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anniversary

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8.09.2021

10th wedding anniversary trip!

On Friday we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. Wow, right! I've been blogging for almost 12 years and our wedding was a huge project so I documented it all way back then (see all posts about it here), and I don't post about every anniversary but thought 10 years deserved a post. Plus, we did something really special!

For a long time I thought we'd do something big, like a week in Hawaii or new engagement ring set, but we haven't had the capacity to do any extra things very well lately (see also: vegetable garden needing to be harvested, not vacuuming frequently enough, etc.) and it crept up on us. Plus with two little kids and Jason only 6 months into working for real, now is not a great time for a trip (COVID, too). But I thought it would be really special and sentimental to go back to our wedding venue and maybe even stay there overnight, without the kids.

I haven't spent a night away from at least one kid since April 2018 when Otto was born! It is a big deal to be able to go to sleep without wondering if you'll be woken up in the middle of the night or early morning. Plus, just all those hours of independence... wow!

We headed out after the kids' naps Friday and walked around Edgefield, had dinner, went to the soaking pools, had a big breakfast, sat on the porch, took a few pumping breaks of course (they brought us the tiniest minifridge for the room), and visited some memorable spots from our wedding photos. So I'll mix in a few of those with the current ones (you'll be able to tell the difference!). Wedding photos are by Studio 623 Photography.

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8.16.2016

Celebrating our anniversary two ways--and a giveaway!

We celebrated our FIFTH wedding anniversary last week. FIVE years ago we became married people! FIVE years ago I made my wedding dress and bridesmaids' dresses, made vintage-inspired decor for our wedding venue, gathered our friends and family for a very personal service, and danced the night away. (See all my wedding posts here.) SO much has changed since then in our relationship and we're happier than ever and excited to celebrate!!

We've done little getaways around our anniversaries in the past but this year we got to celebrate in grander fashion on two weekend getaways. One of which you can win for yourself!

Last weekend we went to Central Oregon with my parents for a two-night stay in Bend with a trip to Smith Rock. It was super fun. We've been there before but not in the summer! We had such a relaxed time, just doing a few touristy thing with my parents and relaxing at the hotel. We were pretty disconnected and didn't take many photos at all so I don't have any to show you here... but you can see a few snapshots on my Instagram!

Then this past weekend we did a staycation just for ourselves. We went to The Heathman, which is pretty much the quintessential historic Portland hotel in my eyes, and is beautiful and super centrally located in downtown.

We each work within a mile of downtown Portland, and have been driving through on the regular for most of our real adult lives... so downtown on its own is not too special, but we've never spent the night in a central, easy location and not had to worry about parking or traffic or finding a place to eat! We really, really enjoyed having a little oasis/home base and got to enjoy our favorite city like tourists! (The best of both worlds!)

Our room was lovely with both historic and modern touches. The Heathman recently went through a huge "landfill-free" renovation, making it one of the most eco-friendly hotels in Portland!

The room came with neat little touches like this literary companion to Portland and really nice quality soaps/toiletries.

We had drinks at the hotel bar (1927, a speakeasy open only to hotel guests)--such a treat because going to bars together is something we literally never do!! I don't drink hardly at all, and we don't eat out much, so having a glass of rosé (husband tried an Oregon line of scotch that was excellent) was a very decadent experience!

We also had room service for dinner--more locally sourced choices on the food menu, and my salad with tangy dressing and baked lemon slices was excellent. So were my roasted Brussels sprouts (one of my all-time favorite veggies!).

In the morning, we did what we do on most of our little vacations away--got up slowly, wandered around to find some coffee for husband. Except this time we got to go to his favorite downtown coffee shop, and wander around downtown Portland at 9am on a weekend, seeing a totally different crowd and vibe than usual! Other tourists, some early shoppers... all in the beautiful summer weather as stores were opening and the market was going on. We did a little shopping, also something I almost never have time for.

The Heathman is an excellent place to stay in downtown Portland, in the heart of the financial and cultural district, right around the theaters, park blocks, Pioneer Courthouse Square and mall, downtown Nordstrom, and more. It was so fun for us to spend a night away there, and would be great for anyone visiting from out of town!

The Heathman is offering a night stay there as a giveaway to one of my readers--just head over to my Instagram for a chance to win!! The details are in this photo. Winner will be chosen Sunday, 8/21. May you enjoy a stay as relaxing and refreshing as ours!!

Thanks to The Heathman for providing us covering all of our accommodations at our stay. I received no other compensation for this post.

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6.14.2016

Taking time to celebrate and get away - Oregon coast

I'm used to my routine, which is pretty busy most of the time, and it's hard for me to stop the daily grind and get away - even for special occasions. So, I've learned to sort of force myself to take a break! So last weekend we took a long weekend to celebrate...

Read the rest after the jump!

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10.03.2014

Belated anniversary! Plus some seriously proud moments for DIYing

This post makes me so happy! I love 1) beautiful photos, 2) enjoying things I've made, and 3) love. I love love. My dear husband. **List of things not in order and not all-inclusive.

