  We also shared Charlotte's scheduled birthday - 12.12.12 - around 36 weeks, after we were transferred up to Legacy Emanuel in Portland, OR for the remainder of our pregnancy.  And due to the nature of the month, I also shared why I was most thankful this year...

December - Also known as the month we've been waiting for!  I started out the month posting about the amazing baby showers that were thrown for us over the last couple months, as well as a Friday Favorite {The Dough Will Rise Again} and finishing out my year-long photo-a-day project.  Then before we knew it, we had made it to 39 weeks & the day finally came that we would finally be meeting our precious baby girl.  Charlotte René Grable was born on 12.12.12 at 2:35pm, but sadly, we had to say goodbye to her far too soon on 12.21.12 at around 11:30am, only 9 short days after we met her.  I tried to put our feelings into words and find meaning for why this all happened, but a lot of if is still in my heart, which is, honestly, where it might stay for the unforeseeable future...  However, I did want to document Charlotte's short, but love-filled life, so you can read about her here & here.

This year was tough.  As I mentioned above, we experienced such a range of emotions this year that I'm not sure how many I have left {except for indescribable sadness and desire to hold Charlotte in my arms again}.  As 2012 comes to an end, I pray that I never forget this year and what it brought us, but that I am also able to move forward and see Charlotte in everything beautiful ahead of us.

Friday Favorites - Jonathan David Photography

As an avid and daily blog reader, I have quite the collection of starred posts in my Google Reader that fit into one of two categories: 1. they either speak to me or 2. they are make me want to {try to} DIY or 3. they introduce me to a new product.  Sometimes I go back at reread these posts and other times I just forget I’ve starred them at all.  So instead of letting them pile up in my Google Reader, I thought it’d be best to share some of my favorites with my readers, especially since I know how much I enjoy being introduced to new {to me} blogs that peak my interest and keep me coming back for more.

Ever since I can remember, pictures have held an important place in my life.  When I was younger, my walls were covered in pictures of friends and family.  Then when it came to what areas to spend our money on when we got married, photography was something that I was willing to splurge on to get something that will help us remember that day for years to come.  Unfortunately, taking pictures has become more obsolete over the last couple years {unless you count your iPhone pictures}, so I have tried my best to get at least one set of annual pictures of Sam + I to remember where we're through different life stages.  And our unofficial photographers seem to continue to be the husband-wife duo that make up Jonathan David Photography.

You might recall me writing about them last year when they took our pictures with Sam's side of the family, but our love for these two have not gone away one bit.  And they have knocked it out of the park once again with our maternity shoot.  To see what I'm talking about, head over to their blog now!

In a time when I know a lot people who are doing photo shoots, some remain at the top of my lists of favorites and that's where Jon & Rachel currently reside.  Not only do I appreciate their attention to details, but I love that whenever we get together with them, we pick up just like old friends.  Plus, they have pulled out some of our best, most genuine smiles throughout the years, and for that I'm so grateful!  And with Sam working on his own photography business, they have been not only been supportive, but willing to give him tips they have learned over the years.

Some of our past photo shoots:
Us + the pups
The Grable Family


Do you try new photographers each year or do you like to go back to the same one year after year?

Lisa Leonard - Life by Design

Over the last several years, social media has played an influential role in my life.  Especially blogs.  I went from following just a handful of people I knew in real life to discovering those people who I instantly relate to and would dream of being friends with if we ever had the chance to meet in person :)  And Lisa Leonard is one of those people.

I first discovered Lisa through The Pleated Poppy's WIWW {What I Wore Wednesday} posts and was drawn to her simple, yet classic style and love of Anthropologie, but as I read back through her past blog posts, I realized the person behind the style was even better than I thought.

More recently, when we were told our child appears to have a disability of some sort, I have felt a deeper draw to read about Lisa's everyday life with her oldest son David, who also has special needs.  I know that no two stories are ever the same, but the faith & love that Lisa portrays gives me a lot of strength for our future and for that I am so thankful!

And now Lisa has the opportunity to share her story in the form of her own reality show & I couldn't be happier for her, her family, and the business she's created!  Take a look at the trailer below & check out her blog:

2012 Scarf Swap

For the 4th year in a row, Meredith from {the tichenor family} graciously hosted her annual scarf swap.  Since I loved this swap last year and feel as though accessories are one of the only things that still fit from my pre-pregnancy days, I couldn't think of a reason not to participate!