A few weeks ago, we were so lucky to have the chance to do an anniversary shoot with our wedding photographer at our wedding venue, McMenamins Edgefield in Troutdale, Oregon. I am so happy to have these amazing photos documenting this special time celebrating 3 years of marriage, each one better than the last! We had a totally DIY wedding, and I got super lucky finding Becky (Studio 623 Photography) to capture it and understand my vision. So it was perfect that I got to show off some other DIYs - dresses I've made - and revisit our special location once more. And this time, way less stress of course since not planning a wedding, but also, I had my makeup done by Brooke Morse. Such a treat to spend time sitting comfortably while someone with far more capable hands does my hair and makeup. I connected with Brooke through some mysterious Portland Bloggers connection (we're not quite sure how but we know some of the same people) and she was just great to work with!

So this was a very positive shoot experience, and I will treasure these photos forever. (Think it's time to update the frames around the house, and...maybe Christmas cards?!) I really can't speak highly enough of Becky, we love her so much! Even my husband who is quite reluctant to do photo shoots has fun working with her, and has been asking when we get to see the photos. She does a TON of weddings and babies, so if you're having either of those and live in Oregon, check her out. She's absolutely the sweetest. (Website/Facebook.)

So the photos. I don't know if there's a convention for 3-year anniversary photos, but it felt like it had been too long since we visited our venue, so it was a great location!

I got married in a pale grey/warm light pink/ivory dress, so I felt quite bridal in the pale pink lace shift dress I made earlier this year.

It was really magical to visit the same beautiful enclosed patio where we walked down the "aisle," but this time with no people besides us there.

We even sat on the porch of the house where we got ready, and took the carrying-through-the-hearth shot.

And, a serious favorite photo spot, we revisited the amazing sunset scene of this pocket of wild grasses on the edge of the campus. We got some awesome photos there back on our wedding day, while the guests were dancing... it's beautiful, but it's hard to walk through! Molehills and things.

And, check this out. One of our other favorite photo spots was at the edge of the small vineyard they have there. We walked up and down the rows on our wedding day and got some photos I love, and we did it again this time - but in much more comfortable clothes!

I seriously love these photos. Infusing some of our current, more everyday personality into the beautiful wedding photo locations with some playful poses! (Recognize my new fave bright blue halter dress?)

I seriously love them. Think I need to order some prints to frame STAT. I love the lifting-kissing vineyard ones!!

And what a cool way to show off DIYs, amiright? Two dresses I made and am proud of, looking their best in these great photos!

Thanks again to Becky and Brooke for making our anniversary shoot so great!

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8.21.2013

How to Wear DIY: The neon maxi dress to dinner

So we had an anniversary not long ago... two years since our wedding! We celebrated on our own the day of, but over the weekend my parents took us out to dinner at a nice grill near their house.

The How to Wear DIY part of the story is... I got to wear the neon green maxi dress I made recently, and it was perfect for the hot day and evening--but didn't feel too casual. It is so hard to dress well when it's hot out. Dresses are the way to go!

And the tan and gold sandals I have been living in this summer.

Colorblock necklace: F21. Wishbone necklace: One of these on Amazon.

Sandals: Ross (same ones on DSW). Bag: Target. Dress: DIY, here!

I doubled up the necklaces even though they're contrasting gold/ivory and silver, because husband gave me the wishbone for our 9th dating anniversary this June and I'm sentimental. Plus, mixing metals can be nice to keep from feeling stuffy.

Love that I got to wear my bright, cheery maxi dress before summer's over and the fall colors come in!

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8.06.2013

Two whole years since...

Two years ago today, something amazing happened....

Wedding photos coming up!

We had a "first look"...

We read the vows we had written...

We were surrounded by our closest friends and family from all over the country...

We had a "first dance"...

Photos by Studio 623 Photography

And it was pretty much perfect.

Then a little later we went on a honeymoon...

And now it's been TWO YEARS of married life!

I blogged a lot about our DIY wedding preparations--I made my wedding dress, my bridesmaids' dresses, my birdcage veil, the vintage fabric bunting (and here), that chalkboard you see up there, the boutonnieres, my silk shoe clips, and a bunch of other stuff. Our photographer was my now good friend Becky of Studio 623 Photography, and she got my wedding posted onto Ruffled for all the world to see. I kept my sanity while hand sewing oodles of silk flowers for my dress and throwing together floral arrangements and scheduling a day with so much to do, and am proud of my hard work and so grateful for my friends and family and husband who helped create such a memorable day for us.

But now it's been two years. Since then we've bought a house, both gotten new jobs, I've written a book, we've gone on trips together, we've gotten healthier and started eating meat, and he's started an awesome blog about it... a lot has happened! And all the way, I've had my best friend by my side and holding my hand!

I could say a million nice things about my husband. But today I mostly want to say how grateful I am for my partner, our home, our lives.

And here we are today.

Happy anniversary, Jason!

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6.17.2013

We're back, and a new chapter begins... photos from a pretty trip to Bend

We're back from our lovely little mini-trip to Bend over the weekend. It was great and I'm feeling very refreshed and ready to start my new job tomorrow! Thanks for the well wishes last Friday and on Instagram--I'm excited but definitely a little nervous.

We had an awesome time celebrating our anniversary and chilling out in Bend, Oregon, where it was sunny and clear and the air smells like ponderosa pines.

We saw amazing mountains, walked around the tons of parks in the sun, ate pretty food, swam in the nice hotel pool and hot tub, ate more pretty food and walked around some more, and then went to Lava River Cave and went a mile underground in a cave with a propane lantern. Adventure!