This year, I was paired up with Mateya, a new mom of an adorable little boy!  Through the beauty of emails & a little blog reading, I was able to find a little bit about Mateya's style and hopefully pick a scarf that would reflect her.  Ultimately, I chose one of The Pleated Poppy's ruffled scarves for it's unique style & versatility.

As for the scarf she picked out for me - I love it!  I gave her a few colors that were lacking in my scarf collection, but let her have free range when it came to pattern & overall style.  And let me tell you, she didn't disappoint with this purple beauty!

Mateya, thank you so much for my scarf & extra goodies.  I hope you enjoy your scarf as much as I will enjoy mine!

A 'Wicked' Good Time

Generally, I live a very low-key lifestyle.  Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy going straight home after work and spending time around the house.  But there are a few occasions when there is an event that I just can't pass up.  This week that event was Wicked!

It all started when I had mentioned to Kristi {the bestie} how I'd been wanting to see Wicked for years, especially since my mom has had me watching the Wizard of Oz since I was a child.  Well one thing lead to another and before I knew it, Kristi had scored us tickets at a great price!

So after work on Tuesday, we {Kristi, Sherlai, + I} hopped in the car and made our way up to Portland for the evening.  We started with dinner in the Pearl District at Oba {delicious!}, then made our way to Keller Auditorium for the show.

To say it was good would be a huge understatement!  I have only seen one other Broadway musical {when I was 13}, so this felt like a new experience for me.  Not only was the talent amazing, but the story line was also right up my alley!

Even though I'm typically a homebody, it's definitely a treat to get out every once in a while!

Farewell 2011!

Well, it's that time again! Time to bid another year adieu and look forward to what the new year has in store for us. But before we do that, let's look back at how 2011 treated us:

January - What I Wore Wednesday, a.k.a. WIWW, continued into 2011 {a fun way to look back and see how my style has evolved}; all of the kids in Sam's family treated his parents to a Portland Trailblazer game for Christmas, which we attended in January; and we spent quality time with family & friends.

February - I bragged about my brother's accomplishments; some Valentine's baking occurred; and more WIWW posts.

March - You got to know me a little better; we celebrated our SIL & MIL's birthday and a baby shower for our niece; I fell in love with the cute town of Seaside, OR; neither of us get Spring Break off, but we still enjoyed the weather with friends + family; and, of course, Kristi kept us well fed.

April - Sam built us {+ the Weathers} raised beds for our garden, which turned into a complete backyard makeover; Lily got a new Molly Mutt bed; my SIL's church through her a beautiful baby shower; and we spent Easter down in Eugene so we could listen to our SIL sing one last time at her church down there.

May - Kristi & I went to see Something Borrowed after reading the book a couple years back; Sam turned 29 & we celebrated both his birthday + Mothers Day in Sandy; and Linnea Elizabeth finally made her appearance {a little over a week late} & we all fell in love instantly!

June - I hoped on a plane to see one of my best friends in TX; there was some quality time spent with my college roommate; my brother graduated from college; I continued to read more books thanks to the BlogHer Book Club; we moved my BIL & SIL up to Portland; and Sam & I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary!

July - 4th of July was spent with friends + sparklers; I saw Sara Bareilles in concert with friends; and Sam & I went to the east coast {his first time + I haven't been back in 5+ years} to visit my dad, attend my cousin's wedding, + celebrate my 26th birthday.

August - thanks to Kristi & Sherlai, I attended my second concert this year - Gabe Dixon {+ we got to meet him!}; Sam's family came down for a 'staycation' at our house; and Sam built himself a backdrop for my WIWW photos.

September - I shared how I was feeling lately; we remembered 9/11 - 10th anniversary; and I participated in a scarf swap.

October - Sam & I visited the Oregon Garden for the first time {and are already looking forward to using the membership we purchased}; I played catch up - hair color change, breakfast date with Sam, exploring Portland with Kelly, family photos, and a trip to Redmond to see Michelle + the kids; and we all got together for the 4th annual pumpkin carving party.

November - Sam created a moving picture of our adorable niece that I had to share; I bragged about my talented friends - Jon & Rachel; another 'about me' post; we took Lily to her first dog park; Thanksgiving was spent with Sam's family this year + I shared what I was most thankful for!

December - lots of highlights - more dog park visits, fun with friends, watching my BIL do what he loves, seeing family, & selling my car; I participated in another swap - this time gloves; went to the theatre for a holiday performance; Christmas cards were sent out + the house was decorated; and we managed to see both families this Christmas season.

Overall, I would say this year was a good one for us. We traveled, spent some good time with family + friends, and welcomed our first niece. Even with 2011 being so good, I'm still excited to welcome 2012 and see what it has in store for us. So until next year... :)

OOTD: A Night At The Elsinore

Outfit breakdown:

sweater: Francesca's Collection; tank: Anthropologie; jeans: Gap; boots: Target

Last week, I was invited to a holiday music performance put on by a couple of the churches at the Historic Elsinore Theatre. The full orchestra and choir did an amazing job on some classic Christmas songs, as well as a couple new {to me} songs. As for my outfit, I had to work during the day, so I needed something that would go from day to night easily and this one did just that.

{my dates for the occassion!}

Have you been to a great Christmas concert this year?

Cold Hands, Warm Hearts 2011

Back in October, I signed up for sandyalamode & muchlove, illy's annual mitten swap, Cold Hands, Warm Hearts. I eagerly awaited my swap partner's information and when I finally received it, I was so excited to start picking out some mittens + a few extra goodies for Molly. {Check out what I sent her over to her on her blog later this week!}

As for me, I feel like Molly spoiled me!

First, check out my new gloves!
I love the color and they are unlike anything I would have picked out
myself, yet I think I will get so much use out of them this winter!

Then look at what she filled the rest of my package with!
Just a few of the items: brownie mix + a cute holiday oven mitt,
Burt's Bee's lip gloss {a favorite!}, a couple soaps, and
a beautiful scarf that matches my new gloves perfectly!

And finally, check out the sweet gift she sent over for Lily! So festive!

So, thank you Molly! I love everything you sent over to us & I really hope you enjoyed your Cold Hands, Warm Hearts package as well!

And thank you to our hosts, sandyalamode & muchlove, illy - I'm already looking forward to next year's swap! :)

Weekend Highlights

To be honest with you, I actually tried to make an effort to document my weekend with pictures so I had something to post here. Sad? A little. In reality, I love taking pictures, but most of the time I forget to take my camera {or iPhone, usually} out to capture life as it's happening. I do enjoy being able to look back at past posts, even it doesn't pertain to anyone else, so I will continue to post, pictures or not.

Here's a couple of this weekend's highlights:

We took Lily to the dog park again and actually let her

off the leash for most of time. I think she had a great time because

she slept for the remainder of the weekend :)

My Saturday night was spent celebrating Kiley's {Sherlai's husband}

40th birthday party! This party was straight out of Pinterest -

there was live music, barbecue, and a photo booth {above}

all taking place in an old barn! Simply amazing, if you ask me!

On Sunday, we drove up to Sandy to see Sam's family.

We've been following along with our brother-in-law's weekly class at church

via the internet and we're so happy to get to see his teaching in real life!

We also drove up to see this cutie!

I wish she'd stop growing so fast, but I do love seeing

her personality change each time we see her!

And finally, it was the end of an era...

I said goodbye to my faithful New Beetle on Sunday afternoon.

The car that got me through college, my long distance engagement,

and the first few years of marriage, all with very little trouble.

But I was happy it is going to another young girl who will

{hopefully} enjoy it as much as I did!

Happy Monday!

Thankful

While this post isn't going to be terribly unique {my Google Reader has been full of "thankful" posts all week!}, it's still important to me to share some of the most important things I am thankful for this year:

My brother graduating {with honors} from college
+ the time we all spent together this year.

The Grable family's constant love for each other.

And this beautiful baby who has changed all of our lives!

Our opportunity to go see my dad, step-mom, & brothers back East
and the positive changes that came after the visit.

Friends who have become some of the most important people in my life!

Lily, our crazy pup that appears calm, but definitely keeps us on our toes.

And this man, who has never made me feel anything
but loved since the day I met him!

Lastly, I'm thankful for all that God has shown me this year. It hasn't been easy to trust in Him, but the outcomes have been better than I ever imagined!

I hope you all can take a moment to reflect on all the blessings you have to be thankful for this year. Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday Love: Jonathan David Photography

This isn't the first time I've sang the praises of Jonathan David Photography {and honestly, it probably won't be the last}, but yet again, they've out done themselves and I'm in love with the pictures that took of the Grable family!

It was no easy feat to get all 9 of us to find a day that worked for all, coordinate outfits {so we matched, but weren't matchy-matchy}, and smile for the camera, but with the help of Jon & Rachel, we succeed in all of the above and have some beautiful pictures to show for it, in my opinion!

Thank you again to some of my very good friends, Jon & Rachel, for making an out-of-season exception for me & my family. I can't wait to work with you again!

And thank you also to my Grable family for putting up with my crazy organizing self. I know it wasn't easy and I hope you all still love me :)

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!